Last month Google announced a preview release of Android 13 for developers, and the search giant has released its first update to the developer preview -- Android 13 Developer Preview 2. This latest iteration will bring several new color themes, improved privacy and security features, focused notifications, lock and home screen updates and other features.

Google plans to release preview versions of Android 13 throughout much of 2021, with several developer previews in the winter, beta releases in the spring and summer and the final release sometime in the fall. While these prerelease versions of Android 13 are mainly intended for developers so they can try out upcoming features that are in the works, even if you're not a developer you can still get your hands on this version of Android 13 right now.

As long as you have a compatible phone -- which currently means it has to be one of several of the Google Pixel phones -- you can connect your device to your computer and use Google's Android Flash Tool to download and install the Android 13 Developer Preview pretty easily.

It's important to note that, like all prerelease software, the Android 13 Developer Preview may be unstable at times, so if you still want to install it, it's preferable to do so on a backup phone, if you have one available, and not on your primary device. There could be bugs and other issues that break functionality, so don't try this on a phone you depend on.

If you're fine with that, we can continue. Here's how to download and install the Android 13 Developer Preview on your phone.

Note: If you already have Android 13 Developer Preview 1, just go to Settings > System > System Update and update over the air. If you don't have Android 13, follow the steps below.

Which phones is the Android 13 Developer Preview available for?

Google is expected to release Android 13 this fall. At that time it will be available on a wide variety of Android phones, but for now you can only install the Android 13 Developer Preview on a number of compatible Pixel devices:

• Pixel 4
• Pixel 4 XL
• Pixel 4A
• Pixel 4A 5G
• Pixel 5
• Pixel 5A with 5G
• Pixel 6
• Pixel 6 Pro

If your device is not on this list, you'll have to wait for later releases of Android 13, whether it's the public beta or the public release. It's also possible that other phones will get access to the developer preview or a beta release at a later date.

Back up your Android device first

So now that you have a compatible Android device, you'll now need to back up your phone. By default, your Pixel should back up automatically whenever you're connected to Wi-Fi and your phone has been idle and charging for 2 hours, but you can also always do it manually. Depending on the size of your phone backup, you may need a paid version of Google One for this method, but if not Google Drive should be fine.

To back up your Pixel, go to Settings > Google > Backup and tap Back upnow. Depending on the last backup and how many apps and files need to be backed up, this process can take up to several minutes. Once you're backed up, you're ready to begin the process of downloading and installing Android 13.

Now you'll need to enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking

To install Android 13 on your Pixel, you'll need to connect the phone to a computer via USB, and that requires that your Pixel be unlocked and have USB debugging enabled. Although unlocking your phone is easy enough, to enable USB debugging you'll need to first unlock Developer options.

1. To unlock Developer options, go to Settings > About phone and then tap Build number seven times. Enter your password when prompted, and a new Developer options menu will appear in your System settings.

2. Now, enable USB debugging. Go to Settings > System > Developer options and toggle on USB debugging. In the notification that appears, which briefly describes what USB debugging is meant for, hit OK. 

3. While you're still in Developer options, toggle on OEM unlocking. This unlocks your device's bootloader, which is what loads the operating system. Once unlocked, you'll be able to choose a different operating system to boot up, in this case Android 13.

Flash your device using Android Flash Tool in Chrome

There are two ways to flash the Android 13 Developer Preview system image on your Pixel using your computer, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll be using the Android Flash Tool, which works only with certain web browsers, such as Chrome. Also, your computer must have 10GB of available storage for this to work.

If everything is good, connect your Pixel to your computer via USB, unlock your device and go to the Android Flash Tool website in Chrome and do the following:

1. First, click Get Started at the bottom of the website.

2. Next, click Allow ADB access in the pop-up that appears (if there are any ad blockers, turn them off).

3. Now click Add newdevice, choose your device from the list and hit Connect.

4. On your Pixel, check the box next to Always allow from this computer and then tap Allow to give Android Flash Tool access to your phone.

5. Back on your computer, click Developer Preview 2 under Popular builds.

6. Click Installbuild and then click Confirm.

The pop-up that appears will warn you that installing Android 13 will factory-reset your phone, but that's not an issue if you backed up your Pixel. If you haven't done that, do it now. Also make sure not to touch your phone or disconnect it from the computer during this process, or else it could brick the phone (make it unresponsive and useless). If you receive another pop-up on your computer that mentions accepting the Android 13 build, do so to continue the process.

Now do the following:

1. Hit Start on the pop-up that appears on your computer.

2. Back on your Pixel, use the volume keys to choose Unlock the bootloader and then hit the side key, which will cause your phone to restart.

