PC Magazine 12.2020

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45BEST BUDGET DESKTOP
ACER ASPIRE TC-885-UA92
$549 as tested EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

All many shoppers need is a low-cost, small-footprint family PC for the home. The Acer Aspire
TC-885-UA92 delivers that better than any of the other budget towers we’ve reviewed, with
no real shortcoming for the price. It’s compact, the design is restrained (but not entirely
boring), and it includes such extras as an optical drive, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C. It uses
integrated graphics, and the interior is limited, but those are understandable secondary
concerns given the value it delivers.

46BEST ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOP
HP PAVILION 24 ALL-IN-ONE (2020)
$799.99 as tested EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

All-in-one PC sales may not have exploded, as some predicted, but there are some excellent
options on the market. The Pavilion 24 is our favorite. The $799.99 model is a great alternative
to the pricey Apple iMac. The design is more elegant than its price may suggest, and its
performance, ports, and storage capacity leave little to be desired for a general use desktop. A
hearty front soundbar, pop-up webcam, and 24-inch screen round out its strong case as a
machine for work or entertainment, all without making you fit a tower on your desk.

47 BEST COMPACT DESKTOP
INTEL NUC 9 EXTREME KIT (GHOST CANYON)
$1,700 AS TESTED (BARE-BONES CONFIGURATION)

EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h
Intel is a perennial innovator on mini-desktops, but the NUC 9 Extreme Kit takes things to a
whole different level. The bare-bones kit is built around Intel’s nascent Compute Element, a
card-style module that contains the CPU, memory slots, and storage module slots in a sort of
“mini motherboard” the size of a video card. This allows the NUC 9 room to incorporate a
compact ordinary graphics card and include the power supply inside the chassis. The result: a
hyper-dense, compact dynamo of a mini-PC.

48 BEST GAMING DESKTOP Our $20,000-
LENOVO LEGION TOWER 5I plus review
Starts at $1,029; $1,449 as tested
machine is just
EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m an example of
Mass-production gaming towers are only getting better, inching the far limits
closer in style to gaming PCs from boutique companies while of what Dell’s
keeping the cost down. The Legion Tower 5i is the best of the high-end
bunch this year, with a classy-looking build and plenty of workstation
configuration options at reasonable prices. Our review model can do.
featured an RTX 2070 Super graphics card and a 10th-Gen Intel
Core i7 processor for $1,449, a good example of how this system
undercuts similarly equipped competition and why it earns our
Editors’ Choice.

49 BEST BUSINESS/DESKTOP
WORKSTATION
DELL PRECISION 7920 TOWER
(2020)

Starts at $1,779; $23,289 as tested EDITORS’CHOICE

Llllm
You can configure the Precision 7920 Tower to be a workaday
single-CPU workstation packed with storage all the way up to a
dual-Xeon Platinum monster for rarified compute scenarios such
as machine learning and data science. Our $20,000-plus review
machine, which was kitted out to push the limits with a Quadro
RTX 8000 48GB graphics card, is just an example of the far limits
of what Dell’s high-end workstation can do. You can opt for less
and still get specific ISV certifications and hardware designed for
24/7 stress.

50BEST APPLE DESKTOP
APPLE MAC MINI (M1, LATE
2020)

$699.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Sure, it’s nothing like the mighty, many-kilobuck Mac Pro, with its
raw content-creation power and heavy-metal graphics options.
But the newest Mac mini has its own superpowers. Apple’s
refreshed version of its classic compact has been given new life by
Apple’s M1 CPU. Early tests show it to be a powerful churner with
native applications, and it even shows some moxie from its
integrated graphics for light gaming. And a new low starting price
of $699 makes the Mac mini an unexpectedly good value among
small desktops.

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51BEST ROUTER
TP-LINK ARCHER AX11000 NEXT-GEN TRI-BAND
GAMING ROUTER $399.99 EDITORS’CHOICE L l l l h

It’s pricey, but if you’re looking for a future-proofed, high-performance router, the TP-Link
Archer AX11000 has all the bases covered. Fast performance numbers come from a tri-band
architecture that also supports Wi-Fi 6, and you’ll score excellent security and parental
controls, too. The smart management app is easy and has throughput-enhancing features
aimed specifically at gamers. The Archer AX11000’s only real downside is that availability has
been spotty in the latter half of 2020. If you can’t find it and don’t want to wait, check out a
very close runner up, the Asus RT-AX88U.

52BEST WI-FI MESH SYSTEM
ASUS ZENWIFI AX (XT8)
$449.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Mesh systems are very easy to set up and can cover an entire house with a strong wireless
signal. That’s why they’re quickly taking over the home-network market. Our 2020 favorite is
the Asus ZenWiFi AX XT8. A two-pack (consisting of the router and one expansion node) runs
you just under $450, which seems pricey, but remember—that’s for two devices. The system
is easy to configure and has a simple but thorough management app that covers not only
security but also good traffic and signal-strength features, too.

53BEST NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE (NAS)
SYNOLOGY DISKSTATION DS220J
$169.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

If you want to control your data as well as keep it safe, then you’re looking for network
attached storage (NAS). The best personal NAS that passed through PC Labs in 2020 is
Synology’s DiskStation DS220j, at $169.99 for enclosure and software (no disks). Once you
add compatible storage, the DS220j is easy to configure, delivers excellent performance
numbers, covers most any RAID configuration you might want, and has a long list of
compatible apps: You can turn your NAS into anything from a cloud-accessible bit-bucket to
a media server.

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54BEST GRAPHICS CARD
NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 FOUNDERS EDITION
$499 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l l

While Nvidia’s launch of“Turing”-based graphics cards landed a bit tepidly in the minds of
most cost-conscious gamers, the company’s new “Ampere” cards are finally bringing big
power down to a more reasonable price. As a midrange GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
Founders Edition finally makes high-detail 4K gaming a possibility for anyone shopping for a
graphics card around the $500 mark. Top it off with a suite of additional supported features
such as DLSS, ray-tracing, Nvidia Broadcast, and Reflex low-latency mode, and you’ve got the
complete PC gaming package in one card.

55BEST HIGH-END CPU
AMD RYZEN 9 5900X
$549 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

In the world of desktop CPUs, AMD has been on a tear for the past year and a half, lapping
Intel in cost-per-core and content-creation tasks with regularity. But until the AMD Ryzen 9
5900X, the company still lagged behind in one crucial area: gaming. No more! The Ryzen 9
5900X—as well as the rest of the chips released in the company’s new Ryzen 5000 Series of
CPUs—have proven themselves to be highly capable gaming engines, also shattering records
in core-sensitive content-creation benchmarks across the board.

56BEST BUDGET CPU
AMD RYZEN 3 3300X
$120 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The AMD Ryzen 3 3300X is a budget CPU that proves you don’t need a whole heap of extra
cores—and bucks—to get serious gaming performance from your desktop PC. At just four
cores and eight threads, the Ryzen 3 3300X regularly wrangles capably with Intel CPUs that
are twice or even three times as expensive, in games such as Counter-Strike and Rainbow Six:
Siege. The Ryzen 3 3300X makes it possible to build a powerful gaming PC on a budget while
leaving enough cash to invest in a high-refresh monitor or a beefy GPU to complete your frag-
tastic package.

57BEST INTERNAL SSD
CRUCIAL P5
Starts at $54.99 (250GB), $149.99 as tested (1TB)

EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h
Featuring blisteringly quick speeds at a price that undercuts most of its competition, the
Crucial P5 internal NVMe SSD is the current cream of the crop. Featuring the company’s first
in-house controller, the P5 excelled in nearly every benchmark we ran, beating out more
expensive SSDs in both sequential and 4K read and write speeds. Topping it off with a
comprehensive software-management package, the Crucial P5 is a perfect choice for anyone
who needs a fast SSD at a budget-level price.

58BEST EXTERNAL SSD
SAMSUNG PORTABLE SSD T7 TOUCH
Starts at $130 (500GB), $230 as tested (1TB)

EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m
The Samsung Portable SSD T7 Touch takes a great portable SSD, the T7, and perks it up a tad
with a fingerprint sensor for added security. If you’re a traveler who needs to keep your files
safe from prying eyes, the T7 makes it easy to lock and unlock your drive on the fly. While a
fingerprint sensor may not be as secure as a passcode-based drive, it strikes a balance
between usability and security that other portable storage solutions struggle to match.

