Tech / Technology

Best AI text and speech toolkit deal: 80% off

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A lifetime license to the Jott Pro AI Text and Speech Toolkit is on sale for £32.82, saving you 80% on list price.
Cartoon man working at desk

TL;DR: A lifetime license to the Jott Pro AI Text and Speech Toolkit is on sale for £32.82, saving you 80% on list price.


While humans have always led busy lives, it seems with the advancement of technology, we are expected to do more and more within a single day. So, any tips and tricks for saving time are most welcome. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a way to cut out the tedious work of note-taking, transcribing, and translation so you might have a little extra time to relax? 

With the AI boom already here (according to The Wall Street Journal), some things have changed for the better. The Jott Pro AI Text and Speech Toolkit is specialised software that could save you time when it comes to matters of text and speech, and a lifetime license is currently on sale for just £32.82 — and it has a lot of valuable capabilities.

If you consistently need to dictate emails or reports or take detailed notes during classes or meetings, Jott can help you. With its AI capabilities, Jott was made to transform any spoken word into written text without missing a beat.

Using state-of-the-art neural AI tech, this software can also turn any text into a high-quality, lifelike human voice, which is excellent for those with vision impairments. It can also save time by allowing you to listen instead of read while on the go.

Another helpful feature lets you extract images and text from files like PDFs, eliminating the need for manual transcription, as Jott converts it to editable text for you.

While this license is available on unlimited devices, this Jott Pro deal is only applicable to new customers. You’ll get 120 minutes of speech-to-text per month, 100,000 characters per month of text-to-speech, 100,000 characters per month for transcription, and 100,000 characters per month for translation, along with all of the Jott features.

This lifetime license includes updates and improvements as they become available, which help keep the tech you’re using current. Made to be user-friendly and highly accurate, it could be the difference between making it home in time for dinner and being stuck in the office.

Get a lifetime license to the Jott Pro AI text and speech toolkit for £32.82.

Tech / Technology

How to watch college basketball livestreams without cable in 2023

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Here’s your full guide on how to watch college basketball games without cable, including the best streaming deals.
Kyle Filipowski of the Duke Blue Devils dunks the ball

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options:

Best for regular season

FuboTV

free 7-day trial, then $74.99/month

FuboTV logo


Best for affordability

Sling TV Orange + Blue

$27.50/month for your first month, then $55/month

sling logo


Best for top weekend games

Paramount+ with Showtime

$119.99/year
(save $23.89)

paramount+ and showtime logos side by side


Best for Big Ten games

Peacock Premium

$5.99/month

Peacock logo


Best for small school fans

ESPN+

$10.99/month

ESPN+ logo

The 2023-24 men’s college basketball season is underway. There will be more than 5,000 games played throughout this season before the 2024 Final Four, which is scheduled to take place on April 6 and April 8 in Phoenix. 

UConn is the reigning men’s college basketball national champion, and Purdue’s national player of the year Zach Edey is back for another campaign. This season features the Big 12 Conference expansion to 14 teams with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF joining the league. 

Rick Pitino, the former Kentucky and Louisville head coach, has gone from coaching Iona College in the MAAC to leading the St. John’s Red Storm in the Big East Conference. Syracuse also has a new head coach for the first time in more than 40 years following the retirement of Jim Boeheim, who was replaced by Adrian Autry

Those are some of the exciting teams and stories to follow this season, but you’ll want to be able to watch all your favorite teams.

Can I watch college basketball games without cable?

Yes, you can watch college basketball games without cable. For many games, if you can’t be there in person, the only way to watch is via online live streaming services. 

Some of the exclusive streaming services are ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Even for those games on traditional TV channels, there are plenty of options to watch without cable or satellite TV. 

There are two main alternatives to cable or satellite TV. One option is cable replacement, such as FuboTV or Sling. They offer a variety of channels, but they are more costly. Another option is to get a streaming service connected to a specific TV network. Those are cheaper, but they also have fewer channels.

What channels are college basketball games on?

Knowing what channels broadcast your favorite team will help you decide what streaming services to select. Broadcast contracts are based on the home team, so we’ve put together a list of the TV networks with contracts connected to each conference. 

