Quick Links I play most of my games on an Xbox plugged into a 65-inch OLED TV in the living room. Despite this comfy setup, I caved and finally bought a Steam Deck in late 2024, and I’m so happy that I’ve started padding my neglected Steam library once again. 6Be Compatible With the Latest Games The Steam Deck is a fantastic bit of kit, but it’s getting old. The AMD-powered handheld is based on Zen2 architecture, which first debuted in 2019 and powers the current generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles....

Building the perfect smart home isn’t cheap. It’s a process you want to get right first-time, since sinking a lot of money into an imperfect solution will require even more expense to put right later. The first few years I’ve spent in my current house have been spent on DIY, acquiring furniture, and landscaping. Now it’s time to start thinking seriously about a smart home, so here’s how I’ll be blowing the budget (eventually)....

Quick Links Microsoft Teams is an excellent online meeting tool. It packs many features—some of which you might not be aware of. I’ll give you some tips on how to use this tool at its best on your computer. Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Get Things Done Quicker By usingTeams’ keyboard shortcuts, you can invoke many app features and get things done quicker. You simply press a key combination on your keyboard, and the app performs a certain function....

Quick Links While VPN is commonly used to get unrestricted internet access, it also offers many lesser-known benefits. It reduces data throttling, improves connection security, limits ad tracking, lowers the risk of phishing, and more. Here are the top reasons to always keep a VPN enabled on your Windows PC. 1Stop Your ISP From Monitoring Your Activity Typically, our Internet Service Provider (ISP) can monitor the websites we visit, the services we use, and even our search history....

AMD’s AM4 CPU socket was a long-lasting one. It was first introduced in 2016 and quickly became AMD’s socket of choice for its new Ryzen chips in 2017. It was also not refreshed until Ryzen 7000 came around in 2022, meaning that several generations of Ryzen chips were using the same exact socket. Not only that, but AMD has also committed to keeping it alive even after AM5 came around. The company has announced a range of new AM4 chips right as it has also announced new Ryzen 8000 APUs for desktop users....

Quick Links Summary Apple Music can now do much more than just entertain. Apple Music Therapy combines popular hits and special sound waves to help you better focus, relax, or sleep. Let’s see if it’s worth your time. What Is Apple Music Therapy? You’re probably aware that there are a number of ways to play ambient music like brown noise, or something like a rainstorm, to help you drown out distractions....

Summary Whether you’re looking to revisit some old favorites or simply take a stroll through gaming history, there are multiple Linux-based operating systems focused exclusively on retro gaming. Choosing the right one may seem tricky, but it’s simple once you know what you’re looking for. Retro Gaming on Linux: Spoiled For Choice While RetroPie, Batocera, and Lakka are all easily described as “gaming operating systems,” they all run Linux underneath the hood....

Summary TheBose Ultra Open Earbudsdabble in being a fashion accessory, but I think that’s just a side effect of being open earbuds. And while it’s debatable whether the ear cuffs deliver on being fashionable, they do easily provide all-day comfort and quality audio content without clogging up your ears. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds The Ultra Open Earbuds deliver a breakthrough audio experience that brings together Bose OpenAudio and Immersive Audio technology....

OpenAI announced Operator today, its first attempt at an AI-powered agent that can automate complex tasks and perform various actions on websites to save you time. This includes making restaurant reservations, shopping online, and booking travel accommodations. Specific sensitive actions may require user approval. “On particularly sensitive websites, such as email, Operator requires active user supervision, ensuring users can directly catch and address any potential mistakes the model might make,” OpenAI explains....

Summary You can post a video with grainy footage, but choppy audio is a dealbreaker. DJI has entered the race to deliver ultra-compact, affordable, and professional-grade systems with theDJI Mic Mini. It’s surprisingly powerful, considering DJI isn’t known as an audio company. DJI Mic Mini The tiny DJI Mic Mini has incredible audio and just enough features to make it a near-perfect choice for the creator and influencer. Price and Availability The DJI Mic Mini is $169 and comes with one receiver, two wireless microphones, and a charging case....

Quick Links If your system has a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), it likely came from freeware. PUPs can slow down your computer, display intrusive ads, collect data, or make your system exploitable. Luckily, there are ways to avoid them. Not all PUPs are harmful and shouldn’t be confused with malware. However, the fact that they are installed on your system without explicit consent should be concerning nonetheless. There are many third-party sites where you can download freeware, and this is where most PUPs come from....

Summary TheEufy Security E340 Video Doorbellhas got what it takes to beat out some of the biggest names in smart security. Features like 8GB of internal storage and smart detection capabilities go a long way, and I love all the built-in LEDs. All that’s missing is HomeKit support. eufy Security E340 Video Doorbell With the eufy Security E340 Video Doorbell, two cameras work together to deliver advanced viewing. The front-facing camera focuses on people, while the downward-facing camera fills in the gaps with a view of the floor in front of your door....

Summary If you’re a gamer who uses a standalone microphone instead of the one on your headset, you’re already on track toward better sound quality than most. However, many “gaming” mics are of the condenser type, which might not be the best choice. Why Condenser Microphones Aren’t Ideal for Gamers Condenser microphonescan sound excellent; that’s not the issue. The real problem with condenser microphones is their high sensitivity, which means they capture every little detail....