Blogroll
Stop plugging these 5 devices into smart plugs (the dangers are real)
Smart plugs are a great way to make dumb devices smart. As long as your dumb device will start up without any additional button presses, you can use a smart plug to turn it on and off remotely, just like any other smart device. There are some cases, however, where using a smart plug is not a great idea.
Stop plugging these 5 devices into smart plugs (the dangers are real)
Smart plugs are a great way to make dumb devices smart. As long as your dumb device will start up without any additional button presses, you can use a smart plug to turn it on and off remotely, just like any other smart device. There are some cases, however, where using a smart plug is not a great idea.
Stop plugging these 5 devices into smart plugs (the dangers are real)
Smart plugs are a great way to make dumb devices smart. As long as your dumb device will start up without any additional button presses, you can use a smart plug to turn it on and off remotely, just like any other smart device. There are some cases, however, where using a smart plug is not a great idea.
Desktop motherboards are quietly abandoning the one port that does everything
Every modern motherboard has a USB-C port that might be more exciting than it looks at a glance. (Hard to tell from the get-go, though, as USB-C ports are downright confusing.) Depending on the board, that USB-C port might move data at 20Gbps or 80Gbps, drive an 8K monitor or drive nothing at all, and charge a laptop or barely charge anything. The port shape is the same in all of those cases, which is the whole problem.
Desktop motherboards are quietly abandoning the one port that does everything
Every modern motherboard has a USB-C port that might be more exciting than it looks at a glance. (Hard to tell from the get-go, though, as USB-C ports are downright confusing.) Depending on the board, that USB-C port might move data at 20Gbps or 80Gbps, drive an 8K monitor or drive nothing at all, and charge a laptop or barely charge anything. The port shape is the same in all of those cases, which is the whole problem.
Desktop motherboards are quietly abandoning the one port that does everything
Every modern motherboard has a USB-C port that might be more exciting than it looks at a glance. (Hard to tell from the get-go, though, as USB-C ports are downright confusing.) Depending on the board, that USB-C port might move data at 20Gbps or 80Gbps, drive an 8K monitor or drive nothing at all, and charge a laptop or barely charge anything. The port shape is the same in all of those cases, which is the whole problem.
How to preorder Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8: See preorder offers
New Samsung phones are here. At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026, three new phones were announced: the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The new phones are successors to the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7, so if you're ready for a new phone, get ready to preorder these devices.
We've been anticipating the new models for weeks, vetting rumors of what's to come with the latest foldables. Now that we're here, we can finally confirm exactly which models are available and just how much each will cost.
Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra pricing breakdownHere's the pricing breakdown:
Galaxy Z Flip 8 (pink, graphite, cream, mint) — starting at $1,199
Galaxy Z Fold 8 (lavender, graphite, cream, pistachio) — starting at $1,899.99
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (violet shadow, graphite, cream, green shadow) — starting at $2,099.99
Both the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are $100 more than last year's models; no surprise in the face of the global memory crisis. All of the new models are up for preorder as of July 22 and will be available Aug. 7.
If you've previously owned the Z Flip and Fold series, the successive models are slightly different. So here's what you need to know about the new Samsung smartphones.
About the Galaxy Z Flip 8 The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the successor to the Z Flip 7. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET GroupThe Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the successor to the Z Flip 7. It folds down into a pocket-sized square, flipping open to a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display. The display is phenomenal and extremely impressive, the crease of the phone indistinguishable when flipped open. It comes with a dual lens camera with up to 10x zoom and 4K video, filming at 60 fps. It has 12GB of RAM (more than some computers) and either 256GB or 512GB of storage space.
The Z Flip 8 comes in four different colors: pink, graphite, cream, and mint (online only). It starts at $1,199.99.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 $1,199.99 at AmazonPre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Samsung Pre-order Here at T-Mobile About the Galaxy Z Fold 8 The dimensions of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are suspiciously close to the leaked foldable iPhone. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group
Apple has yet to release a foldable iPhone, but Samsung has already come out with a phone destined to compete. Rumors were floating about this model, with some thinking it would be called the Galaxy Z Fold Wide. Now we know it's actually the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a new model with a fullscreen ratio of 4:3.
It's a midrange option between the Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra, with a 5.5-inch folded screen and a 7.6-inch full-size screen. Like the Flip, it has a dual lens camera, but is able to film in up to 8K at 30 fps. You can go for models with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage, or a model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
The Z Fold 8 starts at $1,899.99. It comes in lavender, graphite, cream, and pistachio (online only).
