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Best Fitbit Deals: Save $100 on Sense 2, $91 on Versa 3 and More

Holiday discounts make finding a Fitbit to help you reach your exercise goals a snap without breaking the bank.

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

When it comes to exercising, a lot of us fall into one of two categories: fitness lovers or the exercise-averse. It can be more challenging to maintain a regular exercise schedule as cool weather rolls in at the end of the year.If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, consider investing in a fitness tracker. Fitness trackers like Fitbits can assist you in setting, achieving and monitoring your progress over time.

Regardless of whether you enjoy working out, staying active is important. And a tool that will help you on your health and fitness journey could be the key to staying on task, even when cold weather moves in. If you think you would benefit from having data points about how much movement you get in a day, you should consider purchasing a Fitbit to track your activity to hit daily targets and keep you inspired.


Monitor fitness goals without breaking the bank.

We’ll help you find the best deal on your next smartwatch or fitness tracker.


Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers can keep up with all activities, tracking your steps and workouts. Fitbit devices can also track your sleep patterns, stress levels and heart health. If you’re interested in monitoring your fitness journey through the end of 2022 and beyond, a Fitbit is a stylish, comfortable and effective tool that could help you get in shape.

While you can find really good offers on Fitbit devices all year long if you take advantage of special markdowns, you’ll usually find impressive sales during the holiday season, making now a great time to invest in one of these wearables. It’s also worth remembering that Google’s new Pixel Watch, which includes many of Fitbit’s best activity tracking features, launched in October. Many of the products listed in this article are previous-generation Fitbit devices, but they still pack plenty of functionality and value — especially at these lower prices.

If you’re already sold on getting a Fitbit but aren’t sure which one is right for you, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need. Read our deep dive on a few of Fitbit’s most prominent models.

Best Fitbit deals available right now

Read more: Fitbit Sense, Versa 3 and Inspire 2: How to Decide Which Wearable to Buy


Monitor fitness goals without breaking the bank.

We’ll help you find the best deal on your next smartwatch or fitness tracker.


Technologies

Protect Yourself From Sketchy Calls: Unknown Caller vs. No Caller ID

Here’s the key difference between these two anonymous calls on iPhone.

Like most of us, you’re probably getting a lot of unsolicited calls that show up as either No Caller ID or Unknown Caller on your iPhone. Reflexively answering either one could lead to a scam — or perhaps a call you’ve been waiting for. What are the differences between these two anonymous labels?

Here’s what to know about each type of call and how to keep yourself safe from potential scams.

No Caller ID vs. Unknown Caller

A call labeled «No Caller ID» means the caller has blocked their number from appearing on your screen. In other words, they want to keep their identity under wraps. This can be a privacy measure, but it’s also a tool used by scammers — if you can’t quickly verify who the caller is based on their number, it can be easier to fall for their trap. 

«Unknown Caller,» on the other hand, is the message that appears when your phone service provider doesn’t recognize who’s calling. This can come down to several factors, including network or technical issues, or receiving calls from foreign numbers. Oftentimes, these callers aren’t intentionally trying to hide their identity, but it’s still a good idea to be cautious. Scammers can also use this method to hide their identity by using a phone that isn’t registered with the phone company, for instance. 

What to do if you get anonymous calls

You should always proceed with caution if you can’t identify a caller. This is especially important if someone rings you and «No Caller ID» appears on the screen, as they have intentionally kept their number hidden. But an Unknown Caller is also something to be wary of, since it becomes harder to truly identify who’s at the other end of the line. 

Letting the call go to voicemail is often a good idea. Answering a call signals to scammers that your number is active, which could lead to more similar calls in the future. The Live Voicemail feature is particularly helpful for these situations because it allows you to pick up the call if the voicemail transcript indicates it’s someone you want to speak with.

Silence unknown callers on your iPhone

You can even go a step further and silence unknown callers on your iPhone. That way, those mystery callers won’t disturb you, and they can just leave a voicemail for you to check later.

In your iPhone, go to Settings, then tap Apps followed by Phone and go to Silence Unknown Callers. Hit the toggle to turn it on.

Use apps to block unidentified calls

Though there isn’t a way to block these anonymous calls within your iPhone’s settings, your wireless carrier may offer apps to help with this. 

