Technologies
ESPN’s Standalone Streaming Service and App to Launch Aug. 21
With prices starting at just $30, with content from NFL Network and WWE, the new service looks like a tempting offer for sports fans.

Just in time for the NFL and college football seasons, ESPN will launch its flagship streaming service and app Aug. 21. The service, which will simply be called ESPN, will cost $30 as a standalone service or $36 a month if bundled with Disney+ and Hulu.
The NFL season kicks off on Sept. 4, and the first set of college games are scheduled for Aug. 23. Subscribers will receive access to all of ESPN’s live games for all sports and programming from ESPN on ABC, ESPN2 and the SEC Network.
On Wednesday, Disney-owned ESPN announced it will be acquiring the NFL Network, which includes the popular RedZone Channel and NFL Fantasy. Per the deal, ESPN will air three additional NFL games a season on NFL Network. ESPN also struck a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment for the US rights to show WrestleMania, the Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, starting in 2026.
Disney CEO Bob Iger said ESPN’s «full suite of networks and services» will be available on the streaming service. «The enhanced ESPN app will be a sports fan’s dream with key new features planned for launch, such as multiview, enhanced personalization, integration of stats, betting, fantasy sports and commerce and a personalized Sports Center,» he said.
Paolo Pescatore, founder and TMT analyst at PP Foresight, said ESPN’s streaming service launch announcement was an overall positive one. «It is essential to empower fans with a slew of choices of how they watch and engage with content,» he said. «This remains key. In the US, it is apparent that fans prefer the larger screen experience, given the push towards bigger TVs. Even so, increasingly this will be delivered via IP, either via cable, fibre, 5G or even still satellite.»
The service was originally slated to launch this fall, but Disney brought the date up, possibly to keep up with the competition. Fox Sports’ streaming service, called Fox One, will also begin Aug. 21. ESPN and Fox One will join an ever-expanding menu of sports streaming services available for all fans’ tastes.
Mike Proulx, vice president and research director at Forrester, said ESPN’s streaming service launch will provide Disney a «notable lift in revenue» after being a tad below expectations. «Disney is racing full force to sign sports rights with the company’s NFL and WWE announcements,» he said. «This is yet another signal that the latest battle in the streaming war is all about live sports programming.»
Technologies
Instagram Adds New Features, Including Reposts and Maps
Feed posts and public reels can now be reshared on the popular social-networking app.
Instagram has launched new features aimed at further connecting users with their online contacts, the company announced Wednesday. One involves sharing public feed posts and reels, another shares locations with others on an Instagram map, and a new Friends tab shows what content your contacts have liked or commented on.
For reposts, you’ll be able to share public reels and feed posts from other users. The original poster will be credited and those reshares will appear in the sharer’s profile in a new tab. Posts and reels will now include a reshare icon when they’re available to share.
Instagram says creators will be able to reach more people since those posts will be recommended to others’ followers.
You have to enable the new map feature to start sharing your last active location. You can set who can see your location and can also choose not to share your location when you’re in specific places, or have your location available to specific users.
Location sharing can be disabled at any time, Instagram says. Reels, posts and stories can be viewed through the map.
Also, a new Friends tab at the top of Reels shows public content from contacts. This feature has been available previously, but is now being expanded globally.
You can opt out of having your content displayed in the tab with options to hide likes, comments and reposts. You can also mute likes, comments and reposts from accounts you follow.
Technologies
When Will the iPhone 17 Be Released? We’re Running Down the Possibilities
The projected release date of Apple’s biggest product is starting to come into focus.
It’s fun to speculate on which features the new iPhone 17 lineup will have, but what we really want to know is when we can get our hands on Apple’s latest editions of its flagship smartphone. As we get closer to September and the traditional announcement date, iPhone rumors are arriving more frequently.
Once the rumored iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, Pro and Pro Max are revealed, we’ll be able to confirm speculation about colors, display, cameras and more. We’ll also learn how much the new iPhone will cost, which is also still up in the air, thanks in part to looming tariffs.
Based on previous releases, the new iPhone will be announced in September, but the exact dates for the announcement, preorder and release are still the subject of speculation.
A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Possible iPhone announcement date
One recent leak points to Apple holding the iPhone 17 event on Sept. 9. German site iPhone-Ticker claims that it gained access to internal documents from a local carrier, and even though the sourcing cannot be confirmed, that release date lines up with existing rumors and expert opinion.
We’ve sifted through the whispers, analysis and guesses so you can make a date to get your hands on the new iPhone.
Read more: Should You Buy an iPhone 16 or Wait for the iPhone 17?
When will the iPhone 17 be released?
