At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Clear refined sound Lightweight and portable Large volume knob control Cons Lacks a strong bass No dedicated software app Sound is quite localized Our Verdict The Bluedee Computer Soundbar is a compact, portable speaker ideal for small spaces. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Bluedee Computer Soundbar Retailer Price $59.49 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Bluedee Computer Soundbar is a compact, straightforward PC speaker that’s ideal for small rooms. Its low profile makes it easy to place beneath a monitor or beside a laptop. You can charge and use it without keeping it plugged in, allowing it to double as a portable Bluetooth speaker. It delivers clear, crisp audio that’s strongest in the mid-range tones. Read on to learn more. Bluedee Computer Soundbar: Design and build The Bluedee Computer Soundbar consists of a single soundbar including two full-range 20W speakers. Those speakers are situated next to mica fiber diaphragms for the sound resonance. The soundbar itself has a low profile. It measures 18.1 x 3.1 x 2.9 inches, so it fits neatly underneath a monitor or beside a laptop without taking up much space. The design is made of hard plastic with a plastic speaker grille that takes up the whole front section. It weighs two pounds, so it’s very lightweight and portable. The unit comes with two non-slip feet on each side of the bar. They’re made of foam and have a fair amount of cushioning, which works as a protection against vibrations from the desk. Overall, the Bluedee Soundbar is sturdy and well made. Bluedee Computer Soundbar: Connectivity and controls On the back left side of the device, you’ll find the ports: an AUX In port, a USB port, and a power port. Included in the box are a USB-C charging cable and a 3.5 mm audio cable for connectivity. Dominic Bayley / Foundry The Bluedee Computer Soundbar supports Bluetooth 5.3 by default, but you can plug in a USB flash drive or use the 3.5mm cable connection if you wish. All the controls are located on the left end of the soundbar. Here, you’ll find a power button, a large volume control knob, play and pause buttons, a mode button, and the next track/previous track buttons. I liked the large volume knob, which let me adjust the sound without moving the soundbar while playing music. However, the mode button and the next/previous track buttons look very similar, making them a bit hard to tell apart. The soundbar features a 3600mAh battery, and once it’s charged, it stays powered on even when unplugged, allowing you to use it as a portable Bluetooth speaker. The device has voice notifications that announce the different modes as you change between them. That meant I never had to guess what mode I was in. Bluedee Computer Soundbar: Sound To test the Bluedee Computer Soundbar, I first played Paradise by Coldplay followed by All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. The Bluedee rose to the occasion on both counts, producing clear, crisp audio that was on par with what you’d expect from a quality 2.0 speaker system. It’s rare to find speakers at this price point with this level of clarity. I was surprised at how crisp the audio was in Paradise, considering the Bluedee Soundbar costs well under $100. The vocals were the hero. The Bluedee delivered them with a warmness that highlighted the mid-range tones. The instrumentals flew over the top of the vocals too, which showcased the soundbar’s treble range. The Bluedee Computer Soundbar controls.  Dominic Bayley / Foundry In All About That Bass, the instrumentals popped above the vocals also, but the bass was pretty light. I had to turn the volume up high to get a response out of it. You’ll need to keep the volume up anyway to get projection throughout a room since the sound is quite localized. For that reason, the Bluedee Soundbar is better suited to smaller rooms. On the plus side, the soundbar does a great job of reducing vibrations. Even with the volume cranked up very high, the unit held out on the kind of vibrations that would cause the sound to be muffled. I also tested the speakers for video conferencing. Voices came through clearly and without distortion, so the soundbar can just as easily be used for work as for music or general PC audio. After a full charge, the soundbar’s battery lasted for two and a half hours of continuous play. There’s no software app support though, which is a shame because you have to guess how much power you have left. Bluedee Computer Soundbar: Conclusion Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Bluedee Soundbar. It’s rare to find speakers at this price point with this level of clarity, making the Bluedee a solid choice for anyone looking for a lightweight, portable soundbar for their home PC setup. While the Bluedee lacks strong bass and dedicated software support, it still offers excellent value at its current price of just $59. Read...

