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Lawmakers Go After TurboTax Over Free Filing on Tax Day
Lawmakers Go After TurboTax Over Free Filing on Tax Day
Three Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Intuit CEO Sasan K. Goodarzi on Monday seeking answers about its TurboTax software and business practices.
In the letter, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Reps. Brad Sherman and Katie Porter of California allege that Intuit has used "extensive lobbying and adroit influence-peddling" to oppose consumer protections and make it difficult for eligible taxpayers to utilize free filing options, instead directing them to paid services.
The US Federal Trade Commission also issued a complaint against Intuit's TurboTax software last month. The commission alleged the company is deceiving consumers by calling its tax filing software "free" in ads but then "hitting them with charges when it's time to file." Around 66% of all the tax filers weren't eligible to use the free TurboTax product in 2020, according to the FTC.
Intuit has called the FTC's arguments "simply not credible," adding that nearly 100 million Americans have filed their taxes for free over the past eight years with TurboTax.
Warren, however, said in the letter that the Free File program, a partnership between the IRS and the tax filing software industry that offers free tax software to Americans earning $72,000 or less, "has been a failure" as "deceptive practices and outright sabotage from Free File companies" caused low rates of participation. Intuit left the Free File program in 2021.
"We are clear and fair with our customers and open and transparent about our advertising practices, and our participation in the Free File program was done in compliance and with the oversight of the IRS," an Intuit spokesperson told CNET, adding that it's reviewing the lawmakers' letter and will respond.
In the letter, which was sent on Tax Day, Warren demands that several questions be answered by May 2. The questions include: How much revenue has Intuit has made off of taxpayers making less than $73,000; how much money has Intuit spent lobbying the federal government; and how many Intuit employees or external partners have previously worked or have subsequently gone on to work for the federal government in tax policy or other positions in the IRS, the Treasury Department or executive branch?
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Return of Meme Stocks: Why Bed Bath & Beyond and GameStop Won't Go Away
Return of Meme Stocks: Why Bed Bath & Beyond and GameStop Won't Go Away
Meme stocks -- stocks that go viral online through social media or message boards -- continue to make news on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Last Tuesday, Bed Bath & Beyond's stock price (BBBY) soared up 60% only to crater three days later. Retail investor favorite GameStop (GME) also saw a similar spike and fall.
In 2021, meme stocks like GameStop exploded in price due to large groups of retail investors promoting massive purchases online. A coordinated "short squeeze" of GameStop in January 2021 took its stock price over $500 -- 30 times more than its $17.25 valuation at the start of the year.
Hedge funds who had heavily "shorted" GameStop -- expecting its price to fall -- freaked out. Popular online brokerage Robinhood froze trading for GameStop and other meme stocks, earning the ire of both investors and politicians, as well as a class-action lawsuit.
Meme stocks -- stocks that gain popularity through social media, often through the sharing of memes -- gradually disappeared from the headlines last year, but the latest rise of BBBY and GME indicates that this investing phenomenon is far from finished.
What are meme stocks and why are they making news in the stock market now? Learn why these stocks often trade for much more than their indicated worth and how online campaigns for meme stocks operate.
Note: Meme stocks are highly volatile and have seen wild price swings up and down over the past few years. These stocks come with a high level of risk and should be treated accordingly. If you're not an experienced investor, we recommend getting professional financial advice before investing any money in the stock market.
What are meme stocks?
Meme stocks are the shares of companies that have gone viral online, primarily propelled by social media hype. The price of a meme stock often rises considerably higher than the value suggested by its company's financial performance.
Meme stock companies are promoted in online message boards and on social media sites like Reddit, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, typically through the sharing of memes. A meme is an idea or cultural signifier -- often a humorous image or animated gif -- that becomes popular online, usually via social media platforms.
Communities promoting meme stocks have their own terms and slang, including "stonks" (a funny term for stocks) and "bagholder" (someone who holds onto a meme stock after its price has crashed).
Who is promoting meme stocks online?
The subreddit WallStreetBets -- commonly referred to as /r/WallStreetBets or WSB -- on the social-media site Reddit is the epicenter of meme stocks. Started in 2012 by Jaime Rogozinski, the community message board has since experienced drama related to removing moderators with possible conflicts of interest.
/r/WallStreetBets
WallStreetBets moved from internet niche to household name when it pushed GameStop in January 2021. First promoted by user Roaring Kitty in August 2020, the short squeeze of GameStop hit the right notes for going viral -- an outdated but popular gaming company that Wall Street had left for dead, plus a chance for small investors to "stick it to the man" by hurting hedge funds that had shorted the stock heavily.
The WallStreetBets subreddit hit its zenith of virality on Jan. 26, 2021, when Elon Musk tweeted out a link to the board with a one-word message: "Gamestonk!!" The WallStreetBets community currently has 12.4 million members.
Before GameStop, WallStreetBets had become popular online for its aggressive trading strategies, low-brow humor and YOLO ("you only live once") attitude toward investing, with Vice magazine labeling it "the 4chan of finance." An increase in contributors to the subreddit in the late 2010s was likely fueled by the rise of no-commission brokerages like Robinhood and mobile stock trading.
