As we’ve previously covered, Microsoft is working on another redesign of the Start Menu in Windows 11, and one of the new features is that apps will be divided into different categories automatically. According to Windows Latest, Microsoft has created a 15 megabyte JSON file with information about which apps should end up in which category. That’s right—pretty much every app on the Microsoft Store has been assigned a number, with 0 indicating Productivity apps, 1 indicating Social apps, 2 indicating Creative apps, and so on. As soon as you have at least three apps that belong to the same category, they will automatically be grouped together in the new Start Menu. The ranking of the apps will depend on how often you use them, so the apps in a category won’t be sorted in an alphabetical order. At the moment, it doesn’t look like Microsoft is going to give us the option to rename categories or add our own, so we’ll just have to accept the company’s categorization method… for better or worse. Read...

What can give you peace of mind while you’re traveling away from home? Or even just making a quick grocery run while leaving your pets behind? A home Wi-Fi security camera with a remote live feed that you can check in on whenever you want, wherever you want! I’m talking about something like this Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, which is now down to its best price ahead of Prime Day: $40 (was $80). This is an early Prime Day deal, so you’ll need a Prime sub to take advantage—but if you aren’t a Prime member, all you have to do is start a free 30-day Prime trial. With it, you’ll also be able to score Prime Day deals next week! All you need for this security camera is the Ring app. Once you’re connected, you can peek in at any time via the Live View, and you can control the camera’s position with 360 degrees of horizontal panning and 169 degrees of vertical tilting. With 1080p video and color night vision, you’ll get a clear image at all times of day—and you can even talk to whoever’s in the room via Two-Way Talk. This Ring camera also comes with Alexa support, so you can integrate with other Alexa devices (like smart displays) to pull up and watch footage. Worried about what it records when you’re chilling at home? Use the built-in privacy cover to block recording. With a paid Ring Home subscription, you can also unlock extra features like 180 days of event history, person/package/vehicle alerts, and more. Get the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam for 50% off before this early Prime Day deal expires! If you’d rather still shop around, be sure to check out our roundup of the best early Prime Day deals on security cameras! Save 50% on Ring`s full-featured 360-degree Wi-Fi security camBuy now at Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Great display Decent connectivity Pleasing build Cons Leaves performance on the table Doesn’t take great advantage of size Big for tablet mode Our Verdict The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 is a large and somewhat pricey 2-in-1 that has a lot to like, but makes a few too many missteps to prove really favorable, especially when there are plenty of good alternatives. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: HP Omnibook X Flip 16 Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 follows up on the brand’s 2024 re-launch of the OmniBook family, which coincided with the introduction of Windows Co-Pilot+ AI PCs. This new model comes alongside a 14-inch version as well, and both are offered in Intel and AMD flavors. The Omnibook X Flip 16 sits near the high end of the stack, though it isn’t quite the top of the line. That’s left to the OmniBook Ultra. Still, the OmniBook X Flip 16 comes with a metal build, the latest processors, enough RAM for everyday use, and plenty more. This 2-in-1 has a lot to get excited about on paper, but as we’ll see, it can fail to deliver on expectations. It’s not a bad PC, but it doesn’t quite keep up with the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Specs and features CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V Display: 16-inch 2880×1800 OLED Touchscreen, Glossy Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 5MP Connectivity: 1x Thunderbolt 4 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition Battery capacity: 68 watt-hours Dimensions: 14.02 x 9.67 x 0.61 inches Weight: 4.17 pounds MSRP: $1,659 as-tested ($1,099 base) The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 comes in a variety of configurations, including both Intel- and AMD-powered setups. It has a base price of $899 for an AMD configuration with an AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and a 1920×1200 IPS display. Upgrade options include an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 24 or 32GB of memory, 1 or 2TB of storage, and the 2880×1800 OLED display tested here.  We tested an Intel configuration, and while it should be broadly similar to the AMD models, there are enough differences under the hood that you shouldn’t expect the same performance or battery life. The Intel configurations start at $1,099 and include an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V with 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and a 1920×1200 IPS display. The Intel models offer the same upgrade options as the AMD models, except they have a Core Ultra 7 256V with 16GB of memory or a 258V with 32GB of memory as options. Our test configuration includes the top CPU and memory specs, 1TB of storage, and the upgraded display. The MSRP is $1,659 as configured.  The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 has a great display — a bright OLED panel with perfect blacks, full DCI-P3 color coverage, and smooth variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Design and build quality IDG / Mark Knapp HP doesn’t appear to be going for style points here. While my first encounter with an OmniBook last year came with a splash of color in the form of a funky keyboard, the OmniBook X Flip 16  is a drab affair. It has clean lines and a pleasing build, but it’s a bit lifeless. The OmniBook X Flip 16  is a big laptop. It doesn’t quite push the boundaries that gaming laptops do, but in order to accommodate a 16-inch display and the hinge design necessary for tablet mode, it ends up quite sizable and a little heavy at 4.17 pounds. Thankfully, it’s still fairly slim.  HP’s design makes for a sleek laptop with lots of subtly rounded edges and corners. This combines with the surprisingly gentle feel of the sandblasted, anodized aluminum chassis for a machine that feels like it considered user comfort some.  