Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics gives your gaming PC wings

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics gives your gaming PC wings

New graphics cards bring opportunity. For better gaming, faster performance and expensive hardware sales. But they also bring challenges, with driver issues, design challenges and often supply shortages.

As delivered by GeForce RTX 3080-based graphics cards, the latest version of the company's GPU architecture achieves playable frame rates in games which use fancy RTX-specific features like ray-tracing and global illumination. Its AI-based upscaling feature, DLSS, lets you finally play in 4K at (frequently) better-than bare-minimum frame rates without visible degradation in quality. The GPU also lifts performance over predecessors in games that don't take advantage of the whizzy features by about 20%-40% on average, which is really most games.

But the 30-series of GPUs Nvidia launched at the beginning of September, powered by the new Ampere architecture, has already run into problems. There've been reports of instability with some third-party 3080-based cards because of capacitor design, as well as price gouging due to shortages. And Nvidia has already bumped the ship date of the RTX 3070 -- likely to be one of the most popular cards with prices in the $499 range -- until the end of October, though that may be to avoid the stock problems of the 3080.

But you show me a GPU launch that hasn't had similar problems, and I'll show you a GPU that's just a ho-hum rote refresh. This is the price of playing on the bleeding edge, and why I always recommend waiting before opening your wallet for new tech.

However, I haven't waited. In fact, I've been spending the past few weeks with two RTX 3080 cards -- the Nvidia RTX 3080 Founders Edition and an EVGA RTX 3080 XC3, both running in the Origin PC Chronos gaming desktop -- and didn't run into any issues. Yes, there was one blue screen of death with no identifiable cause. But the reported 3080 problems seem to be linked to the GPU clock exceeding 2GHz, and neither of mine ever rose above it, hitting just a hair below.

If you're planning to buy a system with one of these new GPUs ASAP, you'll probably have to go with an air-cooled version until the redesigned liquid-cooling systems almost all gaming PC makers offer have ramped up. Because the new cards are physically longer than the 20-series, they don't fit in some of the tighter spaces, including the Maingear Turbo into which I was initially hoping to install the Founders Edition. (Maingear is swapping out the cooling system of my eval unit and installing the card, so stay tuned for that review.)

To upgrade your system, you'll not only need to make sure the card fits, but that your power supply (PSU) can handle it. It really needs a minimum of a 750w PSU, but most not-maxed-out systems have 650 watts or smaller. In that case, you'll either have to swap in another PSU or opt for the less greedy RTX 3070.

RTX 3080 specifications

Memory	10GB GDDR6X
Memory bandwidth	760GB/sec
Memory clock (GHz)	1.71
GPU clock (GHz, base/boost)	1.44/1.71
Memory data rate/Interface	19Gbps/320 bit
Texture fill rate (gigatexels per second)	465.1
RT cores	68
CUDA Cores	8,704
Texture mapping units	272
Streaming multiprocessors	68
Tensor Cores	272
Process	8nm
TGP/min PSU	320w/750w
Max thermal (degrees C)	194F/90C
GPU name	GA102
Bus	PCIe 4.0 x 16
Size	2+ slots; 11.2 x 4.4 in (285 x 112 mm)
Price	Around $699

There's more than just a bigger power draw. In addition to switching to a 12-pin power connection, Nvidia made a notable change for its 30 series from its 20-series models: It now smartly vents hot air out the back of the case instead of into it, which was a big 20-series complaint at the time. But your exact configuration matters, too. For example, the fans in the EVGA card vent blow mostly out the top (in other words, toward the side of a case in a tower), so you might want to consider a case design that allows for airflow out the sides.

nvidia-geforce-rtx-3080-founders-08148 — Unlike the previous generation of Founders Edition cards, which blew the hot air into the case, the 3080 vents out the back.
Lori Grunin/CNET

Though technically the RTX 3080 replaces the RTX 2080 Super in the $699 price class, it feels more like a follow up to the 2080 Ti card because of its specs, which are in the same ballpark. It vastly outperforms the 2080 Super since it has so much more of everything: memory and memory bandwidth and ray tracing, Tensor (AI) and CUDA (texture processing) cores. It also requires a lot more power than the 2080 Super and Ti -- 320 watts vs. 250w -- and even more than the flagship Titan RTX (280 watts).

In addition to the speed benefits conferred by the second-gen RT and third-gen Tensor cores, such as new algorithms and instruction sets that make them a lot more efficient and a switch to an 8nm process size from 12nm, the 3080 (and 3090) have another performance perk you won't find in the 3070 or any other lower-end cards Nvidia launches -- GDDR6X memory. Micron's GDDR6X incorporates new signaling technology that essentially doubles the data rate over GDDR6, the memory used by the RTX 3070 and 20-series cards. If that's more spec detail than you're used to, my guide to the best PC GPUs can offer a little background.

evga-rtx-3080-dsc08597 — The EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3.

So, how does the new 3080 perform? In my hands-on testing, it's fast enough to average 1440p/70fps on Ultra quality/Ultra ray tracing without DLSS in the notoriously piggy Metro Exodus and 96fps in Far Cry 5 on High. On pro graphics applications it was more mixed -- still fast, but not outstripping the 2080 Ti by much in some applications (up to about 10% on various SpecViewPerf 13 tests and 15% or so on Unigine's Superposition rendering benchmark). Using dual displays in Lightroom Classic can get laggy and glitchy, but the RTX 3080 worked as smoothly as I've ever seen.

