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Unlike iOS, Android allows you to use third-party apps to perform essential functions, like texting. Here is how you can set a new default texting app on your Android phone.

First, you’ll need to install the replacement texting app you want to use. There are plenty of SMS Apps on the Play Store. Textra SMS is a popular one and what we’ll be using as our example here.

After you install your texting app, there are two ways to set it as the default. You can do it from the app itself when you launch the app for the first time or you can do it later on through your device’s Settings app.

Set the Texting App as the Default the First Time You Launch It

Open the app and click past the initial startup stuff (here, we have to click “Start Using Textra” and agree to the necessary permissions).

Once the app launches, you’ll see a button at the bottom asking if you want to make it your default app. Tap the button, and then tap “Yes” to confirm.

And it’s now your default texting app. Almost all apps will prompt you to set them as the default app when you use them for the first time. For ones that don’t (or if you’ve used the app for a while and now want to set it as the default), use the technique in the next section.

Set a Texting App as the Default in Settings

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So you’re ready to buy a new TV, and you want it to be a good one. If this is your first time buying a TV where the consideration goes beyond price, you might want to brush up on some terms.

Below are ten factors that should affect your buying decisions, arranged roughly from most to least important. Naturally, not everything will be the same for every buyer: you might be willing to spend a little more for an OLED TV with fantastic contrast versus a larger LED-LCD TV at the same price. But if you factor in all of the following for your buying decision, you’ll be happy with the result.

Panel Size and Type

Obviously, the most immediate factor you’ll notice for any TV is its size, expressed in inches. That’s a diagonal measurement, from one corner to its opposite. These tend to come in a few general sizes, from 32 inches on the small end through 40/42, 46, 55, 65, 75, and sometimes even higher, with little variation in between.

Samsung

But size isn’t everything. If you see a 55-inch TV that costs twice as much as the 65-inch TV next to it, it’s probably using a superior image panel. Most televisions use an LCD (liquid crystal display panel) with an LED backlight. That backlight affects the image quality: better LED lights, spaced closer together and with more fine illumination control, can more subtly illuminate the LCD panel for a superior picture. You’ll pay extra for smaller, more thinly-spaced LED lighting. Different brands have different names for their LED approaches: Samsung’s best TVs use “QLED” arrangements, while Vizio calls its top line P-Series “Quantum,” even though they’re using very similar tech.

LG

Rarer and more expensive televisions use OLED, Organic Light-Emitting Diode screens. This design, which you might be familiar with in your phone, incorporates a color-changing RGB cell and a backlight into each and every pixel. The result means that when a pixel is displaying black, it’s entirely off, creating a nearly perfect black contrast effect. OLEDs are also (usually) more vibrant and saturated with colors. At the moment, only LG and Sony sell OLED TVs, and they’re among the most expensive in both company’s catalogs.

4K Resolution

In 2019, it’s hard to find even a small television that doesn’t feature 4K resolution. That’s “4K” as in “four times 1080p,” the previous standard for high definition video, with a total resolution of 3840 by 2160.

It’s still hard to find some 4K content, but the availability is growing, thanks to services like Vudu, physical media like 4K Blu-ray movies, and upgraded game consoles like the Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro. At this point, if you’re looking at a new TV it’s almost certainly 4K unless you go smaller than 40 inches or so. You won’t save any money hunting for a cheaper low-resolution panel, so you might as well go for the upgrade, even if you don’t have any movies or games that work with it yet.

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Samsung

As mobile tech gets ever more sophisticated, cheaper and cheaper phones get the features that were previously restricted to flagship designs. Samsung’s latest phones for the Indian market, the Galaxy M10 and M20, illustrate this principle perfectly.

Let’s start with the M20. For just 11000 INR (about $155 USD), users get a huge 6.3-inch 1080p display with curved corners and a “teardrop” camera notch, as seen on the OnePlus 6T. That big body lets the phone hold an incredible 5000mAh battery, which should be good for multi-day charges. The phone features both a rear fingerprint reader and face unlock via the front camera, dual rear cameras with 13MP primary and 5MP ultra-wide secondary. A USB Type-C port, still not a given on budget designs, hangs out on the bottom with a 15-watt fast charger in the box.