3. The software will begin to download, which can take a few minutes depending on your internet connection.

4. Once the installation process is complete, click Start in the pop-up that appears on your computer.

5. Again, back on your Pixel, use the volume keys to switch to Lock the bootloader and then hit the side key.

6. And finally, on your computer, hit Done and your phone will restart like normal.

If everything is successful, it should say "Install Complete" in the Android Flash Tool. This means that the Android 13 Developer Preview has been installed and you can safely disconnect your Pixel from your computer.

You can now use Android 13 on your Pixel

Once your Pixel boots back up, you'll see a notification that says you're now running the Android 13 Developer Preview. Hit OK and then set up your phone just as you would a brand-new phone, which means connecting to Wi-Fi, copying over apps and data from your latest backup via Google, agreeing to terms and conditions, setting up a password and so on.

Anker may be best known for its battery packs and docking stations, but it's now getting into a new area: 3D printing. The company has announced its first 3D printer, the AnkerMake M5, which claims to be incredibly fast. 

Instead of retail stores or its own online shop, the M5 is starting off as a Kickstarter project, where people pledge money towards the development of a product, although in practice, it's often treated like a preorder store. (We encourage you to read Kickstarter's policies to find out your refund rights before and after a campaign ends.)

Read more:  Best 3D Printers of 2022

The company says the M5 can print "five times faster than standard 3D printers," with a print speed of 250 millimeters per second. For reference our best overall printer right now, the Anycubic Vyper, has an average print speed of around 80 mm/s.

The M5 has a build area of 235 by 235 by 250mm, which puts it right in the middle of the pack for mainstream or beginner-friendly 3D printers, and comes with a PEI-covered flexible steel sheet to help with model removal.

Anker is also leaning heavily into what it calls AI, and social printing. The M5 has a built-in 1080p camera that will record time-lapse videos of in-progress prints and make it easy to post them to social media. TikTok, for example, has a burgeoning 3D printing community with over 9 billion views of the #3dprinting hashtag. 

Having a camera also helps to remotely monitor your print. Anker claims its built-in AI will let you know if your print encounters a failure via an app installed on your phone. The app also lets you link multiple printers together and control every aspect of the printing procedure remotely. The AnkerMake even has Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice controls to start and stop printing. 

Other features include a filament runout sensor to detect when the material breaks or runs out, an auto bed leveling system and a heated bed to let you print with as many different materials as possible. These are fairly standard on a printer at this price, but it's less common in 3D printers that get their start on Kickstarter. 

The AnkerMake M5 will debut on Kickstarter starting April 6. The initial preorder price is as little as $429, while the eventual retail price will be $759. 

Air fryers are a smart idea if you want to avoid the mess of conventional frying. Not only can you enjoy some of your favorite fried foods at home without the extra fat and calories from oil, but there are a ton of other meals you can make, too.

Right now Best Buy has discounted the Bella Pro Series 4-quart digital air fryer by $45, bringing the price to just $25. If you have been holding out on trying air frying, this is a great deal to jump on -- just keep in mind that this offer expires tonight.

This fryer can fry, broil, bake, roast and reheat a variety of foods at the push of a button. It has a temperature range from 90 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and you can set the timer for up to 60 minutes at a time, but it also features an auto-shut off timer along with an audible tone and indicator lights: If you get busy and don't notice the time, you won't have to worry about overcooking your food or having any safety concerns. 

The digital control panel is convenient and the air fryer itself is easy to clean. Both the PFOA-free non-stick pan and the crisping tray are dishwasher safe, so you can toss them in with your plates and utensils for a hassle-free cleanup and then relax for the rest of your evening.

Read more: Air Fryers Explained: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy

Apple's iMessage is getting a major overhaul later this year with iOS 16, but most of these new features, like unsending a message or editing a text, will only work if the person you are texting also has an iPhone. 

Since Apple has full control over its messaging platform, iPhone owners get a consistent experience that works well regardless of the carrier or specific iPhone model. But it's also inadvertently created a long history of separating people into "blue" and "green" bubbles based on whether they're using an iPhone or Android phone. Apple also relies on the dated MMS standard for non-iMessage group chats, which results in a lack of support for modern features like read receipts and higher-quality images.

While social pressures among those that do and do not show up as a blue bubble have been frequently documented, such as in the Wall Street Journal among teens and young people, the much bigger issue revolves around universal communication. There is no single, modern texting standard that works across all phones. Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is the closest alternative that potentially wouldn't require installing yet another chat app. 

While RCS itself is an open standard, the most common way people are using it is within Google's Messages app on Android phones. Google reported at this year's I/O developer conference in May that Google Messages has a half billion monthly active users. The company's investment in both the RCS standard and its Messages app comes after a long history of launchingproprietarytexting apps that did not gain the notoriety of iMessage or Meta's WhatsApp. Google is continuing this proprietary texting strategy alongside its RCS investment, most recently by shutting down its Hangouts app and migrating users into the Google Chat app instead.

