Summary Looking to score that dream gadget without breaking the bank this Black Friday? Refurbished and open-box deals might be your ticket to massive savings—if you know what to look for. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about finding legitimate deals while avoiding the duds. Understanding Refurbished vs. Open-Box First, let’s clear up any confusion between refurbished and open-box items. Refurbished products, in essence, have been restored to factory condition....

Summary I’ve been an Apple Watch user since launch week, way back in 2015. But after finally finding myself lusting after some good old-fashioned dumb watches, I sought another way to get health and fitness data. An Oura Ring proved to be the solution, despite the requirement for a subscription to get the full benefit. The Problem With Subscriptions It can sometimes feel like everything is a subscription these days. Logitech even mootedthe idea of a subscription mouse....

Quick Links Google Drive offers 15 GB of free storage, but what happens when you run out of space? Since your storage is shared between your email, your photo and video backups, and other services, running out unexpectedly can be a hassle. Here’s why you should upgrade. Why Upgrade to Paid Google Storage? I try to my monthly subscriptions down to a minimum. Even so, I was more than willing to spend money on paid Google Drive storage....

Quick Links Summary I’ve always been aware of the KDE Plasma desktop, and occasionally I’ve dabbled with it out of curiosity. Here’s what a GNOME user discovered when I used it exclusively for one week. The Desktop Environment and Getting Work Done I use my computers to earn my living. My number one priority is getting work done. That means I need to have solid, dependable software available to me, and both the software and operating system must be stable....

Summary Ubuntu 24.04 LTS introduces several enhanced features that significantly improve both accessibility and user efficiency. Here’s a look at the new features that I think are worth turning on with the new Ubuntu 24.04 release. 1. Accessibility Options Ubuntu 24.04 LTSis equipped with new and easily “accessible” Accessibility options. For individuals like myself with less-than-perfect vision, these enhanced settings are a welcome improvement. To enable Accessibility options in Ubuntu 24....

Quick Links Summary Let’s talk about phone ring holders—those circular things that stick to the back of your phone. I used to scoff at them, thinking they were unnecessary junk that ruined a phone’s sleekness, but my dad wouldn’t stop bugging me to put one on my phone. I couldn’t see why, so resisted for ages, but I finally caved in. Let me tell you, that little decision was a game-changer....

Quick Links Lenovo’s ThinkPad series of laptops garners high expectations from most—you expect a lot because these devices have a tremendous reputation. So, when I got my hands on theLenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 5, I expected greatness. I got just that. Fresh out of another ThinkPad review, theX1 Carbon (Gen 10), I was graced with the latest Extreme model. As with the past iterations of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme, such as theGen 4, the Gen 5 is a high performer that surpasses many other devices in its weight class....

Summary The Nemesis System was first introduced in the 2014 gameMiddle-earth: Shadow of Mordorand improved in its 2017 sequel,Shadow of War.It is a groundbreaking video game feature that leads to unique storylines but it was patented so it seems like it will remain unused until July 11, 2025, when the patent expires. The Nemesis System Is a Stroke of Genius At its heart, the Nemesis system focuses on how the player interacts with Orc captains and Warchiefs, who are part of a ranked structure....

Summary I’ve been a core anime fan for about 25 years now, and I still can’t understand the urge that exists to make live-action adaptations of anime. Despite most of these adaptations being unwatchable, Netflix keeps funding or buying more of them, and honestly their money would be better spent elsewhere. So, Netflix, if you’re reading this, consider diverting that live-action anime funding to something more sensible. Netflix Is Obsessed With Live Action Anime Adaptations When I sat down to write this, I didn’t know exactly how many live adaptations of anime had made it onto Netflix one way or another....

Summary Sling TV is one of thebest live TV streaming servicesfor shows, movies, and sports, and now it has all-new options for those who only need TV for a day. If you don’t want to pay for a full subscription but want a day or weekend to binge-watch shows and live sports, Sling has you covered. In a bold move to change how people cut the cord yet still access cable TV, Sling TV has launched an industry-first $4....

Stuff using PCI Express 5.0 is still coming out, while the PCI Express 6.0 spec is already finalized and will show up in PC parts eventually. But have you thought about what’s next after it? The PCI Express 7.0 specification is almost about to be finalized, and we already have a final draft. The final draft of the PCI Express 7.0 specification has been submitted by the PCI-SIG, the association in charge of publishing and maintaining the PCI Express standard....

Summary ThePlugable PT-STAND1isn’t fancy or overly clever, but it does rotate 360 degrees which makes it handy to use in a lot of places. It can work for a 12.9-inch iPad down to smaller phones so it can be useful, no matter what device you need held up. Plugable PT-STAND1 Elevate your workspace with the Plugable Universal Tablet Stand (PT-STAND1). A universal fit for phones and tablets up to 12.9 inches, the tablet stand for desk and travel features a 360-degree rotating base, a foldable design with a no-slip base, and cable pass-through for a neat, organized desk....

Summary As a pair of much-hyped over-ear headphones, theRaycon Everyday Headphones Prowere a bit disappointing, to say the least. Although they hit it out of the park with comfort and long-lasting battery life, everything else was iffy. I found some audio quality compelling, but it wasn’t consistent enough to convince me these headphones are a competitive option. Raycon Everyday Headphones Pro The Raycon Everyday Headphones Pro bring premium audio with hybrid ANC, six microphones, various sound settings, and a 60-hour battery life....