How-To Geek

Apple

Did you hold off on last week’s iPhone 6 deal? Maybe you thought that model was a little too old or too slow. Woot has you covered today’s iPhone 7 deal; you can get one for as low as $220.

We still think the iPhone XR was the best smartphone released in 2018. But not everyone wants to or can drop $750 or more on a smartphone. And while we love FaceID maybe you think you’ll miss the classic home button and TouchID.

If that’s you, and you’re still running an iPhone 6 or older, you might want to consider today’s Woot iPhone deal. $220 or $260 will get you either a 32 or 128 GB iPhone 7. Depending on the size you choose, you can pick either Black or Rose Gold (the black model is 128 GB only).

The iPhone 7 looks very much like the iPhone 6 at first glance, but the changes on the inside were huge. This update introduced a quad-core processor, more ram, and a brighter screen. You also get 3D Touch baked in, which is something even the iPhone XR can’t say.

Your potential downsides? The iPhone 7 is the model that killed the headphone jack, and the Woot deal doesn’t include an adapter or charging cable. Additionally, Woot does warn that because this is a refurb, you should expect some scratches and dents. Woot tested the phone for functionality and offers a 90-day warranty, but don’t expect a brand new out of the box look. The odds are you’re going to throw a case on it anyway.

But those are minor downsides—especially if you already have a lighting jack cable. And by accepting those downsides, you get a solid iPhone at an affordable price. Just make sure to choose the bands that work with your carrier (CDMA for Sprint and Verizon for example).

Buy From Woot

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Learning to code is kind of a big deal for kids these days and for good reason. It’s a great way to teach problem-solving, logic, and help with brain development—even for kids not focused on a computer science-related career.

RELATED: The Best Science Subscription Boxes for Kids

In addition to those problem-solving skills, coding also teaches them how to create things for themselves, from programming routines for robots to simple apps and pieces of software. Buy them a coding subscription box and you’ll set your child up with some valuable transferable skills.

Unlike STEM-based boxes—like those found in our best science subsription boxes for kids list—there aren’t many coding options that provide you with a physical subscription but the ones that are out there are pretty good. We’ve narrowed things down to a few specific categories, so whatever your child’s interest, there’s something for them here. Here’s our pick of the bunch.

Best Overall: BitsBox ($24.95 per month to $37.95 per month)

BitsBox is the best coding subscription box out there. Each month, your child is introduced to a new computer science concept via some fun but educational projects. Aimed at ages 6 to 12, it teaches basic foundations like the importance of variables, conditionals, and functions.

A different theme is provided each month, such as animals or robots, so there’s something fun and immediately accessible to the box, even if your kid doesn’t have a clue about coding just yet. For $24.95 per month, the Basic BitsBox provides multiple app projects, a binder to keep all the material stored, along with stickers and progress charts. For the adults, there’s a guide that teaches them the finer details of the coding concepts and commands being taught to the child that month—the adult guide to help you follow along and interact with your child is a really nice touch. For $37.95 per month, the Deluxe BitsBox offers all that alongside a set of trading cards with extra apps to build, temporary tattoos, and a mystery toy too.

Whichever set you go with, it’s pretty great value for money as well as highly educational.

Subscribe to BitsBox Best For A Bulk Purchase: Thimble ($99-$199)

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Amazon

Yeah, nobody wants to pay for Xbox Live. Alas, if you want to play online, you’re left with little choice. Fortunately, The service isn’t too painfully expensive, especially if you can find a good membership deal.

Right now, the three-month Xbox Live card is BOGO on Amazon. When you buy the three-month Live card, you get an extra one for free. Hand in a measly $25 bill, and you can walk away with six months of Xbox Live. Usually, six months of Live costs about $35.

Before you go buying up a bunch of these cards, there’s one thing you should know: this deal is restricted to one purchase. Just add one three-month Xbox Live card to your cart, purchase it, and the website will automatically hand over an extra three-month Live card.

These Live cards are digital codes, and they can be redeemed at any time. You could also give them away as a gift to somebody who needs a few months of Live. Of course, you could just take this opportunity to pile another six months onto your Live account.