The M20 comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage on the base model, plus whatever you can fit in the MicroSD card slot. A more expansive model, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, will be 13000 INR (a bit over $180).

Outside your budget? Then consider the Galaxy M10. It shrinks the screen just a tad to 6.2 inches, busted down to “HD+” (read: 720p) resolution, but with the same teardrop rounded corners and teardrop notch. Samsung doesn’t mention a USB Type-C port or fast charging on the M10, but it foregoes the fingerprint scanner (face unlock is still available) and massive battery, with a slower octa-core processor. 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage runs 9000 INR ($125), while the cheapest model with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage is just 8000 INR ($115). Even if the specs don’t wow you, it’s a fantastic deal for a phone that looks like a flagship from a couple of years ago. Tellingly, Samsung doesn’t mention Android in its press release, so there’s no telling whether the phones are running 8.0 Oreo or 9.0 Pie.

Samsung says the Galaxy M10 and M20 will launch in India first, on February 5th. They’ll be sold on the Indian Amazon storefront in blue and black variants. Given the company’s history and vast phone lineup, expect to see these models—or ones practically identical to them—available in other markets before too long.

Source: Samsung via Android Police

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Brushing your teeth manually is far from the most effective method, as many dentists will attest to. Instead, pick one of these electric toothbrushes and save time (and potentially your teeth) for many years to come.

See, with a manual toothbrush, you’re liable to miss out some key areas. Human nature means it’s easy to slip up and skip a part of your mouth, simply because you’re tired or rushing. An electric toothbrush does the brushing part much faster and typically also reminds you of timings and even which parts of your gums you may have missed. The right electric toothbrush can potentially save you a lot of money in the long term when it comes to avoiding expensive and painful dental bills.

Here’s our pick of electric toothbrushes, encompassing various needs you might have for it.

Best Smart Toothbrush: Oral-B 7000 ($110) Oral-B

Oral-B has a solid reputation in the dental field so you’ll see them featured a lot here. When it comes to smart toothbrushes with Bluetooth and real-time feedback, you can’t go wrong with the Oral-B 7000. It offers up to 800 brush movements per second leading to the brush removing 300% more plaque along the gum line than a regular manual brush.

On top of that, it has 6 modes including Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive, Whitening, Deep Clean, and Tongue Cleaner. Where the brush truly stands out is its smart features. It offers real-time feedback that tracks your brushing habits over time before offering up useful tips on how to take better care of your teeth. It also senses when you brush too hard so you can cut back on inadvertently damaging your gums and tooth enamel through over enthusiasm.

Buy on Amazon Best For Keeping Teeth White: Philips Sonicare Diamond ($190) Philips

Look, no toothbrush is going to magically cure hideously stained teeth. Especially if you drink a lot of coffee or still smoke. However, the Philips Sonicare Diamond does a lot when it comes to helping you maintain your shiny teeth. Combined with a few lifestyle changes and your smile will continue to look great. The toothbrush promises to remove up to 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrush with a gum health mode dedicated to improving your gums up to 7x in just two weeks. A white+ mode also aims to remove up to 100% more stains in 3 days.

The device comes with 3 different smart brush head types which automatically pair with the brushing mode you choose for maximum effectiveness. Smart sensors and app support enhance the service so that your teeth get the best clean possible. As they should at this premium price tag.

Buy on Amazon Best For Regular Travelers: Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 ($150) Oral-B

If you regularly travel, you want a toothbrush that’s sturdy enough to be safe in your holdall or luggage. The Oral-B Genius Pro 8000 is a tough and smart toothbrush to choose. It comes with a smart travel case that allows you to charge both your toothbrush and smartphone at the same time, saving you the hassle of finding additional charging ports.

