Home Office Setup & Equipment

Ads are an unavoidable part of modern life. They support both free and discounted services, for better or for worse, and unless you pay for premium services like YouTube Premium or expensive Netflix tiers, it's likely you'll run into these commercials one way or another. But just because ads are deeply entwined in our digital devices, that doesn't mean they get a free pass in all situations. As reported by Ars Technica, it appears Roku is pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable here, experimenting with placing ads when you first boot up your streaming device. Moana 2 ads are rolling on Rokus at launch One Reddit user noticed the change when they turned on their R…

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 back for a second year and runs through March 31. It’s not quite the frenzy of Prime Day, but there are still plenty of decent tech deals worth checking out. You don’t need a Prime membership to shop the sale either, though Prime members do get access to a few better prices. If you’re curious, you can always sign up for the free 30-day trial and cancel later. Either way, this week’s a solid time to pull the trigger on those bigger purchases you’ve been eyeing. Like, say, a giant new TV. Right now, the 65-inch Sony Bravi…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Peloton's app and its fitness equipment have tons of options for workouts, but they can't do everything. If you track some of your workouts with other devices, like a Garmin watch or bike computer, they wouldn't show up in your Peloton workout history—until now. A new Garmin integration is rolling out, and here's how it works. How to link your Peloton and Garmin accountsThe new integration allows Peloton to import workouts from Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect is the name of the Garmin app, so this means workouts you do on a watch (say, your Forerunner 570) sync to the Garmin Connect app, and from there to Peloton. This doe…

Any new phone almost certainly comes with a handful of preinstalled apps you'll never use, regardless of which manufacturer you buy from or which operating system you're on. Some devices are more bloated than others: Google Pixels have a relatively "clean" build compared to Samsung phones, for example, and don't typically come with third-party apps and games. But you may still want to eliminate apps and features that clutter your home screen, take up valuable space, and create a drag on performance, especially if you have alternatives you like more. On Android, that likely means uninstalling what you easily can and disabling everything else. What you can (and can't) uni…

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 eyeing a pair of noise-canceling headphones but don’t want to spend over $300 for the usual suspects, this deal on the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro might be worth a closer look. It’s currently going for $129.99 on Woot for the next three weeks or until it sells out, which is $70 less than the current Amazon price. It’s new, has an 18-month manufacturer warranty from Anker, and ships free if you have Amazon Prime (if not, it'll cost you $6 for shipping). Just keep in mind, Woot only ships to the 48 contiguous states—so if you're in 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. Despite some strong language I've used in the past, I don't believe that weight loss apps are inherently evil. At the same time, you're putting a whole lot of trust into this kind of app, and that can go poorly. You're depending on it to tell you how many calories you need, to accurately tell you how many calories you're eating and burning, to calculate how many calories you need in the first place, and to effectively motivate you toward healthy goals so …

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news. Of all the study tips out there, from those that enhance reading comprehension to those that improve retention, the one I use the most is association, which has its own entry in the APA Dictionary of Psychology: It's "a connection or relationship between two items (e.g., ideas, events, feelings) with the result that experiencing the first item activates a representation of the second. Associations are fundamental to learning theory and behaviorism." Essentially, it's any connection you can form between…

The headlining story in AI news this week was Moltbot (formerly Clawbot), a personal AI assistant that performs tasks on your behalf. The catch? You need to give it total control of your computer, which poses some serious privacy and security risks. Still, many AI enthusiasts are installing Moltbot on their Mac minis (the device of choice), choosing to ignore the security implications in favor of testing this viral AI agent. While Moltbot's developer designed the tool to assist humans, it seems the bots now want somewhere to go in their spare time. Enter "Moltbook," a social media platform for AI agents to communicate with one another. I'm serious: This is a forum-style…

If you’re at all like me, spring cleaning can be something of a domino situation. I might start by cleaning the baseboards, but when I get to the stairs, I’m like, wow these handrails are dirty. And so on. By the time I’m done, I’ve also discovered coffee splashes on walls, cobwebs in ceiling corners, and the dustiest blinds one has ever seen—and I’m feeling rather disgusted with myself. I’m also feeling sore, because my back is not what it once was and it seems like the worst of the dirt is either way low or way high. You know who still has good backs, though? Our kids, that’s who. Spring cleaning should, I believe, be a family affair. From the inside of the home to the …