Buy on Amazon

This is the 21st century, and nobody should have to buy a physical gift card when you can do it all from your phone. Thankfully, Apple has us covered, and you can instantly send anyone with an email address their very own gift card.

It’s a little known fact that the App Store uses the same gift cards as the iTunes Store. This means you can use an App Store or iTunes gift card to buy anything from either place—music, movies, and TV shows, apps, games, and even in-app purchases. You can even pay for subscriptions to your favorite apps with a gift card, making them a great gift for friends and family.

How to Send an iTunes Gift Card Instantly

As you might imagine, Apple makes the process of giving it money as easy as can be. From an iPhone or iPad, open the App Store and tap your profile icon.

Next, towards the middle of the screen, tap “Send Gift Card by Email.”

On the next screen, enter the email address of the recipient and then enter your name, followed by a message that will be delivered alongside the gift card. You can also select the denomination by tapping one of the options, and then select when you want the card to be delivered. Tap “Next” when ready.

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If you have an old phone lying around, you can easily put it to good use by turning it into a mobile security camera. With the help of an app by Edward Snowden, it’s super simple. Here’s how.

Your phone already has the components of a “real” security camera—namely, a camera lens and an Internet connection. You’ve been able to do this with an Android phone for years, but there’s a newer way that’s even more secure.

We’re going to be using an app named Haven, which was built by NSA leaker Edward Snowden. You can use the app on almost any Android phone or tablet, from your old spare sitting in your drawer to a cheap $50 phone from WalMart. As long as your device has a working camera and microphone, you can use it as a security cam. You can install the Haven beta from the Google Play Store or compile it yourself from its Github repository.

Haven will work whether your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or with a USB-to-Ethernet adapter. If you go the wired Internet route, make sure to get an adapter that also carriers power. The Haven app itself only runs on Android devices, but you can set it to alert your iPhone.

Setting Up Haven on Your Old Phone

Before getting the Haven app set up, make sure your ideal spot has enough room for your phone to be mounted, get power, and where you can run an Ethernet cable or get Wi-Fi. Once that’s settled, open the Haven app. Swipe through the first couple of screens, then select “Configure.”

Tap “Allow” on the permission prompts for photo, media, and file access, and to take pictures and record video.

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Having one device to rule them all is an increasingly realistic dream, especially if that device is a laptop paired with a capable docking station like the IOGEAR GUD3C05. Here’s our take after putting it through the paces.

That one device lifestyle has been a dream of mine for ages—just a laptop that I can drop in and work from a desktop-like setup when I want, but something that’s super easy to grab and take with me, too. That dream is very easy to make a reality these days, as there are tons of great laptop docks floating around out there. I recently got a chance to check out one such dock, the not-so-cleverly named GUD3C05 from IOGEAR. They just call it “USB-C Docking Station with Power Delivery 3.0,” which doesn’t really roll off the tongue (and is honestly really vague). But let’s but aside the lackluster name and look at the hardware itself.

The Details: A Bunch of Ports and PD to Boot

A good dock is only worth what it can do for you, which means the more it can do, the more useful it will be. The IOGEAR USB-C dock is packed with all the useful stuff you’d want for your USB-C equipped laptop—especially at a price of $180 (it’s currently on Amazon for $155).

Here are all the ports:

• USB-C Power Delivery Pass-Through (100 watts)
• VGA
• HDMI
• Mini DisplayPort
• Ethernet
• SD slot
• MicroSD slot
• 3x USB-A ports
• 1x USB-C port
• 3.5mm audio jack

This dock has more ports than any other IOGEAR dock before it, so all in all, it covers pretty much every base out there, all with one little USB-C port. With the included video ports, you can run:

• VGA: 1080p
• HDMI: 4K
• Mini DisplayPort: 4K
• HDMI + Mini DisplayPort: 1080p

IOGEAR claims that the latter option only works on Windows machines, but I’m currently staring at a Pixelbook docked into two 24-inch 1080p displays and it’s working flawlessly. Yeah—a Chromebook is pushing (technically) three displays right now: the internal panel, and two externals using just the IOGEAR dock.

