Technology

Installing Windows used to be a simple process back in the days of Windows 7 and 8, but Microsoft has made it a terrible experience in Windows 11. Linux, which had a reputation for being hard to install, takes 5 minutes to set up and install. Windows 11 takes ten times as long and forces you to jump through countless hoops just to collect more data.

Many PC builders have one or two components they don’t like buying or recommending. I’ve got quite a few of them, and there’s a good chance you’ll agree with me once you hear why.

Tired of using many different commands, each with dozens of flags, to transform text? Meet sttr, a command-line tool that can replace your whole text processing toolbox. Let’s look at why this tool is making the "old way" of text processing look like hard labor.

SAVE $150.04: As of Dec. 31, get the Dyson Ball Animal 3 vacuum for $299.95, down from its usual price of $449.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dyson Ball Animal 3 vacuum $299.95 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150.04   Get Deal

If one of your New Year's resolutions includes keeping a cleaner house or doing a big purge, a great vacuum is a must-have. You don't want to clean your place up only to have dirt and debris everywhere left over after your hard work. If you're ready to pick one up, Amazon has you covered these last moments of 2025 with a deal on a vacuum that can help you power through all your cleaning tasks for next year.

As of Dec. 31, get the Dyson Ball Animal 3 vacuum for $299.95, down from its usual price of $449.99 at Amazon. That's $150.04 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness (after testing 30+ models)

This is a satisfyingly powerful upright vacuum that can handle just about any mess you throw at it. Whether you need help cutting through stubborn dirt, pet hair, or other nastiness in your carpet, it's built to tackle it all. Its suction comes from Dyson's radial root cyclone technology, which works in tandem with the vacuum's motorbar cleaner with detangling features to power through messes. Plus, it can automatically clear wrapped hair from the brush bar on its own.

With three suction modes, it's built to handle all types of floors, and the ball makes the vacuum itself simple to maneuver. It has a lengthy cord and whole-machine filtration to ensure all the dirt and dust particles you trap while working stay in the vacuum, so your house stays cleaner.

If you plan on improving your cleaning sessions in 2026, this vacuum is a no-brainer. Grab yours while it's still on sale.

We always get advice to use a surge protector of some sort when it comes to sensitive electronics. The idea is that if there's a sudden spike in power from your outlet the surge protector in your power strip will prevent it from reaching your device.

Five years ago, spotting a hybrid or electric car was a rare treat. Tesla sold about half a million EVs globally in 2020, proving the technology worked, while the Toyota Prius led hybrids in the US with 43,500 sales.

MAME is a fantastic emulator for classic game consoles, arcade cabinets, and computers, delivering major updates roughly once a month. MAME version 0.284 has arrived just before the end of 2025, complete with support for new systems and games, and many bug fixes.

SAVE 47%: As of Dec. 31, you can get the ZOBER large Christmas tree storage bag for just $9.99, down from $18.99, at Amazon. That's a 47% discount or a $9 price cut.

ZOBER large Christmas tree storage bag $9.99 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $9.00   Get Deal at Amazon

Deciding when to take down the Christmas tree is the ultimate post-holiday Rorschach test. For some, the tree is "clutter" the second the clock strikes midnight on the 26th. For others, aka the "cozy" crowd (hi, it's me), it's a homey hill to die on that stays until Feb. 2 (also known as "Candlemas").

SEE ALSO: See 2025 New Year’s Eve fireworks, 2026 countdown livestreams around the world

Whenever you do decide to admit the holidays are over, you’re going to need a way to shove that 9-foot symbol of joy into a crawl space, storage unit, attic, etc. And right now, you can get the ZOBER 9-Foot Large Christmas tree storage bag on sale for $9.99, down from $18.99, at Amazon. That's a 47% discount (or $9 off).

The bag is made of waterproof polyethylene plastic, so it'll protect your tree from dust, moisture, and whatever else is living in your attic. It features stitch-reinforced handles for easy carrying and a dual zipper that opens wide so you don't have to wrestle the tree back into its original cardboard box. Plus, there's a label card slot on the side, so you don't accidentally pull down the Halloween decorations next December.