Google's budget phone for the masses, the Pixel 9a, will retail at $499 when it launches in April. That's a full $100 less than the iPhone 16e and $300 less than the Pixel 9. Even so, the 9a has many of the same features as the Pixel 9. It carries over the same Tensor G4 chip, and promises to feature most of the Pixel 9's AI suite. Most, but not all. Ars Technica is now reporting that the Pixel 9a will be missing some crucial AI features at launch. That's because the Pixel 9a features 8GB RAM, while the Pixel 9 has 12GB RAM, and the Pixel 9 Pro models feature 16GB RAM. While the Pixel 9a comes with on-device Gemini Nano, Ars Technica confirmed with Google that it's going …

I really like the iPhone's Dynamic Island, the pill-shaped cutout near the top of the device's screen. It's an aesthetically pleasing way to check your battery percentage, record voice notes, and control music playback, among many other things. Since many MacBooks have a display notch too, you can use an app to bring an iPhone-like Dynamic Island to your laptop. Doing this makes the cutout look like a useful design feature rather than an abrupt gap in the screen, and some apps even let you move the giant volume and brightness adjustment popups to the Dynamic Island. Alcove brings the Dynamic Island to your Mac …

When you buy a new home, it’s natural to get excited about wanting to move in and settle in as quickly as possible, putting off potential renovations—even the ones that will make you happier in the space—and other home projects until later. And sure, some renovations, like kitchen remodels or additions, require a lot of planning and are best scheduled when your bank account and stress levels have recovered from the home-buying process. That said, there are some home projects that are best tackled right away—because they come with a lot of disruption, take a long time to pay off on the investment, or both. Planting trees If your property has outdoor space but no trees,…

The government recently shut down the program that would mail four free COVID tests to anyone who requested them, but a lesser-known program for community groups is still running. If you have a plan to distribute tests for free, you can request them by the hundreds. Individual COVID tests are no longer available by mail for freeJust to bring everyone up to speed: The government program that sent free COVID tests through covidtests.gov is not currently taking orders. A message on that page states that “Tests ordered before 8:00 PM EDT, Sunday, March 9, 2025, will be shipped.” This is the program that would send a package of four tests, per household, per round of the prog…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Hot on the heels of Oura’s AI Advisor, another app feature from the smart ring company is leaving beta and becoming available to all users: meal logging. But this isn’t just another calorie tracking app—Oura’s Meals feature provides feedback on what you’re eating and when, without judging you for how much. Oura Ring 4 $349.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is currently going for $219.99 on Amazon—down from its original $299—and it walks the line pretty well for a midrange fitness smartwatch. Garmin Vivoactive 5 $219.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $299.99 Save $80.0…

Google's AI has gone through a couple of stages thus far. First, Google launched "Bard" as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Soon after, the company rebranded to "Gemini," encompassing everything from its chatbot to its LLMs. During The Android Show: I/O Edition, Google revealed its newest AI iteration: Gemini Intelligence. It might sound suspiciously similar to another company's AI suite, but Gemini Intelligence offers a number of unique features—at least, according to Google. Gemini Intelligence's new agentic abilities Google is positioning "Gemini Intelligence" as an agentic assistant. While the company already offers agentic capabilities, like ordering cabs through Ub…

Has this ever happened to you? You're totally invested in a video—maybe the punchline to a great joke is about to hit, or you're finally about to learn the answer to some big mystery—and right as it's getting good, bam: an annoying ad grinds everything to a disappointing halt. Ads are a necessary element of the free internet, but that doesn't excuse how irritating they can be. Nobody wants an ad to cut them off from a video right as the interest levels are peaking—though that's exactly what's going to happen on all of your YouTube videos. As reported by Mashable, it's all part of a new feature called Peak Points, which YouTube announced during its Upfront presentation on…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Whether you’re after long-term support, phenomenal cameras, or just an all-around great phone, the Google Pixel 9 lineup has a lot to offer. And with the Amazon Spring Sale on, you can snag any of the three phones in that lineup at a considerable discount. Whether it’s the top-of-the-line Pixel 9 Pro XL or the more modest Pixel 9, you’ll get well over $100 off. Here are the three devices you can choose from: Google Pixel 9: $640 (was $799) at Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro: $799 (was $999) at Amazon Google Pixel 9 Pro XL: $899 (was $1099) at Amazon The …