Other internet sites, such as the social media company StockTwits, have been involved in promoting meme stocks, but not on the same scale or with as large an impact as WallStreetBets.
How do meme stocks prices get so high?
It's all about critical mass. For any meme stock to make a noticeable spike in price, enough investors need to be convinced to buy the stock. As early adopters convince investors to buy in, the price starts to rise, attracting more investors struck by FOMO ("fear of missing out"). At some point in a meme stock's rise, owners of the stock start to cash out, bringing the price downward again.
In the case of GameStop, the heavily shorted positions held by hedge funds further helped fuel the rise of the stock price. As investors pushed the price of GameStop skyward, short sellers were forced to buy the stock to cover their positions, making the price of the stock go even higher.
What are the companies whose shares have become meme stocks?
Aside from GameStop and the currently popular Bed Bath & Beyond, several more companies have been taken on the meme stock ride over the past few years. These companies include:
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc (AMC). -- A US movie theater chain
Blackberry Ltd. (BB) -- A Canadian cybersecurity company best known for its outdated portable devices
Express Inc. (EXPR) -- An American fashion retailer
Koss Corp. (KOSS) -- A US manufacturer of headphones
Nio (NIO) -- A Chinese electric car producer
Nokia Corp. (NOK) -- A Finnish telecommunications company best known for its "brick" mobile phones
Novavax (NVAX) -- An American pharmaceutical company
Palantir (PLTR) -- An US software company
Peloton (PTON) -- An American bicycle/exercise company
Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD) -- An online, commission-free stock brokerage
Snap (SNAP) -- An American social media company
Tesla (TSLA) -- A US electric vehicle company
Tilray Brands (TLRY) -- An American packaged goods and cannabis company
Vinco Ventures Inc. (BBIG) -- A holding company for digital businesses
Virgin Galactic (SPCE) -- A US spaceflight company
One interesting potential new meme stock making a splash recently is AMTD Digital Inc., a Hong Kong-based financial technology company with about 50 employees. Near $16 in mid-July, its stock price leapt up to more than $2,000 in early August, putting its value at 4,000 times its earnings and placing it temporarily in the top 10 most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. Its price has since dropped back to slightly under $200.
What's different about meme stocks in 2022?
While the practice of pumping up stock prices far beyond their companies' value has been popular in the past few years, the novelty of the concept may have worn off in 2022.
Casual investors who took part in the GameStop squeeze might not be as motivated to participate in pumping up less-iconic companies like Tilray Brands or Palantir. They might also have lost significant money last year when GameStop's price crashed in 2021 from a peak of $483 to $53.50 in about a week.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Interactive Brokers' chief strategist Steve Sosnick argues that the pool of meme-stock investors has shrunk considerably, making GameStop-style stock price spikes less likely.
"[With] the initial meme stock craze you had people coming in who never invested before putting money into these stocks and investing," Sosnick said. "Now it seems to be the same cast of characters chasing the same list of names with a couple of new exceptions every so often."
Ironically, meme stocks may have become part of the traditional stock-market industry that they were threatening in 2021. Financial advisor Roundhill Investments has created an exchange-traded fund (a tradeable mutual fund) based on meme stocks. The fund currently includes securities such as AMC, Palantir and Novavax.
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How to Buy a Laptop to Edit Photos, Videos or for Other Creative Tasks
How to Buy a Laptop to Edit Photos, Videos or for Other Creative Tasks
Are you baffled by the multitude of laptop, desktop and tablet options being hurled at you as a generic "creative" or "creator"? Marketing materials rarely distinguish among the widely varying needs for different pursuits; marketers basically consider anything with a discrete GPU (a graphics processor that's not integrated into the CPU), no matter how low power, suitable for all sorts of creative endeavors. That can get really frustrating when you're trying to wade through a mountain of choices.
On one hand, the wealth of options means there's something for every type of work, suitable for any creative tool and at a multitude of prices. On the other, it means you run the risk of overspending for a model you don't really need. Or more likely underspending, and ending up with a system that just can't keep up, because you haven't judged the trade-offs of different components properly.
One thing hasn't changed over time: The most important components to worry about are the CPU, which generally handles most of the final quality and AI acceleration for a growing number of smart features; GPU, which determines how fluidly your screen interactions are along with some AI acceleration as well; the screen; and the amount of memory. Other considerations can be your network speed and stability, since so much is moving up and down from the cloud, and storage speed and capacity if you're dealing with large video or render files.
You still won't find anything particularly budget-worthy for a decent experience. Even a basic model worth buying will cost at least $1,000; like a gaming laptop, the extras that make it worth the name are what differentiates it from a general-purpose competitor, and those always cost at least a bit extra.
Andrew Hoyle/CNET
Should I get a MacBook Pro or a Windows laptop?
