Category: Technology

As summer comes to a close and the air turns crisp, you know what’s coming: the MLB Playoffs. The NFL season is already underway, and if you’re also a baseball lover, this next month is essential viewing. The MLB has been through a number of changes in recent years. From the universal DH and the pitch clock to video replay and an automated strike zone, baseball may look very different if you haven’t been paying attention.

This week, the Dodgers will go head-to-head against the Brewers, and the Guardians will face the Rays in the best-of-seven Championship series. Which teams will come out on top? Here’s how you can watch live.

What Time Is the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game?

Today’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers will take place on Wednesday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

How to Watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers?

American League Division Series games will be broadcast on TBS, while National League games will be on Fox and FS1. You can also watch them with a live TV or sports streaming subscription from DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, HBO Max, Hulu, Sling, Sportsnet+ (if you’re in Canada), or YouTube TV.

How to Watch the Dodgers vs. the Brewers for Free

If you don’t want to subscribe to any of the above platforms, you may be able to sign up for a few free trials to gain access to this weekend’s games. Fox One and Hulu offer three-day trials, DirecTV and Fubo offer five days, and YouTube TV gives you 10 days for free.

Unlock Your Streaming Service’s Full Catalog

2026 MLB Playoffs Game Schedule

MLB’s expanded postseason means more teams on the playoff schedule. Things started off with the best-of-three Wild Card Series, where the Braves, Padres, White Sox, and Yankees advanced. The best-of-five Division Series put them up against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively. All of whom managed to advance

Now, the Rays and Guardians and Dodgers and Brewers meet in the best-of-seven Championship Series to determine the best team in each league. The winner from each league will then advance to a best-of-seven World Series to begin on October 23. Who will make it all the way?

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers – MIL lead 2-0

• Game 3 on October 14 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1

• Game 4 on October 15 @ 9 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1

• Game 5 on October 16 @ 9 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

• Game 6 on October 18 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

• Game 7 on October 19 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays – CLE leads 1-1

• Game 3 on October 15 @ 6 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 4 on October 16 @ 6 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 5 on October 17 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

• Game 6 on October 19 @ 5 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

• Game 7 on October 20 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

*if necessary

(Credit: MLB)

How to Stream the 2026 MLB Playoffs

This year’s MLB postseason is stretched across multiple networks and streaming services. All Wild Card Series games for the American League and National League were broadcast on NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. Additional rounds will be on other networks. ALDS and ALCS games are on TBS/TruTV and HBO Max, while NLDS and NLCS games are on Fox/FS1. For the World Series, all games will be broadcast on Fox and the Fox One streaming service.

• DirecTV: DirecTV’s MySports base pack costs $45 per month for the first six months to see every game on Fox, FS1, NBC, and TBS/TruTV.

• Fox One: Fox’s own streaming app lets you watch the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series on Fox and FS1 for $20 per month.

• Fubo: Fubo’s Sports plan costs $45.99 for the first month to watch the Wild Card Series, NLDS, NLCS, and World Series on Fox, FS1, and NBC/NBCSN.

• HBO Max: If you pay for the $18.49-per-month HBO Max Standard, you’ll be able to watch the ALDS and ALCS games on TBS/TruTV.

• Hulu: For $90 per month, you can watch every game on Fox, FS1, NBC, TBS, and TruTV.

• Peacock: Instead of a live TV service, you’d need to pay $10.99 per month for Peacock Premium to see the Wild Card Series games.

• Sling: The $60.99-per-month Sling Orange & Blue bundle will let you watch the ALDS and ALCS on TBS/TruTV and the NLDS and NLCS on FS1. Day Passes are also available for Sling Orange, allowing you to watch games on TBS for up to seven days.

• Sportsnet+ (Canada only): The $30-per-month Standard tier lets you watch every postseason game.

• YouTube TV: Though the standard plan for YouTube TV costs $83 per month, you can actually now pay for the cheaper $65 Sports package to see all games on Fox, FS1, NBC/NBCSN, and TBS/TruTV.