RCS supports many iMessage-like features such as typing indicators and read receipts. But its rollout has been fragmented as US phone carriers each separately announced plans to make RCS the default option on most Android phones. While RCS isn't currently interoperable with iOS, Google has built cross-platform message reactions into its texting app to improve how texts from an iPhone appear within Android. Other features that are already in iMessage, such as group chat encryption, are still in development for RCS and Google's Messages app. 

The RCS standard is a step forward in making messaging more uniform across the wide variety of Android devices that exist. But without iOS adoption, its impact on the quality of messaging between Android and iPhones remains limited. 

As one of the biggest players in the mobile phone industry, Apple could make a bigger effort to establish a more consistent texting experience across devices. But the question is whether doing so is in the company's interest. Apple often touts its control over iOS as a selling point for consumers, and shifting away from iMessage could jeopardize that. 

Apple did not respond to CNET's request for comment. When this commentary was originally published, Google pointed CNET to a series of tweets from Hiroshi Lockheimer, its senior vice president for Android. Lockheimer criticizes Apple for using "pressure and bullying" to lock in users in the tweets. 

However, there are a few changes Apple could make to address this issue, similar to the way it brought a limited FaceTime experience to Android and Windows users in iOS 15.

Supporting RCS in Apple's Messages app, even a little bit

Apple should consider bringing RCS support to iOS 16. Apple has a history of adopting open formats after they have spent a few years developing, and RCS already includes many iMessage-like features such as typing indicators, enhanced group chats and encryption.

For instance, Apple did not race into the wireless charging space and instead waited for the Qi standard to reach widespread adoption before integrating it into the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017. It even intended to build its own Qi-based AirPower wireless charger, but instead held back until 2020 to sell its own MagSafe wireless chargers.

Apple doesn't even have to give RCS a full endorsement to make a difference. It could keep non-iPhone messages green and lean on iPhone-exclusive features like Memoji, which uses the iPhone's Face ID to create facial animations, to keep Apple loyalists hooked. But supporting a few key features would go a long way in allowing for a smoother communication experience while keeping a degree of Apple exclusivity.

Apple could also support encryption between messages regardless of the platform, especially since the company positions itself as a consumer privacy advocate. One would reason that this alone should be enough for Apple to embrace RCS. 

Improve how Apple's Messages app sends and receives SMS

If supporting RCS is simply not going to happen in iOS, Apple could instead make the most of the limited bandwidth available within SMS and MMS. 

Apple is doing this for at least one feature in the iOS 16 public beta. Within group chats that are being handled over MMS, Apple's Messages app will translate reactions so everyone receives an emoji instead of a text about how someone "Liked" or "Loved" a message. Google's Messages app has similar functionality. 

Perhaps when photos and videos are sent over MMS, which was never designed for the multi-lens cameras on modern phones, Apple's Messages app could proactively suggest sending an iCloud link instead of a grungy compressed picture. This could work similarly to a feature currently available in Google Photos that allows users to select multiple photos and generate a web link to share with your friends or family members. 

And, similar to how Apple recently brought a version of FaceTime to the web for Android and Windows users, maybe it could create a version of iMessage that is viewable on the web. This could benefit its existing iPhone customers who would like to access iMessage from a Windows PC or Chromebook, while also allowing Android phone owners to view messages and other shared content the same way an iPhone user would. This idea would still be annoying for Android users, but it's better than receiving texts out of order during fast-flowing group chats. 

Build iMessage for Android

One of the most surprising revelations from last year's Apple v. Epic trial was that Apple had discussed building an iMessage client for Android back in 2013. But Apple executives passed on the idea over concerns about the competition. The possibility of Google buying WhatsApp worried Apple, and the company also feared that bringing iMessage to Android could make it easier for iPhone owners to switch to Google's phone platform, as the WSJ story pointed out. 

But much has changed in the years since, including Facebook's purchase of WhatsApp instead of Google. Although Apple has opened up some of its products like FaceTime, it also relies on its services to lock in iPhone customers.

On the other hand, bringing iMessage to Android could instead draw more customers to Apple's iPhone ecosystem. It's a strategy that worked way back in the 2000s, when launching iTunes on Windows considerably increased the customer base for Apple's music store. Sure, it might convince some iPhone customers to jump ship and switch to Android. But it could also help Apple reach a wider audience by exposing Android users to its products and services.

