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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. You can get a three-year license of Adobe Acrobat Classic (valued at $324) and a lifetime license of Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows (valued at $219.99) together on sale for $89.99 on StackSocial right now. The bundle is only available to U.S. customers, though. The Acrobat license works on both Mac and Windows, while the Office license is limited to a single Windows PC. And because these are digital codes, delivery is instant, and once redeemed, you can use the software offline without the monthly costs that come with subscriptions. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to deal with cloud tie-ins, recurring payments, or limited trials, the upfront structure of this deal is straightforward. Adobe Acrobat Classic is the desktop-only edition, also labeled as Acrobat Pro 2024. It’s not tied to cloud services, which means everything from editing text and images to converting PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint happens locally. That’s especially useful if you work with sensitive files and don’t want them traveling online. You also get tools to password-protect or redact documents, along with a refreshed interface that makes features like creating forms or extracting specific pages quicker to find. There are limitations, including no AI Assistant add-on and no browser or mobile support, but if your workflow is mainly on a desktop, those missing pieces might not matter. Plus, the three-year license means you can lock in access without thinking about renewal until 2028. On the Microsoft side, Office 2021 Professional offers the familiar full suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and OneNote. A free version of Teams is included as well. This isn’t Microsoft 365, so you don’t get ongoing cloud-based perks or syncing, but the trade-off is that you own the license outright for one PC. For many, that’s enough, especially if you just need reliable offline access to the programs you already know. The applications themselves include some refinements, like quicker ribbon navigation and more customization for documents and presentations, but don’t expect radical changes from earlier Office versions. The real appeal lies in stability: you buy it once, install it, and it works without recurring fees. Put together, this bundle feels like a pragmatic option for anyone who spends most of their time drafting, editing, and managing documents without needing constant cloud integration. View the full article

Without a proper digital asset management workflow, you'll run into issues with version control, bottlenecks, and assets being used by the wrong team members or in the wrong place. Here's how to set up a DAM workflow to help you plan, create, and manage your digital assets efficiently. The post Complete Guide to Digital Asset Management Workflows appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

