TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro brings modern security, smoother multitasking, AI tools, and a fresh UI—and it’s only $9.97 for a limited time. There’s upgrading your operating system—and then there’s finally leaving Windows 10 behind now that Microsoft has officially stopped supporting it. If you’ve been putting it off, this deal makes the timing almost impossible to ignore: Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 (MSRP $199). Windows 11 Pro brings a noticeably smoother, more modern experience from the moment you boot up. The interface feels fresh and clean, multitasking gets a major boost thanks to Snap Layouts and improved desktops, and the built-in security features—like TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and biometric login—create a far safer environment for work, gaming, and everything in between. DirectX 12 Ultimate takes visuals to a whole new level, squeezing every drop of performance out of your hardware. And for professionals, features like BitLocker encryption, Hyper-V, Azure AD, and Windows Sandbox make Windows 11 Pro feel like a true step up—not just a facelift. Then there’s Copilot, your AI-powered sidekick built right into Windows. It can summarize web pages, help with writing, suggest code, handle settings, and even generate images from your ideas. In short, better security, better features, better workflow—and a price so low it feels like a glitch. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to upgrade, this is it. Get Windows 11 Pro while it’s just $9.97 (MSRP $199) for a limited time. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Seamless 180-degree panoramic view Reliable PoE connection No subscription required for smart features Cons Requires PoE switch or a PoE-capable NVR to operate Slight lens distortion near frame edges No cloud storage option Our Verdict The Annke FCD800 delivers sharp panoramic coverage, smart detection, and solid deterrence at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who needs to monitor a large area with a single, reliable camera on a tight budget and has the required infrastructure in place (or plans to add it). Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Annke FCD800 Retailer Price $94.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Not long ago, panoramic security camera coverage required installing multiple units and you’d still end up with blind spots. Then dual-lens models came along and promised to fix that by stitching two views into one wide shot. The results haven’t always been pretty, though, sometimes producing visible seams, awkward distortions, and mismatched lighting in the stitched-together image. Annke’s new FCD800 aims to change that. This 8-megapixel power-over-ethernet camera (PoE) blends the feeds from its two lenses into a seamless 180-degree view, offering a viable replacement for multi-camera setups. Design and features The FCD800 is a turret-style camera housing two wide-angle lenses side by side (it’s also available in a bullet form factor for the same price). The metal camera enclosure is attached to a plastic mount, and connects via power-over-ethernet (PoE), in cable carries both electrical power and data. A separate mounting bracket allows both wall and soffit placement, making it easy to position the camera for full yard or driveway coverage. The Annke FCD800’s high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible stitching that plagues some dual-lens cameras. It’s rated IP67 for protection from the elements—meaning it’s dustproof and can withstand immersion in up to one meter (about 3.3 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes—it’s built to handle year-round exposure. Its industrial look won’t blend into every home’s exterior, but it suits garages, side yards, and any scenario that prioritizes function over subtlety. Want to know about IP codes? Check out TechHive’s IP code guide. Each of the camera’s two 1/2.4-inch CMOS sensors captures video with 4096×1860-pixel resolution. These are stitched into a continuous 180-degree panoramic image without the warping or fisheye effect you often get from single-lens wide-angle cameras. Nighttime performance is handled by a smart hybrid lighting system that uses both infrared and white LEDs. The FCD800 automatically switches between these two light sources based on the available ambient light, providing up to 30 meters of illumination. According to Annke, that’s about a 50-percent jump from the FCD600’s 20-meter range. In full darkness, it can run in discreet IR mode or switch on the white lights to flood an area with color night vision. The FCD800 stitches footage from two seaparate lenses into one seamless panoramic image. Annke Annke’s Motion Detection 2.0 adds AI to that wide field of view. The system can distinguish between people and vehicles, ignoring distractions like swaying branches or passing animals. If the camera does spot trouble, it can double as a deterrent with a built-in active defense system that combines a 97dB siren, flashing white strobes, and custom voice warnings that can be triggered automatically by motion or manually from within the app. The FCD800 gives you several storage options. A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording depending on bit rate and motion settings. The camera also works with Annke NVRs and other ONVIF-compatible recorders, letting you integrate it into a broader PoE system. If you prefer network storage, you can point the camera to a NAS. It appears Annke hasn’t introduced a subscription service for this model, so recording is strictly local. Setup and performance Setting up the FCD800 takes a little more planning than a typical Wi-Fi camera, but the process is simple once you understand how PoE works. Instead of plugging into a wall outlet, the camera gets both power and data through a single ethernet cable. That cable connects to a PoE switch or a PoE-capable NVR, which supplies electricity and network access at the same time. (If you prefer, you can power the camera with a 12V DC adapter, but you’ll still need to hardwire it to your router with an ethernet cable—it doesn’t have an onboard Wi-Fi adapter). It’s a clean, reliable setup that also eliminates worries about weak Wi-Fi signals. The camera connects smoothly to Annke’s own NVR systems, which might be the best bet for newbies, and is managed through the Annke Vision app. Once connected, you’ll scan the bar code sticker on the bottom of the camera to add it to the app. Then the app prompts you through the steps to connect the camera to your network. Once the camera is added, you can view live video, review a timeline of recorded clips, and manage camera settings in the app. The interface is clean and responsive, and the connection remained solid in my testing. A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Video from the FCD800 looks crisp and evenly exposed. The high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible stitching that plagues some dual-lens cameras. I did notice a little curvature near the edges of the frame, a mild lens distortion from the ultra-wide lenses. It’s common with panoramic cameras and most noticeable when the camera is aimed sharply downward as mine was. Mounting it level with the horizon keeps this to a minimum. The hybrid night lighting was impressive, as well. In IR mode, you get strong black-and-white visibility, with decent edge sharpness and minimal flare. Switch to the white LEDs and the scene fills with bright, balanced color. You can choose one or the other let the camera’s intelligence decide which to use on the fly. The camera’s AI detection is pretty accurate distinguishing people and vehicles from background motion. I didn’t receive any nuisance alerts during my testing, but if you find environmental activity is triggering the camera, dialing back sensitivity or shrinking the detection zone in the app usually solves it. You’ll want to make sure these settings are tuned optimally for your environment because the camera’s active defenses get attention. The siren is loud—97 decibels is enough to startle anyone nearby—and the strobe flashes are hard to miss. They’ll quickly wear on your neighbors’ patience if they misfire frequently. The Annke Vision app gives you access to live video, a timeline of recorded clips, and camera settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Should you buy the Annke FCD800? At $139.99, the FCD800 delivers a lot for the money. It’s a great fit for anyone who wants to cover a wide area like a driveway or yard without juggling multiple cameras. You’ll need a PoE connection, so be sure to factor in that cost if you don’t already have the required hardware (a router or ethernet switch that supports PoE, a PoE injector, or a PoE-capable network video recorder). If you’re OK with that, it’s a solid, no-nonsense upgrade that performs as advertised. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Read...