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59BEST INKJET PRINTER
EPSON ECOTANK PRO ET-5850
$849 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Beautiful prints, low ink costs, and great features lift this all-in-one color inkjet printer above
the competition. It can handle significant volume for small and midsize offices, and its small
footprint is ideal for those working from home or other cramped spaces. The low running

costs are made even lower by an offer (expiring in March 2021) of unlimited ink
reimbursement for two years. On just about every front, the ET-5850 is best in class.

60BEST LASER PRINTER
HP NEVERSTOP LASER 1001NW
$279.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

HP wowed us with this bulk-toner (cartridge-free) laser printer, which boasts strong print
quality and impressively low running costs. The refillable toner bin does away with wasteful,
inconvenient cartridges. The 1001nw is a terrific value for cost-conscious and eco-conscious
people who need to print and copy 500 to 2,500 monochrome pages each month. If you’re
looking for a single-function laser printer designed for homes, small offices, and workgroups,
you really can’t do better.

61BEST PHOTO PRINTER
EPSON SURECOLOR P700
$799.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Photographers, digital artists, and graphic designers looking for gorgeous large-format
printing will fall in love with the P700, which can print borderless banners and panoramas up
to 13 inches wide and cut sheets up to 13 by 19 inches. Epson has put a lot of thought into this
printer’s design, and it shows in the tidy footprint, highly detailed and color-calibrated touch
screen control panel, and precise 10-channel print head with anti-clogging features. Most
important, it produces dazzling, perfectly calibrated prints with rich blacks and vibrant colors.

62 BEST PORTABLE PRINTER
CANON PIXMA TR150 WIRELESS PORTABLE
PRINTER

$199.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

This cute little 4.5-pound portable color inkjet printer is the perfect fit for any traveler, as well
as for people working in tiny home offices or at kitchen tables. It handily outperforms the
competition on color-print quality, has good print speed, and delivers reasonable running
costs. It can be powered directly from the wall or via USB, and an optional battery untethers
from the outlet or PC. It even saves templates that can be printed straight from the control
panel, and it’ll talk to anything: your phone, your laptop, and even your smart home device.
Alexa: Print a winner’s certificate.

63BEST 3D PRINTER
ORIGINAL PRUSA MINI
$349.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

This compact, open-frame 3D printer ships from the Czech Republic as an easy-to-assemble
kit. Initial calibration proved tricky in our testing, but once up and running, the Original Prusa
Mini consistently produced high-quality prints, an uncommon feat among budget 3D printers.
It can print objects from a variety of filament types at sizes up to 7 inches on a side. Some
newbies may be happier with a preassembled, plug-and-play 3D printer, but for those willing
to roll up their sleeves, the Prusa Mini is a highly capable machine at a great price.

64BEST PROJECTOR
EPSON EF-100 MINI-LASER STREAMING PROJEC-
TOR WITH ANDROID TV $999.99 L l l l m

The impressive EF-100 manages to be the least expensive, smallest, and lightest home laser
projector in its class. It combines the significant advantage of laser projection, including an
anticipated light source life of 12,000 hours at full power, with a small size and low weight that
make it truly portable and easy to store. Nine nuanced brightness settings save electricity and
prolong the life of the laser, and it produces accurate color and great audio. Gamers and film
buffs looking to replace a TV with a projector will find this little powerhouse a very tempting
morsel.

65BEST MOUSE
RAZER PRO CLICK WIRELESS MOUSE
$99.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Razer takes its gaming hardware expertise and applies it to something a little more
professional with the Razer Pro Click Wireless Mouse. Whether you’re clicking enemy units or
work links, you’ll appreciate the mouse’s ergonomic shape, healthy amount of button and
wheel inputs, multi-device syncing over Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless, and long battery life.

66BEST KEYBOARD
CORSAIR K95 RGB PLATINUM XT
$199.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT brings back everything gamers love about the original
K95—the smooth typing action, well-placed lighting, USB pass-through, and dedicated macro
keys—and adds more onboard profiles and a new padded wrist rest. The biggest
improvement? The XT has macro keys that are compatible with Elgato’s Stream Deck
software, a combination that lets you use the extra keys as video switchers.

67 BEST PRODUCTIVITY/DESIGN MONITOR
APPLE PRO DISPLAY XDR
$4,999.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Except for the $1,000(!) stand, the Apple Pro Display XDR is one of the best values you can
get in the world of content-creation-focused professional monitors. The XDR won huge points
for being expertly calibrated straight out of the box (something even the priciest reference
displays struggle with), and while it may not be a one-to-one replacement for the $30,000
reference monitors from the likes of Sony, its spectacular color results and beautiful design
make it a must-have for up-and-coming content creators who work in film, photography, or
3D design.

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68 BEST GAMING MONITOR
VIEWSONIC ELITE XG270QG
$599.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

What do you want in a gaming monitor? High resolution? Fast refresh? Functional design?
Look no further, because the 27-inch ViewSonic Elite XG270QG has it all. Featuring one of the
lowest input-latency figures we’ve seen while testing a gaming monitor, the XG270QG fills a
niche for gamers who want to play at 1440p but don’t want to sacrifice on refresh rates to do
so.

69BEST GAME CONSOLE
SONY PLAYSTATION 5
$499.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Sony and Microsoft’s impressive new systems house similar tech—powerful AMD Zen 2-based
CPUs, raytracing-compatible RDNA 2 GPUs, and SSDs that produce lightning-fast game load
times. But the PS5’s cool, haptics-loaded DualSense controller and few exclusives (Godfall,
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales) give it an ever-so-slight edge in the console war.

70BEST MICROSOFT XBOX GAME
ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS
$29.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Ori and the Blind Forest proved that Microsoft could publish more than just military shooters
and racing sims. Ori and the Will of the Wisps takes us once more into a hauntingly beautiful
forest and the secrets it contains. Once you’re done admiring the look and sound, prepare
yourself for the steep challenges throughout this nonlinear, 2D world. Perfect controls and
clever abilities let you overcome obstacles, and intriguing fairytale storytelling pushes you to
keep going.

71BEST NINTENDO SWITCH GAME
ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS
$59.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Never has a game satisfied a collective need like Animal Crossing: New Horizons did in 2020.
Leave behind the troubles of the real world and settle on your new island home. Socialize with
animal villagers. Decorate your house, and change your outfit. Invite friends to steal your fruit.
We waited many long years for a new Animal Crossing, one that was beautiful in both portable
mode and on an HDTV, and the wait was absolutely worth it.

72BEST PC GAME
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR
$59.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Who knew that a revival of Microsoft’s niche amateur aviator simulator would wind up one of
2020’s biggest gaming surprises? Microsoft Flight Simulator uses stunning next-generation
technology and online map data to recreate the real world and let you accurately fly through
it. Aspiring pilots can navigate through real-time weather conditions and visit recognizable
landmarks.

73BEST SONY PLAYSTATION GAME
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE
$59.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

In 1997, the original Final Fantasy VII rewrote the RPG rulebook with its then-groundbreaking,
cinematic storytelling. For fans, the idea of a proper remake seemed like an impossible dream.
23 years later, Final Fantasy VII Remake is real. Although this reimagining covers only a small
portion of the original game’s massive plot, the lavish production value and stellar action
makes us ready to relive Cloud’s story all over again.

74BEST VR HEADSET
OCULUS QUEST 2
$299.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The Oculus Quest 2 improves on the already fantastic Oculus Quest—a wire-free, standalone
VR headset—in several ways. It’s more powerful, lighter, and less expensive, all while offering a
virtual reality experience where you don’t need to worry about tripping over a cable and
bringing your PC crashing to the ground. It’s an ideal pick-up-and-play VR system with plenty
of fun games and apps.

75BEST GAMING HEADSET
RAZER BLACKSHARK V2
$99.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The Razer Blackshark V2 isn’t particularly complicated or flashy, but it’s still a standout
gaming headset. These cans have excellent sound quality and a fantastic microphone, and
they come with a USB sound card that supports THX Spatial Audio through your PC. The V2
sounds and feels great and carries a reasonable price.