Decorating a nursery is an exciting time for expecting parents, and the central feature of your baby's new room is the crib. And it's important to make sure you pick out the right one. The very best cribs balance functionality and fashion, and will help your baby sleep better at night. One of the most important things to consider is your baby's needs. Newborns should sleep a lot, between 14 and 17 hours a day, which will slowly decrease as they get older. Considering how much time they'll be spending in their crib, you'll want to make sure that you choose a good one. 

A baby crib should be safe, comfortable and convenient for parents. And since you'll undoubtedly be spending a large portion of your days (and nights) around it, the crib might as well be nice to look at, too. The best crib for you and your little one(s) will depend on a number of factors, including how much space you have to work with and how much you're willing to spend. These are our top picks for the best cribs available right now. We've included cribs for every budget, and each checks a number of boxes for us. 

How to choose a crib

Your own criteria for a baby crib may vary, but in general you're looking for something that fits your budget and specific needs. It also doesn't hurt if it's aesthetically pleasing. Here are a few other things to look for and be aware of on your crib-shopping journey.

• Any crib made after June 2011 must meet stringent federal crib standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and American Society for Testing and Materials. This means new cribs can't have dangerous features, such as drop sides, and must adhere to strict structural safety guidelines.
• A crib can be further certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association, which holds cribs to an even higher standard of safety. Though the JPMA's seal of approval means you're getting an exceedingly safe crib, many companies are choosing to forgo this certification to invest in others that consumers care more about, such as Greenguard Gold (more on that in a minute). 
• All cribs sold in the US must comply with ASTM standards regulating the use of harmful chemicals in glue, wood finish and wood composites. A step further than that is Greenguard Gold certification, which ensures that a crib produces negligible levels of volatile organic compounds. This helps give peace of mind that your baby is breathing in chemical-free air.
• Most cribs fit standard-size mattresses, but not all mattresses fit the same. Before you buy, it's a good idea to test-fit a mattress inside the crib you plan on pairing it with. The mattress should fit snugly, with no more than a two-finger gap between the edge of the mattress and the crib.
• A crib with multiple mattress positions will ensure you get the most mileage out of it. When your baby is little, it's safe to place the mattress at the highest position so you can easily pick them up and put them down. As they grow and start to turn over and stand, you'll want to gradually lower the mattress to keep the top of the crib out of reach. The more positions you have between the top and bottom settings, the less you have to bend over and reach for your baby. 
• The CPSC recommends crib slats be no more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) apart. This will prevent your baby from getting their arms or legs stuck.
• If you're buying a convertible crib, consider purchasing the parts needed to convert it now. That way, if the model is discontinued years down the line, you won't have to track down the pieces on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
• If you're planning on buying a used crib or taking a hand-me-down, make sure it hasn't been recalled. Tighten up all the bolts and see how the crib feels structurally. Lastly, check mattress fitment for gaps. You'll probably want to buy a new mattress, as used models wear unevenly and might be soiled.

Crib vs. bassinet: Do you need both?

When I first started shopping for baby gear, I asked myself this question. The answer is maybe, depending on your living situation. One thing that's certain is you need a safe sleeping environment (either a bassinet or a crib) for your baby, ideally located in the room where you sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a safe sleeping environment outside the parents' bed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and suffocation. 

With that said, a bassinet works great for this purpose. But if you have space in your room for a full-size crib, you could skip the bassinet all together. Alternatively, if you don't have a lot of space, you could get a mini crib that rolls and folds. You'd get more use out of a mini crib than a bassinet, which you typically only use for the first six months, but you'd still need to upgrade to a full-size crib at some point.

Read more: Best Diaper Bags of 2022 

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.

Almost everyone seems to have a YouTube channel these days. Experts all over the world are teaching people how to do home repairs, cook and even properly apply makeup from the comfort of their homes. But the footage still has to be engaging and watchable. While we can't help you attract and retain viewers or develop your online persona, we can make sure you look and sound your best online -- and for very little money upfront. 

A good starting point is to decide what kind of video recording you want to do. You don't need to spend thousands or even hundreds of dollars on a high-end DSLR camera if you can easily get the video quality you want with your phone or a webcam with a microphone. Also, a good vlogging camera doesn't have to cost a fortune or shoot 4K video. Most of the affordable vlogging cameras have features such as optical image stabilization, slow motion, autofocus, LCD touchscreens, low-light sensitivity, external mic input and more.

In this roundup, I'm helping you find the best vlogging camera. I've kept cost in mind, so you don't need to worry about blowing the bank with a camera that shoots 4K video. Simply put, whether you want to do simple livestreams from your laptop or more polished productions, you're sure to find a vlogging camera for your needs and budget here. 

Note that if livestreaming is a priority (which may or may not be for someone interested in YouTube vlogging), you might need additional hardware beyond a camera. I'll include suggestions for that, as well as other accessories to consider, following the cameras' details.

