IT General

TL;DR: Manage your PDFs with ease with a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert, on sale for $97.97 until Sept. 30 (reg. $139.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Readdle PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) $79.97
$139.99 Save $60.02 Get Deal

There’s nothing wrong with Adobe Acrobat…until you realize you’re paying for it constantly even though you really only edit a couple of PDFs each month. If you want a program you can own with a one-time payment, check out this Adobe Acrobat alternative. The features are nearly identical, except it’s under $100 for life — even if you upgrade your Mac:

• Edit text, swap images, or update links directly inside your PDFs without exporting to another program

• Highlight passages, drop in comments, and use stamps to make collaboration quick and clear

• Merge multiple files into one, split out sections, or rearrange pages to keep documents tidy

• Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or images — and turn those files back into PDFs when you need

• Fill out interactive forms with just a click and add legally binding e-signatures in seconds

• Protect sensitive content with blackout redactions or erase private details cleanly

• Use OCR to turn scanned documents into searchable, editable text for easier reference

• Enjoy continuous support, bug fixes, and compatibility updates designed for the latest versions of macOS

PDF Expert Premium Plan for Mac gives you all the tools you’ll ever need in one clean package for life. Grab it now for $97.97 until Sept. 30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A TV is a major purchase for most of us, and preferably you'll want one that's going to last for years and keep you happy throughout the entire time you own it. However, technology moves fast, which makes it hard to pick a TV with features that will remain relevant in the long run.

The truth is that TVs are cheaper than ever if you look at their capabilities. You can get a budget TV these days that outperform or match premium models from just a few years ago, but that doesn't mean a new TV is cheap in absolute terms.

For many people, capturing screenshots isn’t something that deserves much thought. Press a keyboard shortcut here or swipe with three fingers there, share it if you need to, and you’re done. But for someone whose job involves taking tons of screenshots every day, and then annotating and labeling them, the standard tools don’t cut it. I’ve been using a dedicated screenshot tool called KSnip for ages, and I’ve come to appreciate this handy little tool. I’d like to share it with you because I think KSnip is a perfect example of software done right.

Taking something from one medium to another doesn't always work. Despite being terrific source material, there are plenty of amazing books that don't translate well to the screen. The same goes for video games. It can be really difficult to bring a video game to life the same way it's done as a video game.

I’ve seen countless people reach for alcohol wipes when they want to clean their monitor, laptop, or phone. The logic seems sound at first—alcohol disinfects and is safe for electronics, as it evaporates quickly. But in reality, it can do far more harm than good. Here’s why.

Manual transmissions are becoming a rare sight as automakers chase efficiency, emissions targets, and broad market appeal. Each year, more stick-shift models disappear, replaced by smooth-shifting automatics and advanced dual-clutch gearboxes. Yet for many driving enthusiasts, the tactile engagement of a manual remains unmatched. The satisfying clutch take-up and precise gear changes create a connection between driver and machine that no paddle shifter can fully replicate.

Are you tired of seeing the same GNOME extensions recommended everywhere? Do you want to discover powerful tools that most folks don't know about? Well, here are nine criminally underrated GNOME extensions that could transform your desktop experience!

I’ve been closely following handheld PCs ever since Valve announced the Steam Deck. In the years since, they’ve only gotten more expensive without offering meaningful performance improvements. Worse still, it looks like every new PC handheld is bigger than the previous one. What gives?

Fall has finally arrived, which is naturally the spookiest season. It brings falling leaves and cooler weather, so now is the perfect time to get cozy and binge-watch some brilliant horror movies.

We usually think of the terminal as something purely functional—tweaking Linux settings, installing updates, or running commands for work. And for most people, that’s where it ends. But the terminal can be more versatile than you might expect. One surprisingly fun use case? Rolling dice. Yes, your Linux terminal can double as a digital dice roller.

I want to love Home Assistant, but it has felt overly complex compared to the likes of Samsung SmartThings and Google Home. Thankfully, there's a new dashboard on the way that completely rewrites my first impression.

How fast your Android phone feels isn’t just about the hardware. Software optimizations and features like animations play a big role in responsiveness. Fortunately, there’s a simple animation trick that works on basically every Android device.

iPhone users are still acclimating to the new iOS 26 look, which includes a massive overhaul of the iPhone's interface and the divisive Liquid Glass design.