The underside of the system is curious. Rather than have big, obvious rubber feet, the OmniBook X Flip 16  sits on long thin strips that you can almost barely tell protrude from the bottom because the underside has a gentle curve to it. This creates a very slim channel for air to pull in at the sides of the OmniBook X Flip 16  and make it to the intake fan. Though the base of the laptop has a huge grille stretching across it, most of that is plugged up. Only two small regions around the fan actually serve as air intakes. The system’s heat is then exhausted through a vent tucked along the back of the base, just below the display. It’s possible HP has some air exhausting out the “speaker” grilles on the top deck, but I find that doubtful.  Rather than situate speakers behind those massive grilles on the top deck, HP has positioned two speakers in little slots along the front lip of the laptop. This may not be ideal for audio in the laptop position, but it helps ensure the speakers are consistent in tent and tablet positions as well. The display lid comes pretty close to flush with the lower deck, which can make it tricky to find a good grip for opening the lid, especially since HP removed the small cutaway seen on the last generation of OmniBook laptops to help open the display. Thankfully, the base of the laptop is heavy enough to stay put, making the OmniBook X Flip 16  much easier to get open than its similarly designed, smaller sibling, the OmniBook X Flip 14. The display hinge is a little wiggly after any movements, but stays put well enough once it comes to rest. It also holds open in the tablet position with the help of some magnets, so it doesn’t flop around.  Above the display, the OmniBook X Flip 16  squeezes in a small webcam and a physical privacy shutter. Unfortunately, HP has continued to use a zebra-stripe pattern on the shutter, which has consistently proven hard to discern from a spot of glare.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Mark Knapp The HP OmniBook X Flip 16’s keyboard could be much better. On the one hand, the keys have a little bit of travel that makes for quick resetting, and they’re surprisingly well stabilized for how big they are. But the thing is, they’re very big and very flat, borrowing the regrettable design of Dell’s recent XPS laptops. This leaves little room between one key and its neighbors, and doesn’t provide much in the way of tactile guidance. I find my fingers are frequently roaming away from the center of keys, hitting edges (and neighbors), and ending up with typos I would have much more easily avoided with smaller keycaps and a bit of contour to the keys. While I’m not surprised to see no number pad on this style of laptop, it is nevertheless disappointing to see no efforts to use all the extra space available to this size of laptop. It still has cramped arrow keys. It still crams the Delete key right next to the power button — a nuisance for writers — though at least the white backlighting clearly illuminates the keycap legends. The trackpad on the OmniBook X Flip 16  stretches a good way. It’s not nearly as large as it could be with the space available to it, but it provides a sizable, central space to mouse around and perform multi-finger gestures with ease. It has a shallow physical click with a gentle tactility that’s nice to use.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Display, audio IDG / Mark Knapp The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 has a great display. It features a bright OLED panel that can reach 406.9 nits right next to perfect black pixels, and it covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color space. The display even had a color accurate maximum dE1976 of 2.37. Top all that off with support for variable refresh rates from 48Hz to 120Hz, and you’ve got a solid screen. It is glossy, though, so it can struggle with glare in certain conditions.  The display also works as a touchscreen for easy control and tablet use. On top of that, the OmniBook X Flip 16  comes with a stylus for fine, pressure-sensitive control that proves responsive and accurate. Because of the size of the display, doodling on certain areas without also getting your hand on the screen can be tricky, and I’ve found touch rejection a bit troublesome. When not in use, the stylus can magnetically latch onto the right side of the laptop, though it’s not a firm enough connection that I’d rely on it while storing and transporting the laptop.  The speakers on the OmniBook X Flip 16  pack a punch, pumping out plenty of volume for a small room. They get a little harsh in the mids at max volume, though. Despite the laptop’s size, it doesn’t benefit from any extra-bassy speaker drivers, and therefore comes up lacking in that area. The bass isn’t completely absent, but it’s mellow enough that music doesn’t quite feel full and the most explosive moments of movies will probably fall flat. There’s a decent bit of stereo, though thanks to the wider spacing of the speakers. It is a bit awkward that HP has two huge grilles on either side of the keyboard that look like they’d house speakers, but they don’t.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Webcam, microphone, biometrics IDG / Mark Knapp The webcam on the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 captures a nice and sharp picture while also offering support for facial recognition. It can get a little awkward as the camera shifts exposure and white balance levels while recording, seeing big shifts in the color and brightness of parts of the shot, but it still is pretty good for a built-in camera.  The mics paired with the camera also do their job well. They cancelled out the sound of a nearby fan running loudly, and managed to capture my voice loud and clear in the process. They struggled a bit more to cancel out clapping effectively. While they did erase the sound of the claps, they also erased a bit of my voice and made it sound compressed in the process. This was surprising after the laptop’s smaller sibling, the HP OmniBook X Flip 14, performed almost flawlessly in the same test.  The OmniBook X Flip 16  also supports facial recognition for quick and easy sign-in, though Microsoft recently limited this system’s ability to perform in the dark, and the OmniBook X Flip 16  was affected. Thankfully it still works in dim environments.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Connectivity IDG / Mark Knapp You’ll get respectable connectivity from the HP OmniBook X Flip 16 , but like many of its contemporaries, it fails to take full advantage of its size. The left side houses a USB-A port, two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port. The right side, despite having loads of space, only includes a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-A port. Both USB-A ports offer 10Gbps speeds, which is nice to see. But only one of the USB-C ports gets the Thunderbolt 4 treatment. The other is just another 10Gbps port, though thankfully both USB-C ports support DisplayPort output and charging.  