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Microsoft announced last December it would move the Edge over to the Chromium rendering engine. Leaked builds hit the web a few weeks ago, but now you can try an official build from Microsoft. Here’s how to set it up.

GoodBye EdgeHTML, Hello EdgeChromium

When Microsoft announced it would stop work on EdgeHTML and switch the Edge browser over to Chromium, we had many questions. Some, like if the switch meant gaining Chrome Extensions support, were answered pretty quickly. But the big question has been, “when can we try it?” Microsoft opened up an Insider page to request updates but today, ahead of any emails we’ve seen, you can download an official build from Microsoft.

Just keep in mind that the two options right now are a Dev build (which updates weekly), and a Canary build (which updates daily). The beta option, which will be the most stable and updates every six weeks, is not available. You should probably keep that in mind and not use this browser for anything important. In our very early testing, it at least seems stable enough for casual browsing.

Also, Microsoft states in its blog that this is for 64-bit Windows 10 only for now. They promise support for other platforms, like Windows 7, Windows 8.1, macOS, and other channels, like Beta and Stable later.

How to Install And get Started

Installing the new Edge browser is a pretty straightforward affair. Head to Microsoft’s download site, and pick a channel. Pick Dev Channel for a more stable option, Canary for bleeding edge and a first look at new features and probably new bugs.

Once you’ve installed, you’ll be prompted to choose a new tab page style. This is similar to the new articles options on the traditional Edge, and if you don’t want to be bombarded with news from MSN, or fancy images, choose the focused option.

Next, you can import data from other browsers. Click on the more options in the top right corner (which looks like three horizontal dots) then click on settings.

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Stringify, the IFTTT-like service that helped users build in-depth automated tasks, announced today that it’s shutting down. Stringify’s apps will be removed from stores today, with the service being fully deactivated at the end of June.

In an email sent to existing users, Stringify says it will continue to support the service until the end of June, at which time it will shut down, and all user data will be deleted. Here’s the full email:

Dear Shut Down,

After nearly five years of transforming how people automate their connected lives, I’m sorry to inform you that we are beginning the process of deactivating the Stringify app. This isn’t a decision we made lightly, but as our focus increasingly shifts to developing new connected-home experiences at Comcast, we made a strategic decision to step back from developing the app.

You don’t need to take any action right away. While we will be removing Stringify from app stores today, we will continue to operate and support the service for existing users through the month of June. When we deactivate the app, we will also delete all of your user data.

We know that Stringify plays a big part in our users’ daily lives, and we want to make sure everyone has plenty of time to adjust.

To that end, I’d also like to offer a couple of recommendations of potential technology alternatives. While I’d encourage you to do your own research, our team thinks these solutions each offer unique value.

IFTTT – A great free-to-use service that offers a lot of the same functions and capabilities as Stringify.
Yonomi – Another free-to-use service that supports many connected devices and experiences.
WebCore – For users of Samsung SmartThings platform. Some folks on our team have been using and enjoying it.

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Apple passes Spotify subscribers in the US, Google’s Pixel 3a and 3a XL leak (again), Microsoft makes it easier to remove USB drives, and a whole lot more. Here are the biggest stories from the weekend to start your Monday.

Netflix Kills AirPlay Support Because of “Technical Limitations”

Netflix has supported casting content with Apple AirPlay since 2013, but over the weekend it “suddenly” pulled the plug on the feature. It was originally speculated this was a response to Apple upcoming TV+ service, but it turns out it’s actually…something different

As discovered by The Verge, this has nothing to do with TV+, but rather the fact that AirPlay is no longer limited to Apple TV devices and is rolling out to third-party devices, like Vizio TVs. In an official statement, Netflix claims that it “can’t distinguish which device is which” or “certify devices,” so it “had to just shit down support for it. ” Wow.

Here’s the full statement, as given to The Verge:

We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn’t a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn’t) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices.

It’s interesting because you’d think that, as a standard, AirPlay should work the same across all devices—just like Google’s Casting platform. It doesn’t matter if you’re casting to Chromecast, Android TV, or a TV with native casting support, it just works. Netflix clearly sees something different here with AirPlay devices outside of Apple TV.

While it may not seems huge since most device’s have native Netflix support in the first place, this is still a pretty hard blow to Apple TV users since they’re essentially being “penalized” by Apple’s choice to open the AirPlay platform to third-party manufacturers.

Hopefully, at some point there will be a standardized way to test these devices and Netflix can re-enable AirPlay support across all compatible devices. Until then, however, the company recommends everyone switch to the native app.

