Take a moment to list all the digital accounts you've signed up for, and it's probably more than you realized: email, social media, banking, streaming services, cloud storage, music, gaming, and fitness...it adds up. But using the same login credentials for every service is a bad idea, and if you reuse passwords across accounts, let me summarize the simplest advice you should take away from this article: You shouldn't. But, of course, it's nearly impossible to remember as many unique usernames and secure passwords as you need for your various accounts. That's where password managers come in.Password managers hide your various login credentials behind one main username and password so that logging into the password manager gives you access to everything else. It's a secure alternative to writing your passwords down or saving them in a spreadsheet, and more reliable than your memory. They can often store other data, toothink credit card numbers, PIN codes, and authenticator keysand may also give you extra features like scanning data breaches for your credentials. If you've yet to switch to a password manager, consider this a sign to get started. It can be intimidating at first, but getting started may be easier than you think.Some of the most important password manager featuresPassword managers are all slightly different, but you'll find many of the same features across brands. First and foremost, they store your passwordsoften popping up inside web browsers and on phones whenever you need to log into an accountand provide you with your login credentials with one click or tap. As sign-in technologies have evolved, though, so have password managers. Many can now also help with two-factor authentication codes and passkeys for websites or apps that need more than just a username and password. At the same time, these password managers are secured with a main username and password you need to rememberand often with biometric authentication, too. The best password managers work seamlessly across devices. Credit: NordPass Most password managers will also suggest strong passwords for new accounts: Passwords that mix up random special characters, letters, and numbers, so they're extremely difficult to hack. With a password manager, you don't actually need to know what your passwords arethe program handles everything. You'll often see password managers offer additional security features as well, ranging from notifying you of duplicate passwords, to dark web monitoring for your email addresses, usernames, or passwords. If your login details appear in a data breach, you get an alert about it, and you can change them.How password managers secure your dataYou might wonder how password managers make sure your passwords are securely and privately locked away. Details vary between software packages, but they'll invariably use end-to-end encryption, with your main password as the decryption key, meaning that means no one elsefrom hackers to password manager developers to government agenciescan access your details without that password. Additional security measures are often implemented as well. Take 1Password as an example: It uses PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) key strengthening, which, in simple terms, means that passwords are obscure enough that it would take decades to crack. It also gives users a secret key, known only to them, that works as an extra security layer on top of your password. A host of encryption and other security layers are applied to your password vault. Credit: LastPass In other words, you can't just use your pet's name as your password manager password. Extra security layers, including two-factor authentication and biometric scans, are often added too. Where your credentials need to be synced across multiple devices, strong encryption protocols are again deployed. Without your password, the data is useless, and only you know your password.Most password managers now combine local and cloud storage options, because we all need our passwords on so many devices. However, it's worth bearing in mind that the fewer places you have your password manager installed, the less chance there is of someone else gaining access to itso some users just keep their password manager on their phone.Why you should use a password managerSimply put, using a password manager is a whole lot more secure than other options, like listing them in a Google Doc. Say, for example, that you left your laptop unlocked and someone sat down at it. With a Google Doc, that person would be more likely to access your password document than they would a password manager where they would need extra security clearance. Apple and Google have their own password manager options. Credit: Lifehacker The free offerings from Google and Apple have improved significantly in recent years, but they still don't quite offer the level of protection, breadth of features, and cross-platform support of the best dedicated password managers. One example: In the case of Google Password Manager, on-device encryption (meaning that you manage the decryption key locally, as with a password manager, rather than Google managing it) remains an optional extra that you have to enable, rather than enabled by default.Given the protection and features that come with dedicated password managers, it's typically worth most people investing in one. Some software packages offer a free tier, but they may be limited in terms of the features you get and the number of devices you can use them on. You can expect to pay a few bucks per month for most apps, but you can also look for bundled deals that include VPNs and adblockers, for instance. Whatever brand or package you choose, though, you should begin using a password manager. You get a private password vault, a host of protections to keep it safe, and added features like data breach monitoring and strong password generators. Plus, the best password managers sync seamlessly across all of your devices, ready when you need them.

When venturing out into the wilds of the modern web, many people now make use of a VPN, or a Virtual Private Network. These software packages have been around for decades as ways of securely connecting to private networks remotely, but the term is now more commonly used to refer to third-party VPN services that act as intermediaries between your devices and the internet at large.The idea behind VPNs is they keep you and your data safer while you're browsing, with a trade-off in terms of speed (though the best VPNs will aim to minimize the hit on download and upload transfer rates). If you're wondering what exactly a VPN is, how these services work, and whether or not you should be signed up for one, you'll find all of these questions and more answered below.Why use a VPN?Using a VPN is beneficial in terms of both security and privacy. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between you and dedicated servers run by the VPN company. Your traffic is then sent down that tunnel, and your VPN service of choice then sends it on to websites or other servers. Traffic going in the other direction travels back in the same way.This tunnel offers several protections. It means it's a lot harder for people on the same wifi network as you at the local coffee shop or the hotel you're staying in to see what you're up toso VPNs are often deployed by users when they're traveling and connecting to numerous public wifi networks. VPNs can let you pretend you're in places you're not. Credit: Lifehacker Connecting to a VPN also means your traffic is hidden from your internet service provider, or ISP. Your ISP can see you're connecting to the VPN, but nothing beyond thatso it's impossible for your ISP or any of its staff to snoop on you or keep logs. It also means ISPs are more limited in terms of what they can tell government agencies and law enforcement.Another reason for using VPNs is to conceal or spoof your location: Websites can only see the location of the VPN server you're using, not your actual location. That means they can't track your whereabouts as easily, and in the case of streaming services, might serve up different libraries of content depending on where your VPN server is (though streaming services are pretty wise to VPNs now, so this doesn't always work).How VPNs workand their limitationsThat idea of an encrypted tunnel covers the basics of how VPNs work: You connect to a VPN server, then it connects to the web for you. When data comes back, it first goes to the VPN server, and then to your device. VPN providers will tell you how many servers they have and in how many countrieseach time you connect to the VPN, you can typically choose which server to connect to, or have one assigned automatically.If you want to stay safe on a public wifi network, it's best to connect to a server in your countryit'll be faster. If you want to pretend you're in another country, or would like to stop websites and apps from knowing where you are, you can pick a server somewhere else. Some VPNs let you double-up servers for extra security. If you connect to a lot of wifi networks, VPNs can help keep you safe. Credit: Lifehacker It's important to recognize the limitations of how VPNs work, too. Your location aside, they aren't going to stop a lot of the tracking tech you'll find on the web, such as cookiesand of course if you log into your Amazon account, Amazon will know it's you. VPNs don't offer anonymity cloaks.In addition, you're essentially transferring your trust from your ISP to a VPN provider: Your ISP provider can't see your traffic, but your VPN service potentially can. What's more, VPNs are under the same legal obligations as ISPs when it comes to giving data to government and law enforcement agencies. With that in mind, it's important to pick a VPN you trust.How to choose a VPNAs noted above, VPNs aren't above the law, and can see the traffic they're ferrying for you. With that in mind, it's important to look for a VPN with an independently audited "no logs" policymeaning none of your data is kept permanently. That means there's less information that can be exposed or handed over to the authorities, if they come knocking.It's a crucial part of choosing a VPN, so VPN providers will usually promote "no logs" policies quite prominently. Read the policies for ExpressVPN and NordVPN, for example: You'll see mention of independent auditors, technologies that scrub data automatically, and operations that are based in countries where data retention laws are less strict (which means VPNs aren't legally obliged to keep records on their users). See what VPN providers say about their data retention policies. Credit: Lifehacker There are lots of other criteria to use when weighing which VPN provider to go for. As previously mentioned, you can look for how many servers a provider offers, and where they're based. You can also check up on the promised speeds, as well as the basics of how much you're going to have to pay and what else you get included (maybe dark-web monitoring for data breaches, for example, or a bundled password manager).Make sure you check how many devices you can connect to the VPN service at any one time, as this will varyand some VPNs may not even have apps for every platform. You can also look at what you get in terms of customer service and support if something goes wrong. And don't forget to consult reviews from trustworthy tech publications, too.How much VPNs costAs with most digital subscription decisions, cost is likely to be a big factor in your choice. Free VPNs are available, though they'll usually be cut-down versions of paid-for packages, with limitations on how many connections you can make and the speeds you're going to get in terms of uploads and downloads.Considering how important VPNs are, in terms of trusting them with your data, it's a good idea to avoid free ones if you canat least if it's not clear how they're making their money. There are trustworthy free VPN packages around, and we've listed some of them here, but make sure you go for a well-known name with a long history. Check the deal length and bundled features when comparing VPN prices. Credit: Lifehacker If you are able to pay for a VPN, make sure you weigh everything you get with your subscription: the number of available servers, the number of compatible devices, the length of the deal you have to sign up for, the customer support on offer, the bonus software included. Comparing prices is tricky because each VPN provider offers different packages for your money.While subscription tiers and pricing are changing all the timelook out for introductory deals if you're just signing uphere are a few offers available at the time of writing to give you a general idea: ExpressVPN is $12.95 a month, NordVPN is $12.99 a month, ProtonVPN is $9.99 a month, and TunnelBear is $9.99 a month. As usual, you can get lower monthly pricing by signing up for a year or two, and varying tiers with varying features are available on these services.Should you use a VPN?There's no doubt that using a VPN on your phone or your laptop means your data is more secure and more private: The question is whether it's worth paying for another subscription. It certainly gives you extra peace of mind if you're on the go a lot, and often bouncing between different public wifi networks. For secure travel, and accessing services from abroad, VPNs are definitely appealing.Then there's the ISP issue: These big internet companies keep much more detailed records than most VPNs do. If you'd rather as little of your browsing activity was logged as possible, then a VPN might be the way to go (though again, this applies to activity logged by ISPs, and not necessarily advertising companies or websites). VPNs can offer extra peace of mind. Credit: Lifehacker You've also got the built-in protection for your locationyour IP addressand the ability to spoof locations to some extent, which can be helpful if you're in a place with tightly regulated internet, or where your usual streaming services aren't available. Bear in mind, though, that as soon as you log into Google or Netflix, they know who you are and which country you live in anyway.VPN providers are usually falling over themselves to offer free trials or introductory offers, so there's no harm in signing up for a package and seeing how it suits youand how much you actually use it. You could even sign up for a couple at a time and compare them in terms of online speeds and the quality of their apps.