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76BEST DESKTOP OPERATING SYSTEM
APPLE MACOS BIG SUR
Free with Macs EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Apple’s latest version of the software that runs its Mac computers is loaded with design
tweaks, many of which resemble features in the iPhone’s iOS mobile operating system. For
personal use, macOS is the most pleasurable, consistent, and attractively designed operating
system, though business users, gamers, and Android phone owners may want to stick with
fellow Editors’ Choice winner Windows 10. In a major technological move, Big Sur now
supports Macs running Apple’s own ARM-based CPUs.

77 BEST MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEM
APPLE iOS 14
Free with iPhones L l l l h

The iPhone interface finally gets a major refresh, with smart widgets you can place on any
home screen, less obtrusive Siri and call notifications, and much improved icon organization
with the App Library. The accessory apps also get big updates, including groups in Messages,
bicycle directions and city guides in Maps, and an all-new Translate app. Home controls are
improved and easier, and App Clips give you app functionality without the need to even install
the apps.

78BEST GRAPHIC-DESIGN SOFTWARE
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR ON THE iPAD
$9.99 per month L l l l m

Unlike the design software giant’s initial launch of Photoshop for the iPad, the new Illustrator
for Apple’s tablet is very usable right out of the gate. Innovations in this vector graphics app
tailor it to smooth use with touch and, especially, with the high-resolution Apple Pencil. Your
designs are automatically saved to the cloud, which not only safeguards them but also means
you can pick up where you left off on the desktop version.

79BEST PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
$9.99 per month EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l l

Photoshop remains without peer and is a perennial PCMag Best Product honoree. This year,
the program distinguishes itself with mind-blowing new features. Neural Filters let you alter
the age, expression, pose, and color makeup of human photo subjects. And Sky Replacement
accomplishes nearly instantly what used to be time-consuming, multistep process.
Photoshop now has an AI style-transfer feature, letting you give your photo the look of a Van
Gogh or other artist.

80BEST PHOTO-PRINTING SERVICE
MPIX
$0.19 per 4-by-6-inch print EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l L

Mpix has an excellent web interface, top-quality prints, and an assortment of photo papers
and processes. It ships your prints in the most protected way you’ll find from any photo
finisher. Mpix can also retouch your photo with options including Glass Glare Removal, Stray
Hair Removal, and Teeth Whitening. The company also offers a mobile app to order prints
from your phone camera with all the same options you get on the desktop.

81BEST VIDEO-EDITING SOFTWARE
CYBERLINK POWERDIRECTOR
$129.99 or $69.99 per year EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

PowerDirector is not only the most full-featured consumer video-editing application, but it’s
also the fastest at rendering movies. The company is constantly updating with new features
and format support. The subscription gets you access to royalty-free use of well-regarded
Shutterstock media. And masking, titling, and screen recording with multicam are quite
improved. Despite its wealth of features, PowerDirector is remarkably user-friendly.

82BEST CLOUD STORAGE AND SYNCING
MICROSOFT ONEDRIVE
Free EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l l

OneDrive works seamlessly with Microsoft Office and Windows and also has client apps for
Android, iOS, and macOS. The service offers online versions of Office productivity apps, can
back up your computer’s most important files, and uploads photos automatically from your
phone. Its Files on Demand feature saves local storage by downloading files only when you
need them, and the Personal Vault adds extra security protections to your sensitive
documents and media.

83BEST AUDIO-EDITING SOFTWARE
APPLE LOGIC PRO X
$199.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l l

It’s not often that a “best of” distinction is awarded so easily, and it’s not that Logic Pro X is
the only good digital audio workstation out there—it’s that Logic Pro X competes on the high

end but is priced like a budget DAW (digital audio workstation). For just $200, you get a
massive array of virtual instruments and effects plug-ins, robust loop composition tools, built-
in pitch correction, a good score editor, and a cutting-edge sampler. Plus, there’s no clumsy
copy protection.

84BEST VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE (LIVE TV)
HULU + LIVE TV
$54.99 per year EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Hulu + Live TV is an excellent option for anyone looking to replace their cable subscription
with a video-streaming service. Its channel lineup includes local broadcast affiliates and top
news, sports, lifestyle, and kids channels. Hulu supports 1080p/60fps streams on supported
platforms and allows you to record up to 50 hours’ worth of DVR content that you can keep as
long as you are a subscriber. You also get access to Hulu’s ad-supported library of on-demand
TV shows, originals, and movies.

85BEST VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE (ON DEMAND)
NETFLIX
$8.99 per month EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Despite price increases, Netflix still sits at the top of the video-streaming world because of its
excellent original series (including Bojack Horseman, Never Have I Ever, Stranger Things, and
The Queen’s Gambit) and movies (such as Rebecca, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and
The Irishman). Netflix supports all the latest video-streaming features, including offline
downloads on mobile platforms, simultaneous streams, multiple account profiles, parental
controls, and 4K streaming.

86BEST VIDEO STREAMING SERVICE (FREE)
PEACOCK
Free; Premium starts at $4.99 per month
EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

Peacock’s free ad-supported tier includes episodes from current network shows and
complete runs of popular past series, including 30 Rock, Battlestar Galactica, Parks and
Recreation, and Psych. The on-demand movie library features Hitchcock thrillers, classic
monster films, and other popular titles spanning the action, animation, comedy, drama
genres. Shows and movies can stream up to 1080p. Higher-priced tiers get rid of the ads and
unlock access to original productions and live sports.

87 BEST ONLINE LEARNING
MASTERCLASS
$180 annual subscription EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

There are plenty of online learning sites, but Master Class stands out with A-list celebrity
instructors, excellent course materials, and a broad range of topics. It’s great entertainment—
even binge-worthy. The service now includes more top-talent women and people of color, an
area we had called out as needing improvement.

88BEST DNA TESTING SERVICE
23ANDME
$99.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

Feature-rich 23andMe offers a trove of information about your genetics and deeper ancestry
by diving into your maternal and paternal lines. The service even reports on how much
Neanderthal DNA exists in your genetic makeup. This top DNA testing service also provides
checks for genetic health risks and your carrier status for many conditions. If you want to learn
about your genetic past, 23andMe is the way to go.

89BEST WEB HOSTING SERVICE
HOSTGATOR
Starts at $10.95 per month EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

When you’re selling a product or service or simply looking to build a brand, you need a website.
The feature-packed HostGator is an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses,
offering dependable and reasonably priced shared WordPress, cloud, reseller, virtual private
server (VPS), and dedicated server packages.

90BEST WEBSITE BUILDER
WIX
Free; Premium plans start at $14 per month

EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m
If you want to build a website with little effort, look no further than Wix. The service offers
many useful features, such as online storage for your site assets, cool video backgrounds,
animations for titles, and mobile apps. Wix’s interface is one of the most intuitive, slick, and
powerful in the website-building services field, so you can create an online presence in
no time.

91BEST DATING SERVICE
MATCH
$44.99 per year EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l m

When you’re ready to invest in your love life, Match is the online dating service that’s worth
your time, effort, and money. Robust, vetted profiles tell you a lot about potential partners,
and a cool video-chat feature lets you safely date during a quarantine. And the intuitive
mobile app makes it easy to transition over from the fast-and-loose Tinder world.

92BEST MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE
HELLOFRESH
$8.99 per serving EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The meal kit delivery service industry has spawned lots of competition in recent years, and
HelloFresh has emerged as one of the best choices you can make. It offers fresh ingredients,
simple and doable recipes, and a broad choice of fare. HelloFresh uses the most
environmentally friendly packaging of any meal services we’ve tested, and it offers a healthy
selection of substitutions and add-ons.

93BEST MUSIC STREAMING SERVICE
SPOTIFY
Free; Premium plans start at $9.99 per month

EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h
Spotify remains a big dog in the streaming music space, despite serious competition from
rival services from Apple, Amazon, and more. It does so by continually evolving. Boasting a
large song catalog, collaborative playlists, group listening sessions, podcasts, and the ability to
hear select albums before they’re released to non-subscribers, Spotify is an excellent, well-
rounded music service.