Apple News: Music Now Has More Paid Subscribers Than Spotify in the US

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If you’ve got an Office 365 subscription, then there might be times you need help from Microsoft. Here’s how to log a ticket from a client app, from a web app, or through your Office 365 account.

All of these methods will create a ticket that goes to Microsoft support, but whichever way you log a ticket, you’ll need to be online.

Note: At the moment the Office 365 mobile apps will take you to the help and support pages, but there’s no direct method to create a support ticket. You can click around the help site until you find a link to a support page, but that’s not the same as having a specific option to contact support. If you get a problem with a mobile app, you’re best off logging a ticket using one of the methods we describe below.

Log a Ticket From a Client App on Your Computer

Logging a support ticket from inside a client app is pretty straightforward. In any of the applications—Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote—click Help > Contact Support.

Enter the details of your problem and then click “Get Help.”

Microsoft will try to match your description of the problem with suitable help articles, but assuming these don’t help (and they might so give them a try first) click on “Talk to an agent.”

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Amazon, Meh, PC Liquidators

The weekend’s over, but you don’t have to give into the Monday blues. Discounted phones, games, tablets, laptops, and smart devices should help you turn that work-week frown upside down.

Right now, sites like Best Buy, Amazon, Meh, and PC Liquidators are running some killer deals that are hard to ignore. Our favorite deals (by far) are the $89 iPad from PC Liquidators, the $18 Incipio Qi Wireless Charger 3-pack from Meh, and the $40 GameCube-styled wireless Nintendo Switch controller from Amazon.

Laptops and Computer Accessories

Need a new laptop, or a discounted trackball? We’ve got the deals for you.

• MacBook Pro 2017 Model, $1500 ($200 off) [Best Buy]
• Extra 50% Refurbished Dell Latitude Laptops (coupon code BUY7250NOW) [Dell]
• Lenovo Ideapad Celeron, $240 ($30 off) [Best Buy]
• HP 2-in-1 Chromebook, $450 ($150 off) [Best Buy]
• Logitech MX Ergo Plus Wireless Trackball Mouse, $60 ($40 off) [Quill]
• ADATA 240GB SSD, $25 ($5 off) [Massgenie]

Phones, Tablets, Smartwatches, and Wireless Charging Pads

Grab a new phone, tablet, or smartwatch at a discount.

• Samsung Galaxy S9 64GB Unlocked, $400 ($200 off) [Best Buy]
• iPhone 6s Plus 32GB Prepaid, $200 ($200) [Best Buy]
• iPad 4th Gen 16GB Refurbished, $89 ($50 off) [PC Liquidations]
• Huawei Mediapad M5 64GB, $247 ($33 off) [Rakuten]
• Apple Watch Nike+ Series 3, $269 ($140 off) [B&H]
• Samsung Gear Fit2 Smartwatch Refurbished, $110 ($90 off) [Best Buy]
• Fitbit Alta HR Fitness Tracker, $60 ($39) [Massgenie]
• Incipio Qi Wireless Charging Pad 3-Pack, $18 ($18 off) [Meh]

Video Games, TVs, and Board Games

Grab a copy of Kingdom Hearts III or Yoshi’s Crafted World at a major discount.

• Nintendo Switch Console, $260 ($40 off) [Massgenie]
• PowerA Wireless GameCube Controller Nintendo Switch, $40 ($30 off) [Amazon]
• Yoshi’s Crafted World Nintendo Switch, $45 ($15 off) [Massgenie]
• Nintendo Switch Labo Robot Kit, $40 ($20 off) [Amazon]
• Diablo 3 Eternal Collection Nintendo Switch, $40 ($20 off) [Amazon]
• Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch, $35 ($15 off) [Best Buy]
• Valkyria Chronicles 4 Nintendo Switch, $28 ($32 off) [Best Buy]
• Xbox One S 1TB with Titanfall 2 & Sunset Overdrive, $185 ($35 off with coupon code ALT33X) [Rakuten]
• Kingdom Hearts III Xbox One, $40 ($20 off) [Best Buy]
• Xbox Game Pass 1 Month, $1 ($9 off) [Microsoft]
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition Xbox One, $20 ($20 off) [GameStop]
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition PS4, $20 ($20 off) [GameStop]
• Kingdom Hearts III PS4, $40 ($20 off) [Best Buy]
• Risk Legacy Board Game, $39 ($21 off) [Amazon]
• Samsung 54.5″ QLED Curved TV, $800 ($700 off) [Micro Center]

Smart Home Products

Upgrade your home with these discounted smart devices.

