Setting Up Your Home Office

I am obsessed with the "Conversate" app in my Even Realities G2 smart glasses. Overall, the glasses are sci-fi cool—they project a small, monochrome HUD in front of your eyes but look like normal glasses—but Conversate is essential. The AI-driven productivity tool is designed for work meetings but it's fun in social settings too, and you can use it to scam free drinks from bartenders. Use Conversate and never take notes in a meeting againIf you've ever left a work meeting thinking, "wait, am I supposed to file the TPS reports, or is it Gary's week?" consider Conversate. I don't multi-task well, so listening while taking notes can be difficult. Conversate solves that prob…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A good OLED gaming monitor still costs more than most mid-range GPUs, which is why this Acer Predator X27U deal stands out. At $369.99, down from $549.99, this is the lowest price the monitor has hit so far, according to price trackers. Acer Predator X27U OLED Gaming Monitor $369.99 at Amazon $549.99 Save $180.00 Get Deal …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Google’s Pixel phones have spent the last few years becoming the default recommendation for people who want a straightforward Android experience without dealing with heavy software skins or overloaded features. The Google Pixel 10 Pro continues that approach, though its original $1,219 price made it harder to justify against competing flagship phones. Now, Amazon has dropped the unlocked 512GB model to $969 (its lowest price yet, according to online price trackers), and that makes it easier to appreciate what Google actually does well here. Goo…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A discounted tablet from a couple of years ago usually comes down to one thing: how much performance you actually need. The 2022 Apple iPad is currently on sale for $239.99 in Grade-A refurbished condition on StackSocial—the 10th-generation model with 64GB of storage and wifi. Since it’s a 2022 release, it doesn’t have the latest hardware or the longest update runway ahead, but for basic, predictable use, the lower price can outweigh those trade-offs. In regular use, this iPad feels familiar in a way that works to its advantage, with apps opening qu…

DuckDuckGo has been my default search engine for years. Its big selling point is that it doesn't track you nearly as much as Google does, but there's more to DuckDuckGo than that privacy claim. You can use DuckDuckGo to anonymously try AI chatbots (including ChatGPT and Claude), filter out AI-generated images from results, and shorten URLs without leaving the site. If you're using DuckDuckGo, try these 10 hacks to make the most of the search engine. Turn off AI features to simplify your search experienceDuckDuckGo recently added a bunch of AI features, but, luckily, you can turn off most. To disable AI-related features in DuckDuckGo, go to the search engine's settings pag…

Hyrox classes are popping up everywhere, and there are a few massive Hyrox races planned in various U.S. cities this year. I am (I say with some trepidation) signed up for one of them. So here's a breakdown of what Hyrox is, why people like it, and what to expect if you decide to give it a try. At the end I'll go through a couple of common questions people have. Hyrox’s origins (and what "Hyrox" means)Hyrox is a young sport, and was started by a company that holds a trademark for the name. In that way it’s a bit like Crossfit, which is also a trademarked name for a specific company, not just a term for a style of working out. It’s been said that Hyrox is short for “hybri…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. JBL's portable speakers are known for their long-term durability, superb sound quality, and solid bang for the buck in terms of features. One crowd favorite is the JBL Flip 7, released in 2025. Right now, a new JBL Flip 7 is 43% off and down to $84.95 on Woot (originally $149.95). JBL Flip 7 $84.95 at Woot $149.95 Save $65.00 Get Deal …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop is built for hands-off use, and this refurbished unit is on sale for $134.99 at StackSocial right now. As for its refurbished status, while it might have little to no cosmetic wear, it will look close to new and be fully functional. Since this is a hybrid cleaner, you can send it out while you’re working or stepping out, and it’ll handle both vacuuming and light mopping in one run. For navigation, it uses 360-degree LiDAR to map your home and move in a grid, rather than bouncing around r…

