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Five years ago, we reported that wired earbuds were making a comeback with Gen Z. Our own reporter replaced her AirPods Pro with wired EarPods. But there's been a gap in the wired earbuds market: Active noise cancellation is not standard in wired options.

Bose might be changing the game. The brand just introduced its new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. They retail for $99, come in three colors, and yes, feature active noise cancellation. The earbuds are available for preorder today and will begin shipping on Oct. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds $99 at Bose
  Pre-order Here Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds at a glance

Bose's new wired earbuds connect via USB-C, which is also how they draw power. So, you don't ever need to charge the buds. That does mean, however, that you can't use an adapter if you're still rocking a Lightning port.

There's no app or Bluetooth pairing necessary — just plug into compatible USB-C phones, tablets, or computers, and you're good to go.

The remote buttons control volume up, volume down, play/pause, skip, and the noise cancellation modes. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

"Technology has come a long way since our last wired earbuds, allowing us the opportunity to bring our latest advancements to the category and set a new standard for what wired earbuds can be," Raza Haider, president of Bose Premium Consumer Audio, said in a press release.

Here's a look at the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds' specs and features:

• Listening modes: Quiet (ANC), Aware, and off (straightforward wired listening with no ANC)

• Colors: Black, white smoke, dewdrop mint (limited edition)

• Button controls: Volume up, volume down, play/pause, skip, noise cancellation modes

• Cable length: 4.2 feet

• Microphones: Dedicated microphone in remote; two microphones in each earbud for ANC

• Waterproofing: IPX4 water resistance

• Sizing: Three eartips, two wingtips

Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds: First impressions

I got to try out the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for a few days before their launch, and I think they're going to dominate the wired earbuds market. The earbuds will be familiar if you're a Bose user — they have swappable eartips and stability wings, and look similar to Bose's QuietComfort wireless earbuds. I received the limited-edition dewdrop mint color and love the look of it.

I tried out the buds in my office by plugging them into my MacBook. After firing up an episode of Good Hang, I learned that I had to select the earbuds as the audio output in my laptop's settings for the sound to come through. My deskmates got to hear a little snippet of Amy Poehler. After that initial connection, audio automatically plays through the buds when I plug them in.

SEE ALSO: Press play: 5 celeb-creator interviews the internet loved this week (Sept. 25)

As for the noise cancellation, it's as good as any wireless ANC bud I've tried. Obviously, it will never be as good as over-ear headphone noise cancellation — you simply can't get the same passive noise-cancellation seal. I was working in my home office, listening to Taylor Swift's new songs in my own world with quiet mode on, and my boyfriend walked in and scared the absolute shit out of me. Apparently, he had been talking to me for almost a minute, and I didn't hear a thing.

The Bose ANC wired earbuds are compatible with USB-C phones, tablets, and computers. Credit: Miller Kern / Mashable

At one point, I had a small fan running near my desk, and I could hear a slight hissing noise with ANC turned on, but I could really only hear it during quiet moments in my music. I live above a vet and could hear a couple of the really loud dog barks come through, but for the most part, the earbuds quieted the commotion coming up through the floor.

On the price, $99 is an incredible deal for noise-cancelling buds from a premium brand. Bose's most affordable wireless ANC buds retail for $179, and Apple's new ANC AirPods 5 start at $129. Bose just created the new standard in wired earbuds.

I bought my Galaxy Watch thinking it’d make me more productive. I could keep up with my messages, get reminders to move if I’d been sitting for too long, and stay accountable with all my to-dos just a wrist raise away — basically, I could stay on top of all the crucial information without having to reach for my phone and get distracted by everything happening on that big screen.

TL;DR: The Tribit StormBox Max is available on Amazon for $129.99. This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers 60W of power, an IP68 waterproof design, a physical bass adjustment knob, and up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tribit Tribit StormBox Max $129.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

If you need a portable speaker that can crank the volume without weighing down your beach bag, Tribit has a new option for your setup.

The audio brand just launched the StormBox Max, a 60W Bluetooth speaker built to deliver room-filling sound in a portable footprint. Available now on Amazon for $129.99, the StormBox Max strikes a balance between loud output and easy travel.

Despite weighing under 3 pounds and including a built-in silicone carrying handle, the StormBox Max packs a solid punch. The internal layout pairs a 30W woofer with four 7.5W silk-dome tweeters for a total output of 60W, delivering deep bass, clear voice tracks, and sharp high notes across a frequency range of 53Hz to 20kHz.

