Home Office Setup & Equipment

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Just about everyone has a microwave. You might not know its wattage, vintage, or what in the heck half the buttons actually do, but you know that if you pop something in there and cook it for a while, you get hot food back for your trouble. Some intrepid souls actually learn how to use a microwave properly, expertly timing out defrostings, reheatings, and popcorn by the bucket. They really are incredibly useful and powerful appliances. As amazing as your microwave is, it could be better—it just needs a little help. If you really want to get the most out of your appliance, you’ll need to pick up a few microwave gadgets that…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The scarcity of RAM brought on by the artificial intelligence boom, dubbed RAMageddon, is affecting more than just the price of PCs. AI could make new televisions more expensive too—as well as—game consoles, cell phones, high-tech coffee makers, and anything else with memory and a processor. But if you're in the market for a new TV, you might be better off buying sooner rather than later. As Axios reports, televisions generally require 1GB to 8GB of RAM to run "smart TV" features and to process video and data, and the memory units widely found in 4K TVs have more than quadrupled in price over the last year. That extra cost…

I've spend more time than I care to admit researching Selena Gomez today. The 33-year-old pop singer and star of Only Murders in The Building is at the center of an elaborate online conspiracy theory that been building steam all week. Why? In brief, many people online seem to believe Selena Gomez is a clone. Why people think Selena Gomez is a cloneIt started with the Epstein files. Last week, videos started showing up on TikTok claiming Selena Gomez was mentioned in the Epstein files. She was, but Gomez wasn't corresponding with Epstein; her name is mentioned in a July 21, 2017 message between Jeffery Epstein and Lana (NAME REDACTED) in which Epstein writes, "sorry , you …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you need to start a cordless tool kit or replace a set that’s worn out or broken, this Ridgid 18-volt, eight-tool combo set has all the basics you need for home DIY and beginner woodworking projects. Because cordless tools can be expensive, getting a good deal on a set is a way to stretch your DIY budget. I’ve used this set for shop work building shelving and displays, and the tools are durable and the batteries hold a charge well after years of use. At 65% off, it’s a great deal for eight tools and …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple just announced new Mac products, and among them is a new M5 MacBook Air. As is often the case after such announcements, the previous model is starting to get some discounts: The 15-inch M4 MacBook Air with 16GB Unified Memory and 256GB SSD Storage is currently $999, a $200 discount we haven't seen since January, according to price-tracking tools. Even at full price, this M4 offers remarkable value for your money, even compared to earlier models. 15-inch M4 MacBook Air …

Your home has a style, but that style was decided for you long before you went into a store. Those decisions were made by buyers who attend shows like The Inspired Home Show, where popular brands from around the world showcase their latest housewares to retailers, who then stock those products in the stores we shop. As a new homeowner myself, I wanted to see what's coming to stores, so I planned to attend The Inspired Home Show in Chicago from March 10-12. Suffice it to say, there's a lot to see. What is The Inspired Home Show?The Inspired Home Show is organized by the International Housewares Association, a nonprofit trade organization committed to "maximizing the succes…

Signal is one of my favorite messaging apps because of its focus on privacy and security. I use it to message my closest friends regularly, and in the process, I've discovered a fair few hidden features that I now use every day. From shielding your phone number from other users, to preventing hackers from breaking into your account, these hacks will help you make the most of Signal. Hide your phone number from everyone Credit: Pranay Parab You can use Signal without revealing your phone number to anyone. You'll still need to si…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is in full swing this week. If you take a look at the "Laptops" section of Amazon's Big Spring Sale page, you'll find seemingly endless options available at a discount. That doesn't mean these are all deals worth considering, however. There are a lot of laptops out there, and not all of them going to be right for you (or most people). As such, I've looked at Amazon's wares, and found some deals that really seem worth considering. A rule of thumb with deals like these: If you've never heard of the company before, be extremel…

I find it satisfying to do a word puzzle (or three) each day. Wordle is great, but it’s not really exciting anymore. Crosswords are fun if you have the time (I love an NYT Thursday puzzle) but I don’t always bother. My sweet spot, lately, are games like Minute Cryptic and Parseword—which are entry points into the incredibly bizarre world of British “cryptic” crossword clues. What is a cryptic puzzle?Cryptics are a type of word puzzle unlike anything else. There exist whole crosswords full of them, but the daily puzzles I’m writing about are just one clue per day, so you can focus on exactly what’s going on in that single clue. Cryptics look like a regular crossword clue…

Alongside the new emojis, AI playlists, and other goodies that rolled out with iOS 26.4, Apple included a less-welcome upgrade for users in the UK: age verification. Once the update has been installed, anyone in the UK with an iPhone has to verify how old they are. There'll be a prompt to do this, and if that's dismissed, there's a persistent reminder in Settings. The same change is happening with iPads and iPadOS 26.4, but not with Macs. If you're in the UK and aren't 18 or over (or can't prove you are), then certain restrictions get applied—including filters on the kind of websites you can access and the content you can send in messages. It's an enforced requirement tha…

