Home Office Setup & Equipment

NotebookLM is Google's more sophisticated, research-focused AI tool, built on the same underlying models as Gemini but with an interface that's less chatty and friendly. Like Gemini, it regularly gets upgrades and new features, and the latest update adds "cinematic" video summaries. One of the tasks NotebookLM is perfect for is collecting a bunch of information together in a notebook—PDFs, web links, YouTube videos—and then having it explained and summarized (it's a great study tool in that respect). You may remember that a couple of years ago it added the ability to generate realistic-sounding podcasts called Audio Overviews from your notebooks. …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you lose something important, invariably it will happen at the worst possible time—say, your keys disappearing right before you need to leave the house, or you can't find the remote and the big game is starting. Bluetooth trackers exist to help solve this exact problem, and now is a good time to pick up a bunch of them at a discount: A four-pack Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 is currently $44.99 on Woot, compared with $55.99 on Amazon. The bundle includes four trackers. Prime members get free standard shipping, while everyone else pays $6, though the…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple announced new products this week, all of which are all already available for preorder and will be released on March 11. But before you place your order, it's best to compare the preorder deals from various retailers. Walmart has the best iPad Air preorder deal, for example, offering $40 off the listing price. If you're interested in a new MacBook, however, Best Buy is the place to look: it's the only major retailer offering any preorder deals for all three new MacBooks. …

Apple has been on a budget kick of late. Last Monday, the company announced the iPhone 17e, a $599 device that does just about everything most of us would expect our iPhones to do. Two days later, it unveiled the MacBook Neo, a $599 laptop that, despite running an iPhone chip, holds its own against Macs with M-series chips designed for macOS. While these products may sell well (particularly the Neo), Apple isn't exactly going full bargain bin. In fact, rumor has it that Apple is currently working on a lineup of products on the opposite end of the spectrum. This rumored "Ultra" line would include new machines and devices that will cost quite a lot, but also offer quite a…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. That didn't take long. The M4 iPad Air just came out today, and you can already pick one up at a (small) discount. The wifi 128GB version of the new iPad Air is currently $749, down from $799. While $50 or $800 is not a big discount, the fact that Amazon is cutting the price on Apple's latest flagship iPad on its release day is unusual. This price cut applies to the bigger 13-inch model, while the smaller 11-inch model iPad Air is $559, $40 off the list price of $599 and matching Walmart's pre-order deal. …

When Apple takes the virtual stage in June for WWDC 2026, avid fans might expect the company to announce a number of new features for updates like iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. And while these updates will almost assuredly sport some key features and changes from the "OS 26" era, the best new feature might not be a feature at all. In fact, it might be the exact opposite. In his Power On newsletter on Sunday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman ran through some of Apple's thought processes with its upcoming updates, per Gurman's sources. It seems that following the company's big delays and stumbles in rolling out big AI features, and its Liquid Glass design overhaul, the company i…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Back in November, Google made a stunning announcement: Quick Share was suddenly compatible with Apple's AirDrop. At the time, the compatibility was limited to the Pixel 10, but no matter: Google had just made history, transforming the sharing features from platform-specific to cross-platform. While AirDrop and Quick Share have long been the most convenient ways to share large files between devices, it only worked if you and your friend were on the same OS. That limitation introduces some inconvenient friction, but, as support cross-platform expands, that friction is easing up. Google first announced plans for greater Air…

In the wake of the U.S.-Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the price of crude oil has risen sharply on the international market. Now, it's starting to impact gasoline and diesel prices in the U.S., with increases at the pump of as much as 30% in some areas. Gas prices are dynamic, \changing based on the day and even based on city or state lines. For example, the national average price for gas, according to AAA, is $3.96 as of today, March 2026. But in Iowa, the average was $3.33, and in Illinois, it was $4.17. If you're heading out to fill up the tank, it might help to do a bit of research first, so you can save some money in the process. Using dedicat…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. If you've taken a look at the back of your computer monitor or TV lately, you may have noticed there's a USB port or two alongside the more familiar HDMI—and that in turn might have left you wondering what exactly a USB port is doing on the back of a big screen. Well, these USB ports have more uses than you might think. Their precise function is going to depend on the make and model of your TV and monitor—and the primary uses tend to differ between the two. However, we can talk generally about how to make use of these ports and some of the options available to you, so you can check on your own specific device to see what's…