If what you're really wondering is whether the Mac is generally better than Windows for graphics, that hasn't been true for a while. Windows' graphics programming interface has gotten a lot better over time, which allows for broader support and better performance in the applications. But performing display calibration on both platforms can feel like walking barefoot over broken glass. Windows, because its color profile management seems like it hasn't changed since it originally launched in Windows NT, and MacOS because interface changes made in Monterey combined with ambiguity about supported calibrators, software and the new MacBook Pro screens has some folks gnashing their collective teeth.
MacBook Pros now have native M1 processor support for most of the important applications, which includes software written to use Metal (Apple's graphics application programming interface). But a lot of software still doesn't have both Windows and MacOS versions, which means you have to pick the platform that supports any critical utilities or specific software packages. If you need both and aren't seriously budget-constrained, consider buying a fully kitted-out MacBook Pro and running a Windows virtual machine on it. That's an imperfect solution, though, since VMs tend to be fairly bad ab out being able to access the full capabilities of the GPU.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
How do I know what specs are important?
The first decision you need to make is whether you'll need a workstation-class system or can get away with a normal laptop; the latter is generally cheaper. In order to use some advanced features, accelerate some operations or adhere to certain security constraints, some professional applications require workstation-class components: Nvidia A- or T-series or AMD W-series GPUs rather than their GeForce or Radeon equivalents, Intel Xeon or AMD Threadripper CPUs and ECC (error correction code) memory.
Nvidia loosened the reigns on its division between its consumer GPUs and its workstation GPUs with a middle-ground Nvidia Studio. The Studio drivers, as opposed to GeForce's Game Ready ones, add optimizations for more creation-focused applications rather than games, which means you don't necessarily have to fork over as much cash.
Companies which develop professional applications usually provide guidance on what some recommended specs are for running their software. If your budget demands that you make performance trade-offs, you need to know where to throw more money. Since every application is different, you can't generalize to the level of "video-editing uses CPU cores more than GPU acceleration" (though a big, fast SSD is almost always a good idea). The requirements for photo editing are generally lower than those for video, so those systems will probably be cheaper and more tempting. But if you spend 90% of your time editing video, it might not be worth the savings.
There are a few generalizations I can make to help narrow down your options:
More and faster CPU cores -- more P-Cores if we're talking about Intel's new 12th-gen processors -- directly translate into shorter final-quality rendering times for both video and 3D and faster ingestion and thumbnail generation of high-resolution photos and video. Intel's new P-series processors are specifically biased for creative (and other CPU-intensive) work.
More and faster GPU cores plus more graphics memory (VRAM) improves the fluidity of much real-time work, such as using the secondary display option in Lightroom, scrubbing through complex timelines for video editing, working on complex 3D models and so on.
Always get 16GB or more memory. Frankly, that's my general recommendation for Windows systems (MacOS runs better on less memory than Windows). But a lot of graphics applications will use as much memory as they can get their grubby little bits on; for instance, I've never seen Lightroom use less than all the available memory in my system (or CPU cores) when importing photos.
Stick with SSD storage and at least 1TB of it. Budget laptops may have a slow, secondary spinning disk drive to cheaply pad about the amount of storage. And while you could get away with 512GB, you'll probably find yourself having to clear files off onto external storage a little too frequently.
Get the fastest Wi-Fi possible, which at the moment is Wi-Fi 6E. Much has become split between the cloud and local storage, and even if you don't intend to use the cloud much your software may force it on you. For instance, Adobe really, really wants you to use its clouds and is moving an increasing amount of your files to cloud-only. And if you accidentally save that 256MB Photoshop file in the ether, you're in for a rude awakening when you try to open it next.
Do I need a 4K or 100% Adobe RGB screen?
Not necessarily. For highly detailed work -- think a CAD wireframe or illustration -- you might benefit from the higher pixel density of a 4K display, but for the most part, you can get away with something lower (and you'll be rewarded with slightly better battery life, too).
Color is more important, but your needs depend on what you're doing and at what level. A lot of manufacturers will cut corners with a 100% sRGB display, but it won't be able to reproduce a lot of saturated colors; it really is a least-common-denominator space, and you can always buy a cheap external monitor to preview or proof images the way they'll appear on cheaper displays.
For graphics that will only be appearing online, a screen with at least 95% P3 (aka DCI-P3) coverage is my general choice, and they're becoming quite common and less expensive than they used to be. If you're trying to match colors between print and screen, then 99% Adobe RGB makes more sense. Either one will display lovely saturated colors and the broad tonal range you might need for photo editing, but Adobe RGB skews more toward reproducing cyan and magenta, which are important for printing.
A display that supports color profiles stored in hardware, like HP's Dreamcolor, Calman Ready, Dell PremierColor and so on, will allow for more consistent color when you use multiple calibrated monitors. They also tend to be better, as calibration requires a tighter color error tolerance than typical screens. Of course, they also tend to be more expensive. And you frequently need to step up to a mobile workstation for this type of capability; you can use hardware calibrators such as the Calibrite ColorChecker Display (formerly the X-Rite i1Display Pro) to generate software profiles, but they're more difficult to work with when matching colors across multiple connected monitors.