A RACI template is a project management tool that defines roles and responsibilities across tasks using four categories: Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed. By creating a clear structure for decision-making, a RACI template helps avoid confusion and ensures every task has ownership and support. When first introduced, RACI charts were drawn out on paper or whiteboards for team alignment. Now, digital versions are available in project management software, though many teams still rely on spreadsheets. A RACI template in Google Sheets is a simple way to build a shared responsibility chart, and variations such as a RACI chart template for Google Sheets or a RACI matrix template in Google Sheets make it easy to customize the format to fit different projects. Why Use a RACI Template for Google Sheets? Use Google Sheets to make a RACI template that captures roles and responsibilities for project tasks. Build a simple table that lists activities in rows and team members in columns, then mark each cell with Responsible, Accountable, Consulted or Informed. With a RACI template in Google Sheets, you can quickly assign ownership, clarify decision-making and share the chart with stakeholders in real time. This helps prevent overlap, reduces miscommunication and gives the team a clear understanding of who does what. Still, a RACI chart template for Google Sheets or a RACI matrix template in Google Sheets is not the most powerful way to manage responsibility assignments. Spreadsheets require manual updates and do not integrate with live task progress or project timelines. For advanced project management features, use ProjectManager instead. With our software, you can build RACI charts connected directly to tasks, visualize responsibilities on an interactive Gantt chart, update roles automatically and generate reports in real time. Our tools go beyond a static template, giving you visibility into dependencies, accountability across your team and a clear view of how responsibilities align with the project schedule. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more Google Sheets templates can help map roles and responsibilities, but they can’t offer the planning, scheduling and tracking tools that project management software like ProjectManager provides. Let’s review some of the key features that make ProjectManager’s RACI charts, Gantt charts and reporting tools a much better choice for managing accountability than a RACI template in Google Sheets. Free RACI Template for Google Sheets While project management software offers the most advanced RACI chart features, Google Sheets is still a useful and free alternative, especially for teams that need to collaborate online and share responsibility assignments in real time. There’s no better way to understand how a RACI template works in Google Sheets than by using one. This free RACI template Google Sheets comes with a pre-built grid of tasks and roles, along with sample responsibility assignments that can be edited and customized to fit your project. Click on the image to download the template and follow the steps below. /wp-content/uploads/2025/09/RACI-Matrix-Template-for-Google-Sheets.png RACI Template for Google Sheets: Pros & Cons Using a RACI template in Google Sheets can be a quick and cost-effective way to assign roles and responsibilities in a project. Like any spreadsheet solution, it has its advantages and drawbacks. Below, we break down the pros and cons of creating a RACI chart template in Google Sheets so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your team. Pros of Making a RACI Template in Google Sheets A RACI template in Google Sheets can provide a simple structure to clarify project roles without requiring new software. Here are some key benefits: Free to use with a Google account Easy to customize with rows, columns and formatting Cloud-based for real-time collaboration with remote teams Accessible on desktop, tablet or mobile devices Simple sharing and version control through Google Drive Cons of Making a RACI Template in Google Sheets While Google Sheets can help you get started quickly, it lacks many advanced features needed for larger or more complex projects. Here are the main drawbacks: Manual updates are required, which can cause errors No automation or integration with project schedules Limited reporting and tracking capabilities Not scalable for projects with many tasks and team members Harder to connect responsibilities with actual task progress Related: 32 Must-Have Project Management Templates for Google Sheets ProjectManager Is Better Than a Google Sheets Template ProjectManager’s RACI tools go beyond what a spreadsheet can offer by connecting roles and responsibilities directly to tasks. You can automate updates, set approval workflows for accountability and track both costs and resources in real time. This integration ensures that responsibility assignments are never static but evolve alongside your project schedule. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Team-summary-better-data-light-mode-home-screen-dashboard.png Illustrated in the image below, ProjectManager’s task views provide far more context than a RACI chart template for Google Sheets or a RACI matrix template in Google Sheets. Instead of a simple grid, every task can display detailed information to help project managers and teams make better decisions. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Task-Card-List-Light-Mode-Bid-Proposal.png Here are some of the key task details you can track with ProjectManager: Task description Category tags Due dates Priority level Percentage of completion Estimated vs. actual costs Estimated vs. actual task duration Assignees Task recurrence Subtasks Comments and file attachments In addition to these dynamic task views, ProjectManager has a full suite of project management tools to support RACI planning and beyond, including Gantt charts with dependency tracking, timesheets for monitoring hours, workload charts for resource management, project dashboards for real-time visibility and more. /wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RACI-Matrix-Template.png Get your free RACI Matrix Template Use this free RACI Matrix Template to manage your projects better. Get the Template How to Make a RACI Template in Google Sheets Creating a RACI template in Google Sheets is simple and flexible, allowing you to build a clear responsibility matrix that matches your project needs. The template linked above already has the framework in place, but customizing it step by step ensures that the chart reflects your team, tasks and project structure. Follow the steps below to set up your own RACI matrix template in Google Sheets. 1. Identify Project Phases Start by deciding how you want to divide your project into phases. In a RACI matrix, you don’t necessarily need to stick with the traditional project life cycle stages. Instead, you can establish your own project phases based on deliverables, sprints, departments or other criteria that make sense for your work. Create these phases as bolded or highlighted rows in the “Project Tasks” column so that all related tasks can be grouped under them for easy tracking. 2. Make a List of Tasks for Each Project Phase Under each project phase, list out the specific tasks or activities that need to be completed. These can be high-level deliverables or detailed subtasks depending on the scope of your project. For example, in the planning phase, you might include tasks such as drafting requirements, creating a budget or developing a schedule. Make sure each task is written clearly so that there is no confusion when assigning responsibilities later. 3. Identify Project Team Members Next, add your project team members across the top of the sheet as column headers. These should include everyone involved in the project, from core team members to stakeholders who need to be consulted or informed. Each person will have their own column where R, A, C or I will be assigned. Be sure to include roles that are often overlooked, such as quality assurance, legal review or client representatives, to make the matrix comprehensive. 4. Assign a RACI Letter to Each Team Member Once the phases, tasks and team members are listed, begin filling in the matrix with R (Responsible), A (Accountable), C (Consulted) and I (Informed). Use data validation in Google Sheets to create dropdown menus with these letters, which helps avoid errors and keeps the entries consistent. Apply conditional formatting to color-code each letter so the chart is easier to read at a glance. Remember that each task should have one clear Accountable role, but can have multiple Responsible, Consulted or Informed roles as needed. More Project Management Templates for Google Sheets In addition to a RACI matrix template in Google Sheets, many other spreadsheet tools can help manage different parts of your project. While not as powerful as project management software, these Google Sheets templates can be useful for planning, budgeting and tracking work in a lightweight and accessible way. Here are some of the most common templates that teams use. Gantt Chart Template for Google Sheets A Gantt chart template in Google Sheets helps you map out project tasks along a timeline. You can create rows for each task, add start and end dates and use conditional formatting or bar charts to visualize progress. This gives a basic overview of deadlines and dependencies, though unlike project management software, it won’t automatically update or link tasks together. Still, for smaller projects or quick planning, a Google Sheets Gantt chart template can provide a simple schedule view. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Gantt-chart-Google-Sheets-large.png Google Sheets Budget Template A budget template for Google Sheets allows you to track project expenses and compare them against your planned budget. By listing categories such as labor, materials, equipment and overhead, you can monitor costs as they occur and use formulas to calculate totals and variances. It’s an effective way to maintain financial oversight when managing smaller projects, though it lacks advanced cost tracking or integration with project tasks and schedules. /wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Google-Sheets-budget-template.png Google Sheets Inventory Template An inventory template in Google Sheets helps keep track of supplies, equipment or products tied to a project. You can log item descriptions, quantities, locations and reorder levels, then use conditional formatting to highlight low stock. This is particularly useful in manufacturing or retail projects that require accurate resource tracking. While a spreadsheet works for simple inventory management, larger operations often benefit from software that automates updates and integrates with other project tools. /wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Inventory-template-for-Google-sheet-screenshot.png Related RACI Content There are other RACI templates and articles on how to make one, as well as other tools for assigning responsibilities and making decisions. Below are links to some related articles. How to Make a RACI Chart for a Project (Example & Template Included) RACI Matrix Template for Excel (Free Download) How to Make a Responsibility Assignment Matrix for a Project (Template Included) Top 7 Decision-Making Templates ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams in the office, out in the field and anywhere in between. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Free RACI Template for Google Sheets appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

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. Not all Prime Days deals are open to just anybody. Since 2023, some of the best offers in Amazon's annual sale are invite-only—meaning you have to sign up for them in advance of the sale going live, and hope you get chosen to receive the discount. These deals have become a common fixture for Amazon's major sales, including this past summer's Prime Day. With Prime Big Deal Days 2025—the fall version of Prime Day—kicking off on Oct. 7, you can expect to see more invite-only deals popping up around the site. Here's how to find and sign up for them, so you have a fighting chance at scoring some great offers. Who is eligible for Prime Day invite-only deals?Only a select number of products will be available via invite-only deals. You'll be able to spot them by the "invite-only" banner visible on the product page. As Amazon explains, you must be a Prime Member to sign up for the invite-only deals, and when you sign up, you're essentially requesting an invitation to purchase the deal, which will come by email—but only if you're chosen to receive it. Here are the steps to sign up: Find an "Invite-Only Prime Deal" that you want to purchase. You can find these deals listed on the Deals page once Prime Day begins. Navigate to the product detail page. Select "Request Invite." If you are not a Prime member, sign up for Prime to be able to request an invite. You will receive an email notification confirming that you requested an invite. The confirmation will be sent to the email that is on your Amazon account. If you don't have an email on your account, add one by navigating to Your Account > Login > Security. How to know if you were approved for an invite-only dealKeep in mind that just because you requested an invitation doesn't mean you'll receive one. If you are selected, you'll receive both a push notification in the Amazon app and email notifying you during the sale. If you're not selected, Amazon will also let you know you didn't get one. You can only buy one of the products that you were invited for, but you can request as many different product invitations as you want. The invitation will last as long as Prime Day lasts (four days this year), or as long as there is stick remaining. Invite-only deals are usually some of Prime Day's most impressive offerings. Last year, for example, Amazon sold a 43-inch 4K Smart Fire TV for just $99, and you'll likely see similar deals this year. Here are more tips to shop smartly for Prime Day, using Alexa to remind you about deals to signing up for deal alerts so you receive notifications related to your Amazon searches and recently viewed items. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $699.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29.00 (List Price $39.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