Most people think they’ll be safe from most cyber security threats as long as they pay attention and follow certain rules, like knowing how to spot phishing messages and not downloading unusual apps. But attackers can gain access to your phone even if you do everything right. French cyber security authority CERT-FR recently published a “Threat Landscape Since 2025” report (PDF) that warns of security vulnerabilities that can be found in ALL modern smartphones. Wi-Fi and mobile networks in particular can harbor unimaginable dangers. These kinds of Wi-Fi-related risks aren’t new. Australian authorities were warning against using Wi-Fi on phones as early as 2024, and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) recommends switching off Wi-Fi when traveling. So what’s new here? What do you need to know? Read on below. Why is Wi-Fi dangerous when traveling? According to CERT-FR, smartphone users on public Wi-Fi networks are extra vulnerable to “man-in-the-middle” (MITM) attacks. Hackers can secretly get between you and the Wi-Fi access point, allowing them to eavesdrop and intercept your data. This is common on unsecured networks, like those found in cafés, restaurants, etc. CERT-FR mentions the “Evil Twin” method, which attackers use to create their own Wi-Fi access points that are disguised as legitimate networks. Anyone who connects to an “Evil Twin” network will think they’re connecting to a proper (and supposedly secure) network, but will end up catching malware and completely losing access to their device. The use of outdated mobile networks (like 2G) also poses a major risk. These older networks typically have unpatched security flaws and mechanisms, making them easier to crack than newer networks (like 5G). How to protect yourself The easiest way to protect yourself from malware, eavesdroppers, data intercepters, and other malicious attacks while traveling is to completely turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Of course, this isn’t sustainable 100% of the time since you can’t go completely without them in the modern era. But whenever possible, disable those features and only re-enable them temporarily when you absolutely need them. On Android devices, you can prevent your device from connecting to Wi-Fi networks by pulling down the quick access menu and tapping the Wi-Fi icon. This is also possible on iPhones, but it’s better to deactivate Wi-Fi via the settings to switch off the feature completely (otherwise some services, like AirDrop, can still access it). You should also avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, as these are more likely to be unsecured and tend to attract malicious attackers. And never connect to Wi-Fi networks you don’t recognize, even if they appear legitimate, inconspicuous, and secure. To be extra safe, you should also turn off automatic Wi-Fi connections. CERT-FR also warns against using NFC connections when they aren’t immediately needed. You can recognize whether NFC is enabled or disabled by the “N” symbol on your device. Alternatively, you can use airplane mode to be protected against all wireless connections. However, you won’t receive any messages, calls, or data while airplane mode is enabled, which is admittedly a huge drawback to using it. Last but not least, you should also consider using a reliable antivirus app on your mobile phone. This will be the last line of defense in case you ever slip up and catch malware out in the wild. Read...

I don’t know about you, but I prefer tech that doesn’t just make my life easier but also isn’t difficult at all to set up. So, whenever I see the Eufy SoloCam S220 solar-powered security camera on sale, I can’t help but shout about it from the rooftops. I want everyone to know about it because home security cameras don’t come easier than this. And at $50 a piece (that’s 50% off), they’re absolutely worth it. View this Amazon deal What makes this battery-powered security camera stand out is that it comes with an integrated solar panel, which keeps the battery charged with just three hours of daily sunlight. And since it’s a wireless security camera—it connects to your home Wi-Fi network—you won’t need any complex cabling to set this thing up anywhere you want. The SoloCam S220 provides clear day and night vision thanks to infrared LEDs, and its images are crisp and clear in 2K resolution. It also has motion detection, sending you notifications whenever it detects humans (it uses onboard AI to distinguish between objects, thus minimizing false alarms over swaying trees or stray animals). If you also invest in a Eufy HomeBase 3 (sold separately), you’ll even get more advanced facial recognition support. And with Eufy, you never need to pay a subscription fee to access essential features. (Other security cams fail here.) This is an excellent opportunity to grab one of the best home Wi-Fi security cameras at a great price: just $50 now on Amazon. Get it before this deal ends and level up your home for the holidays! Save a whopping 50% on this solar-powered Wi-Fi security cameraBuy now at Amazon Read...