Cameron Summerson

The overall footprint of the dock is decent. It’s not the smallest I’ve seen, but it’s also not meant to be. This isn’t a dock that’s designed to be tossed in your bag and used like a USB hub or SD card reader—it’s meant to stay on your desk with all your junk connected to it.

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One of the best things about Google Chrome is the ability to extend its capabilities by adding a myriad of extensions to help improve functionality, usability, privacy, and productivity. Here’s how to install and manage your Google Chrome extensions.

How to Install Chrome Extensions

Download official Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store from sources you know or trust. You should make sure it’s safe before installing it by doing a little due diligence and checking the developer’s website—if they have one—ratings, and even skimming through the source code if you’re so inclined.

RELATED: How to Make Sure a Chrome Extension is Safe Before Installing It

Head on over to the Chrome Web store for extensions and use either the search bar or browse by category to find the right extension for you. If you’re not sure where to start, Google does a pretty good job of curating the store and recommending extensions on the front page.

After you’ve found an extension, you want to add, click the icon to be redirected to its page.

RELATED: The Best Chrome Extensions for Making Gmail Better

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Cameron Summerson

Recently, microphone maker Blue announced a $100 professional studio microphone, the Ember. So the question arose: What is this XLR thing, and how do I use it? Let’s talk about what XLR is and why you might want to use it in your studio.

XLR is pro audio. It’s what all recording and radio studios use, and it’s what you’ll see live performers using on stage. That’s because XLR cables carry balanced audio, which is essential for getting clean sound.

What is XLR?

First things first—let’s define what XLR means. It’s a pretty simple abbreviation for X Connector, Locking Connector, Rubber Boot. The “rubber boot” portion of the connector isn’t always part of the equation these days, however, as it’s no longer necessary. Despite the slight design change, the name has stayed the same.

There are currently several different versions of XLR cables available with a variety of additional pins (XLR3 – XLR7), but what we’re talking about here is the XLR3 or the three-pin style of cable. This is by far the most common type of cable.

In short, XLR is the go-to standard for high-quality audio inputs, like microphones. This is because they send a balanced signal that isolates noise. It’s simply a better type of connector for that type of application, but it’s also so robust that it isn’t necessarily something the average consumer needs to really think about using unless it’s for high-quality audio recording or streaming.

Aside from an XLR mic and XLR cable, you’ll need some sort of audio interface or mixer so your computer can see the mic. A decent audio interface can be found for as little as $40-50, but nicer units can go for a lot more. The average enthusiast will probably want to spend somewhere in the $150-200 range for a good interface—something like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a good place to get started, for example.

If you plan on doing home recording, you’ll also need a DAW—a Digital Audio Workstation—to capture your recording. You can use something free like Audacity, though there are also excellent options out there that don’t cost a lot, like Reaper. You can read our pics for best DAW here.

The technical side of what makes XLR so much better than other audio inputs is, well, pretty technical. Read on for all the juicy details.

The Balancing Act

If you’ve ever changed the batteries in your flashlight, you have probably noticed that there’s a plus (+) and a minus (-) side to the battery. When you only hook one side of the battery to your flashlight’s bulb, nothing happens.  You need both the positive and negative connections to make the bulb light up. This is an electrical circuit. The electrons must make a complete loop from the battery’s negative pole, through the wire, through the light, and back to the battery again. Audio isn’t any different: you need the positive and negative sides of an audio signal for anything to happen. A microphone pushes electrons onto one side of the cable, the electrons are passed to an amplifier, and then back to the other side of the microphone.

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Killer Whales Are Not Actually Whales But?

1. Dolphins
2. Tuna
3. Narwhals
4. Porpoises

Think you know the answer?

Lolostock/Shutterstock

Babies love to be close to you. It’s only natural after being in the womb for 9 months, but it’s also not exactly convenient when you’re trying to get stuff done. That’s where a good quality baby sling can make all the difference, and we’ve looked at the best ones currently out there.