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 underway, and one of the more practical big-ticket deals right now is on the Anker Solix F2000 Portable Power Station. It’s down to $799.99 (from $1,999), which is about 60% off and the lowest price tracked so far, according to price tracking tools like Keepa. That kind of drop makes this a very different conversation. At full price, it’s a niche buy. At this price, it starts to feel like a realistic backup option for homes, road trips, or anyone who deals with frequent power cuts and wants something more reliable than a …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Cameras are more than just tools for taking photos and videos—they shape the way we think of the past. The distinct look of each major camera format defines its era: The murky colors of a vintage Polaroid picture are as era-defining as the stiffly posed portraiture of the late 1800s. And there are few things that will bring you right back to the 1980s and '90s than the fuzzy, low-resolution warmth of something filmed on video tape. I think that's why some people are so drawn to picking up old 30- or 40-year-old camcorders, even in 2026: You can record a modern scene using one of them today—perhaps someone using a smartpho…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Workout earbuds often promise a secure fit and big sound, but not all deliver both. The Beats Powerbeats Fit earbuds are currently on sale for $124.97 on StackSocial as open-box units, and they balance those priorities. These are the newer versions replacing the older Fit Pro in Beats’ lineup, and the biggest change is how they stay in your ears. Instead of the traditional ear-hook design, Beats switched to a fit wing that gently presses against the inside of the ear for stability. In practice, that means the buds stay in place during runs, workouts…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. One thing they don't tell you about parenting is how much of it you'll spend telling your kids to put on or take off their shoes. (Not including the additional time you'll spend telling them to put the shoes away where they belong.) In an effort to smooth out this surprisingly difficult daily transition, I recently bought my 9-year-old son elastic shoelaces, so he'd be able to slip his hi-top Nikes on and off without tying and untying them. The next day I ordered some for myself, and I can't remember the last time I made a more satisfying purchase. Bread Elastic Shoe…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The price of gas isn't the only thing going up. Starting tomorrow, April 2, the prices of all PlayStation 5 consoles and the PlayStation Portal are going up by as much as $150. It's no surprise, since we've been hearing about the cost of chips and storage going up over the years; throw in tariffs and a ongoing strong demand for the consoles, you start to get the whole picture. Luckily, it's not too late: You can still save up to $150 by buying refurbished consoles directly from the Direct PlayStation store, which come with a one-year warranty and h…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. When it comes to gaming monitors, having an ultra-wide screen takes the experience to the next level, with a more immersive experience than a regular monitor. Unfortunately, that improved experience tends to come at a much higher price. But right now, Amazon is selling the 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G5 for $279.99 (originally $399.99), which is the second-lowest price this monitor has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. Samsung 34' Odyssey G5 …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Apple's product lineup is not small: The company makes smartphones, tablets, computers, headphones, and smart watches, among many others. But aside from the Vision Pro, it's a bit late to break into the headset and smart glasses market—while other companies, namely Meta, have pushed full steam ahead on their own smart wearable tech. But as anyone following tech rumors may know, Apple is working on its own smart glasses—four glasses, in fact. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman asserts that Apple is working on not just one design for its upcoming smart glasses, but four. According to Gu…

DuckDuckGo's whole shtick is privacy, so it isn't surprising that the company makes its own VPN—so long as you pay for it. Now, there are a lot of VPNs out there, and the best ones do typically require a fee, but it would seen on the surface that DuckDuckGo's offerings were as solid a choice as any other similar service. Of course, there's always the question of privacy and security anytime you use a service like this: How well is this VPN really working? Is the company behind it secretly accessing my browsing data as I use the app? DuckDuckGo seems to be confident in this area: The company hired independent cybersecurity firm Securitum to conduct an audit of its "no-l…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. DirecTV has launched for Meta Quest headsets. While there are already single-channel streaming apps like Peacock available on the headset, this is the first full TV distributor to be available for Quest users. It gives DirecTV subscribers access to over 150 live channels—CNN, HGTV, and NFL Network, etc.— and a huge library of on-demand movies and shows. Meta Quest 3 512GB Mixed Reality VR Headset with Controllers $599.0…

Windows users contend with a lot of updates. There's a new update every month on the stable channel, and every week on the Windows Insider channel. But not all updates are created equal. Some are mission-critical, with important security patches you won't want to miss. On the other hand, some can create issues themselves, introducing bugs or new features you don't want. Until now, there wasn't much you could do when an update showed up. You could try to delay, but you'd be forced to install it a week later, sometimes in the middle of important work. With the latest Insider update, however, Microsoft is trying to fix that. Now, the company is testing a roundabout way to de…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. With fine central chemistry, a sense of humor, and interesting things to say about the challenges of interfaith romance, Nobody Wants This has been a rom-com hit for Netflix, with a third season coming this year. The world may be a cesspit, but we still love love—at least on TV, and not only on the Hallmark Channel. With that in mind, here are 15 more streaming shows that deal with romance (exclusively) and comedy (mostly), all filled with will-they/won't-they suspense and wildly shippable characters. Fleabag (2016 – 2019) This critical favorite stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the title character (she's only ever re…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Sometimes I fear my running career has plateaued. Well, not my career, but my pace. I lace up four or five times a week, push hard enough to feel pleasantly wrecked, watch my mileage climb steadily upward, and then—after months of honest effort—still find myself running the exact same pace I was running a year ago. It's clear that in order to get faster, effort alone isn't enough. I'm not alone here. It's well known in running circles that a lot of us unconsciously settle into what coaches call "the gray zone"—an effort level that's too hard to be truly easy and too easy to create meaningful high-end adaptation. It feels …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you want to create an authentic home theater feel without shelling out for a premium projector, a massive TV is the way to do it. A great option for this is the 100-inch model of the award-winning Hisense U8QG QLED TV, which is big enough and bright enough to make you reconsider going out to the movies ever again—and right now, it’s more than $1,200 off, taking it down to $2,797.96, its lowest price ever. 2025 Hisense 100-Inch U8QG QLED TV $2,797.96 at Amazon …

Google Meet is an accessible and easy-to-use virtual meeting platform for casual users and Workspace customers, hosting everything from team check-ins to large presentations and town halls. It plays nice with everything else in the Google ecosystem, so if you or your employer are locked in, it's likely a top choice for video conferencing. Here are 10 hacks to get the most out of Google Meet. Use meet.new to quickly launch an unscheduled meetingIf you need to start a video call at a moment's notice, you can open Google Meet and hit New meeting > Start an instant meeting—or you can simply type meet.new into your browser. This link automatically launches a meeting; no ad…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Earlier this month, I strapped on two different Garmin watches to race a 10K—a mid-range model on one wrist, a premium one on the other—to see how they stacked up. This time, I branched outside of Garmin's ecosystem. For the Brooklyn Half-Marathon, I wore the Garmin Forerunner 970 ($749.99) on my right wrist and the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro ($449.99) on my left, pitting one of the most trusted running watches in the game against Amazfit's more affordable and most ambitious claim to the long-distance running space. Here's how it went. Garmin® Forerunner® 970, Premium …

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 end tonight, Oct. 8, and until then, 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. If you're in the market for a high-end espresso mach…