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94BEST SECURITY SUITE
NORTON 360 DELUXE
$99.99 per year EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

With Norton 360 Deluxe, you get effective protection for five devices running Windows,
macOS, Android, or iOS, along with five no-limits VPN licenses and 50GB of storage for your
online backups. The impressive collection of security-centric bonus features includes
dedicated ransomware protection, a smart firewall, a password manager, and more. It’s a
high-tech security bargain.

95BEST STANDALONE ANTIVIRUS
BITDEFENDER ANTIVIRUS PLUS
Starts at $39.99 per year EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h

The independent testing labs love Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, routinely awarding it top honors,
and it does a great job keeping its users away from dangerous and fraudulent websites. On
top of that, it offers so many additional security features that you might think it’s a full-on
security suite. These include ransomware-specific protection, a hardened browser to protect
your financial transactions, a simple password manager, and more. In a recent shootout, it
beat top rival Kaspersky.

96BEST FREE VPN What
PROTONVPN Mullvad VPN
Free or starts at $10 per month lacks in glitz,
it more than
EDITORS’ CHOICE L l l l h makes up for
ProtonVPN comes from the minds behind the privacy-focused with a solid,
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PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

FEATURES

CAN THIS
AI HELP
SMOKERS
QUIT?

BY S.C. STUART

W hile COVID-19 remains an occupying force in our world, and a
viable vaccine is still out of reach, dealing with the pandemic
comes down to mitigating health risks while coping with stress. If
you’re a smoker, that’s going to be tough on both accounts. This isn’t the Mad
Men era; everyone knows the risks of tobacco use, but cessation of addictive
substances isn’t easy.

Could a virtual human help?

In a May advisory on COVID-19 and tobacco use, the World Health
Organization said, “COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the
lungs [and] smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to
¿JKW R̆ FRURQDYLUXVHV DQG RWKHU UHVSLUDWRU\ GLVHDVHV $YDLODEOH UHVHDUFK
suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19
outcomes and death.”

,Q -XO\ WKH :+2 ODXQFKHG LWV ¿UVW GLJLWDO KHDOWK ZRUNHU²DQ HPERGLHG $,
FDOOHG )ORUHQFH²DV SDUW RI LWV ZLGHU H̆RUW WR KHOS SHRSOH DURXQG WKH ZRUOG
quit smoking.

:H WRRN )ORUHQFH¶V DUWL¿FLDO VPDUWV IRU D VSLQ DQG WKHQ VSRNH ZLWK 6RXO
Machines and the WHO for the backstory.

YOUR AI WILL SEE YOU NOW Florence is
,¶P VLWWLQJ LQ P\ DSDUWPHQW LQ /RV $QJHOHV ORRNLQJ DW pleasantly
who-en.digitalhero.cloud on my laptop. The start screen
VD\V WKH $, NQRZQ DV )ORUHQFH QHHGV WR KHDU P\ YRLFH friendly,
DQG VHH P\ IDFH , UHOXFWDQWO\ SHHO R̆ WKH SLHFH RI WDSH moving around
that usually covers my microphones and camera. the screen in a

)ORUHQFH DSSHDUV RQ VFUHHQ $V VRPHRQH ZKR ZDQWV WR natural(ish)
avoid bias or cliché with regard to emerging technology, I manner,
DP JRLQJ WR UHIHU WR WKLV $, LQ JHQGHU QHXWUDO WHUPV %XW
DV \RX FDQ VHH IURP WKH SLFWXUHV WKH $, SUHVHQWV DV blinking in the
female. right places.

The WHO digital health worker isn’t in scrubs but is
wearing an orange T-shirt. I would have gone for a more
medical/professional look in blue, but that’s just me.
Florence is pleasantly friendly, moving around the screen
in a natural(ish) manner, blinking in the right places,
looking approachable and smiling from time to time.

,W¶V GH¿QLWHO\ QRW DQ 8QFDQQ\ 9DOOH\ VLWXDWLRQ %XW WKDW¶V
EHFDXVH )ORUHQFH LV EDVHG RQ D UHDO SHUVRQ 6RXO
0DFKLQHV GLG PRWLRQ FDSWXUH VHVVLRQV ZLWK 6KXVKLOD
Takao, a New Zealand-born actor of Maori, Indian, and
French descent, known for her role on the TV series
Tatau. In fact, her likeness has been used before for
FOLHQWV VXFK DV $XWRGHVN $XGLR PDWFKLQJ IRU )ORUHQFH LV
done in multiple languages, so we don’t hear Takao’s
Kiwi accent, but I digress.

THE SESSION BEGINS
%HIRUH ZH SURFHHG D FRQIHVVLRQ², VWRSSHG VPRNLQJ
PDQ\ \HDUV DJR %XW , KDG D WZR SDFN D GD\ KDELW IRU D
decade, and it was hell to quit, so I’m familiar with all the
techniques: I read all the books, mainlined gum, and so
RQ +\SQRVLV LV ZKDW ¿QDOO\ GLG LW IRU PH EXW WKH FRQFHSW
of a virtual human to engage in supportive dialogue
might have been helpful.

7KH VHVVLRQ NLFNV R̆ ZLWK WZR RSWLRQV :H FDQ WDON The session
about smoking cessation or dispel COVID-19 health- kicks off with
related myths. I want to get straight to the point, so say
“I want to quit smoking.” You can use the text/chat two options:
function, but I went for voice. Florence mostly We can talk
understood me. I had to repeat some things twice, but
WKDW ZDV ¿QH about smoking
cessation
)ORUHQFH DVNV PH KRZ RIWHQ , VPRNH²ZLWK D QRWH RI or dispel
FRQFHUQ²DQG SURYLGHV RSWLRQV WR UHSHDW EDFN 7KH 1/3 COVID-19
1DWXUDO /DQJXDJH 3URFHVVLQJ UHTXLUHV WULJJHU ZRUGV myths.
as opposed to a more free-form conversation, which is
GLVDSSRLQWLQJ EXW XQGHUVWDQGDEOH 7KLV VWX̆ LV VWLOO
pretty new.

“Regularly,” I lie.

“Thank you for your honesty,” says Florence. Of course,
I feel instantly validated by this classic reinforcement-
EDVHG UHVSRQVH EXW WKDW¶V ZK\ WKLV VWX̆ ZRUNV

³$UH \RX UHDG\ WR TXLW WREDFFR DQG VWDUW OLYLQJ D
healthier life?” says Florence. I nod and mumble yes.
“Great. I can help you build your own personal quit
plan.”

THE PLAN Of course, I feel
Florence then suggests I tell someone in my life I’m instantly
UHDG\ WR TXLW +PP 6HULRXVO\" )ULHQGV DQG IDPLOLHV RI
VPRNHUV ,5/ KDYH KHDUG DOO WKH H[FXVHV $QG LI WKH\¶UH validated by
still smoking, they’re not going to be thrilled you’re this classic
leaving the pack (couldn’t resist, sorry). reinforcement-

,Q FRQWUDVW²ZKLFK LV ZK\ WKLV YLUWXDO KXPDQ VWX̆ based
VKRXOG EH H̆HFWLYH²HPERGLHG $,V KDYH PDQ\ DWWULEXWHV response, but
that bio-based humans don’t possess, such as machine- that’s why this
learning-based communication tools, 24/7 availability,
and zero ego or competitive zeal. stuff works.

Which is why, as I found out when I interacted with
:2(%27 D IHZ \HDUV DJR YLUWXDO EHLQJV DUH JUHDW
because there’s no loss of face. That’s vitally important
with certain cultures averse to showing vulnerability
and/or seeking professional help.

$Q\ZD\ KHUH¶V D URXJK RXWOLQH RI WKH SODQ )ORUHQFH
came up with:

• Remove all tobacco products from your
environment.

• Tell someone you’re committed to quit.
• Expect withdrawal symptoms but know that a

smoke-free future increases long-term health
EHQH¿WV
• $QG NQRZ WKDW LI RQH XVHV WREDFFR DJDLQ ³, GLG QRW
IDLO , VXFFHVVIXOO\ WULHG $QG , FDQ VXFFHVVIXOO\ WU\

again.”

7KDW ODVW VWDWHPHQW ZDV DQQR\LQJ VSOLW LQ¿QLWLYHV DORQH
Then it got worse. “Would you like a toll-free tobacco
quit line?” said Florence.