SEE ALSO: Early Prime Day deals on speakers are live: Score huge discounts on Beats, Bose, and more

Instead of limiting you to a single audio setting, Tribit added a physical XBass 2.0 dial directly to the body. This setting lets you turn the low end up or down with a five-step control depending on what you are listening to. An onboard EQ button lets you flip between "Tribit Signature" and "Outdoor" sound profiles, with extra custom tuning available through the free Tribit smartphone app.

The speaker is built to handle rough weather and messy environments. It carries a top-tier IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, so it can take beach sand, poolside splashes, or sudden rain showers without skipping a beat.

Battery life is another big highlight. The dual 5,000mAh batteries give you up to 20 hours of playtime at 50% volume using the standard EQ profile. It recharges over USB-C in about four hours, and the USB-C port doubles as a power bank to charge your phone if your battery runs low mid-party.

Thanks to its Bluetooth 6.0 chip, you get an extended wireless range of up to 45 meters from your phone. If you want a wider soundstage, you can pair two units for dedicated left/right stereo, or use onboard Auracast technology to link more than 100 compatible speakers simultaneously for large gatherings.

Head over to Amazon to grab the Tribit StormBox Max before your next weekend getaway.

Google TV is popular, but it hasn't had an easy fight against Amazon's Fire TV and Roku devices. It's not hard to see why. Not only are there many Fire TV and Roku sets, but there's also a wider variety of devices: there's just one Google TV Streamer, but multiple Amazon and Roku media players.

A low-powered CPU can make some tasks slower, while a small disk drive means you’ll have space for fewer files. But a machine with low memory can be catastrophic: applications hanging or getting closed by the memory manager, or even the whole system coming to a halt.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night box is on sale for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its $119.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night $89.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $30 Get Deal

Magic: The Gathering’s Marvel Super Heroes range has seen no shortage of trading card discounts since launching this summer, but the latest bargain on the Draft Night box has just beaten the Amazon low we spotted back in July by another $10. 

As of Sept. 28, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Draft Night box is $89.99 on Amazon, taking exactly $30 off its $119.99 list price for a 25% discount. That’s not only its lowest-ever price at the retailer (confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel), but it also undercuts TCGplayer’s estimated market price of $89.48.

There’s no marketplace seller to worry about here either, as Amazon is both selling and shipping the box directly. Just bear in mind that Amazon has marked the product as final sale, meaning returns aren’t available. 

SEE ALSO: 20+ of the best early Prime Day deals on trading cards: Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, and more

TCGplayer technically edges Amazon on price, but barely. Unopened listings currently start at $88.95 with shipping included, only $1.04 less than Amazon and slightly below TCGplayer’s aforementioned $89.48 market price. 

Draft Night is built as a self-contained Pick-Two Draft for four players in a single box. Everyone opens three Play Boosters, selects two cards at a time, passes the rest around, then builds a 40-card deck before pairing off. The winners meet in a final, with the included Collector Booster intended as the prize.

Inside are 12 Marvel Super Heroes Play Boosters, one Collector Booster, 90 Basic Lands, and 10 double-sided token cards. Split four ways, Amazon’s latest price comes to roughly $22.50 per player for the whole draft setup.  

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for our readers, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: First-time Ubigi buyers can use code MASHABLEJP15 to snag a 15-day unlimited Japan eSIM data plan for $33.15, down from $39. It gives you high-speed 4G/5G coverage on Japan’s top networks without traditional roaming fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ubigi Ubigi Unlimited Japan eSIM Plan Save 15% with code MASHABLEJP15 to get 15 days of unlimited 4G/5G data on Japan’s top networks for just $33.15. Get Deal

Planning a trip to Japan means getting ready for incredible food, endless sightseeing, and navigating some of the busiest train networks on the planet. But whether you are looking up train routes, translating menus, or uploading photos on the fly, relying on your home carrier's daily international roaming fees can get expensive.

If you want a fast, hassle-free cellular connection the second your plane touches down, Ubigi offers a dead-simple way to stay connected on a budget. Right now, first-time Ubigi buyers can use the exclusive promo code MASHABLEJP15 at checkout to take 15% off unlimited Japan travel data plans.

Ubigi is a digital travel data provider that uses eSIM technology instead of physical plastic SIM cards. It is a data-only service, so you use internet-based apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or iMessage to communicate rather than traditional voice calls.

Setting it up is simple: you buy a plan, receive a QR code via email, and scan it with your phone to install the profile. You just install the eSIM on your device once, and you can reuse it across more than 200 destinations worldwide without ever needing to scan a new code.