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5 Best Multivitamins for Men for 2022
5 Best Multivitamins for Men for 2022
Vitamins and minerals are essential for a healthy life. If you aren't consuming enough nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E, K or F, as well as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc in your everyday diet, you might need a multivitamin to address these nutritional gaps. Supplements like multivitamins help top you off with all the good stuff a healthy body needs.
Notably, dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, leading to a consumer market saturated with inadequate options. There's a broad range of multivitamin brands, from affordable to overly expensive.
What essential vitamins and nutrients do men need?
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends men who are missing key vitamins from their diets, lack regular physical activity or adequate amounts of sleep take a multivitamin. Men, specifically, require a multivitamin that contains some of the following.
Vitamin A
Found in fruits and vegetables such as cantaloupe and carrots, vitamin A (along with carotenoids, a version of vitamin A found in animal sources) is important for eye health. According to the CDC, only 1 in 10 adults obtain their daily value of fruits and vegetables, men getting the fewest. Vitamin A in a multivitamin helps bridge this gap in men's diets. Adult men are recommended to obtain about 900 micrograms daily.
Vitamin C
Most commonly found in citrus fruits, vitamin C plays an important role in collagen production, protein metabolism and immunity. Again, if men are not eating enough fruits and vegetables, a vitamin supplement is encouraged. Men are recommended to obtain 90 milligrams a day.
Vitamin D
Aiding in bone health, vitamin D is obtained from the sun's UV rays. If men are not spending enough time outside and in the sun, a supplement is required for optimal health. Adult men are recommended to obtain 15 micrograms daily.
Calcium
Hand-in-hand with vitamin D, calcium is also needed for bone health. Calcium also aids in healthy muscle and heart function. However, a much larger amount of calcium is needed daily. Adult men need 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily and an extra 200 milligrams after the age 70.
Magnesium
Found in nuts, seeds and leafy vegetables, magnesium is essential for regulating chemical reactions, muscles and nerves, bone development and energy production. Men should obtain 420 milligrams of magnesium daily.
Zinc
Although the body only requires a small amount of zinc, it is an essential nutrient for DNA, cell and healthy tissue production. Zinc is most commonly found in meat and fish. If you are following a vegetarian or vegan diet, a zinc supplement is recommended. It is recommended that men take 11 milligrams of zinc daily.
Missing any of these important vitamins or minerals in your diet? You might need a multivitamin. To create this curated list, we took into account price, quality, certifications, and vitamin and mineral quantities. Here are our top picks for the best men's multivitamin.
One A Day
Dosage: 1 tablet
Specially formulated to support heart health, energy, blood pressure and muscle function, One a Day is a top multivitamin brand for men on the move. One tablet contains 100% or more of the daily values of vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, zinc, manganese, biotin, magnesium, copper, lycopene, calcium, iron, iodine, selenium and chromium. There are large amounts of vitamin B12 and pantothenic acid, which help keep the body's cells and blood healthy and transform food into energy.
Men's One a Day doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors, nor high fructose corn syrup or shellfish allergens. The tablets are also gluten- and dairy-free.
Olly
Dosage: 2 gummies
Olly has been a trusted Target, CVS and Walgreens brand for quite some time now. The company offers products specially made for women, children, men, sleep, beauty, immunity and even moods. Regardless of the product, Olly is known for having great-tasting gummy vitamins.
Olly's multivitamin for men contains high amounts of vitamins A, C, D, E, Bs, zinc and coenzyme Q-10. It also has nutrients such as niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, selenium and chromium. The gummies are gluten-free and are not made with artificial flavors.
One of the best aspects of Olly is that its vitamins are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, which guarantees that products have met strict standards for public health safety. Olly, as a company, is B-Corporation certified. This means that Olly is transparent about environmental performance (such as its waste management) and social performance (like employee benefits).
Ritual
Dosage: 2 gel capsules
You can subscribe to almost any kind of service nowadays -- food, beauty, clothing and now, vitamins. Pay a monthly fee and receive a month's supply of your favorite vitamins right at your door. With Ritual, an online vitamin brand founded in 2016, buying your multivitamins is easy.
Ritual's multivitamin for men ages 18 to 49 is vegan, gluten and allergen-free, non-GMO and contains no artificial colors. The multivitamin is unique in that it has a delayed-release design, intended to be sensitive on an empty stomach.
Two multivitamins contain vitamins A, D, E, B12 and K, as well as folate, magnesium, zinc, boron and omega-3. Ritual is among only a few vitamins that contain omega-3s, intended for brain and heart health.
Ritual offers free shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee and easy anytime cancellation.
Nature Made
Dosage: 1 tablet
Nature Made is one of the best-known brands in the vitamin market. Nature Made prides itself on being the top pharmacist-recommended vitamin and supplement brand and for good reason. The company has had over 50 years of experience and makes all its products in the US. Most importantly, Nature Made's multivitamin for men is verified by the United States Pharmacopeia, meaning that the product has met quality and safety standards set by the FDA's current Good Manufacturing Practices.