With a small handful of exceptions, every vlog camera listed here has been fully reviewed or anecdotally tested by me or other CNET editors. Those exceptions in the accessories sections are based on positive Amazon user reviews and additional word-of-mouth accolades. I'll update this best vlogging cameras list periodically. Happy video recording and streaming!

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Must-have accessories

Getting great video for YouTube requires a little more than the best vlogging camera and Wi-Fi connection. You'll want good lighting and audio, too. And if you're planning to stream, you might need a capture card or encoder to get video from your camera and up on YouTube or other video-sharing sites. 

More camera recommendations

Telsa is looking to recruit owners of its Powerwall batteries to provide electricity to the grid in Texas. The company is hoping to demonstrate to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that a group of batteries operating together, called a virtual power plant, can provide electricity and stability to a grid that's been criticized for its unreliability in recent years.

ERCOT, which manages the state's power grid, doesn't currently allow batteries to send power to the grid. Tesla says the company hopes the virtual power plant will convince ERCOT of the battery's value and prompt a policy change.

"ERCOT does not comment on specific companies, plans or projects," a spokesperson said.

The risk of blackouts is high  for much of North America this summer, a regulatory board said last week. That's thanks in part to expected higher-than-normal temperatures, which could increase demand, and an ongoing drought that reduced the supply of available hydroelectricity. Battery storage is one way to meet demand. Virtual power plants have been successful in doing so in other parts of the country.

In February 2021, roughly 4 million people across Texas faced days of outages as power generators and natural gas pipes froze, crippling the state's production capabilities. Texas has its own independent power grid and isn't connected to the Eastern Interconnection and the Western Interconnection grids covering the rest of the country.

Tesla ran a similar, voluntary virtual power plant pilot in California in 2021. At the time, analysts suggested that without stronger incentives for participation, the overall impact would be minor.

So you just saw Jordan Peele's new sci-fi horror blockbuster, Nope. Maybe you have questions about how things went down in that thrilling finale, or you're stuck wondering what the flick must actually be about.

When I walked out of a screening a few weeks ago, a sense that I wasn't getting the big message in Peele's latest weighed on me like an ominous cloud over the Southern California desert. Peele has touched on what the film is about in interviews, but before we get to that, let's break down the ending. Nope runs more than two hours and follows horse trainers (and siblings) OJ and Emerald Hayworth, who discover something large and mysterious is lurking in the sky near their ranch. 

The flick, by the way, currently sits at a score of 77 on CNET sister site Metacritic. 

Park your horse here if you still haven't seen Nope -- there are spoilers ahead. 

What plan do OJ, Emerald and the others devise?

OJ and Emerald are set on getting proof (the "Oprah shot") of the extraterrestrial creature in the sky, even after it snacks on Ricky "Jupe" Park and others at the nearby Jupiter's Claim theme park. (I don't know about them, but the sight of blood rain would have signaled the end of the road for me). 

They team up with cinematographer Antlers Holst, who has a non-electrical film camera (the beast produces an "anti-electric field" that renders things like digital cameras useless). They also deck out the area with tons of inflatable tube men. When those fall down, it's a sign that the creature is close by. They also know that they need to avoid looking at the beast, and that it doesn't like to consume inanimate objects like decorative flags. 

Once they're ready to invite the beast back, OJ starts roaming around on a horse. He's carrying a string of triangular flags attached to a parachute, and it comes in handy later when a stranger shows up and provokes our testy guy in the sky.

Why does the creature eat the TMZ guy?

When the gang's plan is underway, a stranger pulls up to the ranch on a bike. Emerald speaks to the man -- whose identity is masked by a helmet -- and realizes he's from TMZ. News has already started to get out about the incident at Jupiter's Claim, and he's poking around for answers.

The TMZ guy proceeds to drive off in what proves to be an unfortunate direction. The beast lurking above powers down his bike and sends him flying. He's alive but in bad shape, and OJ approaches him to help. However, the guy's helmet is reflective -- just like the mirror that spooks OJ's horse at the start of the film -- and OJ realizes he has no choice but to get out of there.

The creature vacuums up the TMZ rep and starts to pursue OJ. That's when OJ unleashes the flag-parachute invention, which gets the beast to back off a little and buys him time to take shelter.

What does the cinematographer Antlers Holst say to Angel?

Holst finally snags the money shot that OJ and Emerald have been after. But then things take a turn. He mutters something cryptic about them not deserving the impossible, and takes off with his camera. 

However, it appears the self-absorbed artist can't resist getting one more shot. Holst points his camera at the creature, and then it swallows him.

Does Angel (from Fry's Electronics) live?