Can I Watch Postseason Games on MLB.TV?

Are you already an MLB.TV subscriber? You can watch the Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series games through MLB’s own streaming service—but there’s a catch. To watch on MLB.TV, you’ll first need to authenticate through a participating pay TV provider. It’s such a sticking point that it makes the entire question moot. If you already have a TV provider, then you wouldn’t need to use a streaming service. If you don’t already have an MLB.TV subscription, don’t pay for one now.

How can I listen to the 2026 postseason?

You can also listen to the games via ESPN Radio.

Which Teams Are In the Playoffs?

Since MLB expanded its postseason picture in 2022, a total of 12 teams make the playoffs each year. That includes six teams per league, including the three division winners and three Wild Card teams.

• American League Division Winners: Tampa Bay Rays (1), Cleveland Guardians (2), Houston Astros (3)

• American League Wild Card: New York Yankees (4), Boston Red Sox (5), Chicago White Sox (6)

• National League Division Winners: Milwaukee Brewers (1), Los Angeles Dodgers (2), Atlanta Braves (3)

• National League Wild Card: Chicago Cubs (4), Philadelphia Phillies (5), San Diego Padres (6)

Upgrade Your Streaming Experience

If you decide to watch the MLB postseason, there’s still time to get a big-screen television for viewing this beautiful game. Pro tip: Turn on your TV’s motion-smoothing option for the best picture while watching sports. Just remember to turn it off before watching other TV shows and movies to avoid the awful “soap opera” effect.

About Our Expert

Jason Cohen

Senior Editor, Help & How To

---

Experience

As PCMag’s editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate three times a week.

My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it’s already becoming a little long in the tooth.

My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech vertical mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I’m a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.

Whenever I have a second to myself, I’m probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.

Read Full Bio

A now ex-employee at OpenAI has been arrested for allegedly trying to spy on executives using an audio recording device that was secretly planted in a conference room. 

The suspect, 35-year-old Abdulrahman Alfozan, appeared in a US District Court today on charges of spying, according to the US Justice Department, which described the case as a matter of national security.  

In late September, a covert audio-recording device was found plugged into the back of a TV in a conference room used to discuss confidential matters. “OpenAI determined that the device, which had been concealed in toilet paper, was installed on or about Sept. 28, and that its contents were encrypted,” the Justice Department said. 

(Credit: DOJ)

The investigation traced the device to Alfozan, a Saudi National who was hired in July 2025. Surveillance footage showed that Alfozan had appeared near the conference room “on multiple dates prior to the device’s discovery, although he had no authority to access or to participate in meetings occurring in the executive conference room,” the department said. 

Alfozan also allegedly used an unnamed productivity tool to ask about OpenAI’s meeting rooms and executives’ locations. A chatbot account belonging to his spouse also “submitted prompts between Sept. 24 and Sept. 30 related to building, customizing, installing, audio recording, testing, obfuscating, and remote accessing a device,” the Justice Department added. (OpenAI says it can review a user’s ChatGPT content when “investigating abuse or a security incident.”)

(Credit: DOJ)

It then appears investigators tried to catch the culprit by installing a secret camera behind the TV after the listening device was found. The Justice Department notes “that on Oct. 5, Alfozan entered the executive conference room and appeared to look behind the television into which Recording Device 1 had been inserted,” which was captured on camera. 

(Credit: DOJ)

On the same day, Alfozan also left a bag unattended in another room at the office. “OpenAI security personnel found and opened Alfozan’s bag, inside which they discovered — among other things, including Alfozan’s wallet and ID — another recording device (Recording Device 2) similar to Recording Device 1,” the department says. 

(Credit: DOJ)

OpenAI added that it initially used the company’s AI models to “understand the device and where it had come from, identifying that a specific employee had planted it a few days earlier. We referred the matter to the FBI, and we’re grateful to the agents and prosecutors who moved quickly to make an arrest.” Alfozan has since been fired.