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. If there’s one area where MacBooks lag behind Windows laptops, it’s gaming. But if there’s another area, it’s display technology. Yep, while Apple still stands behind its trademark LCD “retina” displays, Windows machines have been adopting OLED and touchscreens for years now. Luckily, according to industry experts, MacBook owners will soon be able to plan on having better screens, too. The latest rumors come courtesy of TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as well as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, both of whom have reliable track records reporting on Apple products. While this isn’t the first time Apple has been rumored to be updating its laptop displays, we’ve now got a timeline update. According to a post Kuo made to X on Sept. 17, the MacBook Pro will be the first MacBook to receive an OLED update, and as a bonus, the new screen will also support touch. The upgraded model is “expected to enter mass production by late 2026,” although as is par for the course with these leaks, the post didn’t point to any particular sources to back this up. However, if you read between the lines and look at Kuo’s past spot-on speculations, it’s likely an anonymous source from within Apple. For a little bit of assurance, Gurman, who also frequently relies on such sources, was quick to agree with Kuo’s assertions in his weekly Power On newsletter this weekend, pointing to his original reporting on the topic from 2023. However, the reporter also added that the actual release date might be closer to early 2027, depending on how quickly Apple can get supply out. He also clarified that, technically, the revamp was planned for this year, but was moved back “due to OLED supply issues.” As for the rest of Apple’s MacBook line, neither expert has updates on that end, although Gurman speculates that “if touch resonates on the MacBook Pro, I expect it to eventually come to other Macs as well.” While the benefits behind a touchscreen laptop are fairly self explanatory, OLED is higher on my personal wishlist. The technology’s self-illuminating pixels will help with contrast, yes, but like on the iPhone, they should also aid with battery life. That’s because, while current MacBooks rely on a backlight that spans the entire display, parts of an OLED screen can remain off when not in use. It’s notable that Kuo and Gurman’s proposed timeline also matches with the release of the iPad Pro just last year, which upgraded to an OLED screen for the first time. Given that iPadOS 26 also revamped the iPad user experience to be much more like using a MacBook, it’s likely Apple is currently planning for more parity between its product categories. On that note, Kuo’s post also reminded readers that a potential lower-cost MacBook that uses an iPhone processor could be in the works for later this year, although specifics are still largely in the dark at this point. The analyst, however, did say this model would likely not include touch support, although that could change in the future. As for other rumored Apple products, also still largely in the dark is a potential foldable iPhone, which Gurman says “will be the star of Apple’s 2026 product lineup.” As predicted by my colleague David Nield, the reporter’s sources are increasingly telling him that “users should imagine two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side,” but pricing and release date specifics are still up to the imagination for now. View the full article

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. As a chronically light sleeper, I've tried everything from white noise machines to sleeping on the couch. It doesn't help that I 1) live above a noisy Brooklyn bar and 2) share a bed with someone who snores and grinds his teeth. My go-to solution had been wearing my Anker Soundcore headphones with some sort of "deep sleep" playlist, but to be honest, sleeping with over-ear headphones is like trying to nap while wearing a helmet. Uncomfortable, potentially unsafe, and a surefire way to destroy my expensive electronics. That's what led me to the Ozlo Sleepbuds, currently available for $299. Unlike my AirPod Pros, which are great for daily use but pierce my eardrums when I lie on my side, the Ozlo sleepbuds have a remarkably low profile. The pre-installed ear tips fit perfectly, creating a secure seal without the pressure points that make traditional earbuds a nightmare for side sleepers. Despite their mixed online reviews, I've found that these smart earplugs really do help me sleep deeper (and possibly saved my relationship). Ozlo Sleepbuds $299.00 at Amazon $349.00 Save $50.00 Shop Now Shop Now $299.00 at Amazon $349.00 Save $50.00 The app experienceHere's where the Ozlo sleepbuds diverge from typical wireless earbuds, and honestly, it's a double-edged sword. Unlike AirPods that connect automatically via Bluetooth, these require opening the Ozlo app like a control center. You'll need to select your soundscape, adjust volume, and set your alarm through the app interface. Setting up my Ozlo sleepbuds. Credit: Meredith Dietz Initially, this felt clunky compared to the seamless connectivity we're all used to. But after a few nights, I found myself positively reframing this friction as more of a "ritual." Opening the app, placing the buds in my ears, and selecting a soundscape became a bedtime ritual that signaled to my brain it was time to wind down. Wearing my sleepbuds through the nightThe moment of truth came on my first night testing them against my boyfriend's powerful snoring. I opted for the "ocean tide" sound to lull me to sleep. The audio quality is solid, especially knowing these were created by former Bose engineers. So: Did these earbuds completely eliminate my partner's snoring? Not entirely—his snores are truly in a league of their own. But the combination of noise blocking and the ocean tide sound significantly reduced my nightly interruptions from constant to few and far between. Most importantly, when I did hear him, it didn't immediately snap me awake. The soundscapes seemed to cushion the noise, making it less startling. But the street noise from the bar below? Completely gone. The upstairs neighbors walking around? Barely noticeable. These Sleepbuds excel at blocking consistent ambient noise while taking the edge off sudden, disruptive sounds. Another feature I love is the in-ear personal alarm. Instead of a jarring phone alarm that jolts both you and your partner awake, the Sleepbuds gently vibrate and play a soft tone directly into your ears. My boyfriend has never been woken up by my alarm since I started using them. Tips and tricks for sleeping with earbuds inAfter a few weeks of use, I've discovered several ways to optimize the Sleepbuds experience: Find your perfect soundscape: Don't settle for the first one you try. I cycled through several before discovering that rain sounds work better for me than ocean waves or white noise. Create a charging routine: Keep the charging case on your nightstand and make putting the buds back a part of your morning routine. Experiment with volume levels: I really recommend starting lower than you think you need. Your ears adjust to the soundscape within minutes, and too-loud audio can actually be stimulating rather than relaxing. Use the app's sleep timer: If you don't want soundscapes playing all night, set a timer. You might only need the audio to fall asleep, not maintain it. Try different sleeping positions: The low profile means you can experiment with side sleeping even if you've never been able to before. The bottom lineAre the Ozlo Sleepbuds perfect? No. The app dependency isn't ideal, and they won't completely eliminate every noise (I'm looking at you, Greg's snores). But compared to my previous solutions—uncomfortable headphones, potentially unsafe sleeping positions, or relegating myself to the couch—these Sleepbuds rock. If I'm choosing between traditional foam earplugs, regular earbuds, or these specialized sleep buds, I'd pick the Ozlo Sleepbuds every time. My only concern? I'm becoming so dependent that I'll have trouble sleeping without them. But honestly, if that's the price for consistently good sleep in a noisy city apartment with a snoring partner, I'll take it. View the full article