Back in October, Microsoft released a new support page for Experimental Agentic Features, which details how AI agents and agent connectors work with Windows 11, Copilot, etc. Recently, that page was updated to say that AI agents would be able to access the contents of six select folders in Windows 11—Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Music, Pictures, Videos—which understandably raised concerns. Now, Microsoft clarifies that you’ll need to give your permission for AI agents to access the contents of those six folders. When selecting permissions, you’ll have options for “Allow Always” (the agent can access these folders whenever it needs to), “Ask Every Time” (you’ll be prompted when the agent needs access to the folders), and “Never Allow” (the agent will be denied the request every time). Note that it isn’t possible to allow individual access settings per folder. The setting applies to all six folders or none of them. To change the setting, open the Settings app in Windows 11, then navigate to System > AI Components > Agents. Select the relevant AI agent from the list, navigate to the Files section, then select one of the three permission settings from the drop-down menu. Read...

It’s been nearly a year since Amazon first launched the new, AI-enhanced Alexa+, but until now, a key feature has been missing: the ability to access and chat with Alexa+ on the web.  Now it appears Amazon has fulfilled that promise, with an Alexa+ web portal finally going live—for at least some Alexa+ early access users, anyway—at Alexa.com.  The new Alexa+ web portal will look familiar to anyone who’s accessed ChatGPT or Google Gemini on the web. A big chatbox sits front and center, with a friendly “Hello Ben, how can I help?” heading, along with buttons that reveal suggested prompts (“Create a plan for my next getaway,” “Teach me a surprising fun fact,” “Add an event to my calendar,” “Create an image of a dinosaur,” “Book a table at a nearby restaurant”) on mouse rollover.  On the left side of the screen are shortcuts to your Alexa+ chat history (good for revisiting Alexa+ discussions you’ve had on an Echo speaker), smart home controls (just basic ones, mind you), your calendar, lists, reminders, and uploaded files.  That last feature—the ability to upload files to Alexa+—is a big one, as it allows you to do things like upload resumes for Alexa to tinker with, or any other documents you’d like Alexa to analyze.   Just for fun, I uploaded a configuration file for the Jellyfin media player installation on my Raspberry Pi, and Alexa+ did a reasonably good job of sifting through the code and offering optimization suggestions. (Alexa+ gets a decent chunk of its AI smarts courtesy of Anthropic’s Claude.) I then picked up the conversation on an Echo speaker, allowing Alexa and me to continue batting around Jellyfin ideas.  Another nifty thing about the new Alexa+ web portal is that it makes Alexa+’s ability to compose letters and other documents a lot more useful. Before, if you asked Alexa+ to write (for example) a thank-you letter to a friend, there was no easy way to grab the text and put it into a text editor for fine-tuning. (It’s possible to access Alexa+ chats in the Alexa app, but it’s a tedious process.) With the web portal, you can just click the Copy button beneath any Alexa+ response, just as you can with ChatGPT or Gemini.  The Alexa+ web portal makes it easy to copy text from your chats.Ben Patterson/Foundry Granted, the Alexa+ web interface is fairly bare-bones compared to what you get with ChatGPT or Gemini. There are no custom GPTs or Gemini “gems,” nor any tools like a canvas, a video generator, or a “guided learning” mode. And while I could upload Word documents, text files, and PDFs via the Alexa+ web interface, Excel files were off-limits, as was the JSON file for my Jellyfin configuration (I had to convert it to a plain text file).  But as with ChatGPT and Gemini, I’d expect the Alexa+ website to add more features over time, and being able to chat with Alexa+ at all over the web makes for a big improvement.   It’s also worth noting that Alexa+ is still in early access mode, meaning its free for everyone. Eventually, Alexa+ will be free for Prime members and $19.99 a month for everyone else.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

I’ve seen things. I’ve seen TVs, wearables, smart home gear, small appliances, computer accessories, office furniture, and all the other gadgets that a consumer-tech journalist might have encountered over some 30 years of product testing. Well, now it’s December 2025, and I’m ready to go on the record and make some holiday gift suggestions. Buy these for some GenX dude in your life. Or buy them for yourself. I don’t care. Why are we still talking? Read my list. Ryobi 18V Hand Vacuum Jon Phillips/Foundry When I fired up my Ryobi hand vac the very first time, I was surprised by the aggressive suction power. It’s got more oomph than any other hand vac I’ve either broken or lost before. Whether it’s lint from my dryer or dirt tracked in by my shoes, small debris is dispatched with a quickness. It’s got a fairly large capacity for a handheld vacuum, and this model is one of some 300 other cordless Ryobi products that use the same 18-volt battery system. That means the battery and charger that come with this $99 package will work with Ryobi’s ONE+ cordless task lights, shop fans, power drills, impact drivers, tire inflators, and other 18-volt products. Just don’t get the leaf blower. Leaf blowers are Satan. See it on home depot Twinkly Christmas Curtain Lights Jon Phillips/Foundry Dude, I’m in my 50s. I want to fulfill my neighborhood lighting obligations (which are 100% only in my head), but I’m done with putting a tree in the window. So, a few years ago I began researching programmable string lights, and landed on the Twinkly Christmas Curtain Lights, which are now $114 on Amazon. They’re festive as all hell… AND PUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON BLAST. Each curtain contains 210 RGB lights that can be animated with pre-programmed effects, or you can design your own effects, mixing up stripes, sparkles, gradients, and