1R , ZRXOG QRW %HFDXVH WKH PLG V MXVW FDOOHG DQG
DVNHG IRU WKHLU WHOHSKRQ\ EDVHG VWUDWHJ\ EDFN ,
ORJJHG R̆

THE VERDICT
9LVXDOO\ DXUDOO\ DQG WRQDOO\ )ORUHQFH LV ¿QH %XW WKH $, RU ³GLJLWDO EUDLQ ´ DV
6RXO 0DFKLQHV GXEV LW QHHGV WR JR WR PHG VFKRRO RU KDQJ RXW ZLWK H[ VPRNHUV
to formulate better quit plans. Florence doesn’t have enough clinical cognitive–
EHKDYLRUDO WKHUDSHXWLF H[SHULHQFH ULJKW QRZ WR EH WUXO\ H̆HFWLYH

The script is also on a closed loop (I know, because I tried it several times
GXULQJ GL̆HUHQW VHVVLRQV DQG UHWDLQV QR SHUVRQDOL]HG LQIRUPDWLRQ <RX PLJKW
ZDQW WKLV OHYHO RI DQRQ\PLW\ EXW KDYLQJ WULHG RXW 0$%8 WKH SLQW VL]HG
KHDOWKFDUH URERW DQG PRELOH EDVHG $, WKHUDSLVW :<6$ , NQRZ WKH IXWXUH RI $,
delivered, machine learning-based healthcare has got to be rooted in
personalization. It also requires proven research, while deploying sophisticated
socio-emotive H2M (Human to Machine) behavioral science.

$ WUXO\ H̆HFWLYH VPRNLQJ FHVVDWLRQ GLJLWDO KHDOWK ZRUNHU FDQ¶W VWRS DW D VLPSOH
scripted conversation and delivering a plan (or a toll-free helpline). Florence
QHHGV WR EH DQ $, WKDW \RX FDQ FKHFN LQ ZLWK ZKHQ \RX¶UH VWUXJJOLQJ DQG ZDQW WR
smoke. Talk therapy works, because it’s good to talk when the going gets tough.
%XW WKHVH DUH HDUO\ GD\V IRU YLUWXDO KXPDQV )ORUHQFH LV D ZRUWKZKLOH DWWHPSW
and, I’m sure, will improve over time.

THE BACKSTORY
$IWHU WKH VHVVLRQ , FRQWDFWHG *UHJ &URVV &R )RXQGHU DQG &KLHI %UDQG 2̇FHU
RI 6RXO 0DFKLQHV LQ 1HZ =HDODQG DQG -DLPLH *XHUUD &RPPXQLFDWLRQ 2̇FHU
for Non Communicable Diseases, at the World Health Organization in Geneva.

PCMag: How did this partnership between Soul Machines and the
WHO come about?

Jaimie Guerra/WHO: Early on in the pandemic, WHO research showed that
smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death from
&29,' $V WKLV HYLGHQFH ZDV UHSRUWHG PLOOLRQV RI PRUH SHRSOH ZDQWHG WR
quit. We were acutely aware that health workers were overwhelmed, and
FHVVDWLRQ VHUYLFHV ZRXOG QRW KROG XS GXULQJ WKH SDQGHPLF 6R ZH ORRNHG IRU D
solution that would engage people, pique their interest, and be available in their
home 24/7.

Photo credit: Bella (Image: Soul Machines)

Greg Cross/Soul Machines: :KHQ WKH &29,' SDQGHPLF KLW 6RXO
0DFKLQHV ZRUNHG TXLFNO\ WR FUHDWH &29,' 6DP D ¿UVW OLQH UHVSRQGHU IRU WKH
SDQGHPLF IROORZHG E\ %HOOD D 'LJLWDO .LZL JXLGH DQG IULHQG ERUQ GXULQJ
quarantine who can share information on a range of topics including mental
KHDOWK DQG ZHOOEHLQJ :+2 VDZ D GHPR WKDW 6RXO 0DFKLQHV ZRUNHG RQ IRU
another public health agency.

Is it a managed services software model?

GC: 6SHHG ZDV LPSRUWDQW VR ZH GHOLYHUHG )ORUHQFH IDVW DV D PDQDJHG VHUYLFH
ZLWK D FRXSOH RI PRGL¿FDWLRQV )LUVWO\ DOO GDWD EHORQJV WR :+2 DQG DOO SXEOLF
health advisories that Florence delivers comes from WHO. The conversation
was developed and is an ongoing body of work between WHO health and
tobacco cessation experts and our conversational engineers. To help us with this
H̆RUW )ORUHQFH ZDV GHVLJQHG DQG GHOLYHUHG LQ SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK $:6 DQG
Google Cloud.

Why did you call this AI Florence? We chose
Florence to be
JG: We have an incredible colleague named Florence at female because
WHO and we wanted to pay her homage for all of her the majority of
work. It is also the name of Florence Nightingale, the
founder of modern nursing, so it works! We chose healthcare
Florence to be female because the majority of workers are
KHDOWKFDUH ZRUNHUV DUH ZRPHQ PRUH WKDQ JOREDOO\ women, more
We also wanted someone who looked like she could be
from many places and would work on a global scale. than 70%
)ORUHQFH WRGD\ H[HPSOL¿HV GLYHUVLW\ DQG HPSDWK\ globally.

What sorts of data sets did you train Florence
on?

JG: Florence is trained on decades of research into
WREDFFR FHVVDWLRQ :H DOVR ZRUNHG ZLWK $, FRQYHUVDWLRQ
VSHFLDOLVWV DW 6RXO 0DFKLQHV WR HQVXUH WKDW WKH
FRQYHUVDWLRQ LV DV ÀXLG DV SRVVLEOH
How much of Florence’s platform is proprietary?

GC: )ORUHQFH OHYHUDJHV VHQWLHQW DQDO\VLV IURP 6RXO
0DFKLQHV¶ WHFKQRORJ\ 6RXO 0DFKLQHV LV WKH RQO\
FRPSDQ\ WKDW LV FUHDWLQJ $XWRQRPRXV $QLPDWLRQ ZLWK D
SDWHQWHG 'LJLWDO %UDLQ $XWRQRPRXV $QLPDWLRQ LV ZKDW
allows companies to create and bring to life digital
people (for various use cases), with an incredibly
lifelike, dynamically interactive experience. The Digital
%UDLQ WHFKQRORJ\ SURYLGHV LWV 'LJLWDO 3HRSOH ZLWK WKH
ability to sense, learn, adapt, make decisions, and
communicate interactively and in real time with the
user in a way that feels alive and engaging.

Are the results in? Has Florence stopped
anyone smoking? I saw in my demo that there’s
no data gathering or follow-up (unless that’s via
the helpline option).

JG: It’s very early days in this initiative, but we expect This is where
she will launch people on their path to quitting. WHO Florence
measures cessation at six months of a person being
tobacco-free. This is because it often takes people comes in, to
VHYHUDO TXLW DWWHPSWV EHIRUH WKH\ ¿QDOO\ TXLW :KDW ZH empower
GR NQRZ LV DURXQG SHUFHQW RI WREDFFR XVHUV ZDQW WR ‘quitters’
VWRS EXW OHVV WKDQ SHUFHQW KDYH DFFHVV WR WKH with the
resources they need. This is where Florence comes in, to
empower ‘quitters’ with the resources and information resources and
WR TXLW DQG WR KHOS WKHP EXLOG WKH FRQ¿GHQFH WR WDFNOH information
their addiction. to quit.

Finally, what’s next for Florence?

JG: Right now WHO and partners are focused on
scaling the experience to reach more of the 1.3 billion
WREDFFR XVHUV E\ DGGLQJ DOO VL[ 81 ODQJXDJHV 7KLV ZLOO
mean Florence will provide WHO’s public health advice
LQ (QJOLVK )UHQFK $UDELF 6SDQLVK 5XVVLDQ DQG
Chinese.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

TIPS & HOW TOS

WEARABLES

Tips Every Apple Watch
Owner Should Know BY LANCE WHITNEY

Though not as powerful as an Apple iPhone or iPad, the Apple Watch is
quite a versatile gadget for something packed into such a small package.
Depending on which model or type of Apple Watch you own and where
and how you like to use it, you can perform a variety of activities, including
listening to music, tracking your workouts, monitoring your heart rate, and
viewing your photos. And like the iPhone and iPad, the Apple Watch includes
an array of settings and options you can tweak to coax it to work and act the way
you want.
Below are tips for Apple Watch owners, whether they’ve just ordered the Series
6 or owned an Apple smartwatch for years. Some of these will likely be tasks
that you’ve already tried. But others may prompt you to say “I didn’t know my
watch could do that.”

