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vendredi 31 juillet 2020

Surfshark VPN price: Best deal, discounts & how to try it free

Surfshark is one of the best VPN providers out there, and it's also one of the most affordable which is kind of wild. With a solid feature set, great customer service, and reliable performance, you'd normally expect the price to be pretty high but you can actually grab a Surfshark VPN subscription for under $2 per month.

The service offers over 1,000 servers across 60+ different countries and your subscription can be used on an unlimited number of devices at once. That's something that most VPN providers don't allow you to do, so there's a lot to like with Surfshark.

Today's best Surfshark VPN deals, pricing, and discounts

Plan Length Discount Monthly Cost Total Price
1 Month 0% $11.95 $11.95 at Surshark
1 Year 50% $5.99 $71.88 at Surfshark
2 Years 83% $1.99 $47.76 at Surfshark
3 Years 84% $1.94 $69.99 at Surfshark

When looking at VPNs, security should always be your first concern and Surshark has you covered with AES-256-GCM encryption, IKEv2, private DNS, leak protection, and a strict no data-logging policy. It might not have the most servers of any VPN provider, but the ones it does have are spread across many locations and are plenty speedy.

The best Surfshark VPN deal available today

As is the case with most VPN providers, the longer you sign up for the less your equivalent monthly spend will be. If you prepay for two or three years with Surfshark, you'll save as much as 84% off the regular monthly cost. Right now, the best option is Surshark's two-year plan which costs just $47.76 upfront. That's actually less than the cost of the 1-year plan making it a no-brainer choice between those two options and saves you 83% compared to paying month-to-month. At that rate, you're effectively paying just $1.99 per month

There is a special 3-year plan, though the savings it offers is 84% versus paying monthly and costs $69.99 upfront. If you don't see the deal automatically through that link, you can apply coupon code 3YOFFER at checkout to get in on it. Given the marginal extra savings, you may as well go for the two-year plan and keep the money in your own pocket for now in case you spot a different deal down the line.

Surfshark VPN

See latest pricing at Surfshark

You can connect as many devices as your heart desires at the same time and never worry about any of them being logged. Surfshark also offers a 30-day guarantee that you'll like the product, or it will give you your money back.

How much does Surfshark VPN cost?

Pricing varies depending on how long you commit to using Surfshark. If you don't want to commit to a long-term plan, you'll pay $11.95 per month. However, if you prepay for a longer plan then you can drop the monthly cost as low as $1.94.

For a single year of Surfshark you pay $73.88, but you can actually subscribe for twice that length of time for less money. It's only $47.76 for the two-year plan which makes total sense since you're getting more for less. The three-year plan offers the best overall savings and costs $69.99 upfront. That makes the monthly cost just $1.94.

When you consider the fact that paying for one year costs more than paying for two years, you should rule the annual plan out straight away. Ultimately, the difference in savings between the two- and three-year plans is negligible at 83% and 84%, respectively. The latter does offer the lowest equivalent monthly cost at $1.94, so if you're sure Surshark is for you that's the one to go for. If you want to commit less upfront, then the two-year plan should be your go-to.

Some other services like ExpressVPN are priced as high as $6.67 per month for their lengthier plans, so it's easy to see the value that Surfshark is offering here.

Surfshark VPN free trial: 30-day money-back guarantee

There isn't actually a free trial for Surfshark's VPN, though there is a way to try it out for free. Whichever plan you go for, you'll get a 30-day money-back guarantee. That means, should you not enjoy your experience, you can claim back whatever you paid upfront. That full refund policy should help squash any concerns you might have about committing to one of Surfshark's lengthier plans in order to get the biggest savings.

Just be sure to keep track of when you signed up so you can ensure you're still eligible for a refund just in case. Or set yourself a reminder. Easy.

Is Surfshark VPN a good provider?

The reason there are so many different VPN providers is because users desire and require different things. That means your opinion of whether Surfshark is good will depend on whether its features stack up against what you want. Surfshark is one of our favorite providers thanks to its affordable cost of entry and excellent balance of features. It definitely represents one of the best value for money VPNs.

The company is based in the British Virgin Islands which means it has no directive to log any user data at all (which is a good thing) and it has all the basic VPN requirements in place, including AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and an extra security measure in place via its Double Hop capabilities.

It also has easy-to-use apps for pretty much every platform, extensions for your browser, and even Fire TV and Apple TV support. Though its apps are simple, you also want solid customer support for when it is needed and Surfshark excels there too. Surfshark makes it easy to unblock Netflix geo-restrictions, so if you're looking to stream stuff that may not be available locally this is a great VPN to pick.

One of the best features of Surfshark in comparison to its competitors is the ability to use it with an unlimited number of devices at the same time, which means no disconnecting one to connect another. Most other providers allow around 5 devices, some as many as 10, but very few have no limit at all so that's a real plus. One subscription can secure every device in your home which might actually save you even more money than its deals.

Where Surfshark falls short is in its server availability. It offers around 1,000 servers in 60 countries which is lower than some of its premium competitors. If it doesn't have servers where you need them, that could be a deal-breaker.

How does Surfshark VPN pricing compare to the competition?

Surfshark is one of the most affordable paid options out there, especially if you go for one of its longer-term plans. To get full access for under $2 per month is pretty much unheard of with the best VPN deals from other providers usually going for around $3 to $4 at best.

