Setting Up Your Home Office

For members of the always-online generations, reality is hanging by a very thin thread. Core youth values like authenticity and "keeping it real" are confusing concepts to people raised in an environment where almost nothing can be counted on and anything can be faked. Every viral video could be a stealth advertising campaign. Every breakout band, an industry plant. Whether it's meat mountains at Arby's, or vérité video of cheater's antics, this week we're looking into all-encompassing scams. But at least you can bank on Scientology speed-runs as legit, and take comfort in the realness of a ball of red hot metal. What is Rod Wave's Arby's Takeover?Arby's is a fast food ch…

Saying “my back hurts” is a bit like saying “my car is making a noise.” It may be serious, or it may be nothing, and only a professional will know for sure. But if you have back pain, especially in your lower back, you’re not alone: By some estimates, 75% of us will have an achy lower back at some point in our lives, often without any obvious cause. I cannot diagnose your back pain over the internet. That said, I can tell you about common reasons for back pain, and provide general strategies that can help you feel less achy. Back pain doesn’t always mean you’re injuredWe tend to assume that pain is a sign that some part of our body is damaged and needs fixing. But that’…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A like-new unit of the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus is down to $109.99 (originally $249.99) on Woot, and using the code FIRE20—valid through April 14, 2026—drops the price another 20 percent to $88. For comparison, a brand-new unit is currently listed at $189.99 on Amazon, and most past discounts haven’t gone much lower than $149.99, according to price trackers. Shipping is free if you have Prime; otherwise, expect to pay about $6. It is also worth noting that shipping is limited to the contiguous U.S. …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A regular fan works fine until you want to move it somewhere without an outlet, but the Shark FlexBreeze is built for that gap between indoor and outdoor use. It’s currently listed on sale for $79.99 on StackSocial in Grade-A refurbished condition. In practical terms, that means it’s pre-owned but tested to work like new, and shows little to no visible wear. This is the 2024 UH205 model with a weather-resistant build that can handle a patio, garage, or backyard setup. And, at 13.78 inches wide and just over 37 inches tall in pedestal mode, it’s comp…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I've always been the kind of person who needs to write my thoughts down, for fear I'll forget my latest brilliant idea. I used to keep multiple notebooks at the ready for this purpose, but they would invariably get lost, get messy or damaged, or just be too annoying to keep organized. I switched to using apps, but I never built the muscle memory to keep it consistent, and opening a phone has never been good for my productivity. Then I learned about the Rocketbook Core reusable smart notebook. I tried it out, and now it has replaced all my productivity apps and my paper notebooks—and the best part is, it's super affordable…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. The Xteink X4 is a wallet-sized e-reader from China that has attracted a cult following of tinkerers online for its no-frills charm and crisp 4.3-inch display. When I reviewed it last year, I had a few minor complaints, but "too big" definitely wasn't one of them—not surprising, given I was already an adherent of the phone-sized Boox Palma 2. But now that I have tested out the Xteink X3, the X4's even tinier brother, I can't help but wonder if there exists an e-reader so small I won't prefer it. …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The two-cam kit of EufyCam S3 Pro with HomeBase 3 is now down to $399.98 from $549.99, and price trackers show this is the lowest it has reached so far. It is still a premium setup, but this drop makes it easier to consider if you were already planning to invest in a long-term system. You get two 4K outdoor cameras and the HomeBase 3 hub, which handles local storage and system controls. That means no required monthly fees, since your footage stays on the device locally instead of being pushed to the cloud. …

You can go through most of your life without worrying about whether and how you’re breathing, but as soon as somebody mentions that you’re supposed to breathe a certain way in the gym, it’s easy to get tripped up. Out when? In when? Oops, I held my breath instead—is that bad? As with anything else in the exercise world, there are different recommendations for different people doing different things. If you’ve heard conflicting advice, don’t worry, we’ll sort it out. First I'll address whether you should breathe during lifts, and then we'll talk about how to breathe. Should I hold my breath when I’m lifting weights?I don’t breathe during most of my lifts. I spend most of …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Larger phone screens come with real benefits, from improved multitasking to reduced eye strain compared to smaller displays. The 2025 Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a standout in the large-screen category, with a 6.8-inch OLED display, a superior camera, and a capable processor bolstered with a suite of AI features. Right now, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is 25% off on Amazon at a record-low price of $899 (originally $1,199). Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Phone - 256GB …

Despite what the headline of this article might lead you to believe, I don't think AI voice generation is inherently bad. Certainly there are cases where it makes sense, like preserving people's voices when they lose the ability to speak themselves, or turning your notes into an AI "podcast" to keep studying on-the-go, or to make written content more accessible to people with low vision. And in contrast to clunkier older tools, modern AI makes it easy to generate a realistic voice you can use in a number of scenarios. But in my humble opinion, art isn't usually a proper use case for AI voices. If I choose to listen to an audiobook, I am almost assuredly looking for an ex…

Claude's plug-ins for third-party services, known as connectors, have previously covered work-focused apps such as Gmail and Slack. Now, it's adding a whole host of lifestyle apps to its Connectors catalog, including Spotify, Uber, Tripadvisor, Audible, Instacart, Intuit TurboTax, and AllTrails. There are more connectors on the way as well, Anthropic says, with the aim that you can do more inside the Claude chatbot interface. It's not dissimilar to the ChatGPT app store, which lets you add apps such as Photoshop and Apple Music. But do these plug-ins really offer the convenience that Claude claims? And is the experience any better than just using the apps themselves? Find…