Interestingly, I saw no significant performance difference between the EVGA and Nvidia cards. That's unusual, because typically Nvidia's reason for the Founders Edition is to provide a best-case-performance example of a flagship card. The EVGA did tend to run a little hotter when maxed out, though, about 88C vs. 85C.

As fast as the RTX 3080 is and as much as I liked both the Founders Edition and the EVGA cards, I'd still wait to see how the RTX 3070 stacks up before plopping down $700 -- and see what AMD has up its corporate sleeve later this month, when it launches its RX 6000 series. Between the upcoming consoles and new graphics processor announcements, these are interesting times to be a speed freak.

Geekbench 5 (Vulkan)

Origin PC Big O (PS4 Edition)

Corsair One Pro i200

Origin PC Cryo Core Millennium

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Geekbench 5 (CUDA)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Shadow of the Tomb Raider gaming test

Origin PC Big O (PS4 Edition)

Falcon North West Talon 20th AE

Origin PC Cryo Core Millennium

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance (FPS)

3DMark Port Royal (RTX)

Origin PC Big O (PS4 Edition)

Origin PC Cryo Core Millennium

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

System configurations

Corsair One Pro	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (1909); 3.3GHz Intel Core i9-10940X; 64GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 11GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti; 2TB SSD
Falcon Northwest Talon 20th Anniversary Edition	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (1909); 3.8GHz AMD Ryzen 9 3900X; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super; 2TB SSD RAID 0
Maingear Turbo	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2004); 3.8GHz Ryzen 9 3900XT; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,600; 11GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti; 1TB SSD + 4TB HDD
MSI Trident X	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); (oc) 3.8GHz Intel Core i7-10700K; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,932; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super; 1TB SSD
Origin PC Big O (PS4 Edition)	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 3.8GHz AMD Ryzen 9 3900X; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super; 1.5TB SSD (2TB SSD for console)
Origin PC Chronos	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (2004); Intel Core i9-10900K; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3,200; 10GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 (EVGA); 1TB SSD + 500GB SSD
Origin PC Cryo Core Millennium	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (1909); 4.3GHz AMD Ryzen 9 3950X; 32GB DDR SDRAM 3,200MHz; 24GB Nvidia Titan RTX; 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD

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Getting out of breath while walking up stairs: What's normal, what's not

Getting out of breath while walking up stairs: What's normal, what's not

This story is part of New Year, New You, everything you need to develop healthy habits that will last all the way through 2020 and beyond.

How many times have you been walking along, minding your own business, when all of a sudden a short flight of stairs takes all the breath out of your lungs? Personally, I'd like to consider myself in pretty good shape, but I can barely hold a conversation with my walking-mate while climbing any staircase more than one story.

It turns out, getting winded while doing simple activities isn't really a sign you're out of shape -- it's something that happens to everyone, fit or not. However, there are some simple steps you can take to make the experience less distressing the next time it happens.

Why do I get winded so easily and what's making it happen?

holyhigh-p1c — If you check your heart rate, it's likely to have spiked way up.
Rick Broida/CNET

The fancy medical term for what's happening when you get winded walking up stairs is "exertional intolerance." While approaching stairs, you're not warmed up -- your muscles are cold, your heart rate is low, and your body is not ready to move suddenly. When you start climbing, you're essentially doing single-leg squats with some cardio mixed in, and your heart rate quickly skyrockets. Your body suddenly needs more oxygen -- hence the feeling of being winded.

Another reason why it affects you so strongly is because walking up stairs uses your fast-twitch muscles, which are used for explosive movements, and muscles like your glutes that you may not commonly train. If you're an endurance cardio nut like me, you're in great shape, but sustained exercise like this uses slow-twitch muscles. So, it won't transfer over super well to exercises like stair climbing.

If you've been hitting the gym regularly but the stairs are still giving you trouble, don't fret that you're not in good shape. There are plenty of other ways to measure your overall health and fitness, including your heart rate or other metrics like body composition and strength.

Read more: 9 of the best running shoes for 2020

How do I stop getting winded so often?

gettyimages-685041425 — Lunges will help you conquer the stairs with ease.
Getty Images

If getting out of breath while climbing stairs is really putting a damper on your life, there are steps you can take to lessen the annoyance. I'm not going to suggest that you jog in place for a moment to warm up before ascending a short staircase with your boss, but here are a few ways you can prepare yourself ahead of time.

First, incorporate stair-specific exercises into your workout routine to train your body for the stimulus. Exercises such as sprints, jumps or other explosive movements will help with the sudden exertion. To train your glutes and legs, try bodyweight exercises like squats and lunges.

If you smoke cigarettes, it's almost certainly contributing to your windedness. Although e-cigarettes are touted as a healthy alternative, preliminary studies suggest that vaping also damages your lungs. If you were considering quitting anyways, January 1st is right around the corner and may be a good day to start.

When to call your doctor

doctor and patient — If you think your windedness is out of the range of normal, call your doctor.
Getty Images

If you're debating whether or not to call a medical professional, you're better safe than sorry. One major warning sign to look out for is chest pain that comes on when you get winded -- it could be a sign of heart disease or a coronary blockage. The doctor will do a stress test, and if you do have a blockage, there's a simple procedure to fix it. Swollen feet and ankles or coughing is another sign there may be something wrong with your heart.

Another reason to seek medical help is if getting winded from basic activities is affecting your daily life -- for example, if you avoid walking short distances. Or, if the situation doesn't get better once you start exercising more, it may be time to consult a doctor or physical therapist.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Best Cheap TV Deals: Save Up to $172 on TVs From TCL, Vizio, Toshiba and More

Best Cheap TV Deals: Save Up to $172 on TVs From TCL, Vizio, Toshiba and More

This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET's guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.

