We've scoured the market for hidden gems: 12 gadgets that will make you think "Wow, I didn't know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!" Let's dive in and see what cool devices you'll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with.
The good news is, the latest Windows update won't kill your SSD. Even if you're affected, you can restore your drive with a firmware update. The bad news is, your SSD can still fail for a number of other reasons.
Putting Windows Update aside, let's talk about some of the other real threats to your SSD and what you can do to protect it.
Check for SSD firmware updates
SSD manufacturers provide utilities that check for firmware updates and monitor your drive's health. They're worth installing—and it's especially true since this recent issue is related to pre-release firmware updates.
It's a good idea to check if your drive has the latest stable firmware installed. Firmware updates may fix bugs and prevent other problems with your SSD. Avoid any beta firmware update files you may see fo
Subscriptions have become the default for most big-name software, but they also drain your wallet fast. That's why this deal stands out: you can score both Adobe Acrobat Classic (Pro 2024) and Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for just $99.99. Normally, you'd be paying multiple times this price annually just to keep these tools active.
Adobe Acrobat Classic gives you three full years of pro-level PDF editing, conversion, and protection — all offline, without needing cloud access. Whether you're editing text and images, securing sensitive files, or converting PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents, Acrobat Classic has the features you'd expect from
Typing is overrated—especially when you can dictate your notes at 360 words per minute. With VoiceType AI Voice-to-Text, now just $39 (MSRP $154) for lifetime access, your words practically fly onto the screen.
While the average person types around 40 words per minute, VoiceType delivers results 9x faster with an impressive 99.7 percent accuracy score. Whether you're drafting emails, writing reports, coding documentation, or jotting down creative ideas, this AI-powered tool helps you get things done quicker and cleaner.
What makes it stand out? For starters, VoiceType works across all your apps, from Notion to Linear to your email client. It also automatically formats text, adds punctuation, and adjusts grammar in real time. Whispering in a cof
While the lines are becoming increasingly blurred, we see two basic types of smart home systems: Those focused on convenience first-the hubs listed here-and those focused on home security first (and here are our top DIY home security system picks). Decide first what is your primary goal-convenience or security-and then shop accordingly.
The best smart home systems
Samsung SmartThings Station - Best DIY smart home hub for most people
It turns out a lot of people don't understand passkeys.
I learned this after last week's show, when people on our Discord server began chatting about our recap of best practices for online security.
Our group brought up plenty of technical points, being the awesome nerds they are. But as the conversation unfolded, misconceptions cropped up about passkeys and how they work. That surprised me—as did learning more than one of my colleagues doesn't quite get them, either.
I ended up following up on the topic this week, in one of my longest-ever responses during a Q&A segment. I spent a lot of time preparing the breakdown, which covers a very simple overview of asymmetrical public-private encryption keys (aka public-key encryption), then dives into nuances of what passkeys do and don't protect against.
This deeper look got me thinking. Typically, more tech knowledge simplifies problems. You can figure out solutions faster and more efficiently. The familiarity helps you know which details to prioritize and which to disregard.
This instance is a rare occurrence of the opposite—where familiarity breeds a demand for perfection.
There's nothing worse than realizing your laptop is gone and being full of regret, wishing you'd taken those proactive steps when you had the chance. You have that chance right now—don't put it off until "later" that never comes. Act now to protect your sensitive data and make sure your laptop is more easily recoverable should you lose it.
Both Windows 11 and Windows 10 have useful safeguarding features worth using, and Windows can theoretically track your lost laptop (but you'll need extra hardware for the best tracking experience). Here are the preemptive steps you should take to protect your laptop ASAP.
Check if your storage is encrypted
First things first, you have to make sure your laptop's internal storage is securely encrypted. There's a good chance it already is—disk encryption is enabled by default on many newer Windows laptops—but it might not be. If it isn't, you'll want to turn it on.
To check if your PC is encrypted, open the Start menu, search for "Device Encryption" or "BitLocker," then click Device encryption settings or Manage BitLocker, respectively. You'll see a different
Owning Microsoft Office Pro 2021 is one thing. Actually knowing how to unlock its full potential? That's another story. Right now, you can get a lifetime license to Office Pro 2021 for Windows plus a complete Microsoft training bundle for just $39.99 (MSRP: $239).
Office Pro 2021 gives you lifetime access to the classics — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Publisher, Access, and OneNote. It's a one-time install for your home or office without any monthly fees. But this offer also includes
This version of Windows 11 was already available via the Windows Insiders testing system, and the ISO files are still gated behind it, but Windows Central reports that this should be the "production ready" version of the operating system. That means it's ready to head out to PC manufacturers for installation on brand new machines. The full version will be available to download for most users in the near future.
Windows 11 25H2 isn't a huge change over the current version, 24H2, which has already implemented many of the changes versus older releases. Changes to the Start Menu are probably the most visible aspect, which now shows more controls and folders by default. Microsoft's Phone Link software also gets a more central view, there
The good news is, the latest Windows update won't kill your SSD. Even if you're affected, you can restore your drive with a firmware update. The bad news is, your SSD can still fail for a number of other reasons.
Putting Windows Update aside, let's talk about some of the other real threats to your SSD and what you can do to protect it.
Check for SSD firmware updates
SSD manufacturers provide utilities that check for firmware updates and monitor your drive's health. They're worth installing—and it's especially true since this recent issue is related to pre-release firmware updates.
It's a good idea to check if your drive has the latest stable firmware installed. Firmware updates may fix bugs and prevent other problems with your SSD. Avoid any beta firmware update files you may see fo