Instead of routing your internet connection through spotty third-party servers, Ubigi gives you direct access to Japan's premier mobile networks. The 15% discount code MASHABLEJP15 works on all unlimited Japan options, but the 15-day tier hits the absolute sweet spot for standard vacations:

• 8-Day Unlimited Plan: $21.25 with code (normally $25) — great for quick city stopovers

• 15-Day Unlimited Plan: $33.15 with code (normally $39) — the best overall pick for most trips

• 30-Day Unlimited Plan: $55.25 with code (normally $65) — ideal for long-term travelers and digital nomads

Key features

• Unrestricted tethering — You can freely use your phone as a mobile hotspot to share high-speed data with your laptop, tablet, or travel partner without hidden throttling penalties.

• Offline app top-ups — If you need to buy extra days or tweak your plan while out and about, the Ubigi app lets you manage and top up your account even if you run out of data or do not have an active WiFi signal.

• Dual SIM convenience — Your main home phone line stays in your phone, so you do not have to worry about losing tiny physical cards during your flight.

Before you buy, make sure your smartphone or tablet is unlocked by your home carrier and supports eSIM technology. Once you receive your QR code by email, you can install the eSIM at home and activate the plan right before you depart, so your high-speed connection kicks in automatically the moment you land in Japan.

Grab your 15% discount with code MASHABLEJP15 before your trip and stay connected the second your flight hits the tarmac.

There is an interesting part of the used server market that I think more homelab builders should pay attention to. Most of you probably already know that companies regularly get rid of perfectly usable enterprise hardware once it reaches the end of its supported life. The problem is that when people talk about buying retired enterprise equipment, they usually think about rack servers, workstations, CPUs, or workstation laptops. Disk shelves rarely get the same attention.

SAVE OVER $70: As of Sept. 28, Prime members can grab a like-new Kindle Scribe (32GB) on sale for $299.99 at Amazon. That's $78 off its full price of $377.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Like-New Amazon Kindle Scribe (32GB) $299.99 at Amazon
$377.99 Save $78   Get Deal

Amazon's own Kindles are among the many early deals we've spotted at the retailer ahead of its next Prime Day sale.

Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 6. If you're a Prime member who doesn't mind buying a refurbished model, this like-new Kindle Scribe (32GB) is one of our favorite offers right now. For a limited time, it has dropped to just $299.99.

That's a $78 price cut compared to the full list price of $377.99, but it's a deal exclusively for Prime members to jump on ahead of the sale. If you're not yet signed up, our how-to guide can get you started. And if you're curious what exactly "like-new" means, Amazon notes that it's fully functional, its battery has been tested and charged, and its software was updated during testing.

SEE ALSO: 15 early October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget experts

Pre-owned devices such as this like-new Kindle Scribe undergo a full diagnostic test that includes cleaning and inspection, wiping any data, and replacing any defective parts. By the end, it feels like a brand new device. So, if you don't want to splash out on the shiny new model at its full price, this is a great alternative to keep in mind.

We certainly think the Kindle Scribe is worth buying, landing as our favorite Kindle model for taking notes. Its 10.2-inch glare-free, 300 ppi front-lit display is great for reading in various environments, and the Premium Pen makes jotting down notes and marking up pages a breeze. Plus, with 32GB of storage, you have plenty of space for books and documents, and its battery life can last up to 12 weeks.

This deal on the like-new Kindle Scribe (32GB) is available exclusively to Prime members. If that's you, don't miss out on this great offer at Amazon.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $89.99 (save vs. market price)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

Owala’s limited-edition Pokémon collection: Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (Charizard Brings the Heat) $29.99 at Target Shop Now Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (Pikachu I Choose You) $29.99 at Target Shop Now Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (Eevee Evolutions) $29.99 at Target Shop Now Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (Gengar In the Shadows) $29.99 at Target Shop Now Owala FreeSip Water Bottle (Kanto Region First Partners) $29.99 at Target Shop Now

If you thought the madness around Stanley cups was intense, welcome to a world in which the Owala obsession collides with 30th Anniversary Pokémon nostalgia.

Owala drops at Target notoriously disappear in minutes, and adding Pokémon designs practically guarantees these will hit the secondary reseller market fast. Seriously, these water bottles are going to sell like crazy. You don't need data to know that. It's just staring you in the face.

Each bottle in this cool lineup features Owala's signature FreeSip lid with a push-button leak-proof cap and a carry loop that doubles as a lock. But you don't really care about that, do you? It's all about the fun Pokémon designs. We understand.

Which Pokémon bottle should you buy?

At $29.99 each, the entire lineup stays in the easy impulse-buy category for kids, gym-goers, students, or collectors trying to complete their 30th Anniversary merch shelf:

• Charizard Brings The Heat: Deep blue body framed with bold flame graphics.

