From effortlessly switching lights to locking doors to setting kitchen timers, smart home devices can make everyday tasks a lot easier. They can grant you peace of mind. Luckily, with smart home devices growing in popularity, prices are lower than ever, and the tech itself is way easier to install. However, while market popularity has driven prices down, it's also made it more difficult to determine which are the best smart home devices. ZDNET is here to help you choose the right one. What is the best smart home device right now?ZDNET's pick for the current best smart home device is the Echo Show 8, a smart display with Amazon Alexa that lets iOS and Android utilize the benefits of a smart home. It's a comprehensive device for experienced and entry-level smart home enthusiasts alike. Delivering the convenience of voice control via a virtual assistant, the Echo Show 8 features a powerful speaker and touch display while functioning as a smart home hub with Zigbee, Matter, and Thread support. Also: I used Amazon's Echo Show 21 as my smart home hub - and it's almost perfect Sort by All The best smart home devices of 2025 Show less Our top pick for the best overall smart home device is the third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8. It has a great smart display and speaker combination for most beginner and experienced smart home users. Amazon's newest Echo Show 8 boasts a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a centrally placed camera for video calls, and spatial audio from the smaller speaker enclosure.I've been using the Echo Show 8 daily for almost a year, and this generation's improved processor delivers far faster performance than older models. It's become my kitchen companion for running smart home routines, interacting with Alexa, and streaming music and video content on the 8-inch HD screen while cooking.Review: Amazon Echo Show 8 (third-gen)This is the first Echo Show 8 to feature the camera in a central location rather than off to one side. This aids in better visual experiences during video calls. The camera also works for Visual ID personalization and Adaptive Content. Visual ID lets the Echo Show 8 recognize household members to personalize content, while Adaptive Content adjusts the screen's content based on a person's proximity.It's a highly rated smart speaker, with one buyer saying, "I purchased this a few months ago, and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. The Spatial Audio feature provides a rich and immersive sound experience, perfect for listening to music, podcasts, and even video calls. The smart home hub integration is seamless, allowing me to easily control all my smart devices. Alexa's responsiveness and sharp display make this device a pleasure to use daily. "Amazon Echo Show 8 features: Price: $150 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa | Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and is a hub for Matter, Thread, Zigbee | Specs: 8-inch HD touchscreen, 13MP video call camera, Alexa voice assistant  Pros Spatial audio Tailors content to different people Fast response time Cons Few customization options Alexa is great, but could always improve Our top pick for the best overall smart home device is the third-generation Amazon Echo Show 8. It has a great smart display and speaker combination for most beginner and experienced smart home users. Amazon's newest Echo Show 8 boasts a sleeker design with edge-to-edge glass, a centrally placed camera for video calls, and spatial audio from the smaller speaker enclosure.I've been using the Echo Show 8 daily for almost a year, and this generation's improved processor delivers far faster performance than older models. It's become my kitchen companion for running smart home routines, interacting with Alexa, and streaming music and video content on the 8-inch HD screen while cooking.Review: Amazon Echo Show 8 (third-gen)This is the first Echo Show 8 to feature the camera in a central location rather than off to one side. This aids in better visual experiences during video calls. The camera also works for Visual ID personalization and Adaptive Content. Visual ID lets the Echo Show 8 recognize household members to personalize content, while Adaptive Content adjusts the screen's content based on a person's proximity.It's a highly rated smart speaker, with one buyer saying, "I purchased this a few months ago, and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. The Spatial Audio feature provides a rich and immersive sound experience, perfect for listening to music, podcasts, and even video calls. The smart home hub integration is seamless, allowing me to easily control all my smart devices. Alexa's responsiveness and sharp display make this device a pleasure to use daily. "Amazon Echo Show 8 features: Price: $150 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa | Connectivity: Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and is a hub for Matter, Thread, Zigbee | Specs: 8-inch HD touchscreen, 13MP video call camera, Alexa voice assistant  Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon This starter kit has everything you need to transform your lights into smart devices with Philips Hue. The kit includes two white and color smart bulbs and one Hue Bridge, so you can begin switching out old light bulbs for new ones. There's also room for expansion as the Bridge can handle up to 50 Philips Hue lights. These Philips Hue smart lights are compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google for voice control and integration. They're easy to set up using the Bridge, allowing users to control the lights wherever they use the app, set routines and automation, and expand their Philips Hue ecosystem. It's important to note that without a Hue Bridge, customers can only connect their lights to their mobile app via Bluetooth, so they can't change settings remotely.Though not cheap, Philips Hue lights are undoubtedly some of the best on the market. One buyer wrote that they "love these smart bulbs and the ease [it took] to set up. Love that we can change the colors of the room from an app on the phone. Like how I can turn on lights when I need to when I'm away. Although I got the Hue bridge and two bulbs at a good price, the color bulbs are expensive. "Philips Hue Starter Kit features: Price: $180 | Wattage: 9.5 watts | Bulb size: A19 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit Pros Millions of colors Dimming lights Instant-on option Cons Expensive Users report some issues with scheduling This starter kit has everything you need to transform your lights into smart devices with Philips Hue. The kit includes two white and color smart bulbs and one Hue Bridge, so you can begin switching out old light bulbs for new ones. There's also room for expansion as the Bridge can handle up to 50 Philips Hue lights. These Philips Hue smart lights are compatible with Alexa, HomeKit, and Google for voice control and integration. They're easy to set up using the Bridge, allowing users to control the lights wherever they use the app, set routines and automation, and expand their Philips Hue ecosystem. It's important to note that without a Hue Bridge, customers can only connect their lights to their mobile app via Bluetooth, so they can't change settings remotely.Though not cheap, Philips Hue lights are undoubtedly some of the best on the market. One buyer wrote that they "love these smart bulbs and the ease [it took] to set up. Love that we can change the colors of the room from an app on the phone. Like how I can turn on lights when I need to when I'm away. Although I got the Hue bridge and two bulbs at a good price, the color bulbs are expensive. "Philips Hue Starter Kit features: Price: $180 | Wattage: 9.5 watts | Bulb size: A19 | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less The Nest Learning Thermostat has proven to be one of Google's best smart home products to ever hit the market. With reliable performance and smart home integrations through Matter, this device has remained relevant for years, and the newest generation is no exception.Switching to a smart thermostat greatly impacted our home's climate control and energy efficiency. You can control your home's temperature from your phone no matter where you are, and program it to enter Eco Mode when you leave the house. The new Nest Learning Thermostat looks gorgeous and fits right into any home decor. It can display the temperature, the outside weather, or a clock.  