The targeted executive conference room was frequently used to hold confidential discussions on a range of sensitive topics, including “proprietary research, product plans, and business-development opportunities,” as well as strategic decisions and government relations. 

A LinkedIn page for Alfozan says he was an engineering leader for AI and data systems. However, OpenAI notes: “At this time, we have no indications of this individual inappropriately accessing or exfiltrating model weights, source code, or customer data.”

The complaint against Alfozan was also just unsealed. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by three years of supervised release, according to federal officials. In the meantime, the case is already raising suspicions that the Saudi Arabian government may have been involved.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

Read Full Bio

HomeView is the centerpiece of Apple’s latest smart home push, offering an in-home display for playing music, talking with Siri, controlling other gadgets, and more. The upcoming smart home hub costs more than its rivals, and repairs won’t be cheap.

The HomeView costs $299 brand new, while Apple’s estimated repair cost is set at $279. Apple’s service and repair website was updated soon after the announcement with what it calls an “estimated service cost” for both the speaker stand and wall-mounted versions of HomeView.

Unlike most gadgets, Apple offers only an “Other damage” designation, which costs $279 regardless of what needs fixing. Apple may one day update its repair scheme to be more specific, but there’s no sign of that happening ahead of the Nov. 13 release date.

Apple has yet to confirm whether it will repair each unit or choose to send out replacements. Given that you’d likely keep your charging accessories included with your speaker, a 30W USB-C Power Adapter with a USB-C cable, you may find this repair price isn’t dissimilar to buying brand new.

The adapter included in the box isn’t sold on Apple’s store; instead, the brand recommends a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max for use with a HomeView, which it sells for $39.

Those with AppleCare+ coverage get a better repair price: any damage is fixed for $39, but you need to pay a monthly fee. AppleCare+ costs $2.49 per month or $24.99 per year. If you have Apple One, you can add the Care+ service to your package, totaling $19.99 per month.

PCMag’s Andrew Gebhart saw the HomeView in action at Apple’s latest event. He said, “The HomeView isn’t breaking any new ground, but it hits every single note I was hoping to see in Apple’s first smart display. Between the sharp design, impressive audio, seamless recipe integration, and clever multi-user privacy features, Apple seems to have nailed the fundamentals right out of the gate.”

About Our Expert

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.

Read Full Bio

PlayStation’s disc-less future isn’t affecting Nintendo’s plans to release physical games, according to a new interview.

Bill van Zyll, VP and general manager for Nintendo Latin America, spoke in an interview with YouTuber Coelho no Japão, confirming the brand has no imminent plans to drop physical titles.

“We go off what the consumer prefers, and take that into account very heavily,” Zyll says. “We also have a platform that just launched. We’re barely just over a year into NS2 [Nintendo Switch 2], and it’s got both digital and physical capabilities. There are no plans to ditch physical. We know how much the fans like it as well, so our position has been to be agnostic.”

He notes Nintendo has been “very agnostic,” meaning it allows customers to openly choose between physical or digital titles. While true, these comments overlook that some Nintendo games now come as key cards in physical packaging rather than cartridges.

In January 2028, Sony plans to stop sales of physical games for its PlayStation 5 and any future consoles. The choice has sparked uproar among gamers and physical media fans who prefer to play from a disc, leading to a boycott of Sony services back in August.

Sony’s announcement may have been seen as an opportunity for Microsoft and Nintendo to switch to digital-only with a reduced backlash, but each brand may also be reassessing internally given the negative results of Sony’s decision.

It’s clear Nintendo knows its fans like the option to play physical titles, but the big question will be whether a Switch 3, or whatever the brand does next, comes with a physical game slot. Zyll’s comments are specific to the Switch 2, leaving the door open for a future digital-only console.

