Long Gaming Sessions Gave Me Back Pain, Here's What I Changed

Summary Once again, “just an hour of gaming before bed” turned into a lengthy session that shot me into the twilight of the next day, and my body hated me as I tried to stand up. My lower back tightened, I yelped like a startled dog, and I fell back into my hard, wooden chair. Something had to change, so here’s what I did. I Did This to Myself The first step to saving my spine was identifying the catalyst for my discomfort....

June 15, 2025 · 5 min · 1036 words · Brenda Williams

Microsoft Flip-Flops Its Way Into a Native Copilot App

Read update After an insane amount of flip-flopping, Microsoft is finally bringing a native Copilot app to Windows 11. The app, currently limited to Insider channels, will enjoy a broad rollout in the coming weeks or months. UPDATE: 2025-07-04 09:15 EST BY ANDREW HEINZMAN Think Deeper in Copilot on Windows We reached out to Microsoft, and the company confirmed that its new Copilot on Windows app does not currently support Think Deeper mode....

June 15, 2025 · 3 min · 585 words · Jared Perez

Old Phones Make Great Music and Podcast Players for Kids

Quick Links iPods and MP3 players had their time in the spotlight, but the market for such devices has nearly vanished—most people just use their phone as a music player. However, kids also like music and podcasts, and young kids don’t have smartphones. An old iPhone or Android phone is the perfect music player. A Kid-Friendly Interface First things first—kids are remarkably quick to learn how to use touchscreens. You can findcheap MP3 players with physical controls, but in my experience, it’s more difficult for a child to learn how to navigate these interfaces....

June 15, 2025 · 3 min · 553 words · Sara Morales

Roborock S8 Review: Great, But There are Better Options

Quick Links TheRoborock S8robot vacuum has a lot of benefits. After thoroughly testing the device for over a month, I can confidently say it is highly effective, but only for certain users. It has some drawbacks that need to be considered, including its higher-than-expected price. Robotic cleaning devices have come a long way since they arrived late last century. You no longer need to worry about batteries running out of juice in just a few minutes or insufficient suction to get the job done....

June 15, 2025 · 7 min · 1322 words · Sandra Rose

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review: The Best Hardware, Aging Design

Quick Links Summary When Samsung offered to fly me out to Seoul, South Korea, for itsGalaxy Unpacked event, I had a feeling the phones it planned to launch were going to be great. Now that I’ve spent some time with theGalaxy Z Fold 5and the Z Flip 5, I can confidently say that Samsung currently has the best foldables on the market (at least in the U.S.), but the smaller of the two phones saw the more noteworthy upgrades....

June 15, 2025 · 12 min · 2521 words · Maria Richards

Steam Store Pages Just Got Even Better

Steam might get a lot of praise, but there are a few aspects that definitely needed work. The video player most often used for game trailers has been buggy for years, and now Steam is finally giving it a much-needed overhaul. No more jumping over to YouTube. You’ll notice the changes right away with a refreshed interface that feels way snappier and easier to use. There’s an adaptable interface that adjusts to the current screen size and platform including desktop, phone, Steam Deck, or even Steam’s Big Picture Mode without issues....

June 15, 2025 · 3 min · 477 words · Robert Bishop

SwitchBot Blind Tilt Review: An Affordable Way to Get Smart Blinds

Quick Links WithSwitchBot’s Blind Tilt, transforming your existing horizontal “dumb” blinds into smart ones is a breeze. Many products made by SwitchBot are easy to install and affordable, and the new Blind Tilt is no different. Right now, SwitchBot has a Kickstarter project where you can essentially pre-order the Blind Tilt at a special rate or even bundle three Blind Tilts with a SwitchBot Remote and Hub Mini as well. For anyone who makes a pledge, the estimated delivery date for the Blind Tilt is December 2022....

June 15, 2025 · 8 min · 1664 words · Sheila Thomas

The Best Free Adobe Creative Suite Alternatives for Windows

Quick Links The Adobe apps are powerful, but most of us don’t need many of their features. So, is there a way to pay less for the features that we do use? Well, I’ll do you one better, and introduce you to completely free alternatives to the most popular Adobe apps, offering all the basic features and some advanced ones. 1GIMP—The Best Free Alternative for Photoshop GIMP is the most popular free alternative to Photoshop....

June 15, 2025 · 4 min · 834 words · Cheryl Campbell

The Best Free Software to Install on Ubuntu Right After Setup

You just installed Ubuntu—awesome! But wait, before you start using it, here are some free apps that I think you need to add right now. These tools will enhance your overall Ubuntu experience, boost performance, and make your desktop way more fun. Let’s dive in! 10TLP (for Laptops) If you’re running Ubuntu on a laptop, especially an older model,TLPshould be at the top of your installation list. With this tool, you can optimize your system’s energy utilization without requiring daily attention....

June 15, 2025 · 6 min · 1162 words · Angela Smith

The Best Intel Motherboards for Gaming in 2024

Read update Have an Intel CPU? You’ll need a quality motherboard that’s compatible with it. The motherboard is essentially the central nervous system of every PC, and the right one will make sure your rig will work flawlessly without overworking the other components. UPDATE: 31-07-2025 We’ve reviewed our recommendations and updated our choices for the best overall and best DDR5 Intel motherboards. Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Tachyon What to Look For in an Intel Gaming Motherboard in 2024 First, you should consider whether the board you’re eyeing is compatible with your CPU....

June 15, 2025 · 16 min · 3203 words · Robert Williams

The Best Reviewed RPG of the Year Just Sold a Million in the First Three Days

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,the debut title from Sandfall Interactive, has hit an incredible milestone only a few days after its launch.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is a turn-based RPG that incorporates active battle mechanics, sort of likePaper Mario. But instead of simple button timings, you will need to dodge and parry in every encounter, with the system being more of a requirement than a bonus. The RPG was revealed just last year, and has been a highly anticipated title, thanks to incredible art-style and strong trailers....

June 15, 2025 · 3 min · 541 words · Kenneth Heath

This Is the Next Big Thing in Mechanical Gaming Keyboards

Summary In 2019, a relatively unknown keyboard manufacturer introduced the world’s first Hall Effect mechanical keyboard. The company was Wooting, and the keyboard was the Wooting two Lekker Edition. Five years later, HE keyboards are starting to gain traction, and that’s great news for gamers. Hall Effect Sensors Aren’t Limited to Controllers Most gamers and gaming hardware enthusiasts are familiar withHall Effect thumbsticks. These sticks are immune to stick drift thanks to a contactless design that uses a magnet and a sensor....

June 15, 2025 · 8 min · 1689 words · Sara Garcia

Ubuntu Was My First Distro—Here's Why We Went Our Separate Ways

Summary I once used Ubuntu and followed its development with extreme excitement, like a kid whose favorite console and game are both available for free. Now, at best, I feel ambivalence. What happened along the way? It All Started Around 2008… I don’t remember exactly how I first stumbled across Ubuntu back in high school, but it was at a time when I was discovering free and open source software in general: apps like Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, AbiWord, and OpenOffice....

June 15, 2025 · 6 min · 1232 words · Maria Phillips