Baby slings are available in all different varieties but they each share the same core concept—a safe (and often stretchy) piece of material that you wrap around yourself and your baby so they’re securely attached to the front of your body. That way, your baby is kept snug, you know exactly where they are, but your hands and arms are free to do other things. It’s a great way of ensuring you both feel more secure as you go about your day. It also has benefits for bonding and nursing.

Here’s our pick of the baby slings currently out there.

Best Overall: KeaBabies Baby Wrap Carrier ($25) KeaBabies

If you’re in need of a straightforward baby sling that simply just works, regardless of any specific requirements, then buy the KeaBabies Baby Wrap Carrier.

It’s a one-size-fits-all sling that simply requires an extra loop around for smaller sized mothers and babies. It’s designed using sturdy and stretchy fabric so there’s no undue strain placed on your back or shoulders, while you support your child. It’s also suited for newborns right up to 35lb babies so it’ll last you a reasonable length of time too.

It also doubles as a breastfeeding cover for when you want a little extra privacy while nursing.

Buy on Amazon Best For Newborns: Boba Baby Wrap ($40) Boba

If you have a particularly small or newborn baby, it’s understandable that you might want to get a baby sling that’s specifically aimed at their smaller size. Particularly as it saves you creating an extra loop or two of material. The Boba Baby Wrap is a good solution for this. While it’s good for babies up to 35lb, it’s designed in a way that means it’s extra snug for smaller tots.

Made from a machine washable French terry cloth blend, your baby can snuggle up to you tightly without any worries. There’s Spandex in there too so it retains its shape and never loosens or sags, no matter how often you re-adjust it to nurse or take the baby out. Instructions are super simple too.

Buy on Amazon Best For Easy Tying: Hip Baby Wrap Ring Sling ($40) Hip Baby

Many baby slings involve ties to secure them to your body. The Hip Baby Wrap Ring Sling does things differently. It uses a ring so that you can thread fabric through it to form a loop, then adjust it easily and quickly to keep your baby snug. If you’re not the most dexterous (or you’re simply in a rush), these are a good way of getting the job done with minimum hassle. Our Editor in Chief Jason Fitzpatrick swears by slings with this simple cloth-and-ring design—his daughter practically lived in a similar sling when she was a baby.

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Smarthomes are a convenience that can automate your home and give you easy control from anywhere. But with children, extended family, and guests, things quickly get complicated. Here are a few ways to make your smarthome easier for other people to use.

Smarthomes Are Only As Powerful As The User

If you’ve already installed smart locks, a smart thermostat, smart lights, and smart plugs, you’re well on your way to a home filled with convenience and remote control. But the problem is often with the people in your home who aren’t tech savvy enough to set up a smarthome. They may feel unsure of how to turn on and off devices and awkward trying to use voice commands. With a few simple steps, you can make things easier for small children, extended family, and even first-time guests.

Create Straight Forward Voice Commands

One of the best things about a smarthome is telling it what to do with your voice. Sure you can control them the traditional way, but the ability to talk to your house and turn off lights, turn on the TV, and change the thermostat is very satisfying. However, that’s only true when it works on the first try. If you have trouble successfully using voice commands, then everyone else will have a worse go of it. So be sure to group your devices, and adequately name those groups and the devices themselves.

If you have small children in the house, you may need to change up the names of your devices and groups somewhat. Try to aim for words with fewer syllables that are easy to enunciate. Both Google Assistant and Alexa perform admirably when listening to a five-year-old, and surprisingly well with a three-year-old. But the harder it is for a child to say a command, the harder it will be for your voice assistant to understand them.

Shorter and fewer words are the best option, and that’s one of the benefits of grouping items correctly. With proper groups they can say “turn on the light” in a room instead of “turn on the living room light” or kitchen light, and so on. Family members and guests will benefit from this as well, as there’s less to remember to say.

Provide Traditional Controls When Possible The two outer switches are smart; the middle switch is traditional. The left switch is off.