Its two- and three-year plans make it way better value than the likes of ExpressVPN or NordVPN, though being a newer service it has some drawbacks like lower server availability. As long as you are wiling to sign up for a longer commitment, Surfshark is a very affordable VPN option that you should give some serious consideration to.

Surfshark VPN

See latest pricing at Surfshark

You can connect as many devices as your heart desires at the same time and never worry about any of them being logged. Surfshark also offers a 30-day guarantee that you'll like the product, or it will give you your money back.



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Who should (and who shouldn't) get the Amex Gold card?

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.

When it comes time to apply for your first premium-ish rewards card, the American Express® Gold Card shouldn't be ignored. In fact, TPG senior contributor Ethan Steinberg says that he's even more loyal to his Amex Gold now during the pandemic.

The Gold Card has an annual fee of $250 (see rates and fees), which is effectively $30 when you factor in its monthly statement credits at select restaurants and its airline fee credit.

It has relevant bonus categories such as global dining and U.S. supermarkets, plus it earns valuable American Express Membership Rewards points. Let's dive into why else the Amex Gold is a great card to consider, and who should and who shouldn't get the Amex Gold Card.

Key benefits

The annual fee on the Gold Card is $250 (see rates and fees) — and it's not waived for the first year. To compensate, the card offers up to $220 in annual statement credits.

This breaks down to an up to $100 annual credit for airline incidentals (not valid on airfare, only on charges like seat assignment, bag fees and lounge access) and a up to $10 a month (up to $120 a year) dining credit at participating locations such as Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Boxed, and participating Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.

The bonus categories are also impressive, earning:

  • 4x points at restaurants worldwide
  • 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year; then 1x point)
  • 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
  • 1x everywhere else

The card is offering a welcome bonus of 35,000 Membership Rewards points (worth $700 based on TPG's latest valuations) after spending $4,000 in the first three months. However, you could be targeted for a higher 50,000-point bonus (after spending $2,000 in the first three months) through CardMatch or a referral link (offer subject to change at any time).

You can also earn double points and a property credit of up to $100 when you book a prepaid hotel stay of two nights or longer through the Amex Hotel Collection.

Related: Full review of the Amex Gold

Who should get the Amex Gold card?

People who spend a lot on dining and U.S. supermarkets

Statement credits are a great way to offset a high annual fee on a credit card, but you don't apply for a new card to break even. You do it to get ahead.

The 4x bonus categories on worldwide dining and on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x for U.S. supermarket purchases) amount to an 8% return, based on TPG's valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each. It almost goes without saying that people who spend heavily in these categories will get the most value out of this card.

The Amex Gold is not the first credit card to offer bonus categories on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, but it might be the most valuable one. Four Membership Rewards points per dollar beats out the 3x Ultimate Rewards points on dining offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

It's possible to end up with a slightly higher return on purchases at U.S. supermarkets by using the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express, but the bonus categories on the Gold Card don't require you to jump through any hoops, such as a minimum number of transactions per month to earn the highest rates. This card doesn't have any foreign transaction fees if you decide to travel with it (see rates and fees).

The information for the Amex EveryDay Preferred card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

People looking to complete the Amex trifecta

The two biggest weak spots in the Amex Gold Card's bonus categories (travel and everyday spending) can be easily fixed by pairing it with two other strong Amex cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

No matter how much money you spend on dining and groceries a year, you'll likely want to combine multiple cards into the Amex trifecta to maximize your bonus-category earning.

If you combine these three cards and use each one for its bonus categories, you'll end up earning anywhere from 2-5x points, or 4-10% back on nearly all of your purchases. And these cards really fit together like puzzle pieces, with the Amex Platinum providing luxury perks, such as lounge access and hotel elite status, that the Gold Card doesn't, and the Blue Business Plus elevating your base earning rate on non-bonus spending from 1x to 2x (on the first $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year; then 1x) without costing you a penny in annual fees (see rates and fees).

People who can max out the $220 in annual statement credits

One of the toughest things for many new points enthusiasts to wrap their heads around is the value of a premium credit card. No matter how much personal value you get out of some of the perks, you still end up paying well over $100 a year out of pocket for the right to use them — often paying $450 or more up front before you begin to get reimbursed by statement credits.

The Amex Gold makes that math much simpler if you can max out both of its annual statement credits.

Although the up to $100 annual airline incidental credit can't be directly applied to the cost of a ticket, you can use it for things such as change/cancellation fees, lounge day passes, seat assignment fees or checked bag fees.

The up to $120 dining credit is broken down into $10 a month, similar to the Uber credit that comes with the Amex Platinum, but it also is pretty easy to maximize. I can't think of a single purchase at any of the partner dining merchants (Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Boxed and participating Shake Shack locations) that would cost lessthan $10 a month, so if you eat out or order in once every 30 days this should be easy to take advantage of.

If using up the airline fee credits and the dining credit sounds like something you can do, you'll effectively end up paying $30 a year to keep the Amex Gold, making it one of the cheapest cards relative to the benefits it offers. And it should be easy to earn back that last $30 by taking advantage of one or more Amex Offers, where you can earn discounts on purchases you likely would have made already.

People who are over 5/24 with Chase

Whether you have years of established credit or are new to the points world entirely, we at TPG almost universally recommend that you start by applying for Chase credit cards because of the pesky 5/24 rule. Simply put, this rule means that you will be automatically rejected for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

The question of what you should do after you've maxed out your five slots with Chase gets a little trickier, but the Amex Gold could be a great answer. Not only will you immediately begin earning a valuable transferable points currency, but the 4x bonus categories will help you earn your free vacation even faster.