It's no secret that Apple is way behind in the generative AI race. While other companies, like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic have had major wins over the past three and a half years, Apple has stumbled to find its footing, rushing to release features with varying levels of success. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, depending on who you ask. While Microsoft has shoved its AI products into as many apps and services as possible (to the degree that the company has since had to back off), Apple users have largely been able to ignore Apple Intelligence if they wish. As it happens, Apple was a bit too eager to oversell its AI endeavors. Back in 2024, Apple hadn't really …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Having a powerful monitor with high-end specs can make gaming more immersive and make input lag as small as possible, which is helpful for any serious gamer looking for an edge over their opponents. The Samsung Odyssey G9 is a 49-inch gaming monitor with some impressive specs, including a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1 ms response time. It's available for $699.99 (originally $1,299.99 at launch), $20 off the lowest price it has ever been, according to price-checking tools. Samsung 49-Inch Odyssey G9 DQHD 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. At $259.99, this Surface and Office bundle is built around a straightforward pitch: you’re essentially paying for the software and getting a basic laptop. The included Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business delivers most of that value, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, all in a one-time purchase tied to your Microsoft account. It runs offline, avoids subscription fees, and offers a few modern upgrades, such as faster Excel performance on large sheets and AI-assisted suggestions for writing and formatting. PowerPoint now lets you…

Google's AI search is getting a handful of updates designed to highlight first-hand information sourced from discussion boards and social media posts along with your trusted news sources and subscriptions. Notably, AI responses will now show "expert advice" pulled from online forums like Reddit, highlighting specific quotes and linking to discussions related to your search queries. With this "preview of perspectives," you'll also see additional context for the discussion, including the creator's name, handle, or community name. It should go without saying, but even when the results are billed as "expert advice" sourced from forums you'd typically go to for answers, you s…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. While other workout earbuds have launched since the Beats Fit Pro first came out in 2021, they’re still among the strongest ANC earbuds for fitness fanatics and anyone who wants to block out noise in their everyday listening. They’re especially adept at keeping up with workouts for folks who struggle to find earbuds that stay put, and are also a smart choice for Apple users seeking features similar to AirPods. Right now, the Beats Fit Pro in coral are available for just $119.99 (originally $199.95), marking their lowest price ever and a 40% discount…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. I love a creepy little town full of secrets and dark deeds, whether it's Twin Peaks, Hawkins (of Stranger Things fame), or Jessica Fletcher's Cabot Cove, the Maine fishing village from Murder, She Wrote with the alarmingly high death rate. The latest addition to this atlas of regrettable vacation destinations is Widow's Bay, the insular New England island that is the setting for the new Apple TV series of the same name. The town seems idyllic on the surface, but according to some of the locals, it appears to be "waking up," in a supernatural way. This is bad timing for the mayor, Tom Loftis, a relative newcomer who's hopin…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. There’s nothing quite like a reliable pair of over-ear noise-canceling headphones to block out distractions, but with options ranging from budget buys to $500+ premium models, finding the right pair can feel like a challenge. The Sony WH-CH720N, an entry-level over-ear option, hit the sweet spot, offering comfort, long-lasting battery life, and good automatic noise canceling (ANC)—and right now, they’re nearly half off. You can pick them up for $92.95 (down from $179.99) from Amazon. Sony WH-CH…

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 market for tools, you might have noticed that they can be expensive, especially if you don’t have batteries. Here are some deals from Home Depot on Ryobi cordless tools that can help you save some of your DIY budget and get your projects done quickly. These Ryobi cutting tools are up to 53% off Ryobi 18-volt oscillating multitool …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. I've been covering e-readers and e-ink tablets for Lifehacker for a few years now, and I haven't ever encountered a product with as many enthusiastic fans as the Xteink X4, a teeny tiny, bare bones e-reader from China that has replaced my beloved phone-shaped Boox Palma 2 as my distraction-free reading device of choice—not the least because it's a heck of a lot cheaper, around $70 to the Palma 2's $250. And if you act fast, right now you can score an X4 for less than $60 during an Amazon flash sale. …