For many people, New Year's resolutions begin with an app download. Fitness trackers and habit builders have become the default way we mark January as a turning point, especially in the wellness space.

But resolutions, even when mediated by gentle push notifications, still arrive loaded with expectation.

SEE ALSO: I ran the NYC Marathon wearing 7 fitness trackers and they all watched me throw up

As TikTok creator @notwildlin put it in a video with more than 210,000 views, while the New Year is framed as a "chance for renewal," an "opportunity," even a "portal," there’s a moment where that mindset can turn inward. "At some point, you have to stop being the first person to abandon yourself," he says.

SEE ALSO: Huberman husbands and the rise of self-optimization

"You can't keep throwing it all off the table and building it from scratch," he says in the video. "You are not a Phoenix, you're a human being. And the foundation that you built for yourself is not so insignificant that you should be so willing and eager to undermine it and to start over. You've done enough! You've done a lot!"

That tension becomes especially visible around fitness and wellness resolutions, which are often framed less around how we feel and more around how our bodies look — ideals that have long been shaped by white-supremacist beauty standards.

Still, if you’re entering the New Year with hope and curiosity about feeling better, there's an app designed to support that.

Strava

There's a reason Strava is so beloved by so many for so long. Part social media, part fitness tracker, Strava is a great way to track your workouts while staying connected with friends. Plus, with the premium subscription, you can compare your workouts week by week, month by month, and year by year.

SEE ALSO: With Strava, no one runs alone anymore. That's the problem.

Strava is probably best suited for individuals who have a resolution tied to cardio, such as racing a 5K, biking to work once a week, or hiking 500 miles. It's great for keeping track of other workouts, including weightlifting or rock climbing, but the map tracking and mileage counter can't be beat.

Productive

This habit tracker is one of the most recommended in the self-improvement subreddit.

You can use the app to track almost any goal, from drinking a specific number of glasses of water daily to taking 10,000 steps. And you can see all of your progress over time, which makes it very fun — and validating! — to look at in March after you've really committed.

Hevy

There are numerous apps for tracking weightlifting progress, from Hevy to Fitbod to Boostcamp. Hevy provides a detailed breakdown of your progress over the year, including the number of times you lifted, the number of PRs you achieved, and the total number of reps you completed.

One user says it has "great watch integration," while others find the free version sufficient. But you may eventually want to upgrade to the paid version, depending on the number of custom workouts you plan to use.

Apple Fitness

If you're looking for a fitness app that tracks your workouts and gives you workouts to try, Apple Fitness is the way to go. This app works particularly well if you have devices within the Apple ecosystem. (If you don't, you might want to try the Peloton app, which also has great workouts.)

Calm

This app, along with apps like Headspace, is ideal if your fitness goals are more closely tied to the health and well-being of your brain. If you want to get started with more meditation in the new year, try an app like Calm.

SAVE UP TO $180: Several new and unlocked Apple iPhone models are on sale at Best Buy in its year end sale. Save as much as $180 on a new iPhone 14, 15, 16, 16e, or 16 Plus as of Dec. 31.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Shop unlocked Apple iPhone deals at Best Buy Save up to $180 Shop Now

Looking to start the new year with a new phone? Apple users are being blessed with a rare opportunity to score an unlocked iPhone at a discounted price.

Typically, you'll find unlocked phone deals on basically every brand except Apple when major sales like Prime Day or Black Friday happen — Samsung, Google, Motorola, and even the UK-based brand Nothing. Finding a meaningful discount on an unlocked iPhone, on the other hand, is practically unheard of. If you're looking for iPhone deals, you're usually still better off locking in a contract with a carrier or buying refurbished.

As of Dec. 31, however, Best Buy is offering a lineup of new, unlocked iPhones for up to $180 off in its year-end sale. While there are no brand-new iPhone 17 models in the sale, there are iPhone 16s, which honestly aren't too much different (and actually look better). There are also older iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 models available; they're still new (not refurbished) and unlocked. That means you don't need to coordinate a trade-in or data plan at a specific carrier, and you won't be carrier-locked when traveling abroad.

