Home Office Setup & Equipment

As usual, this week's collection of youth culture flotsam is all over the map. We got the surprising appearance of ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in AI-generated brainrot videos; a meme about winning at gambling that's becoming a meme about hypocrisy; an emoji that probably means something different than you think; and truly creative videos that, whew, don't use AI. Viral video of the week: Socrates and skeletonThe breakout star of viral videos this week is foundational Athenian philosopher Socrates, with his co-star, a living skeleton. In these AI -generated videos, the skeleton represents the viewer, and the idea is to illustrated hypothetical scenarios like "What …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Almost everything we do digitally leaves a trace of some kind, and while it can be useful to look back on this past activity—when trying to remember where that great coffee shop you stumbled across is, perhaps—this continual logging and tracking doesn't really align with best privacy and security practices. Meet Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System), a Linux distro based on Debian that maximizes user security and privacy. It can run from a USB drive, which means you're able to plug it into any laptop or desktop with a free port (Mac or PC) and take it away again when you're done, with nothing left behind on the compute…

WWDC 2026 is rapidly approaching. While Apple has a number of events throughout any given year, WWDC is one of two Apple keynotes that the tech community actively anticipates (the other being the iPhone fall event). This is Apple's chance to show off all of the software updates its been working on since the last WWDC—and all the features that come with them. This year, that likely means iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27. When is WWDC 2026?Apple announced on Monday that WWDC 2026 will kick off on Monday, June 8 and run through Friday, June 12. If you're used to watching a single keynote from past WWDCs, seeing that this year's event runs multiple days might come…

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…

If you work from a laptop, your built-in webcam may suit you fine for video calls. But for those of us with external monitors, or laptops with subpar cameras, it's helpful (or necessary) to seek out dedicated, high-quality webcams. Before you drop hundreds of dollars on one from Amazon, just use your smartphone. Your iPhone or Android very likely has native webcam support that makes it easy to tap into the phone's camera for work or personal calls. I guarantee your phone has a better camera than your laptop—even if it's not quite as convenient to use. I was surprised to learn today, however, that Samsung Galaxy phones have not supported this feature. You've been able to …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Flagship Apple Watches tend to start at $399, but the price only goes up from there. If you want a larger size, that's a slight bump in cost; if you want cellular connectivity, that's an even larger hit. But the titanium Apple Watch—the "premium" material, if you will—is the most expensive upgrade outside of the Ultra line. These models typically start at $699, but cost $749 for the larger size, and a whopping $799 if you want the stainless steel band. Right now, you can get a titanium Apple Watch for as low as $449 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale—s…

Netflix's April lineup is packed with something for everyone. There are new installments of reality series Million Dollar Secret (April 15), Netflix's answer to NBC's The Traitors, and Temptation Island (April 10). Comedy series Running Point (April 23) also returns for a second season, with Kate Hudson starring as the president of her family's pro basketball franchise. Big Mistakes (April 9) is a new crime comedy series created by Dan Levy, who stars alongside Taylor Ortega as one of a pair of siblings who get blackmailed into participating in organized crime. And Kevin Hart has a new comedy competition series: Funny AF with Kevin Hart (April 20) incorporates real-time …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple's AirPods Pro might be its most premium, expensive earbuds, but that doesn't mean they're hogging all the features. While they have the interchangeable ear tips, heart rate sensor, and the ability to be used as hearing aids, there are plenty of features you might assume to be "pro" that you can get on Apple's standard earbuds. Case in point: noise cancellation. If all you need is a pair of earbuds that can block out the sound around you (without spending $249), consider the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, which are currently on sale …

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 searching for an affordable running watch, one of your best options just got even more budget-friendly. The Suunto Run is at the lowest price it ever gets, down to $179. That's a solid 10% discount (or $20 off) from its typical $199 price tag, during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Suunto Run $179.00 at Amazon…

It's tempting when choosing a new smartphone to go for the latest and greatest model. In Google's corner, there's the Pixel 10 series, including the brand-new Pixel 10a. But tech has advanced a lot in recent years, to the point where the value of a last-gen smartphone is often just as good—if not better—than the latest model. Take, for example, the Pixel 9a. You can pick up the predecessor to the Pixel 10a right now for just $399, $100 off its MSRP, during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Google Pixel 9a (128GB) …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A chest strap is the most accurate way to measure your heart rate during workouts, and today some of the best ones are discounted for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. That includes the popular and highly rated Polar H10. Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor $84.55 at Amazon $1…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're a music aficionado looking for a deal during Amazon's Big Spring Sale, these JBL Tour One M3 headphones might change your relationship with sound like they changed mine. And!—they're on sale for the lowest price Amazon has ever offered, a neat $100 off off the full retail price of $449.95. JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx - Wireless Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Smart Transmitter, Hi-Res Audio (3.5mm or USB-C), Spatial 360 Sound with Head Tracking & 70Hrs of Playback (Mocha) …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Running is one of the simplest workouts a person can do—and unless you have plans on opening up a professional-grade gym, there's probably no need for you to blow thousands of dollars on a fancy treadmill. Today, one of the best budget treadmills, the NordicTrack T Series 5, is on sale for $479. That's a 20% markdown from its typical price of $599, all thanks to Amazon's Big Spring Sale. NordicTrack T Series 5 …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The best sale you’ll find on a Garmin watch during the ongoing Amazon Big Spring Sale is probably this Forerunner 265, which will run you $344.95. It’s an excellent watch—I said as much when I reviewed it. If this watch appeals to you, go ahead and buy it—but there are some caveats you should consider before buying one. Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Rowing is my latest fitness obsession. A good workout on a rowing machine can engage up to 86% of your muscles, combining cardio and strength training while being gentle on your joints. After a few months of testing the new Hydrow Arc Rowing Machine—which I reviewed in depth—I trust Hydrow as a brand name. And right now, the Hydrow Origin Rowing Machine is available for $1,895 as a part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, a 14% discount off its list price of $2,195. Hydrow Origin Rowing Machine …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Amazon is selling its 4-series Fire TVs for almost comically low prices during its ongoing Big Spring Sale. The 50" model is $239.97, and the 43" is $199; that's 40% off the list price and the lowest price Amazon has ever offered on these 4K smart TVs. And it might be a few years until we see TVs this cheap again. Amazon Fire TV 4-Series 55" HDR Smart TV (2025) $279.97 at Amazon …