other designs across the RGB spectrum. It’s all Wi-Fi controlled, and you can set brightness levels and even a timing schedule with the Twinkly app. I now have three curtains projecting joy to the neighborhood. I swap out the effects a few times between Thanksgiving and New Years to keep the neighbors guessing. These animated candy canes are for you, Peterson. Your yard display is weaksauce. See it on amazon Epson SureColor P900 Photo Printer Jon Phillips/Foundry OK, this one is pricey at $1,129. But even if you can’t afford Epson’s 17-inch P900 photo printer, I want to make a case for why you may want to buy a photo printer of this caliber. You travel. You have loved ones. You have experiences. You shoot tons of photos. You shoot tons of photos on your outrageously priced smartphone. And then, what? Those memories just sit on your phone? Or you post to Facebook and Instagram? For what? The likes? Printing your memories in glorious high resolution, on 17×22-inch, museum-quality, archival paper may be the hobby you’ve been looking for. Yes, it’s expensive. And, yes, you’d do well to learn the nuances of digital imaging to produce great large format prints (especially if you’re shooting on a phone and not a DSLR). But there’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing your memories so spectacularly reproduced, and hanging on your walls. I know: It’s crazy. A printer, of all things, has become one of my most coveted pieces of tech. The P900 uses 10 different inks to reproduce vivid colors and deep, rich grayscale (there are four different ink cartridges dedicated to just gray and black!). If you want to save some money, consider the Epson P700 for $719. It uses the same ink system, but paper size is limited to 13×19 inches. You can save even more money by printing on 8.5×11-inch paper, as seen here. See it on amazon Ezvalo Picture Light Jon Phillips/Foundry Are you an adult? Do you have art in your house that’s not just a Star Wars poster stuck on the wall with thumbtacks? Would you like your grown-ass man artwork to look better? Have you considered an “art display light” but don’t want cords slithering down your wall? I got you, man. The 16-inch Ezvalo Picture Light exceeded my expectations. At just $28, this cordless, USB-C-powered light is super easy to install; features three color temperatures; more than adequately illuminates my artwork even at its dimmer settings; and lasts between 13 and 60 hours, depending on the brightness setting you choose. The light bar attaches to its mount with a strong battery and is easily removed for recharging. I love it. And it doesn’t look cheap despite its cheap price. See it on amazon Band recommendation: Rolling Quartz Somehow in 2025 I stumbled into K-Rock—and Rolling Quartz. They may look like K-Pop idols, but these five Korean women are no-BS, amazeballs musical virtuosos. Their sound recalls the melodic heavy metal of the 80s, anchored by screaming dual lead guitars and a theatrical singer/front woman. Believe it: All the discipline, teamwork and hard work that goes into K-Pop transfers directly to Korean hard rock, too. PhoneLock Pro – Retractable Anti-Theft Phone Holder PhoneLock I had my phone pick-pocketed in Mexico City this year. It was a classic distract/bump/snatch gambit. The crook stole it right from my front pocket. I vowed never again, and after testing a few anti-theft phone tethers, I decided the $20 PhoneLock Pro is the best option on Amazon. The concept is simple. You sandwich a PhoneLock attachment between your phone and phone case, right above the charging port. That attachment then connects to the PhoneLock’s retractable tether, which you attach to your front belt loop. Your phone is now reliably leashed to your person, and it’s easy to pull it from your pocket throughout the day. I’m sure a crook could still steal the phone if they yanked really hard on the retractable cord. But by that time, you’ll know you’re being robbed, and you can use your mad fighting skills as needed. User reviews say the PhoneLock is also good for “festivals” where phone theft is rampant. OK, GenZ. see it on Amazon Worx Zipsnip Cordless Electric Scissors Foundry/Jon Phillips We in the tech-testing game break down a lot of cardboard boxes, and for most of my career I’ve done that with a utility knife. But this year, TikTok turned me on to a whole new product category: cordless electric scissors. This $43 specimen—the Worx Zipsnip—has a battery-powered rotating blade that slices through cardboard and blister packs with a satisfying whir. It’s very ASMR. The Zipsnip is great for cutting really big pieces of cardboard into smaller pieces, which means you can pack more into the recycling bin. Plus, it’s sort of fun to Zen out and cut things. Such is the reality of getting older. see it on amazon Milwaukee Fastback Press and Flip Utility Knife Jon Phillips/Foundry Who am I kidding! I still love a good utility knife, and this $20 Fastback Press and Flip model from Milwaukee is outstanding. Push the button and it opens with one hand. It’s got a wire stripper, and with the press of another button, you can change the blade with no other tools necessary. A belt clip assures you’ll never lose it, and when you do lose it, you can see it from a distance because it’s bright red. Is it weird to get excited about a utility knife? I don’t care. This one taunts all the utility knives you’ve ever used before, daring them to match its greatness. See It on Amazon Podcast recommendation: The Rewatchables Anchored by Bill Simmons of sports punditry fame, The Rewatchables is a weekly roundtable discussion of those 70s, 80s and 90s movie classics you can’t help but rewatching whenever they drift back into your streaming catalogs. From Alien to Heat to Glengarry Glen Ross, Bill and his Ringer Network crew somehow always pick the movies I’m interested in. The team is bro-y without being douchey, and they’re all stealthily strong film critics. It’s a really great hang. TCL 32-Inch Smart TV Jon Phillips/Foundry I love, love, love my 55-inch LG OLED TV. It’s stunning… and it goes in the living room. But sometimes a dude needs more of a “burner TV”—something small, cheap, and very low-commitment for the garage or home gym. So, let me recommend the 32-inch TCL S3 Smart TV for just $150. It’s got a 60Hz, 1080P display that’s perfectly serviceable, and comes with Fire TV OS for easy access to all the streaming apps. The TV has been a game changer during workouts downstairs. Most often, I play podcasts on YouTube. For example, The Watch (above), staring Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald, two remarkably thoughtful TV critics. But it’s also good for music video playlists (shout out, Rolling Quartz). Or sometimes I just play Deadwood or Band of Brothers as “background shows.” See it on Amazon Larksound Small Sound Bar Jon Phillips/Foundry A burner TV needs an appropriately burner-caliber soundbar, because those music videos I reference above should still sound better than a portable AM radio from 1979. I went with the Larksound Small Sound Bar (sexy name, right?) which costs a “sure, what the hell, why not” price of $35. It’s 16 inches wide and rated for 60 watts. It has some speakers inside. There’s also a remote to choose EQ modes: Music, Movie, Voice, and Normal. OK, now stop asking questions! Man. It’s not the best soundbar in the world, but improves the tiny TV’s audio game by about 10x. See it on Amazon Apple Watch Series 10 Jon Phillips/Foundry For years I was a mechanical watch snob. I didn’t want a screen on my wrist. I wanted a beautiful marriage of art and engineering. Then I discovered the appeal of personal data tracking (sleep, steps, heart rate mostly) and I was off to the races with FitBit smartwatches. But everything changed last July. Getting more and more dissatisfied with Fitbit’s app and sleep tracking, I did my research and found Apple Watch has some of the best wrist-based sleep tracking available (shout out, The Quantified Scientist). But would I be OK with Apple’s pathetic battery life? Could I cope with the daily recharging? I decided to take a chance. Turns out the Apple Watch Series 10 at $364 is the wearable to beat. I’m confident the sleep tracking is more accurate than other wrist wearables, and as a smartwatch, it complements the iPhone experience much, much better than the Fitbit Versa. The Series 10 has become one of my favorite tech purchases of 2025, and it turns out that charging the watch daily, as soon as I wake, isn’t a hassle. See on Amazon YouTube creator recommendation: Coop of Garage Gym Reviews Cooper Mitchell, the creator of Garage Gym Reviews, should be your number one source for home gym equipment coverage. From barbells and dumbbells to squat racks and consumer-grade gym machines, he sets the standard for depth, transparency and likeability in the home gym creator space (which exploded big-time during the pandemic). Coop is my go-to recommendation when people ask for gym equipment advice, and I still think he did one of best YouTube explainers on how tariffs affect consumer pricing. Cella Crema Da Barba Shaving Cream Cella I’ve been shaving since I was 12 years old, and for the majority of my tenure I was dumping money on disposable blades and cans of shaving cream. Then I discovered the rewards of old-school safety razors and artisan shaving soaps. Not only do you get a closer shave, you ultimately save a lot of money, and don’t pad the coffers of Schick and Gillette, the twin titans of Big Shaving. Even if you’re too chicken to use a straight blade or safety razor, you can stick with disposable cartridges and baby-step your way into artisanal shaving with Cella’s Crema Da Barba. This formula lathers up extremely well, and smells amazing with almond and cherry notes. The gift box pictured here even includes the requisite shaving brush—and as an extra bonus, everyone who uses your bathroom will see the old Italian man on the packaging and ask, “What is this?” If you just want the shaving cream itself, it’s a very affordable $14.69 on Amazon. Just remember, you’ll still need a brush. See on Cella Milano Speak language learning app Jon Phillips/Foundry I’ve done Duolingo. It’s fun and fine, but it’s more of a language-learning game. I’ve also tried Pimsleur (too difficult and inscrutable) and Jumpspeak (slow, frustrating UI). I finally landed on Speak as my preferred language-learning app because it’s packed with so many entry points for learning the nuances of language. Different modules help you build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and practice in simulated, AI-driven conversations. The Speak UI is intuitive, engaging, and reliably responsive, and that’s especially critical when you’re in the AI free talk mode. The annual Premium membership is currently $84, and lets English speakers learn Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese and Korean. Speak is definitely more challenging than Duolingo, but it feels like much more like a real-world curriculum, with a method to improve through exposure to native speakers (however AI they may be!). See on Speak.com FlexiSpot C7 Office Chair Jon Phillips/Foundry I won’t even try to lie: I moved the C7 office chair, $299 direct from FlexiSpot, into the living room because my home office was too cluttered for a good photograph. But let that be a testimony to the chair’s comfort. It makes me feel comfortable enough in my home office to, you know… wreck my work-life balance and watch my work space turn into Sanford and Sons. I’ve gone through no fewer than four other office chairs in the last 20 years, and the FlexiSpot C7 is the first I’d happily buy a second time. It ships direct to your home, and you have to assemble it yourself, but this keeps costs down. On that point, it’s a very firm, comfortable, ergonomically sound chair for its price. The C7 offers near endless adjustment possibilities, and has excellent lumbar support (my main requirement). I love the arm rests, and it even reclines into full kickback mode (though I have no idea why anyone would want to). I’ve been using it for about two years now, and it still feels as solid as Day One. Hell, I think Boomers would like the C7—once they get past complaining about the assembly instructions. Transfer me to your manager. Read...