We've rounded up the best unlocked iPhone deals below — lock in the discount ASAP, as we can't guarantee it'll stick around long.

Best unlocked iPhone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 16 (128GB, Unlocked) $659.99 at Best Buy
$729.99 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

Released in September of 2024, the iPhone 16 was Apple's most appealing entry-level model in years. It doesn't skimp on features compared to its Pro and Pro Max siblings; the basic 16 features the new Camera Control button, a tougher display, improved zoom up to 2X, the Action Button (inherited from the 15 Pro and Pro Max), three gorgeous new colors (Ultramarine, Pink, and Teal), and Apple Intelligence. Mashable's reviewer writes, "I suspect I'd be 'complete' with the iPhone 16, which is a rare feeling when it comes to entry-level smartphones these days." At only $659.99, it's also a hard deal to pass up — especially when you compare it to the iPhone 17 base model, which costs an extra $140.

More unlocked iPhone deals

• Apple iPhone 15 (128GB, unlocked) — $499.99 $629.99 (save $130)

• Apple iPhone 16e (128GB, unlocked) — $549.99 $599.99 (save $50)

• Apple iPhone 15 (256GB, unlocked) — $549.99 $729.99 (save $180)

• Apple iPhone 14 (128GB, unlocked) — $549.99 $629.99 (save $70)

• Apple iPhone 16 Plus (128GB, unlocked) — $759.99 $829.99 (save $70)

• Apple iPhone 16 Plus (256GB, unlocked) — $929.99 $999.99 (save $70)

Best space heater deals at a glance Best overall space heater deal Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat $249.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best oil heater deal Dreo Oil-Filled Radiatior 153 (Gray) $84.98 (save $15.01) Get Deal Best tower heater deal Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater $69.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best whole-room space heater deal Vornado Velocity Cube 5 $107.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best space heater deal for small spaces Dreo Smart Wall Heater $89.99 (save $10) Get Deal

As we sit waiting for 2025 to end and 2026 to begin, a lot of us are dealing with a deep chill. It's cold all over the country, including in tropical Florida, where many of us flock to each winter for reprieve from the cold. Sure, we can re-watch "Heated Rivalry" to warm up, but you might also want to enlist the help of a space heater.

These portable appliances can transform a chilly bedroom, office, or nursery into something cozy and comfortable. Even if you've put on your warmest down jacket and wool socks, a space heater can help you shed those layers and get back to feeling normal. Your pets will also love the extra warmth. If you're suffering from a winter chill, check out these hot deals on space heaters. Then tuck in with your new Kindle or Nintendo Switch 2 from Christmas, and enjoy the final few days of vacation.

Best overall space heater deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat $249.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Why get a space heater that you'll need to find a place to store in warmer months when you could get a year-round heater and fan? The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat works to keep indoors at a comfortable temp all year long. Use it as a heater during winter months and switch to the versatile fan once spring and summer return.

I tested the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat for a few months earlier this year and loved its versatility. I'm always cold when I get up for work in the 5 a.m. hour, but that's much improved thanks to the heater function on the Shark TurboBlade. Extra points go to the heater and fan because of the incredible remote control, which allows me to turn on the heater in the other room while I'm still in bed.

Today's sale price of $249.99 matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances in our own kitchens. Here's what we found. Best oil space heater deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo Oil-Filled Radiatior 153 $84.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $15   Get Deal Why we like it

If you prefer to go the route of an oil-filled space heater, the Dreo Radiator 153 is a great model. Plus, it's on sale for under $85 today at Amazon. The Dreo Radiator 153 is a 1500W electric space heater that's designed to be ultra-quiet while saving you some money on your energy bill. Unlike tons of our gadgets these days, the Dreo Radiator is incredibly simple to use. It has two on-unit dials to control the temperature and heat level, including mid, low, and high.

An oil-filled heater is a great option if you live in a dry climate or suffer from dry skin during the winter. Since it doesn't use a fan, you won't be blowing air around. Another bonus on this model is the castors that make rolling it from room to room a no-hassle situation.