Today is April 1, April Fools Day, the annual holiday that celebrates pranking, hoaxes, and all manner of horseplay and tomfoolery. But why? Where did this faux holiday come from? Why do we do this to each other, and when will we finally just stop?These are surprisingly tricky questions, and April Fools' Day has been around for a surprisingly long time. As far back as 1708, the British newspaper Apollo asked, Whence proceeds the custom of making April Fools? and provided unconvincing answers. So we know the April Fools' tradition goes back centuries, but the exact origins of the holiday are still a mystery. There are theories, but they all reek faintly of bullshit. April Fools Day origin story #1: The great French calendar switch of 1582The most popular (but still probably bullshit) April Fools' origin story blames France. It goes like this: Back in 1563, The Council of Trent declared that Christ is entirely present in both the consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist. But more importantly, it decreed Catholic nations should use the Gregorian calendar instead of the Julian calendar. Frances King Charles IX ordered his nation to get on board with the switch by 1582, but when the actual day rolled around, some citizens were non-compliant. (French people can be stubborn.) April 1 is beginning of the new year according to the Julian calendar, and some people either didnt know about the new calendar or didnt like it, because they went on celebrating the new year on April 1. To get everyone back in line, people started mocking calendar-truthers by playing tricks on them. Because the first day of April used to coincide with the end of Lent, and fish was a popular Lenten gift, giving a fool a fake fish was seen as a hilarious joke (or so the story goes). This evolved into the French April 1 prank of affixing a paper fish to someones back, which is still practiced to this day, mainly by school kids; its why French people call April 1 poisson davril, or "April fish."I like the alternative April fish origin story better, though: The real prank was secretly sliding a fish in someones pocket and hoping they didnt notice until it started to stink. Thats timeless comedy and requires no explanation.So case closed, right? April Fools Day began in France when the calendar changed. Nah. Probably not (April Fools!), because the first written reference to the day dates back some two decades earlier, to 1561. Flemish writer Eduard De Denes Refereyn vp verzendekens dach / Twelck den eersten April te zyne plach is a comical poem about a nobleman sending his gullible servant on a series of ridiculous fake errands on April 1. Along with a message that remains timely today (Youre a fool to believe what someone says on April 1), the poem makes it clear that the seasonal pranks were already a widespread, well-known phenomenon decades before the calendar changed in France. Unlike many holidays with changing customs and rites, April Fools seems to be celebrated in much the same way now as it was in the 1500s.April Fools Day origin #2: The ancient Romans did itSome historians have dug all the way back to Ancient Rome to uncover evidence of the first April fool. Back then, they called days of rejoicing hilaria. People had private hilaria, like their wedding days, or public ones, like the Hilaria Matris Dem, celebrated on March 25 as part of a 10-day festival to honor Cybele, the mother of the gods. After several festival days devoted to fasting, castration, mourning, and scourging, the hilaria gave everyone the chance to enjoy some much-needed fun, playing games and having orgies (I assume). The biggest highlight of Hilaria Matris Dem was masquerading. You could get away with imitating anyone you wanted on this day, including government officials. So maybe this was the original April Fools Day? The evidence seems a little shaky to me. The time of year is roughly correct, but the connection to pranks and hoaxes seems tenuousdressing up as someone to mock them is not the same as tricking them into eating a donut filled with mayonnaise.Since no one knows where or when April Fools Day originated, so Im going to say it came fromoh, Denmark. From there, it spread to the rest of Europe, probably. No matter the origin, by the late 1600s, April Fools' Day was so firmly established that newsletters saw no reason to explain it to readers. For example, the April 2, 1698 edition of Dawkss News-Letter contains an item that reads: Yesterday being the first of April, several persons were sent to the Tower Ditch to see the Lions washed. (Sending fools to see lions washed is hilarious.)April Fools Day goes from personal to publicWhether its sticking a paper fish on someones back or sending tourists to the lion washings, the first few 100 years of April Fools Day pranks were personal. It wasnt an official holiday; it was just a bunch of folks joshing their friends or strangers on the street. But as society shifted from individual experiences to more mediated ones, the nature of April pranks shifted too. Beginning in the early 1900s, newspapers started publishing fake stories on April 1. Then radio started doing it, telling listeners that wasps were about to attack them, or the world was going to end. In the 1950s, television got in the act; even the staid BBC pranked viewers with a fake story about the Swiss spaghetti harvest.The April Fools pranks current most popular formfake announcements on the internetis fitting for the state of our culture. Traditionally pranks were at least enjoyable for the one doing the pranking, but modern April Fools isnt fun for anyone. The audience knows its going to happen, so no one is really tricked, and the technology and media companies that are pranking people are doing it because they want clicks and engagement to further solidify their brand image. That's the opposite of fun. The only thing that was ever good about April Fools' Day is that it was a home-grown, unofficial folk holiday of the people. The jerky people, but still. Now April Fools' Day is entirely corporation-approved. Why April Fools' Day needs to dieThere arent really any studies on this, but strictly from a personal Ive been on the Internet for a long time perspective, the popularity of online April Fools jokes have been declining for several years and hopefully it drops off to nothing soon. No one needs a holiday that has victims. In the disinformation age, every day is April 1 anyway; were constantly being taken for fools. Were bombarded by people using technology to try to trick us, whether its criminal robots sending texts to steal the money in our bank accounts, influencers monetizing our envy through filters and careful camera angles, AI-generated deep-fakes of the pope in a puffer jacket, or the more subtle but all-encompassing hoaxes of modern politics and commerce as a whole. Hearing some jerkass saying "Ha ha, tricked you," just isn't funny anymoreif it ever was.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.For April Fools' Day, I thought I'd look into the fascinating story of a major source of one of the longest-lasting and widely believed conspiracy theories in American history. According to a 2023 YouGov poll, 54% of Americans believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone when he gunned down president John F. Kennedy in 1963so most Americans are wrong about this, and they're wrong about it partly due to a work of fiction published in the late 1960s.The granddaddy of all modern conspiracy theoriesWidespread disbelief in the "official story" of the Kennedy assassination has inspired a library of books, congressional hearings, major motion pictures, and most recently, the declassification of thousands of documents (none of which, by the way, support the idea of a conspiracy). But more importantly, Kennedy assassination conspiracies normalized and mainstreamed conspiracy theories in general, bolstering every piece of fake news that followed, from Obama's birth certificate to vaccine skepticismif the government could cover up a political assassination, the argument goes, they could be up to anything. But what if the basis of the most widely accepted Kennedy conspiracy theory was a work of satirical fiction? That's the premise behind Phil Tinline's recent book Ghosts of Iron Mountain: The Hoax of the Century, Its Enduring Impact, and What It Reveals About America Today, an examination of the history and impact of Report from Iron Mountain, a 1967 work of fiction that started as left-wing satire but became one of the most influential texts in American history. Oliver Stone's JFK and the "CIA did it" conspiracyWhile there are hundreds of theories about who was really behind Kennedy's assassination and why they did it, probably the most widely accepted version of the story, the one you may believe, is the theory Oliver Stone went with in his 1991 film JFK: The CIA killed Kennedy because he was about to withdraw troops from Vietnam and end the Cold War. Main character Jim Garrison lays it out like this in the film: "What took place on November 22, 1963 was a coup d'tat ... The war is the biggest business in America worth $80 billion a year. President Kennedy was murdered by a conspiracy that was planned and advanced at the highest levels of our government, and was carried out by fanatical and disciplined cold warriors in the Pentagon and CIA's covert-operation apparatus."But where did Stone's protagonist get this idea? As Tinline's book details, the CIA theory is laid out in JFK by "X," a character based on real-life former air-force colonel L. Fletcher Prouty. Prouty's source is what he believed was a "suppressed think-tank paper" called Report from Iron Mountain: On the Possibility and Desirability of Peace. And Report from Iron Mountain is a literary hoax dreamed up by the editors of the short-lived, left-wing satirical journal The Monocle. The birth of Report from Iron MountainBack in 1966, Victor Navasky, editor of The Monocle, read a news item about a dip in the stock market caused by a cutback in military spending; Wall Street called it a"peace scare." This inspired Navasky to commission writer Leonard Lewin, with help from economist John Kenneth Galbraith and others, to write Report from Iron Mountain, supposedly the leaked findings of "Special Study Group" tasked by the Kennedy Administration to plan the transition from a wartime to a peacetime economy. Its conclusion: Peace would likely bring about the collapse of the USA.Iron Mountain was edited by H.L. Mencken, and published as a work of non-fiction in 1967, but most reviewers and literary types recognized it as social commentary. Members of the general public were divided, however, so author Lewin dispelled all doubt by confirming Iron Mountain was a hoax in 1974. And that should have been the end of it. But it wasn't.The strange afterlife of Report from Iron MountainThe real point of Iron Mountain was to highlight the absurdity of the Cold War through exaggeration and satirethe book tips its hand fairly heavily by suggesting UFO hoaxes, "blood games," and bringing back slavery as possible replacement for warbut its ideas, shorn of their satirical context, spun outside the control of the literary types who dreamed it up. Iron Mountain started percolating in the poisonous coffee pot of fringe thinkers, combining and metastasizing with other seminal, fictional, conspiracy texts like Alternative 3 and The Protocols of the Brotherhood of Zion, until Iron Mountain became a foundational text for cranks, part of the ideological framework they can hang anything on. It wasn't just Oliver Stone's source who mistook Report from Iron Mountain as truth. Much to the author's dismay, the book was also rediscovered by the burgeoning-right wing militia movement of the 1980s, and reprinted as non-fiction by the anti-semitic Noontide Press. Milton William Cooper excerpted Iron Mountain in seminal conspiracy theory text Behold a Pale Horse, said to be a favorite of Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh. From there, it's a straight shot to "The Deep State," Q-anon, Alex Jones, Covid cover-ups, and whatever else loonies are on about this week on X.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youre a Mac user who just wants the classic Microsoft Office experience without the whole subscription situation, this $42.99 deal on Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac might be worth your attention. Normally priced at $229, its a one-time purchase that gives you lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic on just one Mac. Thats itno monthly fees, renewals, or ongoing charges. Youll get an instant email with your redemption code and download link, so you can be up and running within minutes.This is Office 2019not 365 or 2021. Microsoft has already ended support for Office 2019 on Mac, which means you wont receive any more security updates or bug fixes. If you like staying fully up-to-date, this isnt for you, but if your needs are simplewriting reports, sending email, managing budgets, making presentationsit still holds up just fine. Its designed to work with macOS 13 through 15 and takes advantage of Mac features like Retina display support and full-screen mode. Youll need at least 4GB of RAM and 10GB of hard disk space, so make sure your setup can handle it. Just one key step: once you install it, turn off auto-update. Otherwise, it might upgrade you to 2021, making this lifetime license pointless.There are no frills herejust full access to the essential Office suite for a one-time price. This is a solid deal if youre a student, freelancer, or small business owner who doesn't need cloud syncing or the newest version every year. You wont get ongoing support and can't use it on multiple devices simultaneously, though you can switch devices (the license is tied to your Microsoft account, not your Mac). But for everyday productivity on a single Mac, its a straightforward, affordable solutionespecially if youre tired of renting your software.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon's Big Spring Sale might almost be over (it ends tonight), but there's still plenty of good tech deals to be found for cheap. Across Amazonplus Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and moregadgets from laptops to TVs are still seeing deep discounts. Shopping these sales can be a bit difficult unless you know how to track an items price history, but fortunately, Ive already done all of the work for you. Prices are accurate as of the time of writing, but you can expect them to fluctuate and for inventory to sell out, so you may not want to hesitate if you see a sale that grabs you. The best deals on laptops Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch with M4 Chip $949.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $949.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $50.00 Sales events are a great time to buy laptops, as they're one of the most frequent items to go on sale during these periods. Here are some of my favorite picks for the best laptop deals available now.Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 Chip: $949 at Amazon (was $999). Released earlier this month, Apple's M4 MacBook Air is already on sale. At time of writing, the discount only applies to the 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM, but that's still enough for plenty of users.Apple MacBook Pro with M4 Chip: $1,399 at Amazon (was $1,599). For a more powerful Apple computer, the MacBook Pro is the obvious choice. As time of writing, sales are present across all chip options (the M4 has multiple upgrades available), as well as across multiple RAM and storage loadouts, but you will need to stick to a 14-inch screen.Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: $1,475 at Amazon (was $1,699). A Windows-based alternative to the MacBook Air, although with power potentially rivaling the Pro at points, this lightweight laptop is a touch more expensive, but comes with a higher resolution OLED screen with a higher refresh rate, plus the ability to convert into a tablet.Microsoft Surface Laptop: $921 at Amazon (was $1,400). A cheaper alternative to the MacBook Air, the Microsoft Surface Laptop offers a familiar form factor and, thanks to its Qualcomm chip, higher battery life and greater AI compatibility, although at the cost of some performance.Lenovo IdeaPad 1i: $420 at Best Buy (was $600). This is a more basic, "get the job done" kind of laptop, but with a respectable mid-range chip, surprisingly generous storage for the price, and a touchscreen, there's quite a bit of value to be had here.HP Victus 16 Gaming Laptop: $900 at Best Buy (was $1,500). The HP Victus 16 is a tremendous deal below $1,000, getting you a respectable chip, 16GB of RAM, and enough storage to get by, but also the RTX 4070 GPU, which is typically reserved for much more expensive machines.The best deals on tablets Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip $909.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Get Deal $909.00 at Amazon $999.00 Save $90.00 Good tablets are a bit rarer to find deals on during sales events, since iPads so overwhelmingly dominate the space, and Apple can be a little more stringent with supply. Still, there are good opportunities to be found if you're willing to look.Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro with M4 Chip: $919 at Amazon (was $999). Apple's first iPad with an OLED screen, the M4 Pro is now available for less than four figures, with deals available for all storage configurations.Microsoft Surface Pro 13-Inch: $1,000 at Best Buy (was $1,200). This pick blurs the line between a tablet and a laptop, coming equipped with Windows 11, which gives it a full desktop ecosystem of apps to explore. Plus, this particular model also has a few Copilot+ goodies thrown in. Storage is 512GB and RAM is 16GB.Google Pixel Tablet: $279 at Amazon (was $399). A more affordable tablet, this device uses the same Tensor G2 chipset as the Pixel 7 line, has 8GB of RAM, and features a 2,560 x 1,600 display. That means it's on the humbler side, but as a positive, it can also double as a smart display.The best deals on phones Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked) $629.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $169.01 Get Deal Get Deal $629.99 at Amazon $799.00 Save $169.01 Similar to tablets, the current phone deals are a bit held back by Apple, as iPhone sales tend to be a bit hit-or-miss, often relying on third-party sellers with refurbished devices. However, if you're on Android, you have a wealth of options.Google Pixel 9 (Unlocked): $629 at Amazon (was $799). Google's latest non-pro phone has the Tensor G4 chip, a lot of exclusive Gemini-powered goodies, and a 6.3-inch OLED "Actua" display.Samsung Galaxy S25 (Unlocked): $700 at Amazon (was $800). Samsung's Galaxy phones are a favorite alternative to Google's Pixels, with a more traditional camera setup and more powerful chips. You lose out on Google's exclusive Pixel software features, but if you can get used to Samsung's own ecosystem, there's also some convenience to be gained with its spin on Android.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (Unlocked): $1,067 at Amazon (was $1,220). Flip phones are still an expensive proposition, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is a bit more affordable with the sale. This phone has many of the same specs as the S25, albeit with the camera's performance being traded out a bit in favor of the foldable screen.Motorola Razr+ (Unlocked): $749 at Amazon (was $1,000). This nostalgic flip phone is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Z Flip series, with a slightly weaker chipset but also a slightly larger size.The best deals on TVs Amazon Fire TV 55" $769.99 at Amazon $899.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal Get Deal $769.99 at Amazon $899.99 Save $130.00 Like laptops, TVs almost always go on sale at every opportunity, and waiting until these discounts drop is a great way to get a display that punches above its weight class.LG 77-inch B3 OLED TV: $1,487 at Amazon (was $2,297). OLED is still my favorite display tech out there, and if I can get on my soapbox for a moment, it's the only one that really compares to CRTs. LG makes some of the best OLED TVs around, and this big-screen model has a 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. There are four HDMI 2.1 inputs.Samsung 50-inch QN90D QLED TV: $998 at Amazon (was $1,398). QLED takes a different approach than OLED, sacrificing pixel-perfect pure blacks in favor of higher brightness and more affordability. Samsung's Neo QLED tech combines this with Mini-LEDs to help claw some of that contrast back, and is a great choice at this price point, especially with its built-in 4K upscaling and Dolby Atmos support.TCL 55-inch Class Q6-Series 4K Smart Google TV: $300 at Best Buy (was $320). If you're not big on Amazon's or Roku's operating systems, then a TCL TV is a good bet. This model comes in up to 98 inches, has a 4K QLED panel, supports Dolby Vision, and has a 60Hz native refresh rate.The best deals on headphones and earbuds Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Headphones and earbuds are one of those things that it's easy to forget about in an upgrade cycle. If you can hear your content, that's good enough for most people, right? But discounts present an easy excuse to improve your gear and get access to features you didn't even know you were missing.Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones: $318 at Amazon (was $400). These are Sony's flagship over-ear headphones, complete with noise canceling, a promised 30-hour battery life, and Alexa voice control alongside capacitive touch control.Apple AirPods Max Headphones: $513 at Amazon (was 549). Apple's AirPods Max are a great choice for anyone in the Apple Ecosystem, especially with the USB-C version's recent adoption of lossless audio.Bose QuietComfort Headphones: $249 at Amazon (was $349). Bose's QuietComfort headphones are a little cheaper that Sony and Apple's most recent flagships, but still promise strong noise canceling performance as well as battery life that will last you over a day.Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Earbuds: $199 at Amazon (was $250). Apple's 2nd Gen AirPods Pro added a few new software tricks that make them a great upgrade, including conversation awareness and even the ability to use them as hearing aids.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: $219 at Amazon (was $299). Conversely, if you don't need to be in the Apple ecosystem, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra offer outstanding noise cancelling for an in-ear product, plus an upgraded Bluetooth codec.The best deals on smartwatches Apple Watch Series 10 $329.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $329.00 at Amazon $399.00 Save $70.00 Smartwatches are one of those smartphone value adds that seem easy to ignore, until you have one. Then it's hard to go back. If you're either a fitness enthusiast, or you just want to make tap-to-pay and music controls a little simpler, here are a few good ways to get started.Apple Watch Series 10: $329 at Amazon (was $399). Apple's current standard smartwatch, the Series 10, is on sale across both its 42mm and 46mm sizes. It comes with a sport loop and features a thinner design and bigger display than the previous model.Apple Watch SE Gen 2: $199 at Amazon (was $249). If all you need from a smartwatch is the absolute basics, the Apple Watch SE is a budget option that can still do tap-to-pay and track your fitness. It's currently on sale in both its 40mm and 44mm sizes, and comes with a sport band.Pixel Watch 3: $290 at Amazon (was $350). Google's own smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 3, offers a more rounded design than the Apple Watch and includes some extra smarts straight from Fitbit. It's on sale in both 41mm and 45mm sizes and comes with an elastic band.Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: $240 at Best Buy (was $300). A slightly cheaper Android option, the Galaxy Watch 7 still has full WearOS compatibility and measures over a dozen different fitness statistics. It's on sale in both 40mm and 44mm sizes and comes with an elastic band.Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: $420 at Best Buy (was $650). One of the few premium smartwatches on sale right now, this Galaxy Watch upgrade comes with a titanium design, an extra button, and improved waterproofing. It only comes in 47mm and includes an elastic band.The best deals on desktop PCs Apple M4 iMac $549.00 at Amazon $599.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $549.00 at Amazon $599.00 Save $50.00 Not everyone needs their computers to come with a screen and keyboard attached. If you do all your computing at a desk, here are a few great stationary computers that will give you all the power you need.M4 Mac Mini: $549 at Amazon (was $599). Apple's Mac Mini got a much-needed refresh in 2024, with a new design and Apple's latest chip. This model comes with the M4 chip, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage.M4 iMac: $1,204 at Amazon (was $1,299). If you need your desktops to have a screen built-in, iMacs are always a good bet. This model, also revamped in 2024, comes with the M4 chip, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and a 24-inch display.Minisforum DeskMini UM870 Slim: $480 at Amazon (was $580). Apple isn't the only company in on the Mini PC game. Over in Windows land, Minisforum has made a name for itself with small computers, and this one has a capable Ryzen 7 8745H chip, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Dell Inspiron 3030: $650 at Dell (was $900). When it comes to office computers with more traditional form factors, Dell is a classic standby. This Inspiron deal will net you a respectable Intel Core i7-14700 chip, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.MSI Codex R2 Gaming Desktop: $829 at Newegg (was $899). As for gaming, this deal is a good starting point, with an Intel Core i5-13400F chip, an RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a couple of RGB-equipped fans thrown in for good measure.Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop: $4,650 at Dell (was $5,050). On the ultra-premium end of the spectrum, you can save a bit on one of the most powerful desktops out right now, even if you'll still end up paying a hefty sum in the end. This Alienware Area-51 gaming desktop boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 chip, a very recent Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card, 64GB of memory, and 4TB of storage. Wow.The best sales on video game tech Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller $44.99 at Walmart $59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Get Deal $44.99 at Walmart $59.99 Save $15.00 The best video game sales tend to be more often relegated to summer and fall, but there are still a few sales to be found right now, especially on hardware and accessories.Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition: $435 at Amazon (was $450). It's a slight discount, but if you're willing to live without a disc drive, you can find some small savings on Microsoft's most powerful Xbox.PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition Astro Bot Bundle: $400 at Amazon (was $460). This PS5 deal snags you a console without a disc drive plus the critically acclaimed Astro Bot game, all for less than buying a PS5 usually costs on its own.PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition Astro Bot Bundle: $449 at Amazon (was $510). If you prefer to get your games physically, or you watch a lot of Blu-Ray movies, this Astro Bot PS5 bundle as another great way to save on both items.PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle: $399 at Amazon (was $469). This deal comes with a PSVR2 headset and controllers alongside the Horizon Call of the Mountain game, giving you everything you need to get started with console VR. Plus, the PSVR2 now works with PC using an adapter.Amazon Fire TV 4K Max with Xbox Core Wireless Controller and 1 Month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: $105 at Amazon (was $145). This bundle will snag you Amazon's best streaming stick plus an Xbox controller and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, turning it into a full-on cloud gaming console.Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller: $45 at Amazon (was $60). Almost no video game accessory is as versatile as the basic Xbox controller, which can work across a slew of devices and has a standard layout that most games recognize immediately.Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors

While Prime Video hasn't released a full list of content coming to the platform in April, the streamer is dropping a handful of original series and films throughout the month. toile (April 24), a new series from the creator of Gilmore Girls and Prime Video's hit The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is a drama/comedy about the competitive world of dance set in New York and Paris. The eight-episode show also stars The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel cast members Luke Kirby and Gideon Glick. Fans of horror and gore (and Kevin Bacon) may want to catch action series The Bondsman (April 3), in which Bacon plays a murdered bondsman who has been resurrected by the devil and sent on a mission to collect demons that have escaped from hell. Also in the action genre (and for fans of Die Hard) is new original film G20 (April 10), in which Viola Davis stars as the U.S. president trying to save the world when the G20 summit is taken over by terrorists. Prime Video's April lineup includes new seasons of two reality shows, starting with the second installment of Americas Test Kitchen: The Next Generation (April 1). The culinary competition hosted by Jeannie Mai and judge Dan Souza pits 11 aspiring cooks against each other for a spot on America's Test Kitchen. At the end of the month, fashion personalities Clinton Kelly and Stacy Londonof What Not To Wear famewill reunite for Wear Whatever The F You Want (April 29), a reimagining of their original style-makeover show. Here are all the originals coming to Prime Video in April.Whats coming to Prime Video in April 2025Available April 1America's Test Kitchen: The Next GenerationAvailable April 3The BondsmanAvailable April 8Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuXSpy HighAvailable April 10G20Available April 13Godfather of HarlemAvailable April 17#1 Happy Family USALeverage: Redemption (US + UK only)Available April 18LOL: Se Rir, J Era!Available April 24toileAvailable April 29Wear Whatever The F You Want

Summer is on the wayat least for those of us in the northern hemisphereand Google has pushed out some useful upgrades across several apps to make your travel planning a little easier (and a little more reliant on AI).First, the AI Overviews that you've no doubt noticed up at the top of Google search results are being expanded to cover travel itineraries for regions and countries, as well as cities. All you need to do is ask for a plan for a certain place (like the south of France), together with any requirements (such as kids or a specific budget), and the AI will do the rest.You get a day-by-day breakdown of where you should go and what you should do, and you can check out photos and reviews left by other usersas well as quickly share recommendations via Google Docs or Gmail, if you have fellow travelers. This is live now for U.S. users, but heed Google's own warning that generative AI is experimental: Double-check the details with information from actual human beings. AI Overviews can now produce itineraries for regions and countries. Credit: Google Secondly, there's a new price tracking option over at google.com/hotels. This works like it already does for Google Flights, where Google will email you if prices change for certain dates at a hotel you've got your eye onso you can grab a bargain quickly. It's a useful feature for saving money on plane tickets, so it's good to see it available for hotels too. This feature is now rolling out globally.Third, there's going to be a new Screenshots feature in Google Maps: If you choose to enable it, the app will scan your screenshots for place names, and quickly get you to those spots on the map. If you're someone who's always collecting screen grabs of places you want to visit, this should prove helpful, and all the AI text detection work is done locally.This place recognition feature seems to be based on text alone, rather than combining images and text, so your screenshots will need recognizable locations that appear as text. This is appearing now in Google Maps for iOS for U.S. users, and is apparently "coming soon" to Google Maps for Android. Google Maps is now able to pick out places from your screenshots. Credit: Google And there's another recent AI upgrade for Google Maps that isn't mentioned in Google's latest official blog post. As spotted by Android Authority, if you select a place in Google Maps on Android and then enable Gemini with a voice command or button push, you get an Ask about place shortcut above the main input box. You can then ask whatever you want about the selected location. It's not a new feature, but it's now easier to get to.Back to Google's official announcements: The last two are more reminders about features that have already gone live. As Lifehacker reported a couple of weeks ago, custom Gemini Gems AI bots are now available to all users, with or without a Gemini Advanced subscriptionso anyone can create a Gem specifically for travel advice (from popular spots to visit, to what to pack), Google suggests.Finally, Google again promotes the capabilities of Google Lens for your travels. In the Google app for Android and iOS, you're able to tap the Lens (camera) icon in the search box, snap a picture, and ask questions about what you're looking atlike "what is this used for?" or "what's the history of this place?" You then get AI-powered responses above regular search results.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Sonos brand is well known in the smart speaker and surround sound space. And very much like Apple, people will pay a premium price for their minimalistic, premium quality, and discounts are often hard to come by. But today, the Sonos Arc, which was Sonos' flagship soundbar prior to the launch of the Sonos Arc Ultra, is $599, $300 off its usual $899 price. It's also a record low price for this model, according to price-tracking tools. Maximum Output Power:110 Watts, Connectivity Technology:Wi-Fi, Audio Output Mode:Surround Mount. Sonos Arc Soundbar $599.00 at Amazon $899.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $599.00 at Amazon $899.00 Save $300.00 SEE -2 MORE Sonos speakers are not for everyone, if only because you'll have to justify paying around two grand for a complete surround sound system when you can get a setup like the Samsung Q990C for about half the price. But audiophiles swear they can hear the difference, so the cost might be worth it to you. If you pick up this soundbar, you'll want to consider the Sonos 300 rear speakers and the Gen 4 subwoofer to go with itthey're the latest Sonos has to offer, though you can choose Eras 100 or an older or smaller subwoofer to lower the price tag.As for the Arc, it offers Dolby Atmos, providing immersive three-dimensional sound with height channels that simulate audio coming from above you (you can read the details in PCMag's "excellent" review). It offers enough of a low-end kick that you don't really need a subwoofer if you have a small space. If you already own other Sonos speakers, you can seamlessly connect them through the Sonos app to create a surround sound setup or a multi-room system.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you like to buy in bulk or just want one less thing to worry about during weekly errands, this sale might be worth the look: You can get a one-year membership to Sam's Club for $25 right now on StackSocial. It's half the usual price, but the catch is that its only for new members in the U.S. If you're eligible, though, the sale opens up access to warehouse prices on groceries, household staples, electronics, furniture, and even tires. Its not just bulk cereal and 40-roll packs of paper towels anymoretheres a surprising amount of variety on the shelves. Youll need to activate your membership within 30 days of buying the code (and definitely before May 28, 2025, or the promo becomes invalid). Also, the code is non-transferable, so make sure youre signing up for yourself.Sams Club uses a limited-item business model, meaning fewer brands per category but carefully selected products across the board. From what regular members say, the quality holds up well, especially in categories like meat, produce, and household cleaning. The membership also includes perks like discounts on travel, rental cars, concert tickets, and even movie nightsso theres some value beyond groceries. You can shop in-store at one of their 597 U.S. locations or browse online through mobile and desktop platforms. Just be prepared for the occasional treasure hunt feelinventory can vary. That said, this deal includes auto-renewal, which means your card will be charged yearly (currently $50 for Club members, plus taxes) unless you cancel. If you like buying snacks for months in one go, finding discounts on random big-ticket items, or just having one place to cover most of your shopping list, this might be a practical pick. If you're more of a once-a-week, two-bags-max kind of shopper, it may not be worth the warehouse dive.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.The Oura Advisor, an AI feature formerly tucked away in Ouras beta testing program, is now rolling out to all Oura Ring customers. It takes the form of a chatbot that you can start a conversation with at any time from within the Oura appplus the Advisor promises to check in with you daily, weekly, or three times a week, depending on what you request. But do you actually want it to do any of those things?What does the Oura Advisor do? Credit: Beth Skawrecki Honestly, this seems to be a pretty standard fitness app AImeaning that all it really does is restate metrics from the app in a more conversational tone. The Advisor itself told me that it "analyze[s] your Oura data to provide insights and guidance tailored to your health goals." Its language is in the same style as the little encouraging sentences you get on the Oura home screen, and it tends to repeat the same kinds of advice.When you open a chat with the Advisor, it asks what youd like to talk about. So far I havent gotten it to tell me anything that wasnt already obvious from other screens of the app. When I asked why my resting heart rate has been high lately, it gave a generic list of reasons that a resting heart rate might be high for anyone. When I asked it for an insight (since it told me that its job is to provide insights), it told me my cardiovascular age, which is a metric that also appears on my app home screen.How to turn on the Oura AdvisorUntil recently, you had to opt in to Oura Labs (the beta testing program) to access the Advisor. Its still rolling out to all users, so if you want to try it in the meantime, you can turn on any Oura Labs features you like by going to the menu in the top left corner, selecting Oura Labs, and choosing what experiments youd like to turn on. (There is currently a meal tracking feature, and a heart check-in.)You do have to use the app in English, although Oura says they're planning to offer the Advisor in other languages in the future. Once the Advisor is enabled, you can tap the + in the bottom right corner (the same place you would add an activity or start a meditation session) and choose Advisor. This opens up the chat, and from this screen you can also adjust the Advisors settings.How to change settings and delete memories on the Oura AdvisorIn the chat, you can tap a settings icon in the upper right corner of the screen. The available settings are:Style: Conversational, conversational, or direct. I cant tell if the two conversational options are different, or if the duplication is an error on Ouras part.Check-in notifications: Daily, three times a week, or weekly; you can also set whether your preferred time of day is morning, afternoon, or evening (or any combination)Memories: The Advisor remembers things youve told it about yourself. My Memories section has The user participates in competitive weightlifting, and the user has been sick, both things I told it directly in our conversations. You can delete a memory by tapping the trash can icon next to it.There is also a button to reset the advisor, which means all settings, conversations, and memories will be deleted.To test what its getting from its memories, I asked the advisor if its data suggested I was getting sick. With the memory of my illness, it said yes, and suggested I might want to focus on recovery today. After deleting that memory, I asked the same question again. It said that my resting heart rate suggests Ive been under some stress, and that I might want to focus on recovery today.Is the Oura Advisor worthwhile? So far I havent seen the Advisor hallucinate data or say anything inappropriate, but it also hasnt told me anything I would consider an insight. I tried asking it about data that I cant easily read from the applike my long term resilience trendsand it said it didnt have that data available. On the Oura subreddit, most posts about the Advisor seem to be complaints that it isn't doing anything interesting, but one user said they were able to get the Advisor to talk to them about their meal choices logged with the Meals feature, which is still in beta. One user said the Advisor helped them to improve their resilience score, but they didn't provide much information about how it did that, just that they gave the advisor specific information about things like their sleep schedule. Now that the feature has rolled out to more users, perhaps we'll find out whether more people find it useful.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youve been waiting for a low-stakes opportunity to buy an iPad, this $159.99 bundle on StackSocial could check enough boxes. It includes a refurbished 7th-gen Apple iPad (2019) with 32GB of storage and wifi in Space Gray, plus a pair of refurbished Beats Flex headphones. The refurbished condition means its been tested and certified to work as expected, though you might spot some cosmetic wear. Youre also getting a solid handful of accessoriesa case, screen protector, stylus, charger, and cableall generic but usable.This isnt the newest iPad on the block, but it still runs iPadOS and handles the basics like email, Netflix, YouTube, and Zoom calls just fine. If you're not running Photoshop or editing videos, it does what most people need. That said, the 32GB of internal storage is tightafter system files and apps, you're not left much room. And since iPads dont support microSD cards, cloud storage or streaming is your best workaround. Battery life is around 10 hours, which is fine for a day of use. The front and rear cameras are both 8MP and 1.2MP, so don't expect Instagram-ready shots, but theyre fine for FaceTime.The inclusion of Beats Flex wireless headphones makes this bundle a little better. Theyre not high-end, but they get the job done for casual music, calls, or blocking out noise while watching a show. The neckband design isnt for everyone, but they stay in place and have a 12-hour battery life. All things considered, this bundle makes sense if you're looking for a reliable tablet for the kids, for travel, or just as a backup screen for light tasks.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you're looking for a MacBook without dropping over a grand, this refurbished 13" 2020 Apple MacBook Air is going for $439.99 on StackSocial right now. Thats a fraction of the original price, and it comes with 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 processor. Its not the latest and greatest, but it holds up surprisingly well for students, freelancers, or anyone who needs a decent everyday laptop for web browsing, emails, documents, and streaming. Youre also getting that bright 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone, which still looks sharp and vibrant in 2024.This model comes with the backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID, which makes unlocking your Mac or making secure purchases easy. The build is sleek, and at just under three pounds, its light enough to carry around all day. Battery life is also solidyou can expect up to 11 hours of wireless web use or 12 hours of video playback. Your mileage may vary depending on usage. Youll get two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports for charging and accessories, and while that can feel limiting, a simple hub can easily expand your setup. It runs macOS and is compatible with updates to macOS Sonoma 14, so youre not locked out of modern apps or features.Its rated Grade-A refurbished, so you might see minimal cosmetic wear, but performance should be unaffected. It ships with a MagSafe charger and comes with a 30-day parts and labor warranty from a third party, not Apple. Thats something to factor in if long-term support matters to you. It also wont blow you away with speed or handle heavy creative work like video editing or 3D rendering. Still, this deal checks the right boxes for writing, streaming, Zoom calls, and basic productivityespecially if you just want a clean, modern MacBook without paying full price.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Kodak Printomatic Mini Instant Print Camera is about the size of a power bank, light enough to toss in your pocket, and quick to fire up when something photo-worthy happens. You snap, it prints, and you get a little sticker photo you can slap on your scrapbook, phone case, bedroom wall, or wherever you want. There are no cables, ink cartridges, or waiting for an app to syncyou can just point, shoot, and print, and it's on sale for $59.99 on StackSocial right now. It's obviously more of a playful gift or party gadget than something youd use for serious photography, but if you want to instantly hand out memories, especially to kids or during events, it does the job with minimal effort and no mess.As mentioned, this isnt a camera you buy for image quality. It maxes out at 5MP, so the photos are more for fun than for framing. The 2x3-inch prints come out smudge-proof and water-resistant, though, thanks to its Zero Ink techKodak ZINK photo paperwhich eliminates the need for ink cartridges. You wont get film-like depth or editing options here. There's a wide-angle 8mm lens with an f/2 aperture and an automatic flash that kicks in when lighting is trash, but you're not shooting your next short film on this thing. Still, you can keep taking photos while it prints in the background, making it a decent companion for chaotic birthdays or travel days when youre hopping from one view to the next.As for the fine print, it doesnt come with a charging cable, which is an odd omission considering it uses a built-in rechargeable battery and charges via MicroUSB. And while it comes with a small starter pack of ZINK paper, if you plan to go full scrapbook mode, youll want to stock up. Youll also need to have a microSD card separately if you want to save your photos digitally. There's no screenjust a basic viewfinderand no real control over how your images turn out. But for people who just want to point, shoot, and print something instantly, it nails that simple joy.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If your current Windows setup is feeling a bit outdated or youre setting up a brand-new PC, you might want to check out this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro deal on StackSocialyou can get this single-device lifetime license for just $15, which would usually cost you $200 at the Microsoft Store. Once you buy, the redemption code and setup instructions hit your inbox instantly. That said, make sure your system is eligible before you hit purchase. This isnt an upgrade path for unsupported PCsits a fresh install for machines that meet the full list of Windows 11 Pro requirements.Now, about the OS itselfit feels like Windows finally got a glow-up without messing with your workflow. The layout is cleaner, Snap Layouts and virtual desktops make multitasking smoother, and redocking windows actually works like you'd expect. If youre into voice typing or just want better search across apps and docs, it delivers. Windows 11 Pro also throws in some solid pro tools like BitLocker for encryption, Hyper-V for virtualization, and even a sandbox mode for testing apps safely. Youre also getting DirectX 12 Ultimate, so your hardware can shine during gaming or graphic-heavy tasks, assuming your machine is beefy enough.Security is another win here. Windows 11 Pro doubles down with biometric login, Smart App Control, and TPM 2.0 requirements, which makes it a tougher nut to crack. It also includes the new AI-powered Copilot and baked-in Microsoft Teams support, which might appeal to remote workers. Just a heads up, you wont get an Office upgrade bundled in with this dealthis is strictly a Windows license. It will work alongside Office if you have a separate license, though (if youre on a Mac using Parallels Pro). If your PC meets the specs (like a 1GHz processor, 4GB RAM, TPM 2.0, and UEFI firmware, among others), and youve been holding off on a full Windows upgrade, this $14.97 deal is about as straightforward and affordable as it gets. Just be sure to double-check your specs before clicking buy.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.I've been testing portable projectors for a bunch of different use cases, but few, if any, have come close to the complete package offered by the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro. It's my favorite of the lot, and right now, you can get the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro portable projector for $379 )down from $449.99) and get your choice of the Creative Optical Filter (normally $49.99) or the XGIMI Carrying Case (normally $69.99). Alternately, you can spend a bit more and get the PowerBase Stand and projector combo for $424.99 (originally $499.99). Whichever you choose, you'll be scoring an all-time low price, according to price tracking tools. Google TV and Netflix Favorites, 1080P resolution, 130 built-in stand, Ambient Light Mode, ISA 2.0. XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with Free Creative Optical Filter $379.99 at Amazon $499.98 Save $119.99 Get Deal Get Deal $379.99 at Amazon $499.98 Save $119.99 Google TV and Netflix Favorites, 1080P resolution, 130 built-in stand, Ambient Light Mode, ISA 2.0. XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with Free XGIMI Carrying Case $379.99 at Amazon $519.98 Save $139.99 Get Deal Get Deal $379.99 at Amazon $519.98 Save $139.99 Google TV and Netflix Favorites, 1080P resolution, 130 built-in stand, Ambient Light Mode, ISA 2.0. XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with PowerBase Stand $424.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal Get Deal $424.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $75.00 SEE 0 MORE The projector has two portsa USB and a micro HDMIso you can project from a laptop or phone, or you can simply screen mirror from your devices, since it uses the Google TV OS. Also, since the projector is "smart," it already comes with the typical apps like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, and you can download more from the Google Play Store. With 450 lumens and 1080p, it's best used in dark rooms, but you can get away with some ambient light (that's how I use it in my backyard).Where this projector truly shines is with the auto keystone focus feature. If you move it anywhere, it'll autocorrect to make the image look its best regardless of where you set it up. It also comes with a powerful 5W Harman Kardon speaker, which performs about on par with an Echo Dot.One caveat: This projector has no internal battery, which is a huge bummer. You'd need to use a portable charger, plug it into an outlet, or, perhaps more practically, spend the extra $45 to get the PowerBase Stand, which delivers 2.5 hours of battery life. If you plan to use it mostly indoors, you can rely on plugging it into a wall and go for one of the free items to save some money.

If you're expecting money from T-Mobile, there's good news: Your check should be just about on its way. As spotted by PCMag, T-Mobile's data breach settlement page now reports the following: "All court proceedings are now complete. The distribution of settlement payments is expected to begin April 2025." So long as payments roll out on time, claimants can expect their checks to start shipping out sometime this month. Why was T-Mobile sued?These payments are tied to a class-action lawsuit from an August 2021 data breach. Hackers stole information from tens of million of current and former T-Mobile customers, including first and last names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and driver's license information. T-Mobile originally claimed the hackers only compromised the data of 7.8 million current customers and 40 million former customers, but customers filed the lawsuit alleging the true number was around 76 million. While T-Mobile did not admit fault, the company did settle the suit, agreeing to a $350 million settlement payout. In addition, the company had to pay $150 million to beef up its security around customer data. The entire debacle cost T-Mobile half a billion dollars.How much are the payments?How much claimants actually receive from this settlement could be dependent on the amount of time and money they spent trying to fix their security issues. Claimants had to show documentation of their efforts, and could be reimbursed for both the money spent as well as an additional $25 per hour to compensate for their timefor a maximum possible payout of $25,000. Alternatively, victims could simply accept a $25 payment to put the entire case to rest. (If you lived in California at the time, that payout jumped to $100.)Unfortunately, it's far too late to claim a payment in this casethat deadline ended on January 23, 2023. If you made a claim, you should have been contacted in October of last year. I'm sorry if this news is arriving too late for you to claim money from the suit. However, if you did make a claim before that 2023 deadline, your Monday probably just got a little better.

Making a pizzeria-quality pizza at home is completely achievable, but it does take a little bit of know-how to make this happen. You can read my nine tips to get started, but you should know that theres one very special tip on that list. Doing this one thing makes a huge impact on your pizza, requires literally no work on your end, and costs no money. In short: You should be aging your pizza dough. I do it every time I make pizza now and I havent looked back.Homemade pizza makes for a fun, shareable family dinner, but I actually love making personal pizzas for lunch. Ill buy a pound of pizza dough from Trader Joes or Shoprite and cut it into four equal parts. I wrap the quadrants separately and start making personal pizzas for lunchone small dough ball gets used each day, while the others sit in the fridge and wait for their turn. That's four days in a row of personal pizza.As the dough aged, I noticed a change. The first days crust would be more difficult to stretch out, the dough would feel more firm, and the finished pizza crust would be more dense, with tiny, close-set air bubbles. With each subsequent day, the texture of the crust would improve. By day four, the crust would have big, irregular bubbles, stretch easily, and bake with a more pizzeria-like quality. Plus, the crust would be more flavorful. Great bubbling action happening here on my aged dough. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Why aging your pizza crust gives you better resultsWhether youre making your own homemade crust recipe or you're buying raw dough from the supermarket, pizza dough is a yeast-leavened bread, and yeast breads develop flavor as they ferment. Thats why many sourdough recipes suggest letting the dough cold-ferment in the fridge overnight, and why others suggest 72-hour fermentation periods for pizza dough.This extra time gives the yeast time to eat and release carbon dioxide to make those lovely air pockets. Additionally, the gluten in the dough gets time to relax, so you can actually stretch it without a fight. My favorite thing about pizzeria pizza is when those gigantic air bubbles blossom around the pie. The only way Ive been able to duplicate that at home is after aging my pizza dough in the fridge for three or four days.How to age (ferment) your pizza doughAging your pizza dough is so easy you might have done it by accident a few times already. If you buy your dough frozen from the supermarket, simply pop it into the fridge for at least three days. The first day is to thaw the dough, so its more like Day 0. Add 48 to 72 hours of additional time in the fridge for the dough to ferment. Left: 72-hour aged dough. Right: Un-aged dough. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann You can see the difference in the picture. The dough on the left has been fermenting for three days and the one on the right is just thawedtechnically ready to use but unfermented. There are tons of air bubbles on the aged dough, visible against the plastic. You can also see a difference in the overall elasticity, the aged dough is much looser while the un-aged dough on the right still maintains a tight shape with a smooth, un-bubbled surface.If you make your own pizza dough, mix the recipe as usual. After the dough is completely mixed, shape it into a smooth ball and put it into a plastic bag or in a lightly oiled large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Put it in the fridge for 48 to 72 hours. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Once its finished fermenting, scrape the dough out onto a floured surface and stretch the dough like you normally would. Slather it with tomato sauce (or one of these adventurous pizza sauces), top it and bake it until bubbling and crispy. And keep in mind, if you like big bubbles, make sure you dont pop them while you stretch the dough. You shall be rewarded.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.We all know that renovating and remodeling a house is expensive. An average kitchen renovation costs more than $27,000, and a bathroom will run you more than $25,000 even if your plans are relatively modest. A lot of that cost is labor, which runs anywhere from $20 to $150 per hour depending on the trade involved and the specific contractor. If youre looking to save some money on your home project, doing it yourself is one of the most obvious ways to go.But there are other, less obvious ways you can trim costs on your DIY renovation or remodel. To save money on a house project, its not always about buying cheaper materials or scaling back your design. Sometimes there are indirect actions you can take that lead to lower costs in surprising ways. Here are some unexpected strategies for reducing the overall costs of your next DIY project.Reuse demoThe demolition phase of a renovation project is something just about anyone can take care of themselves, and it saves a little money on labor. Plus, its cathartic to take a hammer to those outdated aspects of your house that youve hated since moving in.But if your goal is to save as much money as possible, hit pause before you swing that hammer and ask yourself if you can re-use any of the materials. Sanding and painting existing cabinetry instead of buying brand-new replacements is an obvious way to re-use materials instead of smashing them up, but think deeper:Tile. If your floor or backsplash tile is in good shape and still fits your new design, removing it carefully and cleaning it up instead of smashing it into pieces is a great use of existing resources.Decking. If youre removing an old composite deck, consider using some of the composite materials as framing for the replacement. This works best with roof decks or ground-level decks where you only need a slight elevation, but it can save you money on fresh timberand the composite materials will last longer.Removable stuff. All the things that can be easily removed instead of smashed up could be repurposed. Doors, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures dont need to be replaced unless theyre crucial to your design (or no longer work properly). If youre not going to re-use your doors, remember that theyre made of high-quality wood that could be cut up and repurposed elsewhereas headboards or furniture, for example, instead of buying new.Walls. Taking a sledgehammer to the walls is fun, but ask yourself if you actually need to replace the walls. Drywall can be repaired and rehabbed, even if the paper has been peeled away or damaged (using a specialty primer like this), and once fresh paint, tile, or wallpaper is applied no one will know its the same wall thats always been there.The Domino Effect. Consider whether you can save money on other projects by salvaging what you have. Old kitchen cabinets could be transferred to a garage or basement instead of buying new storage solutions for those areas, for example.If your dream involves fresh, brand-new everything, go for it. But spending a little time thinking about what you can salvage and re-use can add up to serious savings.Mix-up materialsBuying cheaper materials is one of the first things DIYers think of when trying to cut costsand it works! But theres a price to be paid, sometimes, in terms of the final look and durability of the finishes. One solution is to think about form and function separately. For example, cheap kitchen cabinets are usually not the most attractive, but a cabinet is essentially a wooden box. Cheap cabinets combined with high-end doors, drawer faces, hardware, and counter materials will look luxe but cost a lot less.You can also use different materials in different areas of a room. In the kitchen, for example, you can use different counter materials on the base cabinets and an island, going high-end in one area and mid-range in another. This not only saves you a little money, it adds a spice of variety to the design as well.Dry-fit everythingYouve heard the expression measure twice, cut once. Planning and taking your time are some of the easiest ways to save a little money on any home project. Before you start drilling, nailing, and driving screws into cabinets, for example, make sure they fit the way you expect and that there are no unexpected problems. Dry-fitting everything also lets you ensure your measurements for fill pieces and trim are correct, that all power cords will reach outlets, and that you havent overlooked anything thats going to be costly to fix.This concept applies to your skill set, as well. If youre planning to learn how to do something in real-time while youre actually doing it, be prepared to waste a lot of timeand expensive materials. Practicing things youve never done before will save you money in the long run. When I decided to remodel my bathroom, I bought small squares of drywall and practiced cutting and installing tile a few times before tackling the actual job, and it paid off because Id gotten basic mistakes out of the way before they could turn into tear-out-an-entire-wall-of-fresh-tile mistakes.Seek out dealsThings cost what people are willing to pay for them. If you can find high-end materials at discount prices, theyre still high-end, so before you break out the credit card to buy new, check out some options for lightly-used stuff, likeRecycling centers. Stores like Habitat for Humanitys ReStore chain take donated materials and sell them at steep discounts. You can find everything from flooring to kitchen cabinets at these stores, ranging from used-but-functional to brand new.Floor models. You can often find high-end appliances and furniture at steep discounts because of the relatively light wear-and-tear they suffer. It pays to make some calls or in-person visits to see what might be available. Your best bets for floor models are when new models come out, which is usually September/October for washers, dryers, and dishwashers, January/February for ovens, and May for refrigerators.Also, if you need framing material, you can look for the imperfect lumber at your local lumberyard or big box store. These pieces may not be perfectly straight, but can often be cut down to usable portions that might save you a lot of money.Remnants. Search for remnant stores to find leftover countertops, tile, and other renovation materials. When stone slabs are cut for custom countertops, for example, the remnants are often oddly-shaped or nonstandard size, so you can buy them cheap.Keep in mind, if you bought a full-sized slab that is cut down to fit your design, you can keep the remnants from that slab and use them as well. Often theres enough material left over to use as a small vanity countertop in your bathroom, for example.Keep the layoutOne of the easiest ways to add costs to your kitchen or bathroom renovation is to move the plumbing. It costs nearly $1,100 on average per piping run to relocate your plumbing, and can run much higher if youre making dramatic changes as opposed to shifting something a few feet this way or that. If you plan your design around the existing plumbing and electrical outlet layout, you can save a fair amount of money without losing any functionality.Tool librariesDIY projects often require tools youve never heard of before and may never use again. Renting those tools instead of buying them can save you some moneybut first check if your local library has a tool library. You might be able to use an expensive tool for a few days or weeks at zero cost, and you get to avoid trying to find a place to store something youll probably never need again.Camp inSimply by choosing to live in your house during your renovation youre saving money by not renting an apartment or hotel room. Yes, the dust and disorder can be stressful, but the savings will be significant.If youre renovating your kitchen or only bathroom, however, this can be a challenge. Not having a functioning kitchen probably means a fortune in food delivery bills, and not having a working bathroom is simply no way to live. Setting up a temporary kitchen is relatively easy. With a few small appliances like an air fryer, microwave, toaster oven, hot plate, and mini-fridge, you can do some basic cookery. A dish-washing station outside, in the bathroom, or by a utility sink in the laundry room or basement might not be an ideal experience, but it will get the job done.Its also possible to set up a usable temporary bathroomeven without plumbing. How fancy your bathroom accommodations have to be is entirely up to you, but as you shower in a makeshift stall in the basement, remind yourself how much money youre not spending on a hotel room.

If you're a gamer, beware a new malware that's pretending to be an ASUS utility. CoffeeLoader impersonates Armoury Crate, which manages ASUS and ROG software and peripherals, and infects your Windows machine with an infostealer that's nearly impossible to detect. How CoffeeLoader malware works According to an analysis by ZScaler, once on your system, the CoffeeLoader malware delivers the Rhadamanthys infostealer, which can extract credentials from applications like web browsers, email clients, crypto wallets, and even the password manager KeePass.CoffeeLoader then manages to evade most security tools on your device, including antivirus software and malware detectors, making it especially dangerous and difficult to catch. It does this in part by running on the graphics card (GPU), which security tools aren't as likely to scan, rather than your computer's CPU. It also uses techniques like Call Stack Spoofing, which changes its trail of function calls to appear harmless, and Sleep Obfuscation, through which it encrypts and locks itself in your computer's memory so it's unreadable to security scanners. CoffeeLoader will also use pathways like Windows Fibers that are less likely to be monitored by security software. How to protect your machine from CoffeeLoader malwareMalware like CoffeeLoader spreads successfully in part because it often looks like something trustworthy. Hackers may impersonate a brand like ASUS, leading you to believe you're downloading real software, whether from an ad, an online forum, a fake website found in search results, or a phishing attack via email or messenger app. To prevent a malware infection, use caution when downloading utilities or any type of software to your machine. Always go directly to the official siterather than clicking through search results or a forum linkto ensure you're getting the real thing. You should also follow basic cybersecurity best practices, like avoiding clicking links or opening attachments in messages that could be malicious. If you believe your device is infected, there are a few steps you can take to remove malware from your machine. Start by disconnecting your PC from the internet and rebooting in safe mode. Search for and delete temporary files (Settings > System > Storage > Local Disk > Temporary files) and check Task Manager for suspicious activity or processes running on your device. In general, you can use a malware scanner to identify and remove infections.

Even if you don't use a PC, you probably know about the Blue Screen of Death (or BSOD). This iconic error screen has been a core component of Windows since the OS' first version (though it looked a bit more like something out of The Matrix back then). The BSOD isn't something you necessarily want to seeespecially if you're Bill Gates showing off a new version of Windowsas it means some factor has crashed your system, and now your PC needs to restart. However, soon enough, when you do see it, you might not actually recognize it. As it happens, Microsoft is changing the look of the BSOD. The company announced the redesign in a Friday post on the Windows Insider blog. (The Windows Insider program allows software testers to try out new Windows features early before Microsoft launches them to the public.) In addition to a number of other new features and changes testers can try, there's the new BSOD, which Microsoft says is "more streamlined" and "better aligns with Windows 11 design principles," while maintaining the same technical information you'd expect from the traditional blue screen. The thing is, this new Blue Screen of Death isn't even blue. During testing, it appears green, but the screen will eventually be black when it rolls out to the public. (At least the BSOD acronym still holds up.) Further, the text you'll see is different. Gone is the emoticon of a frowny-face, which has defined the BSOD look since Windows 8. Now, the screen presents a simple message: "Your device ran into a problem, and needs to restart," followed by the current progress of the restart represented by a percentage. At the very bottom of the screen, you can see the stop code, as well as what failed. Credit: Microsoft This is far from the first time Microsoft has changed the BSOD for Windows. Martin Nobel has a great timeline of the changes, starting with that very first "Matrix-esque" screen back in Windows 1.0, to the warning Windows users of the 90s and 2000s are likely acutely acquainted with, all the way to the present design scheme kicked offwith 2012's Windows 8. The color, too, has flip-flopped over the years. Microsoft experimented with a black BSOD for Windows NT, Windows 8, Windows 10, and even an earlier version of Windows 11. If you hate change, there's a chance Microsoft could flip back to blue down the line. How to try out Windows' new Blue Screen of Death I hope you don't run into a BSOD often. However, if you'd like your next encounter with a system crash to be with the new error screen, you'll need to enroll your PC in the Windows Insider program. Since the Insider program lets you test out new versions of Windows before the general public, there is a risk for bugs and other issues following the install. Make sure any important data is backed up before enrolling. If you're OK with those risks, you can follow our guide here to enroll your PC. This particular change is rolling out to the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels, not the Release Preview Channel, so you'll need to enroll in one of these three channels in order to see the new BSOD. If you're looking to minimize your risk, I'd recommend the Beta channel here. This channel features builds that Microsoft has already tested, which means some of the issues have likely already been discovered and patched. It's not risk-free, but it offers a better balance than Dev, which throws the newest Windows features your way that haven't necessarily been tested yet.

