Roku’s New 2025 TVs Have Mini-LED on a Budget

Quick Links Roku just launched an entire line of new and improved TVs for 2025, and they’re available today at countless retailers starting at only $130. Building on the success of the earlier generations, the all-new Roku Pro, Roku Plus, and Roku Select Series TVs have a lot to offer, including Mini-LED technology at an affordable price point. We’re all familiar with Roku-powered TVs, devices, and streaming sticks, but the company also makes its own TV line....

August 1, 2025 · 4 min · 686 words · Spencer Pittman

Roku’s New Ad-Free Streaming Service is $3/Month

Roku, the wildly popular streaming platform that sells TVs, streaming sticks, soundbars, and more, is finally ready to enter the streaming subscription service market. Today, Roku announced Howdy, an ad-free video streaming service with over 10,000 hours of content for only $3 per month. Available in the United States starting today, August 5th, 2025, Howdy delivers a wide range of video streaming on-demand content at an affordable price point. Being called “Howdy by Roku”, this new service has a huge library of films and TV series from a slew of your favorite production studios, including Warner Bros....

August 1, 2025 · 3 min · 499 words · Gina Jennings

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Review: A Great Smartwatch (After a Small Stumble)

Read update Summary When it comes to Galaxy Watches, Samsung has found a recipe it likes, and it’s sticking with it. TheGalaxy Watch 7is the result of that same recipe, but there are some exciting new ingredients this time around. After a bit of a rocky start, the Galaxy Watch 7 now looks to be one of the best Wear OS smartwatches ever made. Samsung issued an update that mentioned “battery stability” and “battery charging stability....

August 1, 2025 · 10 min · 1962 words · Steven Hayes

Skip the Wireless Earbuds and Buy Something That'll Last

Quick Links Summary After two or three years of regular use, your earbuds' batteries will wear out, forcing you to buy a new pair. Skip the wireless earbuds and buy wired headphones, or even wireless headphones, which last a lot longer and give you more bang for your buck. Wireless earbuds are aserious convenience, but they tend to only last for a few years. Batteries wear out, Bluetooth standards evolve, and even if you aren’t a clumsy person, it’s easy to lose track of a single earbud....

August 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1249 words · Charles Hancock

Steam Game Not Launching? Try These Fixes

Quick Links Do your Steam games prepare to launch but fail to lift off? Problems like corrupt game files, outdated drivers, a cluttered download cache, and interference from other apps can prevent Steam games from launching. Fortunately, we’ve got some fixes you can try. Check the Game’s System Requirements Before you spend time trying to fix an issue, make sure that your system meets the game’s minimum requirements. Head to the Steam store page where the game is listed and compare the required specs againstyour system’s specifications....

August 1, 2025 · 5 min · 1065 words · Joshua Brown

The Best Monitor Light Bars of 2025

Read update If you spend hours every day staring at your screen, a monitor light bar can help reduce eye strain, prevent headaches, and illuminate your desk. Most monitor light bars let you adjust brightness and color temperature to your liking, and some even feature auto-dimming. UPDATE: 08-06-2025 We’ve reviewed our recommendations and updated our pick for the best budget monitor light bar. BenQ ScreenBar Halo What to Look for in a Monitor Light Bar There are multiple monitor light bars that offer the same features, so finding the best one for you can be tricky....

August 1, 2025 · 10 min · 2026 words · Allison Ware

The Best Toyota SUV for Off-Road Adventures in 2025

While many modern SUVs lean toward comfort and tech features, there’s one Toyota model that continues to prioritize rugged capability above all else. For serious off-road enthusiasts, it stands out as the ultimate choice in the brand’s lineup, built to handle terrain most crossovers wouldn’t dare touch. With a body-on-frame design, high ground clearance, and available features like locking differentials, crawl control, and advanced terrain management systems, this SUV is engineered for adventure....

August 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1216 words · Jordan Dodson

The Most Reliable Japanese Hybrid Crossover You Can Buy in 2025

Hybrid crossovers make a ton of sense, especially if you’re looking for something a little luxurious. One of the biggest concerns that people have, however, is to do with reliability. When you spend a ton on a crossover, you don’t want it to spend more time with the mechanic than it does with you. In terms of reliability, its pretty widely accepted that Japanese brands areconsistently at the top of the stack....

August 1, 2025 · 7 min · 1417 words · Curtis Vang

There's a Better Alternative to Video Game Difficulty Settings, but Nobody Uses It

Summary Difficulty settings in video games aren’t always perfect, and many games still struggle to provide options that aren’t too easy or too difficult. While some games likeElden RingandMonster Hunter Riseforgo this choice altogether, there’s a better approach to difficulty settings that too many developers are ignoring. Dynamic Difficulty Appeals to All Players Dynamic difficulty adjustment is a form of game balancing that enables a game to automatically increase or lower its difficulty based on the player’s performance....

August 1, 2025 · 7 min · 1417 words · Wesley Hernandez

These Totally Free Games Are Worth Playing in 2024

Quick Links Most “free” games are used to push ads, subscriptions, microtransactions, and dubious games of chance (that never quite meet the legal definition of gambling). They can leave you feeling frustrated, even if you haven’t spent a penny. Here are 12 completely free games that don’t do any of that. What Makes a Game Truly Free? I’ve set a few conditions for this roundup to make sure these games are as ‘free’ as free can be:...

August 1, 2025 · 4 min · 841 words · Alejandro Brown

This Hybrid SUV Feels Like a Lexus—Without the Luxury Price Tag

SUVsare everywhere these days, dominating showrooms and winning over families with their roomy comfort and practical size. To keep up, automakers are addinghybridpowertrains to these popular rides, making them much more fuel-efficient. One midsize Japanese SUV is turning heads by combiningluxury touchesand efficiency at a surprising price. It doesn’t wear a Lexus badge, but this plug-in hybrid is quietly rewriting the rules for what a family SUV can be. To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Cox Automotive and RepairPal....

August 1, 2025 · 6 min · 1119 words · Kimberly Morris

This Plug-in Hybrid Is the Sweet Spot Between Efficiency, Power, and Practicality

Plug-in hybrid SUVshave been quietly gaining traction in the U.S. WithEVdemand cooling and gas prices rising, automakers are shifting focus—PHEVs are now a key part of the plan. Buyers are taking note.Hybridsoffer savings, but PHEVs go further with electric-only range, without the steep EV price tag. Though still pricier than hybrids,PHEVsare becoming more accessible. And one standout Japanese SUV leads the pack, combining strong performance, great fuel economy, and top-tier safety in one smart package....

August 1, 2025 · 5 min · 1062 words · Elizabeth Neal

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for August 15 (#430)

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....

August 1, 2025 · 2 min · 403 words · Paul Wilson