How to Prep for This Weekend’s Big Winter Storm: Power, Heat, and Underwear

The Winter storm has no name. But a storm is coming, An extreme winter weather system is expected to move eastward from New Mexico to Georgia and Maine beginning Friday, and affect anywhere from a third to half the country’s population by the end of the weekend. This will likely bring snow, ice accumulation, and […]
How to Choose a Computer Monitor (2025): Everything You Need to Know

All monitors have HDMI and DisplayPort to connect to a PC (or even VGA if it’s a really old one). Those are the basics. If you want the latest of these port standards in monitors, you’re looking for HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1. More and more monitors nowadays include a built-in USB hub, which can […]
How to Use Smart Lighting Around the Home: Reviewer Recommendations

Some smart lighting manufacturers offer hubs that enable faster local control. Hubs are also sometimes required for certain features. If you are opting for Philips Hue, a Bridge ($50) or Bridge Pro ($99) is essential to get the most from your lights. They work best when plugged directly into your router via Ethernet cable. How […]
How to Set Up a Google Home Security System: Best Cameras, Doorbells, and Other Devices

There’s no need for an expensive, professionally installed home security system for a little peace of mind. You can keep tabs on your home when you’re away, check in on your kids or pets, and discourage intruders with a few well-placed security cameras and connected devices. Easily the smartest option on the market right now, […]
How to Shop for Vinyl Records Online (2025): Discogs, Ebay

You can digitally search for tags, genres, and locations at the top, and I recommend you do so if you’re looking for something specific. It can be helpful if you are trying to buy something from your home town, for example. Screenshot courtesy of Wired As with anything collectible, you can find good deals (and […]
How to Preorder Sony’s PS5 Pro (Before a Scalper Bot Does)

We’re barely done with the years-long period where it was almost impossible to get your hands on a PlayStation 5, and now Sony is launching the PlayStation 5 Pro. It has a more powerful graphics processor, better AI upscaling, and tons more storage, with a higher price to match. If you want to get your […]
How to Buy a Sleep Mask: Fit, Material, and Features to Look For

When testing it out, lie in your preferred sleep position and move around a bit—if the mask feels restrictive or shifts when you do, you may need to adjust the tightness. Material Benefits Photograph: Artur Debat/Getty Images The material affects the thickness and the opacity of the sleep mask against light. You should also be […]
How to Choose a Camera (2024): Sensors, Megapixels, Terms

The first thing to know about buying a digital camera in 2024 is that it’s virtually impossible to buy a bad one. You probably have a great camera in your hand right now. For many people, a smartphone will be camera enough, but if you want a camera separate from your phone, read on. The […]
How to Shop for a Mechanical Keyboard (2024): Switches, Materials, and Layouts Explained

A full-size keyboard has a layout with everything you’d ever need, and usually quite a few keys you don’t too. The full-size keyboard is the most well-known keyboard layout, and also one of the largest, consisting of a main cluster of letters and numbers, a separate row for function keys (F1 through F12), separate arrow […]
How to Preorder Samsung’s Galaxy S24, and Which Model to Buy

Looking to upgrade to Samsung’s newest Android smartphone? You can choose from the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, or Galaxy S24 Ultra. These handsets share many of the same specs but also have a few specific features that make each one stand out. So which Galaxy S24 model should you buy? We break it all down […]