Smart bulbs are fantastic, but if the other people in your house are reluctant to use voice assistants, then the only way they can control your smart bulbs is with an app. That’s not always a good option, especially for children or houseguests. Another option is to use smart light switches instead. These look very similar to a toggle light switch and have the benefit of controlling multiple lights (if the switch normally would) while communicating with your smarthome about the current light state (on or off).

With a smart switch, your lights are never out of sync with your apps and voice assistants, and anyone reluctant to use smarthome options can still control the lights. The same is true for smart locks with a traditional keyhole or pin code option. With a key or PIN code, your children and guests won’t need to download an app to unlock your door.

Create a Dashboard if Traditional Controls Aren’t Available Alexander Kirch/Shutterstock

Sometimes it just isn’t possible to provide a traditional control option, like with smart LED strips or smart plugs. Voice Assistants can help, but if that won’t work then repurposing an old tablet as a smarthome dashboard might be the best solution. A dashboard can give an overall view of the possible controls in the house and are simple to use as on and off buttons. If possible, mount the tablet somewhere so it can easily be found.

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Stars That Cannibalize Other Stars Are Known As?

1. Gas Vacuums
2. Vampires
3. Blue Stragglers
4. Hannibals

Think you know the answer?

Ari N/Shutterstock

Dutch ovens are a versatile addition to your kitchen arsenal that can handle everything from stews to roasts to even bread. We’ve looked at the best ones for every situation.

At first glance, you might think that a Dutch oven is a frivolous extra—an outdated favorite from years gone by. They’re actually pretty useful though. With a thick bottom, they retain heat well, ensuring that said heat is maintained throughout the dish (and not just in certain areas). Alongside that, their heavy lids keep flavors from escaping, as well as lock in moisture. It’s a potent mix that means they’re particularly great for stews, soups, chilis, and curries. Anything that needs slow cooking, basically, can be put paired with a Dutch oven for fantastic results. You can even use them to bake delicious artisan bread.

Best Overall: Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($58) Lodge

Lodge features quite heavily here because that’s how good (and economical) their Dutch ovens are. Its traditional looking Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is the perfect addition to any kitchen. A respectable size for the average family, it’s well made so it’ll last years. It utilizes porcelain enamel on cast iron which means the glassy finish is bonded to the cast iron at high temperatures so that it becomes heat tolerant, while also impervious to water and other substances.

Thanks to that, it can rest easy in your oven up to 500F, as well as stay on your stovetop for sautéing or simmering duties. Such versatility means it’ll fast become your favorite way of cooking, no matter what you’re preparing.

For those that love to have a color coordinated kitchen, there are plenty of options here too. The dish looks pretty good on the kitchen top side.

Buy on Amazon Best Premium Option: Le Creuset Signature French Oven ($375) Le Creuset

Le Creuset cookware is a brand that makes most all cooking connoisseurs go “oooh” in awe, and for good reason. It’s expensive but exceptionally high quality. The kind of thing that you buy as a solid investment for you and future generations in your family. It’s also the ideal kind of thing to ask for as a wedding gift because hey, that’s what wedding lists are made for.

The Le Creuset Signature French Oven withstands the same level of heat as the Lodge (500F) but it’s everything else about it that makes it stand out. It has 45% larger handles than most so you can be sure of an even and steady grip, even when wearing oven mitts. Thick quality construction offers more even heat distribution than the competition. It also has a sand-colored interior enamel that can resist wear and tear for longer than the coating found on budget brands.

Sure, it’s over 5 times the price of the Lodge Dutch oven but the point here is that you (and your children, and maybe your grandchildren) will never need to buy another pot after this one.

Buy on Amazon Best Small Dutch Oven: Lodge 5qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($40) Lodge

Cast iron Dutch ovens are a little different from enamel ones but no less effective. This Lodge 5qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven is the right size for cooking smaller amounts, while still getting the benefits of Dutch oven-based cooking. That means extensive heat retention and distribution.

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Josh Hendrickson

Amazon offers a $70 Echo Dot Kid’s Edition with integrated parental controls. But you can convert any Amazon Echo into a “Kid’s Edition” model and get the same child-friendly features for your kids.