Microsoft has yet to announce its disc drive plans for future Xbox consoles, with its CEO avoiding the question in recent interviews. Asha Sharma spoke to the BBC where she said, “we’re not sharing more on Helix” when asked about the possibility of dropping the disc drive.

About Our Expert

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.

Read Full Bio

OnePlus isn’t making a comeback in the US, which may be disappointing if you like its latest smartphone. The OnePlus 16 is official in China, and it looks like one of the most exciting Android phones right now.

The OnePlus 16 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor, a chipset first announced last month but yet to appear on many devices. The base OnePlus 16 comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but you can upgrade to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Alongside the new processor, OnePlus revamped its cooling system with a vapor chamber 40% better than previous generations. The phone’s 6.78-inch screen is now an LTPO OLED panel capable of up to 185Hz refresh rate.

The battery sounds remarkable, though we don’t yet know exactly how long the phone can last. The OnePlus 16 features a 9,000mAh cell, far larger than the batteries in Google and Samsung’s phones, alongside 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging.

Interestingly, the OnePlus 15 took home PCMag’s Lab Award for the longest battery life among Android phones. The OnePlus 15 featured a 7,300mAh cell, meaning this new handset has a 23% larger capacity, which may make for a drastically longer-lasting phone.

The camera is also a major upgrade with a 200MP main shooter with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and a faster f/1.4 aperture. There are also 50MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras on the rear, and a 50MP selfie shooter on the front.

The phone comes in three colors called Tomorrow’s Starlight, Dark Forest, and Mars Masterpiece. Tomorrow’s Starlight is a silver shade and sports LED lighting on the rear, showing the number 16 in the bottom-left corner. This then flashes different patterns depending on various factors, such as when you receive notifications or when your phone is low on battery.

Earlier this year, OnePlus decided to stop selling its devices in Europe and the US. Some US-based fans may choose to import this handset, but that comes with various risks, given you won’t have access to a warranty or easy repairs.

The handset is being sold for a promotional period at 5,699 yuan in China, which is equivalent to around $850.

About Our Expert

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.

Read Full Bio

Investigators in Europe have arrested two suspects who were allegedly behind the arson attack on a Starlink ground facility in Poland last month. 

On Monday, Poland’s government accused two Turkish citizens of attempting to sabotage a Starlink “gateway” facility by deliberately trying to set it on fire. Both suspects were detained after entering Germany. 

“Last week, arrest warrants and European Arrest Warrants were issued for both of these individuals, and they formed the direct basis for today’s execution,” Poland’s Minister of Interior, Marcin Kierwiński, said. 

The Starlink ground stations are deployed across the globe and used to transmit data to and from the orbiting satellites, which then relay the broadband to users on the ground. Hence, an act of sabotage could disrupt access to the satellite internet system, although SpaceX can tap backup routes through other ground stations, or even the laser communication on the satellites. 

(Credit: Starlink)

Local firefighters managed to extinguish the fire. But Polish authorities suspect the arson attack was an attempt to disrupt Starlink access in Ukraine, where the satellite internet system has played a crucial role in wartime communications. While the arrested suspects are Turkish nationals, Poland is formally accusing the Russian government of orchestrating the attack.

“We have no doubt that Russian intelligence agencies are behind this act of sabotage,” said Polish Minister Tomasz Siemoniak in the announcement. “Increasingly, Russian intelligence agencies are reaching out to individuals connected to the criminal world. We have excellent police and officers in the Internal Security Agency who can effectively detect and investigate any such case.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also tweeted the arson attack represented “another act of hybrid warfare,” which involves using both conventional and non-traditional tactics to destabilize a country. Poland is preparing to extradite the two Turkish suspects.

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

---

Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

Read Full Bio

As summer comes to a close and the air turns crisp, you know what’s coming: the MLB Playoffs. The NFL season is already underway, and if you’re also a baseball lover, this next month is essential viewing. The MLB has been through a number of changes in recent years. From the universal DH and the pitch clock to video replay and an automated strike zone, baseball may look very different if you haven’t been paying attention.