For wireless connections, you get Wi-Fi 7 through an Intel wireless adapter and Bluetooth 5.4. In my testing, both have proven stable and quick to connect.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Performance The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 isn’t kitted out to be a performance monster, but it still offers some strong components. At $1,659, its priced like plenty of other machines that also offer strong components, though, and the premium cost of at 2-in-1 actually makes it look a bit worse.  The Acer Swift Go 16 brings along a more powerful processor and an equal amount of storage and RAM for far less at $1,149, but it’s not a 2-in-1. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16ILL10 has a slightly weaker processor and half the RAM but costs much less at $1,199. Meanwhile, Samsung offers both a 2-in-1 and a traditional version of its Galaxy Book5 Pro. The normal one costs $1,649 and has that same weaker processor found in the Lenovo system alongside just 16GB of memory. Meanwhile, the 2-in-1 version we tested includes the same CPU as and as much memory and RAM as the OmniBook X Flip 16. To make matters a little tricky, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 we tested isn’t one Samsung actually sells — rather it has a $1,699 model (currently $1,449) with the same internals as its normal Galaxy Book5 Pro. Almost all of these systems also have a 2880×1800 OLED display except Lenovo’s. IDG / Mark Knapp Even though the OmniBook X Flip 16  is sitting near the top of this group price-wise, it sits at the bottom of the pack in the holistic performance test, PCMark 10. This tests a range of activities, including browsing, opening apps, editing spreadsheets, manipulating photo and video, and having video calls. All of the systems perform great, readily keeping up with these kinds of common tasks, but HP just doesn’t quite do as much. Sometimes, it can just be a slightly slower SSD that will hold a system back against competitors with similar specifications, but the OmniBook X Flip 16  lagged behind across many of the sub-tests. IDG / Mark Knapp Cinebench helps us see one of the culprits of the OmniBook X Flip 16 ’s lower performance in PCMark. Cinebench pushes focused on the CPU specifically. Unsurprisingly, the Acer Swift Go 16 has a strong lead across these tests thanks to its more potent CPU. But the OmniBook X Flip 16  generally showed weaker single-core performance than its other competitors across Cinebench R15, R20, R23, and R24. For multi-core performance, it had a better time leading the Lenovo system and its weaker CPU, but it consistently tailed the two Samsung machines even though one of them also had the same weaker CPU as the Lenovo. That remained consistent even in Cinebench R24, which runs the test longer to show the impacts of thermal throttling more.  IDG / Mark Knapp Our Handbrake test also pushes the CPU hard and will show how well the system can handle heat to perform the task quickly. After seeing the Cinebench results, it’s clear the OmniBook X Flip 16 can at least make better use of its CPU in longer tasks than the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1—likely thanks to its more potent CPU and better cooling. But again, both Samsung systems perform noticeably better, suggesting that either their power modes deliver more juice or their cooling allows for higher sustained speeds. IDG / Mark Knapp Since all five systems are running on some form of Intel integrated graphics, it’s not surprising to see them all offering largely similar performance. But yet again, the OmniBook X Flip 16  lags behind. Lenovo has roughly 5 percent better performance in the 3DMark gaming benchmark Time Spy, and the Samsung systems step it up with roughly 10 percent better performance. It’s a similar story for 3DMark’s Night Raid, except the differences are even further in favor of the other systems.  This all puts the OmniBook X Flip 16  into a bad spot. HP simply doesn’t seem to have done enough to make sure its system is running as well as it could. Heat could be better managed, and a custom performance profile might have let the CPU run better than it is here. Considering how often the OmniBook X Flip 16  is getting shown up by a machine with a lower-tier CPU (the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V), it’s clear optimization and settings can matter as much or more than system specifications.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Battery life The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 takes some advantage of its size to squeeze in a sizable battery with a 68 watt-hour pack, though it could have gone bigger still. It manages to use that battery relatively efficiently. In our 4K local video playback test, which runs the laptop in airplane mode with the screen at 250-260 nits, the OmniBook X Flip 16  managed to run for almost 18 hours. That’s fairly impressive for a big, sharp display. IDG / Mark Knapp That battery longevity, while good, still isn’t mind blowing. It is far better than some, like the Acer Swift Go 16 2025. But Lenovo’s competing model went even further, and both were leagues behind either of Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro models. Both Samsung laptops topped 23 hours of battery life, despite featuring hardware quite similar to the OmniBook X Flip 16. Those are significant leads that can’t be chalked up to slightly larger batteries alone. What’s more surprising is that both Samsung systems managed this while also outperforming the OmniBook X Flip 16 in nearly every performance test. In everyday use, the OmniBook X Flip 16  also lasts quite a while, generally making it through my workdays without issue.  HP OmniBook X Flip 16: Conclusion The HP OmniBook X Flip 16 is a bit hit and a bit miss, almost in equal measure. On the one hand, it feels well built and has a nice, albeit plain look to it. It has a big, gorgeous display as well. But it also makes confusing choices like having huge grilles that do almost nothing. Its keyboard prioritizes form over function. And a 16-inch tablet over four pounds probably won’t be practical for most people, especially without reliable palm rejection.  Then there’s the performance. It simply doesn’t take full advantage of the hardware, in many cases getting outperformed by lower-tier hardware. Perhaps it would have worked better had HP used all of its grilles to get more airflow and heat dissipation. But it didn’t. And in spite of that, the OmniBook X Flip 16 is on the expensive side. Aside from the fact that Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 doesn’t actually come in the configuration we tested, I can see little reason to choose the OmniBook X Flip 16 over it. Even though the Samsung has less memory and a lower-tier processor, I’d expect it to perform close to its non-flipping sibling, which as we saw in our benchmarks also thoroughly beat up on the OmniBook X Flip 16. Read...

