Technology

Canceling a Stadia Pro subscription is easy

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2022

Google Stadia by no means fairly set the online game world ablaze with a paradigm shift in the direction of cloud recreation streaming, however it has quietly soldiered on as a handy service for many who worth enjoying the newest video games on less-than-capable {hardware}. Its future stays somewhat bit unclear, with Google reportedly placing much less precedence on it internally. Although the service’s future should carve out its area of interest amongst players in search of free demos and trials which might be simple to check out, what should you already subscribed however really feel it’s time to step off this beta-like trip?

The excellent news is that canceling a $9.99-per-month Google Stadia Professional subscription is pretty simple.

Nevertheless, you could already be considering to your self: “What’s going to occur to my video games?” Listed here are the fundamentals of what occurs whenever you cancel Stadia Professional and fall again to a free-tier account:

You’ll lose entry to any video games that you simply claimed without spending a dime whereas a Stadia Professional member
You possibly can hold and proceed enjoying any video games that you simply bought by means of the service
You’ll be restricted to a 1080p stream with stereo sound as an alternative of 4K and 5.1 encompass

That is smart — the video games you got with precise cash received’t be trapped behind the paywall, and the “free” video games work equally to how PlayStation Plus and Xbox Reside Video games with Gold do at this time.

Lapsed Stadia Professional subscribers can nonetheless buy and play further video games, even on a free account. In any case, Google needs you to maintain utilizing and paying for Stadia, in a technique or one other, although reductions on new video games are an unique perk for paying Stadia Professional members. Additionally, should you later determine to resubscribe to Stadia Professional, the free video games you initially claimed will probably be restored in your account’s library.

One benefit of Stadia is the power to play AAA-level video games extra modest {hardware}.

Picture by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

So should you determine to cancel, you possibly can nonetheless proceed utilizing Google Stadia as a free service — enjoying the paid video games you already personal at a decrease decision and with the choice to resubscribe at any time to leap again into your claimed free titles. And there isn’t an excessive amount of threat in canceling your Professional account as a result of you possibly can all the time change your thoughts later should you miss it.

This submit will run you thru the cancellation course of in your Chrome browser or by means of the Stadia cellular app.

Tips on how to cancel from Chrome

Go to stadia.google.com and click on your avatar on the highest proper nook of the Chrome browser display.
Within the drop-down menu, click on Stadia settings.

*Accessing Stadia settings on a Chrome desktop browser.*

Subsequent, hit Purchases & subscriptions.

*Purchases & subscriptions lists all of your Stadia buying historical past and present subscription standing.*

On the following display, you’ll see your purchases and subscriptions. If you wish to unsubscribe from Stadia Professional, hit Unsubscribe.

*The Purchases & subscriptions view for a Stadia Professional member, highlighting the Unsubscribe button.*

Tips on how to cancel from the Stadia app

When you open the Stadia app, faucet the avatar close to the highest proper nook of your cellphone’s show.
Click on Purchases on the settings display that seems.
Subsequent, faucet Unsubscribe beneath the Stadia Professional field.

*Left to proper: accessing your account, purchases, and subscription standing on the Google Stadia cellular app.*

It’s that straightforward. You possibly can proceed utilizing Stadia Professional providers till the tip of your present billing cycle. After that, your account bumps all the way down to a free model.

Replace March twenty first, 2022, 3:58PM ET: This text was initially printed on February 14th, 2020, and has been up to date to account for adjustments in Stadia.

Technology

Apple’s next AirTag could arrive in 2025

Published

2 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Apple’s next AirTag could arrive in 2025

You may not have even thought about replacing your AirTag yet, but Bloomberg reports that Apple is working on a new one that could arrive in mid-2025. The new AirTag will reportedly feature an updated chip with better location tracking — an improvement it might need as competition among tracking devices ramps up.

By the time Apple rolls out its refreshed AirTag, the Bluetooth tracking landscape will look a lot different on both Android and iOS. Last month, Google revealed its new Find My Device network, which lets users locate their phones using signals from nearby Android devices. Even Life360, the safety service company that owns Tile, is creating its own location-tracking network that uses satellites to locate its Bluetooth tags.

