Day: November 26, 2020

Next stimulus check facts: The truth about payment size, qualifications and more

The election results are in, but the future of a second stimulus check is still uncertain.


Sarah Tew/CNET

When it comes to the second stimulus check, there are some things we know and many more that we don’t — and that’s assuming a new stimulus bill passes with another direct payment in the first place. With negotiations over the next COVID-19 relief package waiting to begin again in the final sprint of 2020, there’s quite a lot we can predict, including who could get the next stimulus check first, how it could bring you more money than the first payment and which qualifications might change.

What we don’t know for sure is whether a new stimulus bill will happen before the end of the year or after the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has his own ideas about a stimulus plan.

We can also predict who may be left out of a second payment by looking at the terms of the first stimulus check and the various proposals that have come across the table, including Biden’s plan. Here

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Best smartphones to gift to friends and family this holiday season

A new iPhone 12, a Google Pixel 5 or a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 are gifts that many would like to find in their stocking. Here are some of the top smartphones to gift this season.

The smartphone market had a tough year with overall sales down 1.3% year over year, but it’s on a rebound with a strong holiday sales expected to grow 2.4% year over year in Q4 according to the International Data Corporation. This is led in part by new 5G devices released from Apple and Samsung. 

This means that it’s a great time to shop for smartphones for holiday gifts. Manufacturers are anxious to sell their phones, and so there’s a plethora of deals to be had. Here are some of the best new phones from 2020 to buy for the family and friends on your gift list.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra





Image: Samsung

The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was unveiled in August and it is a 5G phone that is the 10th generation of the stylus smartphone from Samsung. It replaces the Galaxy Note 10+. It has an extra-large display of 6.9 inches and a 4,500mAh battery, the largest yet in a Samsung

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Black Friday 2020: Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker Deals

Whether you want a wrist-worn extension of your smartphone or a device made for fitness and the outdoors, these deals may be what you need to find the right gift for yourself or someone else.

With COVID-19 continuing to bear down on the world, this year’s holiday season is going to look pretty different than those of previous years. That includes holiday shopping that kicks off on Black Friday, which is likely to be more online than ever before due to fears of crowded public spaces.

If you’re considering a smartwatch or fitness tracker, either as a gift or just for yourself, you have a lot of options to choose from, but it can take some work to find the best deal. These 10 options are great choices for those looking for a new wearable device, whether it’s for fitness or as an extension to your smartphone. Note: The deals in this article are for specific models/colors and prices may change if different customization options are chosen.





Image: Best Buy

Samsung’s smartwatches are some of the most popular around, which makes sense considering Samsung is the most popular smartphone manufacturer on the planet, and pairing devices from the same

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