• Gengar In The Shadows: A dark purple and turquoise colorway made for fans of ghost-type Pokémon.

• Pikachu I Choose You: Bright yellow lid paired with electric blue and lightning graphics.

• Eevee Evolutions: Pale cream base featuring Eevee, Vaporeon, and Sylveon with subtle pastel accents.

• Kanto First Partners: Dark green starry background featuring Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, and Poké Balls.

If your local Target is already cleaned out, keep an eye on online listings for restocks.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection is on sale for $47.39 at Walmart, down from its $59.99 previous price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection $47.39 at Walmart
$59.99 Save $12.60   Get Deal

Walmart is once again getting ahead on Pokémon TCG deals for the new 30th Celebration expansion, this time taking more than $10 off one of the new collection’s best ways of picking up a couple of booster packs. 

As of Sept. 28, the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection is $47.39 at Walmart, down $12.60 from its previous $59.99 price for a roughly 21% discount. That’s with free shipping included, with an estimated delivery for Oct. 3 arrival at the time of writing. 

Amazon is slightly more expensive if Walmart sells through its remaining supply, just a couple of dollars more at $49.99. 

SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including 30th Celebration trading cards for under market price

TCGplayer is once again the cheapest go-to option — with listings as low as $35.96, only $3.55 above its current estimated market price of $32.41. You’ll find some are cheaper, but fair warning that some are just for the Eevee promo trading card rather than the complete box, or have other conditions, like requiring you to order multiple units at once.

Along with said Eevee promo card, the Knock Out Collection gives you two Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs and a plastic coin. That puts Walmart’s deal at about $23.70 per booster before factoring in the promo and coin. 

You can also buy almost any 30th Celebration Pokémon card right now on TCGplayer — including the $3,500+ RGG Rare Mew, $150+ Mew ex SIR, $115+ Gengar ex SIR, and the $100+ Jirachi ex SIR. 

Winamp is one of the most iconic programs of the late 90s and early 2000s. Despite its long history, it has fallen by the wayside as newer, more capable programs have taken its place.

If you still have a printer, it's likely something you only use occasionally, so you haven't really been pressured to buy a new one for years now.

TL;DR: The Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige is live on Amazon at $379.99. This smart brush uses on-device AI to track your pressure 100 times per second and automatically adjusts intensity in real-time to protect your gums.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Sonicare Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige $379.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Your daily dental routine is getting a high-tech makeover. Philips Sonicare is officially dropping its most advanced electric toothbrush yet: the Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige.

Starting at a cool $379.99, this luxury electric toothbrush brings high-tech personalization straight to your teeth. Built around on-device AI and the brand’s SenseIQ technology, the handle monitors your brushing technique 100 times every single second.

If you start aggressively scrubbing like you are scouring a dirty skillet, the brush senses the excess pressure and automatically dials back the intensity in real-time to protect your gums. A glowing light ring built into the base gives instant feedback, letting you know whether you are pressing too hard, brushing too softly, or hitting the sweet spot.

Beyond automatic intensity adjustments, the handle functions like a live oral care coach. It connects to a companion app featuring a 12-segment mouth map that tracks where you brush, highlights missed zones, and guides you through a thorough clean. Philips Sonicare claims the internal motor delivers up to 2,000% more plaque removal and improves gum health by 1,500% over six weeks compared to a manual toothbrush.

You can also tailor the experience to your teeth's specific quirks using eight distinct cleaning modes and three intensity settings. The design matches the hefty price tag, coming in four sleek matte finishes: Silver White, Quartz Black, Satin Mauve, and Storm Blue. Each unit includes a glass charging base and a leather-style travel case that doubles as a charger.

The Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige is available on Amazon for $379.99. If you are ready to let artificial intelligence take over your morning dental routine, head over to Amazon to pick one up.

SAVE $300: As of Sept. 28, the De'Longhi Rivelia automatic espresso machine is at its lowest-ever price of $999.95 on Amazon. That's $300 off its full price of $1,299.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Rivelia Automatic Espresso Machine $999.95 at Amazon
$1,299.95 Save $300   Get Deal

We're just over a week out from Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale, but why wait until then to shop?

The retailer has dropped some exciting early deals to check out, including price cuts on various kitchen items like espresso machines. If you've been thinking about buying one to brew up tasty drinks this fall, De'Longhi's Rivelia automatic espresso machine has dropped to $999.95 for a limited time.