It also learns your patterns and trends and suggests new settings to help keep your home comfortable while helping you save on utility bills."I'm upgrading from the learning thermostats that had the frosted glass look and had no trouble with installation, software setup just worked the first time," one buyer said. "The Matter support worked without a hitch on HomeKit and Home Assistant. And it seems that it's doing a better job than my old one at keeping the rooms I care about comfortable. The master bedroom is always perfect now after being in use for a week or so."Nest Thermostat features: Price: $280 | Installation: Works without C wire | Finish: Available in three colors with rounded display | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit through Matter Pros Turns HVAC system down while away from home Learns from usage Includes a temperature sensor Cons Is expensive The Nest Learning Thermostat has proven to be one of Google's best smart home products to ever hit the market. With reliable performance and smart home integrations through Matter, this device has remained relevant for years, and the newest generation is no exception.Switching to a smart thermostat greatly impacted our home's climate control and energy efficiency. You can control your home's temperature from your phone no matter where you are, and program it to enter Eco Mode when you leave the house. The new Nest Learning Thermostat looks gorgeous and fits right into any home decor. It can display the temperature, the outside weather, or a clock.  It also learns your patterns and trends and suggests new settings to help keep your home comfortable while helping you save on utility bills."I'm upgrading from the learning thermostats that had the frosted glass look and had no trouble with installation, software setup just worked the first time," one buyer said. "The Matter support worked without a hitch on HomeKit and Home Assistant. And it seems that it's doing a better job than my old one at keeping the rooms I care about comfortable. The master bedroom is always perfect now after being in use for a week or so."Nest Thermostat features: Price: $280 | Installation: Works without C wire | Finish: Available in three colors with rounded display | Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit through Matter Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less If you've ever wished you could unlock your front door with your iPhone as easily as you can check out with Apple Pay, you'll definitely want to check out the Aqara U100.The Aqara U100 is a smart lock that offers users the option to unlock a door either by entering a predetermined passcode on the keypad, using their fingerprint, a physical key, a mobile app, near field communication (NFC) tags, or through Apple Home Key by simply holding their iPhone or Apple Watch up to their lock.Review: Aqara U100 smart lockThese versatile options came in handy many times during our testing. No longer will you need to fumble for a fob while holding a dozen grocery bags or trade a million texts with a locked-out pet sitter while out of town. This lock is also highly compatible, and works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. Aqara U100 smart lock features: Price: $150 | Unlock options: Fingerprint, passcodes, Apple Home Key mechanical key, and NFC | Compatibility: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Pros High interoperability A lot of unlocking features Inexpensive compared to others Cons App is slow to respond If you've ever wished you could unlock your front door with your iPhone as easily as you can check out with Apple Pay, you'll definitely want to check out the Aqara U100.The Aqara U100 is a smart lock that offers users the option to unlock a door either by entering a predetermined passcode on the keypad, using their fingerprint, a physical key, a mobile app, near field communication (NFC) tags, or through Apple Home Key by simply holding their iPhone or Apple Watch up to their lock.Review: Aqara U100 smart lockThese versatile options came in handy many times during our testing. No longer will you need to fumble for a fob while holding a dozen grocery bags or trade a million texts with a locked-out pet sitter while out of town. This lock is also highly compatible, and works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. Aqara U100 smart lock features: Price: $150 | Unlock options: Fingerprint, passcodes, Apple Home Key mechanical key, and NFC | Compatibility: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less If you want to beef up your home security with a smart option, I recommend the EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 bundle. The three cameras are easy to install indoors or outdoors and have a solar panel along the top that recharges the battery. I've had the two camera systems set up outside my home for almost two years and have only had to recharge one of them, installed facing north, a handful of times -- that's how effective their solar panels are at keeping the batteries charged. Aside from the Eufy Security system being a great ecosystem for home security, expandable with many different camera types, it also offers users who have more than one camera in their homes the ability to see the same event captured in a single clip by stitching different camera feeds together. "I wanted to be sure I had coverage on each side of my house (older neighborhood/long driveways). The setup was relatively easy, probably 30 minutes or less," one buyer said. "I have them on 4k all the time and no issues with battery life, even on a string of cloudy or rainy days. The 4k is very clear -- even at night."The cameras are wireless, so they can be installed almost anywhere. The HomeBase 3 is the local storage hub inside your home, where all the recorded clips are saved.EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 Features: Price: $530 | Power source: Solar-powered cameras, plug-in HomeBase | Resolution: 4K | Compatibility: Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Pros Packed with features No monthly fees Excellent ecosystem Cons Expensive No integrations with HomeKit If you want to beef up your home security with a smart option, I recommend the EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 bundle. The three cameras are easy to install indoors or outdoors and have a solar panel along the top that recharges the battery. I've had the two camera systems set up outside my home for almost two years and have only had to recharge one of them, installed facing north, a handful of times -- that's how effective their solar panels are at keeping the batteries charged. Aside from the Eufy Security system being a great ecosystem for home security, expandable with many different camera types, it also offers users who have more than one camera in their homes the ability to see the same event captured in a single clip by stitching different camera feeds together. "I wanted to be sure I had coverage on each side of my house (older neighborhood/long driveways). The setup was relatively easy, probably 30 minutes or less," one buyer said. "I have them on 4k all the time and no issues with battery life, even on a string of cloudy or rainy days. The 4k is very clear -- even at night."The cameras are wireless, so they can be installed almost anywhere. The HomeBase 3 is the local storage hub inside your home, where all the recorded clips are saved.EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3 Features: Price: $530 | Power source: Solar-powered cameras, plug-in HomeBase | Resolution: 4K | Compatibility: Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Read More Show Expert Take Show less What are the tariffs in the U.S.?The recent U.S. tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Consumers may also experience notable price increases on robot vacuums and smart home products. Manufacturers are exploring options such as relocating production to countries with lower tariffs, but such transitions are complex and may not provide immediate relief. In the short term, shoppers should anticipate higher costs for robot vacuums due to these trade policies.Right now, it looks like some tech may be exempt from the issued tariffs, but since it's always changing and developing, we are keeping an eye on it and will update you on the latest.What is the best smart home device? For most people interested in smart homes, the Echo Show 8 is the best smart home device you can buy. This smart hub can host multiple devices, has fantastic connectivity options, and provides reliable voice assistance through Alexa. To see how the smart display compares to other smart home devices, here is a look at our picks:Best smart home deviceZDNET's takePriceCompatibilityConnectivityAmazon Echo Show 8Best overall$150AlexaMatter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, BluetoothPhilips Hue Starter KitBest smart light$239Alexa, Google, HomeKitBluetooth, Wi-Fi through BridgeNest Learning ThermostatBest smart thermostat$240Alexa, Google, HomeKitWi-Fi, MatterAqara U100Best smart lock$143Alexa, Google, HomeKitWi-Fi, Aqara HubEufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3Best security camera$450Alexa, GoogleWi-Fi, Local storage Show more Which is the best smart home device for you? This list highlights the best smart home devices covering various areas of your home. From multi-device hubs to individual devices, there are many ways to make your home smart. Consider these recommendations if you are unsure which smart home device is best for you:Choose this smart home device...If you want...Amazon Echo Show 8A smart home display with Alexa built-in. Use it to keep an eye on your whole home and smart home devices.Philips Hue Starter KitTo bring the power of smart lighting to your home. Install mood lighting, uplighting, or simply save money in energy bills with these LED lights.Nest Learning ThermostatAn energy-efficient and smart way to control your home's HVAC system, no matter which home automation system you use, thanks to Matter.Aqara U100The most versatile smart lock available. Bring convenience to your front door with the touch of an app.EufyCam 3 and HomeBase 3An all-in-one smart home security system complete with expandable local storage, so you never have to worry about monthly fees. Show more Factors to consider when choosing smart home devices Choosing the right smart home devices can feel overwhelming with such a plethora of available options.Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a smart home device:Compatibility: Whether you're choosing a smart light, a smart lock, or a video doorbell, compatibility is a key factor in determining how much convenience your new devices will give you. Ensure your chosen devices are compatible with your existing smart home system like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings.Installation: Many smart home devices serve a purpose that requires installation of some kind. Make sure your new device fits your installation capabilities or that you have someone to install it if not.Ease of use: User-friendly interfaces are typically the ones that endure. If a device is too hard or cumbersome, you probably won't use it. Read up on other reviewers' experiences with user interfaces for managing the devices.Price: Always compare prices. Look for value for money, but don't focus on the lowest price. If you compromise on essential features and quality, you'll pay for it in the long run.Reliability: This is a big deal in the smart home community and is part of the ease of use of devices. If a device constantly gets disconnected or unresponsive, it's not worth your time or money. Show more How we test smart home devices ZDNET reviews a wide range of devices to ensure we feature the ones that perform the best for our readers. As a smart home and robot vacuum reviewer, I evaluate each device's performance starting with the unboxing experience.To do this, I ensure the device meets all the manufacturer's claims for features and capabilities, verify it works smoothly with different smart home ecosystems -- I test with Google, Alexa, HomeKit, and SmartThings -- and monitor its performance over a period of time ranging from two weeks to months.  Show more Other smart home devices worth considering Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

The United States is not a great place for old people, to put it lightly.Though the elderly population is at its highest number in history, seniors face a myriad of unprecedented crises in the form of AI-powered insurance claims denial, unwalkable communities, and eldercare abuse.That's not to mention the prospect of growing old in a society where your well-being is directly tied to your wage — as that same society devises ever-more powerful AI models that can scam you out of your 401K at any time.Luckily, a few crafty American engineers are using some good old techno-solutionism to aid the elderly.A team of engineers at MIT recently unveiled what they're calling the Elderly Bodily Assistance Robot, or E-BAR for short. The robo-buddy is designed as a physical support for old folks, and can hold a person's weight, lift them from a seated position, and save them from a fall with "rapidly inflating side airbags," according to MIT News.The bot itself gets around on four omnidirectional wheels, which are controlled independently. This allows E-BAR to rotate in place and hold an elderly person without toppling over as it cradles them in its metallic arms.A video uploaded by the engineers shows E-BAR assisting in six tasks typical of an elderly caregiver, including getting into and out of a bathtub, bending down to reach things on a low shelf, lifting patients from the toilet and the floor, as well as assisting a patient while walking. According to the engineers, the goal was to design an assistant that could help old folks without being intrusive."Elderly people overwhelmingly do not like to wear harnesses or assistive devices," Roberto Bolli, a graduate student engineer who worked on the project told MIT News."The idea behind the E-BAR structure is, it provides body weight support, active assistance with gait, and fall catching while also being completely unobstructed in the front. You can just get out anytime," Bolli said.Though largely meant to be a research project, certain design elements, such as the E-BAR's door-friendly size and 18-bar linking arm, could be reproduced by commercial robotics manufacturers for actual home use.If that happens, it's difficult to imagine mass distribution of E-BARs under the current trajectory of senior care as a whole.In the US, eldercare tech devices like stair lifts and large-button phones are not covered by Medicare, and rarely by private insurance, making them out of reach for many senior citizens. As of 2022, over 44 percent of elderly adults in the US reported having an unmet daily need related to self-care, mobility, or household activities.Given the high cost of consumer robotics production, it's hard to imagine robotics making them affordable enough to the average elderly person.More on Robots: Musk Says Trump Preventing Him From Building Legion of RobotsShare This Article

We’re seeing big deals this weekend since Amazon decided to drop its Memorial Day sale a week early. Given the holiday is the unofficial start to summer, we’re seeing deep discounts on portable speakers and backup power, which are great for outdoor gatherings and camping trips. Other home essentials like lawn mowers, routers, and TVs are also hitting some of the lowest prices this year. So, it’s time to get shopping. TL;DR: Deals for Today Lowest Price This YearPJU 200 Card Sleeves Top Loaders for CardsLowest Price EverBeats PillSee it at WalmartLowest Price EverJackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300Lowest Price EverAnker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore Essential 20K)Lowest Price Everroborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop ComboAmazon Fire TV 55" 4-Series 4K UHD smart TVLEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy SetAmazon Fire HD 10Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller – Velocity GreenGreenworks 40V 16" Cordless (Push) Lawn MowerTP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh SystemJSAUX 3-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 (2025)ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K HDR Gaming Monitor (VG27AQ)While you’ll probably want to spend lots of time outside in the coming months, we’ve also found some tablets, LEGO sets, and puzzles on sale for those rainy days. And if you’re anticipating Magic: The Gathering’s epic Final Fantasy TCG crossover drop in June, the pre-orders are still live for the latest sets and single cards. Be sure to grab them before they sell out or prices skyrocket. You’ll probably want to keep your latest TCG investment protected, and luckily, PJU has a great deal on sleeves and toploaders, too. PJU 200 Card Sleeves and ToploadersLowest Price This YearPJU 200 Card Sleeves Top Loaders for CardsIf you’re spending some serious dough on the new MTG Final Fantasy release, or want to be ready for May 30th when Pokémon Destined Rivals drops, grabbing a set of card sleeves is a must. PJU has a great deal on a pack of 100 sleeves and 100 toploaders to keep your investment safe. Costing just $13.99, it’s the lowest price we’ve seen this year. The toploaders are acid-free, anti-scratch, and durable to prevent trading cards from bending while maintaining a clear view for displaying and storing. Portable Speaker DealsLowest Price EverBeats PillSee it at WalmartWith the weather finally getting nice, many outdoor gatherings are to come, and a great portable speaker can amplify the experience. The Beats Pill is a brilliant Bluetooth speaker offering up to 24 hours of battery life, water resistance, and booming audio with crisp highs and rich mids. There’s even a handy strap attached for easier carrying. But perhaps best of all, the Beats Pill is on sale for the lowest price ever. Check these other great portable speaker deals: JBL Clip 5Anker Soundcore 2JBL Go 4Sony ULT Field 5Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300Lowest Price EverJackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300Given the wild storms that come with the summer humidity, it’s a good idea to have some backup power to keep the essentials juiced up in case of an emergency. The Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 is currently on sale for its lowest price ever. This 293Wh lithium battery generator can deliver up to 300W of power to keep all your devices charged. Weighing only 7.1 pounds, it’s also a great option for those who want to go off the grid for a bit on a camping trip but still want to power drones and cameras for some epic nature shots. Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore Essential 20K) Lowest Price EverAnker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore Essential 20K)Anker is the king of portable chargers, and you can grab the 325 Power Bank (PowerCore Essential 20K) for the best price ever. With a 20,000 mAh battery and 15W of max charging power, this battery bank can top up phones and even some tablets multiple times. Dual charging is available to charge two devices simultaneously, while trickle mode optimizes charging for lower power devices like earbuds. It does all this while keeping things compact, weighing just 11.9 ounces. Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop ComboLowest Price Everroborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop ComboI spend tons of time reviewing robot vacuums, and Roborock makes some of the best. Currently, the top-of-the-line Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is on sale for 50% off. The vacuum and mopping capabilities, along with the impressive intelligent home mapping ensure you’ll barely need to lift a finger to enjoy spotless floors. Adding even more value is the base station’s mop washing and hot air drying to prevent smells or mold from ruining the mopping pads. There’s a whole lot more on offer, too! Talk about making spring cleaning a breeze! Tablets Are On SaleAmazon Fire HD 10The Fire lineup got a revamp in 2024, and we’re already seeing a great discount on the Amazon Fire HD 10. The current 89.99 price tag is the lowest price we’ve seen in 2025. Now’s the time to buy and enjoy a lovely Full HD display that’s ideal for streaming shows or reading. This tablet even offers a decent camera for video chatting and a 25% faster performance than previous generations. Check out these other tablet deals:Amazon Fire HD 8Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus 11” Amazon Fire Max 11Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 LiteLEGO Set Deals LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy SetWho doesn’t love LEGO? Well, one set I’m particularly stoked about being on sale is the Star Wars R2-D2 figure. Not only does it look awesome, but the droid’s head rotates 360 degrees, and it comes with an attachable periscope and tools. A 25th-anniversary Darth Malak minifigure is even included in the package, adding more value. Check out these other LEGO deals: LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick BoxLEGO Icons Flower Bouquet LEGO Minecraft The Illager Desert PatrolLEGO Speed Champions 2023 McLaren Formula 1 Race CarAmazon Fire TV 55" 4-Series 4K UHD smart TVAmazon Fire TV 55" 4-Series 4K UHD smart TVSave 40% on a 55-inch smart TV. This 4K display from Amazon features HDR support for a vivid picture and has all your favorite streaming apps baked in, so you can skip the streaming stick. Plus, the Alexa Voice Remote Enhanced makes it easy to find all your favorite shows and movies by just speaking into your remote. Buy One, Get One 50% Off BooksSpecial PromotionBuy One, Get One 50% Off BooksSome groceries are also included in this sale.See it at AmazonAmazon is running a buy one, get one 50% off promotion on books for Memorial Day. A few of Star Wars books are a part of the deal, including Thrawn and High Republic stories. Just note that not every book is included, so you’ll have to double-check before making the purchase. Book 2 of the Thrawn TrilogyThrawn: AlliancesThrawn Ascendancy Book II: The Greater GoodThrawn Ascendancy Book III: Lesser EvilBook 3 of the Original Thrawn TrilogyStar Wars Legends: The Last CommandBook 2 of the Original Thrawn TrilogyStar Wars Legends: Dark Force RisingThe High Republic: Into the DarkThe High Republic: Fallen StarThe High Republic: CataclysmThe High Republic: ConvergenceThe High Republic: Defy the StormThe High Republic: Out of the ShadowsBook 2 of the Darth Bane SeriesStar Wars Legends Darth Bane: The Rule of TwoStar Wars Legends: The Force Unleashed IIBook 3 of the Rogue Squadron SeriesStar Wars Legends: The Krytos TrapThe Old Republic: Fatal AlliancesSwitch 2 Accessories Are Already DiscountedTZGZT Nintendo Switch 2 carrying caseJSAUX 3-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2 (2025)Sure, the Switch 2 isn't even out yet, but if you managed to score a Switch 2 pre-order, chances are good you’ll want to keep the precious handheld safe. Grabbing a new case is an absolute must, and the TZGZT carrying case is already on sale, has an EVA hard shell, and offers space to hold tons of accessories. There’s even a screen protector included in the package. However, if you’re just looking to keep that display safe, JSAUX has a 3-pack of screen protectors at 20% off right now. The screen protector features a 9H hardness and smudge resistance, while still keeping the touch controls ultra-responsive.Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless (Push) Lawn MowerGreenworks 40V 16" Cordless (Push) Lawn MowerSpring is finally here, with summer just around the corner, and that means it’s prime mowing season. The Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless (Push) Lawn Mower is a great option for keeping your lawn on point and is on sale for 30% off. Rather than gas, this mower features a 40-volt battery for about 40 minutes of runtime and starts with just the push of a button. It offers the same power as your typical gas mower but with less hassle (and emissions). Get 1 Year of Peacock Premium for $24.9912 Months of Peacock PremiumBravo fans, Wicked aficionados, and more will love this current 1-year subscription deal for Peacock Premium. Peacock has made some major moves in recent years, adding popular TV shows (Hello, Parks & Rec and The Office), straight from the theater releases, and live sports. If you’ve been looking to add to your streaming services, Peacock is on the cusp of joining titan streamers like Netflix and Max. Ravensburger Puzzle SalePuzzle SaleRavensburger Dean Macadam Most Everyone is Mad 1000-Piece PuzzleA bunch of other puzzles are also on sale.Ravensburger Dean Macadam Most Everyone is Mad is a 1,000-piece puzzle that’s currently discounted. The artwork is stunning, and given that it’s from Ravensburger and made in Germany, the quality is hard to beat. It’s not the only puzzle on sale, though, as Amazon has slashed the prices on a range of puzzles. Check out these other great puzzle deals:1000 Pieces Ravensburger Cabinet of Curiosities1000 PiecesRavensburger Super Mario Challenge1000 PiecesRavensburger Forth Bridge at Sunset1000 PiecesRavensburger Warner Bros The Flintstones1000 PiecesRavensburger Disney Collector's Edition Frozen1000 PiecesRavensburger Awesome Alphabet1000 PiecesRavensburger Jungle Tiger

Like the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy handsets come loaded with a bunch of preinstalled Samsung apps that you don't necessarily need and might never use—especially as there are Google-made equivalents for a lot of them that you'll also find on your phone.As these Samsung apps come preinstalled, you might think that removing them might break something on your device, but you can safely uninstall most of them without worrying (and find them again on the Galaxy Store, if you ever need to get them back).Clearing out the apps you're not using regularly means your phone won't need to download updates for them, and you'll free up some storage space too. It's well worth taking a few minutes to delete any apps you don't need, and that includes the ones Samsung has helpfully installed for you.You can delete any app on your Samsung phone from the app drawer: Just press and hold on an app icon, then choose Uninstall > OK. These are the ones that One UI lets you get rid of, quickly and safely:Calculator: For doing sums on your phone, courtesy of Samsung.Calendar: Samsung's alternative to Google Calendar.Clock: Samsung's own app for checking times and setting alarms.Galaxy Shop: For buying everything from TVs to watches from Samsung.Galaxy Wearable: If you need to manage Galaxy smartwatches.Gaming Hub: A hub for launching your games and finding new ones.Global