Nature Made's Multi for Him contains vitamins A, C, D, E, K and Bs, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iodine, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium and molybdenum. There are large amounts of vitamin C and vitamin B12 for increased immunity and muscle health. The tablets are also gluten-free.
Nature Made is the most affordable on the list. One bottle contains 90 tablets.
Ritual
Dosage: 2 gel capsules
Men 50 years or older often require a specialized multivitamin. As we age, our bodies require a higher amount of nutrients than others. Older men benefit from a slightly higher amount of vitamins C, D, E, B12, K, folate, iron, magnesium, niacin and calcium.
Ritual produces a multivitamin for men ages 18 to 49 and 50-plus. The difference between the two is that the Essential for Men Multivitamin 50 Plus provides higher amounts of vitamins E, B12, K, folate and magnesium. The gel capsules are also vegan, gluten and allergen-free, non-GMO and contain no artificial colors. They have the same delayed-release design, intended to be sensitive on an empty stomach.
Ritual offers free shipping, a 30-day money-back guarantee and easy anytime cancellation.
How to choose the best multivitamin for men
Not all multivitamins are created equal, and not all multivitamins will work for you. It is important to find a product that caters to your unique needs and dietary gaps.
A few things to consider:
Age
Men 50 years and above require specialized multivitamins for an aging body. For example, older men require higher doses of vitamin D to protect and maintain healthy bones. When looking for a multivitamin, find a product for your age group.
Dietary restrictions
There are multivitamins designed for those who are vegan, gluten and dairy-free, it just requires a little more inspection of the ingredients. Ritual has multivitamins that are vegan, gluten and dairy-free and non-GMO. However, Nature Made's multivitamins are only gluten-free. If your diet or lifestyle requires a product without gluten or dairy, make sure to carefully read each label.
Pre-existing conditions
If you are at a higher risk for heart disease, your doctor may recommend a supplement with potassium (assuming that you are not meeting your recommended daily amount in your diet). A recent study has found that low levels of potassium have been linked to cardiovascular diseases.
If you are a smoker, you require a higher amount of supplements than others. For example, male smokers require 35 mg more of vitamin C than nonsmokers.
Verifications
While dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA, there are a few verifications that ensure the product you are purchasing is safe.
Those verifications include:
Men's multivitamin FAQs
Should men take a multivitamin?
Multivitamins are for men who don't get enough essential vitamins (such as vitamin A, C, D, calcium, magnesium and zinc) in their everyday diet. Consult your doctor before starting any supplement.
What are the best multivitamins for men over 50?
When men hit age 50, they often require a higher amount of certain vitamins and minerals. According to Oregon State University, men over the age of 50 should intake more vitamins C, D, E, B12, K, folate, iron, magnesium, niacin and calcium. Ritual offers a good multivitamin supplement that supports increased intake of these vitamins for men over 50.
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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Huawei Band 6 hands-on: Smartwatch experience at a fitness tracker price
Huawei Band 6 hands-on: Smartwatch experience at a fitness tracker price
Huawei's Band 6 is one of the latest fitness bands to bring a wealth of impressive features to your wrist on the cheap. I spent a week or so testing Huawei's new wrist wearable, paired up with an Android smartphone, and found that it offers a versatile and intuitive experience. It's also verging on smartwatch territory thanks in part to the larger design, sophisticated health features and relatively comprehensive health tracking.
For £59 (roughly $80, AU$110) the Huawei Band 6 offers basic smartwatch features including phone notifications and heart-rate monitoring, plus advanced health features such as all-day blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, menstrual tracking, and a battery that's advertised to last for 14 days.
The Band 6 is available in the UK along with several Asian, Middle Eastern and European countries. Keep in mind, pricing tends to vary based on the market. The Band 6 isn't officially available in the US, but you might be able to find it on Amazon or eBay.
Band 6 wears like a smartwatch
Partly because of its relatively large and wide screen, the Band 6 makes you think you're wearing a smartwatch instead of a fitness tracker. It also uses one of the better displays I've seen on a fitness tracker: a bright AMOLED panel that offers solid resolution (368x194 pixels) and is visible in sunny conditions. The 1.47-inch screen makes it easy to flick through notifications or messages and read them, but you can't reply to text messages or answer calls. The straps are crafted with silicone and rested comfortably on my wrist, but you can't swap them out for other colors or replace them in case of damage.
The Band 6 also tracks a whopping 96 different workout types. You can track everything, from more common exercises, such as outdoor walks and yoga, to out-of-the-ordinary activities including kite-flying, dragon-boating and laser tag. But I should caveat this with the fact that less common workouts won't give you any additional or exercise-specific data points beyond the basics, which include heart rate, calories burnt, exercise time and training stress. Tracking an outdoor run, on the other hand, will serve up more useful running data like pace and stride length.