Galaxy Z Fold 8 $1,899.99 at SamsungPre-order Here at Samsung Pre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at T-Mobile About the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra The successor to the Z Fold 7 is the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Credit: Joseph Maldonado / CNET Group
If you've previously seen or used the Z Fold 7, its successor is the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. It's the largest phone among all of Samsung's foldables with a 6.5-inch cover screen and an 8-inch full screen. It's the only foldable with a three-lens camera, letting you film in up to 8K with 3x optical and 30x space zoom.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes in violet shadow, graphite, cream, and green shadow (online only). It starts at $2,099.99.
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra $2,099.99 at AmazonPre-order Here at Amazon Pre-order Here at Samsung Pre-order Here at T-Mobile
Pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 at Amazon and get a free $200 gift card
GET A FREE $200 GIFT CARD: Pre-order the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 for $1,199.99 at Amazon by August 6 and get a $200 gift card for free.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Unlocked Cell Phone + $200 Gift Card, 256GB Graphite $1,199.99 at AmazonPre-order Here at Amazon
Getting a new phone is almost never cheap. But if you're already planning to upgrade to Samsung's latest flip phone, you might as well get paid to do it.
SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for free — how to claimRight now, if you pre-order the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 in Graphite at Amazon for $1,199.99, they'll throw in a $200 Amazon gift card. You just have to place your order by August 6 (its official release date is August 7).
The Z Flip 8 features a 6.7-inch main screen and a 4.1-inch cover screen (which Samsung calls the FlexWindow). It lets you check notifications and send messages without opening your phone. As for the cameras, you get a 50MP wide lens and a 12MP ultrawide lens on the back, plus a 10MP front camera. Thanks to the folding design, you can set it down half-open on a table to take hands-free photos or shoot Super Steady video — no tripod required.
Considering a $200 gift card basically covers your screen protectors, a durable case, and a few other things in your cart, this is a pretty good pre-order bonus.
7 useful bedroom 3D printing projects to make this weekend (July 24 - 26)
Having access to a 3D printer means you’re always looking for little life hacks to improve the space around you. While many of us have printed gadgets for functional areas like the kitchen and bathroom, there are plenty of models you can print for the bedroom too.
7 useful bedroom 3D printing projects to make this weekend (July 24 - 26)
Having access to a 3D printer means you’re always looking for little life hacks to improve the space around you. While many of us have printed gadgets for functional areas like the kitchen and bathroom, there are plenty of models you can print for the bedroom too.
RingConn Gen 3 is here, now with vibration alerts. Heres what to know about the new smart ring.
Oura isn't the only one with a new smart ring. RingConn, a subscription-free alternative, just dropped its Gen 3 smart ring. It measures all the essential biometrics you want in a smart ring, and works around the screen-free design with a new innovation: a vibration motor.
The announcement of the new RingConn Gen 3 also comes the same week as Garmin announced the Cirqa, a tracker that looks noticeably similar to Whoop's health trackers.
About the RingConn Gen 3 Smart Ring The new RingConn Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes and five finishes. Credit: RingConnWhat sets RingConn apart from fellow smart ring maker Oura is that it is subscription-free, meaning once you buy the ring, there's no recurring cost. The new Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes (6 to 16) and five different finishes, including silver, gold, black, brushed silver, and brushed rose gold.
The new ring claims outstanding battery life, up to 14 days, one of the longest of any fitness tracker we've seen. However, it's a bit shorter if you have vibration turned on. The vibration motor is a new addition to the Gen 3, notifying you of health alerts, sedentary reminders, and low battery.
When Oura launched the Oura Ring 5, its slimmer design was the headline, and the RingConn Gen 3 is only slightly bigger. It has a thickness of 2.3mm and a width of 6.8mm, while the Oura Ring 5 is 2.28mm thick and 6.09mm wide.
Take the RingConn Gen 3 with you in the water as its waterproof up to 100m. Credit: RingConnThe Gen 3 now detects blood pressure and sleep apnea, although neither feature is FDA-cleared. It's water-resistant, waterproof up to 100m.
Included with RingConn Gen 3 models is a travel charging case, which provides over 150 days of battery life.
The RingConn Gen 3 starts at $349 (brushed finishes cost $369) and is now available to order from RingConn and Amazon.
RingConn Gen 3 $349 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon Shop Now at RingConn
RingConn Gen 3 is here, now with vibration alerts. Heres what to know about the new smart ring.
Oura isn't the only one with a new smart ring. RingConn, a subscription-free alternative, just dropped its Gen 3 smart ring. It measures all the essential biometrics you want in a smart ring, and works around the screen-free design with a new innovation: a vibration motor.