Wyze Labs expands its budget-priced smart home security lineup this week with two new wireless outdoor cameras: the Battery Video Doorbell and the Solar Cam Pan pan/tilt camera. Wyze Battery Video Doorbell The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell is built for easy installation and full front-door coverage. Its 1:1 aspect ratio, 150- × 150-degree field-of-view lens captures any activity on your porch with resolution of 1536 x 1536 pixels. The doorbell can operate wire-free for three to six months on a charge, or you can connect it to your existing low-voltage wiring for continuous power. Opting for the latter enables a pre-roll feature that captures an additional 3- to 6 seconds of video before a motion event triggered the camera to record. With an optional Cam Plus subscription ($3 per month/$20 per year for each Wyze camera you own), you’ll get AI-powered person and package detection, 14 days of storage in the cloud, and other benefits. A Cam Unlimited subscription, priced at $10 per month/$100 per year, unlocks additional features, including facial recognition, and covers all the Wyze cameras you might own. The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell can run wire-free for up to six months. Connect it to your existing low-voltage wiring for continuous power and pre-roll video capture.Wyze Other features include two-way talk, quick auto-responses, and a motion-activated voice deterrent that alerts visitors they’re being recorded. The unit carries an IP65 weather-resistance rating and can record locally to a user-provided microSD card (capacities up to 256GB are supported). The doorbell can record video to the card 24/7 when it’s hardwired to power. Smart home aficionados can integrate the Wyze Battery Doorbell with Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Wyze Automations. It’s available now for $65.98. Wyze Solar Cam Pan The Wyze Solar Cam Pan is the company’s first solar-powered, wire-free, pan-and-tilt camera. It provides 360 degrees of horizontal and 70 degrees of vertical movement, and it records in 2K resolution with color night vision and what Wyze describes as “Wide Dynamic Range.” The camera’s ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) solar panel is designed to deliver continuous power with exposure to about an hour of sunlight per day, supplemented by a built-in 6,400 mAh battery that Wyze says can last up to six months on a full charge of its own. Other features include AI-powered person tracking, a 105dB siren, a motion-activated spotlight, and motion-activated warnings to deter intruders. The Solar Cam Pan provides 360 degrees of horizontal and 70 degrees of vertical movement and records in 2K resolution. Wyze The Solar Cam Pan is rated IP65 for protection from the elements, meaning it’s impervious to particulate-matter (e.g., dust) ingress, and that it’s protected against water projected in jets from any direction (short of a pressure washer, that is). The camera supports up to Wi-Fi 6 networking (initial setup connection is via Bluetooth), and it can accommodate up to a 512GB microSD card for local recording. The provided mounting kits enable you to mount the camera can be mounted on a vertical wall or under an eave, with the solar panel installed on top or at a nearby location thanks to its 10-foot cable. The Wyze Solar Cam Pan is available now for $79.98. We’ll have reviews of both devices soon. Read...

I always thought the idea of a 5G laptop was little more than a gimmick. Public Wi-Fi is everywhere these days, plus you can always tether your laptop to your phone’s 5G hotspot in a pinch. That’s enough, right? But after doing a hands-on review of an HP laptop with built-in 5G—the HP EliteBook 6 G1q, if you’re curious what it was—I have to confess that I was wrong. 5G laptops are actually amazing! Here’s a quick explainer on HP Go and 5G laptops, plus what made me change my mind on 5G laptops and why I hope to see manufacturers start putting out a wide range of 5G models soon. What is HP Go? There are some things you need to know about 5G laptops before getting one, such as the fact they’re still pretty hard to find. Whereas tablets with cellular connectivity are common, you have to go out of your way to hunt down a laptop with 5G hardware—and even if you do find the right machine, not all 5G plans support laptops. 5G laptop plans are expensive, and they’re often just sold to businesses. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5GMicrosoft Such is the case for HP Go, which is a 5G service plan provided by HP for businesses, and it’s built right into their 5G laptops. Under the hood, HP’s 5G laptops have multiple eSIMs that can connect to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon networks. The laptops automatically choose the strongest network without any input needed from you. Conceptually, this reminds me of Google’s original plan for Google Fi—a multi-network cellular plan that automatically switches between networks. The first version of HP Go is designed strictly for businesses, but I asked HP about a consumer version and one representative hinted they were also thinking about 5G laptops for consumers. What makes a 5G laptop so amazing? A 5G laptop transforms how you use your laptop on the go. That’s easy to say, but it actually feels unreal in the real world. I went to downtown Boston, sat on a park bench, and pulled the laptop out of my bag. As soon as I opened it, I had an active internet connection. I later drove to the beach, got out of the car, and opened the laptop. Right away, the 5G was ready to go. Chris Hoffman / Foundry It’s the speed and convenience that wowed me. You can pull out your laptop, check your email and shoot a reply, then close it in under a minute. (It beats typing the email on your phone!) You don’t have to hunt down public Wi-Fi and click through a portal while wondering if you should be using a VPN for public Wi-Fi security. You don’t have to pull out your phone, tether it to your laptop, and drain your phone’s battery to power your laptop’s internet. 