I also believe that having access to multiple types of points makes all of your points more valuable, as it gives you more options to pick from for any specific trip you want to take. For certain Star Alliance redemptions, being able to pick between Aeroplan (transferring Amex points) or United (transferring Chase points) could end up saving you hundreds of dollars or thousands of miles.

People targeted for a 50,000-point bonus

The public welcome offer on the Amex Gold is currently 35,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, but some readers have reported being targeted for a higher bonus of 50,000 points on the Amex website through referral links (offer subject to change at anytime) and through CardMatch.

Relate:

Since Amex has a "once per lifetime" policy with welcome offers, it always makes sense to see if you can get a higher offer. Those extra 15,000 points would add $300 in value to your bonus, making your total haul worth $1,000.

Who shouldn't get the Amex Gold card?

The Amex Gold has the potential to be a very lucrative card, but there are several groups of people who might struggle to get good value from it.

People who are under 5/24

As mentioned above, Chase's 5/24 rule is one of the most important considerations in building a starter strategy for credit cards. Five cards can seem like a lot to someone who has never even had one before, but those slots go by quickly and once you've used them up, you might never get them back.

The Amex Gold is going to be around for a while, so there's no reason to fire off an application for it right now, especially if it means compromising your strategy with Chase.

There are at least three Chase credit cards currently offering bonuses worth $1,000 or more based on TPG valuations or the cost of redemptions through Chase Ultimate Rewards — the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The value of the Amex Gold welcome bonus is $700. If you want to get this card at some point, make a mental note but don't get impatient and throw away your whole strategy.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

People who live outside the U.S.

If you're outside the U.S., that means the 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 each calendar year; then 1x) and the up to $120 dining credit do you no good. In fact, if you live outside the U.S., this card is much less valuable. The other perks, such as 3x on flights and an up to $100 credit when booking through the Amex Hotel Collection, can easily be overshadowed by other premium rewards cards.

People who won't max out the statement credits

The up to $100 airline incidental credit can be easy for some people to use, but it's not as easy as it has been in the past because airline gift cards are no longer triggering the credit and the up to $120 dining credit might be tougher to use if you enjoy cooking at home or don't eat at any of the partner restaurants. Ordering delivery just to use the free $10 credit might end up costing more than it saves.

If that's the case, you're left with a card that might cost you more out of pocket than the ultra-premium cards such as the Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve.

You're left footing a larger bill and getting fewer perks in return, as the Amex Gold doesn't offer any form of lounge access, elite status or even a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100).

People who've previously had an Amex Gold card

I personally appreciate Amex's rule on bonus eligibility. It's easy to understand that if you have previously earned the bonus on a credit card, you will not be eligible to earn it again.

Although the Amex Gold underwent a heavy makeover, it is still technically the same product that was known as the Premier Rewards Gold Card. This means that people who previously have had the old version will not be eligible for a bonus on the new product even if the old card has been closed.

People who want travel coverages and primary rental car insurance

The Amex Gold card isn't one of the best credit cards with travel protections. For example, the rental car insurance you get with the card is secondary, which means it only applies to expenses not covered by other insurances you have. On top of that, the card also doesn't have any trip delay or trip interruption coverage.

Now, compare that to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which provides primary rental car insurance when you pay for the entire rental with your card (or with Chase Ultimate Rewards points) and decline the rental company's collision coverage.

The Sapphire Reserve also has amazing trip-delay protection: When you pay for at least part of your fare with the card you can have eligible expenses (up to $500 per ticket) reimbursed if your travel is delayed for six hours or more or requires an overnight stay. Eligible purchases that can be reimbursed with this coverage include lodging, transportation, toiletries, clothing or food expenses you incurred as a result of the delay.

Bottom line

The Amex Gold is a valuable option for U.S.-based customers who spend heavily on dining and groceries at U.S. supermarkets and are looking for an in-between, "premium-lite" card that offers good returns without an obscene price tag.

If you can max out all the benefits this card has to offer, it might become a cornerstone of your wallet. But if you live or frequently travel outside of the U.S. or can't max out both of the annual statement credits, stop and think about whether this is the best card for you.

Even if you decide against applying for the Amex Gold, make sure to check out TPG's list of the best travel credit cards to find the right card to meet your travel goals.

Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you're targeted for any special offers. These offers are subject to change at any time.

Additional reporting by Chris Dong and Jason Stauffer

For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus card, please click here.



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Modern Warfare 2 Remaster, Fall Guys free this month on PS Plus

One of the biggest perks of having a PlayStation Plus membership is the free games you get every month. The games PlayStation is offering this month include two major titles. Check out the list below, start downloading these games on July 28. Enjoy the price of -free- until Aug. 31, 2020.

★Relive a classic

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered

2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has gone down as one of the most influential first-person shooters in gaming history. While fans may still be hoping for a multiplayer remake, the campaign has recently been remastered, and is now free for PlayStation Plus members. Relive the action-packed sequel in the best possible way starting today.