Renting an apartment or house doesn’t mean you must forgo the convenience of a smart home; in fact, you might be surprised by the possibilities for making your home life easier, all of which can be achieved without drilling or making any lease-breaking modifications to your dwelling.  I’ve been a serial renter all my adult life, and I’ve been reviewing smart home devices for more than six years. My Brooklyn rental is decked out with smart lights, a video doorbell, security cameras, smart water leak detectors, and more. Yet, I’m confident that when my family picks up stakes for a new abode, we’ll be able to take our smart devices with us, all without leaving a trace. I’ll be ticking off types of smart devices that are decidedly apartment-friendly, from smart bulbs that you can screw into existing sockets to stick-up video doorbells that don’t require wired power. These smart gadgets are easy to install, and once your lease is up, you can pack them up without putting your security deposit at risk.  Once you’ve perused our guide, click through to see our top picks for each category. Renters unite!  Smart lights  Smart bulbs rank as among the easiest way for renters to begin their smart home journeys. An Edison-style smart bulb can be screwed into a standard light socket, and you can reduce your initial outlay by choosing a bulb that’s controllable via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Once you’re ready to expand, you can add a smart hub for even greater control (such as a Philips Hue Bridge), while light strips and smart light panels can add atmosphere with simple stick-up installation.  Renter`s pick: Philips Hue White Ambiance A19 (Bluetooth + Zigbee) Pros Having Bluetooth onboard eliminates the need for the $60 (MSRP) Philips Hue Bridge Excellent quality of light and smooth-as-silk dimming Supremely easy to install and later transfer to Philips Hue Bridge control when you’re ready Cons Without the Philips Hue Bridge, you can’t limit scenes to one or a few bulbs; changes affect all the Bluetooth bulbs you’ve installed You can’t assign bulbs to rooms without the Bridge Best Prices Today: $49.97 at Amazon$54.99 at Best BuyNot Available at Adorama No one does smart lighting better than Signify’s Philips Hue, and adding Bluetooth while keeping Zigbee makes it cheaper and a whole lot easier to get started. Read our full Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 (Bluetooth + Zigbee) review Check out TechHive`s favorite smart lights Smart plugs  Want to automate your fans or add smarts to a decorative standing lamp? A smart plug will do the trick. Just plug a smart plug into an existing wall outlet, and you’ll be able to control any connected device using voice commands (assuming you have smart speakers, which we’re getting to in a moment), put it on a schedule, or add it to a smart automation (such as powering on a lamp when you come home). Some smart plugs will also monitor your energy usage, although our renter’s pick below lacks that option. Renter`s pick: TP-Link Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug Pros Matter certification guarantees broad compatibility and easy setup We experienced zero operational hiccups Physically small and unobtrusive Cons No Thread radio on board Extremely basic usage history and no energy-consumption monitoring Best Prices Today: Not Available at Amazon This TP-Link Tapo P125M doesn’t do energy monitoring, but the price is right, it’s small, it’s easy to set up, and it’s reliable. Read our full TP-Link Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug review Check out TechHive`s favorite smart plugs Smart speakers  The heart of your smart home, a smart speaker can bring Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri into your apartment, allowing you to control your smart devices, play music, set timers and alarms, and more, all using voice commands. Some smart speakers can even act as smart hubs, connecting your various smart gadgets (including those that work with Matter) together. Best of all, installation is a snap: just set your new smart speaker on a table, shelf, or other flat surface, and then plug it in.  Our current favorite smart speaker for most people is the Amazon Echo Dot, but whichever smart ecosystem you choose, we recommend sticking with it for all your other smart speakers–so if you start with Apple’s HomePod mini and you’re ready for more, get another Apple HomePod speaker, not one powered by Alexa or Google Assistant. Renter`s pick: Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) Pros A very inexpensive voice-powered smart home controller Very good audio reproduction Pretty industrial design Acts as an extender for Amazon’s Eero mesh routers Cons Audio performance still pales in comparison to a Sonos One 3.5mm analog audio output has been removed Best Prices Today: $31.99 at Amazon Prime$49.99 at Amazon$49.99 at Best Buy Amazon is the strongest player in the smart home market today, and the Echo Dot is a key reason for that position. Check out TechHive`s favorite smart speakers Video doorbell  Just because you’re a renter doesn’t mean you can’t have a video doorbell. We’re seeing more and more smart doorbells that run on battery power and can be attached to your door with adhesive-backed mounting brackets, allowing you to remove them when you’re ready to move out. Even better, our current favorite video doorbell (below, and it’s the one I use) boasts motion and package detection, along with rechargeable batteries that will run for weeks at a time. In case you’re wondering, video doorbells are (in most jurisdictions) perfectly legal for use in apartment buildings, given that there’s no expectation of privacy in a shared hallway. That said, you