LISTEN TO MUSIC
With an Apple Watch running watchOS 4.1 or higher, you can listen to albums
and playlists created on your iPhone, stations on Apple Radio, and any music
from Apple Music (if you’re a subscriber). You can also listen to music and
podcasts from apps including Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio.

First, set up your earbuds, headphones, or speaker via Bluetooth. Open Apple’s
Music app to swipe through your library of albums and playlists. From the
player, you can pause, resume, skip ahead, go back, and control the volume.
Apple Radio comes as its own separate app, where you can tune up Apple Music
1 (formerly Beats 1) and certain news and music stations.

To listen to music-streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, and
iHeartRadio, you’ll have to download their apps through the App Store on your
ZDWFK (DFK DSS LV VOLJKWO\ GL̆HUHQW EXW WKH SURFHVV LV VLPLODU²MXVW ¿UH XS WKH
app to access your stations or library. With a paid subscription to a service like
Pandora, you can typically do even more through your watch, such as listen to
PXVLF R̈LQH

LISTEN TO PODCASTS
Apple has its own Podcasts app that lets you download podcasts on your iPhone
and listen to them on an Apple Watch: You just need watchOS 5 or higher. With
an LTE-enabled Apple Watch, you can listen to podcasts without the need for a
nearby Wi-Fi network.

Open the Podcasts app on your watch to swipe through the latest available
podcasts. You can also access your library of subscribed podcasts or individual
episodes. From the Podcast player, you can pause, resume, jump ahead 30
seconds, go back 15 seconds, alter the speed, and change the volume.

You can also play podcasts from your phone using your watch as the controller.
And if you’re not crazy about Apple’s Podcasts app, try some third-party apps,
such as Downcast, Overcast, and Pocket Casts.

TRACK YOUR WORKOUTS
7KH $SSOH :DWFK VKLQHV IRU LWV KHDOWK DQG ¿WQHVV DELOLWLHV DQG RQH RI LWV
handiest features is the ability to track your workouts. Using the built-in
Workouts app, you can track your progress at a variety of activities in and out of
the gym, including biking, walking, hiking, jogging, rowing, elliptical, stair
stepper, swimming, and yoga.

7KH DSS OHWV \RX VKRRW IRU D VSHFL¿F WLPH GLVWDQFH RU QXPEHU RI FDORULHV
EXUQHG GXULQJ \RXU H[HUFLVH RU MXVW UHFRUG D IUHH ÀRZLQJ ZRUNRXW $V \RX
perform your activity, the app shows you your time, calories burned, distance
traveled, and heart rate. When you’re done, the results are sent to the Fitness
app on your iPhone, where you can view the latest stats from your watch and
track a history of your workouts.

MONITOR YOUR HEART RATE
Using the built-in Heart Rate app, you can monitor your heart rate at any time.
Open the app, and it will measure and display your current heart rate. As long
as your watch is in display mode, or you glance at the face, measurements are
periodically taken to record your rate. Tap the arrow in the upper left, and the
DSS GLVSOD\V \RXU FXUUHQW UDWH \RXU UHVWLQJ UDWH \RXU DYHUDJH UDWH DQG VSHFL¿F
rates based on your activities. You’ll also discover third-party apps that monitor
\RXU KHDUW UDWH ZLWK PRUH EHOOV DQG ZKLVWOHV WKDQ \RX¶OO ¿QG LQ WKH EXLOW LQ DSS

TAKE AN ECG If you’re
With an Apple Watch Series 4 and up, you can take an feeling chest
electrocardiogram, which checks your heart rhythm and pains or similar
DOHUWV \RX LI LW ¿QGV DQ\ LUUHJXODULWLHV LQ WKDW UK\WKP issues, don’t
VXFK DV DWULDO ¿EULOODWLRQ 7KLV LV QRW VRPHWKLQJ \RX¶G
necessarily want or need to do on a regular basis unless waste time
you have a heart condition or are experiencing some with the app;
type of symptom. call emergency

Needless to say, if you are feeling chest pains or similar services.
issues, don’t waste time with the app; call emergency
services right away. But in certain circumstances, the
DSS FDQ ÀDJ SRVVLEOH LVVXHV WKDW \RX FHUWDLQO\ VKRXOG
convey to your doctor.

%HIRUH \RX FDQ XVH WKH (&* DSS \RX PXVW ¿UVW VHW LW XS
on your iPhone. Open the Health app, tap the Health
Data icon, and then tap Heart. Swipe down the Heart
screen and tap the entry for electrocardiogram. Tap Set
Up ECG and go through the setup process.

To perform an electrocardiogram with your Apple
Watch, open the ECG app. Make sure your watch is on
the wrist you’ve already established in Settings, then tap
2. +ROG \RXU ¿QJHU RQ WKH 'LJLWDO &URZQ 7KH DSS
counts down as it takes the ECG. After 30 seconds,
your results pop up to display your sinus rhythm and
heart rate.

If all is well, tap Done. If not, you can add any symptoms you’re experiencing,
and again, contact your doctor or emergency services if you suspect something
serious is going on.

MEASURE YOUR BLOOD OXYGEN LEVEL
With an Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7 or later, you can use a built-in app
and oximeter to measure your blood oxygen level. This reading can tell you
whether you’re getting enough oxygen to your brain and other vital organs. A
typical reading should be somewhere between 95% and 100%. A low percentage
of oxygen in the blood can be a sign of a pulmonary or cardiac issue or another
related problem.

Though you shouldn’t rely on this sensor as your sole source of information on
\RXU EORRG R[\JHQ OHYHO LW FDQ DW OHDVW WLS \RX R̆ WR D SRWHQWLDO LVVXH SURPSWLQJ
you to alert your doctor.

To set up the Blood Oxygen sensor, open the Watch app on your iPhone and tap
the setting for Blood Oxygen. Make sure the switch for Blood Oxygen
Measurements is turned on. Here, you can also control when the sensor
takes background readings by enabling or disabling In Sleep Mode and In
Theater Mode.

To take a reading, open the Blood Oxygen app on your watch. Make sure your
watch is not too low on your wrist and that the band is snug but comfortable.
Keep your hand and wrist as still as possible during the reading. Tap the Start
button to begin the scan. The sensor begins with a 15-second countdown. If the
measurement is successful, the screen will then indicate the percentage of your
blood oxygen level.

TIME YOUR HANDWASHING Introduced in
Washing your hands is a crucial way to remove germs watchOS 6,
and prevent infections from spreading. Now,
handwashing has never been more important in the Apple’s Noise
face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts say that you app can alert you
should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds,
especially if you’ve been in a public place or touching when the
things that could transfer germs to you. surrounding
sounds are above
To help you with this goal, watchOS 7 unveiled a a safe level.
handwashing tool that detects when your hands are
under running water and gives you a 20-second
FRXQWGRZQ IURP VWDUW WR ¿QLVK (QDEOH LW GLUHFWO\ RQ
your watch by going to Settings > Handwashing,
then turn on the switch for Handwashing Timer. The
next time you start to wash your hands, the timer
VKRXOG NLFN R̆ DQG UHZDUG \RX ZLWK D FKLPH DQG D
thumbs up when you make it to 20 seconds.

PROTECT YOUR HEARING

Loud noises are annoying but also potentially damaging
to your hearing. Introduced in watchOS 6, Apple’s
Noise app can alert you when the surrounding sounds
are above a safe level and could lead to hearing
problems. By setting a certain decibel threshold, you
FDQ UHFHLYH D QRWL¿FDWLRQ IURP WKH DSS ZKHQ WKH
ambient sounds are too high.