Best tower space heater deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lasko Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater $69.99 at Amazon
$84.99 Save $15   Get Deal Why we like it

Tower space heaters are especially friendly if you prefer a unit that takes up minimal space, and Lasko makes some of the best models available. The Lasko Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater comes packed with warm features that are designed to heat medium and large rooms. It measures 29 inches tall, comes with a remote control, and has an on-unit remote control storage area, so you're less likely to misplace the remote.

You can take advantage of the oscillation function so everyone in the room gets warm air pointed in their direction. Plus, the eight-hour timer is a great safety feature.

Cars have a tendency to attract technological gimmicks (automatic seat belts, anyone?) but there are some genuinely useful and important technologies that you should look out for when buying your next car. In fact, a few of these can be added to your existing car as an upgrade, rather than a whole new vehicle. Of course, I'm not saying your next car should tick every box on this list or that all of them are essential, but they're all honestly useful.

2025 was the year a lot of people gave in and made generative AI part of their lives, for better or worse.

A major factor contributing to its proliferation was the spread of easily accessible image generators from the likes of Google and OpenAI. In particular, plenty of folks found time to mess around in Google's Nano Banana image tool in 2025, and the company dedicated a blog post to revealing several of the most popular prompts users tried out this year.

You can check out the full list on Google's blog, but here are some of our favorite popular Nano Banana prompts from 2025, courtesy of Google itself.

SEE ALSO: Google Photos and Nano Banana are coming to Samsung TVs Trying on clothes

According to Google, lots of folks used Nano Banana to envision themselves wearing clothes they've never actually worn. Of all the ways to use AI image generation, this probably makes the most sense, to be honest. It can have actual, practical use in real life, or at the very least can just be amusing for a few seconds.

Surrounding yourself with dogs

One of the prompts Google shared involved people asking the generator to take an existing image and add a bunch of fake dogs around them. Admittedly, this seems less fun to me than actually being around a bunch of dogs in real life, but if you absolutely need to imagine yourself surrounded by friendly canines, this is a way to make your dream a reality. Sort of.

Photos of people with their younger selves

Apparently, some people gave Nano Banana current images of themselves alongside older images from their childhoods and asked the generator to create a photo where both versions of themselves hang out with each other. To each their own, I guess.

Trying a new haircut

Imagining yourself with a different haircut or color is in the same vein as using AI to try on new clothes, in that it feels eminently useful in a way some of these other prompts maybe don't. It's no surprise that hair experimentation was popular on Nano Banana in 2025, and probably will be for as long as people feel like using AI image generation tools.

Creating fake holiday memories

One last kinda goofy example Google provided was people using Nano Banana to create phony holiday images of themselves. Why actually take a festive photo in front of a Christmas tree when you can make the computer generate one for you? There are plenty of reasons why you should maybe consider going for the real thing here, but 2025 proved that not everyone feels that way.

In this world of modern technology, we have a lot of cables. Chargers, auxiliary connections, peripherals for our laptops, Ethernet, you name it. When you have a dozen cables lying in the corner of one room, they're a messy eyesore, so try out these tips to manage your cables for cheap.

For a long period during the height of the NYT Games craze of 2020, new Wordle strategies appeared on the timeline like clockwork. But in the years since, players have honed their personal strategies in ways that have made keeping up with daily streaks a piece of cake.

That doesn't mean there's not more to mine from the game. This week, social media users came across an apparently foolproof way to whittle away at incorrect letters and make use of those anagram skills.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best video games of 2025

According to a viral X post by user and Wordle strategist @rudy_betrayed, you can start by popping in these five words: CHUNK, FJORD, VIBEX, WALTZ, and GYMPS. The post has already racked up 22,000 bookmarks.

[Note: That last word is defined by Oxford Languages on Google as "twisted silk, worsted, or cotton with cord or wire running through it, used chiefly as upholstery trimming." But it's also listed as a potential derivative of a derogatory phrase. While it's a high-value Words With Friends entry, it's not valid in the Merriam Webster Scrabble dictionary. It may work for the dictionary's dupe Quordle, though.]