See at PlayStation Store

★ Battle it out

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout has the potential to be a huge hit, thanks to its colorful look and incredibly addicting gameplay. Players will battle it out against friends or other players online in free-for-all or co-op challenges. Thankfully, PlayStation Plus subscribers will get a chance to pick up the game for free when it launches on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

See at PlayStation Blog

The best exclusives for PlayStation Plus this month

Exclusives are free bonus content available on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation Plus subscribers. It's usually a character or weapon skin, but sometimes you might catch a deal for exclusive content like bonus weapons, in-game currency, or perks! Every month we'll update this section with the best PlayStation Plus exclusives so you never miss any of the good stuff.

Grab some gear

Rogue Company PlayStation Plus Pack

This special pack for Rogue Company includes a ton of content, including a re-entry wingsuit, Blue Steel primary weapon wrap, 500 Rogue Bucks, and a Rogue Company theme.

See at PlayStation Store

It's a celebration

Fortnite - PlayStation Plus Celebration Pack

Epic Games has released another PlayStation Plus pack for Fortnite players, with the latest Celebration pack giving fans even more gear. This pack includes a brand new emote, glider, and contrail, so pick it up now.

See at PlayStation Store

The best deals for PlayStation Plus this month

Outside of free games and exclusive content, PlayStation Plus accounts also come with discounts on select games. Each month, we'll let you know what the best deals for PlayStation Plus accounts are by comparing prices, deals, and content.

A ton of gear

Call of Duty Warzone Pack

This limited-time bundle includes 500 Call of Duty Points, an Epic Operator skin, a legendary shotgun blueprint, and much more to give you a head start as you jump into some Warzone or Call of Duty multiplayer.

See at PlayStation Store

Which is your favorite game you've gotten for free with PlayStation Plus?

After a few months of lukewarm responses to the PlayStation Plus games, August's offerings should have fans very excited. Not only does this month give us a fan-favorite titles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered, but it also gives us a brand new game in the form of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, which will undoubtedly result in a ton of chaotic fun once it releases next week.

All in all, these games still represent a ton of different genres for fans to check out for no extra cost, which is what PlayStation Plus is all about. Let us know which game you've loved and which one you're excited about this month! Shoot us a Tweet over at @AndroidCentral and tell us all about it!



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The evolution of the PlayStation controller: From DualShock to DualSense

Let's take a trip down memory lane and see how Sony's designed its PlayStation controllers.

I've talked before about how the PS5 is a drastic design departure from previous PlayStation consoles, but I've never focused on the DualSense controller, itself a major shakeup to the DualShock line. PlayStation's controllers have all had similar form factors, so much so that the DualShock 2 and 3 are nearly identical. The DualSense is very clearly the odd one out in the family. Let's take a trip down memory lane and see how we got to this point.

Holiday 2020

PlayStation 5

See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Walmart

Get your hands on it before it sells out

The PS5 isn't available for preorder just yet, but a few retailers are letting fans sign up for notifications so they don't miss out. The DualSense should hopefully make all of its upcoming games more immersive than ever before.

Jump to:

There have been plenty of unreleased PlayStation controllers over the years — I'm sure no one can forget the PS3 boomerang — but for our purposes will stick with the official controllers that released alongside PlayStation consoles. These are the ones we've all come to known as the DualShock lineup, now accompanied by the DualSense, set to launch with the PS5 this holiday.

Original and DualShock

The original PlayStation controller, pictured above on the left, isn't technically a DualShock controller. The name is derived from the two vibration motors found inside the shell, and these weren't introduced until 1997 when Sony released a controller with two analog sticks and rumble technology. This was the very first DualShock controller in all of its wired glory. It has your now iconic face buttons — triangle, square, circle, and X, along with a symmetrical thumbstick layout, a D-pad, Start and Select buttons, triggers (L2, R2), and bumpers (L1, R1). The Analog button that can be seen in the center provides compatibility with the PlayStation Analog Joystick.

DualShock 2

The DualShock 2 is nearly identical to its predecessor with some minor adjustments in the form of thumbstick textures and screws. This would also set the precedent for DualShock controllers to be entirely black when they would release. Under the hood, the technology was improved so that buttons were more pressure-sensitive and precise.

In terms of compatibility, the DualShock 2 can be used natively with both the original PlayStation and PS2 consoles, and the PS3 through the use of third-party peripherals.

DualShock 3

What initially launched with the PS3 was actually called the Sixaxis controller due to its motion sensors, but it did not feature any vibration motors or haptic feedback for fear that these would affect its motion detection. The Sixaxis would eventually be phased out in favor of the DualShock 3, which included the previous rumble technology found in past DualShock's and also kept the motion sensors from the Sixaxis. All of its buttons remain the same, again with greater precision and tactile feedback, except it features a jewel PS button in the center instead of the Analog button.

Unlike previous DualShock controllers, the DualShock 3 is completely wireless through Bluetooth and can be charged via a mini-USB cable.

DualShock 4

Up until the DualSense, the DualShock 4 was the biggest design departure from previous controllers. Not only is the casing more ergonomic, but a touchpad, light bar, and Share button were added, the latter of which would pave the way for instantly sharing content on social media. The touchpad is a versatile button that was severely underutilized, often acting as a glorified menu button for whatever game you're in.

Some games, like Ghost of Tsushima, take advantage of the touchpad's sensors and allow you to perform different actions by swiping in one of four directions across the pad. Its light bar, also underutilized, is primarily used with VR games and can act as a motion detector in games like Until Dawn, where players would need to hold the controller in a certain position to complete actions. The DualShock 4 also included a built-in speaker.

