Home Office Setup & Equipment

Yesterday, Nintendo finally announced its successor to the Nintendo Switch, fittingly named the Switch 2. I already wrote about my general experiences with the console, where I talked about how it’s mostly boring, but probably the right move on Nintendo’s part. Still, I wanted to take a moment to call out one part of the console that definitely isn’t boring: the mouse controls. When you take one of the Switch 2’s controllers, the Joy-Con 2, off the console and put it on its side, it becomes a mouse—simple as that. If you’re playing a compatible game, you’ll instantly see a cursor pop up on screen, and right away, you’ll be playing as if you were on PC. Rotate the controll…

It's not difficult to delete an app off your iPhone. In fact, it only takes a few taps at most. If you're so inclined, you can even remove purchases from your Apple Account entirely. So it might come as a bit of a surprise if you see that app randomly reappear. As it happens, some users are seeing just that. MacRumors spotted multiple threads across both Reddit and Apple's Community Support site, all featuring the same complaint: users noticing apps they did not choose to download appearing on their iPhones. Some of these affected users had previously deleted these apps months or years ago, and didn't understand why they were back. Others, however, had no memory of ever d…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Blink Mini 2 is currently $19.99 (down from $39.99)—the lowest price it’s ever hit, according to price tracking tools. Blink Mini 2 $19.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $39.99 Save $20.00 …

The average total consumer household debt last year was $105,056—a 13% increase over the past five years, according to the most recent data. When it comes to researching strategies and tips for paying off your balances, it’s easy to get lost down a rabbit hole. And that rabbit hole can distract you from the real work of getting organized and tackling your debt. Taking the first steps toward a clear plan and system in place—even just reading this article—can help you feel more in control and start to make some progress toward being debt-free. If you're worried and feeling overwhelmed by debt, here are initial steps to take so you can get organized and make some real progr…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Stuck for ideas on how to show your kids' teachers the depth of your gratitude? We're in the midst of Teacher Appreciate Week, which is a great time to thank them for all their work this year—or at least get a jump on picking out an end-of-school-year gift. If your favorite teacher is tech-inclined, they will likely appreciate one of the gadgets on this list, all of which are under $50. Notebuddy Mini Sticker Printer Doodle Dash Portable Thermal Printer Inkless Pocket Photo…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. BJ’s Wholesale Club isn’t just about oversized ketchup bottles and 40-roll toilet paper packs—though you’ll definitely find those too. If you’ve been circling the idea of joining a wholesale club, this StackSocial deal might tip the scale. Right now, a one-year Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal is going for just $20 instead of the usual $60. It’s only for new members, and you’ll get a redemption code to activate the membership directly through BJ's official website. It's great if you’ve got a big family, a stocked-up pantry dream, or just …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Garmin Forerunner 255 is on sale right now for $229.99, its lowest price ever. That’s about half the price of the Forerunner 265 ($449.99), which is the current generation (and my personal favorite running watch). The two watches have nearly identical features—I’ll explain the differences below—making the 255 an incredible bargain. Garmin Forerunner 255 GPS Running Smartwatch (Gray) …

Heart rate zones are a way to describe how hard you're working during a cardio workout, like running or cycling. The faster your heart beats, the harder you're working. So an easy jog might have you in zone 2 for a whole workout, while a HIIT workout might have you bouncing between zones 1 and 5. Read on for a breakdown of what heart rate zones are, how to use them, and some of the caveats you should know when you're training this way. One quick thing before we dive in: heart rate zones are for cardio. Cardio means exercise that involves doing the same rhythmic movement over and over, like running or swimming or stair climbing. Heart rate zones mean nothing for strength …