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The strategy makes use of 25 unique letters in the game's first five rounds, only missing the ornery letter Q, giving users just one slot to guess the winning word. But according to the alphabet math and players who use the strategy, it's nearly impossible not to spot the word among the grey tiles.

There's still a bit of brainwork needed, of course, like parsing letter groups that have multiple anagrams. It's not going to always help if you don't know the word to begin with, because that's just how Wordle works. And, as many social media users argued in the post's quotes, maybe it's sucking the fun out of thing to try to "hack" the game in the name of a higher score.

But if you're a pretty good Wordler already — and especially if it's a week like "MYRRH" — this is definitely a trick worth trying.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

We take for granted just how impressive laptop computers are. As this form factor becomes the standard way most people do traditional computer tasks, it becomes more and more necessary to get the most out of our portable computers.

SAVE $15: As of Dec. 31, get a $100 Uber Gift Card (Digital) for $85, down from its usual price of $100. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy $100 Uber Gift Card (Digital) $85 at Best Buy
$100 Save $15   Get Deal

The new year is nearly upon us. That's right, 2026 is officially hours away, and this New Year's Eve is the time to celebrate. If you're heading out to any parties or planning to throw your own, however, you should of course keep safety in mind when it comes to transportation. That's where rideshares like Uber come into play. Whether you'll be sending people home or hailing a car yourself, you can save some cash on Uber rides now thanks to this deal at Best Buy.

As of Dec. 31, get a $100 Uber Gift Card (Digital) for $85, down from its usual price of $100. That's $15 off and a discount of 15%. Since this is a digital gift card, you can buy it online now and get your code via email before New Year's Eve celebrations officially kick off. Plus, it covers both Uber and Uber Eats if you decide you want to go somewhere or get some takeout.

SEE ALSO: Rough night? These movies will cure your New Year's Day hangover.

To use the gift card, wait for the code to arrive in your email after purchase, and enter it into the Uber app. Your gift card balance is as good as cash on Uber and Uber Eats and can be used for either service, just as if you were using a bank account or credit card.

If you want to give the gift card as a gift to help someone else get home OK on New Year's Eve or as a late holiday present, just share the code or forward your redemption email, and they can enter the code into the app.

Whatever you need to do to be safe this New Year's, make sure you do it — even if that means grabbing a discounted rideshare gift card. And there's always using it next year for your next adventure, too.

SAVE $50: As of Dec. 31, you can get the Oral-B iO Series 5 electric toothbrush for $99.99, down from $149.99, at Amazon. That's a 33% discount or $50 in savings.

Oral-B iO Series 5 $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re trying to make healthy changes for the new year, starting with your dental routine is an easy way to do it. It’s one of those small daily habits that actually makes a massive difference in how you feel, and you don’t have to overhaul your entire life to see the results.

SEE ALSO: The best fitness resolution deals to snag before we ring in 2026

As of Dec. 31, the Oral-B iO Series 5 electric toothbrush is on sale for $99.99, down from $149.99, at Amazon. That's 33% off the list price or $50 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this bundle.

The iO Series 5 uses artificial intelligence to track where you're brushing in real-time through the Oral-B app, so you never miss a spot. It also features a visible pressure sensor that lights up to let you know if you're brushing too hard, too soft, or just right (a must-have for anyone worried about their gum health). With five different cleaning settings (including Daily Clean, Whiten, and Sensitive), you can personalize the experience to whatever your teeth need that day. Plus, this bundle includes three brush heads and a travel case.

The average "smart" home today looks and works nothing like I imagined it would when I was a kid. What I expected was a house with a brain in it, that anticipates your need, and does what you ask. Instead, a modern smart home is filled with barely functional hardware that does almost nothing itself and the "brain" is somewhere out there in a big company's server room.

Click around in the Linux world long enough and you'll no-doubt come across mentions of Canonical. It's an influential entity within the world of Linux and free software, which is why it's helpful to understand the creators of Ubuntu and what they do.