Kids Learn Technology As Quickly As They Grow

Alexa is great for answering questions, playing music, controlling your smarthome, and telling the occasional groan-worthy joke. Once your children can enunciate well enough, they’ll pick up using an Echo in very little time—maybe even faster than you!

Your little one may ask for an Echo in their room, but that present issues. You’ll want control over what they can hear, what kind of music they can play, and when they can use their Echo. Clear and present limits and moderation are cornerstones of parenting, and technology is no exception. Amazon saw that need (and, to be fair, that business opportunity) and introduced the Echo Kid’s Edition.

This Echo has parental controls that enable time and content limits. With Amazon’s Parent Dashboard, you can prevent the Echo from being used during bedtime, or too early in the day. You can provide age limits for content and revoke smarthome access.

The Kid’s Edition Cost Extra

But the Echo Kid’s Edition costs $70, as opposed to the $50 for a standard Echo Dot. That $20 extra gets you a case and a year’s subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, which offers ad-free radio and hundreds of children’s books. If you have a tablet, you’ll also get access to kid-friendly movies and TV shows. After that free year, FreeTime Unlimited is $2.99 a month.

If you don’t want FreeTime Unlimited, then you’re paying $20 for a case. Echo Dots aren’t devices you take with you or even pick up for any reason at all. A protective case is unnecessary, but if you did want one, you could grab a colorful case for about $9. Unfortunately, the Echo Kid’s Edition also appears to be a second generation Echo, so you’re even paying extra for older tech.

You can often buy the Kid’s Edition with a two for one deal—you’ll still spend $70, but at least you’ll get two units bringing the cost of each to lower than a current Echo Dot. Then again, Amazon sometimes sells the Echo Dot for $20 or $30.

If you already have a spare Echo—or just want to save a few bucks—consider converting a standard Echo device to a Kid’s Edition model. Best of all, this will work with a full-sized Echo; it doesn’t have to be a Dot. If your children love music, you can give them better sound out of the box without needing to plug in additional speakers.

How to Convert Your Existing Echo to Kid’s Edition

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The First Pop CD Featured What Band?

1. The Bangles
2. The Clash
3. Jefferson Airplane
4. ABBA

Think you know the answer?

When collaborating on a document with several people, leaving comments is an essential part of the process. You can print the document along with comments, but what if you want you print just the comments? You can do that.

Why would you want to print out only the comments on a document? There are several reasons. Maybe you just want a hard copy of the comments you can preserve for your records. Or maybe you want to sit down with collaborators as a group and look at the document and the comments separately. After all, a printed page full of edits and comments can be a little overwhelming. Whatever your reason, Word makes it easy to do.

Printing Out Comments Only

First, open up the document that contains the comments you want to print. On the “Review” tab, click the “Show Markup” button.

At the top of the dropdown menu, you will see “Comments.” If there’s a check mark beside it, then nothing needs to be done here. If not, go ahead and select that.

It’s also worth mentioning that you have the option to, instead of printing out all comments, print out only reviewer-specific comments. To do this, select “Specific People” from the menu and select the specific reviewer whose comments you’d like to keep from the list that appears. Otherwise, keep “All Reviewers” selected.

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Sony

Controller support is limited on Windows PCs. While the latest generation of console controllers will work out of the box with Windows, even last-generation gamepads like the PlayStation 3’s DualShock 3 require custom drivers.

A previous version of this article detailed the use of MotioninJoy to use your Sony PS3 controller as a joystick on your Windows PC. Unfortunately, MotioninJoy was a proprietary piece of software that turned into malware over the years.  Luckily, you don’t have to infect your computer, as there is an open-source alternative in ScpToolkit. Don’t use MotioninJoy.

How to Install ScpToolkit

ScpToolkit has to modify some system drivers to make the controller work, so it’s not the safest install process. Proceed with caution, follow our instructions, and don’t click anything you don’t understand.

Download the latest release of ScpToolkit from the project’s Github page, open up the setup program, and agree to the Terms and Conditions—if you read them, of course. You’ll be shown a dialog with a list of install options:

You probably don’t need the Gamepad Analyzer and Debug Info Collector, but you should install everything else.

