Home Office Setup & Equipment

If you ask me, graphic design peaked in 2001 with Windows XP's bright blue taskbar and green start button. Every UI design choice since was made by cowards. OK, you might not share my passion for the Windows XP taskbar, which is fine (I guess). But maybe you miss the simple grey aesthetic of Windows 2000, or the comforting orb of Vista. Whatever your taskbar preference, you can bring it back with RetroBar, a free, open source application that replaces the taskbar in Windows 11 with something better. (It will also work if you're running an older version, including Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.) To get started, download the application from Github. There's an i…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Pixel 9 is the latest series of the Google Pixel phone lineup. They were released late last summer along with the 9 Pro and Pro XL, while the budget Pixel 9a came out this April. If you're looking for the best value Pixel and arguably the best Google phone yet, according to Assistant Tech Editor Michelle Ehrhardt's review, get the 128 GB unlocked Pixel 9a for $499 with a $100 Amazon Gift Card. It's a great perk that comes along with a new Pixel already at a solid price. Google Pixel 9a …

Another day, another update to Google's NotebookLM, the versatile AI tool that functions like a personal assistant focused only on you and your needs. The latest update is for visual learners: You can turn your source materials into helpful infographics that give you a clear picture—literally—of what the PDFs, websites, videos, or other materials you're studying or organizing are about. How to use the new NotebookLM infographics featureTo use the new feature, open any of your NotebookLM Notebooks (the name given to folders full of specific materials you've uploaded) and navigate to the panel on the right side. It's the same panel where you find the other offerings like t…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. This might be the whitest thing I've ever written, but I'm getting into sailing. A friend recently took me on a sail around Santa Barbara, and I finally really understand what Christopher Cross meant when he sang, "The canvas can do miracles. Just you wait and see." Except I don't know how to do it. So I was just sitting there, not actually sailing. It's personally frustrating to feel useless on the poop deck (It's called a "poop deck," right?), so I downloaded MarineVerse Sailing Club for the Meta Quest 3, and it became my "Upgrade of the Week." How I learned to sail the (virtual) seas with MarineVerse Sailing C…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. OLED TVs have become the standard for people who want deep contrast and cinematic picture quality at home, but they often come with prices that stretch well beyond most budgets. That’s why discounts on models from major brands tend to draw attention, and the 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 OLED (2025) is currently $1,198 on Amazon, down from $1,398. Price trackers show this is the lowest price it has reached so far. The other sizes are discounted as well, with the 55-inch model at $998 and the 77-inch version at $1,798. The Bravia 8 gives you the deep black…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. There’s a little game I like to play sometimes, and it seems to be popular with other folks who tend to work out at home: What equipment would I buy if I were starting a new home gym from scratch? You can also play the advanced version: If you already have (insert common items here), what would you buy next? What follow are my picks for anybody starting a new home gym or looking to expand the one they have—whether that means a corner of your bedroom or a full-on garage-based weightlifting paradise. I'll start with space- and budget-friendly items, then move on to some bigger-ticket buys. Kettlebells If I had to put to…

Not everybody has the same reaction to noticing a new muscle pop up on their body. Some love it: “Great, I’m getting jacked!” Some are discouraged: “Oh no, I’m getting bulky.” But everyone should know that building muscle has its benefits, both beyond looks and in spite of looks. Here are seven ways your newfound muscle is a big plus, both for your health and your fitness goals. Strength and muscle size go togetherThe first big benefit is simply that a growing muscle tells you that you're getting stronger. Being strong makes us more athletic, more functional in everyday life, and may help to prevent injury, as I'll talk about shortly. So if you notice some muscle growth,…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. For fans of The Mandalorian or anyone after a headset with cross-platform support, the Logitech Astro A30 (Mandalorian Edition) might be worth a closer look—especially now that it’s hit its lowest-ever price (according to price trackers) of $119.99 on Woot (down from $249). The same model is currently $175 on Amazon, making this Woot deal a solid choice if you’re in the contiguous U.S. (Woot doesn’t ship elsewhere). This deal is live for eight days or until its stock runs out. Free shipping applies to Prime members; others will need to cough up $6…

