The Best CarPlay Apps for Navigating, Entertainment, and More

Quick Links CarPlay lets you use compatible iPhone apps in your car with a simplified interface that’s better suited to driving. Here are some of our favorite apps that come with CarPlay integration, from navigation apps to in-car entertainment and a few extras. Related:How to Add Apple CarPlay to Your Car Navigation Rather than mounting your iPhone on your dashboard and using it as a floatingGPS, CarPlay integrates your favorite navigation apps into your car’s dashboard....

July 25, 2025 · 9 min · 1806 words · Gregory Edwards

The Best iPhone 15 Pro Cases of 2024

The iPhone 15 Pro is an impressive gadget, and it isn’t exactly cheap. You certainly don’t want to drop it and watch it shatter on the sidewalk, which is why you should protect it with one of our favorite cases. Spigen Mag Armor MagFit for iPhone 15 Pro Spigen’s Mag Armor MagFit case balances robust protection with a slim profile. It features shock-absorbing air cushions and a grippy, textured back and is compatible with MagSafe and wireless charging – and you get all this at a wallet-friendly price point....

July 25, 2025 · 4 min · 779 words · Gregory Price

The Best Soldering Irons

Soldering irons are handheld tools used by electricians, engineers, jewelers, metal smiths, hobbyists, and DIY enthusiasts for a wide range of applications, but especially for coupling wires and (re)connecting electronic components on PCBs. Here are the best soldering irons for most of your needs. X-Tronic 3020-XTS Soldering Iron Station What to Look for in a Soldering Iron While all soldering irons are expected to get hot, and sometimes very hot, here are other key factors to consider when looking for the best soldering irons to buy....

July 25, 2025 · 7 min · 1423 words · Earl Bell

The Best Streaming Services That Remain Ad-Free

Quick Links The early promise of streaming services was unlimited access to programming with no advertising, but now almost every major streaming service includes ads, while maintaining higher-priced ad-free tiers. Here are five worthwhile streaming services that have held out and remain entirely ad-free. Apple TV+ At this point,Apple TV+($9.99 per month after a seven-day free trial) is the only major mainstream streaming service that’s still ad-free. Although it launched with a fairly small selection oforiginal programs, Apple TV+ has since built up a library of acclaimed series, including sci-fi hitsFor All Mankind,Foundation, andSeverance; Emmy-nominated comediesShrinkingandTed Lasso; and dramasThe Morning ShowandSlow Horses....

July 25, 2025 · 3 min · 479 words · Jeffrey Martin

The Best Wi-Fi 7 Routers of 2024

Want to surf on the cutting edge of wireless and wired connectivity? Get yourself a Wi-Fi 7 router and experience the latest and greatest of what the Wi-Fi standard can offer. Check out the best Wi-Fi 7 routers down below. Linksys Velop Pro 7 What to Look for in a Wi-Fi 7 Router in 2024 Wi-Fi 7is the latest and greatest Wi-Fi standard that promises considerable improvements in wireless bandwidth and latencycompared to Wi-Fi 6Eandearlier Wi-Fi standards....

July 25, 2025 · 13 min · 2562 words · Gregory Simmons

This Free Mac App Checks Your Apps for Updates

Summary Some of the best Mac apps serve a single purpose. Latest is another tiny app you should install that can check for and apply outstanding updates. Update Everything With Latest Latestis an appropriately named Mac app that can check for and update the vast majority of Mac apps. It’s free, open-source, and takes up less than 20MB of disk space once it’s installed. Once you’ve downloaded the app and dragged the app icon into your Applications folder, launch Latest and hit the “Refresh” button in the top-right corner....

July 25, 2025 · 3 min · 571 words · Michael Bryant

This Is the Best Used PHEV SUV for a Small Family Under $25,000

Plug-in hybridSUVsare still flying under the radar, but that won’t last much longer. As automakers rethink their rush to go fully electric, PHEVs are stepping in as the smart, flexible middle ground. The reality is, fully phasing out gas-powered cars by 2030 isn’t looking likely. So, more brands are pivoting—investing in hybrid and plug-in hybrid tech that offers real-world practicality without the range anxiety ofEVs. If you’re after a budget-friendly PHEV SUV that can handle daily family duty and long road trips, there’s one used American crossover that quietly nails the formula....

July 25, 2025 · 6 min · 1178 words · Brett Wilkins

This Is the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

Many people think ofGoogle Pixel phonesas the “iPhones” of Android. They’re made by the maker of Android, Google, and they are usually first in line for new Android updates. They also feature, every year, more and more proprietary hardware, with new Pixel phones coming with Google-designed Tensor chips, since the Pixel 6 in 2021. Now, the newest flagship entries in the Pixel series are here, in the form of the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro....

July 25, 2025 · 3 min · 456 words · Teresa Brown

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for July 10 (#395)

Quick Links Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn’t—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they’re usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we’ve got you covered. What Is Connections? Connections is a game from the New York Times. The objective is simple: sort 16 words into groups of 4....

July 25, 2025 · 2 min · 426 words · Lauren Larson

Toyota’s Latest Off-Road Models Are Climbing to the Top of the Sales Charts

Toyotahas long been the leader in small and midsize trucks, with even the older Tacoma holding its ground against newer competitors. However, since its updated, four-cylinder-onlyTacomalaunched, the model has seen even greater success. This year, Toyota is poised to continue building on that momentum with impressive sales increases. However, the Tacoma isn’t the only model seeing a surge in sales; several otherToyota vehicleshave also been having a standout year so far....

July 25, 2025 · 2 min · 396 words · Brittany Lopez

Unlimited Data Is the Bare Minimum—And It’s Time We Admit It

Quick Links Working from the comfort of my home is a luxury, but not one that doesn’t have its worries. No matter how good your cellular provider is, unexpected interruptions happen from time to time. An unlimited data plan has been an absolute lifesaver. Data Demands Are Skyrocketing—And They’re Not Slowing Down I enjoy watching a good movie or binge-watching a new series on Netflix that I’ve been waiting for a long time (um, who doesn’t?...

July 25, 2025 · 5 min · 976 words · Brianna Henry

Verizon Is Increasing Hidden Fees and Taking Away Freebies

We have a double dose of bad news for Verizon Wireless customers. The carrier is quietly increasing fees and removing bundled freebies on select plans. Customers have started receiving alerts about higher new device activation fees and a few other changes you probably won’t love. Earlier this year, Verizon announced a new3-year price lock guarantee, but we had a feeling it wouldn’t last for long. The fine print only mentioned a price lock on the base charge for phone plans, not taxes and fees....

July 25, 2025 · 3 min · 512 words · Austin Parker

watchOS 10 Now Available With Smart Stack and Better Apps

Earlier this year at WWDC, Appleannounced the watchOS 10 updatefor the Apple Watch lineup, which looked like the most significant software overhaul for the smartwatches in years. Today, watchOS 10 is starting to roll out to Apple Watch devices, at the same time asiOS 17 and iPadOS 17arrive on iPhones and iPads, respectively. The first major upgrade in watchOS 10 is the “Smart Stack,” which functions a bit like the old Siri watch face, but with some inspiration from widgets and live activities on the iPhone....

July 25, 2025 · 2 min · 384 words · Stephanie Valenzuela