• Blink XT Home Security System 3-Camera Kit, $200 ($120 off) [Amazon]
• Sylvania RGBW Smart Light Strips, $22 ($22 off) [Amazon]
• Echo Dot Kids Edition, $35 ($35 off) [Amazon]
• Google Home Hub, $80 ($20 off) [Massgenie]
• Roborock Smart Vacuum Cleaner, $390 ($110 off) [Newegg]
• Save up to 70% on Sylvania Products (Note: Some aren’t smart) [Amazon]

Everything Else

Need a new Bluetooth speaker or a memory foam mattress? We’ve got the deals for you.

• Rakuten 15% off Sitewide (Coupon Code Save15) [Rakuten]
• Anker Soundcore Flare Bluetooth Speaker 2-Pack, $70 ($40 off) [Amazon]
• Biofreeze Pain Relief Gel 2-Pack, $10 ($10 off with coupon clip) [Amazon]
• Fiskars 3 Claw Weeder, $30 ($8 off) [Target]
• Hefty Quart Size Slider Storage Bags 4-Boxes, $11 ($4 off with coupon clip) [Amazon]
• GranRest 6″ Memory Foam Mattress Queen, $141 ($53 off) [Walmart]
• BioBidet SlimEdge Bidet, $26 ($33 off) [Amazon]
• Mainstays Handheld Steam Iron, $5 ($3 off) [Walmart]

Keep in mind that these deals won’t last forever. Be sure to grab your favorite deals before they disappear into the abyss.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com

An electric hand mixer is the perfect accessory in the kitchen for those times when a full food processor is too much but mixing with just a whisk won’t cut it. Here’s a look at the best hand mixers out there.

In each case, we’ve looked at power, precision, and accessibility. After all, you don’t want a heavy mixer that’s cumbersome to hold on to, but neither do you want one that takes forever to actually mix anything properly. Expect great options here whatever your budget.

Best Overall: Braun MultiMix Hand Mixer ($62) Braun

The Braun MultiMix Hand Mixer looks like the mixer that Darth Vader would use and it’s just as effective (at mixing, not furthering the goals of the Empire, that is). Its 350w engine means it’s typically 50% more powerful than most of its competitors so mixing is faster and more effective here.

It has a one-handed control system so you can easily turn the speed dial to adjust between the 9 speeds available to you. Alongside that are multiple attachments so there’s a whisk or beater for every baking or cooking scenario. In particular, its sturdy dough hooks are great for preparing homemade bread or pizza.

It’s far from heavy either, weighing in at just over 2lbs and with an ergonomic handle for extra grip.

Buy on Amazon Best Premium Choice: Breville Handy Mix Scraper Hand Mixer ($130) Breville

The Breville Handy Mix Scraper Hand Mixer is a pretty clever hand mixer. It’s not as powerful as the Braun but it knows how to use its 240w motor perfectly. That’s because of its Beater IQ interface which automatically detects the type of attachment you’re using then adjusts the speed appropriately so you get the most out of it.

Alongside that, it remains quite quiet with scraper beaters that resist clanging the sides in order to maximize contact with the contents of the bowl. Its motor is quiet too, no matter what speed it’s running at. Additionally, there’s a mixing light so you can view ingredients easily while they mix, and there’s a count-up timer for precise mixing. For plentiful features, you can’t go wrong.

Buy on Amazon Best Budget Choice: Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer ($15) Hamilton Beach

A good hand mixer doesn’t have to cost a ton, providing you don’t need all the features possible. The Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer demonstrates that. It has a 250w motor which is good for most mixing tasks. That’s backed up with six speeds and a QuickBurst button for a quick boost. The beaters and whisk are fairly conventional so don’t expect anything too fancy and innovative here, but it’s still good for most regular tasks.

Where the Hamilton Beach Hand Mixer stands out a little is its bowl rest feature so you can easily leave it hanging on the side of a bowl without a problem. There’s a snap-on storage case too which is great for when you need to store it in a cupboard for an extended period of time.

Buy on Amazon Best Lightweight Mixer: KitchenAid 7-Speed Digital Hand Mixer ($55) KitchenAid

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Want to send off a bunch of files in an email, or maybe you received a compressed ZIP file as an attachment on your Chromebook? Whether you want to zip or unzip files, Chrome OS makes it a breeze to do without any additional applications.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Zip Files

How to Zip Files

To get started, open the Files app and navigate your way to the folder with the files you want to zip up.

Once here, highlight all the files you want to add by holding down Ctrl while clicking each file to be added. Then right-click on the selected files and click “Zip Selected” from the context menu that appears.

The files are zipped and added to a file named “Archive.zip” in the current directory. The name is “Archive” by default but can be changed to whatever you’d like after it’s created.