As a toothbrush, it’s incredibly effective too. It has 6 cleaning modes much like the Oral-B 7000, plus some smarter app connectivity. It uses facial recognition to help you know where you’ve brushed, as well as a multicolor SmartRing that provides visual coaching on brush times and how much pressure you use. It’ll also automatically slow the brush speed if you’re using too much pressure.

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Have you passed up on a Nintendo Labo kit because of its $70 price tag? Well, now’s your chance to grab one for just $39.99. But don’t wait, this deal won’t last forever.

Right now, Best Buy is offering a massive $30 discount on all of its Nintendo Labo kits. It’s no secret that we love the Nintendo Labo, and we’d recommend one to anyone who loves innovation or engineering.

The Nintendo Labo kits aren’t just a fun toy, they’re also a great educational resource. These kits are filled with rudimentary engineering and programming challenges, and they can give kids (and adults) an appreciation of what can be done by hand, off-screen. There aren’t many big-name toys that prioritize education anymore, but the Nintendo Labo is a fantastic exception.

All three kits are on sale right now for $39.99 ($30 off the regular price of $69.99):

• Labo Variety Kit
• Labo Vehicle Kit
• Labo Robot Kit

All of these kits focus on different activities, and you’ll want to buy whichever one seems the most appealing. The Variety Kit has an emphasis on tools, like fishing rods and musical instruments come alive when connected to the Switch console. The Robot Kit focuses on motion controls and lets players control an on-screen robot with their arms and legs. And the Vehicle Kit is, as you can imagine, focused on cars, planes, and boats.

Whether you’re a gamer, a collector, or a wonderful gift-giving human being, this is a great opportunity to scoop up a Nintendo Labo kit (or two) for a seriously low price. Just keep in mind that a deal like this won’t last forever, so grab it while you can.

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Google’s “Better Together” pairing of Chromebooks and Android phones allows Pixel and Nexus users to share a data connection from the phone to Chromebook automatically, but now it’s getting a broader range of device compatibility.

Given its limited availability so far, you’d be forgiven for not being familiar with the Instant Tethering feature. But, in a nutshell, it allows an Android device to automatically tether to a Chromebook when the ‘book doesn’t detect a usable Wi-Fi connection.

As I mentioned earlier, this is part of Google’s “Better Together” feature in Chrome OS, which is an attempt at a more Mac-like pairing of laptop and phone. Once connected, users can use Smart Lock, Instant Tethering, and even send SMS messages from their Chromebook. The thing is, it was only compatible with Google-branded phones (Nexus, Pixel). Until now.

Of course, its availability is still pretty limited. It’s only available on the Chrome OS developer channel, and you’ll need a compatible phone. Baby steps. Before we get into how to get it running, however, there are a few things you’ll need to note:

• You’ll still need a compatible tethering plan. If you don’t have tethering on your mobile plan, this won’t work. Google isn’t interested in helping you dupe the carriers. Sorry.
• Your phone has to be compatible. Before you go through all the trouble of setting it up on your Chromebook, head into Settings > Google and look for “Instant Tethering” on your phone. If it’s not there, this won’t work.

With that, let’s do this thing.

Step One: Connect Your Android Phone

Assuming you’re on the developer channel, go ahead and jump into your Chromebook’s settings menu. From there, scroll down to “Connected devices” and click the Set Up button.

In this new menu, hit the dropdown on the left side and choose your phone. Next, click the Accept & Continue button.

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With all the apps we have on our iPhones these days, organizing them into folders is pretty much a requirement. But why does Apple still only show nine apps per folder page, especially with screen sizes getting bigger?

Apple first introduced folders in iOS 4, and you could only have up to 12 apps in a single folder—they bumped up that number to 16 starting with the iPhone 5. But the nice thing was that all 16 would appear on the screen at once.

However, the introduction of iOS 7 meant a completely redesigned user interface, and that included folders. While folders now came with pages you can swipe through (up to 15 of them!), you can only fit a measly nine apps on a page at once.