This week, the Dodgers will go head-to-head against the Brewers, and the Guardians will face the Rays in the best-of-seven Championship series. Which teams will come out on top? Here’s how you can watch live.

What Time Is the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers Game?

Today’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers will take place on Monday, October 12 at 5 p.m. ET.

How to Watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Milwaukee Brewers?

American League Division Series games will be broadcast on TBS, while National League games will be on Fox and FS1. You can also watch them with a live TV or sports streaming subscription from DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, HBO Max, Hulu, Sling, Sportsnet+ (if you’re in Canada), or YouTube TV.

How to Watch the Dodgers vs. the Brewers for Free

If you don’t want to subscribe to any of the above platforms, you may be able to sign up for a few free trials to gain access to this weekend’s games. Fox One and Hulu offer three-day trials, DirecTV and Fubo offer five days, and YouTube TV gives you 10 days for free.

Unlock Your Streaming Service’s Full Catalog

2026 MLB Playoffs Game Schedule

MLB’s expanded postseason means more teams on the playoff schedule. Things started off with the best-of-three Wild Card Series, where the Braves, Padres, White Sox, and Yankees advanced. Now, the best-of-five Division Series puts them up against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.

The best-of-seven Championship Series starts October 11 to determine the best team in each league. The winner from each league will then advance to a best-of-seven World Series to begin on October 23. Who will make it all the way?

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers – MIL lead 1-0

• Game 1 on October 11 – Milwaukee won, 2-1

• Game 2 on October 12 @ 5 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1

• Game 3 on October 14 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1

• Game 4 on October 15 @ 9 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1

• Game 5 on October 16 @ 9 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

• Game 6 on October 18 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

• Game 7 on October 19 @ 8 p.m. ET – Fox/FS1*

Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

• Game 1 on October 12 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 2 on October 13 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 3 on October 15 @ 6 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 4 on October 16 @ 6 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max

• Game 5 on October 17 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

• Game 6 on October 19 @ 5 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

• Game 7 on October 20 @ 8 p.m. ET – TBS/HBO Max*

*if necessary

(Credit: MLB)

How to Stream the 2026 MLB Playoffs

This year’s MLB postseason is stretched across multiple networks and streaming services. All Wild Card Series games for the American League and National League were broadcast on NBC, NBCSN, and Peacock. Additional rounds will be on other networks. ALDS and ALCS games are on TBS/TruTV and HBO Max, while NLDS and NLCS games are on Fox/FS1. For the World Series, all games will be broadcast on Fox and the Fox One streaming service.

• DirecTV: DirecTV’s MySports base pack costs $45 per month for the first six months to see every game on Fox, FS1, NBC, and TBS/TruTV.

• Fox One: Fox’s own streaming app lets you watch the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series on Fox and FS1 for $20 per month.

• Fubo: Fubo’s Sports plan costs $45.99 for the first month to watch the Wild Card Series, NLDS, NLCS, and World Series on Fox, FS1, and NBC/NBCSN.

• HBO Max: If you pay for the $18.49-per-month HBO Max Standard, you’ll be able to watch the ALDS and ALCS games on TBS/TruTV.

• Hulu: For $90 per month, you can watch every game on Fox, FS1, NBC, TBS, and TruTV.

• Peacock: Instead of a live TV service, you’d need to pay $10.99 per month for Peacock Premium to see the Wild Card Series games.

• Sling: The $60.99-per-month Sling Orange & Blue bundle will let you watch the ALDS and ALCS on TBS/TruTV and the NLDS and NLCS on FS1. Day Passes are also available for Sling Orange, allowing you to watch games on TBS for up to seven days.

• Sportsnet+ (Canada only): The $30-per-month Standard tier lets you watch every postseason game.

• YouTube TV: Though the standard plan for YouTube TV costs $83 per month, you can actually now pay for the cheaper $65 Sports package to see all games on Fox, FS1, NBC/NBCSN, and TBS/TruTV.