Goals: Samsung's app for supporting charities and causes.Notes: For creating notes with text, drawings, images, and more.Penup: Samsung's app for creating and sharing drawings. Samsung's Find app can track your devices. Credit: Lifehacker Samsung Find: Locates your family and friends, and your Samsung devices.Samsung Health: For tracking your fitness stats and other health metrics.Samsung Internet: Samsung's own mobile web browser.Samsung Members: Shows special offers and benefits with your Samsung account.Samsung TV Plus: Free streaming TV channels from Samsung.Samsung Wallet: Samsung's take on mobile payments and passes.SmartThings: For controlling smart home kit supporting Samsung's standard.Tips: Get to know the key features on your Samsung phone.Voice Recorder: For audio recordings and transcriptions on your phone.The preinstalled apps you can't deleteThat's list constitutes the majority of the Samsung apps that come bundled with One UI, but it's not all of them. You can't uninstall Bixby, Camera, Contacts, the Galaxy Store, Gallery, My Files, or Smart Switch as you look to declutter your phone.Other preinstalled apps you can deleteDepending on where in the world you are, you might also see a range of third-party apps (not made by Samsung) on your Galaxy handset. These can all be safely uninstalled, and may include Facebook, Netflix, and Spotify.You might also come across various Google and Microsoft apps. These are the ones you can get rid of to free up some space:Google Drive: For accessing your Google Drive files in the cloud.Google TV: Streaming shows and movies across various platforms.LinkedIn: The professional social network owned by Microsoft. If you're tired of LinkedIn notifications, you can uninstall the app. Credit: Lifehacker Microsoft Copilot: The AI assistant from Microsoft.Outlook: Microsoft's email client for desktop, mobile, and the web.YouTube Music: Google's music streaming service.For some preinstalled apps, including Google Chrome and Microsoft OneDrive, you won't see an Uninstall option, but you will see a Disable option. Disabling an app hides it from view and stops automatic updates for it, but it doesn't actually remove it from your phone. You can enable these apps again by opening up Settings and navigating to the Apps.

Credit: Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images TL;DR: Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.The 2025 NBA playoffs are continuing to deliver an abundance of drama, and it really doesn't get much more dramatic than an all-or-nothing battle between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. Can the Thunder overcome an inspired Nikola Jokić to progress to the West finals? You can watch all the action without spending anything.If you want to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) in the 2025 NBA playoffs for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need. You May Also Like When is Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7)?Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on May 18. This game takes place at the Paycom Center.How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) for freeOklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) in the 2025 NBA playoffs is available to live stream for free on Ran.de. Mashable Top Stories Stay connected with the hottest stories of the day and the latest entertainment news. Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! Ran.de is geo-restricted to Germany, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world.Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)Open up the app and connect to a server in GermanyConnect to Ran.deWatch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) for free Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA playoffs before recovering your investment.What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Ran.de, for a number of reasons:Servers in 105 countries including GermanyEasy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and moreStrict no-logging policy so your data is secureFast connection speeds free from throttlingUp to eight simultaneous connections30-day money-back guaranteeA two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.Live stream Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets (Game 7) for free with ExpressVPN. Joseph Green Global Shopping Editor Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.

It’s fair to say the Apple AirPods have been a hit since they debuted in 2016. The wireless earbuds are now a familiar sight in ears all across the world, and we’ve seen multiple versions of both the standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro since the series first launched. These devices couldn’t be much easier to set up, and you’ll be prompted to connect them to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac as soon as you open up the charging case. AirPods also come with support for various touch and gesture controls, and it’s possible to customize these controls. Finding AirPod settings The settings for your AirPods aren’t difficult to find. Screenshot: Apple At the time of writing, there are four generations of the standard AirPods, and two generations of the AirPods Pro. The features and customizations available vary between these models, but the settings screens are in the same place no matter your variety of AirPods. On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, then tap the name of your AirPods, which should be near the top of the screen (it says AirPods by default). If you’re on a Mac, open the Apple menu, click System Settings, and then find your AirPods in the menu on the left (they should also show up on the menu bar at the top of macOS). Besides customizing controls and gestures, you’re also able to turn various features on and off from these screens. You can set the type of active noise cancellation, for example, or turn on spatial audio for certain games and types of content. Changing AirPod audio controls The options you see here will depend on your AirPods model. Screenshot: Apple Different AirPods offer different controls: If you’re on the newest AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 2, for example, you can press the stems of the earbuds to play and pause audio playback, and double-press to skip forward to the next track. If there’s a call coming in, you can press the stem to answer it. On the AirPods settings screen, you can customize some of these controls: The Left and Right menu entries are for customizing the left and right earbud, respectively. Any changes you make on one device (like your iPhone) will also then apply on other devices (like your Mac). On the latest AirPods models, these menus let you switch between Siri activation and noise cancellation control, and you can choose the types of noise cancellation (including Transparency and Adaptive) from this menu. Changing AirPod call controls Customizing AirPods call controls on iOS. Screenshot: Apple You can also call control options on the same AirPods menu. When making calls with your earbuds rather than listening to music or podcasts, the actions you get from pressing on them change. Tap Mute & Unmute and End Call to set whether you need a single or a double press to take these actions—the other setting will change to match accordingly (you can’t use a single tap or a double tap for both). Answering calls needs a single press, and you can’t customize this. With the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, you can also shake your head to decline calls, and nod your head to accept them: Tap Head Gestures to customize the feature. For this to work, Announce Calls and Announce Notifications must be enabled in Apple Intelligence & Siri in Settings. Other AirPods settings If your AirPods have Adaptive Audio, you can customize it here. Screenshot: Apple You’ll notice there are a variety of other options you can tweak on the AirPods settings screens on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. There’s an Automatic Ear Detection toggle switch, for example: Disable this if you don’t want your audio to pause automatically when you take your AirPods out of your ears. The latest AirPods models include a feature called Adaptive Audio, which means they can adjust the noise cancellation levels automatically based on what’s around you: So if the earbuds detect that you’re trying to speak to someone, for example, more of the external noise will be let in. Tap Adaptive Audio to adjust the sensitivity of the volume detection. Another part of this same feature is Personalized Volume, which can be toggled on and off from the AirPods settings page. It learns how loud or quiet you normally have your AirPods set in different environments (such as the office or outdoors), and starts to make automatic adjustments as you move around.

Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. Untold Novel is an app built to help fiction writers get their ideas down in a pinch. It has a number of useful features, a cool design, and is available on iPhone and iPad. It’ll launch on macOS in the near future as well. Top features With Untold Novel, you can get all of your ideas down as quickly as possible. The developers built it to foster an inspiring environment for any aspiring novelist. The app offers five major modules to help novelists plan their stories: Notes Character Planner Location Scouting (via Apple Maps) Scene Building Timelines With Notes, you can swiftly jot ideas down when inspiration strikes. On top of that, you can create detailed characteristics for each of your characters, keep track of locations with a real Apple Maps view (and Look Around), plan out all of your scenes, and develop a story timeline. You can keep track of everything for an individual story inside of a project file, and you can also link each project to a series if you’d wish. Untold Novel keeps your stories organized, and offers a simple experience for those who need a little push to get their ideas out there. Untold Novel is an up-front paid app with no subscription. It’s currently on sale for $9.99 until Tuesday, down from the typical $12.99 price point. Once you purchase the app, you unlock the full experience – no additional in app purchases necessary. It’s available for devices running iOS 17.0 and later. My favorite Apple accessory recommendations: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

For most of my life, I’ve relied on a paper map when I go outdoors. Then, in March, I joined my friend Rusty on the Appalachian Trail for two weeks. He told me to download FarOut.FarOut was my introduction to the world of app-based navigation. It’s focused on thru-hikers, and has useful details, including comments that tell you whether a specific water source is flowing, and if so, how well. It took me a minute to get the hang of it — I was hiking southbound, and it defaults to northbound — but once I did, I was impressed.FarOut works like a guidebook. But the kind of backpacking I ordinarily do is on more offbeat trails in the local national forests — not the wilderness highways FarOut specializes in. So for my first solo trip, to the Ventana Wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest, I thought I’d try out some of the other navigation apps, as part of an absolutely transparent ploy to get my job to let me fuck off outdoors more often; there are a lot of hikes I want to do. I suspect many of our readers are connoisseurs of the great indoors, but I also know you love gadgets, and let me tell you something: so do backpackers. You would not believe the conversations I have had with absolute strangers about gear.I do work at the phones website. We kind of specialize in having feelings about appsNow, I’m not going to top Outdoor Gear Lab — I love their reviews, and have found them reliable guides when it comes to big purchases* — but I do work at the phones website. We kind of specialize in having feelings about apps.I considered several options. I quickly discarded onX Backcountry when I discovered on one of my trial hikes how quickly it drained my phone battery. I also used CalTopo to prepare for the hike, but because it’s a fairly complex platform with a steep learning curve, I don’t think I’ve spent enough time with it to give it a proper review.I figured I might as well keep it simple. I already knew Google Maps wouldn’t cut it; the acquisitions Google has made over the years suggest that the company’s more interested in cars than pedestrians. Looking at the Health and Fitness category on the Apple App Store, I noticed AllTrails ranked #10, so trying the popular app seemed natural. The other app I saw frequently mentioned on hiking subreddits — besides CalTopo — was Gaia GPS. So I figured I’d start with those two.There are a few other apps in the space I didn’t consider. The most notable are Avenza and Goat Maps. I’ve found Avenza limited, but it seems the feature set has been updated since the last time I played with it. Goat Maps is new to me, but it’s from the same team that created Gaia GPS before it was sold to Outside. (More about that in a minute.)Route planningBecause this was my first solo hike, I was not interested in doing anything especially difficult. I’ve been to the Ventana Wilderness before, and am familiar with the Pine Ridge Trail, which I viewed as the backbone of my trip. One of the things AllTrails has going for it is suggested routes — for this area, 41 possible hikes.I had originally contemplated doing an overnight at China Camp before heading down the Pine Ridge Trail to Sykes Camp as an out-and-back, but after hiking with Rusty, I decided I could be more ambitious. I considered a few routes before settling on what AllTrails calls the Big Sur Sykes Hot Springs Extended Loop. That was partly because I’d checked in with the Big Sur Trail Map, a volunteer information repository hosted by Jack Glendening for trail conditions, and discovered a few trails I might have otherwise wanted to use were overgrown.Once I started mapping my route, I noticed some troubleAllTrails has user comments, which can be useful. One user told me to prepare for ticks and poison oak. Another suggested a stop at Timber Top for a meal or snack as it was beautiful, even if it was a detour, so I worked that into my agenda.In order to get a sense of what I’d be doing, I used tools to create my routes, with different lines for each day. CalTopo, AllTrails, and Gaia all have “snap to route” tools that let you automatically follow a trail the map knows about, which makes creating a route easier. But once I started mapping my route, I noticed some trouble. AllTrails said this was a 32.8-mile hike. I had trouble getting Gaia to acknowledge the fire road that would be part of my route with its auto-route tool set; also, the app insisted I was hiking 40 miles. Both the AllTrails and Gaia “snap to route” tools were easier to use than CalTopo, and it came up with a totally different mileage count than either: a 35-mile hike.Here’s the AllTrails route I planned. It was the easiest tool to use for routing by farHere’s CalTopo’s route-planning; you can see I’m considering doing the route in three days, rather than four.This is the Gaia GPS route plan. As you can see, it’s a mess, and because it was hard to edit, it was difficult to correct the mess.Similarly, looking at elevation gain, AllTrails told me to expect 9,160 feet, CalTopo told me to expect 8901 feet, and Gaia, for some reason, was insisting on 19,000 feet. I gotta say, 19,000 feet did not seem like it was in the vicinity of right. Looking at the map I created on Gaia, I think that’s because the “snap to route” tool had given me some weird detours.Well, what’s a couple miles and a few hundred feet of elevation between friends? I decided the smartest move would be to plan a four-day hike with three overnight stops: Sykes Camp, Rainbow Camp, and Outlaw Camp. I figured having more stops meant I could more easily absorb some unexpected miles if I had to.AllTrails’ route-building tool was easiest to use, and the easiest to edit if I made a mistake. While I appreciated Gaia’s similarly easy snap-to-trail function, it was a profound pain in the ass to edit after I’d made a route. And CalTopo was the most finicky for route-building of the bunch, requiring painstaking clicking. But it also had the best feature set, in terms of lines, colors, and editing. It also had more base layers and overlays showing, among other things, where to expect cellphone service.CalTopo and Gaia let you build and edit maps on a phone, but I primarily used my laptop because a big screen is better for planning routes, and a mouse is a more precise tool than my finger. Tinkering with Gaia on my phone, I found route creation buggy. AllTrails doesn’t seem to offer route creation on the iPhone at all. This didn’t matter much for me, but if you’re creating routes on the fly in the backcountry, you’re out of luck with AllTrails, and Gaia may suddenly quit working.Why use apps at all?I harbor a deep and profound pro-paper bias. A notebook is the best organizational tool available to you. I own hundreds of paper books because