might want to give neighbors a heads-up before installing a video doorbell on your apartment door. If you’re renting a single-family home, duplex, or the like, take advantage of the doorbell’s privacy features that let you mask your neighbor’s door, window, patio, or other areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Renter`s pick: Ring Battery Doorbell Plus Pros High-res video: 1,536×1,536 pixels Package detection 1:1 aspect ratio shows visitors from head to toe Operates on either battery or low-voltage power Cons 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity only Color pre-roll video is not supported Ring Protect subscription required to unlock all features, including recording Best Prices Today: $79.99 at Amazon Prime$129.99 at Dell Home$149.99 at Amazon Ring made significant improvements to video resolution and aspect ratio and added package detection to maintain its position as the best video doorbell for most people, including renters. Read our full Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review Check out TechHive`s favorite video doorbells Smart dimmer switches  Nope, you don’t have to tinker with in-wall wiring to install a smart dimmer switch in your apartment. While most of our recommended smart switches do require replacing an existing wall switch (a task that takes from technical know-how, as well as potentially break the terms of your lease), there are stick-up smart switches that you can place—and remove—with ease. Philips Hue, for starters, makes an excellent and handsome smart switch (below) with an adhesive backing, although it requires the Hue Bridge to work.  Renter`s pick: Philips Hue Dimmer Switch (2021) Pros Improved wall plate now has mounting holes New Hue button adds greater functionality Can trigger different light scenes depending on the time of day Fully configurable through HomeKit Cons “Power off” and dimmer buttons aren’t configurable via the Hue app Best Prices Today: $21.88 at Amazon Equipped with a new button, a much improved wall plate, and greater configurability, the new Hue Dimmer Switch is better in every way, and it’s the perfect choice for apartment dwellers who’d rather not deal with drills or in-wall wiring. Check out TechHive`s favorite smart switches and dimmers Robot vacuums  Even a small apartment could do with a robot vacuum sweeping up dirt and debris every so often, especially if you have pets. Until just a few years ago, a budget robot vacuum meant a basic bump-and-run model that you’d turn loose on your floors. Recently, however, affordable robot vacuums have been packing in advanced features such as AI-powered object avoidance, room-mapping capabilities, and more. Renter`s pick: Eufy Clean L60 Pros Affordable Tough on pet hair Accurate room mapping Great battery life Cons Missed larger debris So-so obstacle avoidance Best Prices Today: $199.98 at Amazon If you’re on a budget but still want a robot vacuum that can map your floors, the LiDAR-equipped Eufy Clean L60 makes for a great choice. The vacuum will also please pet lovers with its prowess at picking up pet hair, and it even cleans well in carpeted rooms. Check out TechHive`s favorite robot vacuums Smart thermostats  Unlike most of the smart gadgets in this feature, smart thermostats require some knowledge of in-wall HVAC wiring, and they’re not much good unless your regular thermostat offers control of both heating and cooling. (Some buildings don’t allow their tenants any access to a thermostat, in which case you’re simply out of luck.) Still reading? If so, a smart thermostat isn’t that tough to install (your landlord might even help, or you could always summon a TaskRabbit worker), and it’s a terrific way to save on heating and cooling bills. You should probably get your landlord’s permission before you proceed with this change. Renter`s pick: Nest Thermostat Pros Attractive industrial design, available in four colors Very easy to install, program, and use Monitors your HVAC system for potential problems Energy Star certified Cons No support for remote room sensors Not suited to more complex HVAC systems Backplate for covering holes from previous installations is a $15 option Best Prices Today: It’s hard to beat the Nest team when it comes to attractive industrial design, and the Nest Thermostat is an elegant device if you don’t need to support more sophisticated HVAC systems, which is likely the case for most apartments. Check out TechHive`s favorite smart thermostats Water leak sensors   Water leaks can be trouble even for renters—indeed, as a renter myself, I’ve had to deal with leaky kitchen and bathroom sinks, not to mention a basement that was susceptible to flooding during sudden downpours. To prevent your valuables from getting soaked, a smart water leak sensor makes for a wise investment. Water leak sensors come in different forms. Some are small wireless probes that connect to a hub, while others are plug-in models with lengthy, moisture-detecting sensors. Just leave the sensors under sinks, on basement floors, and other areas where water shouldn’t be, and you’ll get an alert if there’s a water problem.  Renter`s pick: Phyn Smart Water Sensor Pros Sends an immediate warning when water contacts it Industrial design prevents water ingress from the top of the device Operates on two AA batteries Cons Can’t be integrated into a broader smart home ecosystem (including IFTTT) Operates only on 2.4GHz networks Best Prices Today: Deploy Phyn Smart Water Sensors under your sinks, near your washing machine, next to your water heater, and other places where water might show up where it shouldn’t be, and you’ll get an immediate warning if it does. Check out TechHive`s favorite water leak sensors Read...