Just like the OnePlus Watch, Huawei's Watch 6 breaks out your heart rate zones based on intensity during workouts so I could see how hard I was working in each exercise I loved knowing whether I was in say, fat-burning mode or anaerobic mode to help me get a better sense of the workout's intensity. I don't own a chest strap, the gold standard for tracking your heart rate during a workout, so I wasn't able to cross-check the heart rate data. Unfortunately, the Band 6 could not track my go-to workout here in Hong Kong, which is hiking, as a barometer sensor for measuring altitude is absent, so I used outdoor walk mode. To be fair, that's a feature normally reserved for more premium devices or smartwatches. But the Band 6's 5ATM IP68 rating means it's water-resistant down to 50 meters.
Huawei Health app is the companion app for the Band 6. Here you can see how it tracks the various sleep stages.
Huawei
Basic and advanced health features
The Band 6 sports a feature that's been thrust into the spotlight due to the pandemic: blood oxygen monitoring. Huawei is advertising it as an all-day feature, but I'm afraid it didn't work using the app (though Huawei will likely fix that with an update), but you can measure your SpO2 levels manually. I didn't have a pulse oximeter on hand either to cross-check the numbers, but you should take the results with a grain of salt since a fitness tracker is not a replacement for a medical device like an oximeter. Either way, it's evolving into a must-have feature and was a welcome addition to the Band 6.
Beyond blood-oxygen tracking, other health features included cycle monitoring, stress tracking and heart-rate monitoring courtesy of the optical heart-rate sensor. Native sleep monitoring was one of my favorite features on the Band 6. Basic sleep data can be gleaned directly from the Band 6, and on the Huawei Health app you get more data on sleep stages, duration, and awake time.
Impressive battery life
I haven't had the chance to put the Band 6 through two full weeks of testing, but so far it's poised to deliver on its 14-day battery life promise. After eight days of mild use, battery life is still holding up strong at 40%. Comparable fitness trackers such as Xiaomi's Mi Band 6 and Honor's Band 6 have similar advertised battery life, but this is still miles ahead of the Apple Watch SE and Galaxy Watch Active 2 smartwatches, which don't go past the two-day mark. Not needing to charge the Band 6 every night before bed is convenient for sleep tracking. Once you run out of juice, you'll need to use Huawei's proprietary charger to refill the battery.
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Cars With Driver-Assist Tech Involved in 100s of Crashes, NHTSA Data Reveals
Cars With Driver-Assist Tech Involved in 100s of Crashes, NHTSA Data Reveals
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday released initial data on the nearly 400 crashes since last summer that involved vehicles with various levels of automated driving systems. In these crashes, six people died and five were seriously injured.
Vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), which offer features such as lane centering assistance and adaptive cruise control, were involved in 392 crashes over a roughly nine-month period starting in July 2021, according to the NHTSA data.
Tesla accounted for 273 crashes, Honda 90 and Subaru 10, with other carmakers reporting five or fewer ADAS-equipped crashes.
To be included in this data, the NHTSA said, "various levels of automated systems" needed to be in use at least 30 seconds before a crash.
NHTSA separately released crash data on cars with fully automated driving systems, which are intended to eventually operate without a human driver but aren't available yet to consumers. Over the nine-month span starting last July, 130 crashes were recorded, with Alphabet-owned Waymo accounting for 62 of them.
NHTSA said the initial data has limitations and isn't comprehensive.
"As we gather more data, NHTSA will be able to better identify any emerging risks or trends and learn more about how these technologies are performing in the real world," NHTSA Administrator Steven Cliff said. The agency plans to release monthly updates going forward.
Vehicles with automated systems represent a small portion of overall car crashes in the US. In 2020, for example, 8.5 million passenger vehicles were involved in crashes, including more than 41,000 of them in fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA.
Tesla didn't immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. The automaker has no public relations department that can typically field such requests.
A Waymo spokesperson said there is benefit in releasing this information to the public.
"We see value in having nationally standardized and uniform crash reporting during this early stage of the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology, and there's public benefit in NHTSA sharing its findings," the Waymo spokesperson said in a statement, adding that reporting should be refined in order to "limit confusion and potentially enable more meaningful comparison."
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The Worst Credit Card Mistakes You Should Stop Making
The Worst Credit Card Mistakes You Should Stop Making
There are several important benefits of using a credit card to shop. You can earn rewards, build your credit and take advantage of travel points and perks. But while shopping with a credit card can be convenient, there are also certain risks you need to be aware of.
If you pay a card late or don't pay your balance in full, you can incur fees and extra interest charges that make your purchases more expensive in the long run, especially considering today's rising interest rates, fueled by skyrocketing inflation. You could also wind up jeopardizing your credit score, which could make it harder to buy a house or get a loan.
So what are the biggest mistakes well-meaning people commonly make with their credit cards -- and what can you do to avoid financial pitfalls? I spoke with experts for their suggestions, and identified some of the most dangerous credit card behaviors. For more, learn how to get out of credit card debt and why now is the right time to pay off your credit cards.
Paying your credit card bill late
Missing a payment or making a late payment on a credit card is a major no-no. Colleen McCreary, a consumer financial advocate at Credit Karma, says this is the most common mistake people make with credit cards. Your payment history is a major factor of your credit rating and accounts for more than 30% of your overall score, McCreary said in an email.