This still made sense on the iPhone 4 and even on the iPhone 5, both of which had a much smaller screen size than current models. On the smaller models, opening up a folder with nine apps filled out the screen quite nicely. But with iPhone screen sizes all the way up to a gargantuan 6.5 inches with the iPhone XS Max, using that same folder size just wastes screen space.

Unfortunately, on these larger iPhones (even on the regular iPhone XS’s 5.8-inch screen), folders look kind of…bad. Just look at this screenshot of an open folder. There’s a lot of wasted screen space that could otherwise be put to good use. And why is the folder title so far apart from the folder?

Of course, this could be a deliberate design choice by Apple so that you wouldn’t have to reach way up to the top of the screen to select an app in a folder, but you have to do that anyway to select apps at the top of the home screen.

In any case, we did a bit of Photoshopping to see just how much better a folder could be on iOS, and how much nicer it would look on newer, larger iPhones.

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We’ve sung the praises of Chromebooks time and time again. A good Chromebook is more secure, easier to use, and less expensive than a Windows or Apple laptop. Here’s your chance to get a great Acer Chromebook at a discounted price.

Right now, you can buy the Acer Chromebook 14 with a carrying case for just $239. That’s a solid $60 discount on one of our favorite Chromebooks, and you don’t even have to buy a laptop bag for it.

The Acer Chromebook 14 is a fantastic little laptop with a 14″ HD display, 4GB of RAM, and a 16GB eMMC solid-state drive. Like other Chromebooks, the Acer 14 doesn’t need a lot of power, so its battery can last for a whopping 12 hours.

If you’re used to Windows or Apple laptops, then the Acer 14’s specs may seem a bit underwhelming. But in the world of Chromebooks, this is a powerful little device. Chromebooks don’t require as much internal storage or processing power as a traditional laptop, because they operate almost entirely within the Chrome web browser. The Acer 14 has plenty of RAM to keep things fast, and its 16GB solid-state drive ensures quick start-up and responsiveness.

A lot of people are on the fence about Chromebooks, but we love them. An Acer 14 for $239 is a solid deal. This is a great opportunity for anybody to ditch their old, clunky laptop for something better.

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Not everyone likes having to enter a password every time they need to sign in to their computer. Windows lets you get rid of the password without too much hassle. Here’s how.

Why You Probably Shouldn’t Do This

There are several caveats you should be aware of before you even consider using the techniques we cover in this article.

• You must be using a local account for the password removal trick to work. You can’t remove your password if you’re using a Microsoft account. If you’re using a Microsoft account and still want to do this, you’ll need to revert your account to a local one.
• Removing the password from your computer can be a security risk. Anyone can access it by simply walking up to it. However, people still need to have physical access to do this. Having no password on a local account doesn’t make you any more vulnerable to remote intrusion.
• If you make an administrator account have no password, malicious applications running on your PC could theoretically gain elevated access to Windows.
• If you have only one account on your Windows PC, it’s a better idea to set Windows up to sign you in automatically instead of removing your password, but even that has its problems. We’ll show you how to do it later in this article and note the specific security risks it entails, as well.

Yeah, that’s a lot of important caveats. The truth is, we generally recommend against using these techniques, even though, in certain circumstances, they might make sense. In the end, we’re writing about them because we’ve seen the advice passed around on other sites without noting the important risks it involves.

How to Remove the Windows Password for a Local User Account

Open the Settings app by clicking the Start menu and then the Settings cog.

Next, click on “Accounts.”

From the list of settings on the left side, select “Sign-in Options” and then under the “Password” section on the right, click the “Change” button.

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On paper, BenQ’s EX3203R looks like an ideal “sweet spot” for a large format monitor: 32” size, 1440p resolution, and 144Hz speed, and USB-C capability. But corners cut in the overall package and some poor ergonomic choices, plus low value, mean it’s a tough sell.

The monitor’s basic design and features are perfectly competent. And the combination of very specific hardware means that it might be ideal for a subset of users who want a big, fast display that also works with a USB-C-only laptop. But anyone not in this cross-section of users would be better served by a competing model.