To set this up directly on your watch, go to Settings > Noise. Tap the option
for Environmental Sound Measurements, and turn on the switch for Measure
Sounds. Go back to the previous screen, and tap the option for Noise
1RWL¿FDWLRQV +HUH \RX FDQ VHW WKH GHFLEHO OHYHO ,I \RXU ZDWFK GHWHUPLQHV WKDW
WKH VXUURXQGLQJ VRXQG LV WRR ORXG D QRWL¿FDWLRQ SRSV XS WR ZDUQ \RX

TRACK YOUR SLEEP
Third-party sleep-tracking apps have long been available for the Apple Watch,
but with watchOS 7, Apple introduced its own built-in sleep tracker. The new
app can determine how much time you’re actually asleep. It can also help you
try to get better sleep by analyzing your nighttime schedule, and it can show
your sleeping pattern over an extended period of time.

To set this up, open the Health app on your iPhone. Swipe down the Summary
screen and tap the Get Started button for Set Up Sleep. The next screen explains
how the app tries to help your sleep. Next, set a goal for the number of hours
you’d like to sleep. Set your bedtime and wake time and the days active. You can
also add an alarm.

You can enable Sleep Mode to automatically turn on Do Not Disturb at your
bedtime. Another mode called Wind Down eliminates distractions at a certain
number of minutes before bedtime. You can also turn on sleep tracking directly
from the Sleep app on your watch. Then just wear your watch to bed. Check the
sleep data on your iPhone the next morning to see how much sleep you got.

TURN ON DO NOT DISTURB
Just like your iPhone, the Apple Watch supports a Do Not Disturb mode so
\RX¶UH QRW ERWKHUHG E\ SKRQH FDOOV WH[W PHVVDJHV RU RWKHU QRWL¿FDWLRQV %\
default, the Do Not Disturb setting on your watch mirrors the iPhone, though
you can disable this under the General section in the Watch app on your phone.

2Q \RXU ZDWFK \RX FDQ ÀLS RQ 'R 1RW 'LVWXUE D FRXSOH RI ZD\V *R WR Settings
> Do Not Disturb and turn on the switch. The half-moon icon appears at the
top of the screen to indicate Do Not Disturb mode.

Alternatively, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to Control Center and tap
the half-moon icon. At the next screen, choose whether to leave Do Not Disturb
RQ XQWLO \RX WXUQ LW R̆ IRU RQH KRXU XQWLO WKLV HYHQLQJ RU XQWLO \RX OHDYH \RXU
current location.

CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES
You can call emergency services directly from your watch when you’re in any
kind of pain or trouble. Press down on the side button for a few seconds until
\RX VHH WKH VFUHHQ IRU 3RZHU 2̆ 0HGLFDO ,' DQG (PHUJHQF\ 626

You can either slide the button for Emergency SOS to the right or continue
holding down the side button. After a short countdown, your watch calls
emergency services. If you start the countdown by accident, release the side
button. If you start an emergency call by accident, press down on the screen and
then tap End Call.

As an added feature, you can add an emergency contact through the Medical ID
screen in the Health app on your iPhone. That person then receives a text with
your location after the emergency call ends.

The cellular version of the Series 5 and higher supports international calls to
emergency services, regardless of your carrier or where you live. So if you’re an
American visiting London, for example, and need help, the watch will call 999
and not 911.

SET UP AN APPLE WATCH FOR SOMEONE WITH NO IPHONE
With watchOS 7, you can set up an Apple Watch for a family member who
doesn’t own an iPhone. That person can then make and receive phone calls and
text messages, use a variety of built-in features, and run third-party apps on the
Watch. For this to work, you’ll need an iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14, while the
family member will need an Apple Watch Series 4 or later. Certain features also
require a cellular connection on the person’s watch.

To set this up, position the person’s watch next to your iPhone. Open the Watch
app on your phone, tap the All Watches link at the top, and then tap the link to
Add Watch. Tap the button for Set Up for a Family Member. From there, follow
the screens to enable or modify the necessary features and settings. When
you’re done, your grateful family member can start using their watch, and you
can continue to manage their watch from your own phone.

TALK TO SIRI
Yes, you can talk to Siri on your watch. And with a Series 3 or higher, Siri will
even talk back to you. Long-press on the Digital Crown, and Siri will appear,
awaiting your command or question. With watchOS 7, you can ask Siri a greater
variety of things, such as translating a phrase from one language to another.

You can also get Siri’s attention by voice. To set this up on your watch, go to
Settings > General > Siri. 7KH ¿UVW RSWLRQ IRU +H\ 6LUL OHWV \RX VD\ ³+H\ 6LUL´
directly to your watch. The second option lets you raise your watch to your
mouth where you can then say “Hey Siri” to chat with the voice assistant.

RUN A SIRI SHORTCUT
If you use Siri Shortcuts on your iPhone, you can now trigger them even faster
via your Apple Watch. With watchOS 7, Apple has added a Shortcuts app to the
watch. Tap on the app to see all supported shortcuts that you can start from
\RXU ZDWFK 7DS D VSHFL¿F VKRUWFXW DQG \RX FDQ WKHQ UXQ DQG PDQDJH LW GLUHFWO\
from your wrist.

FIND YOUR IPHONE
/RVW \RXU L3KRQH" <RX FDQ SUREDEO\ ¿QG LW E\ FDOOLQJ LW IURP DQRWKHU GHYLFH EXW
if another phone isn’t handy, you can use your Apple Watch. Swipe up from the
bottom of your watch face to access Control Center. Look for the icon that
resembles a phone with audio waves emanating from it. Tap that icon, and as
the icon turns blue, your phone will emit a pinging noise that you can follow to
track it down.

BROWSE PHOTOS
You can view certain photos from your iPhone on the watch. By default, your
watch displays the photos you’ve tagged as favorites, but you can change the
album. To do this, open the Watch app on your iPhone and go to the My Watch
section. Tap the entry for Photos and change the Synced Album to one of your
choosing.

On your watch, open the Photos app to see thumbnails of all your synced
photos. Zoom in by tapping or turning the Digital Crown. Swipe left or right to
EURZVH WKURXJK WKHP DQG WDS D VSHFL¿F SKRWR WR VHH LW XS FORVH

ORGANIZE YOUR APPS
Your home screen can quickly get cluttered with apps, but you can rearrange
those icons in a layout that works best for you. On the iPhone, open the Watch
app. In the My Watch section, go to App Layout and move your icons to
GL̆HUHQW VSRWV

To do this from your watch, go to the home screen and press down on one of the
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You can even press down on the home screen and choose List View instead of
Grid View to see your apps in an alphabetical list.

ACCESS APPS FROM THE DOCK
You can quickly access your favorite or most-used apps through the dock. Just
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Apps can be added to the dock, and if you want to remove one, just swipe it to
the left and tap the X.

To better manage your docked apps from your iPhone, open the Watch app. At
the My Watch section, tap the entry for Dock, then tap the Edit link. You can
then remove an app from the dock by tapping the minus sign or add an app by
tapping the plus sign.
CHANGE AND CUSTOMIZE YOUR WATCH FACE
Tired of looking at the same old watch face every day? You can easily change
DQG FXVWRPL]H WKH $SSOH :DWFK IDFH 7R VHH D GL̆HUHQW ZDWFK IDFH MXVW VZLSH WR
the right or left of your watch screen. To set up new faces, open the Watch app
on your iPhone, go to the Face Gallery section, tap a face, jazz it up with a
VSHFL¿F FRORU DQG VW\OH DQG WKHQ WDS $GG WR DGG LW WR \RXU GHIDXOW ZDWFK IDFHV
At the top of the My Watch screen, tap Edit next to My Faces. Here, you can
remove faces you don’t want and change the order in which the faces appear.
CHANGE THE BRIGHTNESS AND TEXT SIZE
Do you have trouble seeing the text and screens on your watch? You can play
with the brightness and text size. On your watch, go to Settings > Display &
Brightness. Tap the left or right icon on the brightness scale to lower or raise
the brightness. You can also control this by turning the Digital Crown.
Tap the entry for Text Size. Tap either of the icons on the text size scale to
change this, or turn the Digital Crown. If you need a bit more visibility, turn on
the switch for Bold Text.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

TIPS & HOW TOS

STREAMING

Virtual Movie Night: How to
Watch Netflix With Friends
Using Teleparty BYJASON COHEN