For nearly a decade, Apple has announced its new iPhone lineup in early September. The only exception was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when the release was pushed back to Oct. 23 for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro, and Nov. 13 for the iPhone 12 Mini and 12 Pro Max.
In his Power On newsletter on July 13, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that the announcement should come on Sept. 9 or 10.
The supposed leak reported on by iPhone-Ticker lines up with expert opinion, so you might want to mark your calendar for Sept. 9 if you want to catch the new iPhone event.
We cannot verify these dates because we don’t have access to the internal documents iPhone-Ticker is sourcing. But if these leaks are true, they suggest that preorders for the iPhone 17 will begin on Sept. 12, with a Sept. 19 release.
Here’s a chart for the release dates of previous iPhone models:
Previous iPhone release dates
iPhone series | Announcement | Preorder | Release |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone 16E | February 19, 2025 | February 21, 2025 | February 28, 2025 |
iPhone 16 series | September 9, 2024 | September 13, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
iPhone 15 series | September 12, 2023 | September 15, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
iPhone 14 series | September 7, 2022 | September 9, 2022 | September 16, 2022 |
iPhone 14 Plus | September 7, 2022 | September 9, 2022 | October 7, 2022 |
iPhone SE | March 8, 2022 | March 11, 2022 | March 18, 2022 |
iPhone 13 series | September 14, 2021 | September 17, 2021 | September 24, 2021 |
Here’s a chart for the potential dates based on past schedules. These are not official dates from Apple:
Potential iPhone 17 schedule
Announcement | Preorder | Release |
---|---|---|
Wednesday, September 3 | Friday, September 5 | Friday, September 12 |
Tuesday, September 9 | Friday, September 12 | Friday, September 19 |
Will all of the new iPhones be released in the fall?
Based on last year’s release, Apple may release everything in the fall except its least expensive option — this year, the iPhone 16E. The iPhone 16E was released in February, and Apple is widely expected to follow the same format for the rumored iPhone 17.
That would mean the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air and the iPhone 17 base model — if that’s the lineup — would be released in September. The iPhone 17E — if it exists — would be released in February.
Apple’s future iPhone release dates
Apple is expected to change its release format with the rumored iPhone 18. Reports suggest that Apple will only release higher-end models in fall 2026 — iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and a rumored new foldable iPhone — and release the rest of the line in winter 2027.
Why does Apple split iPhone release dates?
By pushing its top-of-the-line Pro and Pro Max models in September, Apple can capture much of the holiday shopping season. Releasing the more basic models in the winter allows a second crest of excitement, but diehard fans and holiday shoppers will have already spent their money on the pricier models in the fall.
Technologies
Moft’s Fold Flat Accessories Are a Massive 30% Off in Time for Back-to-School Season
Moft’s accessories make it easier to turn your laptop, iPad or phone into a workstation, wallet and more. Now you can have them without paying full price.
It’s back-to-school season, and many parents and students are looking for what they need for a successful academic year. This includes basic supplies, tech and accessories that can help you optimize workspaces and dorm rooms. If you need a new sturdy phone case, computer stand or creator accessory that helps you get the most out of tech, then Moft’s accessories might be a great option for you. They’re reducing the cost of select accessories by up to 30% right now, and their accessories fold flat, come in lots of colors and help you protect your big tech investments. These deals are live until Aug. 31.
Moft’s deals include their MagSafe compatible FlexKit for just $59, which saves you $21 over its regular price of $80. The kit includes a tripod and a wallet that seals shut. The tripod can raise the phone up to eight inches while the wallet holds up to two cards. It doubles as a grip whenever you’re on the go, so you can hold the phone more securely.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Moft is also offering their Creator Kit for iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max for just $120, which saves you $30. Creators kits are slightly different for iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16, so check the components when you make your selection. Other discounts include savings of two for 15% off when you any two lanyards, tripods, wallets or cases. Their smart desk mat is now down to $159, which saves you $28. It’s essentially a portable desk for your laptop or tablet and comes in black, blue or siena brown.
Looking for back-to-school purchases but not sure if these are for you? We’ve got a list of the best back-to-school picks.
Why this deal matters
Moft sells lanyards, cases, smart desks and other tech accessories that make it easier for you to travel or get to work in a compact space. That makes these accessories great for dorm rooms, working out of the living room and more. Plus, these are also fantastic accessories for adults on the go, content creators and frequent travelers. With discounts as high as 30%, now is a great time to stock up on Moft accessories.
-
Technologies3 года ago
Tech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies2 года ago
Best Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies2 года ago
Tighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года ago
Verum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года ago
Google to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 года ago
Black Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года ago
Olivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года ago
iPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow