Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardcore PC hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the latest topics on our YouTube show or flaming controversies across the web? You’re in the right spot. Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website! Is hardware boring now? I asked myself this question after our crew’s discussion on Tuesday about the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE. Adam gave us the performance lowdown on the card (which still hasn’t reached U.S. shores but seems likely to), summarizing his findings from his testing. In his own words, “This literally does just slot right [into the Radeon 9000 stack]. Everything from the pricing to the performance, it’s like, okay, cool.” “Okay, cool.” I found myself saying the same thing about the next expected version of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 too, when it resurfaced in the news again. This “A” variant will shift from an Ampere chip to one from Team Green’s newer Ada Lovelace architecture, making this rehash of an older budget GPU a little more modern. Am I glad to see the Radeon 9000 series lineup fill out? Is it good that the RTX 3050 isn’t completely stuck in 2022? Yes, of course. But also this week, I blurted out a very different phrase about the latest flagship Ryzen Threadripper Pro chip, the 9995WX. It’s such a beast that an overclocker finessed it to run at 5GHz on all 96 cores, at a ludicrous power draw of 948 watts. I can’t repeat what I initially said for politeness’s sake, but dang is a workable alternative. AMD Very likely I’m experiencing summer doldrums, given how slow news is at this time of year. Other tech journalists and hardware enthusiasts might be, too. Adam’s tone when discussing the 9070 GRE sounded subdued to me—even Brad’s as well, and he’s the best (realistic and grounded) hype man I know. The Tom’s Hardware headline for the RTX 3050 news used the phrase “RTX 3050 refuses to die.” And our YouTube comments have sounded more reserved (and even pessimistic) than usual, across all topics. Still, I worry a bit we’re not in a temporary slump—that we’re instead experiencing a shift in what to expect from hardware launches. In talks I’ve had with various folks in tech or adjacent to tech, the idea that performance far exceeds need has come up more than once. That’s great for us as consumers, but a potential bummer for those of us who avidly follow technology’s twists and turns. As long-time TFN fans know, I’m a big champion of the budget and mid-range. I crave incredible performance at every price. I love revolutionary yet affordable products I can point to as highlights of the year—and not just during our annual wrap-up show in December, but in future episodes of our Hardware Hall of Fame. I want to feel excitement again. Not only from arguing with my coworkers about the merits of individual parts, or even what deserves the status of all-time notable hardware, but when I mention their existence to people who need them. In this episode of The Full Nerd… Willis Lai / Foundry In this episode of The Full Nerd, Adam Patrick Murray, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, and Will Smith talk about the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE’s place among graphics cards, and the changes we’d like to see to ATX. (Brad tackles this second topic head-on with a list of four concrete updates he wants.) The funny part: The guys all think I was ranting about ATX and its decrepit nature in last week’s newsletter. You and I both know I dove deep into broody feelings. I still got what I wanted though, which was hearing people’s thoughts on what should come next!  Less funny: Brad’s horrifying personal story about cockroaches during the pre-show. As for other noteworthy news, we had a couple of big announcements! First: Adam and Will are starting a limited-run podcast about Linux—they’ll be chronicling the experience of making the switch from Windows. Also: We’ve got a Hardware Hall of Fame episode coming up! Check back in two weeks for our return to fighting over what we think deserves GOAT status. And as with past years, we want to hear your nominees for the Hardware Hall of Fame, too. Share them with us on our Discord server, give me a shout on Bluesky, or send them to us at thefullnerd@pcworld.com! I’m not even trying to hide one of my nominees for this year’s HOF episode.Thiago Trevisan/IDG Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time!  And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s fresh nerd news One news blurb caught my eye and made me think of Gordon immediately—and so I’m honoring him this week by using a benchmark he came up with. Did I do it as well as him? No. But you know what, you can never properly replicate an original. Also making me happy are some really cool “books” available for sale. These look so cool!Bolt Industries (via Tom’s Hardware) You probably shouldn’t juice the heck out of your RTX laptop GPU: I agree with my colleague Michael Crider that most people should not use shunt mods for their laptop GPUs. You all, though? I know you understand the risks. Mod responsibly, folks. Would you willingly let Microsoft monitor you? We all hate sluggish performance, especially in Windows. But I’m not sure I’m willing to let Microsoft gather telemetry data on my usage to help them squash performance issues, even if it’s in developer and beta builds. Why use your MacBook Pro trackpad as a scale? Why not? Another to be filed under “YOLO.” (No shade to this person; they chose something far more productive to do than me, the reviewer who benchmarks games on integrated graphics—though in my defense, how can you criticize where the floor is if you don’t know its location?) This business is selling stolen personal data for $50: Its founder presents this reselling of details as legitimate, even going as far as to claim that “doing good is in our DNA.” But putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t change what animal it is. I want these PCB reference books made from actual PCBs: I write for a living, but I’m a big visual and tactile learner. So a physical “book” that teaches the basics of DC circuits, LEDs, transistors, and oscillators with PC boards that light up? Heck yeah. $37 isn’t even that expensive. (I’ve paid more for plain ol’ regular novels for English literature classes. College textbooks are such a racket.) Humans triumph over AI in coding championship—for now: Some times, it’s more important that you prove a thing is possible. (Even with the eventuality that a thing man created will be the reason for man’s downfall.) What lets me sleep at night is knowing humans will integrate data better than AI for a while yet. AMD Threadripper Pro 9000 CPU prices, plus the 2016-era Intel 6950X for historical pricing context.Alaina Yee / PCWorld $11,700 for a 96-core, 192-thread CPU? Not too bad: You know that Threadripper Pro 9995WX I talked about above? I’ve been side-eyeing the headlines that poke at its price. The MSRP did rise compared to the 7995WX, yes. And it is almost $12K, yes. But if we map out these prices in a chart (aka the benchmark pioneered by one Gordon Mah Ung), HEDT fans are still coming out ahead. ‘Entry-level’ Threadripper buyers even win this generation—the 9955WX has a lower price tag than its predecessor. Not sure if a Steam game is on Xbox Game Pass? This add-on will tell you: Unless you truly love a game (or its developers), you don’t need to buy it if you already have it available as a rental. This Chrome extension makes cross-checking easier. And while you’re at it, if you want to know if a Steam game is truly discounted, check out Is There Any Deal too. U.S. and state warring over internet prices is a loss for all: I’m bummed about this one. Not everyone can afford standard internet prices, much less deal with the cost-raising shenanigans of major internet service providers. The fact that anyone in government is against affordable internet is a real shame. What’s the cost of American-made? AMD says 5-20% for its Ryzen chips: AMD CEO Lisa Su also went on to comment to Bloomberg that the additional cost for fabrication at TSMC’s Arizona location is “worth it,” due to the diversification of chip supply. This latter info isn’t wholly new, as it was one of the driving motivators when the CHIPS act passed under the Biden administration—but now we have a clearer picture for what to expect from these efforts. If you love a website, click on its articles: We’re all pressed for time. But I will tell you, those of us in publishing have concerns about AI-generated search result summaries. Less traffic ultimately means less reporting—which means everyone ends up with fewer sources for quality information. Yooooo, Lego is launching a Nintendo Game Boy tribute: $60 bucks. That’s it. I don’t think any of my nostalgia purchases so far have been this reasonably priced. Your body can be fingerprinted and tracked using Wi-Fi signals: Remember how in an earlier newsletter, I got cranky about Comcast trying to use Wi-Fi signals to monitor movement around your modem? Well, this drives home the point a little further for why you don’t want a big corp quietly offering such a “service.” Catch you all next week, when both Adam and Brad are off—so Will and I are going to get up to (moderate) no good on The Full Nerd.  Don’t worry, it’s not like my boss reads this newsletter regularly. (eyeballs emoji -Brad) Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

Windows runs well, most of the time. But if the system suddenly starts acting up, important data disappears or programs no longer start properly, the cause is often not the technology itself, but the user. To be more precise: small oversights that can have annoying consequences. Many problems are homemade and thus, can easily be avoided. Anyone who forgets a backup, misplaces the Bitlocker key or blindly relies on Windows Defender sometimes risks more than they think. The good news is that most problems can be easily avoided. You just need to know where the typical pitfalls lurk. In this guide, we show you the five most common Windows errors and how you can avoid them with a few simple steps so that your system runs reliably, securely and stress-free. 1. Not creating a backup: The classic with consequences Handier than most smartphones: backup hard drives such as the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (1 TB) enable quick and easy backups.SanDisk It always happens when you least need it: The hard drive gives up the ghost, a virus encrypts important data, or a careless click deletes half your working life. If you don’t have a backup, you’re quickly left out in the digital rain and annoyed by your own carelessness. Here’s how to back up your data quickly and easily: Use an external hard drive: Set up a regular backup to an external drive using the Windows “File History” or “Backup and Restore” function. Check out our roundup of the best external drives to see which models we recommend. Supplement cloud backup: Services such as Onedrive, Google Drive or Dropbox offer additional protection, especially for documents and photos. Take a look at our list of the best cloud backup services to see even more great options Automation helps: Set up automatic backups (daily or weekly) so that you don’t have to think about it. Tip: Occasionally test your backup—an unusable backup is almost more annoying than having no backup at all. We present the best software for secure backups in this article. 2. Not backing up the BitLocker key: The digital door key BitLocker is like a digital safe: the hard drive is encrypted, making unauthorized access impossible. This is practical and convenient, as long as you don’t lose the key. Because without the so-called “recovery key”, all encrypted data remains just that: encrypted and inaccessible forever. How to use Bitlocker correctly: Back up the key: When you activate BitLocker (usually automatically with Windows Pro or Business), a recovery key is generated. Select secure storage: Save the key in your Microsoft account, print it out or make a secure note of it—but never just locally on the same PC. How to find your key in your Microsoft account: Log in to https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey, where your saved keys are listed. Tip: Do a quick check: Is your hard drive encrypted? Enter “Manage Bitlocker” in the Windows search and check the status: better now than after a total failure. 3. Ignoring Windows updates: Opening the door to security vulnerabilities When Windows reports new updates, many users reflexively click on “Remind me later” and sometimes postpone important updates until it becomes dangerous. This is because Windows updates are often essential: they plug security holes, improve performance and add new functions. We therefore advise you to install updates as soon as possible. This will keep your system up to date: Keep updates active: Go to“Settings > Windows Update” and make sure that automatic updates are activated. Do not postpone restarting: Schedule a restart on a regular basis. Many updates only take effect after a full restart—not just putting your computer to sleep. Check optional updates: Under “Advanced options” you will also see driver and quality updates, it may be worth taking a look here. Tip: Set fixed and convenient update times, for example in the evening or at lunchtime. Then restarts won’t disrupt your work and will become part of your digital routine. 4. Disabling Windows Defender—and not installing another antivirus Many people think: “I don’t need a virus scanner, I’ll just watch out for myself.” However, this is a risky philosophy, as digital attacks often take place silently in the background these days, via email attachments, websites or manipulated adverts. If you deactivate Windows Defender (and don’t install a replacement), you’re basically travelling through the virtual world without a seatbelt. How to protect your PC effectively: Keep Windows Defender active: The integrated protection is now amazingly powerful—and is completely sufficient for many users. No parallel virus scanners: Several antivirus programs often interfere with each other. Opt for a single digital bodyguard and leave it active at all times. Optional: Use alternatives if you want more protection (e.g. banking protection, VPN, parental controls). Programs such as Bitdefender, Kaspersky or ESET are a good addition – but please don’t use them in parallel with Defender. We present the best antivirus programs here. Tip: Check the status regularly: Open the Windows security area (“Windows security” in the search) and take a look at virus and threat protection. 5. Always working with the admin account: Full rights for malware Windows distinguishes between normal user accounts and administrators. Anyone who surfs, installs programs, or reads emails with an admin account is always taking a certain risk: namely that malware can operate with the same rights. The digital front door is then wide open for malware which can delete data, change system files, or install treacherous backdoors. Here’s how to play it safe: Set up a second user account: Create a standard user account outside of the admin account. This will make your everyday work safer. Only act as admin when required: If programs need admin rights, Windows automatically asks for the admin password and you can retain control over software rights. This is how it works: Under “Settings > Accounts > Other users”, you can add a new user account and manage the permissions of accounts. Tip: Even if it may be a little unfamiliar at first, the security level-up is worth it. If the worst comes to the worst, malware with a standard account has fewer rights and can cause less damage. Conclusion: Small mistakes with a big impact are often easily avoidable Many classic Windows mishaps are not caused by technical failures, but by mistakes. No backup, no updates, or missing security measures: All of this can be avoided with just a few clicks. If you have your system under control, you’ll not only save yourself nerves, but often also a lot of time, trouble, and even money. Our advice: Take your time to go through the five points above. Set up a backup, check your security options, and create a user account with fewer rights. It only takes a few minutes, but can save your digital life in an emergency. Read...

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Home security cameras are easy to install, easy to use, and incredibly affordable these days. They let you keep tabs on your home–inside and out–from wherever you have internet access. They can respond to motion, creating a visual record of everything that’s happened within their field of view, and high-end models can distinguish between people, pets, and even cars.  The latest security cams require minimal installation and offer flexible setups and a range of security features—so many features, in fact, that it can be difficult to decide what you need and which model you should buy. Should you get an outdoor camera with a space-illuminating floodlight and a weatherized shell, an indoor cam with AI-powered pet detection and a motorized lens that patrols the room, or something in between?   We’ve tested dozes of the top home security cameras available in real-world conditions, and we’ve distilled a list of the very best models. Whether you’re looking to check on your kids and pets, or need a full-service sentinel with humans watching for intruders in real time, we’ll help find the right security camera for your needs.  Best home security camera reviews Arlo Pro 5S 2K – Best home security camera overall Pros 2K video resolution B&W and color night vision Automatic zoom and tracking Cons Subscription required for best features Requires hub to record video locally No Apple HomeKit support Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $119.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Arlo Pro 5S 2K? Easy to set up yet packed with cutting-edge features, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K is the best choice for a battery-powered 2K security camera that can track moving subjects, see in the dark, and connect to speedy 5GHz Wi-Fi networks–everything you need to keep an eye on your homestead. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Home, meaning you can view lives feeds on a smart display or set the camera to trigger home automations when it detects motion. Arlo Pro 5S 2K: Further considerations The Arlo Pro 5S 2K keeps the Arlo Pro series near the top of the market with such high-end features as dual-band Wi-Fi support, a low-power mode (which extends battery life by 30 percent by taking snapshots of detected activity instead of full video clips), and Arlo SecureLink technology, which provides a more secure connection to protect your data while further optimizing battery life. Just be sure to factor in the cost of an Arlo Secure subscription to get the most utility from this camera. Read our full Arlo Pro 5S 2K (model number VMC4060P) review Nest Cam (battery, 2021) – Best security camera for Google Nest smart homes Pros Offers the easiest setup in the industry Can be installed indoors or out Can operate on AC or battery power Cons Anemic night vision Proprietary and too-short power cable Subscription required to get full value Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $150 View Deal Google Nest $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Nest Cam (battery, 2021)? Nest has long offered some of our favorite security cameras, and the Nest Cam (battery), redesigned in 2021, is a versatile offering packed with great features. Naturally, Google Home users will get the most out the battery-powered Nest Cam, while Alexa and Apple HomeKit users should steer clear. The camera is supremely easy to set up, and it delivers fabulous performance under any lighting condition. Also, it can be deployed indoors or out. Finally, you’ll appreciate having three hours of event history stored on the device since you won’t have to pay for a subscription unless you want more history. Nest Cam (battery, 2021): Further considerations While the Nest Cam (battery) does boast on-device person, pet, and vehicle detection, a Nest Aware subscription is required to review recorded video events beyond the last few hours. Note: Google also offers the equally excellent indoor-only Nest Cam (indoor, wired), which requires plug-in power (there’s no battery option), for $99.95. Read our full Nest Cam (Battery) review Ring Stickup Cam Pro – Best indoor/outdoor home security camera for Ring/Alexa smart homes Pros Excellent performance, indoors and out Radar-based motion detection Fantastic night vision, with the option of color Cons You can have Bird’s Eye View or Pre-Roll, but not both Not fully compatible with Google Home or Apple HomeKit 1080p resolution Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Ring Stickup Cam Pro? This indoor/outdoor camera is a no-brainer for any Ring customer looking to expand their home security coverage. Also, this camera has very strong night vision, with a color night vision option you might find you don’t even need. Yes, the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is limited to 1080p resolution, but enabling HDR delivers gorgeous color-saturated images. Ring Stickup Cam Pro: Further considerations If you need just a single camera and can get by without so many advanced features, you’ll find a bevy of less-expensive options. The also-excellent Ring Spotlight Cam Pro has a very similar set of features, but its onboard spotlight boosts its price a little higher. Read our full Ring Stick Up Cam Pro review Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) – Best value in indoor pan/tilt security cameras Pros Excellent image quality Onboard AI detection and tracking Budget price Cons Requires continuous electrical power No Homekit support Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220)? This product is a great starting point for anyone looking to protect their home with home security cameras. Unless you’re firmly in Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem–or you already have a lot of another brand of home security camera–the Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) should be on your short list. Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220): Further considerations Cameras that have as many features and specifications comparable to the Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) tend to cost a whole lot more than this budget-priced device does. It’s uncommon to get 2K resolution, onboard storage (albeit via a microSD card with a maximum capacity of 128GB that you must provide), and a pan/tilt motor for $35. It doesn’t support color night vision, either, but you can solve that shortcoming with a smart speaker and a smart bulb or smart light switch. This camera is a great value. Read our full Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) review Eufy SoloCam S340 – Best outdoor pan/tilt security camera Pros Dual lenses deliver excellent image quality Subscription service is truly optional Included solar panel Cons Eufy’s app can’t flip the camera’s feed Battery must be charged while inside the camera Provided USB-C charging cable is only 10 feet long Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Eufy SoloCam S340? Anyone who needs to surveil large areas of property should consider this camera. That goes double for folks who hate the ongoing cost of a subscription to store your video recordings. Eufy has one if you want it, but it’s truly optional. The camera has 8GB of onboard storage, or you can spend another $150–plus the cost of a hard drive or SSD–and pick up the Eufy HomeBase 3, a NAS-like network storage device that can accommodate up to 16GB of encrypted storage. Eufy SoloCam S340: Further considerations If you’re looking for an outdoor surveillance camera that can operate without depending on AC power, the high-grade Eufy SoloCam S340 sports two high-resolution lenses: one is a 2K (2304 x 1296 pixels) telephoto, and the other is a 3K (2880 x 1620 pixels) wide-angle. And since it comes with a solar panel, you never need to worry about plugging it into a charger. A built-in motor enables the camera to pan a full 360 degrees and tilt over a 70-degree arc, and it will track the movement of anyone in its field of view. You can also program set up to four way points, so it will patrol a broad swath of your property. Read our full Eufy Security SoloCam S340 review Wyze Cam v4 – Best budget indoor security camera Pros Carries over the best features of its predecessor Crystal-clear image quality 24/7 recording to local microSD storage Cons Dependent on hardwired power Subscription required to unlock all its best features Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Wyze Cam v4? This is a great option for security shoppers on a budget. Wyze Labs continues to build outstanding home security cameras that deliver a whole lot of bang for the buck. Even following the expiration of Wyze Labs’ introductory offer, the $36 Wyze Cam v4 remains one of the best values in indoor/outdoor home security cameras. Highlights include crisp, lively video quality, along with a smart sound detection feature can alert you to noises like a baby’s cry or a cat’s meow. Wyze Cam v4: Further considerations While this model doesn’t move the needle on video resolution compared to the Wyze Cam v3 Pro it replaces, you will get a faster Wi-Fi adapter (Wi-Fi 6), a microSD card slot that can host cards with twice as much capacity, and an even easier onboarding process. You’ll also want to sign up for a subscription plan to unlock all of its best features, but those are affordable, too, starting at $2.99 per month for a single camera. Read our full Wyze Cam v4 review Blink Mini 2 – Best budget-priced indoor security camera runner-up Pros Can be deployed indoors or out Extremely compact size Great video quality Cons Subscription required to unlock all features Local storage requires separate purchase No audio detection Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Blink Mini 2? Devoted Mini users and newcomers alike should find plenty to love with the Blink Mini 2. This camera is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It’s also visually discrete and easy to install anywhere there’s access to AC power–but you’ll need to purchase a weatherized power supply if you’re deploying outdoors. Blink Mini 2: Further considerations Amazon’s Blink Mini 2 brings more utility to the original Blink Mini with the addition of a weatherized enclosure, an LED spotlight for color night vision, person detection, and a wider field of view. Read our full Blink Mini 2 review Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 – Best security cam/floodlight combo Pros Dual cameras with pan/tilt motor LED panels produce up to 2,000 lumens Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 adapter Cons Eufy doesn’t offer a strong home alarm system Local storage limited to 128GB So-so industrial design Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $219 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340? If you’re looking for a camera that can monitor a wide expanse of your property coupled with flexible floodlights to illuminate it, the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 is the product to buy. This camera can distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles, and you can set it to track the movement of any combination of those things. This camera will also cost less over its useful life because you don’t have to pay for a subscription to view your video history. Eufy Floodlight Camera E340: Further consideration We’re growing increasingly fond of Eufy’s twin-lensed, pan/tilt security cameras. In this configuration, you’ll also get twin LED panels that produce a combined 2,000 lumens of brightness. For those times when you just want to enjoy an evening on the deck and don’t want it to look like a prison yard, those panels can be dimmed. The 3K wide-angle and 2K telephoto lenses capture crisp detail, and the pan/tilt motor they’re mounted to will cover every inch of your yard, panning 360 degrees and tilting over a 120-degree arc. Add up to a 128GB microSD card and you won’t need to worry about paying for a cloud storage subscription. Need more storage than that? Drop up to a 16GB hard drive or SSD in the Eufy HomeBase 3, park it on your network, and you can store your recordings that way. Read our full Eufy Floodlight Cam E340 review Ring Floodlight Cam Pro – Best security cam/floodlight combo runner-up Pros Unbeatable playback interface Birds-eye view of motion detection Affordable subscription plan Cons No local storage Must be electrically hardwired So-so design Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $249.