they don’t have DRM and they can’t be altered post-publication, or removed from my devices. I like paper maps a great deal, and have used them as my main navigation tool for my entire hiking career.Paper maps have downsides. They don’t respond well to water, for instance. Wear and tear can render them unusable. They may be out of date. And, of course, there are no crowdsourced comments telling you about trail conditions before your hike.The obvious benefit of the navigation apps is the reassuring little blue dotThe obvious benefit of the navigation apps is the reassuring little blue dot that tells you exactly where you are on the trail, without requiring nearly as much work. You can pull out your phone and see how much farther you need to go before arriving at a landmark. And most of us have our phones on our hikes because they’re the most convenient way to take photos. Gaia and AllTrails offer downloadable maps as part of a premium service — for a subscription fee, of course. That’s either $59.90 for Gaia or $89.99 for Gaia’s Outside Plus, which includes access to Outside’s assorted publications. The AllTrails Plus subscription I tested was $35.99 a year; after I went on my hike, it announced AllTrails Peak, which costs $79.99 a year and includes AI tools for route planning. (Given what I know about LLMs, I personally would not trust an AI to plan any hiking route, but I suppose your mileage may vary.) CalTopo, which offers its own set of subscription plans at $20, $50, and $100 a year, shows weather data and information about how much sunlight any part of its map gets at any hour of the day.There are a couple downsides to these apps. They drain the phone battery, which necessitates carrying a portable charger, which means more weight. If the phone doesn’t work — because, say, you dropped it — the app won’t work either. And there are, of course, the privacy issues.I don’t want people to know where I am at all timesMy location is sensitive information; I don’t want people to know where I am at all times. AllTrails defaults to sharing your data publicly, so anyone on Earth can look up your hikes. While you can change this setting, defaults matter. “Public trail activities and community reviews are a big part of the AllTrails experience,” spokesperson Mia DeSimone in an email. I was also prompted to review my hike afterwards — part of the crowdsourced data that makes AllTrails work, I suppose.AllTrails also shares your data. Some of that is unobjectionable — payment providers, for instance — but some of it, like sharing data with marketing partners, raised my eyebrows. “AllTrails does not process sensitive personal data, including precise geolocation, for purposes other than actual use of the AllTrails platform,” DeSimone said.I can’t speak to the pluses and minuses of AllTrails Peak, which I haven’t experimented with. But after my hike, AllTrails also discontinued its “Advanced Conditions” feature that showed weather along a prospective route, what to expect from the ground (wet? icy?), and mosquito activity. AllTrails Peak users will get access to “Trail Conditions,” which DeSimone says is “significantly more robust and precise than Advanced Conditions.” Some AllTrails users seem unhappy about the new pricing tier.I got this AllTrails pop-up after my hike. Reader, I did not review it.Gaia similarly defaults to public sharing, because of “a social component designed to help users connect, share experiences, and discover trails,” said Devin Lehman, general manager of Gaia GPS, in an emailed statement. “Public sharing of hikes is the default setting to encourage this community engagement.” Gaia also shares some data, including location data, with unnamed “service providers,” but Lehman said this is done “under strict data protection agreements” and is used to “support and power specific features and functionalities.”Last year, Gaia began requiring sign-ins, catching a few people who were on multi-day trips by surprise. “To ensure minimal disruption, we implemented a ‘snooze’ option allowing users to defer login for up to 28 days if prompted during an active trip,” Lehman wrote. “Users entirely offline (airplane mode or zero cell service) would not see the prompt at all. However, we understand some users in areas with intermittent service did encounter unexpected prompts. We’ve taken user feedback seriously and continue refining our app experience to better support uninterrupted outdoor adventures.”Its parent company, Outside, also jacked up the cost of subscriptions, and on April 14th this year, it removed access to the National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps. “While we understand some subscribers valued the National Geographic Trails Illustrated maps, these maps offered limited regional coverage and lacked the global scope and dynamic functionality our growing user base needs,” Lehman wrote. He says Gaia “substantially expanded” its offerings in the last few years, and the price increase reflects “the ongoing investment required to maintain and continuously improve Gaia GPS.”Be that as it may, I’ve got several friends who are disgruntled Gaia subscribers looking around for another option. And I personally do not have faith in Outside’s management of Gaia, or its other properties, in the long run.On the trailRun away with me! Elizabeth LopattoBecause I was uncertain about my mileage, I decided to track myself several ways: AllTrails, Gaia, and my Apple Watch Series 6. The Apple Watch isn’t really an ideal fitness tracker for outdoors enthusiasts — it’s flimsy and its battery drains too fast; even the Ultra 2 only gives you 72 hours in low power mode. What it does have going for it is that I already own it, and there are other pieces of gear that were more important to upgrade after my experience on the AT. The Big Four in pack weight are your tent, sleeping bag or quilt, sleeping pad, and pack itself. Updating my tent and quilt, both expensive, also meant I lost about 5 pounds of weight from my pack immediately. Since this wasn’t a long hike and I was already carrying a battery, the Apple Watch’s propensity to drain quickly, even with both low power mode and theater mode on, didn’t seem too terrible.I set out from the trailhead Monday morning, and turned on tracking for AllTrails, Gaia, and my Apple Watch. As with all tracking, there are opportunities for user error — I am of course capable of forgetting to turn this stuff on, or pausing it and then never unpausing it. I mention this because there was user error: I paused the AllTrails tracker and then never unpaused it, so as far as it’s concerned, I hiked 3.7 miles that first day.See? I really did walk some number of miles. Perhaps 11, who knows!I was more successful with my watch and Gaia. I started my watch late — looking at the map, I seem to have missed at least a mile before I started it; it recorded 9 miles of walking. I did start Gaia at the beginning of my hike, and it recorded I hiked 11.6 miles. Both watch and app recorded about 2,400 feet of ascent, a little less than what CalTopo told me to expect (2,600 feet of elevation gain) and significantly less than what AllTrails told me to expect (3,000 feet).I arrived at Sykes Camp, alongside the Big Sur River, a little after 4PM, and set up my tent. It was close enough to dinnertime that I decided to eat. As I was hunched over the stove, a woman walked by, so I said hello. She was looking for the hot spring, and continued walking upriver. About 45 minutes later, she returned. She hadn’t found it.The hot spring wasn’t listed on the AllTrails map, the CalTopo map, or either of my paper maps. But it was on Gaia, and after dinner, I found the hot spring, a half-mile hike on a somewhat overgrown path downriver, and soaked blissfully for about half an hour. I’d post a selfie, but this is the internet, and I know better than to post feet for free.If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is. Elizabeth LopattoThe next morning I packed up and headed off to Rainbow Camp around 8:45AM. This, I knew, would be an up-and-down day of ridgeline hiking; AllTrails had a helpful elevation map telling me roughly what to expect. Unlike Sykes, Rainbow Camp was likely to be a place I’d be alone. Most of the people I’d spoken to the day before were doing an out-and-back, with