The real 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, is a saying that asserts 80% of outcomes come from 20% of all causes. You can use it to organize your to-do list, among other things. But to many young men, 80/20 means something very different. Young men are not alright. Masculinity is growing more toxic by the day. Online incel communities are growing, and the most receptive audience to poisonous ideas about gender seems to be children. This week's column isn't going to be fun: I'm explaining one of the guiding principles of the incel movement, and discussing a TikToker devoted to changing her red pill son's mind. And I can't talk about toxic masculinity without mentioning Elon Musk! Spray some deodorizer and let's jump into the dank, upsetting world of incel beliefs.What is the 80/20 rule?The Netflix series Adolescence, is currently the buzziest show on streaming, a harrowing exploration of the inner world of an angry young boy accused of murdering one of his classmates, a girl who spurned him. One of the teenage characters mentions the 80/20 rule as a way of explaining the incel/red pill culture that's central to the murder plot. Put simply, the 80/20 rule is an axiom that states 80% of women are attracted to only 20% of men, and understanding the pervasiveness of this belief is essential to understanding online misogyny. Different communities of toxic dudes believe different weird thingsmany "looksmaxxers" think breaking your own facial bones can make you more attractive; red pill dudes believe men have to psychologically manipulate women into liking thembut the 80/20 rule is nearly universally accepted.The idea seems to have originated in a post on Medium that was written 10 years ago. Taken on its own terms, the article is a fairly interesting, though methodologically flawed, look at the distribution of likes on dating site Tinder. Incel types ignored the problems with the research, ignored the context (its only about Tinder likes), and accepted the 80/20 Rule as a hard-to-swallow truth that explains how women relate to men. Even though the Medium post concludes that most men who want to meet women would be better off just going to a bar or joining some coed recreational sports team than using Tinder, incels decided the 80/20 rule meant something like "all women are shallow," and/or "it's not my fault that no woman wants to spend time with me." For 10 years, incels and the incel-adjacent have expanded on the theory and repeated it to each other so many times that its rarely questioned in those spaces. If anyone you're talking to mentions the 80/20 rule in an affirmative context, you know youre talking to someone who has a specific set of (wrong) beliefs, and who doesnt have a large enough social circle to compare what they read on the internet to the way people act in real life. But is there anything you can do about it? Maybe.Viral video of the week: De-pilling a red pill son The creator of in this week's viral video, IAmRchlPrkr, is a mother trying to deprogram her teenage son. He has accepted some beliefs of the "red pill" community, a branch of incels, and she is not into it.She first saw the problem when her child told her "all women are gold-diggers." There's a lot going on with that phrase. Despite bristling and yelling "not all men!" when anyone generalizes their own gender, the toxic male community is dominated by the idea that women are all the same: a Borg-like collective looking for the most attractive 20% of men, or the men with the most gold to dig. This isn't new. In her 1998 book Intercourse, Andrea Dworkin could have been describing the incels of 2025 when she wrote, "the first tenet of male supremacist ideology is that men have a self and that women must, by definition, lack it." The difference is how sexist ideas that were once relegated to obscure corners of society have infiltrated the mainstream to the extent that literal children are repeating them to their mothers. (As with most of societal ills, we can thank the internet for that.)Maybe this TikToker mom has the right approach to returning some sanity: When her son tells her, "all women are gold-diggers," she responds with "Which women?" and "name one woman who is a gold-digger." Of course he can't. Because the incel philosophy falls apart in the face of actual relationships with real humans. What is "serious hat Soyjack?"A fitting response to me quoting Andrew Dworkin in an earnest post about online masculinity is serious hat Soyjak: Credit: SoyGemVault - Deviant Art Created by DevianArt user SoyGemArt, Serious Hat is a Wojak posted to comment on people who are, well, too serious online. (If you're asking "what's a wojak?" I have previously covered the subject.)Elon musk gamer drama continuesSpeaking of toxic men: Elon Musk! If youre an adult, you probably know Musk best as the CEO of an electric car company or as a dedicated public servant with creative ideas about how forks work. But kids know a different Elon Musk: Gamer Elon. Gamer Elon is seen as the ultimate sweat, and Gamer Elon recently mixed it up on X with the official account of video game Assassins Creed and got roasted like a Costco chicken. The online dust-up started when ex-game developer @grummz made a post about streamer Hasan Piker, who he labeled a terrorist (because thats what you do on X when you disagree with someone about public policy): This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This led Musk, who is a grown adult, to post: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. And then: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. At this point, the official account of the video game at the center of the fight Assassins Creed: Shadows brought gasoline to the flame war. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The Assassins Creed post was viewed over 52 million times. It references the all-but-confirmed rumor that Elon Musk, a grown adult with a major position of power within the United States government, pays someone so gamers will think hes really good at Path of Exile 2, a video game where you pretend to be an elf.What does "come eat lobster with a monster" mean?I don't want to leave you with all these toxic men, so let's end with a funny meme.Back in 2020, then-Twitter user @blanketm9 changed the world forever when they tweeted: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Their post lay dormant until 2023, when a user (whose original post and name has been lost to history) added the context of a text conversation, complete with a "straight man." Credit: iFunny Things were quiet for a couple years, then, for reasons unknown, the meme started truly taking off this month. I guess the time is right for posts like these: This Tweet is currently unavailable. 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We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is $299.99 on Amazon right now, reduced from its usual $399.99. Acer Chromebook Plus 514 $299.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $299.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $100.00 According to price trackers, this is the lowest its been, and if youre looking for a backup laptop or something for really light tasks, it might be worth a look. But lets set expectations upfrontthis isnt a high-performance machine. Its running on an AMD Ryzen 3 7320C processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage, which puts it squarely in the basic use only category. Youll get by fine with web browsing, emails, video calls, or streaming, but anything heavier than thatediting video, gaming, or multitasking with lots of tabsis probably going to be a stretch.What it does have going for it is a 14-inch WUXGA display that has a 1920 x 1200 resolution and supports touch, so navigation feels a little smoother, especially when youre scrolling through articles or zooming in on images. Additionally, its got Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, which makes it more future-proof on the connectivity front. And even though its plastic, its rated MIL-STD-810H for durability (according to this PCMag review) and has a spill-resistant keyboardhandy if youre clumsy with coffee. It also runs on ChromeOS, which means faster boot times and built-in security, plus support for Android apps through the Google Play Store.The battery life isnt record-breaking, but itll give you a decent chunk of the workdayaround 10 hours, depending on what youre doing. Its also got two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and a headphone jack, which covers most needs. That said, this is still a budget machine. The Ryzen 3 chip is entry-level, and the eMMC storage is slower than SSDs. You cant upgrade the storage later either, so youre stuck with what you getunless you lean heavily on cloud storage.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.What exactly makes a movie a classic varies wildly and with the viewer, as does the appropriate timescale. For some, a movie from a decade ago might be eligible (I call these movie fans children). For others, you have to go back much further. Today, Im going to do the latter, taking a look at some of the great (or, at least, greatly entertaining) movies that were released no later than the tail end of the 1970s. (Even if I find it personally distressing to label movies younger than I am classics.) Quibbling over semantics aside, these offerings prove how deeply rewarding it is to dig through the back catalog of motion picture history now and again.In the Heat of the Night (1967) Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) entry into Sparta, Mississippi, at the outset of this steamy, socially conscious cop thriller unfolds like a scene from a horror movie, making clear the peril of a Black man in a southern town after dark. Thats of course before the sheriff realizes that Mr. Tibbs is the only one who can solve a murder. Though its politics are dated, this Norman Jewison-directed Oscar winner remains a landmark film of the Civil Rights movement. You can stream In the Heat of the Night on Pluto TV and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. In the Heat of the Night (1967) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Rocky (1976) The long-running franchise has had its ups (the Creed films) and downs (that robot butler in Rocky IV), but the original remains one of the ultimate sports movies, with a ton of heart buoyed by characters who feel like real people. (It beat out Network and Taxi Driver for Best Picture and its hard to be mad about it.) You can stream Rocky on Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Rocky (1976) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video All About Eve (1950) Im not sure that Hollywood ever turned out a sharper, funnier script than this one. If Bette Davis had only done All About Eve, shed still be a legend. Is it one of the best black-and-white movies ever made? Yes. You can rent All About Eve from Prime Video. All About Eve (1950) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sounder (1972) Cicely Tyson and Paul Winfield are phenomenal in this drama about a family of deep South, Depression-era sharecroppers struggling to survive and to stay together. You can stream Sounder on Pluto TV, Prime Video, and Peacock. Sounder (1972) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Casablanca (1940) Everybodys favorite golden-age Hollywood movie came by its reputation fairly: Bogart and Bergman have tremendous chemistry, and the film blends the doomed romance vibes with real suspense and a sense of humor that keeps the wartime atmosphere from getting too heavy. You can stream Casablanca on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Casablanca (1940) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Jeanne Dielman, 32 Quai des Commerce (1975) Recently named the best movie ever made in a stupidly controversial Sight & Sound critics poll, Chantal Ackermans three-hours-plus epic shows us three days in the life of a Brussels single mother. Its gripping and tragic in its depiction of day-to-day drudgery, even as part-time sex worker Jeannes tricks turn out to be the least interesting parts of her day. You can stream Jeanne Dielman on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Jeanne Dielman, 32 Quai des Commerce (1975) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Black Girl (1966) The movie that brought international attention to sub-Saharan African cinema. Black Girl stars Mbissine Thrse Diop as Diouana, who is isolated and treated as less than human by her French employers as she reflects on her earlier life in Senegal. You can stream Black Girl on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Prime Video. Black Girl (1966) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Metropolis (1927) Fritz Langs story of a future city starkly divided between the haves and the have-nots remains visually stunning, and its themes are no less relevant now than they were nearly a century ago. You can stream Metropolis on The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Kino or rent it from Prime Video. Metropolis (1927) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Only Angels Have Wings (1939) Snappy dialogue, interesting, believable characters, and women who are at least as cool and interesting as the men: This Howard Hawks romantic adventure is mostly about pilots just hanging out in a South American town, with every takeoff and landing a potential tragedy. You can rent Only Angels Have Wings from Prime Video. Only Angels Have Wings (1939) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The French Connection (1971) Maybe not Gene Hackman's best movie, but it's the one that made him a star, and it's not hard to see why. It's a tense, uncompromising crime drama about a troubled, borderline-dirty cop that nonetheless boasts thrilling action and one of the best car chases in movie history. You can stream The French Connection on Prime Video. The French Connection (1971) Learn More Learn More Some Like It Hot (1959) Two musicians get in drag in order to escape from mobsters in this classic Billy Wilder vehicle for Marilyn Monroe, at the peak of her powers here. Nobodys perfect, but this movie is close. You can stream Some Like It Hot on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and MGM+ or rent it from Prime Video. Some Like It Hot (1959) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) A deliberately paced mind-bender, Stanley Kubrick and company take us from the origins of violence to a hypnotically engaging and highly detailed mid-century modern future where we come face to face with our own evolution. You can stream 2001 on Max or rent it from Prime Video. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) A very satisfying and thoroughly unpretentious crime thriller in which four men hijack a New York City subway train, demanding money in exchange for a release of their hostages and the car itself. The high tension and NYC setting are highlights, as is the cast: Walter Matthau as the lead police lieutenant is believably human while adding a touch of humor. Hctor Elizondo, Martin Balsam, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller, and Doris Roberts also put in solid performances. You can stream The Taking of Pelham One Two Three on MGM+ and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Last Picture Show (1971) Another flashback to a bygone era, this one set in a dying small town in Texas. One of the best movies of the 1970s, Peter Bogdanovichs breakout is mercifully free of the rosy glow that the high-school films of the 70s leaned into. You can stream The Last Picture Show on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. The Last Picture Show (1971) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Singin in the Rain (1952) A cinematic slice of pure joy, with a number of truly great musical numbers punctuated by some genuinely hilarious performances. For my money, the best musical of the era (and far weirder than youre probably imagining). You can stream Singin' in the Rain on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Singin in the Rain (1952) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) A soaring, candy-colored musical about young lovers (Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo) separated by circumstance in the titular city. Pretty much every word is sung. In French. Watch it anyway! You can stream The Umbrellas of Cherbourg on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stormy Weather (1943) There's not a ton of plot here, with the film serving instead as a showcase for the talents of some of the biggest Black talent in Hollywood of the era. And that's plenty. Starring Bill Robinson, better known as Mr. Bojangles, the movie is presented as a retrospective of his life, with Lena Horne offering up an indelible, thrilling performance of the title song. Cab Calloway and Fats Waller also appear and perform, as does Casablanca's Paul Dooley. You can rent Stormy Weather from Prime Video. Stormy Weather (1943) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Stagecoach (1939)Travelers on the titular stagecoach find their lives threatened by both vengeful criminals and Apache warriors while traveling from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. In many ways the prototypical Western, the movie's well-drawn characters and unconventional sympathies (the sex worker here is the hero; the straight-laced banker is no good) make it a much-copied, but never replicated, genre standout. You can stream Stagecoach on Prime Video, Max, The Criterion Channel, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Stagecoach (1939) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Sleeping Beauty (1959) A bomb upon its initial release, time has been very, very kind to this story of the somnolent princess and her wicked adversary, Maleficent. Its art style, inspired by Medieval tapestry work, is among Disney's most beautiful, bar none. You can stream Sleeping Beauty on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. Sleeping Beauty (1959) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ The Lady Vanishes (1938) A (relatively) early triumph for Hitchcock, the director assembles a memorable cast on a train from which sweet, kindly Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty) has, well, vanished. Only Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) seems to remember that Miss Froy even got on the train, leading to a brisk, clever, often quite funny, mystery. You can stream The Lady Vanishes on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. The Lady Vanishes (1938) Learn More Learn More The Muppet Movie (1979) Kermit and company set out on a road trip in this essential Muppets origin story (sort of, approximately) that kicks off with a heartwarming rendition of "Rainbow Connection" and then leads us on a journey across America to fame and fortune in Hollywoodnot without some obstacles along the way. The songs are wildly memorable, and Jim Henson's trademark blend of heart and silliness (with an oddly believable tone) is well in place. The Muppets have never been (quite) done better. You can stream The Muppet Movie on Disney+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Muppet Movie (1979) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Night Nurse (1931) A pre-code classic, Night Nurse stars the great Barbara Stanwyck as sexy trainee nurse Lora Hart, who uncovers a plot to kill some kids in order to get control of a trust fund. For all that drama, the movie is brisk and fun, and it's immensely satisfying to watch Lora come out swinging when her patients are in danger. You can stream Night Nurse on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Night Nurse (1931) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max 8 (1963) If not Federico Fellini's finest, it's right up there. The very meta story involves a writer/director (played by Marcello Mastroianni) struggling with writer's block while trying to get his science fiction movie off the ground. Wildly visually inventive, it's a fabulous film about the art of moviemaking. You can stream 8 1/2 on Max, the Criterion Channel, and Kanopy, or rent it from Prime Video. 