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Ring Floodlight Cam Pro? It’s expensive at $250, but anyone deep into the Ring home security or Ring smart lighting ecosystems should give the Ring Floodlight Cam Pro serious consideration. Just be prepared to connect this cam to hardwired power, and a Ring Protect plan–while not strictly mandatory–is essential for reviewing recorded video events. Ring Floodlight Cam Pro: Further considerations It doesn’t take much time using the Floodlight Cam Wired Pro to realize how incredibly powerful it is, starting with some of its impressive motion-detection features. The 3D Motion Detection with Bird’s Eye View feature is a game-changer. In addition to a great security camera, you also get dual floodlights that can illuminate your outdoor space with 2,000 lumens of brightness. Read our full Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro review Blink Wired Floodlight Camera – Best budget-priced security camera/floodlight combo Pros Ultra-powerful spotlight Easy hardware installation Super affordable Cons Subscription required for video storage and person detection Limited flexibility when it comes to aiming its camera and floodlights Industrial design trails Nest and Ring Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera? Need to have eyes on the outdoors while sticking to a strict budget? The Blink Wired Floodlight Camera is among the most affordably priced floodlight cams on the market, and it’s both easy to install and casts impressively bright light for the price. Blink Wired Floodlight Camera: Further considerations Blink’s floodlight cam offers run-of-the-mill video resolution, but extremely bright outdoor lighting and an amazingly affordable price tag. You’ll need a subscription to record video to get the most value from it, but those plans are affordable. Read our full Blink Wired Floodlight Cam review Safemo Set P1 – Best solar-powered security camera kit Pros Solar powered Excellent 4K image quality No cloud subscription required Cons Time-consuming installation No HomeKit support Currently no Android app Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $199.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Safemo Set P1? Thanks to its solar panels, the Safemo Set P1 can run almost indefinitely on solar power, making it ideal for those who want to install cameras in locations where wired power isn’t an option. Also, budget-minded shoppers will love that the Set P1 doesn’t require a cloud subscription for object detection. Safemo Set P1: Further considerations Boasting advanced features, ease of use, and expandability, the Safemo Set P1 is a great option of anyone looking for a reliable security camera system. While the initial setup may require some patience, once installed, the cameras deliver high-quality video with timely, accurate alerts. Read our full Safemo Set P1 review Baseus S1 Pro – Best solar-powered security camera kit runner-up Pros Solar panels track the sun Dual-lens cameras Base station includes 16GB of storage Cons Expensive You can’t buy single cameras Can’t be integrated into a broader system Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Baseus S1 Pro? The S1 Pro’s rotating solar panels and crisp 3K video make it a solid choice for those who want hassle-free home security without monthly fees. The upfront cost is steep, but the bundle includes two dual-lens cameras with solar panels, and a base station with 16GB of storage that can be expanded to 16TB. Baseus S1 Pro: Further considerations If you consider subscriptions for cloud storage to be anathema, and you want a security camera that delivers very high resolution with batteries that never need tending, the Baseus S1 Pro bundle’s dual lenses with up to 3K resolution and a base station with local storage could be just what you’re looking for. But if you think you might want more than two cameras, you should hold off until Baseus offers the cameras in singles without the base station. Read our full Baseus S1 Pro review Other notable security cameras we’ve tested The Baseus N1 security camera system lets you start with two cameras and a base station and add indoor or outdoor cameras as you need, but its digital zoom feature introduced significant visual distortion; the Deep Sentinel DS2 security camera system is a significant investment, but it offers proactive threat deterrence you can’t get from many other DIY security camera, including live agents who monitor the camera feed in real time; the indoor pan/tilt Eufy Indoor Cam S350 is outfitted with both wide-angle and telephoto lenses to deliver different views of the same scene simultaneously; the pan-and-tilt Noorio T110 provides a raft of security features and makes them easy to operate with a smartly designed app; the Reolink Argus 4 Pro’s dual lenses deliver an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view without suffering from fish-eye distortion; the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is an inexpensive but modestly appointed option for those in the Ring ecosystem; the Swann MaxRanger4K Solar Security System uses the 900MHz frequency band to communicate with the included hub, enabling a range of up to 2,000 feet; the SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam Plus 3K left us unimpressed; and the upgraded Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 now offers better resolution, stronger lights, and a lower price tag. How we test home security cameras Our security camera guides are based on testing by freelance and staff contributors with decades of combined experience. Our meticulous evaluation process takes place in real homes and begins the moment we unbox a camera.  We begin by timing the installation process as outlined in the camera’s user manual, noting any difficulties or special tools required. For indoor cameras, we evaluate their size, shape, and color options to evaluate how seamlessly they fit into various interior styles. For outdoor models, we note the camera’s material quality and IP (Ingress Protection) rating, which indicates resistance to dust and water. We then test video performance, audio quality, and motion sensitivity, while also considering the app interface, storage options, connectivity, smart home compatibility, and privacy issues. To learn more, read our article about how we test home security cameras at TechHive. Why you should trust us TechHive’s editors and contributors have been testing home security cameras for many years, and we regularly evaluate the latest hardware, along with their accompanying mobile apps. We’ve checked out wired security cameras, battery-power cameras, outdoor cams, floodlight cams, pan-and-tilt cams, and more. You can trust us to guide you to the right home security camera for your needs. Who curated this article? Michael Ansaldo is veteran consumer and business technology journalist. He’s been a contributor to TechHive since 2013, covering robot vacuums, home security cameras, and other smart devices. He previously served as PCWorld’s Small Business Editor, and his tech coverage has appeared in Wired, Macworld, Mac|Life, Mobile Magazine, Enterprise.Nxt, Executive Travel, and other publications. How to choose the best home security camera Most home