The best thing about today’s PCs is that you don’t need a towering desktop machine to get the job done, whether that’s handling your daily workload, browsing the web, streaming media content, or even some light gaming. A mini PC can be everything you need at a much cheaper price—like the Acemagic W1 mini PC, which is now on sale for just $467 on Amazon thanks to a crazy 39% discount. (Make sure to redeem the extra 10% off promo by clicking the button on the product page!) View this Amazon deal Under the hood, the Acemagic W1 features an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor combined with a massive 32GB of DDR5 RAM. Given the way memory has spiked in price lately, this is an amazing deal just for the fact you can snag 32GB at this price. Throw in a 1TB SSD and you have a high-performance configuration that can smoothly handle Windows 11 Pro (which comes pre-installed) and all your apps and browser tabs. The Agemagic W1 is a beast when it comes to multitasking, too, with its ability to support up to three 4K/60Hz monitors for maximum screen real estate. It also has loads of other USB-A ports for peripherals and external storage drives, plus the usual connectivity needs like an Ethernet port, 3.5mm audio jack, and both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. What are you waiting for? Quit hemming and hawing! This is your chance to snag an excellent mini PC for a whopping 39% off before climbing memory prices make devices way more expensive in the near future. Get this Ryzen mini PC with 32GB RAM and Windows 11 Pro on saleBuy now at Amazon Read...

LG is getting serious about mini LEDs with its Micro RGB Evo, which the company says will establish a new state of the art for LED-backlit LCD TV color and processing. The Micro RGB Evo uses mini LEDs for backlighting, which as you might guess, are smaller than older LEDs–so small these days that the industry has taken to referring to them as “micro” LEDs. Where mini-LEDs are generally considered to be 100 to 200 microns in size, micro-LEDs are less than 100 microns (that’s smaller than a grain of salt). RGB, of course, simply means there are three of them–red, green, and blue–acting as subpixels to form every pixel. LG is renowned for using a fourth white subpixel to increase brightness in its OLED TVs, but there’s none of that here. LG touts “OLED precision” which simply means they are using the same processor in the Micro RGB Evo featured in their OLED TVs. The CPU (Smart TVs are computers with a display, inputs, and a tuner) is monikered the Dual AI Engine-based a (Alpha) 11 AI. Geez, how many times can you put AI in one name? Hear me now and believe me later: Most things mentioning AI don’t really have it. Certainly not a CPU. It simply has cores that are optimized for the operations that mimic AI. Regardless, all that computing power allows for features such as Dual Super Upscaling (really good upscaling, in plain English), RGB Primary Color Ultra (vivid and accurate color that meets 100 percent of the color gamut in the BT.2020, DCI-P3, and Adobe RGB color space standards, ditto), and Micro Dimming Ultra (there are more than 1,000 dimming zones, same). The Micro RGB Evo runs WebOS and will be available in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch screen sizes. Yup, no runts in this litter. Fill that wall! We haven’t laid eyes on the Micro RGB Evo TV, but there’s no reason to believe that LG’s new mini-LED-backlit LCD TV shouldn’t be as fantastic (or more so) as any of the company’s other flagship LCD models. I spend a lot of time giving the company grief for its gobbledygook marketing lingo, but it does make really good stuff. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent combination of CPU, GPU, and NPU Performance at desktop workstation level Versatile use: from AI workloads to content creation and gaming Buttons for fan control and performance Very fast LPDDR5X RAM—128GB! Significantly smaller footprint than classic towers Cons Relatively high price Possibly oversized for many usage scenarios Only one Ethernet port Our Verdict The GMKtec EVO-X2 is no ordinary mini PC, but an impressive all-rounder – a compact workstation with desktop power, including a powerful integrated GPU and a dedicated NPU. It’s currently one of the best options for users who demand performance and still want to save space. If you’re looking for graphics, AI, or multitasking performance in a small case, you’ll get almost everything a large PC can – with a much more space-saving design. Its high price is the only real downer. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: GMKtec EVO-X2 Retailer Price $1,529.99 View Deal $1,699.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices GMKtec EVO-X2: The specs Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max 395 (16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.1 GHz), 16 MB L2 cache, 64 MB L3, 120 watts TDP in continuous operation, up to 140 watts for a short time Graphics: Radeon 8060S (RDNA 3.5, 40 cores), maximum supported resolution: 7,680 × 4,320 pixels @ 60Hz NPU: XDNA 2, 50 TOPS (up to 126 TOPS in total) Memory: 128 GB LPDDR5X 8,000 MHz from Samsung, hard-soldered Internal storage: 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Crucial P3 CT2000 PCIe M.2 2280 (second M.2 2280 slot, expandable to 2 x 8 TB) Front connections: 2 × USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 1 × USB Type-C (USB 4.0), 1 × audio combo jack (3.5 mm jack), 1 × SD card reader (SD 4.0, supports SDXC) Rear connections: 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3, 1 × HDMI 2.1, 1 × USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 2 × USB-A 2.0, 1 × USB Type-C (USB 4.0), 1 × audio (3.5mm CTIA), 1 × DC-in, 1 × RJ45 LAN Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 (MT7925), LAN 2.5 Gbit/s (8125BG), Bluetooth 5.4 Dimensions: 193 × 186 × 77 mm (W × D × H) Weight: 3.6lbs With the EVO-X2, the Chinese manufacturer GMKtec is once again launching a mini PC that is clearly positioned in the high-end segment and claims to push the boundaries of compact desktop systems even further. While many mini PCs are primarily designed for space saving, energy efficiency, or office tasks, GMKtec takes a different approach: maximum performance in the smallest of spaces. The EVO-X2 should not only master classic workloads with ease, but also handle demanding AI processes, content creation, and even gaming thanks to modern Ryzen AI technology. For a mini PC, the EVO-X2’s