There's a huge market for TVs at the moment, including plenty of pricey models with high-end features like 8K resolution and OLED panels. But not everyone is looking to spend big money on the latest, greatest and biggest. Oftentimes, all you're looking for is a decent picture, user-friendly interface and consistent performance. There are plenty of these models floating around out there as well, and with a little digging, you'll have no trouble finding one at a great price.

To help you get the absolute most bang for your buck, we've rounded up some of the best bargains available on some of these more affordable models below. We haven't tested all of these TVs ourselves, but based on their specs and what we know about these brands, we're comfortable recommending them at these prices. We'll continue to update this page as deals come and go, so check back often to make sure you're getting the best price available.

Insignia

This 4K UHD Insignia might not have made it onto our list of the best TVs for this year, but it still boasts impressive specs that make it a highly competitive model and a solid deal. It runs Amazon's Fire TV OS, so you can instantly access all your favorite streaming content, and it also supports Apple Airplay (though not Chromecast). It's equipped with an HDMI eARC port so it's easy to run the audio through a soundbar or surround sound system, and the Alexa voice remote allows for easy hands-free browsing.

Vizio

Vizio's V-Series made its way onto our best TVs list as a runner-up budget option because it comes with Chromecast and Apple AirPlay built in, which plenty of other smart TVs do not. These allow you to stream, or even mirror, content from your phone or computer. It also boasts 4K UHD picture, and an IQ active processor that enhances the quality of any non-4K content. We liked the picture quality of the TCL above more, but the convenience of this model is tough to beat. Just note that Target won't ship this TV, so you'll have to pick it up in person if you want to take advantage of this deal.

TCL

The TCL 3-Series is featured on our best TVs under $500 list as our favorite ultracheap option. At less than $200, this is the only TV on our list that doesn't support a 4K picture, though at this size that's hardly necessary. It does, however, come with Roku built in, so you can still stream all your favorite shows and movies. With 1080p resolution and three HDMI ports, this is a no-frills smart TV that gets you exactly what you pay for.

TCL

This 65-inch TCL offers the same image quality of the 4-Series above, but with a much larger screen. It's the same stunning 4K display with direct lit backlighting, but this one features a Google OS, rather than Roku. That means that it comes with Chromecast capabilities built-in, as well as voice control through the Google Assistant remote.

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You Need to Watch the Most Underrated Superhero Show on HBO Max

You Need to Watch the Most Underrated Superhero Show on HBO Max

Superman has never been an easy character to relate to. He is, essentially, a perfect being. Because he's the most powerful and morally pure character in the DC universe, there's not a lot of drama or internal conflict to mine from the Man of Steel. Contrast this with Batman, whose dark and flawed character makes him a fan favorite.

Of course, in the Marvel universe you have complex characters like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and the current run of She-Hulk, who headline their respective hit shows on Disney Plus. In comparison, Superman & Lois, which aired on The CW network and is now streaming both of its seasons on HBO Max, has flown under the radar. But it may be more impressive because it achieved a seemingly impossible goal: create a version of Superman that retains his Boy Scout personality but still makes him relatable.

The show does so by focusing on the theme of family, breathing new life into the franchise.

As a result, Superman & Lois may be the best iteration of Superman in TV or film. And this is coming from someone who watched Christopher Reeve's pitch-perfect performance at just the right age for it to leave a permanent impression.

The Reeve portrayal is one to be placed on a pedestal. But this new version speaks to me to an almost frighteningly personal degree. The new version of Clark Kent, played by Tyler Hoechlin, has been married to Lois for a while, and has two teenage boys. I'm also a father of two young boys. As amazing as Superman is at averting nuclear meltdowns or fending off rogue Kryptonians, he struggles to be a good father and makes bad decisions with the best of intentions. I can relate. (To the fatherhood bits anyway.)

That's not to say you need to be a father of two to appreciate the show. While it's technically part of the CW's "Arrowverse" universe of DC comic shows like The Flash and Supergirl (sort of... you get more indications at the end of the second season), it stands apart and feels different from everything that's come before it. The budget and production values are markedly higher, and the show is structured differently.

Where The Flash and Supergirl feature a group of do-gooders fighting off a threat of the week, Superman & Lois is a fascinating mashup of a typical comic book show and something grounded, like Friday Night Lights. There's a healthy amount of time spent on developing characters, who act like they're real people and not figures in some drama.

Hoechlin's Superman (or Kent) isn't the only character to root for in this show. Bitsie Tulloch is a force of nature as Lois Lane, showing her strength not just as a hard-nosed investigative journalist but as a protective mother. A large chunk of season 1 sees Lois working with local reporter Chrissy Beppo (Sofia Hasmik) to investigate a story, with discussions of actual journalism work, which again hits near and dear to my heart. Hitting upon the family theme further, season 2 has Lois working to free her sister from the clutches of a cult leader who's more than she seems.

Perhaps the most surprising elements are Lois and Clark's teenage sons, Jonathan (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alex Garfin). These characters could've easily been annoying or gotten wrapped up in the kind of melodrama that typical TV teenagers get into. The show airs on the CW, after all. And at first blush, Jonathan, a quarterback, and Jordan, an awkward brooder, fall into the usual cliches.

But instead, the link between these two brothers, one of whom -- light spoilers! -- develops superpowers, serves as a centerpiece of the show. Yes, they get into conflicts, and there are misunderstandings. There's jealousy and teenage gripes. But at the end of the day, the two talk like actual people and display an enduring level of support for each other.