A reader writes: This may not be an answerable question, but I’m interested in your views on what makes company culture. I ask because my very small (fewer than 10 people), 100%-remote company recently hired a new employee, and during the interview I anticipated that the candidate might ask about company culture and I realized that I would not know what to say. This was an unusual hire for our company, because it was only the third time in our more than 10-year history that we’ve hired someone who had no previous connection to a current employee. A quick overview of my company might provide helpful perspective: a couple of us have been here since the company’s inception; everyone else was brought in (usually without posting the open position) because one of the company leaders knew and liked them from previous jobs. Though I recognize the benefit of hiring known quantities, I’ve expressed discomfort about this trend, as my fear — borne out many times over — is that these employees would come in and just resume the relationship they had with the person they knew previously rather than get to know everyone as a new “cold” employee would need to do. The result, in my view, is that our workplace has, in place of its own culture, a bunch of separate 1:1 relationships—some of which overlap to the point of being cliques. All of this got me wondering if there were certain essential components that go into what people think of as company culture—things like physical space or a critical mass of employees. The new candidate never did ask about company culture, which may be a good thing, because I think my answer would have had to be, “We don’t have one.” You have a company culture, whether you realize it or not. I bet if you asked non-leadership employees, they’d have an easy time describing how they view the culture. Of course, whether they’d be candid about it is a different question — and that’s also part of culture. Culture is basically “how we do stuff here.” Here’s just a partial list of what it includes: how most people communicate, both logistically (lots of Slack? video calls? texting? slower than other companies?) and stylistically (blunt and to the point? lots of softening expected? how deferential are people expected to be? are people more task-focused or relationship-focused, and what happens if someone is out of sync with that?) how hierarchical vs. free-wheeling you are how much people are expected to work within or without existing structures how people provide feedback (and to who, and what it sounds like, and who gets listened to and why) how fast-paced you are what values you have about how you operate (for example, are you all about making life easier for your clients, no matter the inconvenience to you? do you reward or discourage speaking truth to power?) how collaborative vs. siloed you are how decision-making works what meetings are like (do they start/end on time or drag on? do people feel they’re a good use of time or are they widely acknowledged not to be? do action items from them get captured and followed up on in a real way, or is it no big deal if they effectively disappear?) what daily interactions look like how much urgency people are expected to operate with and on what things how much value you attach to process over outcomes how information gets shared (do people generally know what’s happening and why?) what the bar is for performance how people are held accountable in their work how appreciation is shown and experienced how problems are addressed how much time is set aside for reflection how mistakes are viewed and handled what office politics look like how conflict gets handled how much good will people have (and are expected to have) toward their colleagues what hours people work how time off is managed and perceived … and on and on. I once heard someone say, “Culture is what happens when the boss leaves the room,” and that’s a good description of it too. In your case, it sounds like part of your culture might be that the team doesn’t feel cohesive — that it’s a team of individual relationships functioning independently of each other, without a lot of collaboration or trust outside of those silos. That’s a part of culture! (It’s also a part of your culture that you can work on changing if you want to. You’ll need to articulate what you’re seeing and how it affects the organization, name what you’d like to see instead, and figure out how to deliberately move toward that.) For what it’s worth, hiring only people who you already know will bring additional problems too: you’re more likely to end up with a group of employees who are all very similar to each other (demographically and/or in world view), and you’re missing out on potentially stronger candidates just because you don’t already know them. When you’re very small, sometimes it can make sense to hire like that, but as the organization grows larger (and you’re probably at that point now), continuing to hire that way is very likely to hold you back and impact the results you get over time. But bringing new people into a culture like you described risks being rough for those new people if you don’t first get more deliberate about what you want employees’ experience to be there. The post I don’t think my company has a culture at all appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

This is a programming note that Tuesday and Wednesday are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and I will be offline the next two days. I will be offline on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 23rd and September 24th...View the full article