PS5 DualSense

Now the DualSense marks a huge shakeup for PlayStation controllers. Right off the bat, you'll notice its two-tone color scheme and more ergonomic design. Sony put in a lot of work to ensure that the DualSense offers a level of immersion not found in DualShock controllers.

It features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, allowing players to feel the tension and resistance of their actions in-game, like drawing a bowstring. The DualSense also has textured grips and thumbsticks that make it more comfortable to use over long periods of time. It keeps the touchpad and light bar found on the DualShock 4, but the light bar was moved to wrap around the touchpad on the DualSense. The DualSense is also charged through USB-C.

Holiday 2020

PlayStation 5

See at Amazon See at Best Buy See at Walmart

Get your hands on it before it sells out

The PS5 isn't available for preorder just yet, but a few retailers are letting fans sign up for notifications so they don't miss out. The DualSense should hopefully make all of its upcoming games more immersive than ever before.



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How to watch Mets vs. Braves series online

Reigning NL East champs the Braves welcome division rivals the New York Mets on Saturday, hoping to replicate their series win at Citi Field earlier this week.

The Braves sealed their first series victory of the season with a crushing 14-1 final, a defeat that the Mets will be desperate to make amends for at SunTrust Park.

That match saw Braves star Darby Swanson live up to some of the pre-season hype that has some pundits tipping him to be one of 2020's breakout players, with the 26-year-old notching up five RBIs. He went on to follow that impressive display by going 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, an RBI, plus a stolen base in Atlanta's midweek 7-4 win over Tampa Bay.

Freddie Freeman also looks in fine form following his recovery from Covid-19, notching up four hits and drives in three runs for the Braves' during Wednesday's win over the Rays.

The Mets travel to Atlanta having rebuilt some of their dented confidence by shelling the Red Sox for 18 runs during the first two games of their series earlier this week at Fenway Park.

Read on for full details on how to get a live stream of New York Mets at Atlanta Braves, no matter where you are in the world, with our guide below.

New York Mets at Atlanta Braves: Where and when?

  • Game 1: Friday July 31, 7.10pm ET, SNY, Fox Sports South
  • Game 2: Saturday, August 1, 7.10pm ET, SNY, Fox Sports South
  • Game 3: Sunday, August 2, 1.10pm ET, TBS, SNY, Fox Sports South-East,
  • Game 4: Monday, August 3, 7.10pm ET, Fox Sports 1, SNY, Fox Sports South

Watch New York Mets at Atlanta Braves online from outside your country

We have details of all the US, UK, and Canadian broadcasters of this game further down in this guide. If you're intent on watching New York Mets at Atlanta Braves, but find yourself away from home then you'll run into problems when trying to stream your domestic coverage online from abroad as it's likely to be geo-blocked.

That's where using one of the best VPN (Virtual Private Network) options can be a lifesaver. They allow you to virtually change the ISP of your laptop, tablet or mobile to one that's back in your home country, letting you watch as if you were back there.

VPN's are incredibly easy to use and have the added benefit of giving you a further layer of security when surfing the web. There are lots of options, and we recommend ExpressVPN as our #1 pick due to its speed, security and ease of use. It can be used on a vast array of operating systems and devices (e.g. iOS, Android, Smart TVs, Fire TV Stick, Roku, games consoles, etc). Sign up for ExpressVPN now now and enjoy a 49% discount and 3 months FREE with an annual subscription. Or give it a try with its 30-day money back guarantee. Looking for other options? Here are some alternatives that are on sale right now.

ExpressVPN

From $6.67 per month at ExpressVPN

No matter where in the world you may be, a VPN is one of the easiest ways to watch New York Mets at Atlanta Braves. Get in on this deal now!

How to watch New York Mets at Atlanta Braves online in the US

Despite the many Coronavirus-enforced changes to the 2020 MLB season, the way games are broadcast is largely the same as last year. MLB.TV (free 3-day trial offered) remains the best bet for for fans outside of their home team's city looking to watch out-of-market games. With the season having been compressed, its price has been slashed to just $59.99 for access to every team's games, or $49.99 to follow a single team. A subscription covers the entire regular season, plus the playoffs and World Series.

The service is hindered by local blackouts, but you can bypass these restrictions by using a VPN as detailed in our guide, and pointing your computer to an out-of-market location. As ever, you'll be able to watch on your local regional sports networks such as local Fox Sports channels, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles Dodgers), the YES Network (New York Yankees) and NESN (Boston Red Sox), while regular MLB broadcasters such as Fox, Fox Sports 1, TBS, MLB Network and ESPN are going to be broadcasting as well.

For cord cutters, YouTube TV, Hulu, AT&T TV Now, and fuboTV all represent good options for watching MLB 2020 season without the need of a cable subscription, however Sling TV would be our pick for baseball fans. It covers all the cable channels a baseball fan will need to watch the key games in one place, with a combined Sling Blue and Orange package for $45 giving you access to ESPN, TBS and Fox Sports. An extra $10 on top adds Sports Extra and MLB Network (plus NHL Network, NBA TV, beIN Sports, ESPN U, Tennis Channel and more).

Sling TV

$30 at Sling

Subscribe to Sling TV now and get 3 days of access for free to try it out!