security cameras perform the same basic functions—they detect an event, record the event, and send you an alert—but they don’t all perform them the same way. And some cameras have special features that go beyond those basics. Here are some common features you’ll encounter while shopping and why they’re important. #id688259bc28d44 .jw-wrapper::before { content: `` !important; } Alerts  Home security cameras push notifications to your smartphone when they detect events. Without watching the live feed all day, this is the only way to keep tabs on your home in relative real time. Depending on the camera, it may send text alerts when it detects motion, sound, a face (known or unrecognized), or all three. Some can send alerts to multiple people, usually anyone else in the household using that product’s app; others will send emails in addition to text messages as a failsafe in the event you can’t access your mobile device. Battery backup Power outages happen, and clever burglars cut electricity before breaking into your home. When that happens, your camera goes dark and, if there’s a crime taking place, you lose all forensic evidence. For this reason, some cameras can also run for a short time on battery power. It’s a feature worth looking for. There are also some models that run on battery power full time; you can either swap batteries as they’re depleted, or plug the camera into an AC outlet and recharge its battery that way. Environmental monitoring This is the feature that sets all-in-one home monitors apart from strictly security cameras. Though the home “vitals” that these units track vary by model—we’ve seen everything from motion to luminosity included in home health profiles—three tend to be ubiquitous: Temperature monitors for spikes and dips in indoor temperature and alerts when it falls outside a range you define. Humidity tracks relative humidity inside your home. Humidity outside optimal levels—usually defined as between 30 and 50 percent—can contribute to problems such as static electricity, sinus irritation, and mold growth. Air quality tracks pollutants ranging from cooking odors to carbon monoxide. However, most monitors don’t identify the pollutant in their alerts, merely warning that the air quality is “abnormal.” Because of that, this feature should not be considered a substitute for potentially life-saving devices like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. HomeKit Secure Video support This is a subset of Apple’s smart-home initiative, and while you don’t necessarily need to be an avowed Apple user to benefit from HomeKit Secure Video’s privacy-enhancing features, you will need to sign up for an Apple iCloud account and have a HomePod, a HomePod mini, or an Apple TV 4K. Where other types of security cameras send video to the cloud (often unencrypted), security cameras that support HomeKit Secure Video send thier video streams to one of those devices on your local network first. That device will process the video, performing tasks such as facial recognition and what have you, and then encrypting it before uploading it to your iCloud account. You can read more about HomeKit Secure Video on our sister site, Macworld. Integrated spotlight Like all cameras, home security cameras need adequate ambient light to capture clear images. While that is easy to come by during daylight hours, it’s in shorter supply as the sun goes down, often making it necessary to supplement with artificial ambient light. This can easily be accomplished with light fixtures inside your home and floodlights outdoors, but many cameras include an integrated spotlight that offers a few advantages. Because the spotlight is built into the camera, it directly lights the scene the camera is viewing, enabling the clearest possible image capture. And integrated spotlights can be configured to be triggered by motion detection, so they only switch on when a possible intruder is in view, eliminating the need to keep your home or yard lit up all night. As a bonus, being suddenly caught in the white hot glare of a spotlight is often enough to scare an intruder away. Local storage Some cameras include memory-card slots in lieu of, or in addition to, cloud storage, so you can store video right on the device. It’s an attractive feature as it can eliminate the cost of monthly storage fees. The downside (if there isn’t a cloud backup) is that if crooks steal your camera, they take your forensic evidence with it. Motion detection Assuming you’re monitoring your home when it’s empty, motion detection is one of the most desirable features in a security camera. Built-in sensors pick up movement within the camera’s field of view and trigger video recording. You’ll find an in-depth explanation of how motion detection works in this article. Because these sensors can be sensitive to any movement—even a shift in lighting or leaves blowing outside a window—it’s important the camera system also offer the ability to narrow the range of detection, adjust the sensor’s sensitivity, or otherwise customize this feature to cut down on false alerts. More and more security cameras now offer AI-powered motion detection that can identify people, pets, packages, and vehicles, allowing you to filter out such innocuous motion events as tree branches swaying in the wind or insects crawling across the camera lens. Such “advanced” motion-sensing functionality is often tied to a paid subscription plan, however. Night vision Most break-ins occur after dark, so this feature is nearly as important as motion detection. Technically, most home security cameras support infrared LED illumination, versus true night vision based on image intensification or thermal vision. Be that as it may, most cameras will switch to night vision automatically in low-light conditions, while others allow you to customize when and how it should be activated. Increasingly, cameras are equipped with full-color night vision, which enables video footage to capture important information that IR night vision can’t such as the color of an intruder’s clothing or vehicle. These cameras use hypersensitive light sensors, such as Starlight image sensors, which can reproduce color images in dimly lit environments, some as low as 0.0005 Lux (for reference, 0 Lux indicates no ambient lighting). To increase battery efficiency, some models include both black-and-white and color night vision, defaulting to black-and-white in low light and switching to color only when motion is detected. Pan/Tilt/Swivel Most security cameras can be manually tilted and swiveled to focus on a certain viewing area, but this is a purely set-it-and-forget it feature. A true pan/tilt camera is equipped with a motor so that you can move its lens—or even follow a moving object if you’re watching a live feed—using its app or browser-based app. Some cameras can even track a person moving within their field of view. Resolution No amount of security video will help you if it’s blurry, jittery, or otherwise distorted. Look for a camera that offers the highest possible resolution. There was a time when 720p (often referred to as “high definition” or HD) resolution was the standard, but most newer cameras now support 1080p (often referred to as “full HD”). Some