That's $300 off the list price of $1,299.95. This marks the lowest-ever price on Amazon, a real treat ahead of October Prime Day sale. If you're able to splash out, this is a great opportunity to grab it before the price goes back up.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime Day

If you're hoping to reduce your trips to the coffee shop, the De'Longhi Rivelia can certainly help with its wide range of brewing settings. In total, it offers 18 different preset recipes, including latte, cappuccino, cortado, coffee, flat white, iced coffee, espresso, espresso over ice, and more. It even has settings to adjust the intensity and volume of your preferred drink, so you can have your ideal cup brewed each time.

If you prefer multiple bean types, such as a caffeinated cup in the morning and decaf by the afternoon, the De'Longhi Rivelia makes it easy to swap between your favorites with two 8.8-oz interchangeable bean hoppers. Plus, its automatic milk frother is an excellent bonus if you love drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.

Don't wait until next week to grab the De'Longhi Rivelia automatic espresso machine; now is your chance to save on it at Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by our shopping experts

• Apple iPhone 18 Pro — free at T-Mobile 

• Paramount+ — $0.99 for 2 months with code p2mcs26prem

• Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box — $89.99 (save vs. market price)

• Apple iPad Pro — $1,899 $2,099 (save $200)

• TCL 85-Inch Class QM8L Series TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)

I wanted to see whether I could do something more interesting with my NAS than simply use it for storage. I decided to run games on it and stream them across my local network to another computer, with the NAS handling the rendering while the client handled the display and controls. I used a TerraMaster F4–425 Pro NAS and focused on games that matched the hardware rather than trying to turn it into a replacement for a dedicated gaming PC.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection is on sale for $53.98 at Amazon, down from its $69.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection $53.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $16.01   Get Deal

Amazon has been steadily filling out its Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration range, and one of the expansion’s smaller collections has just had a sizeable price cut — a perfect time for trading card collectors to jump on board the latest expansion. 

As of Sept. 28, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Tech Sticker Collection (Alolan Exeggutor) is $53.98 at Amazon, down $16.01 from the $69.99 list price. Working out to roughly 23% off, this listing is sold by BetterShopping4You, with free delivery available and Amazon’s 30-day refund or replacement policy included. 

SEE ALSO: Shop the best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including 30th Celebration trading cards for under market price

Walmart currently has its Tech Sticker Collection listed for $52.49, but you’ll receive either Alolan Exeggutor or Lucario at random rather than being able to choose between the two.

TCGplayer goes lower still if you specifically want Alolan Exeggutor. Its cheapest unopened listing is $41.48 with shipping included, which is even lower than its currently estimated market price of $42.94. 

Inside the Tech Sticker Collection are three Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration booster packs, an Alolan Exeggutor foil promo card, and a matching tech sticker sheet. At Amazon’s $53.98 price, that comes to around $18 per booster before factoring in the promo and sticker sheet. 

If you’re seeking specific Pokémon cards from the expansion (like the $3.5k+ RGB Rare Mew or the $155+ Mew ex SIR), you can buy single 30th Celebration cards on TCGplayer right now.

SAVE $24: As of Sept. 28, the Fire TV Stick HD is on sale for $15.99 at Amazon. That's a 60% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick HD $15.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $24   Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day isn't officially here yet, but the early deals are already rolling in.

Amazon is discounting plenty of its own devices ahead of the big event. That includes the Fire TV Stick HD, which is currently reduced by over $20. As of Sept. 28, the price has dropped from $39.99 to $15.99, a saving of 60%. This is the lowest-ever price for this Fire TV Stick model.

SEE ALSO: 30+ early October Prime Day deals: We found live offers on Apple, Nintendo, and Garmin this weekend

If you want easy access to major streaming services, apps, and gaming, a streaming device like this is a great option. And for only $15.99, this is one of the most budget-friendly options. You'll be able to access all the major streaming services (Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, etc.) and cloud gaming services.

And it's not complicated to use. The slim, lightweight product plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port and draws power from your TV via the included USB-C cable, eliminating the need for a wall adapter.

It comes with an Alexa Voice Remote that lets you search across apps using your voice and also serves as a single remote for your TV, including power and volume controls.

Find this early Prime Day deal at Amazon now.

If you've ever tried to get a remote desktop working on a Windows Home machine, you've discovered that it isn't especially easy. You have two unappealing options: you can pay for a Windows Pro license just for RDP or you can accept the privacy and security risks of third-party remote access accounts.

File Explorer handles most copy jobs, but it stumbles when transfers get large, long, or interrupted. Microsoft has shipped a command-line alternative for roughly three decades, though, and believe it or not, it's already on your PC. Here's what Robocopy is, where it beats the graphical approach, and who should bother learning it.