OpenAI is trying its best to turn ChatGPT into an app platform, so you can access apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Apple Music right inside the AI chatbot interface—and now Tubi has arrived as the first video streaming app to be available in ChatGPT. You can't load up actual movies and TV shows from the ChatGPT prompt box, but you can search for titles that you might enjoy, and see what's available in the Tubi library. The idea is that you're never stuck for what to watch next: Tell ChatGPT and Tubi what you're looking for, and you'll get personalized results back. As a keen watcher of films and shows, I was eager to put it to the test as soon as it became availab…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Samsung HW-Q800F soundbar is down to $749.99 on Amazon, more than 30% off its $1,100 list price, and the lowest price it has ever reached on tAmazon, according to price trackers. In terms of features and specs, it sits just below Samsung’s flagship Q990F, offering a 5.1.2-channel setup with Dolby Atmos, but without the extra rear speakers found on higher-end systems. For a lot of living rooms, that means fewer components to place and wire up, while still aiming for more immersive sound than a basic soundbar. …

For the past several years, multiview has been one of YouTube TV's best features, especially for sports fans like myself. Multiview allows you to watch up to four livestreams at once and toggle between them (and their audio) when something exciting happens. At its initial launch for March Madness in 2023, multiview was restricted to certain preselected channel combinations, but YouTube confirmed in January of this year that a fully customizable multiview was on the way. It's now available to some subscribers—myself included. Trying out YouTube TV's multiview With customizable multiview, you can select up to four channels across content categories, so you're not limited t…

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a number of changes coming to its Windows Insider program—in fact, one could call it an overhaul. Despite being a beta program for Windows users interested in testing cutting-edge features, Microsoft is actually simplifying and streamlining the experience. Now, as highlighted by Bleeping Computer, the company is rolling out that updated experience—whether you're new to the Insider program, or you've been test-driving Windows this way for years. Microsoft is making Insider channels easier to understandThe Windows Insider program is changing in three key ways. First, Microsoft is making the "channels" easier to understand. For the uni…

If you're in the Google ecosystem or use Google Workspace at work, Google Chat is a popular choice for messaging and collaboration. The app replaced Hangouts in Gmail (RIP), originally launching for business before rolling out to everyone. Regardless of the context for using Google Chat, there are a handful of hacks to maximize its features. Add Chat to Gmail to keep everything in one tabIf you already have too many tabs open—and one of them is Gmail—you don't actually need another one for Google Chat. Instead, you can add Chat to your Gmail taskbar and toggle between your inbox and chat interface in the same tab (as long as they are under the same Google Account). Hit t…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey G5 (G51F) gaming monitor has dropped to $159.99 on Amazon, which is the lowest price it has reached so far, according to price trackers. That’s a noticeable discount from its usual $249.99 price, and it makes a lot more sense now for anyone ready to move on from a basic 1080p setup without jumping into the much higher cost of OLED displays. It’s a flat panel (unlike Samsung’s many curved gaming displays), with a matte coating that helps minimize glare in brighter rooms, and comes with a stand that supports height, tilt, and…

One of the main appeals of a Chromebook is its simplicity: You've essentially just got a row of browser tabs, running web apps, with minimal background activity going on and everything instantly saved and synced to the cloud. As Chromebooks have developed though, they've add more to this basic Chrome foundation. They can run Android apps now, for example, and they actually come with several pre-installed apps that are genuinely useful. Open up the Launcher (the Google icon, bottom left), to see what's available. These are the best built-in apps you get right now, if you buy a new Chromebook Plus model—that's the slightly higher spec series, capable of supporting all the G…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. As someone who spends most of my training time pounding pavement in preparation for marathons, I'll admit that rowing has always felt like foreign territory. Sure, I'd hop on the occasional rowing machine at the gym for cross-training, but I never really got it. That all changed when I had the opportunity to test Hydrow's newest release—the Hydrow Arc Rower—which launched today with some seriously impressive AI-powered features. I’ve just begun testing it out…

I've worked out of my basement apartment as a content creator and videographer for several years now. As a result, I’ve had to find creative and unique ways to maximize space and find effective (yet inexpensive) gear to create my videos at the highest level possible. Sometimes, that can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if you’re just getting started. But you really only need to focus on three things: audio, video, and lighting. Here's some of how I built my home studio, what I use to make videos like the one you can watch right now in this story, and how you can do the same, even in a small living space. Start with gre…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. As far as tablets go, the Amazon Fire Max 11 is a well-designed crowd-pleaser with a large, vibrant display. Right now, you can get it for 38% off as part of the Amazon Fire Max 11 Productivity Bundle, which includes a keyboard case and stylus pen that transforms it into a fully functional laptop complete with essential accessories for design, studying, and everyday use. Amazon Fire Max 11 Productivity Bundle …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. Apple has been top dog in the premium tablet space for years, and the iPad Pro with an M4 chip released last year solidified their dominance. If you've been waiting for a discount on the best-performing tablet you can get, the iPad Pro 11-Inch M4 is down to $1,499.97 (originally $1,999) after a 25% discount for Prime Members during October Prime Day. This deal brings the iPad down to a…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. October Prime Day is nearly here, and with it comes a surge of discounts and savings. While Amazon wants you to think each and every deal you come across is worth your time and attention, the truth is that few of these deals are actually that great. All the chaos overwhelms even the most seasoned online shopper, making it hard to know if you’re really saving money at all. But there’s one category that will undoubtedly stand out on Prime Days by design: tech m…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over. Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. I enjoy tackling new DIY projects around my house, but there’s…

Amazon Big Deal Days is October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over. Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. It's October Prime Day again, and the deals are flowing—so the Lifehacker team is scouting for the best discounts on Amazon. I've come across a substantial discount on a gadget that I actually o…