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MacOS applications are installed a bit differently than Windows. Since they’re almost always single .app files, you can move them around your hard drive much easier. Here’s how to track down the ones you lost.

From the Applications Folder

This method is obvious—just open your Applications folder. You can usually find this in the sidebar, at the top of your hard drive, or in your Home folder (the one with your name on it). You can press the “List” button in the top bar to view everything in an easy to read list.

This won’t list every single Application on your drive though, so if you have an app you left in your Downloads folder, it won’t show up here.

RELATED: How to Launch Applications on Your Mac

Better Method: Smart Folders

Smart folders are wonderful. They’re like saved searches that you can pin to the sidebar of Finder. Here, we’ll be searching for all Applications.

Make a new smart folder from any Finder window by selecting File > New Smart Folder from the top menu bar.

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Hexgears

After an impressive debut with the low-profile X-1, I was eager to check out some of the other designs from rookie keyboard maker Hexgears. The Impulse, a mid-range model with Kailh’s Box switches, doesn’t disappoint.

This design is missing some of the more whiz-bang features of more expensive options, notably any kind of programming function. It makes up for it with a combination of utilitarian features and excellent build quality.While a less than perfect, the Impulse offers a light show that should appeal to gamers and a selection of switches that will make your fingers jump for joy. For under $100, it’s an easy mechanical keyboard to recommend for both beginners and connoisseurs.

BOX Switches Highlight the Hardware

Hexgears sent us the Impulse equipped with Kailh BOX White switches and “pudding” caps. The first point first: this is one of the only pre-built keyboards available with the BOX switch designs.

Hexgears offers smooth, splash-resistant BOX switches. Michael Crider

Broadly similar to the familiar Cherry key switch and its innumerable clones, Kailh’s BOX switches add a plastic square around the stem. This keeps the keys compatible with standard keycaps, while also making the travel much more stable and smooth. Hexgears is offering the keyboard with BOX Brown (middle stiffness and tactile, a noticeable bump with no click), BOX White (middle stiffness and clicky) or “Hako Clear,” a more niche and much stiffer tactile switch.

The Kono store sells the Impulse in only one size, but with combinations of single-color white and RGB LEDs and the “pudding” two-tone keycaps featured in this review, with prices ranging from $80-100 depending on those options. The keyboard is marketed as “spill proof,” but that’s more a function of the key switches themselves than anything else. With those stems extending all the way around the entrance of the switch and keycaps firmly in place, it’s very difficult for water (or Coke, or coffee, or beer, et cetera) to get to any of the delicate mechanisms inside. Hexgears says the keyboard is IP56 water-resistant, good for anything short of a full dunk into liquid.

The Impulse is offered in a full size format, with RGB or white-only LEDs. Michael Crider

Other charms of this design include per-key LED lighting and a full ring on LEDs around the plastic casing, PBT (read: fancy) plastic keycaps with shine-through legends, and a six-foot braided cord.

All the Lights and Sounds

In a word, this keyboard is solid. While you don’t get the full metal body, detachable USB cord, or modular switches of more premium designs, its excellent build quality surpasses most of the better-known keyboard builders in this price range.

Optional “pudding” PBT keycaps show off the key lighting. Michael Crider

Kailh’s BOX switches make for a smooth, even travel on the keys, and the two-tone pudding keycaps make for dramatic lighting even at lower intensities. While not explicitly a “gamer” board—the lack of linear options will surely bum some out—the independently-controlled light show for the keys and the LED ring will surely delight users who like to make their desk into a miniature rave. The key stems and standard layout are compatible with all ANSI-formatted keycap sets, so the Impulse is a good board if you’re looking to customize it after purchase.

The BOX switches and plastic case can repel spills and splashes. Michael Crider

Underneath you get the usual fold-out riser feet, though the keyboard is thick enough that I doubt many users will want an even taller profile. A gently curving deck, with a rather large printed logo on the top edge, is the only other adornment. If you need to open the plastic case (see the water resistant testing below) it’s easy to remove the screws and expose the circuit board.

Programming Could Be Easier

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Alexey Rotanov/Shutterstock

According to Microsoft, Windows 10 no longer optimizes external storage devices for “better performance” as of the October 2018 Update. Instead, it optimizes them for “quick removal.” Here’s what that means—and how to change it if you like.

We don’t think every Windows user has to change this option. Despite how tempting “better performance” sounds, the default “quick removal” policy is fine for most people.

Quick Removal vs. Better Performance

Windows has different “policies” you can select for external storage devices connected via USB or Thunderbolt, whether it’s a USB thumb drive or external hard drive. Each individual storage device has its own specific policy setting so that you can select different policies for different devices.