proximity to the classic desktop performance class is remarkable and shows how efficiently AMD’s current APU architecture works in combination with fast RAM and optimized power management. GMKtec EVO-X2: Design The fact that the GMKtec EVO-X2 is not a typical mini PC is evident from the size of its packaging, which is more than twice the size of standard mini PCs. And yes, at around 3.6lbs, the EVO-X2 is a real brick, as the comparison with the Sapphire Edge AI 370, the most compact mini in the test so far, shows. Christoph Hoffmann With dimensions of 7.6 inches in width, 7.3 inches in depth, and a height of 3.03 inches, the EVO-X2 is a large, flat mini PC in a kind of sandwich construction. The size and weight convey stability and value—this alone makes the computer look like a serious desktop replacement in miniature form. Christoph Hoffmann The metal housing with CNC jet-oxidized surface has a black center section and all-round ventilation slots. The design allows the PC to be used horizontally or vertically, although the arrangement of the rubber feet and cooling openings are more in favor of upright use. The screws for opening the housing are also located under the glued rubber. This complicates upgrading a bit. Christoph Hoffmann The design provides sufficient volume for cooling the Ryzen AI Max 395, but the EVO-X2 can still be easily placed on the desk or hidden under a monitor stand. The EVO-X2 does without obvious visual gimmicks such as RGB LEDs, but still glows a subtle blue from the ventilation slots. In addition to the usual connections on the front and rear (see below), the “Fan Mode” button on the bevelled edge stands out. Behind this is a switchable fan control, which can be used to adjust the volume and cooling performance to your own requirements. With other mini PCs, the corresponding setting has to be activated in the BIOS. Christoph Hoffmann Depending on the mode, the cooling system either works particularly quietly for simple tasks or significantly more powerfully when maximum performance is required—for example when gaming, rendering, or handling AI workloads. This allows the user to decide for themselves whether the mini PC should run as quietly as possible or utilize its cooling to the max in order to maintain higher clock rates for longer. The P-Mode (Performance Mode) is also available. A performance profile of the GMKtec EVO-X2 is activated at the touch of a button, which sets the Mini-PC to maximum speed in three stages. When switching, small icons (green, orange, and red) are displayed on the screen. The system increases its performance limits for the CPU, GPU, and NPU so that higher clock rates can be maintained for longer. At the same time, the cooling system works more aggressively to reliably dissipate the additional waste heat. In practice, this means noticeably more power for gaming, rendering, coding or AI calculations – but with slightly higher noise levels and energy consumption. P-Mode is therefore ideal if you want to utilize the full performance of the EVO-X2. In the benchmarks (see below), we tested it in the standard settings and in performance mode. GMKtec EVO-X2: Features The EVO-X2 comes with an impressive hardware combination that clearly exceeds what you would expect from a conventional mini PC. At its heart is the AMD Ryzen AI Max 395, which is already manufactured in 4 nm, has 16 cores and 32 threads and clocks at up to 5.1 GHz. The integrated Radeon 8060S is based on AMD’s RDNA 3.5 architecture and has 40 compute units. Thanks to the efficiency and shader optimizations from AMD’s current mobile high-end GPUs, it delivers surprisingly high computing and rasterisation performance despite its compact thermal budget. Together with the fast LPDDR5X memory, the 8060S performs well above previous integrated Radeon generations and achieves frame rates in many modern games that were previously reserved for dedicated notebook graphics cards such as the Nvidia RTX 4070. Christoph Hoffmann There is also an NPU for AI loads with 50 TOPS so that AMD’s XDNA-2 engine can be utilized to its full potential—total performance of up to 126 TOPS according to the manufacturer. The NPU processes models directly on the device and thus noticeably reduces the load on the CPU and GPU, which not only brings efficiency gains, but also enables stable performance during longer inference (AI training) sessions. Demanding AI workflows in particular, such as image and video analysis, model quantisation or local LLM usage, benefit considerably from this, as the NPU has been specially optimized for these computationally intensive, highly parallelizable tasks. The model we tested has 128GB of Samsung LPDDR5X RAM with 8,000 MHz (K3KLALAOEM-MGCV). In addition, there is a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD (Crucial P3 CT2000 PCIe M.2 2280). This combination turns the EVO-X2 into a serious workstation base. Christoph Hoffmann The GMKtec EVO-X2 offers versatile connectivity that easily supports both modern displays and fast peripherals. Via HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB4, image signals up to 8K at 60 Hz can be output, which qualifies the mini PC for high-resolution multi-monitor set-ups. Wi-Fi 7 with the RZ717 module and a 2.5 Gbit LAN port are available for the network connection, supplemented by Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless accessories. The power supply delivers 19.5 volts at 11.8 amps and is therefore designed for high load peaks. Christoph Hoffmann On the front, there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, a 3.5 mm audio socket, a USB-C port with USB4 for data rates of up to 40 Gbit/s, an SD card reader (SD4.0/SDXC), and buttons for power, fan lighting, and power mode switching. At the rear, the EVO-X2 also offers DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbit/s), two USB-A 2.0 ports, another USB-C port with USB4 capability, a 3.5 mm audio connection, the DC power input, and the 2.5 Gbit LAN port. Christoph Hoffmann In short, the equipment and interfaces are on a par with desktop workstations—and in a housing that is still compact and unobtrusive. GMKtec EVO-X2: Operating system The EVO-X2 comes with Windows 11 Pro, which is automatically activated online after the first start. The basic setup is completed in just a few minutes; we then updated the system from Windows version 24H2 to 25H2. Christoph Hoffmann Important note: After the initial installation of Windows 11, numerous drivers are required, above all