TL;DR: Deal Days has arrived, and you can now own Microsoft Office 2019 for PC for less than $20—don’t wait since this offer expires July 15. If you’re still juggling free office software or monthly fees, it’s time for an upgrade. And you don’t even need to pay full price for the top productivity suite, Microsoft Office, since our alternative to Prime Day has arrived. During Deal Days, you can score Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for only $19.97—a one-time payment for a full, lifetime license (reg. $229). This version includes all the essentials: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and more. Whether you’re editing spreadsheets, cranking out reports, building presentations, or managing emails, this suite covers the full spectrum of productivity tools—without needing an internet connection or an ongoing subscription. Office 2019 is designed for speed and stability on Windows 10 and 11, with improved performance and new features like better data analysis in Excel, advanced presentation tools in PowerPoint, and refined UI updates across the board. It’s a solid fit whether you’re working from a desktop tower, a gaming laptop doubling as a productivity machine, or a home office setup. The best part? You pay once, and it’s yours for good. No renewal reminders, ever. Plus, updates are included with your purchase so your Office suite works smoothly. Don’t wait to act on this Deal Days discount—grab your Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 lifetime license for just $19.97 while supplies last, or before the price goes back up on July 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

One of the easiest ways to enhance your PC experience is to get a better monitor. It doesn’t require any upgrades for your desktop or laptop, and it shines up the primary way you interact with almost everything: the visuals. Prime Day is upon us again, but even before it lands on July 8th-11th, there are early deals to be found. (Here’s how to get Amazon Prime for free so you can get in on the extravaganza.) With U.S. tariffs affecting prices, to say nothing of general consumer trends, it might not be the smorgasborde of discounts we saw in previous years. But there are still savings to be had, on OLED monitors, gaming monitors, and standard office designs — and I’ve hunted down the best monitor deals in the list below. Even though it’s Prime Day, some of the best discounts juiciest can be found elsewhere on the web, so I’ve included those in the list as well. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on OLED monitors ASRock 27-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $479.99 ($166 off at Newegg) Alienware 27-inch 1440p 360Hz OLED gaming monitor — $619.99 ($280 off at Dell) Sony 27-inch 1440p 480Hz OLED gaming monitor — $714.99 ($385 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 34-inch 1440p 240Hz ultrawide OLED gaming monitor — $679.99 ($390 off at Newegg) Gigabyte refurbished 49-inch 1440p ultrawide OLED gaming monitor $729.99 — ($120 off at Amazon) Alienware 32-inch 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor — $849.99 ($350 off at Dell) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, thanks to incredible color vibrance and contrast, even if they’re not the absolute fastest on the market right now. But if you do need ludicrous speed, Sony is offering a 27-inch, 1440p panel with 480Hz (about double the current standard at this size) for hundreds less than the alternatives. For my money, Gigabyte has the best deal at the moment…but then I’m an ultrawide fanboy. If you’re looking for an OLED upgrade at the lowest price, ASRock is leading the pack with a rare 27-inch pick under the $500 mark. There will probably be a few more offerings like that on Prime Day, but I’d bet you won’t find a name brand for much lower. Best early Prime Day 2025 deals on gaming monitors KTC 24-inch 1080p 165Hz gaming monitor — $93.99 ($46 off at Newegg) ASRock 27-inch 1080p 240Hz gaming monitor — $104.77 ($85 off at Newegg) Alienware 34-inch ultrawide 1440p 180Hz gaming monitor — $329 ($70 off at Dell) Gigabyte 28-inch IPS 4K 144Hz gaming monitor — $399.99 ($200 off at Newegg) Samsung 32-inch 3K 240Hz gaming monitor — $499.99 ($700 off at BuyDig, use coupon code YFF23) For more affordable options for gamers, ASRock once again delivers with a 27-inch, 1080p display at just a hair over a hundred bucks. But I’d say that Gigabyte is giving the best bang for your buck with its 28-inch 4K option. Not only is it using an IPS panel for greater color accuracy, it’s packing a USB-C port for flexible video. It’s a great, affordable centerpiece to a setup that works for both, well, work and gaming. Pre-Prime Day 2025 deals on office monitors Acer 27-inch 1080p IPS 120Hz monitor — $109.99 ($40 off at Best Buy) Asus 24-inch 1080p IPS monitor — $119.00 (regular price at Amazon) Dell 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor — $179.99 ($40 off at Dell) Samsung 34-inch 1440p ultrawide monitor — $219.99 ($110 off at Amazon) MNN 15-inch portable USB-C monitor — $59.97 ($30 off at Amazon) I can personally recomend Dell’s 27-inch, 1440p IPS monitors, because I’ve been using them for years on either side of my ultrawide center display. It’s a perfect way to expand your desk space, but unless you need some gaming-grade speed, it works great as a primary display too. For laptop users, there’s no easier way to expand your mobile capabilities than with a USB monitor (especially since they now include power and video). And there are a bunch of affordable options now, too. FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. 4. Are tariffs affecting monitor prices? Yes. Deals for monitors around this sale aren’t as good as they were during Amazon’s last big sale in October, particularly for the largest, most expensive models. That said, we have managed to avoid the complete shutdown of imported stock that seemed likely during the most tumultuous back-and-forth tariff negotiations…so that’s something. Prices are unlikely to improve later in the year, so if you find a delectable deal on a monitor you’re interested in, Prime Day may be one of your best bets of the year. Especially if you buy on day one of the event — President Trump says additional reciprocal tariffs will return on July 9, the second day of Prime Week, and could plunge prices into chaos. Read...

After a period of beta testing, version 120 of the Opera browser is now being rolled out to the public. The biggest piece of news in this particular update is a new built-in translation feature with support for over 40 languages, and the browser is now based on Chromium 135. To protect privacy, the new Translator feature doesn’t pass any information on to third parties, and the translation itself is processed using AI (in partnership with Lingvanex) on Opera’s European-based servers. Other improvements in Opera 120 include improved password management, enhancements to Split Screen mode, refinements to Tab Islands, a new Miniplayer for videos, and VPN Pro. Lastly, Opera 120 includes a fix for a serious zero-day vulnerability (labeled CVE-2025-6554) in the V8 JavaScript engine. For more details, check out the full changelog for Opera version 120. Read...