models provide even higher resoution (2K or 4K), but keep in mind that higher-res cameras use more internet and Wi-Fi bandwidth as well as battery life (where applicable). Many cameras also offer a software zoom feature (which is not the same thing as having a physical zoom lens). Scheduling Scheduling features allow you to tell the camera to turn on and off, detect motion, and/or send alerts at specified times. This is useful when you, say, only want to be notified when your kids get home from school or just want to monitor your home when you’re away. It also reduces the amount of false alerts. Cameras that support geofencing can do this based on the location of your smartphone, activating themselves when you leave home and turning themselves off to enhance privacy while you’re home. Smart device integration If you have a home full of smart devices, consider looking for a security camera or an all-in-one home monitor that includes a Z-Wave, Zigbee, or—eventually a Thread—radio that can connect them. Support for an automation service like IFTTT is also useful. This allows the camera or monitor to react to various scenarios, such as taking a picture when your Nest Protect detects smoke, or telling your Philips Hue smart bulb to turn on when unexpected sounds are detected. Two-way audio While the idea of a security camera implies eyes-on monitoring, the ability to also hear what’s going on gives you a more complete picture of what’s happening on the home front when you’re away. It can also alert you to something occurring out of the camera’s field of vision. This feature can also allow you to speak through the camera, a great tool for remotely commanding an unruly pet or startling an intruder in the act. On some very low-end models, you might need to plug in a powered speaker for this feature to work. Viewing angle The camera’s field of view determines how much it can see. As you’re probably monitoring a single room, you want a wide viewing angle. Most current cameras fall in the 130-degree range. These wide angles can sometimes cause image distortion at the edges in the form of a fisheye effect, particularly when used in smaller rooms, but it’s not like you’re going to use a security to capture snapshots for your photo album. Frequently asked questions about home security cameras 1. What is the best security camera to buy for a home? Easy to set up yet packed with cutting-edge features, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K is the best security camera for most people. This battery-powered 2K security camera can track moving subjects, see in the dark, and connect to speedy 5GHz Wi-Fi networks–everything you need to keep an eye on your homestead. It’s also compatible with Alexa and Google Home, meaning you can view lives feeds on a smart display or set the camera to trigger home automations when it detects motion. 2. What is the best cheap security camera for a home? The $36 Wyze Cam v4 remains one of the best values in indoor/outdoor home security cameras. It offers crisp, lively video quality, along with a smart sound detection feature can alert you to noises like a baby’s cry or a cat’s meow. 3. What is the best home security camera without a subscription? Among its many other virtues, the Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 supports local storage. Add up to a 128GB microSD card and you won’t need to worry about paying for a cloud storage subscription. For even more storage, drop up to a 16GB hard drive or SSD in the Eufy HomeBase 3 and put it on your network. 4. What is cloud video storage, and how much does it cost? Many manufacturers offer cloud storage plans with their cameras. With one of these, your recorded video is sent to a remote server and stored for a predetermined time—usually anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks—and then deleted to make space for new videos. Though sometimes free, these cloud plans usually require a monthly subscription, but are worth it both for their convenience and if you want a surveillance record during a vacation or other extended time away from home. For more, check out our comparison of all the major security camera subscription plans. 5. Can security cameras recognize faces? A few newer cameras are experimenting with facial recognition. This feature could more accurately be called “facial identification,” as in practice it’s much better at distinguishing a face from, say, a lamp, than it is at actually distinguishing between one person’s face and another’s. If you opt for a camera with this feature, know that it typically learns faces through increasing exposure to them, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in front of the lens. 6. Can you access a security camera over the web? Many cameras can be accessed through a web portal. This is useful for times when you don’t have access to your mobile device or a wireless connection. The web app should closely mirror its mobile counterpart, so you don’t need to learn a whole new set of controls. 7. What’s the wireless range of a security camera? One of the benefits wireless cameras offer is the ability to move them around your home. Ideally, your home security camera should be able to maintain a Wi-Fi connection no matter how far you move it from your router, even in a large home. Some cameras come with an ethernet port as well, so you have the option of hardwiring it to your local network. A camera that supports power-over-ethernet (PoE) eliminates the need for an AC adapter and relies on just one cable (but your router or switch will also need to support PoE. Another alternative would be to use a PoE injector.) If you’re deploying a security camera beyond the range of your Wi-Fi network, models that connect instead to the same LTE network that your smartphone relies on are a good option, but they’re generally more expensive and you’ll need to pay your cellular provider for a data plan.  8. Are security cameras vulnerable to hackers?  There have been plenty of headlines about hackers compromising home cameras, baby monitors, and other Wi-Fi devices to spy on people, so be sure to check what steps has each manufacturer taken to eliminate this problem. Look for a camera that supports up-to-date wireless security protocols, such as WPA2, and make sure it encrypts internet transmission of your user name, your password, and the live feeds. Even better, opt for a security camera that supports end-to-end encryption, which ensures no third parties will be able to see your videos. Several security camera manufacturers, such as Ring, support end-to-end encryption. Never install a security camera (or a router or any other device on your home network) without changing its default user ID and password, and be sure to employ two-factor authentication if available. 