The core family, flanked by a host of supporting characters who refuse to be typecast or go the obvious route, make for a show that's as enjoyable when they're hanging out at a local cafe as it is when Superman takes on an Iron Man-esque armored adversary. Emmanuelle Chriqui is a Lana Lang who's more world-weary than we remember, while Adam Rayner is deliciously devious as villain Morgan Edge, who gets a more complex arc in the second half that again ties into the idea of family. Wolé Parks, who plays the mysterious "Stranger" (who's definitely more than he seems) has one of the most satisfying character arcs in the show.

That's not to say there isn't loads of action. Superman & Lois takes its time with setting up its plot points, but that expanded budget ensured there are a number of set pieces that displayed the Man of Steel's power. From the cinematography to the special effects, the show is a big step up from the standard CW show and rightfully belongs on HBO Max.

The first season starts slow, but the arcs pick up the pace near the end, with twists and epic battles between superpowered figures, and all the stakes of any major comic book franchise. Plot points and clues buried early in the season pay off with almost overwhelming speed, and you're left with a satisfied conclusion.

It's telling that the final scene of the first season, which created a huge cliffhanger for the following season, isn't about some world-ending threat or new villain. It's about how the dynamics of the Kent family will change in interesting and even awkward ways.

Without any spoilers, the second season takes things up a notch, putting a disturbing mirror to the show and its characters that open up a ton of storytelling opportunities.

Superman & Lois has been green-lit for a third season. So you're safe knowing that your commitment to this first season will get some payoff.

Even for die-hard Marvel fan, this is a refreshing take on the superhero genre that's worth your time.

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ESA Releases Plan to Plunge Spacecraft Into Venus' Frightening Atmosphere

ESA Releases Plan to Plunge Spacecraft Into Venus' Frightening Atmosphere

In the early 2030s, the European Space Agency intends to plant a probe deep within the crushing atmosphere of Venus – a brutal planet that constantly burns at a blistering 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius), holds basically zero water vapor and exudes a gravitational force 90% of Earth's.

Or as NASAputs it, "Venus today is a hellish world."

This brings up a bit of a dilemma: How do you get a human-made spacecraft not only to withstand the incomprehensible perils of Venus, but also to surf its lower atmosphere and collect valuable information while remaining unscathed? Well, according to the agency's newly released game plan for its mission, dubbed EnVision, the key is "aerobraking."

"Flying on an [Ariane 6 rocket], we cannot afford all the extra propellant it would take to lower our orbit," EnVision study manager Thomas Voirin said in a statement on Friday.

Here's what will go down instead.

First, the spacecraft will be injected into Venus' orbit at a very high altitude, approximately 155,343 miles (250,000 km), Voiron explained. Then, to get that craft to its ultimate destination of just 81 miles (130 km) from the planet's surface, the vessel will steadily slow down over about two years with thousands of repeated passes through the Venusian upper atmosphere.

Eventually, the EnVision probe will be situated in its final orbit, where it will image and map out this toxic world with unprecedented precision. Plus, ESA says, it will be taking science measurements incrementally as it descends – such as around a 500 km altitude polar orbit.

Against a black background, a white disc is seen attached to a box about the same size. On the left and right of this box are solar panels spread out like wings. — An artist's impression of ESA's EnVision mission spacecraft.
ESA/VR2Planets/Damia Bouic

ESA's aerobraking concept has been tested before, such as with the agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission. Near the red planet, it was a success.

However, "aerobraking around Venus is going to be much more challenging," Voirin said. "The gravity of Venus is about 10 times higher than that of Mars. This means velocities about twice as high as for TGO will be experienced by the spacecraft when passing through the atmosphere."

Beyond this, there will also be the hurdle of battling Venus' giant concentration of highly reactive atmospheric atomic oxygen, which can damage the craft, as well as an extreme amount of heat engulfing the probe, because heat is generated exponentially alongside velocity.

"We want to check that these parts are resistant to being eroded, and also maintain their optical properties – meaning they do not degrade or darken – which might have knock-on effects in terms of their thermal behavior, because we have delicate scientific instruments that must maintain a set temperature," Voirin said. "We also need to avoid flaking or outgassing, which leads to contamination." Where EnVision is going, even lead turns to liquid.

Several circles of different materials are seen exposed to reddish beams of light which take up the whole left side of the image. — EnVision candidate materials exposed to atomic oxygen in the laboratory.
ESA

Notably, ESA also tried aerobraking with its previous Venus mission, called Venus Express – but employed the mechanism toward the spacecraft's end-of-life sequence. It just burned up and died.

That can't quite happen with EnVision.

With the proposed mission, ESA's hope is to sustain a spacecraft in deep Venusian orbit, so it can aid in addressing longstanding questions surrounding the pale yellow realm. This includes things like whether Venus could've once hosted an ocean, or maybe sustained life.

As a matter of fact, for many years a wealth of other space probes have tried to solve these mysteries – ESA's own Venus Express, of course, but also many of NASA's missions, which have taken layovers near Venus on the way to their primary destinations.

In the coming years, NASA also has two Venus-specific missions planned called Davinci and Veritas. With some successful aerobraking, EnVision will complete this modern trio of Venus explorers.

There's also one super striking question raised by Venus that EnVision could help answer. It's the timely worry of whether this derelict world offers us a glimpse of Earth's future demise.

The EnVision spacecraft is seen in front of the Earth and Venus, which overlap one another like Venn diagram circles. — Venus is so much like Earth, yet so, so different.
NASA/JAXA/ISAS/DARTS/Damia Bouic/VR2Planets

"Many of the same tools we use to model climate change on Earth can be adapted to study climates on other planets, both past and present," Michael Way, a researcher at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said in a statement. "These results show ancient Venus may have been a very different place than it is today."