5G on a laptop just works. No need for Wi-Fi or Ethernet When I was setting up the HP EliteBook 6 G1q, I took it out of the box, turned it on, signed into my Microsoft account, and configured Windows per usual… except I never connected it to Wi-Fi. In fact, I didn’t even have to set up the 5G connection! The laptop came pre-configured with a cellular profile (a feature HP offers to businesses as part of HP Go). Chris Hoffman / Foundry The experience of setting up a Windows laptop and being able to jump right into using it without connecting to Wi-Fi is surreal. The 5G laptop experience feels like magic. More than that, an always-on cellular data connection provides better anti-theft capabilities for a laptop as well as remote manageability. Like a 5G phone or tablet, you can remotely track a 5G laptop even when it isn’t connected to Wi-Fi. 5G laptops can compete with tablets I remember being at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, which was branded “the year of 5G.” Now, over five years later, it’s still difficult to get your hands on a laptop with 5G. Want a portable device with a keyboard that has 5G? You’re nudged towards an iPad or Android tablet instead. But I want a PC, not an iPad or Android tablet. For real, 5G is a feature that PCs desperately need to steal from tablets—all popular laptop models should offer the option to pay a little extra for 5G. Chris Hoffman / Foundry If PC manufacturers want to compete with iPads in a world where Apple is increasingly offering more desktop-style features on iPadOS, then they need to get serious about 5G laptop models. I want my portable productivity machine to run Windows. How many people have switched to using a 5G iPad as a “laptop” just for the connectivity alone? Cellular laptops are awesome, period I’ve previously argued against 5G laptops, and some of those arguments still hold water: you only have a few hardware options; 5G cellular plans are expensive; you can make do with a dedicated 5G hotspot device. Those are still reasons to avoid buying a 5G laptop right now. But those problems could be fixed by the industry at large, and this HP laptop powered by HP Go hints at such a future. A 5G laptop will never need to drain your phone’s battery via mobile hotspot.Chris Hoffman / Foundry Later on, when 5G laptops are easily accessible and cellular plans are reasonably priced, I’m sure most people would prefer 5G laptops. The idea of having a cellular connection everywhere is a killer business feature, so it’s no surprise that HP is mainly marketing this to businesses to start—but many consumers and individual knowledge workers (like me) would also love this in our day-to-day portable laptops. That day is still a few years away at least, so maybe don’t rush out to buy a 5G laptop just yet. But definitely keep the tech on your radar. I want to see more 5G-powered laptops from other manufacturers soon, and I look forward to the day when opening a laptop is just like taking out a phone. The only question is, which manufacturer is going to take this seriously and be the first to offer 5G laptops to consumers? Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Fast, reliable palm-vein unlocking Easy installation and intuitive setup Smooth app integration with detailed event logs Cons Palm scanner only unlocks, not locks No protective cover for the USB-C port Plastic interior housing feels less premium Our Verdict The Wyze Palm Lock combines dependable biometric access, solid performance, and smart-home integration at a price that’s hard to beat. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Wyze Palm Lock Retailer Price $129.98 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Wyze has made a name for itself by delivering affordable smart home devices that punch well above their price tags, and its latest addition to its smart lock offerings continues that trend. The Wyze Palm Lock brings a more advanced form of biometric security to the front door, swapping a fingerprint sensor for a more advanced and hygienic alternative: palm vein recognition. Using infrared imaging to identify the unique vein pattern beneath your skin, the lock can recognize users even if their hands are wet or dirty, mitigating a common weakness of fingerprint-based systems. Design and features The Wyze Palm Lock looks and feels like a thoughtful blend of modern design and practical engineering. The outdoor assembly is mostly metal, giving it a solid, weather-resistant feel, with a single glass panel that combines the keypad and palm sensor into one sleek surface. Beneath this, a magnetic slide-down cover hides the keyway, a nice touch that preserves the lock’s clean aesthetic while keeping a mechanical backup within reach. The interior escutcheon is made of plastic with a sturdy metal thumb turn, and together with the exterior housing, it replaces your existing deadbolt entirely. The design has been tested for real-world durability, achieving relatively modest results: It earned a weatherization rating of IP53. PCWorld’s IP code guide tells us that means it can keep enough dust out of its internal workings to prevent failure, and that it can withstand being sprayed with a water hose at up to a 60-degree angle on either side of vertical. Wyze Labs advertises the lock as being “BHMA 3 certified,” by which we assume they mean it’s rated ANSI grade 3, the lowest of the three ratings for commercial deadbolts, according to our lock durability guide. BHMA certifications are for residential deadbolts and consist of letter grades for security, durability, and finish. A slide-down cover hides a keyway for a mechanical backup. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Wyze gives you multiple ways to unlock the Palm Lock. The marquee method is its biometric palm vein recognition, which can store up to 50 unique palm profiles. There’s also a backlit keypad that supports up to 50 PIN codes, and a traditional key for backup use in the event the batteries die or the tech ever misbehaves. The lock is powered by a dual-battery system: a removable lithium-ion battery good for up to six months of use, and a two-week backup battery that keeps the lock running while you recharge the main one. If both run out, a USB-C emergency port on the underside can provide temporary power from a portable charger (though the lack of a protective cover could leave it exposed to the elements). Wyze also built in a smart battery saver that uses millimeter-wave radar (the same tech used in self-driving cars) to detect when someone is nearby, so the lock wakes up only when needed. The Palm Lock also includes a full suite of smart features that make it feel right at home in a connected ecosystem. It comes with built-in Wi-Fi, negating the need for a separate bridge, and it works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. For security, voice unlocking requires you to speak your pre-set PIN aloud before the command is carried out. The lock is powered by a dual-battery system: a removable lithium-ion battery and a two-week backup battery. These are accessed from the interior escutcheon. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The Wyze app adds more control, with tamper and door-ajar alerts, an auto-lock feature powered by a built-in gyroscope, and customizable notifications. When paired with a Wyze video doorbell, you can even unlock your door directly from the live camera view, tying the whole front-door experience neatly together. Setup and performance As the Palm Lock is designed as a direct replacement for a standard deadbolt, installation starts with removing your existing lock and its bolt. That should leave you with just an empty bore hole and side jam in your door. From there, you first install the new Wyze bolt, then fit the outdoor assembly through the bore hole, feeding the single power cable beneath the bolt to the interior side. The indoor bracket attaches with two long machine screws, and the power cable connects to the interior escutcheon using clearly labeled, color-coded terminals. Once everything is secured, the indoor unit slides onto the bracket and locks in place with three short screws. With the hardware assembled, you insert the backup battery first, followed by the main rechargeable pack, then snap the battery cover into place. Wyze includes all the necessary hardware and a mounting template, making the process straightforward even for first-time installers. It took me about 25 minutes. A single cable from the outer assemble connects to the interior escutcheon using clearly labeled, color-coded terminals.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Afterward, setup continues in the Wyze app, which walks you through calibration and palm registration step by step. The app prompts you to open and close the door, create access codes, and scan your palms, with feedback confirming each step along the way. In everyday use, I found unlocking the door to be nearly instantaneous. I’d just hover a hand near the reader and within a second or so I’d hear a chime confirming recognition and the whirring of the motorized bolt unlocking. The sensor worked reliably even when my hands weren’t particularly clean. With the auto-lock feature enabled, the door relocks either immediately on closing or after a short delay, depending on your setting. The Wyze app is central to the Palm Lock experience. From it, you can lock or unlock the door, check its current status, and view a detailed activity history. It also shows battery levels for both the main and backup batteries. It provides generous access management: you can add up to 50 users and assign specific permissions, whether always-on, recurring on certain days, or active only within a defined time window. One-time codes are another handy option for guests or deliveries, and a “lock after hours” rule ensures your door is automatically secured at night. The Wyze app provides an event log, scheduling options, and flexible access management.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The Wyze app also includes several several safeguards to prevent unauthorized access. A Failed Entry Lockout feature temporarily disables palm or code access for five minutes and sounds an alarm after five failed attempts. The lock can alert you to tampering or if the door is left ajar, using its built-in gyroscope to detect movement and position. The illuminated keypad supports Wyze’s anti-peep technology, which lets you enter extra digits before or after your code to prevent onlookers from memorizing it. Further, all biometric data is encrypted and stored locally on the device rather than in the cloud, and the Wyze app keeps a detailed history of every lock and unlock event. This was my first experience with a smart lock, and I came away impressed. Connectivity was excellent throughout my testing. Commands from the app registered quickly, and notifications—like when someone unlocks the door—arrived promptly. Voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant also worked seamlessly. With two teenagers at home who routinely forget their house keys but never their phones, that reliability made the Palm Lock a welcome upgrade. Should you buy the Wyze Palm Lock? At $129.98, the Wyze Palm Lock delivers technology you’d normally expect in far pricier devices. Palm-vein recognition makes unlocking fast and reliable, and the setup and app experience are refreshingly simple. For Wyze users or else anyone seeking a secure, hands-free deadbolt upgrade without spending a fortune, the Palm Lock is an excellent value. Read...