Covering The Basics

The EX3203R is a big, stylish monitor, combining a 32-inch VA panel with a 2560×1440 resolution. This size and density are ideal for a lot of people: it’s as big as you can fit on a normal computer desktop without veering into the more demanding (and expensive) range of ultra-wide designs.

The 144Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time are very much intended to woo gamers hoping for a display that gives them a speed advantage, with more general users and media-focused creators being secondary markets.

Michael Crider

The monitor features double HDMI ports, DisplayPort, two standard USB 3.1 A-format ports, and audio out, but its headline specification is compatibility with USB-C. That port can handle Thunderbolt video at the monitor’s maximum resolution and refresh rates, as well as carry data (though less of it with the video maxed out) and enough power to charge up laptops like the MacBook. The spec sheet reads like an ideal display for a desktop gamer with an ultraportable machine on the side.

Other highlights of the design include a matte anti-glare screen with an 1800R curve, slim bezels of about a quarter-inch, and compatibility with AMD’s FreeSync 2. BenQ is quick to note support for HDR video and game playback and a strain-reducing mode that lowers the output of blue light.

Michael Crider

All of these points are positive, but the execution is lacking, at least when the $700 price point is taken into consideration. For that much money, you can get every feature listed above, minus the native USB-C connection, with a much more appealing and comfortable display.

Ergonomic Shortcomings

The EX3203R makes a striking impression at first, with its roomy panel, thin bezels, and surprisingly small case. But the positive initial reaction gives way to frustration upon setup. The first ding on the design is its use of an external power converter, adding a sizeable and heavy plastic brick to the crowded rear of my desk. No other monitor I’ve used in this size class needed anything except a standard PC power cable.

Michael Crider

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Dolby is a trusted name in audio, but its latest product is a little different. “Dolby Dimension Headphones” isn’t an audio standard, like 5.1 Surround or Dolby Atmos, but a new wireless headphone set you can buy.

Dolby crammed the Dimension Headphones full of their audio tech, both licensed (technology that’s sold to other manufacturers to use in their products) and exclusive to this rare hardware release. Things may stay that way, or they may not: at $600 a pop, Dolby is unlikely to sell so many Dimension Headphones that it won’t consider licensing some of this new tech. That being the case, it’s worth breaking down what it’s all about.

Crazy-Powerful Hardware

The Dimension Headphones use standard Bluetooth wireless, but they have more going on inside than perhaps any other pair of cans on the market. The electronics inside contain a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor—the kind usually seen in Android smartphones—to run all of the audio wizardry crammed inside. The set supports Bluetooth 4.2 and Low Energy profiles, along with standard smartphone calls via five microphones, APTX high-quality sound, and a 100-foot operating range.

Dolby

Audiophiles will be glad to hear that the set includes beefy 40mm drivers with a 20-20,000 Hz frequency range—fairly standard in this upscale portion of the market. You can pair the headset to three different sources simultaneously, like a phone, laptop, and home theater system—there’s even a quick switching button to jump between them. Touch controls offer phone-style swipes for volume and tracking.

You can charge the set in the usual way via a MicroUSB cable, but Dobly also includes a swanky magnetic charging cradle in the box.

Dolby LifeMix is Advanced Noise Cancellation

The Dimension Headphones feature active noise cancellation, an electronic system that uses microphones and audio processing to cancel out persistent low-frequency noises. That’s not a new feature; active noise cancellation has been around for decades. But LifeMix is a new trick in the Dimension Headphones and a novel approach to the feature.

Dolby

LifeMix lets you change the level of noise cancellation, from totally off to “boost” at 11 (exactly the opposite of the old Spinal Tap joke). But in addition to blocking out the noises around you, LifeMix can highlight exterior sounds instead. This lets people focus intently on music or movie audio while still listening for external noises, like a baby monitor or doorbell. Advanced audio algorithms isolate frequencies of human voices for particular clarity.