YouTube Music isn't the most feature-rich of all the music streaming services, but it is a great option for those who love music videos, user-generated content, and the YouTube ecosystem overall. If you have YouTube Music, or are considering switching from another platform, these are the best tips and tricks to get the most out of your listening experience. Use these tools to transfer your playlists from another streaming serviceIf you're moving to YouTube Music from another app, you don't have to start from scratch. YouTube has a direct integration with Apple Music for playlist transfers. For other streaming services like Spotify, you can import using third-party apps l…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Though I've spent years evangelizing for the Boox Palma 2, a phone-sized Chinese e-reader with an open Android operating system, my allegiances have shifted in recent months. I'm now obsessed with the tiny, slightly janky, minimalist devices put out by Xteink, another Chinese tech company. And I'm far from the only one—the Xteink subreddit is a busy place. The $69 Xteink X4 has a 4.3-inch screen and native software that's so bad, it wasn't really worth recommending until fans of the device cobbled together their own crowdsourced alternative. The $79 X3 (which is currently only available in the U.S. direct from Xteink) is l…

AI-generated images are getting harder and harder to spot. There are the usual tells, of course, but those tells are minimizing with each new AI image model. You could count on AI-generated hands including too many or too few fingers on people, for example; nowadays, that's not necessarily the case. One particular area of weakness for AI image models has been text generation. The image itself might look convincing, but take a close look at the words, and you'll often notice they're not really right. Maybe some are accurate, while others are pretty close, but, in many cases, you'll notice a lot of inconsistencies: Too many repeating letters, letters that aren't really let…

On Friday afternoon, X officially launched XChat, the company's proprietary chat app. Unlike other chat app options, like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, you need an X account to use XChat, which limits the user base to one specific social media platform. X users with a large enough social circle on the platform may find this new app to be useful, but XChat does come with some security contradictions that all new users should be aware of. XChat is a standard chat app for X usersXChat's biggest sell, apart from being a place for X users to communicate, is that it is end-to-end encrypted. As the app reminds you upon setup, this encryption means there is no way for anyone—i…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. This past Christmas, I came up with the perfect idea for my 15-year-old son's "big gift"—a set of adjustable dumbbells and an adjustable weight-lifting bench. It was perfect for two reasons. First, because my son and his friends had gotten into lifting several months earlier, and he loved it, but the weather (or life in general) couldn't always cooperate in order for him to get to the gym when he wanted. And second, because we live in a 100-year-old home that is generally lacking in space—or even a garage—we're limited on how much of a "home gym" we can really accommodate. Having essentially a full set of weights, plus a b…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Google Pixel Watch 4 has only been out a short time, and it’s already seeing a notable price drop—the 45mm LTE version in matte black is currently down to $389.99 (originally $499.99), the lowest the watch has dropped so far, while the smaller 41mm LTE model is also $389.99, down from its usual $449.99. In other words, you’re getting the larger 45mm version for the price of the 41mm. Google Pixel Watch 4 45mm, LTE, matte black …

We may earn a commission from links on this page. “Zone 2” is the term the fitness world has (mostly) agreed upon to describe the low-intensity cardio most of us should be doing regularly. When you’re in zone 2, you’re working hard enough that you start breathing more heavily, but easy enough that you could hold a conversation while doing it. You stop a zone 2 session because your workout time is up, not because you’re too exhausted to continue. Zone 2 is defined in terms of heart rate, so what heart rate should you expect to see on your watch when you’re in zone 2? That’s where people disagree. What is zone 2 training?As I’ve explained before, the name “zone 2” comes fro…

For the past several years, multiview has been one of YouTube TV's best features, especially for sports fans like myself. Multiview allows you to watch up to four livestreams at once and toggle between them (and their audio) when something exciting happens. At its initial launch for March Madness in 2023, multiview was restricted to certain preselected channel combinations, but YouTube confirmed in January of this year that a fully customizable multiview was on the way. It's now available to some subscribers—myself included. Trying out YouTube TV's multiview With customizable multiview, you can select up to four channels across content categories, so you're not limited t…