By default, Windows 10 now uses the “quick removal” policy. Whenever you write to the drive, Windows writes the data to the drive as quickly as possible. This ensures you can remove the USB drive without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” option—in theory. A program may be writing to your USB drive in the background anyway, so we recommend against it. This does dramatically reduce the risk of data corruption if you’re in the habit of safely removing storage devices before unplugging them.

However, this can slow down your applications. For example, when you’re saving a file to the external drive, the program you’re using may stop and wait for the save process to finish before you can continue working.

The “Better performance” option eliminates this slowdown. With this option, Windows will cache write operations to the drive and let applications proceed as if they had already written the data. Windows then performs the write operation in the background. That can make applications snappier.

On the other hand, this can result in data loss in some situations. Users think their files are saved and remove the drive—but the data wasn’t actually saved, and now the files on the drive may be corrupted. That’s why you should use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before unplugging a drive in Windows. It tells Windows to write all that cached data to disk, ensuring all your data is safe before removing the drive.

It’s unclear how much “better performance” you’ll experience in practice. This will depend on the speed of your external storage device, how the application you’re using handles writing data, and how much data you’re writing at any given time. Microsoft clearly thinks the default “quick removal” is good enough for most people and that avoiding data loss is a priority. After all, many people don’t bother with “safely removing” devices before unplugging them. That makes “quick removal” a superior solution for many people, as it will reduce the risk of data loss when not safely removing a drive.

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Wink

We love Wink’s smarthome hub and have recommended it highly in the past. But the Wink Hub has been “temporarily unavailable” in stores for over five months now, and Wink won’t say why. What’s going on? Is Wink done for?

A Brief History of the Wink’s Many Owners

Wink has been around for years now and was formerly the product of a company named Quirky. Quirky began life as a startup company in 2009 with several, well, quirky but useful sounding ideas. They announced a mirror that eliminates shower steam fog, a set of wheels designed to turn any object into a remote-controlled car, and more. In 2014, Quirky partnered with GE to create a new company named Wink to focus on internet-connected devices.

Unfortunately, Quirky itself didn’t do well; it spent a lot on development with little return, and then Wink suffered a significant setback. Every Wink owner came home to find a hub “so secure that it is unable to connect to the Wink servers” (those were Wink’s words). The problem centered on an expired certificate, and unfortunately, solving it required a recall of many hubs. Between the cost of the recall and other financial difficulties, Quirky went bankrupt in 2015 and the Wink assets sold to Flextronics (now called Flex), which had been the leading supplier for Wink’s hardware and firmware. Flextronics, in turn, sold Wink to i.am+ in mid-2017, where the company remains to this day. If you’re not familiar with i.am+, it’s a company owned by will.i.am, with a focus on wearable technology. Quirky did come back to life but remains separate from Wink.

Wink Development Has Slowed to a Crawl

Smarthome hubs live and die by their product integrations. If a smarthome hub doesn’t work with as many smart devices as possible, then users will abandon it for a competitor that does support their gadgets. So it’s disconcerting that Wink last announced new product integrations in September 2017.

In any tech industry, let alone the smarthome sector, that’s an enormous amount of time without iteration. To illustrate that fact, the very next announcement from Wink was support for Cortana, complete with pictures of Windows Phones and mentions of the Harmon Invoke Cortana speaker. In the last four months, all of Wink’s blog post updates described firmware updates designed to fix issues. The last new feature, which realistically is an enhancement of Lookout, came over a year ago. But worse than lack of updates and features, it’s almost impossible to buy a Wink Hub now.

Wink’s Supply is Nonexistent

Wink’s online store has been entirely out of stock since at least November 2018, which isn’t a good sign. Any attempt to add a Wink product to the cart at its website led to “temporarily unavailable” errors. This is true for many of the third-party products on the Wink website as well, like lightbulbs and smart plugs. Even Amazon.com and Home Depot had little, if any, Wink products available.

We reached out to Wink about this back in November 2018. Wink said the problem was only temporary, and that it was working on restocking its online store soon:

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What Determined The Direction Of Clock Hand Movement?

1. Religious Tradition
2. Sundials
3. Right-Handed Clock Makers
4. A Royal Decree

Think you know the answer?

Josh Hendrickson

The Google Home Hub is exceptional for controlling smarthomes, checking weather and news, and setting alarms or timers. But, if you don’t have the Ambient Display set to show your photos, you’re missing out on one of its best features.