You can control the LifeMix feature using the touchpad on the headphones, or fine-tune it using the paired Dimension smartphone app. Speaking of which…

Multi-Device Pairing Controlled With Your Phone Dolby

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Which Character Serves As The Mascot of Pixar Animation Studios?

1. WALL-E
2. Luxo Jr.
3. Nemo
4. Buzz Lightyear

Think you know the answer?

Vizio

At CES 2019, many TV manufacturers announced built-in Apple AirPlay for their TVs. Vizio promised many existing TVs going back to 2016 would receive these features, too. Now, you can join the beta and get AirPlay early.

AirPlay will let you send content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Vizio TV. For example, you can stream videos from iTunes, play music from Apple Music, or even mirror your iPhone or Mac’s display on the TV. HomeKit support means you can use Siri to control the TV—switching it on and off, adjusting the volume, and starting playback—using an iPhone, iPad, or HomePod.

As Vizio told us, the SmartCast 3.0 software with these new features should roll out for everyone sometime in the second quarter of 2019. But, in the first quarter of 2019, you can join Vizio’s beta program and get it early. This will let you install the beta version of SmartCast 3.0 on your TV, so you may experience some bugs if you take the leap before it’s ready for everyone.

If you’re interested, you can now sign up for Vizio’s SmartCast 3.0 beta if you live in the USA or Canada. Head to Vizio’s sign-up page and enter your email address to get started. It looks like Vizio hasn’t rolled out the beta software yet, but you’ll be the first to know when Vizio does.

According to Apple, the following TVs will receive the SmartCast 3.0 software:

• VIZIO P-Series Quantum X (2019)
• VIZIO P-Series Quantum (2019 and 2018)
• VIZIO P-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016)
• VIZIO M-Series Quantum (2019)
• VIZIO M-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016)
• VIZIO E-Series (2018, 2017 and 2016 UHD models)
• VIZIO V-Series (2019)
• VIZIO D-Series (2018)

Other Vizio TVs won’t receive the SmartCast 3.0 software update as far as we know.

RELATED: AirPlay Is Coming to Smart TVs. Here’s How It Works

Thanks to Engadget for spotting this.

Years in the making, the Impossible Project l-1 Analog Instant Camera is the first camera system to use the original Polaroid film format in over 20 years. Today you can score 55% off digital-enhanced analog camera.

How is it digital-enhanced? Unlike the old school Polaroid cameras you may or may not be hands-on-familiar with, the Impossible Project camera includes app integration so you can easily adjust the camera from your smartphone to tweak a variety of settings right from your phone.

You get that instant photo novelty without the total shot-in-the-dark feeling. We think it’s a pretty neat way to merge old and new tech, and on top of that, the camera itself is pretty capable with a solid lens and a built-in ring flash.

You can score one today for $52, over half the retail price, and start snapping shots with 600-type instant film. Interested in checking out more instant film cameras? We’ve got you covered: here’s five more great instant film cameras and five great portable photo printers you can slip right in your pocket or bag.

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Waiting for your hair to dry naturally just isn’t convenient. Who’s got time for that? We certainly don’t, s we’ve checked out the best hair dryers help tame and dry hair quickly.

Hairdryers have come a long way in recent times. If you haven’t used one in a while, or you’ve stuck to the cheapest one you could find, you’re going to be really surprised. The key decision for you here is whether to go with an ionic or non-ionic hair dryer.

Lots of claims are made about “ionic” products, but Ionic hair dryers definitely have one thing going for them. They release negative ions which interact with the water molecules on your hair which accelerates the drying process. Because your hair dries faster you can use the hair drier for less time which, in turn, means less heat damage.

However, one complaint people have about ionic hair driers is that they don’t offer the same volumizing effect you get from a traditional dryer. If you’re keen for more volume to your hair, there’s still a need for a nonionic hair dryer so we’ve checked out a great hair dryer that does both.

Here’s our pick of the best hair dryers currently available.