AT&T ActiveArmor, for instance, has a free version that blocks spam and fraud calls, and also lets you block all unknown callers. The advanced version, which costs $4 a month, includes tools like reverse number lookup and caller ID for unknown numbers. ActiveArmor is available for iOS and Android.

Verizon’s Call Filter app also offers spam detection, a spam filter and the option to report numbers, all for free. For an additional $4 a month, you’ll also get caller ID, spam lookup, a personal block list and a spam risk meter. Call Filter is automatically enabled for Android users on a postpaid plan, and is available in the App Store for iPhone.

T-Mobile’s Scam Shield has a free option that includes full caller ID, scam reporting and scam blocking. There’s also a premium option for $4 a month per line, which offers reverse phone number lookup and voicemail transcriptions that are automatically texted to you. You can download the Scam Shield app in the App Store or Google Play.

Be sure to check with other wireless carriers to see if they offer something similar. Some wireless carrier plans may include access to the premium features as well.

For more third-party apps to help limit robocalls and general tips, check out our guide on stopping spam calls. 

Don’t Get Burned: Tips to Avoid an Overheated Phone

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, June 28

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 28.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s Saturday, so it’s extra-long, and might take you a while. Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue:  Detachable parts of a dress form
Answer: ARMS

5A clue: Catering container containing caffeine
Answer: TEARUN

8A clue: Climbing structure offered in pet stores
Answer: CATTREE

9A clue: Gets into town
Answer: ARRIVES

10A clue: Frédéric Chopin or Ray Charles, notably
Answer: PIANIST

11A clue: They don’t hold water
Answer: SIEVES

12A clue: ___-jerk reaction
Answer: KNEE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: With some chance of failure
Answer: ATARISK

2D clue: Prepare for a new job, maybe
Answer: RETRAIN

3D clue: Midday Broadway showing
Answer: MATINEE

4D clue: Goal of a noted reality show set on an island
Answer: SURVIVE

6D clue: Witherspoon who portrayed June Carter in «Walk the Line»
Answer: REESE

7D clue: Lodgings for larks
Answer: NESTS

8D clue: Souvenir from a baseball game
Answer: CAP

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Technologies

Facing Billions in DMA Fines, Apple Lets EU iPhone Users Install Apps Outside the App Store

A last-minute rule change lets European iPhone owners download apps from rival stores and developer websites, while introducing new fees that Apple hopes will satisfy regulators in Brussels.

In a scramble to sidestep penalties that could soar into the billions, and with Brussels regulators watching closely, Apple has agreed to let Europeans download iPhone apps from outside its own App Store.

With just hours left before an EU compliance deadline, the company said residents of the 27-nation bloc will soon be able to grab apps from rival marketplaces or straight off a developer’s website. The change rolls out later this year with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6, and also lets users set a different browser engine and choose a third-party wallet at checkout.

For everyday EU iPhone owners, that means the download button could pop up in more places than just Apple’s storefront. After you select the new setting, iOS shows a one-time permission sheet confirming you’re leaving Apple’s marketplace. The app then passes a quick notarization scan meant to weed out malware. Apple notes that off-store downloads work only inside the EU, and disappear if you stay outside the bloc for more than 30 days.

Cost to developers

Developers do gain fresh distribution freedom, but there’s a price tag. A new two-tier Store Services fee asks for 5% of outside sales in exchange for basic services like app reviews and support in what’s called Tier 1, or 13% for the full bundle of perks, including automatic updates and App Store promotions in Tier 2.

Apple will take a 5% «Core Technology Commission» on any purchase made outside its own payment system. That new cut will phase out the current €0.50-per-download fee and become the sole charge across the EU when a unified pricing model arrives on Jan. 1, 2026.

Apple insists «more than 99%» of devs will pay the same or less under the revamped math.

Why now? 

In April, the European Commission fined Apple €500 million ($585 million) for blocking developers from steering users to cheaper payment options, and warned that daily penalties of up to 5% of global revenue could follow if it failed to comply. 

Throughout the back-and-forth, Apple has accused the commission of «moving the goalposts» on what counts as compliance, with a spokesperson saying the company has invested «hundreds of thousands of hours» to meet the EU’s evolving demands.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney blasted the 5% tier as a «malicious compliance scheme» that «makes a mockery of fair competition.»

If regulators decide Apple still hasn’t gone far enough, the iPhone maker could face steeper sanctions, or even be forced to separate its App Store business.

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