On Wednesday, a Los Angeles jury found both Meta and YouTube negligent for their failure to warn their users about potential dangers associated with their apps and services. Specifically, the jury found that Meta and YouTube "harmed" a young user, a now 20-year-old identified as K.G.M., via addictive features that led to the user's "mental health distress." Meta and YouTube are now on the hook for $3 million in damages. Meta will pay the majority of the sum (70%, or $2.1 million), while YouTube will pay the remaining 30% ($900,000). It's a landmark case that could have wide-ranging repercussions for all social media platforms. What was the Meta/YouTube social media case…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're dedicated enough to have a home gym, there's no reason you should waste precious workout time by digging through a heap of equipment or making multiple trips across your garage to grab different dumbbells between sets. Normally $129.99, this home gym storage rack is currently on sale for $79.98 as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. If you've been tripping over scattered dumbbells or wasting time hunting for the right weights mid-workout, this deal solves both problems for under $80. PL…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Fitbit devices are among today’s fitness tech deals during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. The Charge 6 is down to $119.95 (from $159.95) and the Versa 4 is $149.95 (down from $199.95), but I think the best deal of the bunch is the Inspire 3 at $69.95 (down from $99.95). If you want a simple, minimalist fitness tracker, this is a great way to grab one on the cheap. Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Midnight Zen/Black) …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Are you still dusting off your electronics with disposable cans of compressed air? Get with the times, man. All the cool people are using rechargeable air dusters like this one. I love mine so much, and I think you will too—and it's on sale for 27% off during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. WOLFBOX MF70 Compressed Air Duster-110000 RPM Electric Air Duster with Extended Runtime, 3-Speed Rechargeable Air Blower for Keyboard, Computer, Camera, Car, Home, 5 Nozzles …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. There are all kinds of earbuds to choose from out there—especially if you aren't dedicated to one specific ecosystem. If you're an Android user, however, and especially if you're a Pixel user, you might find that Google's Pixel Buds Pro are among your best options. Right now, the latest model, the Pixel Buds Pro 2, have a solid 26% discount for Amazon's Big Spring Sale—bringing the price from $229 down to $169. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A while back I switched to running while wearing bone conduction headphones (BCH), and I have zero regrets. Sure, they may never match the bass in traditional headphones, but a good pair can bring you perfectly solid sound quality—not to mention the comfort and safety that comes with an open-ear fit and BCH technology (they really do send sound through your bones). Right now my number one favorite headphones for running, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, are available for $139.95 as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, a 22% discount off their list price of $17…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you're in the Apple ecosystem, and you're looking for a new pair of earbuds, you'd have trouble doing better than AirPods Pro 3. Apple's flagship earbuds sound great, come with interchangeable tips, and sport a number of intelligent, useful features. That package doesn't come cheap, though—Apple has the newest AirPods Pro priced at $249. That's why they're great to buy on sale: Amazon currently has the AirPods Pro 3 for $50 off their usual price. AirPods Pro 3 …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. When you’re shopping around for a massage gun, you want to focus on features that justify the price. Specifically, I focus on features like speed settings (both intensity and versatility), noise and ease of use, battery life, and size. I've learned the hard way that when you're looking for a travel-sized massage gun, you have to be extra shrewd. I was once gifted a mini massage gun that, according to the holiday gift exchange rules, must have cost less than $30. It ran out of battery within one or two minutes of weak “massaging.” All of that is to s…

If you're a regular ChatGPT user, then you're one of a crowd that's now around 900 million people strong. It seems that plenty of us are spending significant amounts of time with the AI chatbot, whether that's to get more done, search the web, work on creative or coding projects, or just have something to talk to. Are you making the most out of ChatGPT though? The web, mobile, and desktop apps come with a selection of settings and some prompt adjustment possibilities that you may not have fully explored yet. Here's how to level up. Use 'branch conversations' to explore tangents off your chatsOpenAI often rolls out minor but useful upgrades to ChatGPT that can get missed, …