Though Venus is considered absolutely miserable now – with a carbon dioxide-dominated, suffocatingly thick atmosphere and shockingly high temperatures – many experts believe it formed out of ingredients similar to Earth's as our solar system came together. Venus might've had a thin atmosphere and a few bodies of water, and generally appear to be our planet's cosmic twin.

But due to what's called a "runaway greenhouse effect" on the planet, things changed.

Simply, the runaway greenhouse effect refers to the idea that Venus' oceans evaporated over time, dumping water vapor into the atmosphere, which trapped way too much heat. All that heat led to more ocean evaporation, which trapped more atmospheric heat… and…

Yeah.

Could this be what happens to Earth one day, too? Especially given the fact that climate change is ramping up due to human activities like burning coal and shoveling CO2 into the atmosphere?

"Venus will help us understand what happens when the greenhouse effect is really extreme," Hakan Svedhem, project scientist for ESA's Venus Express mission, said in a statement. "However, it's not a good example of what will happen to Earth due to human activities. Life on Earth would disappear due to the extreme temperatures much before reaching even half of the concentrations of carbon dioxide on Venus!"

But hopefully, we won't even get close to 30% of Venus' frightening levels.

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10 Road Trip Essentials for Summer Travel

10 Road Trip Essentials for Summer Travel

Road trips are awesome: Endless highways let you go anywhere and just about everywhere. From the oceans to the mountains, and every variation of flat farmland, rocky valley and scenic vista along the way, it can be all kinds of grand adventure.

Whether you're planning on a few days, a few weeks or multiple months, the right road trip gear can make or break a trip. What follows isn't a list of gadgets, though there are a few. Instead, it's a mix of easy-to-find items, some essential apps and services and a handful of tips that will make your trip go a lot smoother. It's also mostly focused on the "road" part of "road trip," though some of these summer road trip essentials will work just fine if you're jetsetting. I hope you've got your camping and hiking gear sorted already, if that's your thing.

And who am I to offer advice? A lover of road trips. Last year I did a 10-week, 10,000-mile road trip around the US. This year, a 9,900-mile adventure that hit nine national parks. Before that, I took multiple trips across and around the US, Europe, Australia and more. Yeah. I love road trips.

Understandably, there will be variations on what you need depending how long you're going, where you're going, your mode of travel and how many people are with you. I don't expect everyone to drive for 10 weeks in a Miata, though if you have the chance, I'd highly recommend it.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

Download maps for use offline

I think it's fair to say most of us take for granted that we'll have mobile data wherever we go. Depending where your road trip takes you, you might not. If you stick to the interstates, you're probably fine. But if you want to take some incredible two-lane backroads, perhaps not.

It's easy to download Google Maps so you can still figure out where you're going, even if you don't have data. Simply search for where you're going such as "Wrangell-St, Elias National Park." Swipe up twice so the location info fills the screen. Tap the triple vertical dots in the upper right and select download offline map. Then select the area you'll be covering on your drive.

GPS location info doesn't require a data connection, only a reasonably clear view of the sky. As long as the maps are already loaded, you can navigate on roads and even from many trails.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Consider an unlimited data upgrade

If you're usually within Wi-Fi range, you probably don't realize how quickly certain activities can eat up your data. Music, for instance, is only a fraction of the data required for video, but listening nonstop for six hours each day during a drive can quickly nuke your plan's included data.

If your provider has an unlimited option, it's worth considering. Some, like Google Fi, let you swap to an unlimited plan any month you want. I also like Google Fi because it has no international roaming in case your road trip is really epic. Check your current provider if you don't already have unlimited data.

Alternately, consider downloading music/podcasts/audiobooks when you're on Wi-Fi and then turn off your data connection in the car (though make sure you download the maps first!).

We've rounded up the best unlimited data plan options for the three major US carriers.

Check out Best Unlimited Data Plans for 2022 for more..

Scosche/CNET

Cars have come with USB plugs for years now, but you've probably noticed they don't recharge your phone very quickly. Some do, in which case you can probably ignore this gadget. If yours doesn't, or if you have more devices than charge ports, consider a separate USB plug for your "cigarette lighter" outlet. The better ones, like the Anker PowerDrive Speed Plus and Scosche CPDCA38 can output enough power to rapidly charge your devices. I've had an older, slower version of the latter and it's worked great for years.

If your car has Android or Apple Auto, these typically require a physical connection between the car and the phone, which precludes the use of a cigarette adapter.

Amazon

This isn't strictly a "road" essential, but I recommend one for any kind of travel. A reasonably-sized USB battery, say 10,000 mAh or so, that can fast charge your phone or other devices can be handy in many situations and a lifesaver in others.

There are infinite sizes, shapes and colors. I don't recommend the smallest ones because they're more for emergencies and usually only give you a partial charge. I also don't recommend really massive ones as they're just heavy to lug around. A 10,000-mAh battery can charge your phone from empty multiple times. There's no "perfect" size, but it's worth starting there to figure out what you need.

I've traveled with various batteries for years. My current pick is the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux because it's small, but has high capacity and charges my phone rapidly via USB-C.

Windex/CNET

These were the MVP of my road trip last year: They're wet wipes, but for windows. Why are they on a list of essentials? Because there's only so much windshield wipers can do: Some bugs and grime are just too much for them to handle. These work great on even the most gruesome bug guts.

The package is resealable too, so you can keep them tucked beside your seat for when they're needed.