Best For Longevity: BIO IONIC Powerlight Pro-Dryer ($200)

It’s not often we’re able to vouch that something will last you a decade of extensive use, but that’s the case with the BIO IONIC Powerlight Pro-Dryer. ReviewGeek’s editor, Jason Fitzpatrick, and his wife swear by it: they’ve had one for 10 years (and counting) with regular use of a couple of times a day. $20 a year sounds like a bargain to us.

The device offers 1875w of powerful airflow with conditioning Nano Beads that accelerate drying and promote shiny, soft and hydrated hair. It’s a lightweight model anyhow but you won’t have to worry about holding it for too long as it’s pretty speedy when it comes to drying your hair. Several settings are also available for heat and speed, plus you can control how much power to use. After all, different thickness of hair, as well as different lengths, means you might not always want the most powerful setting.

Buy on Amazon Best Premium Choice: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($400)

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Smarthome technology has come a long way. It still isn’t for everyone, but some of the common myths people use to avoid smarthome tech aren’t true. Smarthomes don’t have to be expensive, and they aren’t always listening to you, for example.

Myth: Smarthomes are Expensive Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock

Smarthomes can be expensive—especially if you go for a custom build designed specifically for your home. But they don’t have to be expensive.

It’s easy to start small and then build out piece by piece from there. One great way to do that is to pick up inexpensive smart bulbs and see what you think. You could then consider adding a sensor or two. If you are more comfortable with electricity, you can install smart light switches to control several bulbs for a little more than an inexpensive smart bulb.

The best thing to do is to watch for deals. Voice assistants like the Echo and Google Home go on sale frequently. Even if the cost does add up, it’s easy to spread out that cost over time, so you feel less of the bite. You don’t have to buy every gadget, and you certainly don’t have to buy them all at once!

RELATED: How to Put Together Your First Smarthome (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Myth: Smarthomes are Always Listening to You

If you become a Smarthome owner, or at least a Voice Assistant user, you’ll hear this frequently. But it isn’t true at all, at least not in the way people fear. Voice Assistant devices, like Alexa and Google Home, do always listen. But they are only listening for their wake word (like “Alexa” or “Hey, Google”).

This wake word is locally processed, and until the device hears those specific words, it sends nothing to Amazon or Google. As soon as they do recognize the wake word, they process the command that follows and then send it off for cloud processing. If these devices were recording everything they heard and sending it to the cloud, you’d see a drastic rise in network usage that would be easy to spot.

How easy? When an early Google Home mini review unit was malfunctioning and recording near constantly, the tech reviewer who had the unit realized fairly quickly. This was, of course, unintentional, and Google was quick to remedy the situation. But the point stands that near-constant recording is noticeable, even to someone who isn’t a security researcher.

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What Was The First Song Encoded Into MP3 Format?

1. Digital - Joy Division
2. Ninth Symphony - Beethoven
3. Tom's Diner - Suzanne Vega
4. Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

Think you know the answer?

Craving the feel of a full-size controller with comfortable ergonomics for your Nintendo Switch? You can grab a Switch Pro controller for nearly 20% off today.

If your only experience with Switch controllers is using the slender Joy-Cons, you really should treat yourself to a Pro controller. The Joy-Cons are great in terms of clever design, portability, and so on, but when it comes to a long game session (like binging for hours on Breath of the Wild or Mario’s Oddysey) the slender form factor can be pretty uncomfortable.

Enter the Pro controller: it’s got a traditional form factor, comfortable button and joystick spacing, and a huge battery for hours of play without recharging—you can expect 35-40 hours of playtime, easy. On top of that, you don’t sacrifice any of the features of the Joy-Cons: you still get rumble feedback, Amiibo functionality, and tilt/motion sensors.

Normally you’d pay $70 for the experience (which, in our opinion, is totally worth it), but thanks to a better-than-Black-Friday Amazon sale going on right now you can grab a Pro controller for $56.54.

