For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

Over the past year-plus of pandemic living, the need for broadband has become an inescapable truth. But broadband access isn’t cheap, and for some people, there’s been a hard choice to make: spend limited income to go online for work or school, or to get other essentials, like groceries and other basic supplies.

CNET’s Shara Tibken and Maggie Reardon dug into that “affordability crisis” — who’s struggling, what’s available to them, what hurdles they face, and how some companies, governments and others are working to make broadband cheaper and more accessible.

That story is among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don’t want to miss:

Broadband costs too much for some people. Fixing that won’t be easy

The US digital divide isn’t just due to lack of service. In many cases, the lack of affordable options is the real problem.

UFOs are real. That doesn’t mean we’ve been visited by aliens

Commentary: The Pentagon’s UFO videos have us excited about extraterrestrials but don’t expect to meet aliens anytime soon.

The show must go online: How performance was reinvented for the pandemic

A new era of digital performance has arrived. Let’s hope it’s here to stay.

How I moved from roller skates to electric skates

The Segway Drift W1 Electric Skates look intimidating, but it only takes some practice to start loving them.

Where Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces fall short

Good luck trying to participate in live audio chats if you have hearing loss. But improvements are in the works.

How do we reemerge after a year of isolation and anxiety? Sherry Turkle has advice

The MIT professor sees the beginning of a rebirth and an acute need for greater empathy.

Europe’s last dictator has a YouTube problem

Commentary: Roman Protasevich criticized Belarus’ regime through YouTube and Telegram — until the country’s president forced down a plane to silence him.

The coronavirus origin story and the lab leak debate need a hard reset

Commentary: Chatter about the origins of COVID-19 has ramped up, as calls for investigation into the lab leak theory grow louder.

Friends: The Reunion drags in spots, but is mostly a poignant homecoming

Review: At almost two hours, the special is longer than it needs to be. But hard-core fans of the sitcom will find lots to love about hanging out with these pals again.

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Electric skates are scary but also a lot of fun

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The post 9 great reads from CNET this week: Broadband costs, UFOs, electric skates and more first appeared on Joggingvideo.com.

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

People have strong feelings about the things they plug into and sync up with their devices. Keyboards. Headphones. USB-C this and that. Even the humble power cord.

That’s evident in a little debate between CNET’s Dan Ackerman and Ian Sherr that popped up this week. Dan got things going with a commentary on how he’s less than thrilled about rumors Apple may bring back the MagSafe connector for MacBooks. Ian responded with a hearty rebuttal, lauding “one of the most important quirky features” Apple ever built into its laptops — and then took away.

That’s just for starters among the in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don’t want to miss:

Apple may be bringing MagSafe back to MacBooks. Here’s why it’s a terrible idea

Commentary: It breaks my heart to say this, but I’m hoping rumors of the MagSafe’s return aren’t true.

Apple’s plans to bring MagSafe back to Macs can’t happen soon enough

Commentary: The proprietary magnet connector saved me thousands of dollars in repairs, and I can’t imagine owning a laptop without it.

The twisted, messy hunt for COVID-19’s origin and the lab leak theory

A tangle of conspiracy and politicking has complicated the investigation into the origins of the pandemic.

Netflix’s Night Stalker captures the terror of a murder spree I recall well

Commentary: I was 11 when Richard Ramirez killed two people in my hometown. The four-part true crime documentary has rough parts, but it vividly shows how scary that was.

President Trump’s legacy: A love-hate relationship with tech blew up in his face

Trump sparred with the likes of Twitter and Facebook despite his immense popularity on those platforms. His fiery rhetoric ultimately got him booted from them.

Controlling VR with my mind: NextMind’s dev kit shows me a strange new world

My two weeks living with a neural interface has been a trip.

Lyft test program offers drivers more rides in exchange for 10% pay cut

Lyft calls its feature “priority mode.” Drivers call it “poverty mode.”

One week with Apple Fitness Plus: Beating my lockdown weight gain

I’m just getting started with Apple’s new workout app, and already the pounds are dropping.

The coronavirus pandemic explained, one year on

We’ve all learned so much about the coronavirus in the more than 365 days since CNET’s first guide was published.

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Apple’s MagSafe: Should it return?

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And we’re off — 2021 has officially begun in the world of consumer technology. This week brought us, virtually, both the annual bonanza that is CES and Samsung’s first Unpacked event of the year. There was no shortage of product introductions and gadget aspirations.

From Samsung, for instance, we learned all about its new Galaxy S21 lineup, and all kinds of other tech it’s got in store for the world, from flashy new TVs and a linked fitness app to solar-charging remotes and a SmartThings Cooking service that pairs with its Family Hub refrigerators. And that just scratches the surface — you’ll find much, much more about CES here.

If you’ve had enough of all that, consider relaxing with a sea shanty singalong, which you can read about below. Our story on the TikTok trend is just one of the in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don’t want to miss:

Samsung Galaxy S21’s standout feature is its $200 price cut

Samsung made the move because of lower component costs, some minor tradeoffs and the pandemic.

Verizon CEO makes the case that 5G is more than just faster phones

From drones to 3D renderings of museum exhibits, Hans Vestberg rattles off a list of ways 5G will change your life.

In a post-truth world, we need Wikipedia more than ever

Commentary: Wikipedia is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The free encyclopedia may not be exciting, but its neutral, volunteer-driven content is incredibly valuable.

Tackling my lockdown weight gain with Apple Fitness Plus

I’ve gained a lot of weight over lockdown. Now I’m turning to technology to help.

After a sucky 2020, Samsung pitches a ‘better normal’ at CES 2021

With most of us still stuck at home, Samsung wants to make the space a better experience. But the total smart home remains elusive.

Sea shanties are everywhere on TikTok. Here’s why

From Wellerman to Drunken Sailor, sea shanties are attracting the attention of landlubber TikTokers. “It went wild. I don’t really know what happened,” says the guy at the center of it all.

Conspiracy theories collide online as Parler goes dark

Is it a pro-Trump rally? Or a trap? A reliance on encrypted chat apps fuels conflicting messages and a splintering of right-wing groups online.

Marvel’s WandaVision on Disney Plus a delightful, surreal superhero soap

Spoiler-free review: Do not adjust your set. Marvel’s imaginative new TV show is utterly unlike anything in the MCU, but in the best way.

Imagining the future of CES

Commentary: How can I imagine a world where we can’t see ahead more than a few hours? This year’s virtual show already felt like science fiction.

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CES 2021 verdict: How the first all-digital show stacked…

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