Sykes as their only stop. But this ridgeline hike was spotted with wildflowers.I’d planned for this to be a fairly short day, only about 7 miles. I pulled into Rainbow Camp around 2PM and was underwhelmed — it was buggy and not especially scenic. So after eating lunch and refreshing my water supply, I decided to push on to Cold Spring Camp. The AllTrails map suggested it would only be 5 miles more. It was uphill, though, about 2,000 more feet of climbing. Even if I dragged along at 1 mile an hour, I’d still arrive before sunset.I’d thought about camping at Cold Spring before I set off, and had shied away from it both because of the climb and my uncertainty about the actual mileage of my hike. But I was feeling good, and I’d used my Garmin InReach Mini to check in about my change of plans, so I shoved off.According to my trackers recording my actual route — Gaia and AllTrails — it was more like 6 miles, not 5. Gaia tracked 4,884 feet of climb over a total distance of 13.6 miles; AllTrails suggested I’d climbed 5,213 feet over 14.6 miles. (Did I miss a mile somewhere on Gaia? I don’t see a gap in the recording, so I’m not sure how to account for the difference.) My Apple Watch said I’d gone 11.5 miles, also with 4,884 feet of climb — but its battery died before I made camp. I set up camp at Cold Spring, and watched the sun go down over the ocean as I ate dinner.The extra mileage meant I could plausibly make it home the following day. Sure, there were several camps available if I was too tired to do the rest of the hike, but depending on which tracker I used as my source of truth, I had somewhere between 11 and 13 miles left, a fairly easy day of hiking, particularly since it would all be downhill. The third day opened with ridgeline views; I was above a thick ceiling of clouds hiding the ocean. There were, of course, more wildflowers. When I turned off the dirt road onto Terrace Creek Trail, I met a day hiker going the other direction, who warned me about ticks on the grassy descent toward a redwood grove. (Maybe because he went through just before me, or maybe because of the permethrin I’d used on my clothes, I didn’t see any.) I made it back to the parking lot a little after 4PM. I’d had some user error with my Apple Watch — forgetting to start it again after breakfast at Timber Top, so there was an hour and a half gap in its data — and it recorded 11 miles. AllTrails crapped out at some point between when I set off from Cold Spring and breakfast, so it didn’t record my entire hike. Still, it got 11.63 miles. Gaia also had a gap in its recording (something wrong with my phone?) and put me at 12.7 miles.I thought the hike would settle how long the route was. It did, in a way — certainly the hike was longer than the 32.8 miles AllTrails had promised. If we take Gaia’s tracking, which was the most complete of the bunch, as the source of truth, I’d hiked 38 miles, 39 if I added the hike to the hot spring. Conclusion… of some sortWhile I had my paper maps (and compass) with me, the point was to test the apps, and they worked well enough that I didn’t have to refer to my “real” maps at all. But I also didn’t come away with a single clear winner, whether AllTrails or Gaia was best. AllTrails offered better route-planning features, while Gaia was more reliable on the trail. Both had worrisome inaccuracies in their data, which meant in practical terms that I lugged around another day of food in extra weight because I wasn’t totally sure how far I’d be climbing or walking. That’s consequential — food and water are usually the heaviest things a hiker carries.I certainly wouldn’t recommend relying on either of these, particularly without a backup map, and I’m not sold on how they handle my privacy. AllTrails seems to be aimed at people who are more casual hikers than I am. I don’t think Outside has been a good steward of Gaia (or of Outside Magazine). I also hesitate to recommend pricey subscriptions to these apps, given the issues I had with them. In fact, as I was writing this, I realized the most useful app in planning the trip was the one I hadn’t downloaded maps from: CalTopo.I haven’t tested CalTopo in the backcountry yet, so consider this a cliffhanger. Please feel free to pop over to the comments to demand I be allowed to go backpacking for work sooner rather than later, so you can hear more about my map-related misadventures. I’ve been eyeing the Tahoe Rim Trail for later this summer, and if I’m testing gear, it doesn’t count as vacation time, right? Right? Outdoor Gear Lab’s top bra recommendation’s largest size is a C cup, and the reviews are written primarily for teeny tatas. That’s an astounding editorial failure. Not only do athletes of big titty experience have a harder time finding bras at all, we are more likely to experience boob pain — which is a major reason women quit sports. Breast tissue is dead weight, so bra structure is crucial. A bra that’s stretchy enough to fit over your head won’t keep the girls in place during high-impact exercise. Some other rules of thumb: racerbacks press on your traps; thin straps cut into your shoulders; a thick, tight band is a must for weight distribution. A low-cut bra means an astonishing amount of cleavage, but a high neckline will make your gazongas look even bigger, so pick your poison, I guess. (Also, a high-cut bra worn for a long time will incubate a real banner crop of cleavage zits and, in some cases, chafing.) For running, I like Enell’s High Impact Bra — it’s the only one I’ve tried that’s kept my rack from bouncing. (It’s also recommended by Swole Woman Casey Johnston.) I’m still on the lookout for the best backpacking bra; the Enell one is too binding for all-day wear.See More:

Microsoft claims it has found “no evidence” that its AI technologies or its cloud computing service Microsoft Azure have been used to target or harm civilians during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.In an official statement, the tech giant says it conducted an internal review into the issue and engaged an external firm (which it did not name) to undertake additional fact-finding. Microsoft says the review process included interviewing dozens of employees and assessing military documents.Microsoft did confirm that it provides Israel's Ministry of Defense (IMOD) with software, professional services, Azure cloud services, and Azure AI services such as language translation, as well as cybersecurity support, but denied these technologies were being used to target civilians.However, Microsoft pointed out that it “does not have visibility into how customers use our software on their own servers or other devices,” and that it does not have “visibility into the IMOD’s government cloud operations,” which use other providers. “By definition, our reviews do not cover these situations,” said a Microsoft spokesperson.Recommended by Our EditorsThe statement is unlikely to silence Microsoft’s harshest critics on the issue. In May, the company axed two employees who disrupted its 50th-anniversary event to protest the use of its tech by Israel.Meanwhile, investigations by outlets like The Associated Press have alleged that commercially available AI models produced by Microsoft and OpenAI were used to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. The report noted that the Israeli military’s usage of Microsoft and OpenAI artificial intelligence in March 2024 was nearly 200 times higher than before the Oct. 7 attack, citing internal company information shared with AP. Hossam Nasr, an organizer of No Azure for Apartheid, criticized the validity of Microsoft’s statement in an interview with GeekWire earlier this week, saying it was “filled with both lies and contradictions.” Nasr, a former Microsoft employee, said the company claims “that their technology is not being used to harm people in Gaza,” but highlighted its admission that “they don’t have insight into how their technologies are being used.”Microsoft isn't the only Big Tech firm that has been contending with the allegations from staff it's supporting harm to civilians. In 2024, Google axed 28 employees who participated in an office sit-in protest against the search giant's role in Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud contract between Google, Amazon, and Israel's government and military.