Geoffrey Morrison/CNET

The majority of Americans live within a road trip's distance of at least one national park, often several. No matter where your road trip is headed, check if it passes near one. They're all good and worth a visit.

Some are free, but most have an entry fee around $30 or so. Or you can get the annual National Park pass, also called the America the Beautiful or Interagency pass. This gets you in over 2,000 federal lands. Three visits to any park should let it pay for itself.

You can get them at the park's entrance or on the USGS and REI websites.

If you are considering visiting a national park this year, check out top tips for visiting them.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst? If you have room for it, some kind of roadside emergency kit is probably a good idea. I say "probably" since the better option for most people is a AAA membership, so your phone and a USB battery pack will keep you covered. I mean, does your car even have a spare tire? Mine doesn't. It comes with wishful thinking and a phone number.

But it's possible your adventure will take you away from cell coverage, and that's a bad place to get a flat or have a breakdown. The Lifeline kit linked here is decent, for what it is. To be honest, though, I'm not sure how useful these really are. None of the items in this kit are a bad idea, per se, but will you use them even if you do break down? You can get a first aid kit separately (and you should). Same for a tire inflator. But is there anyone out there that knows enough about car repair to need a crappy screwdriver and wrench set? If so, wouldn't they already have quality tools? Do you know how to safely connect jumper cables so you don't accidentally blow up a car battery? If you said "positive to positive, negative to negative," don't buy jumper cables. Call for help.

So yeah, I feel like a USB battery pack and a AAA membership are far more useful for most people for most road trips. But hey, if you know you're going to be driving into the unknown, it's worth considering… but if you're that advanced I'd assume you already have the right gear.

If you want some other options, check out our best emergency kits for cars.

AAA

There's one annual bill that's permanently on my "always renew" list: my AAA membership. I've only had to use it a handful of times, but it's a peace of mind that's easily worth its cost. And it's not even that expensive. Get towed once and you've paid for your membership for several years.

And it's not just towing. They'll help you change a flat, give your car a jump and more. This is a no-brainer.

There are a ton of choices for cameras, and for most people I'd actually say your phone is fine. An expensive camera isn't going to take better pictures if you don't know how to use it. Also, you can take great photos with your phone.

If you have an older phone or want something more for rugged travel, a GoPro can take great photos and videos and doesn't cost a ton. The Hero 9 and 10 are very similar, though the 10 is a little easier to use as it has a faster processor. I used the 9 on my trip last year, and the 10 on my trip this year, and the 10 annoyed me way less and didn't lock up as much.

I actually did a whole article about this topic: Best Camera Gear for Your Next Road Trip.

Geoff Morrison/CNET

This is a bit tricky as your car and needs are probably different from mine. If you do get a GoPro, having somewhere to mount it in the car can get you some epic shots. There are a bunch of options. A suction cup mount is a good place to start. I like this one as it's inexpensive, but can pivot and swivel in just about any direction.

I also have an antenna mount I like a lot. You can see it with a long selfie stick attached with a 360 camera on top in the image above. It's from CravenSpeed and for the Miata, but they might have a version that fits your car.

As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000 mile road trips, and more. Check out Tech Treks for all his tours and adventures.

He wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.

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Your Teflon Cookware Could Be Toxic. Here's How to Tell

Your Teflon Cookware Could Be Toxic. Here's How to Tell

This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.

Teflon is one cookware surface with a good deal of fuzziness around it. Many folks I talk to want to know if nonstick and Teflon-coated cookware is safe to use. The answer is mostly yes, these days, but it's not quite that simple.

Nonstick coating is a popular choice, especially for frying pans and skillets. But there are also Teflon-coated pots, bakeware, air fryer baskets and plenty more. The big draw is, of course, that food won't stick to it the way it does to other metal materials so it's easy to flip a pancake or extract an egg. It also makes cleanup a snap.

One downside is that nonstick cookware doesn't impart a ton of direct surface heat hot, so you won't be able to sear meat well and get that coveted crispy crust or seal in flavor. It's also sensitive, and the nonstick coating will chip off and wear out over time. But the biggest worry people have when it comes to Teflon and nonstick cookware is whether or not it's safe to use or potentially toxic.

Here's what you should know about Teflon, and how to tell if your nonstick pan is good to go or needs to be replaced.

Read more: A Guide to Nonstick Cookware

What is Teflon, and is it safe to cook with?

Teflon is a brand name for a synthetic chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene that's used in many household products from wire coatings to fabric protectors and kitchen cookware, too. The knock on Teflon is that it's unsafe if consumed or absorbed into the body and can increase the chances of cancer and other diseases. While studies have shown some connections (more on that below), Teflon still exists and is used to make cookware, but the safety concerns around Teflon are mostly a thing of the past.

And I stress mostly. Here's why…

While the brand Teflon may be associated with a risk of cancer, it's actually a chemical formerly used in the making of Teflon called PFOA that's to blame. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, is a manufactured perfluorochemical developed in the 1930s and used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water.

Thanks to a federal ban, all Teflon and nonstick cookware made after 2013 should be free of harmful PFOA. Europe enacted the same ban in 2008.
Home and Cook

What are the negative effects of PFOA?

In some studies, PFOA has been linked to cancer, immune deficiency and a host of other medical problems. It has also been shown to affect growth and development, and injure the liver in laboratory animals.

As recently as 2017, chemical giant Dupont settled a lawsuit for more than $670 million for its role in contaminating drinking water with PFOA (also referred to as C-8) in the mid-Ohio Valley. A previous class-action suit from 2004 in the same area led to a study that found PFOA was linked to cancer and compromised immune function, even in small doses.

Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic

All that was enough for most manufacturers to halt the production of nonstick coatings using PFOA around 2002. But Teflon using PFOA wasn't officially banned in the United States until 2014. Europe banned it in 2008. That means if you own Teflon nonstick cookware from 2013 or earlier, there's a chance it contains PFOA. Nine years is typically longer than the average lifespan of a nonstick pan, but if you're not sure, it's probably best to replace any Teflon-coated pots or pans.

Look for PFOA-free cookware

Because of the ban, all nonstick cookware made in the US should be PFOA-free, but you'd be wise to make sure. Be extra cautious about buying cheap or off-brand cookware, especially if it's not produced in a country with an active PFOA ban. PFOA is still produced elsewhere, largely in China, and used to make consumer products.

The good news is PFOA-free nonstick cookware is cheap, so there's no reason to risk it with anything that might contain the chemical. You can nab a 10-inch skillet from a trusted cookware brand like Tramontina for around $20. All-Clad makes a two-piece nonstick cookware set for $50. Definitely worth it for peace of mind.

Read more: Best Nonstick Frying Pans, Tested and Reviewed

The Always Pan is a nonstick ceramic alternative to Teflon cookware.
Our Place

The best natural nonstick cookware alternatives

If you're ready to ditch Teflon and chemical-based nonstick pots and pans altogether, there are plenty of more natural nonstick alternatives.

The most nonstick of the bunch is ceramic cookware, which has seen a boom in popularity since concerns about Teflon first surfaced. A few popular ceramic cookware options include The Always Pan (read my full review here), Caraway and Greenpan.

Cast iron is another cookware material that develops a natural nonstick coating over time, especially if you season it well and care for it properly. It won't likely ever become as nonstick as Teflon, but cast iron has loads of other culinary benefits that are worthy of a few extra seconds scrubbing in the sink after use. Lodge is a tried-and-true cast-iron cookware producer: You can scoop up a 10-inch skillet for as little as $24.

food-breakfast-eggs-1278 — Cast iron develops a nonstick patina over time and is a natural alternative to Teflon.
Angela Lang/CNET

Carbon steel is yet another option and functions similarly to cast-iron cookware, although it's not quite as heavy, slightly more sensitive to corrosion and typically more expensive. Carbon steel hasn't really popped off here in the US but is a favorite of professional chefs, as well as yours truly. Cookware startup Made In produces an excellent blue carbon steel skillet for around $80, but there are cheaper options out there.

More helpful kitchen tips

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See If You Qualify for a Piece of Noom's $56 Million Class Action Settlement

See If You Qualify for a Piece of Noom's $56 Million Class Action Settlement

If you subscribed to the popular weight-management app Noom, you may be eligible for part of a $56 million class-action settlement regarding its automatic renewal and its cancellation policies.

Plaintiffs in the case accused Noom of violating consumer protection laws by getting customers to sign up for a free trial period without clearly disclosing its auto-renewal terms.

Founders Saeju Jeong and Artem Petakov did not acknowledge wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which they agreed to in February.

Read More: You Might Be Owed Part of Apple's $14.8 Million Class-Action Settlement

Noom did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Petakov and Jeong said in a February blog post that settlement was "the best path forward as it allows us to focus our energy on delivering the best possible health outcomes for our Noomers."

Here's what you need to know about the Noom settlement, including how to find out if you're eligible, how you'll be paid and how much you can expect to receive.

What is Noom?

Noom is a subscription-based app to track food intake and exercise habits to encourage weight loss. The company emphasizes behavioral changes and users' emotions related to food instead of calorie counting or other techniques. It incorporates support groups and personal coaches.

What is Noom accused of doing?

A 2020 lawsuit claimed the weight-loss app, which was valued at about $3.7 billion in May 2021, misled customers with a "risk-free" trial without providing a straightforward way to cancel after the trial period ended.

Subscribers were instead sucked into automatic renewals, plaintiffs in Nichols v. Noom alleged, which charged them for up to eight months of nonrefundable payments totaling as much as $199, according to Reuters.

What was the settlement Noom agreed to?

Noom has agreed to pay out a total of $56 million to subscribers and provide an additional $6 million in subscription credits.

Who is eligible to receive a payment?

Anyone who subscribed to the Noom Healthy Weight program online or via the company's app between May 12, 2016, and Oct. 6, 2020, and did not receive a full refund or chargeback is eligible to receive a portion of the settlement.

No proof of purchase is necessary. But if you purchased a Noom subscription through iTunes or Google Play, you are not considered an eligible recipient, or "class member."

Class members may have been notified about the settlement via email or social media. If you think you qualify but didn't receive a notice, visit the Noom Class Action Settlement site or call 844-999-2466.

How much will class members receive?

A court must still sign off on the deal, but the settlement groups have been broken into two categories: Subclass A and B.

Subclass A members can expect an approximate payment of $167. They include:

Individuals who never completed their Noom enrollment but were charged anyway.
People who enrolled but can prove they never used Noom after the trial period.
Those who used Noom two times or fewer after the trial period.
People who stopped using Noom after day 58 of the subscription.
Customers who received a partial refund for a Healthy Weight Subscription.
Individuals who were California residents when they signed up for the Healthy Weight Subscription.

Class members who don't fit any of those definitions are considered part of Subclass B and will receive approximately $30.

In addition, the first 100,000 Subclass B Members who file a valid claim form can also receive a free month's subscription to Noom's Healthy Weight program, independent of any cash reward.

When is the deadline to file a claim?

Class members must file their claims by June 24, 2022. That is also the deadline to exclude yourself from the settlement and retain your right to sue Noom regarding the issues in the case.