The announcement of the new RingConn Gen 3 also comes the same week as Garmin announced the Cirqa, a tracker that looks noticeably similar to Whoop's health trackers.
About the RingConn Gen 3 Smart Ring The new RingConn Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes and five finishes. Credit: RingConnWhat sets RingConn apart from fellow smart ring maker Oura is that it is subscription-free, meaning once you buy the ring, there's no recurring cost. The new Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes (6 to 16) and five different finishes, including silver, gold, black, brushed silver, and brushed rose gold.
The new ring claims outstanding battery life, up to 14 days, one of the longest of any fitness tracker we've seen. However, it's a bit shorter if you have vibration turned on. The vibration motor is a new addition to the Gen 3, notifying you of health alerts, sedentary reminders, and low battery.
When Oura launched the Oura Ring 5, its slimmer design was the headline, and the RingConn Gen 3 is only slightly bigger. It has a thickness of 2.3mm and a width of 6.8mm, while the Oura Ring 5 is 2.28mm thick and 6.09mm wide.
Take the RingConn Gen 3 with you in the water as its waterproof up to 100m. Credit: RingConnThe Gen 3 now detects blood pressure and sleep apnea, although neither feature is FDA-cleared. It's water-resistant, waterproof up to 100m.
Included with RingConn Gen 3 models is a travel charging case, which provides over 150 days of battery life.
The RingConn Gen 3 starts at $349 (brushed finishes cost $369) and is now available to order from RingConn and Amazon.
RingConn Gen 3 $349 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon Shop Now at RingConn
RingConn Gen 3 is here, now with vibration alerts. Heres what to know about the new smart ring.
Oura isn't the only one with a new smart ring. RingConn, a subscription-free alternative, just dropped its Gen 3 smart ring. It measures all the essential biometrics you want in a smart ring, and works around the screen-free design with a new innovation: a vibration motor.
The announcement of the new RingConn Gen 3 also comes the same week as Garmin announced the Cirqa, a tracker that looks noticeably similar to Whoop's health trackers.
About the RingConn Gen 3 Smart Ring The new RingConn Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes and five finishes. Credit: RingConnWhat sets RingConn apart from fellow smart ring maker Oura is that it is subscription-free, meaning once you buy the ring, there's no recurring cost. The new Gen 3 comes in 10 sizes (6 to 16) and five different finishes, including silver, gold, black, brushed silver, and brushed rose gold.
The new ring claims outstanding battery life, up to 14 days, one of the longest of any fitness tracker we've seen. However, it's a bit shorter if you have vibration turned on. The vibration motor is a new addition to the Gen 3, notifying you of health alerts, sedentary reminders, and low battery.
When Oura launched the Oura Ring 5, its slimmer design was the headline, and the RingConn Gen 3 is only slightly bigger. It has a thickness of 2.3mm and a width of 6.8mm, while the Oura Ring 5 is 2.28mm thick and 6.09mm wide.
Take the RingConn Gen 3 with you in the water as its waterproof up to 100m. Credit: RingConnThe Gen 3 now detects blood pressure and sleep apnea, although neither feature is FDA-cleared. It's water-resistant, waterproof up to 100m.
Included with RingConn Gen 3 models is a travel charging case, which provides over 150 days of battery life.
The RingConn Gen 3 starts at $349 (brushed finishes cost $369) and is now available to order from RingConn and Amazon.
RingConn Gen 3 $349 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon Shop Now at RingConn
Roborock's F25 Steam wants to end the multi-pass mopping routine for good
Wet and dry vacuum mops have made a lot of progress over the last few years, but most of them still ask you to do the same annoying dance: vacuum, then mop, then tend to the spots that didn't quite come clean the first time. Roborock's new F25 Steam is built around a simple idea. If a machine can generate real steam and provide strong suction, one pass should be enough, even for dried-on stains that usually need a scrub.
I created my own cheap VR headset using this phone and glasses combo
I bought a Samsung Galaxy XR headset shortly after its launch, and I learned a lot about how I actually use VR during my time with that device. In the process, I found that there's a cheaper way to do much of what I use the headset for most often—one that's also far more comfortable and more portable. All you need is the right kit.
LGs 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV is $800 for a limited time — grab it before stock runs out
SAVE $800: As of July 24, LG's 83-inch OLED evo AI 4K C6 Series Smart TV is down to $4,499.99 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount off its usual $5,299.99 price.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 83-inch OLED evo C6 Series Smart TV $4,499.99 at Amazon$5,299.99 Save $800 Get Deal
LG's 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV just dropped to $4,499.99 at Amazon, a 15% discount that saves you $800. If a bigger screen has been on your radar, this one delivers — 83 inches of OLED, with AI upscaling that cleans up older or lower-res content too.