If you receive an email from Google that appears to be a legitimate security alert, do not proceed. Scammers are taking advantage of vulnerabilities in Google's authentication protocols to send phishing messages that appear convincing enough to steal unsuspecting users' account credentials. Here's how to protect yourself. How this new Google phishing scam worksAs Android Authority reports, a developer named Nick Johnson was recently targeted by a phishing email with the subject line "Security alert." The message was sent from no-reply[at]accounts.google.com and signed by accounts.google.com, making it seem like a legitimate email directly from Google. However, the message…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. I've used earbuds to help me sleep for a while now, but I never expected a company to actually make earbuds specifically for sleeping. Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 are exactly that: earbuds designed to block out excess noise without pressing uncomfortably against your ear. I've been using them for a year and can't recommend them enough. Right now, these sleep earbuds are on sale for $119.99 (originally $149.99)—that is the lowest price they've been, according to price tracking tools. Soundcore Sleep A20 …

Good news, Android users: You no longer need to pay in order to use Gemini Live's camera and screen share features. Google announced the update in a post on X on Wednesday. The company cited the "great feedback" they received from users' experiences with Gemini Live camera and screen share, and revealed plans to roll out the features to all Android users over the coming weeks. You might even see the options right now. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Gemini Live has come a long way Gemini Live is the conversation mode for Google's AI assistant. Originally, it supported audio-only experiences: You could ha…

The beloved read-it-later app Pocket is shutting down, and Mozilla is giving current users until Oct. 8 to download saved items from their lists, archives, favorites, notes, and highlights. As of today, Pocket is no longer available in app stores or as a browser add-on, and all sign-ups and renewals have been disabled. The app will shut down for good on July 8, and transition to export-only mode. Users will have until Oct. 8 to export their saves, after which all accounts and data will be deleted. How to export your saved items from PocketTo initiate an export from Pocket, go to https://getpocket.com/export. You'll first want to ensure your account is connected to a va…

It's always storm season somewhere, and recent disasters in the South and Midwest have left significant damage in their wake. Unfortunately, scammers strike when people are vulnerable. Some seemingly helpful individuals and organizations may be what the Better Business Bureau calls "storm chasers"—fraudsters who target homeowners impacted by severe weather or a natural disaster that causes damage and necessitates major repairs. How storm recovery scams workPost-storm home improvement scams can play out in a number of ways, but they usually start with an unsolicited phone call or knock on your door from a "contractor" offering to repair your home quickly and on the cheap.…

As someone whose job involves testing and writing about Mac apps, a crowded menu bar is an occupational hazard. Until its ownership change last year, my go-to recommendation for tidying up your menu bar was Bartender. But once it became clear that we don't really know who owns Bartender now, I tried a few alternatives, and none of them had all the features I was looking for. So, I abandoned menu bar managers until recently, when the apps in my menu bar began extending more than halfway into my screen and I was finding it hard to even locate which app I was looking for. That's when I discovered Barbee, a powerful menu bar manager for Mac. It can do everything from hiding …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Lifehacker's Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide aims to bring you all the best spring cleaning ideas, but I won't lie: Some of them are pretty labor intensive. But whether you don't have the time for a major undertaking or you're just feeling a little lazy this year, there are still ways you can spring clean your home to get it in shape for the months ahead. Clean your microwave the easy wayA microwave is supposed to be cleaned every two weeks, but if that's too often for you (it's OK to be honest), you're probably looking at some serious grime in there. Cleaning it is actually remarkably easy, though, and you can make a big …

Fresh produce is probably one of the greatest gifts we can enjoy from nature. Call me a tree-hugger, but plants are seriously incredible. I don’t have a proper garden at the moment—it’s a north-facing potted plant set-up on my balcony—but if you’ve ever grown vegetables or even flowers from seeds, you know what I mean. Plants make gigantic blooms and fruit out of dirt and sunshine. That’s magic, and we reap the benefits. In this monthly article, I'll take a look at the fruits and veggies coming into season and some recipes you can use them in. As for this month: It's been spring for a while but it finally feels like it. And after a long winter, greens and a few fruits ar…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Google started rolling out Android 15 back in October, adding a number of interesting and useful new features to compatible devices. Six months later, the company has decided to increase the minimum spec requirements manufacturers must meet in order for their devices to be eligible for the latest Google software. The good news? It's not that strict. This week, Android Authority reported that to update to Android 15, Google is now requiring devices to have at least 32GB of storage. That isn't 32GB of free space; rather, the storage unit itself needs to be 32GB or larger. With Android 14 (and Android 13 before it) that req…