Here is a list of each conference and the channels and streaming services that will air games for each conference in 2023-24:

  • America East — ESPN+

  • American Athletic Conference (AAC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Atlantic 10 (A10) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, MASN, USA Network

  • Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, The CW

  • Atlantic Sun — ESPN+

  • Big 12 — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Longhorn Network

  • Big East — CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2

  • Big Sky — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+, 

  • Big Ten — Big Ten Network, B1G+, CBS, Fox, FS1, Peacock

  • Big West — ESPN+, Spectrum Sports

  • Colonial Athletic (CAA) — CBS Sports Network, FloHoops, MSG, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY

  • Conference USA (CUSA) — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Horizon — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Ivy League — ESPN+ 

  • Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+ 

  • Mid-American Conference (MAC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Mid-Eastern (MEAC) — No intra-conference national TV games

  • Missouri Valley — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

  • Mountain West (MW) — CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, FS1, NBC Sports Bay Area

  • Northeast (NEC) — YES 

  • Ohio Valley (OVC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

  • Pac-12 Conference — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Pac-12 Network

  • Patriot League — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

  • Southeastern Conference (SEC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+

  • Southern (SoCon) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

  • Southland — ESPN+

  • Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Summit League — CBS Sports Network 

  • Sun Belt Conference (SBC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • West Coast (WCC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

  • Western Athletic (WAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

In-season tournaments can make separate deals with TV networks. So for your favorite team, its road games and tournament games may appear on different networks than listed here. 

What are the best streaming services for college basketball?

The channels needed to comprehensively watch college basketball during the 2023-24 season are ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Fox, FS1, FS2, Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, USA Network, and YES. 

Additionally, you may want to consider streaming-only services like ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Then for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, you’ll also need TNT, TBS, and TruTV. 

If you have all those options, you can watch nearly every game this season, but there are not enough hours in the day to watch every game of every basketball team this season. Here’s some help to select the best streaming services to see the teams and leagues you’ll watch the most. 

Most complete coverage: FuboTV


FuboTV

Free 7-day trial, then $74.99/month



FuboTV will be a great option for the college basketball regular season. Its Pro plan at $74.99 per month will give you access to hundreds of college basketball games. There is also a seven-day free trial. 

If you’re a fan of teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, you’ll want to upgrade to the Elite plan to get the ACC Network. The Elite plan is $84.99 per month. 

The biggest channels missing from the FuboTV lineup are TBS, TNT, and truTV. Those carry a large chunk of games during the NCAA Tournament, and the 2024 Final Four and national championship game are scheduled to be broadcast on TBS. To get those games, you’ll need to go elsewhere such as the B/R Sports add-on with Max. 

FuboTV Pro plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. 

FuboTV Elite plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS. 

Channels unavailable through FuboTV: Longhorn Network, MASN, SNY, Spectrum, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and YES.

Most affordable cable replacement: Sling TV Orange + Blue


sling logo

Credit: Sling TV


Sling TV Orange + Blue

$27.50 for your first month, then $55/month



If you’re a casual college basketball fan, an option like Sling may be a good fit for you. With the Sling Orange plan, you get ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT for $40 per month (with an introductory rate of $20 for the first month). 

You may want to increase your Sling tier if there are specific teams or leagues that you’re passionate about watching. The biggest channel that you can’t get through Sling is CBS, so you may need to look to Paramount+ to supplement this to catch all those games. 

Sling Orange plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. 

Sling Orange & Blue plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. Plus, FS1, truTV, USA Network, and Fox (in select markets). 

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

Sling Orange & Blue + Sports Extra plan: Fox (in select markets), ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TBS, TNT, truTV, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS2, Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

There are other options through Sling with different price points for just the Blue plan or the Sports Extra package added to either just the Orange plan or just the Blue plan. 

Channels unavailable through Sling: CBS, CBS Sports Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, and YES.

Best for CBS broadcasts: Paramount+ with Showtime


Paramount Plus logo

Credit: Paramount+


Paramount+ with Showtime

7-day free trial, then $11.99/month



CBS mainly shows college basketball games on the weekends, so if you’re mainly a weekend viewer until March, this would work for you.

Paramount+ gives you a seven-day free trial. To live stream CBS on Paramount+, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, and that is $11.99 per month. You can also choose the annual plan at $119.99 per year, and you save about $1.99 per month. 

Paramount+ also gives students a 25% discount. 

CBS Sports Network games are not available to live stream through Paramount+

Best for exclusive Big Ten games: Peacock Premium

The Big Ten Conference will have games exclusively on Peacock this season, so to catch all those conference contests, you’ll need Peacock.

Members of the Big Ten Conference in 2023-24 include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, and Wisconsin.

There are 34 Big Ten men’s basketball games scheduled to be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Peacock Premium costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.

Best for small school fans: ESPN+

If your favorite team plays in the America East, Atlantic Sun, Ivy League, or Southland conference, then ESPN+ is the only way to watch those teams without going to the games. For many other leagues that don’t have many games on traditional TV channels, ESPN+ is the primary way to watch games.

ESPN+ costs $10.99 per month or you can get an annual plan for $109.99 per year. 

An ESPN+ subscription does not include access to live streaming games on ESPN or its channels. You need an additional cable, satellite, or streaming subscription that includes access to ESPN and its subsidiary channels to view those.