8 (1963) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Godzilla (1954) There's plenty of city-stomping action in this, the original kaiju film, but also a poignance and deep resonance for Japan, a country then only just coming to grips with both nuclear horror and its own actions during World War II. As 2023's Godzilla Minus One reminded us, the monster was born out of real trauma. You can stream Godzilla on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Godzilla (1954) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) A noir essential with a classic setup (a disgraced cop enlists a couple of old associates to rob a bank) complicated by the skin color of the film's lead Johnny Ingram, played by Harry Belafonte. Noir characters are pretty much always doomed, but here it's not just that their plan is shoddyit's that confidently racist Earl Slater (a believably seething Robert Ryan) is never going to be able to make it work. It all builds to an appropriately apocalyptic climax. You can stream Odds Against Tomorrow on Prime Video and The Roku Channel. Odds Against Tomorrow (1959) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sunset Boulevard (1950) Gloria Swanson was just 50 when she was cast as the horrifyingly outdated silent-film star at the center of this very dark comedy/film noir. Doesnt matter; she kills it. You can stream Sunset Boulevard on Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Sunset Boulevard (1950) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Sunrise (1927) With some of the most brilliant cinematography and camerawork of the silent era, F. W. Murnau tells a story of romance (and attempted murder) that feels epic, even with stakes that, ultimately, arent any bigger than the marriage between the films troubled couple. You can stream Sunrise on The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Sunrise (1927) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Just an old-fashioned love story about the romance between a young engaged couple, a genderfluid scientist, and a jacked lab experiment. A cult classic now too famous to qualify as a cult classic, and for good reason. You can rent The Rocky Horror Picture Show from Prime Video. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Wizard of Oz (1939) A sweet-seeming Kansas girl heads off to the magical Land of Oz, announcing her arrival by murdering a lady and stealing her shoes. Only one thing to do at that point, really: take out her sister, as well. You can stream The Wizard of Oz on Max or rent it from Prime Video. The Wizard of Oz (1939) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Psycho (1960) Near the tail-end of his career, Alfred Hitchcock reinvented American horror cinema and introduced the definitive screen slasher: Norman Bates mother and best friend, Norma. You can rent Psycho from Prime Video. Psycho (1960) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video It Happened One Night (1934) Frank Capras risqu romantic comedy swept the Academy Awards in its year, with leads Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert making for a brilliant pairing in the movie that defined the rom-com, and remains among the best of the form. You can stream It Happened One Night on The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. It Happened One Night (1934) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Cooley High (1974) Cochise (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a basketball star, and Preach (Glynn Turman), an aspiring playwright, plot to play hooky during their final weeks of senior year. Their plan leads to a series of adventures and misadventures that look very much like the stuff of a more typical teen comedy, before the comedy slowly gives way to more serious introspection. This movie had a profound influence on filmmakers from John Singleton to Spike Lee. You can stream Cooley High on The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Prime Video. Cooley High (1974) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) A postwar drama made right in the thick of things, exploring the high cost of World War II on returning soldiers. Sharp, well-observed performances from veterans like Myrna Loy and and Fredric March, as well as from newcomer Harold Russell, a then-recent veteran who won one of the film's many Oscars for his performance. A smart and impressively honest movie that must have taken a lot of courage to make. You can stream The Best Years of Our Lives on Prime Video, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Peacock. The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) at Peacock Learn More Learn More at Peacock Kwaidan (1964) This Japanese anthology of horror-tinged stories isn't necessarily terrifying, but it is one of the most stunningly beautiful, and sumptuously designed films that you're likely to find this side of Japanese folklore. A highly influential film, it kicks off with the story of a horribly wronged woman and her very long, very black hair. You can stream Kwaidan on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Kwaidan (1964) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) This historical drama brings Medieval Europe to stunning life with its depiction of Arthur, King of the Britons (Graham Chapman), scouring the English countryside in search of men brave enough to join his Knights of the Round Table, desperate to figure out if swallows can, indeed, carry coconuts. Its all deeply serious. (Cough cough.) You can stream Monty Python and the Holy Grail on Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Britbox. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video The Godfather (1972) Its said by many that the second film is betterand theyre not wrong, though the first is a similarly brilliant piece of filmmaking, and absolutely the place to start when watching or rewatching Francis Ford Coppolas saga. You can stream The Godfather on Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video. The Godfather (1972) at Paramount+ Learn More Learn More at Paramount+ M (1931) Peter Lorre is chilling as a murderer of children in Fritz Langs thriller. Aside from being a masterful film in its own right, M influenced every crime drama, serial killer film, and police procedural thats come along since. You can stream M on Max, Kanopy, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. M (1931) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Gilda (1946) One of the greatest and most entertaining noir films of its era also foregrounds one of the hottest bisexual love triangles youre likely to find in film. You can rent Gilda from Prime Video. Gilda (1946) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford is at her very dramatic best in this story of a mother dealing with a hyper-entitled snotbag of a daughter. Joan and director Michael Curtiz take all of the great noir trappings of the era (including murder) and put a single mother at the center of them. Now central in her filmography, this was a comeback for Joan at the time, and proved that she could still pack cinemas as a middle-aged woman. You can stream Mildred Pierce on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Mildred Pierce (1945) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Superman (1978) In our highly dystopian present, every third movie is a superhero punch-'em-up. But not so in 1978, when Richard Donner directed the original (more or less) and best (more or less). Christopher Reeve remains a steadfast combination of believable sincerity and dorky charm, generating real chemistry with Margot Kidder's Lois Lane. You can stream Superman on Max or rent it from Prime Video. Superman (1978) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Seventh Seal (1957) Max von Sydow stars as a medieval knight in Ingmar Bergman's dark fantasy about finding human connection in the absence of faith. The film tells its story using some of the most indelible imagery in the history of cinemaanyone for a game of chess? With death? You can stream The Seventh Seal on Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. The Seventh Seal (1957) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Citizen Kane (1941) The pretentious film student's answer to the question: "What's the greatest film of all time?" is, as it happens, a genuinely great film. It's an appropriately dark and wildly innovative commentary on the corrupting powers of money and American-style capitalism. In those regards, it hasn't aged a day. You can rent Citizen Kane from Prime Video. Citizen Kane (1941) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Battleship Potemkin (1925) So rousing is Sergei Eisenstein's film, set during the early Russian Revolution of 1905, that you'll be cheering on the rebellion that lead to the birth of the Soviet Union (where this film was no less controversial than elsewhere). Among the movie's many brilliantly directed moments is the iconic Odessa Steps sequence, which has been referenced by everyone from Laurel and Hardy to Denis Villeneuve. You can stream Battleship Potemkin on Max, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Kino, and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Battleship Potemkin (1925) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) This all-star road race film is goofy, sure, but it's also got a mean streak a mile wideand I absolutely mean that as a compliment. The cast all compete to make it across the state of California to collect a chunk of money that they've learned is buried in a state park. It's cute watching Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Jonathan Winters, Eddie Anderson, Sid Caesar and others team up to get the moneybut it's even better when they fall out and start fighting tooth and nail, all alongside crooked cop Spencer Tracy. You can stream It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World on Prime Video, Kanopy, and Pluto TV. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) The all-star cast can be a little distracting, but Stanley Kramers courtroom drama remains powerful and depressingly relevant in its depiction of normal, everyday people driven to commit atrocities with only minimal encouragement. You can stream Judgment at Nuremberg on MGM+ and Pluto TV or rent it from Apple TV. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) at Apple TV Learn More Learn More at Apple TV Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) The first in a series of charming, and increasingly inventive comedies from the great director (and star) Jacques Tati. M. Hulot feels like a silent film character in a world of sound, and, indeed, the focus here is less on dialogue than in the inadvertent ways in which our hero brings absolute chaos wherever he goes. There's a method to the comedy, as well, Tati finding satisfaction in seeing the thin veneers of the comfortable, snobby, rich vacationers worn away. You can stream M. Hulot's Holiday on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Carnival of Souls (1962) This deeply haunting, low-budget independent beat George Romero's Night of the Living Dead to the punch by around five years, following a young woman (Candace Hilligoss) through a dark night of her own. Thoroughly eerie, it's a movie that stays with you, like it or not. You can stream Carnival of Souls on Max, The Roku Channel, AMC+, MGM+, The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, Shudder, and Pluto TV or rent it from Prime Video. Carnival of Souls (1962) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Sound of Music (1965) The hills are alive, etc., as a charmingly goofy nun-in-training gets a job at the home of an Austrian aristocrat. What starts out as a very hummable sing-a-long takes a dark turn as the shadow of Nazi Germany comes to loom. That genuine threat elevates Julie Andrews' breakout into something as meaningful as it is fun. You can stream The Sound of Music on Disney+ and Hulu or rent it from Prime Video. The Sound of Music (1965) at Disney+ Learn More Learn More at Disney+ Pather Panchali (1955) Indias answer to the French New Wave, Satyajit Rays gorgeous but down-to-earth drama finds universal truths in the fraught relationships between desperately poor Apu, his sister Durga, and their mother, Sarbajaya. (The subsequent two films in what would eventually become known as the Apu Trilogy are just as great.) You can stream Pather Panchali on Max, The Criterion Collection, and Kanopy or rent it from Prime Video. Pather Panchali (1955) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Sherlock Jr. (1924) The General is often seen as Buster Keatons masterpiece, but I prefer Sherlock Jr., in which a normal schlub finds himself, literally, drawn into the movies. Its an acrobatic and often hilarious journey into film history. You can stream Sherlock Jr. on The Criterion Channel, Kanopy, and Kino or rent it from Prime Video. Sherlock Jr. (1924) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Funny Girl (1968) Barbra Streisand broke through in a big way in this funny (naturally), moving, and ultimately epic story about the rise of real-life comedian Fanny Brice and her troubled romance with Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). Its like buttah. You can stream Funny Girl on Prime Video. Funny Girl (1968) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video His Girl Friday (1940) One of the films that defined the sharp, fast-talking screwball comedy genre, with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant as an ex-married newshound couple trying to uncover the truth behind the story of a convicted murderer. You can stream His Girl Friday on Prime Video, MGM+, The Roku Channel, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV. His Girl Friday (1940) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Bride of Frankenstein (1935) On the eve of his wedding, Dr. Frankenstein finds himself drawn into temptation when his old mentor shows up in town. The two run off together with every intention of giving birth to new life. You can rent Bride of Frankenstein from Prime Video. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Modern Times (1936) Ever feel like youre just a cog in the capitalist machinery of life? Charlie Chaplins masterpiece is the perfect movie for anyone whos ever been stuck in a rut at work. You can stream Modern Times on Prime Video, Max, The Criterion Channel, and Kanopy. Modern Times (1936) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Rashomon (1950) Akira Kurosawas samurai tale is not only wildly influential, its also films definitive statement on the unreliability of memory and the ease with which we spin stories for our own benefit. A warriors murder is recounted by a series of characters, each with a similar tale, but with details that vary in crucial ways. You can stream Rashomon on Max and The Criterion Channel or rent it from Prime Video. Rashomon (1950) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max Jaws (1975) Steven Spielberg created the thrilling, harrowing summer blockbuster to beat them all way back in 1975, shaping the cinematic landscape were still living in, for better or worse. You can rent Jaws from Prime Video. Jaws (1975) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video High Noon (1952) Its hard to believe, all these decades later, that this simple story of a sheriff abandoned by a terrified town was one of the most controversial films of its era. Theres a lot going on here just under the surface, including a strong defiance of the Red Scare and its accompanying Hollywood blacklist. You can rent High Noon from Prime Video. High Noon (1952) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video Carrie (1976) One of Stephen Kings earliest works translates into this memorably bloody coming-of-age story about a shy young woman (Sissy Spacek) with growing telekenetic powers, caught between her controlling mother at home and her cruel classmates at school. You can stream Carrie on MGM+ and Max or rent it from Prime Video. Carrie (1976) at Max Learn More Learn More at Max The Night of the Hunter (1955) Actor Charles Laughton's sole directorial effort is a wildly impressive one, with serial-killing preacher Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) charming and then terrorizing a rural West Virginia family during the Great Depression. Audiences at the time found it impossibly weird and arty, and often weren't thrilled with Laughton's take on religious hypocrisy. Time has revealed it as a taut, idiosyncratic masterpiece. You can stream Night of the Hunter on Pluto TV and Prime Video. The Night of the Hunter (1955) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Roy Glenn, and Louis Gossett Jr. star in this family drama about a Black family about to come into a small windfall, and the intergenerational conflict and trauma that impacts the ways in which family members want to spend it, and even their their definitions of a better life. You can rent A Raisin in the Sun from Prime Video. A Raisin in the Sun (1961) at Prime Video Learn More Learn More at Prime Video

In the iOS 18.2 update, Apple gave users a dedicated Default Apps tab, finally letting us pick our own default apps for messages and calls. Unfortunately, not many apps have been updated to take advantage of this yet. I previously talked about DefaultSMS, which takes over the default messaging app and redirects it to WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram, but at least one of those now has an official option that you can use instead.Yes, WhatsApp has finally been updated the to support the Default Apps feature. This means you can now make WhatsApp the default Calling and Messaging app on iPhone. But does this mean you can stop using the Phone app and Messaging app altogether? Not exactly. Think of it more like a shortcut. When applicable, you can use this feature to quickly call someone using WhatsApp Audio, or open up a text conversation in WhatsApp, directly from the Phone app or anywhere you see a phone number.How to make WhatsApp the default app for calls and messagesFirst, let's talk about how to make this happen. On your iPhone running the latest iOS 18 build, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Scroll to the Messaging and Calling sections. Here, choose WhatsApp as the default.How the iPhone's default calling and messaging app features workThe default feature doesn't mean that you can simply replace the Phone app and Messages app. When you get an incoming SMS or Apple iMessage, it will still show up in the Messages app. And when you get a phone call, you'll still see it in the Phone app. Credit: Khamosh Pathak In this context, "default app" means that when you tap the Message button or the Call button for a contact in your Phone app or Contacts app, it will now open a call or message with them via WhatsApp app directly. This essentially serves as a shortcut, rather than a full replacement for the apps that come with your phone.After you change your default calling or messaging app, when you open a contact card and tap the Call button or Message button for the first time, you'll get an overflow menu where WhatsApp will be the first and default option. You can pick another option to change your default if you like. From then on, tapping the Call button will directly call the contact using WhatsApp Audio (or whatever you changed your default to), unless you change your default again in your iPhone settings.From there, you're all set... mostly. If your contact doesn't have WhatsApp, WhatsApp will simply tell that they're not on WhatsApp, at which point you'll have to manually open the Phone or Messages app to reach out instead.