Finding the right gaming laptop can be difficult with so many options out there and so many factors to consider. And if price is a priority for you, it’s even harder—you want a good processor, enough RAM, and maybe even a dedicated graphics card, all without burning a hole in your wallet. Fortunately, here’s a deal you can jump on: the Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9 is only $800 at B&H right now (was $1,100). This laptop has a pretty standard 15.6-inch IPS display with 1080p resolution, but the 144Hz refresh rate is great for gaming—and you’ll be gaming well on this machine thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 dedicated graphics card. Sure, it’s not the newest or the best you can get, but it’ll let you take advantage of new tech like DLSS without breaking the bank. Given the price, you can’t really complain. What else do you get? An Intel Core i5 CPU (not bad, not great), 16GB of DDR5 RAM (adequate), 512GB of SSD storage (also adequate). This combo is enough to handle Windows 11, your work apps, your Chrome tabs, and your games without falling apart. The RAM and SSD are user-upgradeable in case you want to add more power. Other features include HDMI, USB-C video, three fast USB-A, 3.5mm headset jack, Gigabit LAN, and built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. The Lenovo LOQ 15IRX9 has always been quite affordable, but it’s even more enticing now that it’s only $800 at B&H. Snap to it and add this one to your cart before the deal vanishes into thin air! Save $300 on this affordable RTX-powered gaming laptopBuy now from B&H Read...

For years, Notepad has existed as a bare-bones text editor. No longer. Microsoft keeps adding to it, including a new update that includes capabilities that you might have expected in another Windows application, WordPad. In May, Microsoft said in this blog post that it was adding “lightweight formatting” in Notepad, including Markdown input and file support, but also bold and italic fonts, bullet and numbered lists, and even hyperlinks, which would all be accessible via a new toolbar. According to Windows Latest, these features are now rolling out to all users outside the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft says the new features won’t gobble up resources or impact Notepad’s performance. Two things seem to be going on here. In late 2023, Microsoft killed off WordPad, the rich text editor that served as a poor man’s alternative to Microsoft Word. (There’s a way to bring WordPad back, but you’d need access to an older version of Windows where WordPad still exists.) Traditionally, Notepad has been the Windows answer to a lightweight text editor that coders can use or write in, although more sophisticated alternatives like vim exist. It seems Microsoft is adding more features to try and help those users, while moving towards a WordPad replacement. Microsoft, meanwhile, is bringing the Edit app to Windows as well. Edit is an open-source app that was basically designed as a command-line interface (or CLI) and Microsoft specifically referenced how obtuse vim was to use when announcing it. Either way, by beefing up Notepad—heck, even with Copilot!—and adding the Edit option as well, Windows is offering a number of lightweight CLI and text-editing interfaces without bloating the operating system even further. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 30 when the feature was announced, and updated when the new Notepad capabilities went live. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive industrial design Rechargeable battery Excellent keypad/fingerprint reader add-on Reasonably priced Cons Extremely loud during operation App runs very slowly Subscription required for Wi-Fi connectivity Our Verdict This petite retrofit smart lock is a discreet choice for just about any environment, though it’s incredibly loud and its app drags. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Nuki Smart Lock Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Nuki has been producing smart locks for Europeans since 2015 and is only now entering the U.S. market. With 10 years of development under its belt, Nuki has reached a level of sophistication that few competitors can boast of—and stateside homeowners get to skip the awkward growing pain years that mar so many early-generation smart home products. The U.S. release of the Nuki Smart Lock is the fifth generation of the product, and it has evolved considerably from its initial design, which had a large battery pack fused to its underside. It now looks like a shrunken version of the now-classic August Smart Lock. Like the August, the Nuki is a retrofit lock that replaces only the interior escutcheon on your door, leaving the exterior as is. As such, it carries no ANSI or BHMA ratings, which aren’t issued for retrofit locks. The Nuki Smart Lock replaces your existing deadbolt’s interior escutcheon; noting else about your lock changes–except that you’ll now be able to open it with an app or with the keypad accessory if you add that to your purchase. Nuki Also like the August, the lock is designed as a cylinder that turns in its entirety to lock and unlock the deadbolt, although measuring just 2.25 inches across, small hands will find it much easier to grip compared to the rather thick August. Anyone shopping for a retrofit smart lock is likely to also consider the Level Bolt, which is even less visually obtrusive than the Nuki Smart Lock. I’d say the biggest advantage the Nuki offers over both August’s and Level’s offerings is its rechargeable battery. More on that in a bit. The Nuki Smart Lock works exactly as you’d expect: Just rotate the lock one way or the other to engage or disengage the lock, as you would with a regular thumbturn. Installation and setup Installation proceeds much like any other smart lock, although Nuki does not include printed instructions with its packaging. Rather, you only get a QR code printed on a slip of cardboard—and because I reviewed this lock before the Nuki officially launched, scanning it took me only to the home page of Nuki’s website. I presume future users will have a more elegant experience, but in any case, I find smart locks to be much easier to set up when you have printed installation instructions, regardless of how sophisticated the app is. Nuki’s app is well designed and easy to use.Christopher Null/Foundry The Nuki app at least does a passable job at walking you through setup. That, combined with years of experience reviewing similar products, I was able to get the lock mounted on the door without much trouble. The process includes attaching an adjustable frame to the door, then using your existing lock’s bolts to connect through your current deadbolt and into the exterior escutcheon. (Unlike some other lock