Anyone looking to watch the New York Mets at Atlanta Braves series in the New York area will need to tune in to SNY, while Fox Sports South is the channel to head to if you're in Atlanta. The final match of the series, meanwhile, is set to be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1.

How to stream New York Mets at Atlanta Braves live in the UK

UK viewers will be able to watch live action from the 2020 MLB season via BT Sport with coverage across its channels. You can also stream games via the BT Sport app and on its webpage. Unfortunately none of this four games in this series have been selected to be shown live on BT, meaning UK baseball fans will need to head to MLB.TV. The streaming service is also available in the UK, where it costs around £50 for the full offering.

How to stream New York Mets at Atlanta Braves live in Canada

There's a number of options for watching MLB in Canada this season.Those with a cable subscription will be able to watch games via Sportsnet, TVA Sports, TSN and RDS which will also offer coverage online as well.

MLB.TV is also available to Candians with only Blue Jays matches subject to local blackouts.



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Redmi K30 Ultra passes through TENAA with pop-up camera, 4400mAh battery

Sadly, the TENAA listing doesn't reveal the name of the chipset powering the phone.

What you need to know

  • An upcoming Redmi smartphone with the model number M2006J10C has been spotted on the TENAA website.
  • The phone looks quite similar to the Redmi K30 Pro and sports a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display.
  • It is rumored to be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 5G chipset.

Earlier this month, the folks at XDA Developers found references to an upcoming Xiaomi smartphone called the Redmi K30 Ultra within a MIUI 12 build. The phone is codenamed "cezanne" and is expected to be launched as the Redmi K30 Ultra. A new Redmi phone with a design fairly similar to the current Redmi K30 Pro has now surfaced on the official website of China's TENAA regulatory body.

The new Xiaomi smartphone, which bears the model number M2006J10C, features a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display. Since no notch or hole-punch cutout is visible in the images published by TENAA, it looks like the phone will have a pop-up camera, just like the K30 Pro. The TENAA listing also reveals that the phone has a 64MP main sensor at the rear, 5G support, a 4400mAh battery, and a 20MP selfie camera.

If the device is indeed the rumored Redmi K30 Ultra, it will likely be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 chipset and support 33W fast charging. Even though Redmi hasn't announced any plans for launching a new K30 series phone yet, it is possible that the Redmi K30 Ultra will debut in China sometime next month. What is also unclear at this point is if the phone will be making its way to markets outside China. The Redmi K30 Pro was rebranded and launched as the POCO F2 Pro in global markets.

Best Xiaomi Phones in 2020



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How to fix slow internet problems with Charter Spectrum

Spectrum from Charter Communications is a cable internet provider that offers speeds up to 940Mbps in supported areas. While most people will be happy with one of Spectrum's smaller 100Mbps or 300Mbps packages, these speeds are still fast enough for most people. If you are a big downloader or a heavy streamer, Spectrum is uniquely one of your best options thanks to a lack of data caps. Now you just need to make sure you are set up correctly and have the right equipment to take advantage of your connection.

Products used in this guide

Charter Spectrum: Find your bottleneck

There are a few components between your connected device and the internet connection, including your wireless router, a modem, and Spectrum's own infrastructure. To get the most out of your connection, you need to find the slowest part of your network, called your bottleneck, and speed it up.

Start by doing a little investigation.

  1. Gather some info
    • Find out how much internet speed you pay for. This information can usually be found on your bill.
  2. Access a speed test
    • A speed test will help you see how fast your connection currently is. You can google "speed test" or use a website like speedtest.net.
  3. Run the speed test
    • Run a few speed tests in your home starting in the same room as your router. Move around your home where you might use your internet and keep track of the areas with the worst speeds.
  4. Compare your results to what you pay for

In a perfect world, you would get the full speed you pay for in all parts of your home but thanks to signal obstructions in your home as well as interference from other sources such as a neighbor's router, speeds can drop off.

If you find out you are getting the speeds you pay for but it's not enough, it may be time for an upgrade. You can check out your options online or call customer support at 833-267-6094 to get your package upgraded. For a couple of people, the 100Mbps connection will likely be enough but as you add more people, you may find it doesn't hold up, especially with streamers. For most people, Spectrum's 300Mbps package is going to be the sweet spot.

You can go all the way up to 940Mbps download with Spectrum as long as your area has support. The faster your base connection, the faster the rest of your network will need to be to keep up.

Keep in mind, if you are trying to become the next big Twitch streamer, you'll need a faster upload speed. Spectrum, in general, is weak for upload speeds so if you're looking to stream at 1080p 60FPS or higher, consider getting the fastest Gig Internet package to access it's 35Mbps upload speeds.

Charter Spectrum: Restart your modem

If your internet isn't hitting the speeds you expect even right next to your router, you may just need to restart your modem to make sure the settings are correct. Sometimes Spectrum will need to provide new configuration information to your modem and normally these settings will be automatic, but sometimes the modem needs a manual restart to complete the update.

You can restart your modem simply by unplugging it for a minute before plugging it back in. You can also do it through Spectrum's Internet Troubleshooting Tool as well as the My Spectrum app.

You may also need to restart your Wi-Fi router at the same time but most of the time the router will be able to reacquire the information it needs without a restart.

Charter Spectrum: Upgrade your equipment

If you've found a weak link in your home network and need to upgrade some equipment there are some great options no matter what you need to get going. If you aren't getting your internet speeds, even wired, you may be ready for a new modem. If you are renting your modem from Spectrum, contact customer support to make sure your modem is fast enough for your service.