This TV can get up to 3.2x brighter in the highlights, and since it's OLED, you still get deep, true blacks along with that brightness — over 8.3 million individually lit pixels mean the contrast looks accurate instead of washed out. The processor is fast too, so menus and streaming apps load and respond quickly.
SEE ALSO: The huge LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI TV hits record-low price at Amazon — save $700For movies, you get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus a Filmmaker Mode that shows the film the way it was actually shot, without extra picture enhancements added on top. If you game, this TV supports a 165Hz refresh rate, both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and a 0.1ms response time, so fast-moving games look smooth without lag.
The OLED Care feature is built to help protect the screen's picture quality over time, and the TV runs on webOS, LG's smart TV platform, which now includes Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot for AI-assisted searching and streaming.
83 inches of pure OLED confidence — grab LG's evo 4K C6 Series Smart TV on Amazon before it goes back to full price.
LGs 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV is $800 for a limited time — grab it before stock runs out
SAVE $800: As of July 24, LG's 83-inch OLED evo AI 4K C6 Series Smart TV is down to $4,499.99 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount off its usual $5,299.99 price.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 83-inch OLED evo C6 Series Smart TV $4,499.99 at Amazon$5,299.99 Save $800 Get Deal
LG's 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV just dropped to $4,499.99 at Amazon, a 15% discount that saves you $800. If a bigger screen has been on your radar, this one delivers — 83 inches of OLED, with AI upscaling that cleans up older or lower-res content too.
This TV can get up to 3.2x brighter in the highlights, and since it's OLED, you still get deep, true blacks along with that brightness — over 8.3 million individually lit pixels mean the contrast looks accurate instead of washed out. The processor is fast too, so menus and streaming apps load and respond quickly.
SEE ALSO: The huge LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI TV hits record-low price at Amazon — save $700For movies, you get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus a Filmmaker Mode that shows the film the way it was actually shot, without extra picture enhancements added on top. If you game, this TV supports a 165Hz refresh rate, both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and a 0.1ms response time, so fast-moving games look smooth without lag.
The OLED Care feature is built to help protect the screen's picture quality over time, and the TV runs on webOS, LG's smart TV platform, which now includes Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot for AI-assisted searching and streaming.
83 inches of pure OLED confidence — grab LG's evo 4K C6 Series Smart TV on Amazon before it goes back to full price.
LGs 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV is $800 for a limited time — grab it before stock runs out
SAVE $800: As of July 24, LG's 83-inch OLED evo AI 4K C6 Series Smart TV is down to $4,499.99 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount off its usual $5,299.99 price.
Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 83-inch OLED evo C6 Series Smart TV $4,499.99 at Amazon$5,299.99 Save $800 Get Deal
LG's 83-inch OLED evo 4K TV just dropped to $4,499.99 at Amazon, a 15% discount that saves you $800. If a bigger screen has been on your radar, this one delivers — 83 inches of OLED, with AI upscaling that cleans up older or lower-res content too.
This TV can get up to 3.2x brighter in the highlights, and since it's OLED, you still get deep, true blacks along with that brightness — over 8.3 million individually lit pixels mean the contrast looks accurate instead of washed out. The processor is fast too, so menus and streaming apps load and respond quickly.
SEE ALSO: The huge LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI TV hits record-low price at Amazon — save $700For movies, you get Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, plus a Filmmaker Mode that shows the film the way it was actually shot, without extra picture enhancements added on top. If you game, this TV supports a 165Hz refresh rate, both NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and a 0.1ms response time, so fast-moving games look smooth without lag.
The OLED Care feature is built to help protect the screen's picture quality over time, and the TV runs on webOS, LG's smart TV platform, which now includes Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot for AI-assisted searching and streaming.
83 inches of pure OLED confidence — grab LG's evo 4K C6 Series Smart TV on Amazon before it goes back to full price.
Why pay more for iPhone Fold? This reminds me of Apples first iPhone
Folding phones have a pricing problem — but Apple may answer that with a new leasing program. CNET’s Bridget Carey explains how challenges around Apple’s folding iPhone remind her of the criticism of Apple’s first iPhone 19 years ago.
Why pay more for iPhone Fold? This reminds me of Apples first iPhone
Folding phones have a pricing problem — but Apple may answer that with a new leasing program. CNET’s Bridget Carey explains how challenges around Apple’s folding iPhone remind her of the criticism of Apple’s first iPhone 19 years ago.