Yes, Angel survives the wrath of the beast. His role during the final showdown involves helping Holst. Once Holst and his camera become alien food, Angel wraps himself in barbed wire fencing to avoid a similar fate. The beast tries to suck him up, but the fencing on the ground stays put, and Angel comes barreling back down to the ground. (Another possible reason he survived: The creature probably didn't like the taste of wire.)

What is the thing in the sky? 

We get to know the creature in the sky as a white, disc-shaped animal that could reasonably be mistaken for an alien spacecraft from a distance. In the final scenes of the film, the creature transforms into something more immense and billowy. To me, it almost looks like a flower -- well, if that flower had a terrifying, pulsing green mouth. 

How does Emerald defeat the creature?

Emerald gets to the TMZ guy's bike, but the creature (which has assumed its new form) is too close to her for it to work. In an emotional scene, we realize that OJ is going to help her by fixing his eyes on the beast, luring it toward himself. 

Emerald's bike powers up and she drives to the theme park, Jupiter's Claim. She brilliantly comes up with the idea to injure the beast by releasing a giant inflatable cowboy into the sky. 

Earlier in the film, Emerald and OJ visited Jupiter's Claim and Emerald photo-bombed some strangers by sticking her head into a well that contains a camera. In the flick's final minutes, she grabs coins scattered on the ground, loads up the machine and snaps multiple pictures of the sky. The well spits out what look like large polaroid pictures. 

Eventually, the beast emerges and consumes the massive floating cowboy. Emerald gets a shot of it. Then, the creature pops. It appears lifeless, like a torn-up plastic bag drifting in the air. 

What happens to OJ? 

At the very end of Nope, we see a murky figure sitting on a horse just outside of Jupiter's Claim. It's unmistakably OJ, still wearing his bright orange hoodie.

What is Nope really about?

To me, the ending to Nope seemed pretty straightforward: an entertaining cap on an entertaining adventure-horror-thriller. But I also figured there must be a deeper meaning to the final scenes, and to the flick in general, that I hadn't considered. In a July interview with Today, Peele spent a good chunk of time talking about the film's themes.

Speaking with Today journalist Craig Melvin, Peele said Nope is "about a lot of things," including spectacle, race and human nature. 

He said when he wrote the film, he latched onto the idea of making a spectacle, "something people would have to see."

"I felt like I was fighting for cinema, I was fighting for the theatrical experience when I was writing this film," Peele told Melvin. "So it's about spectacle. And from there, I explored that and started to sort of uncover what I think is like the dark side of our relationship with spectacle."

On that "dark relationship," Peele said we can use spectacle "to distract ourselves from the truth," or give too much power to things that we're obsessed with -- things that have a spectacular nature to them. He also brought up "bottlenecking."

"When we're driving, we're in traffic and there's an accident, that traffic slows down," Peele said. "It's because everybody's sneaking a peek at that awful spectacle and it's slowing everybody down. And so I latched onto that and said let's make a movie about that."

Peele also told Melvin: "I feel like it's impossible to make a movie with people of color in it (or any movie) and have it not be about race."

"This film, which takes place at the outskirts of Hollywood, or, you know, the industry of the spectacle, is also so wrapped up with this idea of representation and erasure," Peele adds.

Peele didn't directly unpack the ending, but Melvin did ask him what he wanted viewers to think about when they walk out of the theater. Peele offered a bit of a non-answer: "If I had too clear of an idea of what I wanted them to be thinking about, I feel like I wouldn't be having the conversation with the audience. That's up to them." 

He then looped back to the one meta aspect of Nope: Yes, it's a film about spectacle, but it's also a spectacle. 

"I hope they're just fulfilled, Peele said. "...I wanted to make a flying saucer movie because I just felt like if we can feel like we are in the presence of something 'other,' if we feel like that's real, then that's just an immersive experience worthy of going to the movies."

David Weekly is all too familiar with spammers. Unwanted calls and texts flood his inbox every day. It's gotten so bad that he doesn't pick up the phone anymore if he doesn't have the contact saved on his phone.

So he did something about it.

After a spam text message hit his phone in June, he decided enough was enough and sued the spammer. It paid off: He ended up with a $1,200 check.

"Like every other human being on the planet with a cellphone, I get a lot of spam phone calls and text messages -- I find it kind of annoying," Weekly, a technology executive and California resident, told CNET.

"I've occasionally gone after spammers by reporting them to the shortlink services they use or the web or DNS host of the spamming domain," Weekly said. But this is the first time he sued a spammer in small claims court. And it was the first time he received a check from a spammer.

Though representing yourself in court isn't the easiest process, Weekly's story shows people aren't helpless. In fact, Weekly says his experience -- which went viral on Twitter after he shared it -- has inspired many others to take action against spammers, now knowing that the law gives you the right to sue them.