Best channel selection: YouTube TV


YouTube Tv logo

Credit: YouTube TV


YouTube TV

$50.99/month for 3 months (save $66)



YouTube TV offers a 30-minute free trial. It is then $50.99 per month for the first three months. That will get you most of the way through the 2023-24 college basketball season. After the introductory rate, the rate is $72.99 per month starting in the fourth month. 

YouTubeTV Base Plan channels: CBS, FOX, ACCN, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and USA Network,

Channels unavailable through YouTube TV: Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SNY, Spectrum, and YES.

Tech / Technology

Best Dyson deal: Get the V8 Origin for 42% off at Target

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Get the Dyson V8 Origin for $249.99 at Target, down from $429.99 as of Nov. 7. That’s a savings of $180, or 42%.
Dyson V8 Origin on purple abstract background

SAVE $180: As of Nov. 7, the Dyson V8 Origin Cordless Stick Vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $180. That’s a savings of $180, or 42%.


The holidays are right around the corner, and that means you’ll have folks coming around your home soon enough. It can be difficult to keep things tidy without the right tools, so make cleanup a little easier on yourself this year with a new rechargeable vacuum that can handle all the heavy lifting without the mess of a bag or the frustration of a cord.

As of Nov. 7, the Dyson V8 Origin cordless stick vacuum is $249.99 at Target. That’s a savings of $180, or 42% off when you buy the vacuum online. You’ll also get a $25 Target GiftCard with purchase through Nov. 11, which will be added to your account when your vacuum ships or when you pick it up in-store. Essentially you’ll get the vacuum for just $224.99 with that in mind.

The Dyson V8 Origin boasts powerful suction that’s great for quick or deeper cleaning, all without having to worry about a cord. Thanks to its Detangling Motorbar head, it can get down into carpets and deep clean dirtier areas with more traffic as well as tile and other types of flooring.

It’s great for families with pets too, as it can handle dirt, pet hair, and other allergens that might be causing you and your family issues. You get up to 40 minutes of runtime per charge, and it can trap 99.99% of particles in the air. If you’ve got a lot of messes to clean up in a short amount of time or in a small space, this vacuum can be a lifesaver. At this price with a Target gift card, it’s definitely a no-brainer for all your holiday cleanup.

Tech / Technology

Using Affirm on Amazon: How to buy now, pay later this Black Friday

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This Black Friday, using BNPL tools like Affirm on Amazon help with budgeting…or romanticize overspending.
Amazon logo, Affirm logo, and Amazon package with purple and blue tint

Affirm is the first BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) service to be available directly through Amazon Pay, and shoppers love it. Last year, BNPL orders increased by 85 percent during Cyber Week compared to the week before, while revenue increased 88 percent. And just a few months back, Amazon Prime Day saw a 20% increase in BNPL use from the previous year. With inflation still wreaking havoc, it’s no stretch of the imagination to guess that Affirm use will remain high for Black Friday 2023.

The ability to pay for items in installments can sweeten your Black Friday prospects. But before going BNPL-wild on your Cyber Week haul, there are some factors to consider about Affirm versus other BNPL apps, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using these tools in general.

Why Buy Now, Pay Later is so appealing

Layaway programs were popular with shoppers in the ’90s until they were overtaken by credit cards. But there is a key difference between layaway and BPNL. When you put an item on layaway, it was held for you until you paid it off, at which point you could take it home. With BPNL, you get the goods shipped to you right after you order and then pay off that item in installments.

When combined with Amazon‘s typically lightning-fast shipping and Affirm’s lack of late fees, BPNL can make big purchases feel easier to stomach.

Affirm’s interest rates typically range from 0 to 30% APR based on your credit and on the number of payments you select across three to 48 months. Different plans are available for different purchase amounts, and the minimum purchase amount to use Affirm is $50. Affirm’s APR calculator can help you estimate how much interest you’ll rack up on a certain purchase, which could hit $100 or more if you get a loan for, say, a pricey piece of furniture.

When it’s wise to buy now and pay later

  • For some big purchases, using BNPL services may make sense. Breaking up the cost of big investments like a new MacBook Pro or premium robot vacuum can be easier to manage over time than laying down the whole amount in one go.

  • Using BNPL services on necessities like groceries depends on your habits. Habitually funding little daily expenses (like Starbucks) with an installment app can trigger a domino effect of debt, but may work better if you’re buying something like toilet paper in bulk.

  • When used responsibly, apps like Affirm can also help you work around the timing of your paycheck and monthly costs that require an up-front payment, like rent. Be aware that Affirm’s “soft inquiry” to determine your credit won’t affect your credit score, but the company doesn’t promise not to report your payment history to credit bureaus. To make sure you pay on time, we recommend turning on automatic payments and confirming that your payment method won’t expire over the pay period.