If you own your own modem, you can check out the Arris SURFboard SB8200 for full Gig Internet support thanks to DOCSIS 3.1 support and 32 downstream channels. If you have one of the slower packages and don't want to spend so much on a modem, the Netgear CM700 is a great option with DOCSIS3.0 support working great for Spectrum's 100Mbps and 300Mbps packages.

Routers are a bit more complicated since there is a system that will fit nearly every home. If you care mostly about speed, you can choose something like the TP-Link Archer AX6000. This router can deliver AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 speeds to new devices and will be able to deliver great speeds to older generation devices as well. There are eight Ethernet ports on the back making it an easy fit for an existing wired home network. There are plenty of other Wi-Fi 6 options as well.

If your home has a layout that's hard to cover with wireless signals such as having concrete walls or simply being really big, a mesh system might be a perfect choice. Mesh systems use multiple smaller routers to cover more area and dodge elements that block signals. Meshes systems are great for getting around concrete walls.

The eero system is a great choice for someone that doesn't have much experience setting up a network. The eero app is easy to use and helps you get set up quickly. This eero system is really only good for internet speed under 500Mbps so you might want to look at other mesh options or even a Wi-Fi 6 mesh system for faster speeds.

Our top equipment picks

If it's time to upgrade your equipment or you're just looking to get rid of some modem rental fees, these are some great options to get started.

A faster modem

Arris SURFboard SB8200

$149 at Amazon $170 at Best Buy

Get a modem that can keep up

The Arris SURFboard SB8200 is a great companion for Spectrum's fastest internet thanks to DOCSIS 3.1 and 32 downstream channels.

No dead zones

eero 3-pack

$249 at Amazon $150 at Best Buy

Add coverage wherever you need it

Eero delivers enough speed for most Spectrum customers with simple and quick coverage expansion with any other eero product.

Fine tune your equipment

Let's face it, you probably don't need the fastest internet package. If you are using anything less than Spectrum's top internet package, you can save a little money with a slower modem like Netgear's CM700, which can deliver up to 500Mbps. You can also opt for a fast, non-mesh router like the TP-Link Archer AX6000.

Netgear CM700

$120 at Dell

Save money on rental fees with a modem that's fast enough for most of Spectrum's plans with DOCSIS 3.0 and 32 downstream channels.

TP-Link Archer AX6000

$350 at Microsoft

Wi-Fi 6 speeds and compatibility with older devices and 8-gigabit ethernet ports make the Archer AX6000 a great Wi-Fi upgrade.



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Amazon is blowing out these essential Anker charging accessories today only

Having efficient charging accessories is important if you want to power up your devices in a timely manner. If you're still using an old charger, it's time to upgrade and Anker's one-day sale at Amazon is the perfect opportunity. Today only, a selection of Anker charging accessories are discounted by up to 43% with prices starting at just $13, including USB wall chargers, car chargers, portable battery packs, and more.

One essential accessory everyone should have when on the go is a handy power bank. The sale features a couple of Anker options to meet different needs. The PowerCore 13000 is the most affordable model at $20.39, its best direct price drop in years. It features a 13000mAh capacity and two USB ports for powering up a couple of devices simultaneously. If you want a power bank with USB-C, the PowerCore Metro Slim 10000 PD has got you covered and it's availabe for its best price to date at just $33.99.

Another essential everyone should have — and one that might be worth replacing by now if you've had it forever — is a USB car charger. If you're traveling somewhere in a hurry, how fast you can power up your phone becomes pretty important, and Anker's PowerDrive Speed Duo ensures a fast charge. It's equipped with two USB ports and has a total output of 30W.

You can also find USB-C wall chargers, USB-C cables, Lightning cables, and more, so be sure to check it out before it comes to an end later tonight.

Amazon offers free shipping on orders totaling $25 or more, or with an Amazon Prime membership. If you've never been a member before, you can start a free 30-day trial to score free two-day shipping with no order minimum restriction, as well as access to all of Prime's perks like the Prime Video streaming service, exclusive members-only discounts, and more.



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McAfee Total Protection Review: Everything you need

The McAfee name lives on!

There's a reason that the name McAfee is synonymous with virus protection. While McAfee hasn't always had the strongest reputation when it comes to its user interface it has continued to improve and deliver great security results. While the advances in the core security features of Windows 10 and other modern operating systems have managed to make security software an afterthought, there are still some great reasons to sign up.

McAfee Total Protection offers a heck of a lot more than just an antivirus scanner with several tabs of useful features that thankfully, don't all activate on their own. Still, McAfee is a little heavier than some of its competition so it's not the right solution for everyone. If you've got a PC that you want to keep safe while adding features like parental controls, a password manager, and a PC optimizer with just one account, McAfee might be a perfect choice.

The Complete Package

McAfee Total Protection

Bottom line: Though slightly more resource-intensive than some of its competition, the sheer number of features that comes with this package plus the nice user interface makes it worth the price. You not only get a great firewall, antivirus, and malware protection, you also get a password manager, PC optimization software, and some parental controls.

The Good

  • Comes packed with great features
  • Quick and thorough virus scanning
  • PC and app optimizer
  • McAfee Web Boost can save power
  • Parental controls are a great bonus

The Bad

  • Some features require auto-renewal
  • Application uses a lot of background tasks

From $35 per year at McAfee

McAfee Total Protection Review:

McAfee Total Protection: What's included?