Netflix's March slate kicks off with the live stream of the 32nd annual Actors Awards hosted by Kristen Bell—red carpet coverage begins at 7 pm ET on March 1 followed by the show at 9 pm. Netflix will also be hosting a live performance from BTS as part of their comeback tour (March 21 at 7 am ET) as well as the MLB Opening Night matchup between the Yankees and the Giants (March 25 at 7 pm ET). Cillian Murphy reprises his role as British gangster Tommy Shelby in a new feature-length film. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (March 20) is set a few years after the series finale and sees Shelby return to Birmingham when his estranged son (played by Barry Keoghan) gets involved…

Fortnite is coming back to the iPhone next week, according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney. That may not sound like huge news to those of you that have never played Fortnite, but the game's return follows a court ruling that has implications for many other apps you likely use every day. The ruling, from judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, states definitively that Apple is no longer allowed to stop developers from linking to purchases outside the App Store or limit them from explaining where such purchases can be made. What does this mean practically? Well, have you ever tried to subscribe to Netflix, upgrade Spotify, or buy a Kindle book on your iPhone? These things can't be do…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Pomodoro technique is a superstar in the world of productivity methods because its premise—that you should work hard for 25 minutes, then reward yourself with a few minutes off—is effective and appealing. But that doesn’t mean it works perfectly for everyone. Like any other method, it’s adaptable and, once you get the hang of it, should be customized to meet your unique needs. And if you find that Pomodoro's 25-minute work sessions with five-minute cooldowns aren’t cutting it for you, there's a similar but more flexible alternative: flowtime. What is the flowtime technique? The flowtime technique is a spin on Pomod…

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. I am the biggest booster of Google's NotebookLM, an AI tool that functions like a personal ChatGPT. I have recommended it for studying, used it for my own work loads of times, and generally found it to be one of the best bits of software available right now. But recently, I tried using it on my phone, not just on my computer browser—and it fell surprisingly flat. Here's how I've been managing to use it via mobile, anyway, and why you should stick to the computer version for now. What is NotebookLM? No…

I've been using Pixel phones every day for several years at this point, so I thought I'd discovered every secret menu and hidden feature these Google handsets have to offer—but it turns out I was wrong. Make Use Of enlightened me about the diagnostic tool built into Google Pixels, hidden away behind the number pad of the phone app. Its official name is the Pixel Repair Diagnostics App, and according to Google, it's built into every Pixel phone and tablet. It gives you a dashboard for testing just about every part of your phone's setup, from Bluetooth connections to camera sensors. The Pixel R…

Part of the fun of watching sports is that you don't know what's going to happen. TV shows and movies follow story beats, meaning you can usually get a sense for where things are heading, but sports do not work that way. The totally unexpected can, and does, frequently occur—and that's the reason people keep tuning in, whether their team is dominating or an underdog. Sometimes, though, you can't catch the game live, but still want a bit of that feeling. That's why leagues offer extended highlights, featuring all the key moments, complete with the commentary from the broadcast. These can feel almost like watching the full game, and I love catching up with them the next da…

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…

A recent Google Pixel feature is reportedly turning on the microphone when it's not supposed to, and Google's finally acknowledged that there's a bug. Reports started as early as last September and gained traction last week, and now, Google has removed the feature on some older phones. Called "Take a Message," the buggy feature was released last year and is supposed to automatically transcribe voicemails as they're coming in, as well as detect and mark spam calls. Unfortunately, according to reports from multiple users on Reddit (as initially spotted by 9to5Google), the feature has started turning on the microphone while taking voicemails, allowing whoever is leaving you…