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. Target is no stranger to competition with Amazon sales. They've overlapped their Circle Week sales with Prime Day many times before. Since October Prime Day is around the corner, Target has just announced its own sale for October. Here are all the details you need to know. What is Target's Circle Week?Circle Week is Target’s name for its biggest sale. As the name suggests, it lasts a whole week, and while it used to happen just once a year but, it now occurs multiple times a year. The most recent sale was this summer, and before that, in the spring, overlapping with Amazon's Prime Day and Big Spring Sale, respectively. When is Circle Week?The next Circle Week will take place from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11. That means it begins two days before October Prime Day, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 8. Do you need to be a member to shop the sales during Target Circle Week?Like Amazon's Prime Day sale, you will need to be a Circle member to take part in the sale, but unlike a Prime membership, Target Circle is free. You can sign up for an account on the Target app or Target.com. You can also pay for a Target Circle 360 membership, which grants you early access to the sale as well as other perks, like same-day delivery. If you're a teacher or student, you can save 50% on the one-year Circle 360 subscription through Sept. 13; otherwise, it starts at $10.99 per month. But again, a paid membership isn't necessary to get all the best Circle Week deals. What deals can I find during Target Circle Week?Circle week will focus on apparel; home products like kitchen appliances, storage, floor care, and bedding; fun and entertainment; and Halloween costumes and treats. You'll also find tech products on sale, which we'll be covering as usual. You can shop in person or online, and there will be a "Deal of the Day" for every day of the event that will start at 40% off. While Target hasn't released a list of deals you can expect, you can get a pretty good idea from past Circle Week sales. Here are some of the deals they had at the tail end of the Circle Week last fall. What competitors are also offering sales?Amazon’s October Prime Day will take place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 8, so all the other sales tend to revolve around these dates. Walmart will likely have its Walmart Deals sale, like they've done in the past, and Best Buy will likely have its own sale as well. I'll cover the details of those sales as they are released. View the full article

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. After years of wincing through aggressive massage gun sessions, I just assumed muscle relief required enduring a little bit of pain. There's a reason for the saying, "hurts so good," right? But it turns out you don't need to suffer to see results: The Rally orbital massager, which I have previously reviewed, has completely changed my hard-ass approach to recovery. Don't get me wrong—percussive massage guns have their place. They're powerful and effective at working out the deepest knots. But after months of inconsistent use, I realized something: I was avoiding my own recovery tool. The aggressive pounding felt like punishment rather than self-care, turning what should've been a daily wellness ritual into something I'd postpone until I was in serious pain. I'd skip sessions when I needed them most, only reaching for my massage gun when my muscles were screaming for attention. By then, I'd need that aggressive percussion just to make a dent in the tension I'd allowed to build up. During marathon training especially, I simply can't let this happen. That's where orbital massages come in. Rally Orbital Massager $499.00 at Rally Shop Now Shop Now $499.00 at Rally Why Rally's gentler recovery changes everythingThe Rally's orbital massage technology works differently than traditional percussive guns—instead of hammering muscles with rapid-fire pulses, picture the circular motion of a car buffer. Luckily, the motion is gentle enough that it feels more like a human touch, as opposed to turning me into a car getting buffed. The Rally has taught me something crucial about sustainable self-care: I'm infinitely more likely to reach for a device that feels good to use, rather than one that hurts. It's a game-changer for consistency. With my old massage gun, I'd psyche myself out before sessions: "Do I really need this? Can I handle the intensity right now?" With the Rally, there's no mental barrier. I can use it while watching TV, during work breaks, or as part of my bedtime routine, without dreading the experience. Building up when you need toHere's the best thing about the Rally: It can double as a percussive massager when you need more intensity. But now, instead of starting with the nuclear option, I work my way up to it. It's more comfortable and, I find, more effective: My muscles respond better to massage when they're already relaxed and have good blood flow. I'll begin with the gentle orbital motion to warm up tissues and increase circulation, then switch to percussion mode if I encounter stubborn knots. I am far from anti-percussion massage—there are times when you need that deeper, more aggressive treatment, like after a particularly intense workout, when dealing with chronic knots, or for trigger point therapy. But now, those hurt-so-good instances are the exception, rather than the rule. The Rally's ability to switch between modes means I'm not locked into one approach. I have the gentleness for daily maintenance and the power for when things get serious. The best recovery tool is the one you actually useBy embracing the gentler, orbital massage as my daily default, I've created a sustainable self-care routine that prevents problems rather than just treating them. Proactive care beats reactive treatment every time. Maybe my muscles are thanking me not because I'm punishing them less, but because I'm caring for them more consistently. Sometimes the revolutionary approach is simply being kinder to yourself, and having the tools that make that kindness effective. If you've been avoiding your massage gun or find yourself using it only when you're already in pain, consider making the switch to orbital massage as your primary recovery method. Your future self (and your muscles) will thank you for choosing consistency over intensity. View the full article

A reader writes: I just finished conducting a job interview where it was clear from the candidate’s answer to the first question that he was not going to get the job, but I felt like it would be rude to indicate that so abruptly. So I wasted 20 more minutes of his time going through the motions and by the end we both knew it was not a fit but I didn’t know what to say. Is it ever okay to cut the interview short? I answer this question — and two others — over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. Other questions I’m answering there today include: Did my old coworker keep me from getting hired? Resumes without any dates for work history The post is it rude to cut short an interview if the candidate obviously isn’t the right fit? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Your efforts have implications. Don’t assume everyone is as prepared as you are. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