Can I Watch Postseason Games on MLB.TV?

Are you already an MLB.TV subscriber? You can watch the Division Series, Championship Series, and World Series games through MLB’s own streaming service—but there’s a catch. To watch on MLB.TV, you’ll first need to authenticate through a participating pay TV provider. It’s such a sticking point that it makes the entire question moot. If you already have a TV provider, then you wouldn’t need to use a streaming service. If you don’t already have an MLB.TV subscription, don’t pay for one now.

How can I listen to the 2026 postseason?

You can also listen to the games via ESPN Radio.

Which Teams Are In the Playoffs?

Since MLB expanded its postseason picture in 2022, a total of 12 teams make the playoffs each year. That includes six teams per league, including the three division winners and three Wild Card teams.

• American League Division Winners: Tampa Bay Rays (1), Cleveland Guardians (2), Houston Astros (3)

• American League Wild Card: New York Yankees (4), Boston Red Sox (5), Chicago White Sox (6)

• National League Division Winners: Milwaukee Brewers (1), Los Angeles Dodgers (2), Atlanta Braves (3)

• National League Wild Card: Chicago Cubs (4), Philadelphia Phillies (5), San Diego Padres (6)

Upgrade Your Streaming Experience

If you decide to watch the MLB postseason, there’s still time to get a big-screen television for viewing this beautiful game. Pro tip: Turn on your TV’s motion-smoothing option for the best picture while watching sports. Just remember to turn it off before watching other TV shows and movies to avoid the awful “soap opera” effect.

About Our Expert

Jason Cohen

Senior Editor, Help & How To

---

Experience

As PCMag’s editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.

I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate three times a week.

My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it’s already becoming a little long in the tooth.

My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech vertical mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I’m a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.

Whenever I have a second to myself, I’m probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.

Read Full Bio

Starlink customers can now log in to their accounts using passkeys, a faster and more secure alternative to traditional passwords. 

SpaceX’s satellite internet system published a new support page with instructions on how subscribers can set up a passkey to access their account. “As of October 2026, passkeys are now available,” the page says. 

Passkey adoption has been growing across online platforms as a better way to both protect and sign into user accounts. The security technology ditches the old-school password, which can easily be stolen or guessed. Instead, passkeys use a private cryptographic key that’s stored in your PC or phone. When you log in, the device uses the stored key to sign the challenge process from the website, proving you hold the key without sending it.

Completing passkey authentication only requires you to enter a PIN or complete a fingerprint or facial scan. Hence, a user doesn’t need to remember and type in a long password to log back in. Starlink’s support page goes on to explain that “a passkey is a faster, easier, phishing-resistant way to sign in than a password. Instead of a password, passkeys use Face ID, a fingerprint, a PIN, or a hardware security key to prove your identity.”

“Passkeys are optional. Setting one up does not replace your password. You can keep using both,” the page adds. “Starlink does not see your fingerprint, face, or device PIN. Those stay on your device.”

This also means that the conventional password system still appears to be in place, allowing a hacker to break into an account through the traditional login method or by abusing the Starlink account recovery process. (In 2024, the satellite internet system added support for two-factor authentication to help prevent account hijackings, following reports of account compromises.) 

(Credit: PCMag/Brian Westover)

Although the traditional password system still seems to remain, using a passkey can nevertheless make logging in much more convenient.

Interested customers can set up a passkey by going to Starlink.com, signing in, and then heading to Settings > Privacy & Security, and then looking under Passkey. You can then add a passkey to the account, which can be saved on the device or in a supported password manager, including iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, 1Password, or Bitwarden. Logging in with a passkey is also straightforward. 

(Credit: PCMag/Brian Westover)

“You can add up to 10 passkeys. If you reach the limit, remove one before adding another,” the page adds. Users can also remove keys from their account. Another option is to save the passkey on a hardware-based security key if you own one. Last week, a new Starlink site revealed that SpaceX itself has been using hardware security keys to protect internal access to the satellite internet system.