Google Home Hub Is More Than a Voice Assistant

You probably use voice commands quite a bit with your Google Home Hub, but that’s neglecting the main feature that separates the Hub from other Google Home devices—the display. The Home Hub’s display can show you the weather, play news with video, offer step by step recipe instructions, control your smart lights, and even play YouTube videos. But one of the Home Hub’s best features, ambient display mode, only appears when you’re not using the hub.

With the Home Hub, Google introduced the “Ambient EQ” light sensor, and this allows the device to change its brightness and color temperature to work best with the current environment. Essentially, the Hub should look good no matter what room you put it in. It’s hard to overstate just how well this works, but you will almost swear you’re looking at a printed photo instead of a screen.

So, when you’re not working with the Google Home Hub (which is probably most of the time), why not have it display your photos? Think of those digital photo frames from a decade ago—only, in this case, the final product isn’t terrible.

If you have more than one Home Hub, you can even have them show the same set of photos without adding them one at a time to each device—your photos just need to be stored in Google Photos. You can even choose which people and pets show up on your Hub.

Upload Your Pictures to Google Photos

To view your photos on your Home Hub, you’ll need to upload them to Google Photos. If you just want to see some beautiful art, however, you can skip straight to turning on Ambient Mode on your Google Home Hub.

If you haven’t already, you’ll want to start by uploading your pictures to Google Photos. It’s possible that all the photos you care about are already there, especially if you use an Android phone to take your pictures. But if you haven’t, start by going to Google Photos and logging in with your Google Account. Then upload any images you want to display on your Hubs. You can do this from the Google Photos iPhone and Android app as well, but if you already have all your photos on a computer, then you can load up everything at once from the browser.

Once you do have your photos uploaded, click on the search bar at the top of the screen (to the left of the Upload button). You’ll see a row of faces—click on them and label those faces to group your photos by people. This is useful later if you want your Google Home Hub to display specific people (like family members or pets).

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Who Invented The Countdown?

1. A Filmmaker
2. A Rocket Scientist
3. A Boy Scout
4. A DJ

Think you know the answer?

Hamilton Beach

If you use a lot of canned goods in your house, you’re really doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have an electric opener. Read on to find out more about the best options out there.

Many cans offer ring-pulls now but there are always plenty of exceptions too. A manual can opener is ideal if you’re camping, but when at home (and with a power source), it’s so much easier to plug in a can opener and let it do all the hard work. That’s even more important if you have any disabilities or weaknesses that make it hard to do things with your hands.

A good electric can opener doesn’t have to cost a fortune, so here’s a selection of the best devices out there, along with details on how they can help you out.

Best Overall: Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener ($30) Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach is a regular go-to place for good quality kitchen gadgets and it’s certainly the case here with the Smooth Touch Electric Automatic Can Opener.

It’s the priciest can opener here but it’ll last you a long time. Simply place your can at the top of the device then hold down the large lever above it, and the can opener does the rest. The pushdown lever is just the right size so that even if you have mobility issues, you won’t have trouble finding it. There’s no need for holding onto anything fiddly here.

The device has a side-cutting system that removes the top while leaving a smooth edge, so you limit your risk of cutting your finger at any point. It works on standard-size cans as well as cans with pop-top lids meaning there’s little it can’t handle. It looks pretty appealing too.

Buy on Amazon Best Combo Can Opener: Hamilton Beach Classic Chrome Heavyweight Can Opener ($20) Hamilton Beach

Two times where Hamilton Beach rules the roost? Well, yeah. In the case of the Classic Chrome Heavyweight Can Opener, that’s because it also has the bonus of including a knife sharpener on the bottom of the device. Is it as good as a dedicated knife sharpener? Not exactly, but for the average user, it’s far better than just leaving your knives to go dull which is far too common for many people rushing around their kitchen.

As well as that, its can opener is safe and sturdy and able to tackle any can you try it with. It has a magnet on the top so your can clings to it as it does its magic. The cutting unit is also removable so you can wash it safely and easily away from the rest of the device. It’s a high-quality combo unit.

Buy on Amazon Best Handheld Can Opener: Instecho Electric Can Opener ($20) Instecho

A handheld can opener can be pretty useful if you have limited space in your kitchen and you don’t want to need room for yet another electrical unit. The Instecho Electric Can Opener is small enough to store in a drawer while still competent enough that you don’t have to worry about using manual effort to open a can.

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txking / Shutterstock

Homebrew allows your Wii U to run apps Nintendo didn’t intend for you to run. This includes emulators, custom games, and mods. You can even install backup copies of your games on a hard drive and run them from there.

This process is long, but isn’t overly complicated and can be completed by the average user. You don’t run any risk of damaging or bricking your console with normal homebrew, so it’s entirely safe.

Why Homebrew?