Your efforts have implications. Don’t assume everyone is as prepared as you are. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Folks are finally starting to get their iPhone 17s, and now that the new phones are in the hands of people who don’t work for Apple, flaws are starting to come to light. Specifically, durability testers are saying that you might want to slap a case on your new phone. Most notably, it turns out that the iPhone 17 Pro has a major flaw with its camera bump. While the lenses themselves are fine, the edges on the raised camera “plateau” (as Apple is calling it) can apparently get scuffed just by hanging out in the same bag or pocket as household items like coins or keys. That’s according to testing by reliable YouTube reviewer Zack Nelson, or JerryRigEverything, who bemoaned Apple’s decision to avoid adding a chamfer or other protective barrier around the camera bump. “I think it was intentional,” the YouTuber says in his video. “So it looks cooler.” According to Nelson, the scratches probably have to do with Apple’s decision to move back to anodized aluminum for this model, as opposed to the titanium the company started using with the iPhone 15 Pro. Aluminum provides better cooling, and strong scratch resistance anywhere that the anodizing process adheres to, but the catch is that without chamfers, those corners tend to get missed during the anodizing bath. For instance, when Nelson tried to scratch the flat parts of the plateau (as well as the rest of the back of the phone), it only produced dust that could be easily wiped off, good as new. But those camera plateau corners remained permanently chipped, even after wiping. This follows a similar report from Bloomberg, which noted that display models of both the blue iPhone 17 Pro and black iPhone Air seemed especially prone to scratches, as well as posts from users, pointing out scratches across all colors and multiple models of the new iPhones, especially after being attached to MagSafe accessories. While it’s possible that some of these scratches could be wiped away, as shown in Nelson’s video, those around the corners look particularly nasty, and I’m not just talking about the camera plateau. How to stop scratches on your iPhone 17While it’s certainly not ideal that your bare iPhone could be susceptible to scratches, there is a simple solution—slap a case on it. That’ll hide your fancy Apple branding, sure, but it will also ensure your phone doesn’t take the brunt of your keys or loose quarters, and add a barrier around those camera plateau edges. This year, Apple has three case options, including a clear plastic, silicone, and a new fabric style case called TechWoven. In testing by YouTuber Arun Maini, or Mrwhosetheboss, the clear case was easily susceptible to scratches by simple household objects, but all other options held up well. That’s a relief for anyone who was burned by Apple’s previous fabric case, FineWoven, which also had its own scratch-related drama when it debuted alongside the iPhone 15 line. Alternatively, you could go third-party. In that case, you’ve got plenty of options. Lifehacker sister publication CNET has praised Otterbox in the past, which I can also attest to by personal experience. For a more premium look, you could also go for Nomad’s leather cases, which I can also give a personal recommendation to. View the full article