A late payment is a one-way ticket to ruining your credit, and the ding on your report won't go away for seven years. Even worse, if your credit card bill remains unpaid, your creditor could sell your debt to a collection agency, which could tank your credit rating.
The best way to avoid late fees is to set a monthly reminder to pay your bill, and at least make the minimum payment. Most credit card companies will also let you set up monthly auto-payments, so you won't skip a beat. If you're worried you may not have enough each month to cover an autopayment, remember you can always set it to pay out the minimum, the full balance or a specified amount.
The credit bureau Experian notes that some credit card issuers may provide a short grace period for late payments, while others will mark your payment late as soon as you miss your due date.
If you do pay your credit card bill on time regularly and accidentally miss one payment, call your bank as soon as possible to see if it will offer one-time forgiveness, provided you pay in full at the time of your call. Your bank might refund your late fee and interest, but it isn't required to do anything.
While some credit card companies may mark your payment late after one day, those late payments are not reported to credit bureaus for 30 days, according to credit reporting company Equifax, If you act quickly to change your issuer's decision to mark your payment late, you could avoid damaging your credit score. If you're unable to pay your bill, you can also ask your issuer if it can create a payment plan for you.
Stop paying your credit card bill late
Sarah Tew/CNET
Maxing out your credit cards
After payment history, the second biggest factor in determining your credit score is the percentage of available credit that you are currently using. Called the "credit utilization ratio," this factor is calculated by dividing the amount you currently owe by your total credit limit, or your maximum borrowing potential.
Maintaining a high balance on your credit card compared to your total credit limit will increase your total percentage of credit used and hurt your credit score.
You usually want to keep your credit utilization ratio under 30% for a good credit score, though less is better. A good rule of thumb is to use 10% of your total credit limit and pay it off each month so you're not carrying a balance. For example, if your credit limit is $5,000, you wouldn't want to borrow more than $1,500 and ideally $500 or less.
If you find your credit card limit is too low -- for example, the amount you want to charge to your card exceeds the total you can charge on a given card -- you can always ask your credit card issuer for an increase.
Maxing out credit cards could also cost you big money if you can't pay off the total by the payment deadline. "The higher your outstanding balance (the amount of money you owe), the more interest you'll pay, which can make it even more difficult to climb out of debt," McCreary said.
Making only the minimum payment on your credit card
Your minimum payment is the lowest amount that your credit card issuer will allow you to pay toward your credit card bill for any given month -- for example, $50. The minimum monthly payment is determined by the balance on your credit card (what you owe at the end of the pay period) and your interest rate. It's generally calculated as either 2 to 4% of your balance, a flat fee or the higher amount between the two.
Making only minimum payments is one of the most common credit card mistakes, according to Katie Bossler, a quality assurance specialist at GreenPath financial wellness.
Although making minimum payments on time is still far better than paying late or ignoring your bill, paying only the minimum can cause interest to build, making it much more difficult to pay off your balance completely.
For example, if you have a $2,000 balance with a minimum payment of $50 on a credit card with an APR (annual percentage rate) of 14.55%, it will take 56 months (or almost five years) to pay off your debt, and you'll end up paying a total of $753 in interest. However, if you make a plan to pay the balance off in a year, your payments would be $180, and you'd only pay $161 in interest.
It only gets worse as the APR goes up -- at a relatively high but not unreasonable rate of 25%, a minimum payment of $50 would take 87 months (or a little more than seven years) to pay off a $2,000 debt, with a sizable $2,344 in interest payments. Meanwhile, upping the monthly payments to the same $180 would pay off your debt in 13 months, and cost only $281 in interest.
Here's an example of how making more than minimum payments can save you significant money in interest.
How minimum payments lead to higher interest
Credit card balance
Annual percentage rate
Monthly payment
Time needed to pay balance
Additional interest paid
$2,000
14.55%
$50
4.7 years
$753
$2,000
14.55%
$180
1 year
$161
$2,000
25%
$50
7.3 years
$2,344
$2,000
25%
$180
1.1 years
$281
The best way to avoid paying any interest at all on your credit cards is to pay off your full balance each month. If you can't do that, Bossler, the quality expert from GreenPath financial advisors, suggests pausing use of the credit card while you're paying it off, and paying more than the minimum to do so.
Taking out a cash advance on your credit card
Withdrawing a cash advance with a credit card is a big mistake. "It's the most expensive way to pay for things," Bossler said. Cash advances are a method of borrowing money from your credit line to put cash in your pocket "now."
Convenient as it may be, a cash advance uses an interest rate that is typically significantly higher than your standard APR. Most cards will also include a transaction fee of 3 to 5%. "This is not the way to go," Bossler said.
If you receive a "convenience check" in the mail from a credit card company, be careful. It could be a cash advance offer that's best tossed in the recycle bin. If you need some extra cash, it might be better to think about starting a side hustle or taking out a personal loan with a lower interest rate. Budgeting apps can also help track your spending, so you can pull back on expenses that can wait.
