Roku's Streaming Devices Are Cheaper Than Ever Now

Roku’sstreaming devicesgo on sale on a somewhat regular basis, but if you’ve missed the past few discounts, now’s your chance to snag a Roku Express, Express+, or Streaming Stick 4K on sale. First off, we have the Roku Express and the Roku Express 4K+. The entry-level model is perfect for those who have yet to check out that 4K world, letting you stream endless content in resolutions up to 1080p. It also happens to be a tiny device that you may actually fit in the palm of your hand....

June 14, 2025 · 2 min · 338 words · Laura Todd

Ryobi Power Tools Aren’t the Best, But I Still Love Mine

Quick Links Ryobi tools might not be the “best” by professional standards, and you’ve probably seen videos on social media of them getting pitted against other big names, but that doesn’t mean they’re not highly capable. My Ryobi tools aren’t the fanciest, and you know what? That’s fine with me. Here’s why I love my Ryobi tools and keep adding more to my collection. Whether you’re an aspiring DIYer, a new homeowner, or an Electrician by trade, you need a collection of tools to get any job done....

June 14, 2025 · 6 min · 1254 words · Stephanie Romero

Streaming and Digital Rentals Should Include Special Features

Summary If you rent a digital movie from a service like Apple TV, you won’t get any extra features as you would when purchasing it outright. That’s not how physical rentals worked in the past, and I don’t think that’s how digital rentals should work today. Physical Rentals Include Special Features You might think that the DVDs and Blu-rays you could rent from stores like Blockbuster were no different from the version you could buy for yourself, but a rental Blu-ray or DVD is made and distributed separately from the retail version....

June 14, 2025 · 3 min · 633 words · Micheal Giles

The Best HDMI Switches of 2025

Tired of constantly unplugging and replugging your HDMI devices? HDMI switches are the perfect solution! They make it easy to toggle between multiple HDMI devices and can even add more HDMI ports to your setup. Here’s a roundup of the best HDMI switches we’ve found for 2024. OREI 4K 1x4 HDMI Splitter What to Look For in an HDMI Switch There are a few things to consider when searching for an HMDA switch....

June 14, 2025 · 11 min · 2211 words · Krista Gonzalez

The Most Affordable 2025 Pickup Truck That Still Delivers Great Value

Pickup trucks are getting more expensive every year, making it tough for budget-conscious buyers to find one that offers both utility and affordability. Thankfully, there’s one model that breaks the mold by delivering strong value without the steep price tag. This compact pickup comes standard with features that rival what you’d find in more expensive full-size trucks, a practical bed design, and a comfortable cabin with modern tech. It’s versatile enough for daily driving, weekend projects, or light-duty work, all while keeping costs in check....

June 14, 2025 · 6 min · 1206 words · Joseph Martin

The PS5 Pro Is Here: Who Is It for and Should You Upgrade?

Quick Links Summary Four years after the release of the PlayStation 5, Sony has introduced mid-generation console refresh in the form of the PS5 Pro. So what’s new, who’s it for, and should you buy one? What Is the PS5 Pro? You should think of the PS5 Pro as an enhanced version of the existing PS5 console that arrived in November 2020. It runs the same system software, comes with the same DualSense controller, and looks a lot like the original console (but now has go-faster stripes)....

June 14, 2025 · 8 min · 1672 words · Casey Parks

There Still Aren’t Any iPhone Browsers With Custom Engines

Apple has allowed third-party rendering engines on iPhones and iPads in the European Union (EU) since 2023, so where is my Blink version of Chrome for iOS or a Gecko-powered Firefox? With iOS 17.4 and later, developers of iOS web browsers can use custom rendering engines. This helps create a consistent experience because the same engine can now power your favorite browser and in-app browsing experiences within apps. And with iOS 18....

June 14, 2025 · 3 min · 493 words · Gary Anderson

Thunderbird Mail Is Getting Closer to Full Exchange Support

The Thunderbird development team is pushing forward with a lot of new features and fixes. The team has a lot of progress to show for it with Exchange support and handling user feedback on the Account Hub. Most importantly, the team is laying the groundwork for a major overhaul of the message database. According to the Thunderbird Monthly Development Digest, the team is close to completing its Exchange integration project. The testing process helped the developers find and fix many issues and edge cases in the current code, which should mean better and more reliable performance....

June 14, 2025 · 3 min · 496 words · Amanda Wagner

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for August 8 (#423)

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn’t—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they’re usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we’ve got you covered. What Is Connections? Connections is a game from the New York Times. The objective is simple: sort 16 words into groups of 4. Each group of words will be connected by some common idea or theme....

June 14, 2025 · 3 min · 435 words · Kenneth Dunn

What Are Sodium-Ion Batteries, and Could They Replace Lithium?

Quick Links Summary Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries use sodium ions instead of lithium ions to store and deliver power. Sodium is much more abundant and environmentally friendly than lithium, but there are still several challenges left to make sodium-ion batteries the new battery champion. Batteries are becoming crucial to everyday life, and whoever comes up with a better battery has the world on a platter. Sodium-ion batteries are a top contender to the crown held by lithium-ion batteries, but what exactly makes them special?...

June 14, 2025 · 4 min · 745 words · Tyler Espinoza

What Is Apple Music, and Should You Use It?

Quick Links Summary At first glance, all music streaming services are the same. This may be true on some level, but Apple Music takes a different approach than some of its competitors. Let’s take a look at what makes Apple Music special. What Is Apple Music? Apple Musicis a streaming music service, where instead of buying individual songs or albums, you pay a monthly fee for all the music you’re able to listen to....

June 14, 2025 · 5 min · 1001 words · William King

What Is Solid-State Cooling? A Look at the Compact No-Fan Cooling Solution

Summary A thin vibrating membrane that pushes air around without the help of fans could be the future of cooling. Here’s how Piezoelectric-based solid-state cooling works and why it is one of the most exciting developments in cooling tech in years. What Is Solid-State Cooling and How Does It Work? The solid-state cooling technology we’re discussing here utilizes the Piezoelectric effect to create an active cooling device that contains no fans, water pumps, radiators, or massive heatsinks....

June 14, 2025 · 7 min · 1482 words · Jessica Warren

Why Thread Support is a Big Deal for the iPhone 15 Pro

Summary The iPhone 15 Pro is the first smartphone includes a Thread radio that allows it to directly communicate with smart home devices like smart locks and light bulbs. So what is Thread, and why is it set to become a big deal? Threadis a low-powered mesh network protocol that is designed to make it easy for “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices to communicate with each other. It’s an open, royalty-free standard born out of the desire for greater interoperability and compatibility between different devices, particularly smart home devices....

June 14, 2025 · 5 min · 971 words · Richard Fritz PhD