How one man sued a spam caller and won

Weekly received a text message from a company in June trying to sell him workers' compensation insurance. The company didn't conceal its identity. The text gave the name of the company, a website and an email address for the person running the business. 

A quick search online confirmed the company operated out of California. Though Weekly isn't a lawyer, he knew about the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and saw this as a clear violation of the law.

The TCPA is a federal law that, among other things, prohibits unsolicited calls made to cellphones using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice (aka a robocall). Text messages are considered calls under the TCPA, according to Anne Mitchell, attorney and CEO of the Institute for Spam and Internet Public Policy. 

If a business violates the TCPA, it's obligated to pay $500 per violation or $1,500 each time it "willfully and knowingly" violates this law. If you're on the National Do Not Call Registry, the right to sue includes live telemarketing calls, which refer to spam phone calls involving a live person and not an automated system, according to Margot Saunders, general counsel at the National Consumer Law Center. 

Weekly researched the law and sent the company a demand letter stating how much they owed him and why. (Sending a demand letter prior to suing in small claims court is a requirement in California.) After 10 days passed without a reply, Weekly sued. 

"It was only about a day or two after I served them with the suit that I got a phone call and a text message saying, 'Hi, there. Looks like you've sued me. Can we talk?'" Weekly said. "Those weren't the exact words, but that was sort of the gist. He was apologetic about having done it, and he recognized that he had done the wrong thing. He asked if I could take it down a notch, and I said, 'Well, how about just a $1,200 check and we can call this thing done?'

"He agreed, and a week later, that $1,200 check showed up," Weekly said. "That was cool and surreal: I'm holding a check that somebody who spammed me sent as an apology. That's pretty neat."

In all, it took Weekly four hours to complete this entire process, and he didn't contact a lawyer or have to show up to court. He subsequently posted his story on Twitter, explaining how he sued the spammer in the thread.

Spam calls are a big nuisance, sure, but what drove Weekly to take legal action wasn't rooted in any deep animosity toward the spam callers.

"These people aren't out there to spam maliciously," Weekly said. "They spam because they did some economic calculus that says it's economically advantageous for them to do so. If even a small percentage of people who are spammed find ways to push back, you can quickly, dramatically change the calculus around whether spamming makes good economic sense."

Though not all TCPA violations are straightforward — and it's not always easy to identify a spammer in the first place — Weekly's story shows people aren't defenseless against spam calls. And suing is only one tool in your arsenal. Here's what you can do about spam calls and messages. 

What can you do about spam calls and messages?

First, you should understand the difference between a spam call and a scam call.

Scam calls are those that are clearly illegal, designed to steal money from people. Scam calls might include people pretending to be a legitimate business (including Apple and Amazon), attempting to defraud an individual. They also include those you might receive about "your car's extended warranty" or your Social Security benefits. 

Spam calls, on the other hand, are calls that aren't necessarily trying to steal your money or information. These include legitimate telemarketing calls that you haven't consented to. 

Robocalls can be legitimate telemarketing, but they're also a large source of scams in the US. As many as 68 million Americans have reported losing money to phone scams, losing nearly $40 billion collectively within the last year, according to Truecaller's 2022 US Spam and Scam Report. Truecaller, one of the leading platforms for blocking unwanted communication, conducts the yearly review with Harris Poll. 

While you can also sue scam callers under the TCPA, it's much harder to find scammers. Often, they're overseas and use temporary numbers, making them almost impossible to find contact information for. But with legitimate businesses, you've got more of a shot of suing them and successfully collecting the damages you're owed.

You could take spammers to court, though that takes time and effort. If you don't want to go to those lengths and simply want to cut down on the number of unsolicited calls and texts you receive, there are some simpler steps you can take. 

Report it to your carrier

You can report spam calls and messages to your carrier by texting 7726 -- easy to remember, because it spells "SPAM." 

If you received a spam text message, you can forward, or copy and paste, the message to your carrier. (When doing this, take care not to open links that were sent to you.) If it's a call, you can send the caller's number to your carrier. 

Some carriers, like AT&T, may also provide online forms that allow you to file a spam complaint with more detail. Many popular US carriers also have apps that enable additional call-blocking features that aren't already included in your phone subscription. These apps, like T-Mobile's ScamShield, may include a specialized area where you can report individual unwanted communications. Verizon's app is called Call Filter and AT&T's app is called ActiveArmor. 

Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry

Managed by the Federal Trade Commission, the National Do Not Call Registry is a list of phone numbers of individuals who have requested that telemarketers do not contact them. Companies are required to check the Do Not Call Registry before making telemarketing calls, and calling someone on the list without prior consent is prohibited.