The The President tariffs we've seen so far will increase costs for the average American household by about $4,900, according to an April analysis from The Budget Lab at Yale University. And as you're forced to spend more money on daily luxuries, it's all too easy to adjust to a new normal. I've previously covered how too many people overstate the impact of your morning iced coffee on your long-term finances—but at the same time, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of spending more money on an everyday basis, which can make it difficult to save for the future. This "new normal" of spending money falls under the umbrella of something known as “lifestyle creep.” And giv…

2024 was the hottest summer ever recorded, and there’s a good chance that future summers will be even warmer. For most people, planning for those future summers involves upgrading their air-conditioning systems and taking other steps to turn the interior of their homes into cool, dark caves. But what happens if you want to get outside for some fresh air? If your yard is too hot to enjoy during the summer, you might as well not have a yard at all. You can’t air condition the outdoors—but you can lower the temperature with some thoughtful landscaping decisions. If you hesitate to throw a cookout in your outdoor space because you feel like you’re on a grill when you’re out t…

Starting this week, Google will start rolling out the ability for kids under the age of 13 to use Gemini on their own accounts. Both on the web and through the Gemini mobile app, kids will be able to use Google Gemini to help with their homework, create songs, draft poems, and more. Parents started getting notified about the update towards the end of last week, according to an email seen by The New York Times and Chrome Unboxed. It makes a major change for the company, and a bold one, too. While parents will receive an email the first time their child uses Gemini, AI access is nonetheless being added as a default, rather than an opt-in. Google does encourage talking to yo…

OpenAI has significantly leveled up the image generating capabilities of ChatGPT, adding the update as part of the GPT-4o model introduced last May. The new and improved AI generator is rolling out now for all ChatGPT users, across paid plans and the free tier (though free users are more restricted in how much they can use it). It's been possible to generate images through the ChatGPT interface for a while now, though behind the scenes the work was farmed out to the DALL-E 3 image model. Now, everything will be handled by GPT-4o, for a more consistent and native experience. There are lots of improvements here, which cover some of the areas that AI image creator tools have…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're sick of a huge television dominating your living room, Nebula's Capsule Air TV projector will let you ditch the set while still streaming as much content as you want. The Nebula Capsule Air supports over 30,000 Google Play apps, including Netflix. It's easy to set up, features 720p resolution, and it's on sale during Amazon's Big Spring Sale for $279.99— that's 30% off the list price of $399.99. Anker Nebula Capsule Air …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Meta has made virtual reality (VR) accessible to many more people, offering good VR headsets for much cheaper than the competition. Right now, the 128GB Meta Quest 3S Batman: Arkham Shadow Bundle is on sale for $269 (originally $299.99), the lowest price it has been, according to price-tracking tools. You can double the storage for $369 (originally $399.99); that version has dropped to $350 in the past. The bundle includes the Batman game (with a list price of $49.99) and a three-month trial subscription to the Meta Quest+ service that's normally $7…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been considering an Apple Watch but don’t want to drop Ultra-level cash, the Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS + Cellular, 41mm) is currently down to $299.99 on Woot, originally priced at $529. That’s for a brand new unit (not refurbished), and it comes with a one year Apple limited warranty. It’s available in two colors: a silver case with a storm blue band and a pink case with a light pink band. Both fit small to medium wrist sizes and ship free for Prime members (others pay $6 for shipping). The deal is live for three days or until it sells out…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Though people talk about the auteur revolution of the 1970s, or the warm, populist glow of neon-soaked ‘80s movies, the 1990s were an incredibly assured time in filmmaking. Romantic comedies went deeper and darker; Black filmmakers were rising to the forefront and telling their own stories; and technology had advanced to the point that things that had never been possible before were suddenly up on the screen. Plus, it was still an era when a mega-blockbuster might be an Edwardian period drama set on a boat with not a single superhero in sight. Strange days, truly. What's Love Got to Do With It? (1993) I'm not the o…