About Our Experts

Brian Westover

Principal Writer, Hardware

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Experience

From the laptops on your desk to satellites in space and AI that seems to be everywhere, I cover many topics at PCMag. I’ve covered PCs and technology products for over 15 years at PCMag and other publications, among them Tom’s Guide, Laptop Mag, and TWICE. As a hardware reviewer, I’ve handled dozens of MacBooks, 2-in-1 laptops, Chromebooks, and the latest AI PCs. As the resident Starlink expert, I’ve done years of hands-on testing with the satellite service. I also explore the most valuable ways to use the latest AI tools and features in our Try AI column.

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Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

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Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been quieter than his counterparts in recent weeks as the heads of Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, and other leaders discuss the risks of artificial intelligence. Now, Nadella is calling for change across the industry.

In a post published on X, Nadella outlined his belief that it’s time to introduce what he calls an “emergency brake” for AI developers to pull in the event of further problematic incidents.

“We must assume a model is compromised and contain it from the start,” Nadella said. “An authorized person should always be able to pause or shut down a model mid-task.”

“We can’t treat Super Intelligence as a set of nested black boxes and simply accept or reject its recommendations, answers, and actions.” He used the term “Super Intelligence” throughout the post, following new style guidelines set out by President Trump late last month.

The post also explains how Nadella believes there should be controls and auditing tools, handled by a model’s creators. He said, “No single model should control both a system’s behavior and the evidence required to determine whether that behavior is aligned with the original intent.”

Nadella says the AI industry needs a system to ensure timely disclosure when models “fail or are compromised.” Nadella’s vision would enable firms to communicate more effectively about issues, ensuring that any failures yield lessons that could be applied industry-wide.

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As Nadella has waited longer than his rivals to comment in full, many more incidents of models going rogue have been reported. One such issue happened earlier this year, when an OpenAI agent accessed an Australian government website.

The initial call to action from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei came in early September, with the rest of the month and October seeing a growing number of reports where AI models breached third-party systems. As sentiment toward agentic AI shifts, many CEOs are seizing the opportunity to better align their brands with safety guidelines.

About Our Expert

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Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.

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An update to Googlebook OS now lets you use your Samsung phone with Google’s new laptops as originally intended. One of the key Googlebook features is its integration with Android phones, but Google didn’t include Better Together connectivity with Samsung devices at launch.

A new update rolled out on Saturday, after being announced on Reddit, letting those with a Samsung phone running One UI 9 software connect to Googlebooks. That’s Samsung’s own version of Android 17, which is necessary for these features.

Better Together tools include Continue On to carry over task progress across devices, Notification Sync to see incoming messages on your laptop, and Quick Access to search for and view your phone’s files on the Googlebook.

It took Google a week to launch Samsung compatibility, but some early adopters chose to return their devices after discovering it wouldn’t work with their phones immediately.

If you own a Samsung phone, you should see this update arrive in the coming days. You may already have it, as some users have reported that the features are now available. Alongside One UI 9, you’ll also need Google Play Services version 26.37 on both devices and Cross-Device Services version 1.0.1346.

According to Google’s update notes, the update also addresses a bug that caused the QR code used to connect your smartphone to the laptop during setup to remain visible after its first use. Google says it now has an overall “smoother first-time setup” with fewer steps than at launch.

PCMag’s Deputy Managing Editor of Hardware, Joe Osborne, has been testing Googlebook devices for over a week. Osborne says, “If you’ve been craving the kind of direct-device and account-level integration from your current PC laptop or Chromebook with your Android phone, then this is Google’s long-awaited answer.”

“However, you must temper your expectations of what an Android-based laptop can do. Yes, it can pair with your Android phone and serve up Gemini functions just like your handset can, but it still runs Android apps exclusively.”

About Our Expert

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Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.

Read Full Bio