You can sign up for the Do Not Call Registry for free in just a couple of minutes. Though it won't stop all telemarketing calls from reaching you, stopping any amount of calls is helpful. Some organizations, such as political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors, may still call you even if you're on the list.

The Registry includes a complaint form where you can report spammers. The FTC's website also includes a form to report fraud.

Read more: The FCC Wants Scammers to Stop Calling You

Implement tips from the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing US communications law and regulations. As such, in recent years, illegal calls have become a top consumer protection priority for the agency. Here's a list of easy tips from the FCC to help reduce unwanted communications, and protect yourself against conventional scam attempts:

• Don't answer calls from blocked, unidentifiable or unknown numbers. Hang up immediately if you answer one of these calls.
• Don't respond to questions from or interact with unwanted communications. Never respond to a question that can be easily answered with "yes."
• Never give out personal information, including your Social Security number, passwords or other identifying information. Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.
• If you get an inquiry call from someone who says they represent a company or government agency, such as the IRS, hang up immediately and call the entity from an official source (including your account statement or the entity's website).

Remember: The more you interact with spam or scam callers, the more likely they are to target you further. 

The FCC's website includes a page where you can report spam communications.

Sue the spam caller or messenger 

Suing is certainly an option if a spammer has violated the TCPA, but successfully doing so will require a bit more work -- and it's somewhat complex, based on the lawyers we spoke with.

Since the Do Not Call Registry expands your right to sue to telemarketing calls of any kind (regardless of what dialing system was used or whether it's live or a robocall), enrolling is a good first step before you file suit. If you're on the Do Not Call Registry and receive more than one telemarketing call from the same caller, you have the right to sue, and you can get $500 per call or text, according to Saunders.

Mitchell argues that receiving a telemarketing call to a number that's on the Do Not Call Registry may qualify as a "willful or knowing" violation of the TCPA, since companies are required to check the Registry before making a telemarketing call. A willful and knowing violation would qualify you for $1,500 per violation.

Some states require you to send a demand letter before suing, but even if it isn't required, Mitchell says it's advantageous to send one first. That's because it's often less costly for companies to settle with you — they can avoid court and attorney's fees — than it would be to appear in court. Settling can also save you money in court fees and serving the defendant with the complaint. 

"It's such small potatoes for these companies," Mitchell said. "Is it going to be worth the spammer paying the court and legal fees rather than just settling with you? It never is worth it for them. And they know what they're gonna lose."

If the spammer doesn't respond to your demand letter, then you can move forward with suing in your local small claims court as a TCPA violation.

Here's what you need to know to sue a spam caller

What is small claims court?

Small claims courts are local (e.g., county, municipal) courts that manage cases with a small amount of damages, typically between $5,000 to $10,000, though some states have much lower caps. This is the easiest place to file a TCPA violation, as long as the amount of damages you're claiming doesn't exceed the court's limit. Small claims court also tends to be a cheaper and faster process. Nolo, which is one of the largest online libraries of DIY legal guides, has information on small claims courts by state. 

How do I create and send a demand letter? 

You may be required to send a demand letter before suing in small claims court, depending on where you live, so you'll want to check in with the requirements of your state. 

For example, California has a self-help guide to writing a demand letter; your state may have one too, or maybe even a template to follow. It's best to follow the instructions and language of your particular court, but Nolo has general guidelines for writing a demand letter.

How do I file a claim?

This is the first step in initiating a lawsuit. For small claims court, the initial form is typically called a "statement of claim," but depending on the court, it may simply be called a "complaint." Many court websites will walk you through the process, though some are more user-friendly than others (California and Massachusetts have particularly good websites). The form and process for filing a claim vary by court, so be sure to research your particular court. An internet search with your state or county and "small claims court" should set you in the right direction. In any case, your claim will need to outline how much and why the defendants owe you.

What is 'serving the defendant'?

Adequately giving the defendant notice that you're suing them is an essential component of any lawsuit. This is called "service of process." States differ on what constitutes adequate service. For example, a majority of states (but not all) allow you to send a defendant the lawsuit through certified mail with a return receipt requested. You'll want to check in with the requirements of your state, but getting a private company to serve the defendant is usually the easiest way to go, though it'll cost you a bit more money than doing it yourself.

The bottom line on unwanted calls and messages

At best, unwanted communications are annoying. At worst, they're a large source of scams in the US that reap billions of dollars from American consumers. But whatever the form and content of these unwanted communications, you aren't powerless against the nuisance.

It may take some time and effort, but there are things you can do to push back, including taking legal action against spam or scam communications. As Weekly said, the more people push back, the more the economic calculus changes for spammers, making it riskier and costlier to spam.