producers, Nuki doesn’t provide the extra bolts that I always appreciate having on hand.) Next, you choose one of three included adapters to slip into this frame and attach to the lock’s tailpiece, depending on its shape, and then you just clip the Nuki lock directly into the frame, with no extra hardware required. There are a few extra pieces in the box whose function I wasn’t entirely sure of (again, no manual), but they appear to be designed for use with locks that have longer than standard tailpieces. The good news is that, presuming you have a standard door and lock, the entire affair goes together with just two screws. A rechargeable battery The Nuki Smart Lock has a rechargeable battery, so you won’t want to misplace the proprietary USB-C cable you’ll need for that purpose.Christopher Null/Foundry The Nuki lock is a sealed device with a rechargeable battery inside. Nuki says the battery should offer up to 12 months of life before it needs a refill via a magnetic cable with a USB-C plug on the other end. Just clip the cable to the charging point on the underside of the lock, connect the other end to a power source, and it’s off and running. The lock can be charged while on the door if you have power nearby (which allows the lock to continue operating), or popped off via a concealed button and charged elsewhere. Note that the charging cable is only about 6.5 feet long, and no A/C adapter is included. While the convenience of the magnetic charger is nice, I’d have been happier with a standard USB-C port, which would allow me to use my own (longer) cable—I’d also worry less about misplacing Nuki’s. Using the Nuki Smart Lock Nuki Physically, the lock works exactly as you’d expect: Just rotate the lock one way or the other to engage or disengage the lock, as you would with a regular thumbturn. (A calibration mechanism during setup automatically orients the rotation direction.) There’s also an illuminated button on the face of the lock that can be pressed to initiate a lock or unlock sequence without needing to twist the lock itself. Tapping the button gently causes a ring around it to illuminate: A solid circle means the lock is engaged; a U-shaped design means the lock is open. (When the door is unlocked, an LED flashes periodically as a gentle reminder; when the door is locked, all lights remain off.) Nuki’s app is a little convoluted but reasonably easy to master, starting with a walkthrough that connects the lock to both Bluetooth and your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. A (lengthy) checklist system then steps you some basic settings before throwing you into the management system. By default, you can either swipe left or right on the app’s home screen to lock or unlock the door, or tap once to access the ability to lock or unlock with a second tap. This LED light ring illuminates to inform you of the lock’s status: A solid ring indicates a locked state, while a half-circle means it’s unlocked.Christopher Null/Foundry The settings menu gives you deep-dive access into advanced features such as fine-grained control over how the button on the lock face works, a night mode that automatically locks the door at night, an auto-unlocking or auto-locking scheduling system, and an automatic lock timer that re-locks the door after it’s unlocked (settable from 30 seconds to 30 minutes). I didn’t have trouble with any of these modes. A geofencing auto-unlocking system is also available, which was mostly effective at registering my arrivals during my testing. Note that through all of this you will be faced with a barrage of come-ons for Nuki Premium, a subscription service whose purpose might not immediately be apparent. Turns out Nuki Premium ($5.90 per month month) is required if you want to use any of the lock’s features over Wi-Fi and to receive real-time activity alerts. Plot twist: This plan is free for life if you buy the lock and enroll in the program prior no later than September 30, 2025. Add-on devices We tested the $159 Nuki Smart Lock with its fingerprint-reader keypad, a $149 option. You can purchase both items as a bundle for $229–a substantial discount over buying the two devices a la carte.Christopher Null/Foundry The Nuki lock offers several add-on peripherals: an external numeric keypad ($59), a keypad/fingerprint reader combo ($149), and a door sensor ($59). I received the keypad/fingerprint reader with my test lock; it’s available as a bundle with the lock for $229. I found the slim keypad to be elegant and effective, with buttons that emit a reassuring click when pressed along with a reliable fingerprint reader. The six LEDs across the top are especially handy, as they illuminate, one by one, when you enter a PIN, so you know for sure that your digits were successfully entered. Oddly, all PINs must be precisely six digits long. User management is a little haphazard, as permissions must be set per device—lock or keypad—separately. With the lock, you can share app-based access (which can be time restricted based on hours of the day and day of the week), which creates a QR code that you send along via other means. With the keypad, access can be configured with a PIN or both PIN and fingerprint (but not just fingerprint), and this access can also be similarly time-restricted. Up to 200 PINs are allowed, but only 20 fingerprints. There is no option to create one-time access codes. If you don’t like the Nuki app, note that the lock also supports Matter over Thread, and I was easily able to connect it to an Apple Home ecosystem. As with most smart locks controlled over Matter, all you can really do is lock and unlock the door (as well as receive iOS notifications about those changes), but this is nonetheless a convenient option if you don’t want to dig into the Nuki app just to open the door. Considering the Nuki app is often quite slow, having this available, at least as an option, is a good idea. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Should you buy the Nuki Smart Lock? My only major issue with the Nuki lock is how loud it is. When I first heard it in action, I thought there was something wrong with it; but no, that’s just how the motor sounds: a lot like an old-school dot matrix printer. If you’re not expecting it, the abrupt, grinding noise can even make you jump a bit. At $159 (for the lock alone), Nuki is competitive in price with August’s flagship lock and most other retrofit locks, but it’s much less expensive than the Level Bolt with Bluetooth + Matter ($229, plus $59 for a numeric keypad). Like that lock, the Nuki’s petite, inobtrusive presentation makes it an appealing choice for homeowners with a strong sense of aesthetics. That said, there’s room for improvement with the scattered and ploddingly slow app—and something must be done about the noisy motor. Read...