Homebrew is a great way to breath new life into an old console. There’s plenty of cool things you can do with a modded console.

• Emulators: Want to run Nintendo 64 games on your Wii U? With emulators, the Wii U can play almost any Nintendo game that isn’t a 3DS or Switch exclusive.
• USB game loading: You only have a measly 16-32 GB of space on your Wii U, which is only enough to install a few games to the fast internal storage. Homebrew enables loading hundreds of games from USB storage, which you can dump yourself from the disc. This does enable piracy, but that’s not the primary focus.
• Cemu: Homebrewing your Wii U is the only way to play Wii U games on PC legally, and with Breath of The Wild now running much better on Cemu than it does on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch, there’s plenty of reason to.
• GameCube games: Nintendo simply flipped a switch to disable running GameCube games on your Wii U. The functionality is still there but disabled from within Wii mode. You can turn it back on and make full use of your console.
• Modding games: There’s an active scene for Smash 4 mods, including one called Melee HD which completely changes the gameplay. Homebrew is the only way to mod games.

There’s far too much content to show everything in detail here, but we’ll outline how to get your console homebrewed and to a point where you can begin installing whatever you’d like.

Prep Your SD Card

You’ll need to get the homebrew files onto your Nintendo Wii U. To do that, you’ll need an SD card reader. If your computer doesn’t have one, you can get an adapter on Amazon for less than $10.

There are two paths you can take with the homebrew process. The first uses a browser exploit to run arbitrary code and load the homebrew launcher. From there, you can install a custom firmware package called Mocha CFW, which removes code signing and lets you install the homebrew channel as an app on your Wii U. After that’s done, you can go in and out of homebrew apps without any issues.

The problem is, if you reboot your Wii U, you’ll have to redo the browser exploit. This is annoying, especially on the latest firmware, where the exploit has a lower success rate. The solution to this is another exploit called Haxchi to overwrite a Virtual Console DS game and turn it into a makeshift homebrew launcher, replacing the browser exploit entirely. But you’ll need a legitimate DS game—no way to pirate it, even with homebrew magic. Currently, the cheapest DS game on the Nintendo eShop is Brain Age, at $6.99, though others are supported. You can also make your Wii U run the exploit on boot, called Coldboot Haxchi, but it’s not necessary and is one of the few things that run the risk of bricking your console—in other words, making your Wii U hardware unusable.

Initial Setup

You’ll need a few files, regardless of which path you choose:

• The payload to execute when you run the browser exploit
• The homebrew launcher channel, which is loaded by the payload. Download both these .zip files.
• The homebrew app store, technically optional but it will allow you to install future apps solely from your Wii U.

Download all the .zip files, put them in a new folder, like this:

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A Popular Sci-Fi Show Forced The U.S. National Park Service To Post Warning Signs Where?

1. The Lincoln Memorial
2. The Hoover Dam
3. Yellowstone National Park
4. Alcatraz

Think you know the answer?

If you travel between countries that use different languages and varying currencies, adjusting your iOS device to use the local standards can be helpful. You can easily change both the region and language on your iPhone or iPad—here’s how.

When you set up a new iPhone or iPad you’re asked to confirm language and region there and then, but that doesn’t mean that those settings will always be correct. You might want to move to a new country, or even learn a new language, at which point changing a previous setting makes lots of sense. You might even find yourself in a position where you accidentally changed the language or region settings and don’t know how to change them back.

How to Change Your Region

Note that by changing your region, things like the default currency and temperature unit will also change depending on the region chosen.

Open the Settings app to get the ball rolling. Then tap the “General” button to proceed.

Next, tap “Language & Region.”

Tap “Region.”

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Are you bogged down by bulky laptops, clunky smart home interfaces, and an analog watch? Why do things the hard way? Grab some convenient smart home products, computers, smartwatches at a massive discount.

Right now, websites like Amazon, eBay, Best Buy, and Newegg, are running some impressive deals. These deals range from smart bulbs to jigsaws, but there are a few standout discounts that we’re really excited about.

Newegg’s $379 refurbished Surface Pro 3 deal is especially exciting. The Surface Pro 3 is a few years old, but it’s an incredible tablet that rivals most laptops in the $400 price range. If you aren’t interested in tablets, you should check out eBay’s $62 Lenovo Smart Display, or the $99 Falser 1 smartwatch from Skagen (with coupon code 30OFF).

Computers, Tablets, and Computer Accessories

Grab a premium laptop at a massive discount.

• Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Refurbished, $379 ($220 off) [Newegg]
• iPad 2018 Edition, $240 ($70 off) [Massgenie]
• MacBook Pro, $272 ($40 off) [Massgenie]
• Google Pixelbook Refurbished, $700 ($300 off) [Best Buy]
• Lenovo Ideapad Flex 14, $330 ($320 off) [Newegg]
• Sabrent Bluetooth USB Adapter, $4 ($3 off with coupon code 46GCVAQ2) [Amazon]

Phones and Smart Watches

Upgrade your phone or grab a stylish new smartwatch.

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ 64GB Unlocked, $390 ($200 off) [Best Buy]
• Google Pixel 2 Refurbished, $280 ($100 off) [Walmart]
• Moto G7 64GB Unlocked Cellphone, $200 ($100 off) [Best Buy]
• Skagen Faster 1 Smart Watch, $99 ($30 off with coupon code 30OFF) [Skagen]
• Skagen Falster 2 Smart Watch Refurbished, $123 ($62 off) [Skagen]
• OLEBR iPhone/Apple Watch/AirPod Charging Stand, $20 ($15 off with coupon code JRVKVPKR) [Amazon]

Smart Home Gadgets and Mesh Wi-Fi Routers

Upgrade your smart home with these killer deals.

• Lenovo Smart Display with Google Assistant, $62 ($130 off, an extra $7 off at checkout) [eBay]
• Echo Dot w/ Philips Hue White & Color Starter Kit, $90 ($110 off) [Amazon]
• Google Home Hub, $80 ($20 off) [Massgenie]
• Echo Dot and Amazon Smart Plug, $40 ($35 off) [Amazon]
• Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock, $95 ($25 off) [Amazon]
• LIFX Smart Bulb 4-Pack, $145 ($50 off) [Amazon]
• Philips Hue White Smart Bulb 2-Pack, $37 ($12 off) [Home Depot]
• Nest Secure Alarm Starter Pack, $399 ($100 off) [Home Depot]
• NETGEAR Arlo Security Cameras 2-Pack, $100 ($150 off) [Best Buy]
• Elgato Stream Deck Controller, $119 ($30 off) [GameStop]
• TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi Router, $57 ($23 off) [Amazon]
• Netgear Mesh Wi-Fi System Refurbished, $180 ($70 off) [Amazon]

Games and TVs

Buy a discounted Nintendo Switch or grab a paper-thin QLED TV.

• Nintendo Switch Console, $260 ($40 off) [Massgenie]
• Bayonetta 2 + Bayonetta 1 Nintendo Switch, $50 ($10 off) [Amazon]
• Dungeon Rushers Nintendo Switch, $6 ($9 off) [Nintendo]
• Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition PS4, $15 ($43 off) [eBay]
• Gris PC, $13 ($4 off) [Steam]
• Samsung 55″ QLED Smart TV, $1,428 ($550 off with coupon code GIFHJW) [Google Express]

Speakers and Headphones

Make your music more enjoyable with these discounts.

• Audio Technica ATH-M50xBB Studio Headphones, $120 ($40 off) [Massgenie]
• Blackwave Wireless Bluetooth Headset, $12 ($28 off) [Groupon]
• Lenovo Air TWS Bluetooth Earbuds, $32 ($17 off with coupon code LeAirUS) [GearVita]

Everything Else

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Plus Snap’s big push to stay relevant, Amazon’s Alexa-powered AirPods alternatives, more Android Q news, and a lot more. It’s time to talk about the biggest, coolest, or generally most interesting stories from the last 24 hours.

Amazon Wants to Send 3,236 Satellites into Low Earth Orbit to Bring Internet to the Masses

Last September, there were murmurs of Amazon working on some sort of space project. More details recently arose, showing that the plan is to launch a bunch of satellites to trickle down internet access to underserved communities.

Seriously though, how cool is that?

Amazon is calling this effort “Project Kuiper,” (named after astronomer Gerard Kuiper) and the details were recently uncovered by GeekWire in a series of three filings made by the FCC. The plan is to launch 3,236 satellites—784 at 367 miles, 1,296 at 379 miles, and 1,156 at 391 miles—to provide internet access in places around the Earth that are either totally unserved or generally underserved. Amazon wants to bring internet access to the globe.

In response to the findings, GeekWire reached out to Amazon for a statement, at which time the project was confirmed:

Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet. We look forward to partnering on this initiative with companies that share this common vision.

The report goes on to state that the satellites would provide coverage ranging from 56 degrees north to 56 degrees south latitude, and that “about 95 percent of the world’s population lives within that wide swath of the planet.” Sorry, other five percent.

Unfortunately, Amazon didn’t provide a timeline for the launch of these satellites, nor did it speak about the logistics or economic aspect of the project.

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