Chasing credit card rewards with abandon
If you're thinking of opening a new credit card account to get money back on your purchases, you can best manage rewards by considering your lifestyle. Heavy travelers should look for a card with frequent flyer rewards. If you spend a lot of money on groceries or drive your car often, look for cash back rewards for spending at gas stations and grocery stores.
However, you shouldn't make spending decisions based on receiving rewards. "Credit cards shouldn't be used as a strategy for buying things," Bossler said. Many cards will require a minimum amount of purchases for special rewards, or a welcome bonus to tempt you into spending more than you can afford.
Credit cards with lucrative rewards can also charge higher annual fees, for example, $100 or even $500 a year. If you're not spending enough to earn that annual cost back in rewards, you might consider a card with no annual fee.
Credit card rewards can be a powerful financial tool when used wisely, but you'll need to be careful to avoid running up your balance. Thomas Nitzsche, senior director of Media and Brand at MMI, says he often sees people making the mistake of using credit cards for rewards while ignoring the growing interest on their balance. If you're chasing rewards at the expense of your budget, consider coming up with a plan to pay your balance down instead.
Your credit score can drop when you cancel your credit cards.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Not paying off big purchases during a 0% APR period
Whether you just opened a 0% APR credit card -- which offers interest-free debt for a specific promotional period -- or a balance transfer card -- a credit card designed to accept debt from other cards -- make sure you read the fine print. Oftentimes, there's a fee to transfer your existing balance, commonly 3% of the balances transferred. Also, the introductory 0% rate only lasts for so long, typically between six and 18 months. That means you've got a limited time to pay off your balance before a higher APR kicks in. (When it does, your monthly interest gets a lot more expensive.)
To create a simple repayment plan, take the amount you owe and divide it by the number of months in your 0% APR promo period. Then pay that amount monthly to completely pay off your balance while you are borrowing without interest. For example, if you buy a $300 TV using a credit card with 0% APR for six months, making $50 monthly payments will eliminate your debt before the no-interest period expires.
Using a 0% intro APR credit card can be a good strategy to pay off your debt or finance a large purchase, but it can be risky, too. While disciplined borrowers can effectively roll balances into new accounts with 0% intro APR, Nitzche says that many people who transfer their credit card balances only make minimum payments, which can result in spiraling debt and damaged credit, leading to a point when they can no longer get approval for new accounts.
Canceling your credit cards
Even if you have paid down your balance on a credit card, there are two big reasons why you shouldn't cancel your account. Closing your account would affect your length of credit history and credit utilization ratio, two important components of your credit score. (Remember, your credit utilization ratio is the percentage of your total available credit lines across all cards you're using.)
If you close an account you're not using, your total available credit line shrinks, making your credit utilization ratio higher.
Canceling older credit cards will also shorten your credit history, leading to a significant drop in your credit score. If you do decide to cancel some of your credit cards, it's best to leave the oldest account open, as well as the one with the highest credit limit to maintain your credit utilization ratio and prevent any damage to your credit score.
It's important to note that with inactivity, credit card issuers may automatically close your account. To avoid this, Nitzche says that it's best to use each of your credit cards once in a while for small purchases.
Applying for too many credit cards
You may have heard this advice before: Don't apply for too many credit cards at once. Each time you apply for a new credit card, your credit score can drop slightly due to a "hard" credit check.
Hard credit checks require your consent and involve a full credit summary from a credit bureau. "Soft" credit checks occur when you view your credit report or a financial company requests a summary without your consent, and they don't affect your credit score. They're used for purposes such as preapproved credit card offers.
When you authorize lenders to pull your credit history, you'll see a "hard" inquiry on your credit report. According to credit score company MyFICO, a hard pull will lower your credit score by about 5 points. While it will stay on your report for two years, the deduction to your score will usually be eliminated within a year.
Too many hard pulls on your credit in a short amount of time -- for example, applying for five store credit cards in one weekend -- could affect your credit rating more, as multiple inquiries indicate higher risks of insolvency or bankruptcy. Experian suggests waiting at least six months between applying for new lines of credit to avoid lowering your credit score.
Applying for too many credit cards at once can drop your credit score.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Not checking your billing statements regularly
How often do you check your monthly billing statement? It can be an eye opener to see how much money you really charge your credit card, especially if it's routinely more than you bring home each month.
Spending $20 here and there may not seem like a huge amount, but it can add up quickly. Remember that increasing your credit utilization ratio (your percentage of credit used) will lower your credit score and high balances will cost you more in interest. Plus, how do you know how much you've charged if you aren't tracking your spending?
Tracking your credit card spending isn't the only reason to check your billing statement. You should thoroughly comb through your transactions to make sure there aren't any potentially fraudulent charges you didn't make. The sooner you discover you're a victim of identity fraud, the sooner you can contact your card issuer to dispute the charges and take the necessary steps to secure your credit card account.
For more tips on using credit cards wisely, learn six ways to get the most from your credit card and how to pick the right credit card.