Many of us are facing a long winter indoors, thanks to the ongoing
pandemic. And though we have video streaming to distract us,
watching shows and movies is more fun with friends. You could get
everyone on Zoom and press play at the same time, but there’s an easier way:
7HOHSDUW\ IRUPHUO\ NQRZQ DV 1HWÀL[ 3DUW\
7KLV EURZVHU H[WHQVLRQ DOORZV \RX WR LQYLWH DQ\RQH \RX ZDQW WKHQ V\QFV WKH
VWUHDP EHWZHHQ DOO GHYLFHV 7KHUH¶V DOVR D EXLOW LQ WH[W FKDW IHDWXUH VR HYHU\RQH
FDQ FRPPXQLFDWH ZKLOH WKH YLGHR LV SOD\LQJ 7KH H[WHQVLRQ ZRUNV ZLWK 1HWÀL[
+XOX 'LVQH\ DQG +%2 0D[ +XOX DQG 'LVQH\ KDYH WKHLU RZQ ṘFLDO ZDWFK
SDUW\ IHDWXUHV WRR (YHU\RQH ZLOO QHHG WR LQVWDOO WKH EURZVHU H[WHQVLRQ DQG
have their own streaming subscription to join. Here’s how to get everything set
up for your remote viewing party.

INSTALL TELEPARTY This browser
Whether you’re planning a watch party or simply extension lets
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EURZVHU H[WHQVLRQ ,I \RX¶UH XVLQJ &KURPH JHW LW IURP you invite
WKH &KURPH :HE 6WRUH EXW \RX FDQ DOVR GRZQORDG DQ anyone you
ṘFLDO $GG 2Q IRU 0LFURVRIW (GJH DW 0LFURVRIW¶V want, then
ZHEVLWH 2QFH WKH H[WHQVLRQ LV LQVWDOOHG SLQ LW WR \RXU
toolbar for easy access and control. syncs the
stream between
)LUHIR[ DQG 6DIDUL DUHQ¶W VXSSRUWHG DW WKLV WLPH DQG
VLQFH WKH VHUYLFH ZRUNV WKURXJK DQ H[WHQVLRQ LW GRHVQ¶W all devices.
work on mobile.

CREATE YOUR STREAMING PARTY
Navigate to a streaming service on your browser, and
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SOD\LQJ WKH YLGHR WKHQ FOLFN WKH UHG 73 LFRQ RQ \RXU
WRROEDU WR RSHQ D VPDOO ZLQGRZ &OLFN 6WDUW 3DUW\ WR
generate a shareable code, then send this to your guests.
They will be able to join the party you have set up and
WDON YLD WKH H[WHQVLRQ¶V WH[W FKDW IHDWXUH

By default, Teleparty allows anyone to control playback Since the
RQ WKH YLGHR 6LQFH WKH YLGHR LV V\QFHG LI VRPHRQH video is
pauses their feed, it pauses for everyone. This is
probably the most convenient option, but you can synced, if
change it in case you want to keep things more someone
RUJDQL]HG %HIRUH FUHDWLQJ WKH FKDWURRP FKHFN WKH ER[ pauses their
IRU ³2QO\ , KDYH FRQWURO´ WR HQVXUH WKDW \RX DUH WKH RQO\
person who can play, pause, fast forward, and rewind. feed, it
pauses for
JOIN A WATCH PARTY everyone.
Once the shareable link has been sent out, guests just
click the URL. The link will open to the video you have
FKRVHQ :KHQ WKH\ FOLFN WKH UHG 73 LFRQ LQ WKHLU
browser, the private chatroom will open. You should
now be able to chat with your friends, and the video will
be synced between all your devices.

CUSTOMIZE THE CHAT
Teleparty is a fairly barebones service, so there isn’t a
whole lot you can do inside the chat. When you join the
FKDWURRP \RX¶UH DVVLJQHG D UDQGRP XVHU LFRQ &OLFN
your icon in the top-right corner to add a nickname and
customize the icon. The changes you make are saved for
\RXU QH[W YLHZLQJ VHVVLRQ RQ WKDW GHYLFH

$FFRUGLQJ WR WKH 7HOHSDUW\ 3DWUHRQ SDJH WKH GHYHORSHUV
are also working on support for emoji, voice chat, and
other streaming services.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

WHAT’S NEW NOW

THE WHY AXIS

Here’s What You and Your
Neighbors Have Been Watching
on Netflix This Year BY CHANDRA STEELE

HDYH ZH HYHU DV D QDWLRQ ZDWFKHG DV PXFK 1HWÀL[ DV ZH KDYH LQ "
Probably not. And like so much else that has been far more important
this year, states are divided on what they want to watch.
+LJK6SHHG,QWHUQHW FRP GHFLGHG WR ¿QG RXW MXVW ZKDW HYHU\RQH LV ZDWFKLQJ E\
analyzing Google Trends data nationwide.
First, The Umbrella Academy has overshadowed other shows, with 14 states
preferring it over all else that the streaming service has in its library. The honor
is much deserved, since the second season of the show had the Hargreeves clan
WLPH WUDYHO WR PDMRUO\ LPSDFW WKH HQWLUH SODQHW DJDLQ DQG NHHS XV
entertained at a time when we needed it most.

Early on in the pandemic, Tiger King tore its way Georgia might
through Twitter and made for many memes. It still have been
holds the top spot in Kansas and Oklahoma.
catching up on
GLOW ZDV GRPLQDQW LQ ¿YH VWDWHV EXW LW FRXOGQ¶W KROG Schitt’s Creek
RQWR LWV 1HWÀL[ FRQWUDFW 7KH VWUHDPLQJ VHUYLFH UHFHQWO\
delivered a huge blow to the show and its loyal audience before its
by canceling it. series finale
or celebrating
Times are dark, but New York and California somehow
still want to imagine the worst—Black Mirror is more its big
SRSXODU WKDQ DOO RWKHU 1HWÀL[ VKRZV LQ WKRVH VWDWHV Emmy wins.

,Q VHYHUDO VWDWHV D IHZ QRQ±1HWÀL[ 2ULJLQDO VKRZV
GRPLQDWHG YLHZHUV¶ DWWHQWLRQ *HRUJLD PLJKW KDYH EHHQ
catching up on Schitt’s Creek EHIRUH LWV VHULHV ¿QDOH RU
FHOHEUDWLQJ LWV ELJ (PP\ ZLQV 1HZ 0H[LFR KDV D ORW RI
love for hometown antihero Breaking Bad. And for
reasons known only to Oregon and New Hampshire,
they searched for Community and New Girl,
respectively.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

MASTHEAD

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PC MAGAZINE NETWORK Dan Costa

EDITOR Wendy Sheehan Donnell
MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL EDITIONS Carol Mangis
PRODUCTION DESIGNER José Ruiz

NEWS & FEATURES

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Chloe Albanesius
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NEWS REPORTER Michael Kan
EDITORIAL FELLOW Sherin Shibu

REVIEWS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR John Burek (hardware), Oliver Rist (business)
MANAGING EDITORS Sean Carroll (software, security), Alex Colon (consumer electronics), Rose Fox (mobile),
Jeffrey L. Wilson (software, gaming)
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Sascha Segan (mobile)
SENIOR ANALYSTS Tom Brant (hardware), Max Eddy (software, security), Will Greenwald (consumer
electronics), Tony Hoffman (hardware)
ANALYSTS Matthew Buzzi (hardware), Jordan Minor (software, gaming), Ben Moore (software, security),
Angela Moscaritolo (consumer electronics), Gadjo Sevilla (business), Chris Stobing (hardware), Mike Williams
(software, gaming), Steven Winkelman (mobile)
INVENTORY CONTROL COORDINATOR Joseph Maldonado

ART, MEDIA, & PRODUCTION

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Pete Haas
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Zlata Ivleva
PRODUCER Emily Zoda
SENIOR VIDEO PRODUCER Weston Almond

CONTRIBUTORS

John R. Delaney, Jill Duffy, Tim Gideon, Ben Z. Gottesman, Eric Grevstad, William Harrel, Edward Mendelson,
Stephanie Mlot, M. David Stone, Lance Whitney, Kathy Yakal

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MASTHEAD

CORPORATE

ZIFF DAVIS LLC

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