Quick Links Summary While you can technically get hi-res out of Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter and a set of wired headphones, it’s limited. For true hi-res audio, you’ll need to use an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and hi-res files or a service with hi-res streams. Apple is going all-in with hi-res audio, offering a large portion of its Apple Music library in hi-res. Unfortunately, actually listening to hi-res on your iPhone or iPad isn’t completely straightforward....

Quick Links Summary You can play YouTube in the background by subscribing to YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium. Or, a workaround possible with certain browsers is visitingYouTube.com, playing your video, switching to the home screen, and opening Control Center (iPhone) or the notifications bar (Android) to resume playback before switching the screen off. Toenjoy your favorite musicor audio shows on YouTube, you don’t have to keep your phone’s screen turned on....

Quick Links Despite their name, some laptops on the market run so hot that actually putting them on your lap can feel like setting a hotplate on your thighs. But no matter what laptop you have, there are ways to reduce the heat it generates. Reduce the Load One of the main reasonsyour laptop gets hotis that it’s working hard. So if you want it to chill out, reduce its workload in some way....

Quick Links Summary Windows built-in security app, Microsoft Defender, protects your computer from malicious agents and viruses. However, there may be situations when you want to disable it, such as when testing a third-party security app. We’ll show you how to permanently disable Microsoft Defender on Windows 11. When Should You Permanently Disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus Microsoft Defender Antivirus provides various protection features, including real-time protection, cloud-delivered protection, network protection, and more....

Summary There’s a keyboard out there for pretty much everyone. Whether you want an old-school model with mechanical switches, thin and light, or something in between, there’s something for you. But theHyper HyperSpace Bluetooth Wireless Keyboardshould be at the top of your list if you need a comfortable, well-designed model that’s perfect for Mac, Windows, and more. Hyper HyperSpace Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard The Hyper HyperSpace Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard is a full-sized keyboard perfect for macOS or Windows....

Summary The Echo Hub is Amazon’s first dedicated smart home control panel. It’s a product intended to make it easier to control and monitor your smart home from a single location. However, having used the device in my home, it now only gets used for one job which is far from its intended purpose. The Echo Hub Does a Reasonable Job for What It Is To be fair, theAmazon Echo Hubdoesn’t do a bad job for its intended purpose....

Summary Travel is easier with a USB power bank. And, as I’ve learned while testing theInfinaCore P3 Pro, a power bank that doubles as a USB wall adapter and Qi2 charging pad is an incredible convenience. I just wish that the pricey P3 Pro held more juice, that’s all. Through the end of February 2025, InfinaCore is selling the P3 Pro for $74.99—a 42% discount. InfinaCore P3 Pro With its 65-watt output, Qi2 wireless magnetic charging, and integrated AC adapter, the InfinaCore P3 Pro is among the most capable and convenient travel power banks available today....

Here’s a weird thing; back in April, Nanoleaf announced that existing Shapes, Lines, and other Wi-Fi lighting products wouldnot “immediately” receivea Matter update. We hoped to get some clarification at the Matter launch event in Amsterdam, but when we brought up the topic, Nanoleaf remained tight-lipped—what gives? In theory, Nanoleaf Shapes and Lines are perfect for Matter. They already double asThread border routers, thanks to a set of updates that rolled out from August 2021 to January 2022....

Summary Some hobbies and professions require a massive amount of data storage. And when the cost or constraints of cloud storage make it a non-option, a NAS device or DAS enclosure is usually the way to go. You just need to decide which storage solution best fits circumstance—unfortunately, this is often easier said than done. The Basics: NAS, DAS, and RAID This may feel like an opaque, confusing topic. People rarely take the time to explain terms like NAS or DAS in simple language....

Razer launched the excellentBlackWidow V4 Prokeyboard earlier this year. And, after a long wait, we’re finally getting two non-Pro versions of this keyboard—the standardRazer BlackWidow V4and the downgradedBlackWidow V4 X. They retain most of the features from the Pro model, minus a few downgrades. The BlackWidow V4 costs $170 and connects to your PC over a USB-C cable. Like the BlackWidow V4 Pro, this keyboard features an 8,000Hz polling rate and Chroma RGB with customizable two-side underglow and per-key lighting....

Quick Links Samsung just revealed its newest lineup of smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 8, Watch 8 Classic, and Watch 8 Ultra. For multiple reasons, they don’t seem to be a home run, but one feature in particular is a massive step backward. Before I get too negative, there are some decent improvements to talk about this year. The entireWatch 8 seriesis 11% thinner, has 50% brighter displays, and features a new 3nm processor, the Exynos W1000....

Summary Sony has plenty of Bluetooth speaker options, but theLinkbuds Speakeris the latest effort to build an ecosystem around its Linkbuds earbuds. The speaker’s physical size isn’t much bigger than a HomePod mini, but it sounds bigger than it looks. Unfortunately, it does have a few drawbacks, including its premium price, which doesn’t make it a must-have for everyone. Sony LinkBuds Speaker The LinkBuds Speaker is packed with speaker drivers for clear and well-balanced sound....

TheMicrosoft Surface linehas a variety of models in its line-up and was originally released to the public as far back as 2013. In this article, I’ll discuss the three accessories that I cannot live without and use constantly on my particular Surface—the Surface Book 2. At the time of this writing, Microsoft fully supports the Surface Book 2. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Microsoft currently has this line of Surface discontinuing support on June 10, 2025....