If you do that, you can request to speak at the final approval hearing on July 11, but your notice of intent to appear must be postmarked no later than July 5, 2022.

If you don't file a claim or indicate your desire to exclude yourself from the settlement by June 24, you waive any right to payment or to sue Noom.

Has Noom changed any policies since the suit was filed?

Saeju Jeong, co-founder and CEO of Noom
Sam Barnes/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images

As part of the settlement, Noom agreed to alter certain practices. In the February blog post, Petakov and Jeong said they have added a self-service cancellation option on both the Noom app and website.

In addition, they indicated Noom has increased support staff, added more phone and online chat options, simplified pricing and made subscription details "even clearer and more readily available for Noomers to refer back to."

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How to set up Ring's Halloween-themed chimes and quick replies — CNET

How to set up Ring's Halloween-themed chimes and quick replies — CNET

Halloween is right around the corner. That means it's time to cue up the Netflix Halloween flicks, and dress up your fur buddies and kids (some Disney costumes are on sale now). Sure, you can always hang plastic spiders and drape cotton-ball cobwebs around the house to spice up your Halloween decor, but if you really want to get into the spooky spirit, try these new features from Amazon.

This year, you can use your Amazon and Ring devices to greet guests with creepy or nostalgic Hocus Pocus quick replies. Or play spooky sounds from your Echo-enabled device. You can even add a few hardware accessories to your video doorbell or Echo Show.

We'll show you how to enable Halloween-themed Alexa skills and other spooky tricks. Here are the latest Amazon features that were announced just in time for the holidays. Plus, you may be able to save on a new Echo Show or Ring Video Doorbell with Amazon's Black Friday-worthy deals. This story was recently updated.

Update your doorbell's Quick Replies

With Ring's Quick Reply feature, you can select an automated response to greet your guest if you can't answer. Your doorbell can say, "We can't answer the door right now, but if you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now," and "Please leave the package outside. If you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now." There are four other regular replies to choose from.

With all Quick Replies, you can watch your visitor leave a message in Live View or in your event history if you're a Ring Protect subscriber. But for Halloween, you can add quick replies from Hocus Pocus or other spooktacular replies. Here are a few we like:

"Tell us what brings you here... or we'll put a spell on you!"
"Boo! Leave us a message if you dare [evil laugh]."
"Just a minute! Feel free to park your broom."
"Please leave the package (and any hocus pocus) outside."

Here's how to set up Quick Replies and add Halloween ones:

Open the Ring app.
Tap the three lines on the top left.
Tap Devices.
Select the doorbell that you want to set up.
Tap the Smart Assistant tile below the doorbell image.
Tap Quick Replies.
Tap the blue Enable Autoreply button on the bottom of the screen.
Select your preferred default message from the list.
Set your message delay time from Right away to 20 seconds.
Tap Got It! to complete the setup.

Add Halloween chimes to your Ring doorbell

For Halloween, you can choose from a new set of holiday chimes. Options include bats, ghosts, howl, scream, spooky organ tones, a creepy laugh, a screeching cat and a creaky door.

To change your Ring Chime Tone:

Open the Ring app.
Tap the three lines on the top left.
Tap Devices.
Select the doorbell that you want to set up.
Tap the Device Settings.
Tap Notification Settings.
Tap App Alert Tones.

ring-video-doorbell-4-with-halloween-faceplate-lifestyle — Ring can help take your spooky porch decor to the next level.
Ring

Give your doorbell a spooky faceplate

If you're really in the Halloween spirit, you can put a holiday faceplate on your Ring doorbell.

A bat design and a spiderweb design are available for the Ring Video Doorbell 2.

There are also faceplate options for the Video Doorbell 3, Video Doorbell 3 Plus, and Video Doorbell 4. Faceplates for all models cost $15 on Ring's website. There are even a few for the holiday season.

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Apple Watch 7 will feature a full keyboard

Apple Watch 7 will feature a full keyboard

The latest generation of the Apple Watch will feature a full keyboard, the company said Tuesday, offering a new way to input text on the device.

Apple Watch 7 owners will have the option of tapping on the letters or sliding from letter to letter to type, and machine learning will predict the word. The company announced the news at its iPhone 13 event.

The Apple Watch 7 will also come with redesigned and enlarged buttons, making them easier to tap, particularly for alarms and stopwatch activity. It will also be able to fit 50% more text on screen than the previous model.

The first Apple Watch launched in 2015. Since then, it's become one of the iPhone's most important companion products. Although the company doesn't break out sales figures for the watch, the device reportedly sells better than the entire Swiss watch industry combined.

CNET's Ian Sherr contributed to this report.

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3DMark Port Royal (RTX)

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Your Teflon Cookware Could Be Toxic. Here's How to Tell

What is Teflon, and is it safe to cook with?

What are the negative effects of PFOA?

Teflon cookware made before 2013 may be toxic

Look for PFOA-free cookware

The best natural nonstick cookware alternatives

More helpful kitchen tips

Tags:

See If You Qualify for a Piece of Noom's $56 Million Class Action Settlement

What is Noom?

What is Noom accused of doing?

What was the settlement Noom agreed to?

Who is eligible to receive a payment?

How much will class members receive?

When is the deadline to file a claim?

Has Noom changed any policies since the suit was filed?

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How to set up Ring's Halloween-themed chimes and quick replies — CNET

Update your doorbell's Quick Replies

Add Halloween chimes to your Ring doorbell

Give your doorbell a spooky faceplate

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Apple Watch 7 will feature a full keyboard

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