the AMD drivers for the Radeon graphics card and the chipset. This ensures that the Mini-PC runs under optimal conditions and that all components can develop their full performance. Christoph Hoffmann Pre-installed under Windows 11 is GMKtec’s own software in English. Numerous AI models can be loaded via the integrated app store, and when testing the EVO-X2, it quickly becomes clear what GMKtec means by the information on LLM support: the mini PC is designed to run large AI models directly on the device—without the cloud. When equipped with 128GB of RAM, local LLMs with more than 100 billion parameters can be loaded with relative ease. For everyday use, this means that more complex AI tasks that would otherwise only be possible on powerful workstations can be used directly on the EVO-X2. The hardware provides the necessary reserves for this, and it’s precisely this that clearly sets the mini PC apart from the entry-level or office segment. GMKtec EVO-X2: Performance The EVO-X2 excels particularly where intensive computing loads are required as our benchmark values clearly show. In PCMark 10, the system achieves a total of 8,953 points in the default setting, with 11,559 in “Essentials”, 10,853 in “Productivity” and 15,527 in “Digital Content Creation”. Mentioned in this article Minisforum AI X1 Pro Read our review Best Prices Today: $1,087 at Amazon The results in performance mode: 9,078 points overall with 11,325, 11,153 and 16,074 in the sub-disciplines. This clearly places the EVO-X2 in the upper segment of typical mini PCs—even the competitive values of devices such as the Minisforum AI X1 Pro with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 are noticeably lower at 7,400 points (PCMark 10). Christoph Hoffmann Compared to current desktop PCs, the EVO-X2 comes surprisingly close to full-fledged mid-range workstations: Many systems with Ryzen 7 or Core i7 desktop processors only achieve similar overall scores in PCMark. The high score in the “Digital Content Creation” area in particular reaches a level that is otherwise usually reserved for PCs with a dedicated GPU or a significantly larger performance budget. For a mini PC, the EVO-X2’s proximity to the classic desktop performance class is remarkable and shows how efficiently AMD’s current APU architecture works in combination with fast RAM and optimized power management. The 3DMark profile tests also show strong CPU performance across all thread sets: 9,875 points at maximum thread utilization or 9,719 (16 threads) and 8,348 (8 threads) are particularly striking. These values are well above what typical laptop APUs achieve and place the EVO-X2 in the performance class of modern mid- to upper-range desktop processors. Christoph Hoffmann In direct comparison, the multi-thread performance is more in line with CPUs such as a Ryzen 7 7700 or an Intel Core i7 of the 13th/14th generation, while the efficiency remains noticeably higher. This is remarkable for a mini PC—it’s well outside the usual mobile limits and actually comes close to the throughput performance of full desktop systems in many scenarios. In comparison: The Minisforum AI X1 Pro achieves 8,292 points while the Sapphire Edge AI 370 reaches 8,808 points. Christoph Hoffmann In Time Spy, the EVO-X2 achieves 10,697 points (graphics 10,779, CPU 10,256), with an estimated 105 FPS in gaming mode—a clear indication of serious gaming and 3D performance. The Sapphire Edge AI 370 achieves just under a third of the values (3,764 points), while the Geekom IT15 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H achieves 4,244 points. In the game Tomb Raider – Definitive Edition, the EVO-X2 achieved an impressively smooth performance for a mini PC with 10,767 rendered frames and an average of 69 FPS, with hardly any drops even in action-packed scenes. Christoph Hoffmann The Crystal DiskMark values of over 7,000 MB/s (read) and over 6,200 MB/s (write) also emphasize the speed of the built-in SSD—ideal for large files, projects, and fast loading times. Christoph Hoffmann However, the AI performance is particularly remarkable: in Geekbench AI Pro, the system delivers 6,393 points in Single Precision, 2,399 in Half Precision and an outstanding 11,315 points in Quantised Score. In performance mode, the values improve only slightly to 6,436, 2,401 and 11,337. These benchmarks indicate that the EVO-X2 is not only excellently suited for classic desktop workloads, but also for modern machine learning and AI tasks and thus outperforms the class of many traditional mini PCs. Christoph Hoffmann The power of the EVO-X2 is clearly noticeable in everyday gaming and content creation: video editing, image processing and 3D rendering run smoothly and quickly. Even demanding games on high settings are no problem – the integrated GPU delivers performance at laptop graphics card level (comparable to mobile high-end cards), so you don’t necessarily need an external GPU if you’re not aiming for maximum detail levels. Is the GMKtec EVO-X2 worth it? Overall, the EVO-X2 delivers a combination of CPU, GPU, and AI performance that is currently one of the best in the mini PC class. In its compact format, it strikes a balance between mini PC and compact desktop workstation—and delivers what many other mini PCs offer only inadequately or not at all. Compared to other current mini PCs with AI or performance-focussed processors, the EVO-X2 stands out with its well-balanced features. Mini-PCs with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 such as the Minisforum AI X1 Pro and Sapphire Edge AI 370 fall noticeably short of the top performance of the EVO-X2, despite the Ryzen AI 9 being a powerful processor. In terms of AI and gaming performance, the EVO-X2 is therefore more comparable with compact workstation PCs than with typical mini PCs. Only full-fledged desktop PCs with dedicated GPUs and more powerful, often more power-hungry processors can outperform it in high-end workloads. But for a mini PC, the Ryzen AI Max 395 is an impressive step forward—a future-orientated choice that meets or exceeds the current requirements in many respects. In everyday use, the EVO-X2 masters multitasking, parallel workflows, AI inference, and graphically demanding processes with ease. For users who want to run video editing, 3D modelling, AI projects, or simply games at a high level, the EVO-X2 is currently one of the most exciting options in the mini format. However, it comes at a high price—our test device costs around $2,100 full price. Read...