Dependencies are often invisible until your schedule’s already slipping. Learn how to spot, map, and manage them to avoid delays, align teams, and protect your timeline from chaos. The post Dependencies in Project Management: Types, Tools, and Tactics appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. 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. It's impressive how far TCL has been pushing the limits of QLED technology. The QM7K is its latest mid-tier QD-Mini LED smart TV and it offers great value for your money. Right now, the 65-inch QM7K is marked down 41%, bringing its price down to $877.99 (originally $1,499.99), the second lowest price it has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. The 85-inch QM6K, which is the more affordable version, is 37% off right now. The QM7K is better in every way than the QM6K except for color accuracy. It has better contrast, brightness, gaming specs, black levels, processing, and other specs, but the QM6K is still a great option for those on a tighter budget. TCL 65-Inch Class QM7K Series QLED, 144hz, 288hz Gaming Rate, Anti-Reflective Screen, Bang & Olufsen Audio, Atmos (85QM7K, 2025) $877.99 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $622.00 Get Deal Get Deal $877.99 at Amazon $1,499.99 Save $622.00 I personally tested the QM7, which is a slightly older model of this TV, as well as the more budget QM6K, and I can tell you TCL is not skimping out on these TVs. They feel and look truly premium. This QM7K is no different. Its highlights are a bright panel, making it great for sunlit rooms. It has deep blacks and almost no light bloom, giving it that premium picture quality. Gamers will appreciate the 144 Hz native refresh rate and 288 Hz support panel with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, making it a smooth experience. Since it's a Google TV, it has hands-free Google Assistant and Google Cast, which makes streaming almost anything from your phone or computer a breeze. It can also do the same for iPhones with AirPlay. If you're a color stickler, you might notice that the colors run a little warmer out of the box, according to PCMag's "excellent" review, but that's something you can edit easily in the picture settings. If you want a massive, bright, colorful smart TV with that "wow" factor, get the 65-inch QM7K, but if brightness is not as important to you, consider the 85-inch QM6K. Either option is a great TV for a killer price. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $699.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29.00 (List Price $39.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A reader writes: I don’t like to do birthday stuff for my birthday. No, not even that. Or that. Or that. Or … It’s got nothing to do with the dreaded Getting Older; in fact, I don’t really know why. I just don’t want to. When my coworker went around collecting people’s birthdays, I gave mine to her, but specified that I didn’t want to have it celebrated. I was very clear about this. It wasn’t “Oh, you don’t need to make a fuss about me” or anything similarly wishy-washy. I said that I didn’t want anything to be done about it. For a couple of years this was fine, but then we got a new coworker, Pollyanna. One of our other coworkers, Kelly, also didn’t want to do birthday things, and the first hint I had of a problem was when Pollyanna set up a group chat for everyone but Kelly in which she planned a surprise “group lunch” which totally wasn’t for Kelly’s birthday because Kelly’s birthday is in December and it’s May so it’s fine! I commented that I had thought Kelly didn’t want anything done for her birthday and was roundly ignored. The lunch happened, Kelly was clearly taken aback but responded gracefully, we went on with life, and Kelly ended up going on to a new job (with a pay bump, so good for her!) shortly thereafter. Then it got to be my birthday, and wouldn’t you know, Pollyanna planned a lunch for me. I did my best to be as gracious about it as Kelly had been, but afterwards I went to Pollyanna and said that I knew she’d been trying to do something nice for me and she maybe didn’t know that I dislike birthday stuff — she did, it’s noted on the list that our manager keeps of people’s birthdays, but I figured it was an easy out — but I’d prefer not to. She laughed and said I shouldn’t worry about getting older, it happens to everyone, better than the alternative, etc, and besides I look so much younger than I am, no one would ever guess! I said it had nothing to do with that and I just didn’t want to; she said “okay” and I figured that was the end of it. Then it got to be my birthday again, and Pollyanna made a production out of loudly proclaiming that she knew I didn’t want anything for my birthday but she had to at least get me a little cake and a coffee shop gift card and a greeting card that a bunch of people signed and so forth. I again tried to be gracious about it and accepted the gift card, which in hindsight was a mistake, but again reiterated that I didn’t want anything done, this time in public to everyone. This year I figured I’d just short-circuit the whole thing and used a personal day for my birthday. And when I came in the day after, my cube had been inundated in Happy Birthday tat, including a wrapped present sitting on my chair. A few minutes later, when someone asked me what I was doing, I said that I was a little annoyed someone had put all this junk in my cube that I had to clean out before I could start work — possibly not the most tactful phrasing, I admit. I tossed everything, including the unopened present. And of course, Pollyanna is now incensed that I threw away her present and referred to all her thoughtful decor as “junk,” and how dare I be so unfriendly and mean, she spent money on that stuff you know! She was just trying to make me feel better about my anxiety about aging! To her credit, she hasn’t been refusing to interact with me on work-related stuff, but even a few weeks later it’s very clear that I’m still in the doghouse with Pollyanna and a few of her work friends. I want to try to deal with this myself before I take it to our manager, but I’m not sure where to start. If directly telling her twice didn’t deliver the message, what am I supposed to do? At least next year my birthday will be on Saturday… Your birthday being on a Saturday won’t stop her. This is someone who celebrated another coworker’s birthday five months late, also against her will. (Or maybe she’ll still be smarting from your “junk” comment next year, but I wouldn’t count on it.) And you already did try to deal with this directly! Several times. You told her twice, very clearly, that you didn’t want anything done for your birthday. She decided she knows better than you and ignored you. If you really want to try one more time, you could go back to her and say, “I’m pretty frustrated that I’ve told you repeatedly I don’t want to celebrate my birthday at work, and three times now you’ve ignored that and done something anyway. I want to tell you one final time: I do not celebrate my birthday at work, and it’s getting really weird that you’re trying to overrule me. If you keep doing this, I’m going to talk to Manager, because this really isn’t okay — and for what it’s worth, there are people who don’t celebrate birthdays for religious reasons and if you ignore one of them, it’s going to turn into a legal problem for the company.” (This is true!) If she tries to tell you that you shouldn’t worry about getting older, etc. etc., you should say, “That’s not the issue. People don’t want their birthdays celebrated for all sorts of reasons, and you need to respect that I’ve asked you to stop.” At this point, though, you’d be more than justified to go to your manager without talking to Pollyanna again. It would be very reasonable to say to your manager, “Can I get your help in stopping Pollyanna from forcing birthday celebrations on people who have explicitly asked her not to? I’ve told her clearly for three years in a row that I don’t want anything done for my birthday, and every year she has overruled me with cakes, presents, and/or birthday decor in my cube. Since she’s ignored me, I’m hoping you can explain to her that if people don’t want their birthdays celebrated, she needs to respect that. Especially considering that some people don’t celebrate birthdays for religious reasons, her insistence on doing this seems really problematic to me.” The post my coworker insists on celebrating my birthday even though I’ve asked her not to appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Hi everyone, In today’s world of well-established systems, it’s often the smallest changes that leave the biggest mark. From the English-Italian interpreter who knows that “raining cats and dogs” doesn’t call for an animal rescue, to the mindset shifts that reshape business culture, all the way down to the everyday tweaks that make work easier: small things matter. Enjoy this week’s read! – Maja Our Favorite Articles 💯Irreplaceably Human (Hegemon)It’s the human mind that gives meaning to facts. This piece explores why interpretation, context, and nuance remain uniquely ours. 👉​ Keep reading​. Gen Z & Career Minimalism (Glassdoor)Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t the dream anymore. Glassdoor calls this shift “career minimalism,” a redefinition of what success looks like at work. 👉 ​Read on​. Free Ergonomics Assessment (Business Insider)Ergo-Audit, a free tool to help remote workers evaluate and improve their home-office setups: because comfort and posture aren’t perks, they’re productivity essentials. 👉 ​Find out more​. Unforgettable Applicant (Wellfound)Recruiters share practical ways to stand out in a sea of applications without overhauling your entire resume. 👉 ​Learn more​. This Week's Sponsor 🙌Too many emails? Declutter your inbox with Meco, your home for reading newsletters. Try it for free ​Remotive​ Jobs 💼Let's get you hired! These teams are hiring now: 💻 Engineering 👉 ​Senior DevOps Engineer (AWS) at Proxify​ (CET +/- 3 hours) 👉 ​Senior Independent Software Developer at A.Team​ (Americas, Europe, Israel) 👉 ​Senior Independent AI Engineer / Architect at A.Team​ (Americas, Europe, Israel) 👉 ​iOS Developer at nooro​ (USA Only) 👉 ​Founding Engineer at Rey​ (Europe) 👉 ​Senior Data Scientist at BaxEnergy​ (European Timezones) 🔎 QA 👉 ​Senior QA Engineer at Tether​ (UK) 🌐 DevOps/SysAdmin 👉 ​Senior Site Reliability Engineer at BaxEnergy​ (European Timezones) Free Guides & Tools​Public Job Board​We curate 2,000 remote jobs so you don't have to! ​Find your remote job →​ ​Exclusive Webinar​3 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking For A Remote Startup Job (And What To Do Instead) ​Register for free →​ ​Job Search Tips​Looking for a remote job? Here are our tips to help you work remotely ​Check it out →​ Join the Remotive newsletter Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email address Subscribe Powered by ConvertKit View the full article

Meet at the intersection of people, process, and purpose. By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™ For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Meet at the intersection of people, process, and purpose. By Rory Henry CFP®, BFA™ For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google completed the rollout of the August 2025 spam update today...View the full article

Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

This week's tour of the world of young people careens around like an out-of-control bullet train. Everyone's talking about a pop star with a body in his trunk, a dental trend powered by TikTok, astrology-based beauty tutorials, and a football stat hound's ultimate rabbit hole. It’s a lot to take in. Who is D4vd and why was there a body in his trunk? Everyone under a certain age is talking about the singer D4vd, and it's not because he has a new album out. On September 8, Los Angeles police discovered a body in the trunk of an abandoned Tesla registered to David Anthony Burke, the birth name of the 20-year-old musician. The body was later identified as the remains of Celeste Rivas, who was reported missing from her home in Riverside on April 5, 2024, when she was just 13 years old. The online speculation is that D4vd was in a relationship with Rivas, but that has yet to be confirmed. The singer has reportedly been cooperating with authorities, no cause of death has been determined, and no charges have yet been filed. If you're wondering who D4vd is, you're not alone: The singer's rise to fame is a quintessentially Generation Z story. His career began with online fame gained through posting Fortnite videos online, but YouTube removed his content for using copyrighted music. At the suggestion of his mom, D4vd began recording original songs using free iPhone tools, which he posted to SoundCloud. The end result was a recording contract, an album, and a couple of songs with over 1.5 billion plays on Spotify. D4vd's biggest hit, "Romantic Homicide" mixes the pop music of the 1970s with 1990s-style lo-fi production, and it's actually good. But D4vd's lyrics are chilling given later developments. "I killed you and I didn't even regret it," he sings on the track, "I can't believe I said it, but it's true." But just because you write a song about killing your lover doesn't mean you're guilty of it. In any case, the story is dark, tragic, and developing, and D4vd is innocent until proven guilty. Hot Generation Z trend: veneersYeah, it's a mood shift to go from murder to teeth, but such is the nature of life in 2025. Anyway, the newest dental trend among younger people is veneers. Whether it's speculation that Gen Z super-celebrity Mr.Beast is rocking a set of artificial choppers, the 250,000 videos posted to TikTok's #veneers tag, or the below deep-dive on the topic from venerable YouTuber Papa Meat, false fronts are very of-the-moment. Maybe the fascination comes from the straight, white teeth of influencers. Maybe it's hyper-awareness of teeth caused by taking too many selfies. Or maybe it's because veneers are sort of funny. Choose your own explanation. Hot Generation Z trend: astrological makeupI'm fascinated with makeup trends and pop occultism, so I'm glad makeup influencers are bringing my two interests together on TikTok. The new hotness among makeup influencers is the “rising sign" beauty trend, where the makeup you wear is determined by your astrological sign. In astrology, your "rising sign" supposedly represents how other people see you. So if your rising sign is Scorpio, you might go with a look that's "intense, dark, and dramatic." If Gemini is rising, you want to go "playful and vibrant." I don't understand how the position of the stars at the time you were born could possibly inform the makeup choices you make next Thursday, but if combining mysticism with style choices makes it a little easier for people to slog through another day, I'm in favor. First AI-animated feature film in production We all knew it was going to happen eventually, and now it has: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced today that it's producing the first feature film animated solely through artificial intelligence. Critterz, a feature-length version of the AI-made short film above, has a $30 million budget, and production will be finished in nine months, an impossibly short time-frame for a traditionally animated or CGI film. Critterz's animation may be AI, but its script and voice acting are being done the old-fashioned way—by professional Hollywood actors and writers who will gladly let OpenAI pay them a lot of money for making funny voices. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Open AI hopes to premiere Critterz at the Cannes Film Festival, presumably in 2027. Whether anyone wants to see an AI-animated movie remains to be seen. It sounds like a terrible idea to me, but I'm not the target demographic. Anyway, you can check out the first teaser/promo video here. Viral video of the week: Scorigami returns Leave it to Gen Z to come up with a new way to enjoy football. "Scorigami" is a term coined by writer/YouTuber John Bois that describes an NFL final score that has never happened before in the league's history. YouTube channel Secret Base is in the middle of a four-part examination of the phenomenon that starts with the first ever NFL football game played in 1922 and continues to the present, seen through the lens of "this is the only time any two pro teams have ended a game with this score." The series is equal parts sports, history, comedy, and statistics, with fascinating digressions and side trips to explore things like how the NFL owes its entire existence to a random guy's truck breaking down in Texas at the turn of the century and how it's possible—extremely unlikely, but still possible—to score a single point in a football game. In other words, it's the kind of documentary that would be rejected by ESPN for being too math-y and rejected by PBS for being too sporty, but is able to find a home and hundreds of thousands of viewers because YouTube exists. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. 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. The Samsung S90D 4K OLED TV is currently going for $1,697.99 on Woot until Sept. 30 or while supplies last. That’s over $180 cheaper than the current Amazon listing ($1,878.99), and the lowest price it’s hit so far, according to price-trackers. Just a heads up: Delivery is handled by a freight carrier, so you’ll need to provide a valid phone number and address during checkout to schedule it. Prime members get free shipping while everyone else pays a $6 fee. It comes with a standard one-year Samsung warranty and all the essentials in the box, including the stand and a SolarCell remote that charges via USB-C or sunlight. Samsung S90D 4K OLED TV $1,697.99 at Woot $3,297.89 Save $1,599.90 Get Deal Get Deal $1,697.99 at Woot $3,297.89 Save $1,599.90 This is a 77-inch QD-OLED from Samsung’s 2024 lineup, second only to their flagship S95D. It’s powered by their new Neo Quantum 4K AI Gen 2 chip, which helps with upscaling and automatic adjustments depending on what you’re watching or playing. Just know that while HDR10+ is supported, Dolby Vision is still missing. It’s a good pick for gaming with 4K at up to 144Hz, VRR support across the board (HDMI VRR, FreeSync, G-Sync), and a very low input lag in Game Mode. If you’ve got both a console and a gaming PC, you’ll appreciate the full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on all ports. It’s also fully compatible with both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. As for the display itself, it’s what you’d expect from a quality OLED: deep blacks, rich contrast, and no blooming around bright objects. It holds up well in darker rooms and offers wide viewing angles, which is nice if you’re watching with a group. In brighter settings, though, it doesn’t get as punchy. SDR brightness is average, and dark scenes can look a little washed out in harsh daylight. That said, reflection handling is solid for daytime viewing. And while it supports Dolby Atmos over eARC, there’s no support for DTS audio formats, so that’s something to note for Blu-ray fans. Samsung also dropped ATSC 3.0 support for the 2024 models, so no 4K over-the-air broadcasts. And like most smart TVs these days, the built-in Tizen interface has ads; although you can reduce them, there’s no way to turn them off fully. But for everything the S90D does get right, including gaming performance, viewing angles, and a clean panel with almost no blooming, it holds up well as a mid-high-end option for most setups. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $699.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Roku Streaming Stick Plus — $29.00 (List Price $39.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article