Summary I’ve played around withApple’s Shortcuts appto create all kinds of complicated processes. But my favorite shortcut, and the one I use the most by far, is actually ridiculously simple. All it does is open all my work apps, but I recommend it to everyone. What Makes This Shortcut So Great There are probably loads of apps that you jump between throughout the workday, from Slack, to Chrome, to Teams, and so on....

I’ve used Lightroom Classic for over a decade now, and recently it’s become unbearably slow. Here’s how I fixed my Lightroom to go from crawling to nice and speedy. Ensure Your Library and RAW Photos Are on Fast Storage If Lightroom Classic is slow on your computer, the first thing you’ll want to do ismake sure it’s on the fastest storage possible for you. A USB 2.0 external hard drive, for instance, won’t cut it with large RAW files....

Microsoft has announced a big change to the Outlook mobile app that gives you more control over your email formatting. Alongside the usual formatting options, like bold, italics, and underline, you can now switch your font to any of the typefaces you’d expect to see when using the desktop app. Microsoft’s mobile apps are notoriously less user-friendly than their desktop counterparts. For example, theMicrosoft Word mobile app isn’t greatif you want to edit your documents using more advanced formatting features, and theExcel mobile app lacks some essential toolslike conditional formatting and pivot tables....

Summary Razer Aether Standing Light Barsenhance the Chroma ecosystem with vibrant forward- or wall-facing RGBs, though a bigger library of games with custom responsive lighting would really improve their appeal. Razer Aether Standing Light Bars Razer’s Aether Standing Light Bars look like a simple addition to the Chroma RGB ecosystem. When you start to dive in, though, you’ll find that they offer extensive customization and an opportunity to become even further immersed in a select library of games....

Summary Reinkstone attempts to solve the issues with the previous generations of E Ink phone cases by not only creating a design as thin as many standard cases but also improving the display’s aesthetic appeal with color. Unfortunately, while theReink Case C1makes for a fine phone case, and its promise of an infinitely changeable color screen is tantalizing, it’s still not quite there visually. Reinkstone Reink Case C1 The Reink Case C1 protects your phone, but its color E Ink display is too limited for most use cases....

Quick Links Samsung did something a little different this year. Four months after the launch of the Galaxy S25 series, we’re getting the slim Galaxy S25 Edge. However, this “remarkable feat of engineering” is not as groundbreaking as it seems. As all press releases do, Samsung’sannouncement of the Galaxy S25 Edgeisfull of embellishment. The company calls it a “revolutionary” and “category-defining slim smartphone.” It claims the phone “reimagines nearly every element of smartphone design....

Quick Links If you walk into a big box store and look at Samsung tablets, you may be surprised to see that they almost feel more like picking up a Microsoft Surface than an iPad. Samsung has quietly made enough changes to Android that the latest Galaxy Tab slates don’t look all that different from the Windows laptops across the aisle. Each Tablet Has a Taskbar at the Bottom You might expect these desktop settings to be tucked away, waiting for the curious to discover them once the default experience feels too basic....

Quick Links In an ocean ofbudget earbuds, Soundpeats has built a safe harbor around balanced sound quality and real noise canceling at surprisingly low prices. TheSoundpeats Mini Pro HSare another good example, offering those hallmarks alongside a nimble design and evenhi-res streamingfor just $60. While theSoundpeats T3 Wirelessmay be a better overall value for your money (found for as low as $40), the Mini Pro HS offer a bit more style, as well as an alternative to the AirPods-style stem design....

Quick Links Cord cutting—ditching a traditional cable subscription—has never been easier. However, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to how you can cut the cord. For the cord cutter in your life, you have plenty of gifts to consider. The trick is not to make decisions for your cord cutter. Don’t just buy a random set-top box without knowing if they already have one or which platform they prefer....

The Samsung Galaxy S24 is not a cheap smartphone, and the best way to protect your investment is with a reliable case. The best Galaxy S24 cases withstand drops and scratches without forgoing style or usability. Samsung Vegan Leather Case for Galaxy S24 What to Look for in a Galaxy S24 Case Finding the right case for your Samsung Galaxy S24 can be a challenge. Not only do you need to find something that looks good, but you’ll need it to be able to withstand drops and scratches while still being comfortable enough for daily use....

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos® and Bose TrueSpace technology separates instruments, dialogue, and effects, and places them in different parts of a room for a truly immersive spatial audio experience like you’ve never heard it before. Amazon is currently selling the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar for a big discount. This is a great model that delivers sound using Dolby Atmos and Bose TrueSpace technology for 37% off....

One of the biggest concerns that buyers have when looking at hybrid crossovers is related to reliability. The fact that there are more moving parts brings their longevity into question. However, there are a ton of models currently on sale that prove that hybrids can be just as reliable as gas-only models. Hybrids are the perfect middle ground for those who aren’t quite ready to take the leap intothe world of electrification....

Summary For a brief moment in the mid 2000s video game development was on a different path—episodic. Smaller, chopped up game releases that meant more frequent releases and lower prices. It never really took off, so why did the episodic model fail to launch? Episodic Games Promised to Save Gaming I clearly remember the excitement when games likeHalf-Life Episode 1came onto the gaming industry’s radar. Gaming magazines at the time frequently had articles on how the episodic approach to game development would change everything....