Searching for a video on YouTube hasn't changed much in the past 20 years: You launch the site, bypass the algorithmic recommendations, and enter your query. I've found this to be a relatively reliable method for finding a video I'm looking for. In my experience, if it doesn't pop up in a search, that usually means YouTube doesn't have the video in question. But we're now in 2026, which means I can only wonder: Why isn't YouTube search powered by AI? How YouTube's new AI search worksSarcasm aside, AI search is of course something Google is working on. As reported by The Verge, the company is testing a new search experience that takes a page from its "AI Mode" feature in G…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Soundcore Boom Go 3i Portable Bluetooth Speaker has dropped to $49.99 from its usual $79.99, and price trackers suggest this is the lowest it has reached so far. It is a compact, palm-sized speaker designed for portability, weighing just about 380 grams. There’s also a built-in silicone strap, which is basic but practical, letting you loop it onto a bike handlebar or hang it at a campsite without needing extra accessories. Soundcore Boom Go 3i …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. No matter how new or how well-built, every house needs work or maintenance on a regular basis. You can pay professionals to do it all, of course, but if you’re looking to save a little money (or just want to learn and be in control of your home maintenance fate), there are plenty of home repair jobs that can be DIY’d. If you’re a beginner who’s just getting started on DIY maintenance and repair, however, you should watch out for some easy and common mistakes inexperienced DIYers make. While some of these mistakes will be obvious the moment you make them, it’s also easy to get through an entire project and experience superf…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Every smart ring calls itself an activity tracker these days; they’ll all report your steps, calories, and workout times. But I take my smart ring off when I go to the gym, and I would never recommend one for somebody who is looking for a dedicated fitness tracker. Let’s have a little chat about why. Oura Ring 4 - Black - Size 10 - Size Before You Buy $349.00 at Amazon …

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. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Home security gear tends to get expensive fast, which is why this Blink bundle stands out on price alone. The Blink Video Doorbell + Outdoor 4 XR bundle has dropped to $64.99 (from $174.98), a 64% discount and the lowest price tracked so far, according to price trackers. In the box, you get a second-generation video doorbell, one Outdoor 4 camera, and the Sync Module XR that ties everything together. It’s a simple starter setup for anyone who wants to monitor both the front door and a second outdoor spot without piecing together separate components.…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with 512GB of storage has dropped to $1,299 (originally $1,499), its lowest price so far, according to price-trackers. It is still a premium buy, but it is built for people who want one device to handle everything (for example, storing large photo libraries, recording video often, or using their phone for work tasks). Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Unlocked Android Smartphone, 512GB, Black …

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…

Elon Musk's "X Corp" is back at it. The company's latest X-themed product is XChat, a messaging app built for X users to securely chat with one another. The app is currently available to preorder on the iOS App Store with an April 17 release date, and advertises itself as an end-to-end encrypted chat app free from ads or tracking. That sounds like a great pitch, especially if you're someone who frequently messages other X users. The problem is, the pitch doesn't seem entirely accurate. As Mashable's Jack Dawes highlights, XChat's app privacy policies are a bit out of alignment with its promises. If you scroll to the "App Privacy" section of XChat's App Store page, you'll…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Samsung announced the new Galaxy S25 Series back in January 2025, a three-phone collection that competed with Google's Pixels for the title of the best Android phones you could buy in 2025. Out of the new lineup, the Galaxy S25+ is the middle-of-the-pack model, and a cheaper alternative to the top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra. Currently, you can pick one up for $749.99 ($250 off the original $999.99 retail price). With prices of many tech products going up, including Samsung phones, it's nice to see others going down. After the discount, the S25+ is…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Creatine is a rare thing in the world of workout supplements: It actually works, plus it’s cheap and safe. (Protein and caffeine are about the only other common supplements you can say that of.) If you’re trying to build muscle or lift the heaviest things around, you might want to get into the habit of taking creatine every day—but there are, of course, some caveats. What does creatine do?Creatine supplies quick energy in your muscles for short, intense bursts of power. You may have heard of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which stores energy in our cells. (One main reason you eat food: to be able to make ATP.) When our musc…

The aptly named Binge is a new app for iPhones, iPads, and Macs that has set its sights on Letterboxd. Like that popular movie-centric social media platform, Binge gives you a way to track what you've watched and what you want to watch. But whereas Letterboxd sticks mostly to movies, Binge covers both movies and TV shows, and adds "jump scare warnings," an innovative feature Letterboxd can't match (though in testing it out, I experienced mixed results). Keeping tabs on my viewing is something I very much need help with, and while I've had a Letterboxd account for a while, I don't log into it or update my viewing history very often. Because it offers one spot to track both…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Anker’s Nebula P1i Portable Projector is down to $295 on Amazon from its usual $369, and according to price trackers, that’s the lowest it has gone so far. That makes it one of the more affordable ways to get a full HD projector with built-in streaming. The P1i is designed around convenience—it runs Google TV out of the box, so you can jump straight into apps like Netflix without plugging in a streaming stick. Setup is also simple: Anker’s Smart Instant Setup handles autofocus, keystone correction, and screen alignment, so you can place it down and …

In recent years, Apple has taken significant steps to make the iPad more like a Mac. But while windowed multitasking and a desktop-like Files app helps bridge the gap, the gap still exists. It's still a bit too difficult to use an iPad like a touchscreen MacBook, leaving fans who want such a product wanting. Luckily, a touchscreen MacBook is in the works—it might just take a bit longer than expected to get here. 11-inch iPad Pro (256GB) $899.99 …