Back in February, we learned that Apple had plans to integrate AI assistants into CarPlay. The news came along with the first beta for iOS 26.4, though Apple didn't actually include a way for testers to try out the integration in the software. Instead, the company confirmed the news in its CarPlay Developers Guide, stating that "CarPlay voice-based conversational app" support would require iOS 26.4 at a minimum. Well, Apple launched iOS 26.4 last week, and while the update delivered a number of new features, none of them were AI chatbot integrations with CarPlay. The company even dropped the first beta for iOS 26.5 without including a mention of the upcoming feature. I'…

While getting a home you're thinking of buying inspected to make sure it's not harboring any hidden problems goes without saying, it's just as important to do a deep dive on the neighborhood you'll be moving into. But while you can look up crime stats and compare property values, how can you know if you’re going to personally vibe with the new surroundings? Here are seven strategies you can try in order to vibe-check your potential new neighborhood before signing a lease or taking out a mortgage. Walk the area instead of driving around Whether you’re a walker or you believe strongly in driving to the end of your driveway to collect the mail, a stroll through a prospect…

In recent years, TikTok has become a prime target for scammers and cyber attackers spreading various forms of malware, and the latest shady campaign promotes instructional videos that trick users into downloading infostealers to their devices via ClickFix attacks. The scheme, identified by Trend Micro and reported by Bleeping Computer, instructs users to execute commands to activate Windows and Microsoft Office or premium features in CapCut and Spotify. One video is captioned "Boost Your Spotify Experience Instantly — Here's How!" and has nearly half a million views. These videos seem to be AI generated and, while the software they discuss is legitimate, the activation …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Kodak Printomatic Mini Instant Print Camera is about the size of a power bank, light enough to toss in your pocket, and quick to fire up when something photo-worthy happens. You snap, it prints, and you get a little sticker photo you can slap on your scrapbook, phone case, bedroom wall, or wherever you want. There are no cables, ink cartridges, or waiting for an app to sync—you can just point, shoot, and print, and it's on sale for $59.99 on StackSocial right now. It's obviously more of a playful gift or party gadget than something you’d use f…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Samsung just announced a new live stream for the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge. The company initially teased the phone at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event back in January, but details are still slim on the upcoming device. How to stream Samsung 'Beyond Slim' (and reserve your phone)Samsung's "Beyond Slim" live stream for the "slimmest Galaxy S Series ever" will air on May 12 at 8 p.m. ET (May 13 at 9 a.m. KST). You'll be able to watch the event via Samsung's website or on the company's YouTube channel, which you can find below: If you are excited to get your hands on the new Galaxy S25 Edge, you can reserve the new pho…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. While there was no question we'd be getting another Prime Day in 2025, now it's official: In a press release, Amazon has confirmed the return of what is sure to be biggest online sales event of the year. Here is everything we know so far about this year's sale. What is Prime Day?While Amazon holds several sales throughout the year (including its recent Big Spring Sale and last year's October Prime Big Deal Days),the summer sale is typically Amazon's biggest, most-hyped annual event. It's typically a two-day affair, with deals in virtually every category you can think of. Prime Day is usually when you can expect to see some…

The internet has become a vital tool for human connection, but it comes with its fair share of risks, with the biggest being your privacy and security. With the big tech giants hungry for every ounce of your data they can get and scammers looking to target you every day, you do need to take a few precautions to protect your online privacy and security. There's no foolproof approach to these two things, and unfortunately, the onus is on you to take care of your data. Before you start looking for a VPN or ways to delete your online accounts, you should take a moment to understand your privacy and security needs. Once you do, it'll be a lot easier to take a few proactive st…