There was a time, not so long ago, that I was completely abusing my right to use boxed mixes. I made a crumb cake out of muffin mix, peach dump cake, very convincing black and white cookies, and a super tender boxed cake by adding too much oil and not enough egg. Ive learned a lot from all this screwing around with boxed mixes (for science, of course). With the recent surge in egg prices and the rate of birthday celebrating as consistent as ever, I began to wonder if there was a way for folks to make boxed cakes without using up all of their precious eggs. Then I remembered, of course there isyou can skip them completely.It was when I was trying to manipulate boxed cake mix to make thick, soft black and white cookies that I made this crucial discovery: All boxed cake mix wants to be cake. I used Duncan Hines yellow cake mix and tried everything to change the batter. I took out the oil. I added only egg. I added just a few tablespoons of water. All of my attempts bubbled, spread, and puffed into full-blown cake. I ended up using muffin mix to come up with the right consistency for black and white cookies.If you think about it, this basic understanding (that cake mix will always become cake) is why we know dump cake works. For those unfamiliar with this casually named dessert, you simply dump fruit (canned or otherwise) into a casserole dish and sprinkle dry cake mix over the top. Even the scant liquid from simmering fruit is enough to moisten the dry cake mix and activate it. Boxed cake mixes, like those from Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, or Betty Crocker, are all designed to be nearly foolproof. You just need to add liquideggy or notand it will become cake.Dont get me wrong, in a side-by-side comparison (see one below) youll notice the difference in puff and color, but the flavor is consistently good. Its really hard to screw them up to the point that theyre not delicious. Ive been trying for years and I havent managed to make it taste bad. Changing the ratios, especially the oil, might actually give you a cake texture you prefer (more on that later).Two, one, or zero eggs all result in cakeI wanted to test out how far I could push cake mix so I did a Funfetti test. The batter, prepared with the manufacturers suggestions, takes a cup of water, half a cup of oil, and three eggs. I did a few iterations. One test with only a single egg and double the oil, one test with no eggs and double the oil, and one with the proper amount of oil but zero eggs. Left: no eggs and double oil. Center: no eggs and normal oil. Right: One egg and double oil. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann While the mixture properly prepared according to the packages directions has more of a domed top than the other reduced-egg versions, absolutely all of them became fluffy, soft, delectable cake layers. I think the single egg and double oil cake was my favorite because the single egg was just enough of an emulsifier to support the extra fat. It wasnt weighed down, but it was decadent and moist. Left: cake prepared according to directions. Center: cake with one egg and double oil. Right, Cake with no eggs and directed amount of oil and water. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann But I digress: The real victory here is that the cake with absolutely no egg was fantastic. It didnt dome, which is actually preferable if youre stacking layers for a cake with icing, the texture was fluffy and moist, and the flavor was as Funfetti as could be. There was no need to replace the egg with anything, by the way. No extra water. No banana. Just mix the indicated amounts of water and oil into the dry mix. Pour it into the pans and smooth out the tops. Keep in mind that you can do anything in between too. Add one egg. Maybe you have two leftover egg whites. A stray yolk lurking in your fridge? Toss it in instead of the suggested three whole eggs.Not all boxed mixes are as forgivingWhile boxed cake mix is completely fine without eggs, not all boxed mixes are as forgiving. I tried to skip the egg in boxed Ghirardelli walnut brownie mix andho boy. That was absolutely disgusting. I was surprised, honestly; I figured since there was only a single egg in the recipe, what harm could it do to skip it? Lots. I made six brownie bitesthree with a no-egg mixture, and three with the batter prepared according to the manufacturers directions. You get three guesses which is which. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Eggs are an emulsifier after all, and it seems like brownie mix truly needs the help of that single egg to integrate the fats and yield a moist and ungreasy final product. Your brownie mix is not the place to skip eggs. Do that with boxed cake mix instead.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazons Big Spring Sale is back for its second year, running from March 25 to March 31, and its basically a slower, longer version of Prime Day. The deals may not be as flashy, but the price drops are realand you dont need to be a Prime member to shop. That said, Amazon says Prime members will get access to better discounts and more options. If youre not already subscribed, you can grab a free 30-day trial to take full advantage of the week-long event, then cancel before the billing kicks in.One of the biggest markdowns this week is on the Samsung 50-Inch QN90D 4K QLED TV, which is currently going for $899almost $500 off its list price of $1397.99. Thats the lowest price its ever hit, according to price-trackers. Samsungs QLED panels have always had a reputation for sharp visuals and punchy brightness, and the QN90D keeps that legacy going, especially with its Neo QLED tech, Quantum HDR+, and mini LED backlighting, which helps with contrast and HDR performanceblacks look deeper, highlights pop more, and you wont be squinting during those darker movie scenes. Samsung 50-Inch QN90D 4K QLED TV (QN50QN90DAFXZA) $899.99 at Amazon $1,397.99 Save $498.00 Get Deal Get Deal $899.99 at Amazon $1,397.99 Save $498.00 The main trade-off here is the lack of Dolby Vision supportsomething Samsung has consistently skipped, and that hasnt changed with the QN90D. If thats your go-to HDR format, this TV might fall short. Additionally, while it does come with an ATSC 1.0 tuner for live TV, it skips ATSC 3.0, so you wont get newer over-the-air 1080p or 4K broadcasts. For most people, thats not a dealbreaker, but if you rely on an antenna instead of streaming, its worth keeping in mind.At 50 inches, this TV is best suited for a living room or bedroom where youre sitting maybe six to eight feet away. It runs on Samsungs Tizen OS, which can be a bit cluttered if youre not used to Samsungs smart TV interface, but it does support all the major apps out of the box, including Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. You can also stream straight from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac using Apple AirPlay, and it also works with Miracast or WiDi if you want to mirror your Windows PC. Amazon Alexa is built in, and thanks to the far-field microphones, you can use voice commands without picking up the solar-powered remote. Gaming-wise, the TV's 120Hz refresh rate push up to 144Hz with VRR and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Additionally, with an input lag of just 2.9 milliseconds in game mode, you can expect smooth, responsive gameplay, according to this PCMag review.Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors

23andMe, the genetic testing company that has collected data from more than 15 million customers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer. If you're one of those millions who has used 23andMe's DNA sequencing process, there are a number of serious privacy implications with a potential saleand it's time to delete your data. How your privacy may be at riskIn a general sense, any time you give your data to a company, you cede some control over what happens to it. As 404 Media points out, in the case of 23andMe, this includes how your genetic information is analyzed, monetized, and secured, as well as whether it will be shared or sold (intentionally) or leaked or hacked (unintentionally). While 23andMe has stated that its bankruptcy filing "does not change how we store, manage, or protect consumer data," there's also no way to know what will happen to millions of users' genetic information in a potential buyer's hands.This presents a number of risks, according to privacy advocates interviewed by The Washington Post. 23andMe already suffered a data breach in 2023 in which hackers accessed the records of around 7 million customers, and users are now trusting a company navigating bankruptcy to keep their information secure going forward. 23andMe's privacy statement also leaves open the possibility of your data being sold or transferred to a buyer like an asset. If that buyer's privacy terms and practices differ, you're responsible for tracking those changesand when is the last time you actually read a privacy policy? Organizations similar to 23andMe have shared users' genetic information with law enforcement, government agencies, and pharmaceutical and insurance companies, which opens a whole host of privacy concerns, from police using the data to identify suspects to insurers denying coverage based on genetic risk factors. Your genetic data is connected to your family members, so any invasions of privacy also extend to other people. 23andMe itself has collaborated with pharma companies like GSK, and other genetic databases have created similar partnerships after being sold to for-profit entities. How to delete your 23andMe dataAccording to a consumer alert from the California attorney general, there are a few steps you can take to protect your data from any potential privacy concerns. First, you'll want to delete your genetic data using the following steps: Log into your account on the 23andMe website. Go to Settings > 23andMe Data.Next to 23andMe Data, click View. Download your data if you want to keep a copy. Scroll to Delete Data and click Permanently Delete Data. Click the link in the confirmation email from 23andMe to finalize your request. You can also request that your test sample be destroyed under Settings > Preferences and revoke consent for your data to be used in research under Settings > Research and Product Consents.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back, running from March 25 through March 31. Its basically Prime Days laid-back cousinlonger, with slightly less fanfare, but still a decent time to pick up things you've been eyeing for months. And no, you dont have to be a Prime member, but the better deals go to those who are. Luckily, Amazon still hands out 30-day Prime trials like candy, so you can sign up now, grab the deals, and bail before paying a dime.If youve been waiting to upgrade your action cam setup, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro just dropped to its lowest price yet, according to online price-tracking tools. The Adventure Combo is down to $369 from $449 and comes fully loaded with accessoriesthree extended-life batteries, a protective frame, multiple mounting options, a lens cover and protector, a battery case that doubles as a charger, and a 1.5-meter extension rod (handy for wide shots or selfie-style vlogging). DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo, Action Camera 4K with 1/1.3" Sensor, 12h Extended Battery Life with 3 Batteries, Stabilization, Dual OLED Touchscreens, Mini Action Camera for Travel, Vlog $369.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $369.00 at Amazon $449.00 Save $80.00 Its a lot, but it makes sense if youre shooting outdoors for long stretches or need the flexibility of different angles and setups. It was named Best Action Camera of 2024 by PCMag, thanks to features like its 10-bit D-Log M for richer color grading, sharp HDR video, and a front OLED touchscreen thats bright enough to use in direct sunlight. The sensor size is also a healthy 1/1.3 inch, which reportedly makes a difference when youre shooting in low light. Plus, its waterproof up to 20 meters without a case, and its image stabilization handles chaotic movement surprisingly wellgreat for someone capturing rough terrain on a mountain bike or filming themselves surfing. Read our in-depth review of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro here.That said, if youre more of a casual creator or dont need all the bells and whistles, the Essential Combo is probably enough. Its $319, down from $339, and includes just one battery and the core mounts, though it lacks the horizontal-vertical protective frame. Same camera, fewer accessories. For day trips, vlogging, or hobby shooting, itll do the job without cluttering your bag. Just keep in mind that battery life hovers around two to four hours per charge (depending on usage), so having only one battery might get frustrating fast if youre planning to shoot all day. Still, its hard to argue with the performance packed into such a small body, especially at this price.Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.Amazons Big Spring Sale, running from March 25 to March 31, doesnt quite hit the same discount highs as Prime Day, but its still worth a lookespecially if you've had your eye on big-ticket items or tech gifts. This is only the second time Amazons hosting the event, and unlike Prime Day, you dont need a Prime membership to shop (that said, Prime members do get better deals). If you think it's worth it, a Prime membership starts at $14.99 per month, but if you're still on the fence about that kind of commitment, you can always sign up for a 30-day free trial, use it to shop the sale, and cancel afterward.If your kids been swiping your Kindle and youve thought it might be time to get them their own, this PCMag Editor's Choice-winning Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2024) is worth a lookespecially now that it's at an all-time low price of $139.99 (down from $179.99), according to price-trackers. Its not just a regular Kindle with a Kids sticker slapped on it or some dumbed-down screen with clunky interface. Youre getting the same seven-inch 300ppi display as the adult Paperwhite, but with a kid-friendly twista cute, colorful case in either Starfish or Cyber City, a two-year, worry-free guarantee (they break it, Amazon replaces it), and a six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, which gives gives them access to a curated library of age-appropriate books, including Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and more. After the six months, the subscription auto-renews at $5.99/month plus tax, but you can cancel anytime. All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids (16 GB) larger 7" glare-free display Kids read an average of 1+ hour per day with Kindle Cyber City $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Get Deal $139.99 at Amazon $179.99 Save $40.00 The screen of the Paperwhite Kids is warm-lit and adjustable, so its easy on the eyes, even during bedtime reading. The interface is distraction-free (there are no games or ads here) and designed to help kids build a reading habit without nudging them toward screen time, according to this PCMag review. Battery life stretches into multiple weeks, even with daily use, and theres 16GB of storage, which is plenty of room for books, comics, and audiobooks (it supports Audible via Bluetooth). Additionally, the Paperwhite Kids comes with an IPX8 waterproof rating, so a juice spill or a poolside accident wont end in tears. That said, its not the cheapest e-reader for kids, and if your child isnt into reading yet, this might be overkill. But if theyve already shown a love for books, this is a well-rounded, future-proof option that can grow with them.Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including:The Best Over-Ear HeadphonesThe Best Wireless EarbudsThe Best Adjustable Dumbbell SetsThe Best Projectors