Buy on Amazon

 

Unlimited Potential

Looking for something a little more dynamic than simple weights? These tools help you incorporate dynamic resistance training into your routines.

Resistance training is any workout where your limbs move against resistance (such as body weight, gravity, added weights, bands, etc.), which makes movement harder to accomplish. Resistance on the contracting of your muscles not only makes the exercises more difficult, but it also helps your body build more strength.

Our roundup of resistance tools includes bodyweight band trainers, resistance bungees, speed chutes, and weight sleds with a specific focus on keeping things interesting with dynamic resistance tools. 

Best Body Weight Resistance Trainer: Ultimate Body Press ($50) Ultimate Body Press

Our first tool for resistance training uses your own body weight for resistance. The Ultimate Body Press consists of two straps that have hand grips and feet loops to give you an upper body and lower body workout. These straps hang vertically, which helps prevent chafing against the skin of your arms when doing push up, dips, or flys. And if your feet are in the straps, they’ll stay put as you do your exercises.

You can use the Ultimate Body Press anywhere—mount it over a door or on a sturdy tree limb with the utility strap, or loop it over a pull up bar. Depending on the length you allow for the straps and the positioning of your body, you can tailor your workout to the resistance of your choosing. So if you want a more intense workout, lengthen the straps; if you want to build more stamina, make the straps shorter. The heavy-duty straps and buckles quickly adjust when you need them to.

This trainer can be used anywhere there’s a stable place to hang it. Plus, it even comes with a carrying bag for easy portability. But if you decide to set this resistance trainer up in your home, you can hang the large wall poster right next to the straps so you can look at its 26 exercises and 3 sample workouts.

Buy on Amazon Best Resistance Bungee: SKLZ Dynamic Resistance Assistant Trainer ($30) SKLZ

Resistance bungees can be used to train for any sport, from football to soccer to basketball, to even swimming. Use the SKLZ Dynamic Resistance Assistant Trainer solo by attaching the velcro end to a pole or sturdy base, or with a partner who holds the end. The person performing the exercise straps in and gets to work.

You can position the belt (which is attached to the bungee cord with a ring) at any orientation around your body to allow for 360-degree training, helping with your balance, speed, power, and even vertical jump. The sheathed cable of this bungee stretches from 8 to 22 feet, letting you train with any drill or movement needed to improve your overall physical fitness.

If you want more resistance, you can double up these bungees depending on the level of intensity you’re looking for in your training. The possibilities are endless when training with this tool. You can attach this to your ceiling to add resistance to burpees. Attach it to the side of the pool when you’re swimming. Wear it while doing agility footwork with cones and ladders. As long as the bungee cord can move in the space you’re working, you can add it in as an extra layer of training.

Buy on Amazon Best Resistance Parachute: Unlimited Potential Speed Chute ($20) Unlimited Potential

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One of the best values in all of the smarthome technology available is the handy smart plug. They’re cheap, but they can do a lot. Here are a handful of creative uses if you find yourself pondering the implications.

First off, if you just bought a smart plug and aren’t quite sure how to set it up and get going, we have some guides on a few different models—like  Eufy, ConnectSense, and Belkin—but for the most part, the process is similar on many other models. And if you haven’t bought one yet and are still deciding, maybe this will help.

With all that said, here are some cool and fun uses for smart plugs that might prove useful to you.

Automatically Turn Off Your Space Heater, Curling Iron, or Other Gadgets If You Forget to

Whether it’s the curling iron, space heater, or something else, there’s usually something that people forget to turn off—or at least worry that they’ve forgotten. A smart plug can help with that.

RELATED: Never Forget to Turn off the Curling Iron Again by Using a Smart Plug

If you the sort that only remembers you left something on after you leave home (or worry that you might have), you can use the accompanying app on your phone to turn off the smart plug remotely. However, most of the time, when we forget to turn something off, we never remember it later on. To solve that problem, you can set a schedule or a rule for your smart plug and have it automatically turn off at a set time every day.

Start the Coffee Maker from Afar

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