In last week’s iOS 17.5 update, Apple finally started letting iPhones show unwanted tracking alerts for third-party Bluetooth tags. If an unknown AirTag or other third-party tracker is found with an iPhone user, they’ll get an alert and can play a sound to locate it. The feature is part of an industry specification created to prevent stalking across iPhones and Android devices. Several companies that make Bluetooth tracking devices, including Chipolo, Pebblebee, and Eufy are on board with the new standard.

Technology

How to connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad the easy way

Published

3 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

How to connect your AirPods to your iPhone, iPad the easy way

While the sonic quality of the AirPods certainly works across most devices with a Bluetooth connection, the real magic and a plethora of useful features really shine when you connect AirPods with other Apple devices. If you use the same Apple ID across all your Apple devices, you can really take advantage of the seamless auto-connect features.

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A woman listening to her AirPods (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to connect your AirPods to your iPhone

Before you start, make sure you’ve installed the latest version of iOS on your iPhone and be sure your AirPods are charged and in their case. If you’ve already connected your AirPods to your iPhone, it should connect automatically if you are signed in with the same Apple ID you used to sign onto your Mac. If not, here’s how to connect them to your iPhone.

Unlock your iPhone and go to Settings
Scroll down and tap Bluetooth, then turn on Bluetooth (if it isn’t already on)
The toggle next to Bluetooth should be green, not grayed out.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Now, grab your AirPods case with the AirPods inside, then hold it next to your iPhone with the case top open.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

At this point, a setup animation will show up on your iPhone screen.
Tap Connect and you should be ready to listen.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: 8 INCREDIBLY USEFUL THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH AIRPODS

How to connect your AirPods to your iPad

Before you start, make sure you’ve installed the latest version of iOS on your iPhone and be sure your AirPods are charged and in their case. If you’ve connected your AirPods to your iPad already, it should connect automatically if you are signed in with the same Apple ID you used to sign onto your Mac. If not, here’s how to connect them to your iPad.

Open up your iPad and go to Settings.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

From Settings, scroll down and tap Bluetooth.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Then, tap the button on the right once so that it turns green.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Keep your iPad open to this screen and take out your AirPods.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

From here, a setup animation will appear on the iPad. Tap Connect.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Your AirPods should appear under the list of available devices in your Bluetooth settings on the iPad. Now tap your AirPods, and there you go.

Steps to connect your AirPods to your iPad (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Kurt’s key takeaways

In a nutshell, AirPods are popular because they’ve got great performance, reliability and are easy to use, especially if you’ve already got other Apple products in your life. They just get you, you know? They move between your iPad to your iPhone without a hitch – it’s like they’ve got a mind of their own. And setting them up is super simple. It’s like tap, tap, boom – you’re connected.

In what ways do you think the AirPods’ features could be further enhanced when paired with Apple devices? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free

Published

9 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free

A security lapse could let millions of college students do free laundry, thanks to one company. That’s because of a vulnerability that two University of California, Santa Cruz students found in internet-connected washing machines in commercial use in several countries, according to TechCrunch.

The two students, Alexander Sherbrooke and Iakov Taranenko, apparently exploited an API for the machines’ app to do things like remotely command them to work without payment and update a laundry account to show it had millions of dollars in it. The company that owns the machines, CSC ServiceWorks, claims to have more than a million laundry and vending machines in service at colleges, multi-housing communities, laundromats, and more in the US, Canada, and Europe.

CSC never responded when Sherbrooke and Taranenko reported the vulnerability via emails and a phone call in January, TechCrunch writes. Despite that, the students told the outlet that the company “quietly wiped out” their false millions after they contacted it.

The lack of response led them to tell others about their findings. That includes that the company has a published list of commands, which the two told TechCrunch enables connecting to all of CSC’s network-connected laundry machines. CSC ServiceWorks didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

CSC’s vulnerability is a good reminder that the security situation with the internet of things still isn’t sorted out. For the exploit the students found, maybe CSC shoulders the risk, but in other cases, lax cybersecurity practices have made it possible for hackers or company contractors to view strangers’ security camera footage or gain access to smart plugs.

Often, security researchers find these security holes and report them before they can be exploited in the wild. But that’s not helpful if the company responsible for them doesn’t respond.