9. Can you access your securty camera using a smartphone? Most of today’s home security camera’s are accessed primarily through a smartphone/tablet app. In addition to offering you a reliable way to view the camera’s live feed, it should offer plenty of options for customizing the way the camera performs. The ability to customize notifications, adjust motion and sound detection sensitivity, and set detection areas are some of the key features to look for. The app should also be intuitive and easy to master. Related content Best video doorbells Best DIY home security systems Best smart locks Best smart home systems Latest smart home security reviews Smart home security how-tos Smart home security news Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Fast 20Gbps performance over USB 3.2×2 Built like a tank IP68 rated against dust and water intrusion Cons Not USB4 Our Verdict If I were roughing it in the wilder regions of the planet, the Asus TUF Gaming A2 ruggedized storage is what I’d take with me. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Asus TUF Gaming A2 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices While there are a lot of vendors shipping ready-to-play, pre-populated external SSDs, they tend to be either super-fast and super-expensive, or super-cheap and suitable only for light-duty data transfer. Drive-less enclosures such as the IP-rated Asus TUF Gaming A2 reviewed here, while not exactly cheap, allow you to leverage faster SSD technology at a more affordable price point. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best external drives for comparison. What are the TUF Gaming A2 features? I’m used to hex screws, they’re all over my guitar hardware. But I certainly wasn’t expecting them on an external drive enclosure. Then again, given the TUF moniker, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. It stands to reason that thieves are less likely to have a hex wrench like the one Asus includes on hand than a screwdriver. That is, if the thief wanted to remove the drive from the very attractive enclosure anyway. More likely, the hex is just for aesthetics. The Asus TUF Gaming A2 with the backplate off but no drive installed. As to its very attractive, black, ribbed silicone-wrapped enclosure — the A2 measures approximately 4.5-inches long, by 2.25-inches wide, and just over 0.5-inches thick. It’s on the hefty side at roughly 5.5 ounces. Personally, I love the solid weight in the hand as well as the nice grip offered by its silicone-ized upper and side surfaces. If I were going to take any portable drive to a barroom brawl, this would be it. Okay, wrong weapon, but you get my drift. All this TUF-ness culminates with an IP68 rating, which means dust and sand won’t enter, and if you drop it in 3 feet of water — no big deal. This primer on Ingress Protection ratings will tell you more. Personally, I love the solid weight in the hand as well as the nice grip offered by its silicone-ized upper and side surfaces. How much is the Asus TUF Gaming A2? The A2 is available on Amazon for $54 at the time of this writing, discounted from $60. You can certainly grab 20Gbps enclosures for less. A lot less, actually. But they won’t offer anywhere near the build quality of the A2. The large logo is actually on the flip side of the A2. Note the hex bolts securing the SSD cover. If you’re planning to work cross-platform, you might also consider a USB4 enclosure such as the UGreen CM642, which will be faster (much) on Macs. 20Gbps USB 3.2×2 slows to 10Gbps on most Macs and many Windows PC Thunderbolt ports. How fast is the TUF Gaming A2? The TUF A2 turned in an excellent USB 3.2×2 performance. Far better than average — though full disclosure, I populated it with the mighty Samsung 9100 Pro. Most external drives, such as the competing Crucial X10 and Addlink P21 in the charts will use less competent SSDs. This shows up more dramatically in the long transfer tests than in the synthetic benchmarks. Note that I’ve recently started testing transfers with Xcopy along with Windows Explorer. For some reason, Microsoft has optimized Xcopy for NVMe and not Explorer. Go figure. Read the How we test section at the bottom of this review for more info on testing. CrystalDiskMark 8 had very nice things to say about the A2’s sequential transfer potential. CrystalDiskMark 8 had very nice things to say about the A2’s sequential transfer potential. The A2 was head and shoulders above the X10 in terms of random performance; then again, so was the Addlink P21 in most cases. But victory belongs to the A2. Again, partially due to the fantastic Samsung 9100 Pro inside. The A2 was head and shoulders above the X10 in terms of random performance; then again, so was the Addlink P21 in most cases. But victory belongs to the A2. Again, partially due to the fantastic Samsung 9100 Pro inside. It was in our real-world transfers where the A2 really began to shine, cutting almost two minutes off of the aggregate (Xcopy and Explorer) copy times. There’s no doubt that the Samsung 9100 Pro contributed mightily to the 450GB write result. Both the X10 and P21 ran out of gas — aka, secondary cache — where the 4TB 9100 never did. Fair? Not really. So sue me. These results show what the A2 is capable of, but again, the competition wasn’t on the same level in terms of the SSD component inside. This simply shows what you can get if you spend a bit more. Note that while I used the Samsung 9100 Pro for testing, it is, in fact, overkill. There’s no way any external 20Gbps enclosure can utilize all its speed. Any DRAM-enabled NVMe SSD, PCIe 3.0 or later with modern TLC NAND will perform similarly. Should you buy the TUF Gaming A2? If you want 20Gbps USB storage that will easily stand up the rigors of travel, and even off-road excursions, it doesn’t get better than the A2. I’m quite enamored of it and it will stay in the backpack as long as Asus allows. How we test Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11 24H2, 64-bit running off of a PCIe 4.0 Samsung 990 Pro in an Asus Z890-Creator WiFi (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard. The CPU is a Core Ultra i5 225 feeding/fed by two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 5 are integrated and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. SSDs involved in the test are mounted in a HighPoint 7604A 16x PCIe 5.0 adapter card. We run the CrystalDiskMark 8, AS SSD 2, and ATTO 4 synthetic benchmarks to find the storage device’s potential performance, then a series of 48GB and 450GB transfers tests using Windows Explorer drag and drop to show what you’ll see under Window, as well as the far faster Xcopy to show what’s possible. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an USFMount RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from an SSD on the HighPoint card. Each test is performed on a newly NTFS-formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This can be less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with far faster late-generation NAND. Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know. Read...

DXC Technology unveils AI-driven platform, DXC Assure Illustrations, to speed up and personalise life insurance policy projections globally. Read...

DXC Technology launches Assure Illustrations, an AI-driven platform to simplify personalised life insurance projections for advisors and customers globally. Read...

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: Ten gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” So, let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $15 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices. Read...