But while many Apple heads quickly got the hang of the new icons and animations, and reveled in catchy ringtones, Apple Intelligence upgrades, and dozens of system tweaks, others felt like they had a major mistake.

SEE ALSO: Samsung’s Project Moohan VR headset could launch in October — here’s everything we know

"Will I regret updating to iOS 26?" one X user asked, who then responded to their own post with "Yup." "Apple iOS 26 is absolutely awful. I’ve totally ruined my phone by installing this. I couldn’t be more upset," wrote another. Even users who were into the new look expressed concern about updating as people reported more bugs, hoping to wait out the upgrade until Apple shipped its first fixes to the new operating system.

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So is it possible to go back if you've already taken the plunge? The answer is complicated.

Earlier this year, posts from iOS 26 beta testers showed people clamoring for a way to rollback the update as phones glitched and performance snags got in the way of everyday use, prompting publications and techies to publish multiple guides to resetting their devices. And, as CNET noted in its coverage, WatchOS users found they could not rollback the update at all.

For users on the new, full iOS 26 product, it may be even more complicated.

According to a MacRumors forum post, users who want to downgrade back to iOS 18 will first need to make sure they have a full device backup from the previous iOS, not a backup from iOS 26 — and come to terms with potentially losing all of their data in the process.

From there, user @orsev explained, users will go through a somewhat vexing process of downloading the previous iOS as an .ipsw file using a developer account, restoring their device in a hard reboot, and reinstalling the old iOS using an archived backup.

Tech aficionados will probably have an easier time with this, but for the average user, it may be best to just stick it out until the next major iOS 26 update. In the meantime, you might as well make those lock screens and group chats really cute.

As a long-time smartphone skeptic, I resented their role in our lives. Now I’ve not only made my peace with them, but I’ve come to truly appreciate that there is an app for just about anything and everything.

Luxury cars often carry a reputation for breathtaking maintenance bills. Expensive parts, complex electronics, and specialized service can quickly turn ownership into a financial headache. Yet not every premium badge demands a blank check. A careful search reveals a handful of upscale models that combine comfort, performance, and technology with surprisingly manageable upkeep costs.

Companies continue to produce smaller and thinner tech, even though many of us are perfectly fine with the size of our current devices. Ultimately, though, we’re all better off due to this ongoing drive to make tech as small as possible.

Apple's iOS 26 is here, complete with a new and divisive Liquid Glass design. Users — as usually happens when Apple drops a major visual overhaul — have a lot of thoughts.

Mixed opinions flooded the internet on Liquid Glasses' new elastic animations and semi-translucent app designs, as well as the new dark mode look (which many also struggled to toggle on and off). Some have complained about the readability of text or feeling like screens look overcrowded, while others have leaned fully into new customization options for home screens and group chats.

SEE ALSO: How to create a custom lock screen in iOS 26

Almost immediately, users took issue with a new UX choice that made using Apple's line of products (which many of us have been doing for decades now) less than intuitive: the new location of the device's search bar, which is now squarely at the bottom of the screen instead of the more intuitive top design. Muscle memory be damned.

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You can customize a lot on iOS 26. Users have also come up with quick fixes for some of its other quirks — including taking advantage of Apple's robust accessibility settings to adjust the transparency and movement of apps and unlocking home screens. Unfortunately, the search bar isn't one of them.

Users can choose the location of the address bar in their Safari settings or completely turn off the iPhone's home screen Spotlight Search if they can't bear to look at the iPhone's lower third. But for now, that search bar is stuck on the bottom everywhere else.

How to move the Safari search bar in iOS 26 Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Go to settings

Step 2: Scroll (or search) for Safari

Step 3: Scroll to "Tabs"

Step 4: Select "Top"

You should see three options for Safari's search bar: Compact (a smaller, centered search bar), Bottom, and Top (the traditional location).

Most of us hope our smartphones last for years, but without realizing it, we often make small mistakes that affect their performance and overall lifespan. From bad charging practices to skipping software updates and exposing your phone to extreme conditions, here are some common mistakes you must avoid.

iPadOS 26 has arrived. And just like iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, it, too, features a Liquid Glass design, along with plenty of new features and enhancements.