When you shouldn’t buy now and pay later

  • Before purchasing with BPNL, consider whether you’d buy that item if you didn’t have the option to break up the payment.

  • Don’t snag something just to hit Affirm’s $50 minimum.

  • Make a wishlist ahead of time if you have to, and hold yourself accountable. The devil on your shoulder saying “You need this, though” can get louder when something is on sale. Especially during Black Friday, you don’t want to cancel out your savings with a serotonin booster that you didn’t know existed five minutes ago.

  • Impulse purchases may feel less risky at the moment, thanks to tools like Affirm. But they can swiftly feel unnecessary once the Affirm reaper returns for payment month after month. Making a series of small payments can create the harmful illusion that you’re spending less money. While that’s technically accurate (and admittedly blissful) for the first few months, you’ll still be spending the same amount of money by the time you’ve paid out every installment.

Tech / Technology

Best Garmin deal: Score the Garmin epix Gen 2 smartwatch for just $599.99 at Amazon, down from $899.99. That’s a savings of $300.

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Grab the Garmin epix (Gen 2) smartwatch for just $599.99, at Amazon as of Nov. 9. That’s a discount of 33%.
someone riding a bicycle through a city while wearing a garmin watch

SAVE $300: Grab the Garmin epix (Gen 2) smartwatch on sale for $599.99, down from $899.99, at Amazon. That’s a discount of 33% and the lowest price we’ve ever seen.


Black Friday fitness deals are already dropping on home gym equipment and fitness trackers, but if you’re in the market for a premium smartwatch that comes packed with features, there’s a great deal on the Garmin epix today.

As of Nov. 7, you can score a Garmin epix (2nd Gen) smartwatch for just $599.99, down from $899.99, at Amazon for a savings of $300. This sale price is $100 lower than last month’s sale price, and this deal steals the spot as the lowest price ever. You’ll want to select the black titanium colorway to score the discounted price.

The Garmin epix smartwatch takes fitness seriously. It comes with all the tracking we’ve come to expect with fitness smartwatches like 24/7 heart rate monitoring, pulse oxygen levels, and workout tracking, but introduces some advanced tracking that might appeal to your future goals.

Follow along with animated workouts on your wrist or check in with the Garmin coach for adaptive training plans. The Garmin epix also comes with a visual race predictor that uses your past running data to estimate your pace on a given distance.

If surfing is one of your favorite activities, you’re in luck because the Garmin epix works with the Surfline widget to give you critical info like wave height and tide information. If you prefer to take to the slopes instead of the sea, check in with over 2,000 preloaded maps of ski resorts on the epix’s SkiView feature. You also have wrist access to over 42,000 maps of golf courses with CourseView.

If you’ve been eying a premium fitness smartwatch, the sale price of $599.99 on the Garmin epix (Gen 2) is hard to pass up.

Tech / Technology

Best home security deal: Get the Eufy Security SmartDrop package delivery box for under $170 at Amazon

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Score the Eufy Security SmartDrop for just $169.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 7. That’s a 58% discount.
a eufy security drop box sits on a porch next to a snowman

SAVE 58%: Ensure your packages stay safe and dry with the Eufy Security SmartDrop for just $169.99 at Amazon, down from its regular price of $399.99. That’s a savings of $230.



Eufy Security SmartDrop

$169.99 at Amazon (save $230)



Tis the season for packages to arrive on your doorstep almost daily. Whether it’s porch pirates or sideways sleet, leaving a package on your porch for hours while you’re away can cause anxiety. Keep your packages safe from here on out thanks to the lowest price we’ve ever seen on a Eufy security box.

As of Nov. 7, the Eufy Security SmartDrop is just $169.99 at Amazon, down from its regular price of $399.99. That’s a discount of 58% or a savings of $230.

The Eufy Security SmartDrop box works to keep your packages safe and dry within a carbon steel security box. It weighs 44 pounds and can be bolted down for extra security if desired.

With the Eufy Security app, you’ll receive notifications about deliveries and have access to watch each package arrive thanks to the 1080p built-in camera. The box also has two-way audio capabilities, so you can chat with the delivery person.

To operate the Eufy Security SmartDrop box, the delivery person simply presses a button to open the box. To retrieve your package once you arrive home, you can open it through the app, with voice assistants, a traditional key, or with a PIN. If you’re expecting more than one delivery while you’re away, you can provide delivery couriers with a PIN to open the box.

If you’ve ever had a package taken from your porch or damaged on account of wet weather, keep future deliveries secure with the Eufy Security SmartDrop which is down to the lowest price we’ve ever seen of $169.99 at Amazon.