Maybe it's not fair to call a medical diagnosis "trendy," but more and more adults in the U.S. are seeking treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD, once regarded as a childhood disease, has made the transition to adulthood: About 15.5 million adults in the U.S. have been "officially" diagnosed with the disorder, and a growing group of others believe they have ADHD. A lot of them are wrong, but that's OK. Fed by a steady stream of online influencers and pop science, more and more people are self-diagnosing with ADHD, autism, depression, and other mental disorders. Very few of them are qualified to make these diagnoses. While it’s easy to scoff at som…

Google's Smart Replies are getting an AI-themed, and to me, slightly creepy update. At its Google I/O 2025 keynote, Google announced a new feature called Personalized Smart Replies. This feature uses Gemini AI, alongside the data in your Gmail and Google Drive, to reply to emails in a way that sounds like you. Google promises is can write like you would, using your tone and writing style, as learned by your Gmail history. With this new update, the Smart Replies option that shows up when you reply to an email will be a lot more powerful and a lot more contextual. On stage, Google CEO Sundar Pichai used planning a trip as an example. Let's say a friend emails you asking for…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Apple's CarPlay brings much of the power of your iPhone to your vehicle's dashboard so you can (safely) navigate, play music, and send and receive messages while driving. As with your iPhone, there are plenty of ways to maximize your CarPlay experience to make it work better for you. Use these 10 tricks and hacks to get the most out of it. Use this setting to customize your CarPlay home screen If there are icons on your CarPlay home screen for apps you don't use, you can move the most important ones to the first page and delete those you no longer need. That way, you don't have to scroll through multiple pages while yo…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale is already happening, and plenty of fitness trackers and smartwatches are on sale. This event intersects with some recent Garmin price drops, too, making it a really good time to shop for a new watch. Here are the best deals I’m seeing. Pixel Google’s Pixel Watch 2 is on sale for just $149.99, down from an original price of $249.99. This is the slightly older version, launched in 2023 and replaced two years later by the Pixel Watch 3 (which I reviewed here). The Pixel Watch 2 has most of the same features as the newer mod…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Mac mini has always been about packing a surprising amount of power into a tiny shell, and the Early 2023 Apple Mac mini M2 sticks to that idea. Right now, you can grab the refurbished 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD model on sale for $459.99 at StackSocial (down from $599), or the 256GB SSD version for $359.99. Both are rated “Grade A,” meaning they show little to no cosmetic wear and ship free across the contiguous U.S. Powered by Apple’s M2 chip, this mini desktop quietly handles everything from daily multitasking to heavy-duty tasks like 8K video edit…

If you're at the stage where you want to do more with your phone and start building automations—customized mini-apps to carry out tasks—then Tasker (for Android) and Apple Shortcuts (for iOS) are likely to be included in the tools you turn to. You'll find an introduction to both these apps and what they can do for you below, as well as an explanation of how they're similar and how they're not. The main difference is that Android continues to allow its apps to dig deeper into the operating system and its features than iOS does, and Tasker can take full advantage. For those who've never looked into phone automations, there's an almost limitless array of possibilities here, …

Everyone works with text while on their Macs, and PopClip is a simple and effective way to speed up all your text workflows. On the surface, it's really simple. The app, also available on mobile, simply adds a small popover menu to your screen every time you select text on your Mac. By default, it gives you access to four commonly used actions: search, cut, copy, and paste. This alone is good enough for most people, but the app can do a lot more. Mobile is a bit more limited, but on Mac, you can customize the popover menu by adding or removing features, and there's a big extension directory to make this even better. With some tweaking, you can use it for relatively basic…

Scammers can make good money by selling you something you can actually get for free—like government services. The Federal Trade Commission is alerting consumers to fraudulent websites that are claiming to be associated with the IRS and charging up to $300 to file paperwork for obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN application is available for free on the real IRS website and requires just a few minutes to complete. An EIN, which is a corporate identifier for filing taxes, is required for anyone opening a business, estate, or nonprofit as well as those with household employees (such as a family hiring a nanny). How the EIN scam worksThe services iden…