The installation process will take a few minutes. You should take this time to find your PS3 controller and plug it in with a USB cable. After the utility is done installing the toolkit, it will ask you to run the driver installer. Click “Run,” and you’ll be shown a list which should now include your controller.

Click the “Initialize All Connected Devices” button (don’t skip through with next button), let it install, and then click “Next.” This will configure the controller to be recognized as a PS3 controller, and install some drivers.

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Amazon

A modern home security system shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, you can grab the new eufyCam security system at a massive discount from Amazon.

The retail price of a eufyCam 2-Camera security system is about $460. I think we can all agree that $460 is a lot of money. But right now, Amazon is running two coupons that can bring this eufyCam system down to just $299.

On the eufyCam Amazon listing, there’s a small coupon box that takes $50 off your eufyCam purchase. Click that coupon box, and add the eufyCam 2-Camera system to your cart. Then, use the coupon code EUFYKKBT to get a total $160 off at checkout.

If you haven’t heard of the eufyCam, then now’s the time to catch up. The eufyCam is basically a smart, wireless security camera product that requires no monthly fees and very basic installation. It connects to your home Wi-Fi, and you can watch eufyCam footage in real time. Since each eufyCam has speakers and microphones, you can set off remote alarms from your phone, or talk through the eufyCam to humorously scare off burglars and peeping toms.

You can always add additional eufyCams to your home security setup, but two cameras should be enough for most homes. They’re durable and splash-proof, and each eufyCam camera has a 1-year battery life, so you shouldn’t spend too much time doing maintenance. The eufyCam can mount on any magnetic surface, but they also come with traditional mounting hardware.

This is a great deal — better than some of the eufyCam deals that we saw on Black Friday a few months back. Deals like this tend to disappear quickly, so if you’re interested in buying an eufyCam, then you better do it now.

Buy on Amazon

Android gives you a few options for transferring your contacts to a new device. By default, everything should be synced when you set up a new device, but even if sync is disabled, it’s easy to move your contacts over.

The Easy Way: Sync With Your Google Account

Almost all Android devices sold outside of China come with Google services, including the ability to synchronize your contacts between devices. This should be enabled by default when you sign in with your Google account, but here’s how to make sure. We’re writing this guide using a Pixel 2 XL running Android 9.0, but it should look similar on other Android devices. We’re also using the stock Google Contacts apps, which you can download from the Play Store. These steps may not be the same on other Contact apps, so if you’re having issues, we recommend using Google Contacts.

Start by opening the Settings app and tapping “Accounts.”

Tap your Google account.

Tap “Account Sync.”

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Woot

You know, you don’t have to pay $1,000 to get an iPhone. Woot is selling refurbished models of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus at a heavy discount today.

The iPhone 6 came out a while ago, but it’s a solid device that still gets updates and support from Apple. Nobody wants to use a grossly outdated phone, but the iPhone 6 was ahead of its time, and its features are still comparable to some of 2019’s mid-range devices. It has a fingerprint scanner, a good 8 MP camera, and an HD Retina display. Nothing groundbreaking here—it is nearly five years old.

Right now, you can buy a refurbished iPhone 6 or 6 Plus from Woot for just $120 for the 16 GB or up to $200 for the 64 GB 6 Plus. That’s an extremely low price for any phone, especially an iPhone. Woot gives you the option to choose the 16 or 64 GB model of these phones and has the Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors in stock.

This is a good opportunity for you to grab an iPhone at an unbeatable price. Sure, it’s old, but it looks and runs better than any other $120 phone on the market. If you don’t need a new phone (but you love a good deal), then you could always use one of these as a dedicated music streaming device.

Just keep in mind that these iPhones are refurbished (and they were manufactured back in 2014). Woot rates these as “scratch and dent” products. Some of these iPhone have blemishes on the case, but they don’t have any internal or screen damage. Since Woot has a 90-day limited warranty, you can always send a product back if that is something wrong with it. Otherwise, Woot offers a 30-day return policy if you’re just unhappy with it. Hit the button to buy.

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