McAfee Total Security comes with an array of features besides the base antivirus protection. The antivirus on its own contains a quick and full scanner as well as realtime protections thanks to a firewall.

Also included is performance optimization software which can not only delete unneeded files such as those in the recycling bin or clogging up your temp folder but also will prioritize certain apps so they launch faster. A web browsing booster performs basic tasks such as preventing automatically playing videos to help your page load faster while saving power on your PC. This can be a great bonus for a laptop with a less than stellar battery life.

Moving on there is a password manager packed in so you can store all of your secure passwords without having to memorize or write down dozens of combinations. Even if you don't use McAfee's solution, you really should be using a password manager.

Finally, there is the Virus Protection Pledge and the Safe Connect VPN. The pledge offers you a refund if the software is unable to rid your PC of a virus while the VPN is a fairly standard unlimited VPN service. The kicker here is that you must be signed up for auto-renewal to get access to these.

McAfee Total Protection: What I like

McAfee Total Security has a nice presentation with a clear and easy to understand UI. Everything you need is within a couple of clicks and is logically placed in the software. I feel like even someone unfamiliar with how PCs work will understand how to navigate the software.

You can even access a virus scan with a quick right-click of the tray icon. The quicker security software gets out of my way and lets me get back to my work— or rather Master Chief Collection, the better. McAfee scores a point here.

Virus scanning is quick and precise. AV-Test awarded the software a perfect score and AV-Comparatives showed a 98.9% block rate. That's about as good as PC security gets.

Another nice feature is the vulnerability scanner which looks for possible entry points into your PC from sources like outdated applications. Total Security will update the applications it can or will direct you to update them manually if necessary. This can be a nice feature for a PC like mine that has been on the same Windows install since 2014 and has some applications I hardly use but can be a risk to my system.

If your PC is a bit old and slow, McAfee has a tool to help you get the most out of web browsing. McAfee Web Boost can stop videos, such as those in advertisements, from auto-playing which can consume a ton of battery power if you don't notice it on a notebook. It's also just a nice thing to have for a lot of sites. I left this feature off on my desktop but I think it would be very useful on a notebook or tablet computer.

Quick Clean is a nice feature that can clear out a lot of unnecessary files hanging around your hard drives. Naturally, it's possible to do this manually but it's nice to have an option to do it with one click. Another thing you can get on your own is a password manager. Still, McAfee doesn't install this feature by default so you're free to ignore it if you are already using another service.

A file vault is enabled on your PC which is essentially a password-protected folder. This can be very nice if you share your PC or use your computer in an area where theft is likely.

Overall, there's a lot more that works for McAfee Total Security than doesn't.

McAfee Total Protection: What I don't like

Looking under the hood of McAfee Total Protection reveals quite a few tasks using a significant amount of memory. While it's not a big deal on my PC with 16GB of RAM, if you're working with 4GB or less, it will feel a lot bigger. It should be noted that McAfee only asks for 2GB of system RAM in its minimum requirements.

While McAfee's Web Advisor extension will provide security details for each site you visit with a simple click, it doesn't have information for every link in a Google search like some of its competitors do. To get this, you'll need another extension called Secure Search. Once prompted to install the extension, I was asked to change my default search engine to McAfee Secure Search which is Yahoo.

I've got nothing against Yahoo search and while it works fine, I would imagine most people would like to use Google for familiarity or DuckDuckGo for its privacy features. Secure Search works fine but I didn't leave it installed for long.

The worst thing for me is the features locked behind auto-renewal. While McAfee makes the fact reasonably clear, locking the unlimited VPN and Virus Protection Pledge behind this requirement doesn't feel completely honest. Plus, no one wants to be forced into an auto-renewal, especially when it's a year long.

McAfee Total Protection: Competition

The main difference between the different McAfee Total Security packages is how many devices it covers. If you're a gamer though, McAfee has a performance-focused Gamer Security package which aims to reduce background tasks as well as reducing McAfee's own footprint with its MicroAV engine. Basically, it uses a cloud server to analyze your PC rather than a local list of definitions. It does require Windows 10 however.

As far as other brands go, there are plenty to choose from including some comparable packages from Bitdefender and Kaspersky both of which offer similarly great protection. You can't go wrong with either package.

If you're looking to get protected for as little time and money as possible, Microsoft's own Windows Security package does a good job. It's not as fastidious as McAfee in detection but it is very tightly integrated with Windows 10 and included for free.

McAfee Total Security Should you choose McAfee?

If you prefer McAfee's features the security more than back it up. The interface is clean and easy to understand with quick and easy access to scans. I wish some features like the VPN were offered without any strings but that they are there at all is a nice bonus. I also really like the inclusion of PC optimization software making this a great way to get an older or slower PC secured and running well all in one window.

4.5 out of 5

Overall there's nothing to lose by choosing McAfee Total Protection but there's also not that much to distinguish its feature set over its main competitors. If you're willing to sign up for auto-renewal, the VPN is a great value. Paired with the password manager, you'll be all set to use your PC on the go without worries.

The Complete Package

McAfee Total Protection

From $35 per year at McAfee

Tons of great features

The McAfee name lives on with a solid PC security package with everything you need plus a few nice bonuses like parental controls.



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