As the nights grow longer and a crisp chill fills the air, thoughts turn to jack-o-lanterns, spooky stories, and trick-or-treating. Since we’re all about tech around here, however, let me show you how you can give your Halloween a bit of a geeky, spooky upgrade this year. On top of the plastic skeletons and fake cobwebs, here are some of the coolest Halloween tech ideas to try, from smart home devices that create haunted house effects on command to interactive costumes that light up and react to their surroundings. Set the mood with Govee Curtain Lights 2 Govee The Govee Curtain Lights 2 is a great pick for folks who want to decorate their home all year round. Featuring 520 LEDs and covering an area of 4.9 by 6.6 feet, these lights can help you set a spooky mood. There are tons of presets available in the Govee app, including for Halloween and, later on, Christmas. In the offseason, you can even get these lights to “dance” to the rhythm of your music or turn whatever colors you want. They integrate with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Matter, allowing you to control them with voice commands. Get the Govee Curtain Lights 2 and set the moodBuy now at Amazon Add some fog with Agptek Fog Machine AGPTEK If you want to set the mood on your porch to delight the trick-or-treaters, then this Agptek fog machine is the way to go. This thing features 13 colorful LED lights, pumping up the fog’s magical qualities, and there’s a remote controller so you can turn it on and off or swap the colors. It’s also handy for any parties you host throughout the year! Get the Agptek Fog Machine and set the mood even furtherBuy now at Amaon Play spooky music with Anker Soundcore 2 Bluetooth Speakers Anker If you want to make your Halloween experience that much more memorable for visitors, you may want to look into getting a few Bluetooth speakers and hiding them around in bushes and other spots. These Anker Soundcore 2 speakers are fairly small and easy to hide, and they deliver great sound. Plus, they come with an IPX7 waterproof rating, which is nice when they’re outside during the spooky season. You’ll get to have plenty of fun with these throughout the year too, as they’re perfectly good as Bluetooth speakers for any occasion. Get the Anker Soundcore 2 to play spooky music and soundsBuy now at Amazon Alexa, play Nightmare Before Christmas Amazon Another thing you could do is own up to the ruse and put the speaker in plain view on your porch…only, instead of a regular model, you have a cool new Echo Dot “dressed up” as Jack Skellington or Sally, our favorite Halloween duo. The cases can be removed once the holiday is over, or you could just keep the Halloween spirit alive since these are cool as can be. You could get both Echo Dot variants, or just pick one — whatever you want. Get the Jack Skellington and Sally Echo Dot modelsBuy now at Amazon Entertain the neighborhood with TMY Portable Mini Projector TMY One way to make things even more interesting this year is to use something like this TMY portable projector. Set it up in your yard or on your porch and have it stream spooky scenes on the wall. It works with laptops, TV sticks, smartphones, and more, so there are plenty of ways to play your video content. It’s fairly affordable too, so you won’t be sinking a ton of money into this side project. Get the TMY portable projector for wall-side funBuy now at Amazon Pepper in some holograms with Aaxa Halloween Projector Aaxa If you want a different type of projector, try the Aaxa Halloween holographic projector. This one comes with several pre-loaded holographic videos you can show off on your windows, doorways, or out in the yard. They’ll make it seem as if you have ghosts and skeletons in the house, which is pretty cool. Outside of Halloween, you can use it as a regular projector for movies and gaming. Get the Aaxa Halloween Projector for holographic entertainmentBuy now at Amazon More ghostly decorations with Atmos FX Atmos FX If you want some professionally done projections, you can buy digital decoration collections via AtmosFX. Not only are these amazingly high quality, but you get instant access since they’re digital. We’re talking 1080p video files in both horizontal and vertical orientations, and AtmosFX also sells projectors, screens, props, and other goodies if you don’t have any yet and want a convenient one-stop shop. Get high-def digital decorations for your projectorsBuy now at Atmos FX Techify your Halloween costume with Depointer Life LED Mask Depointer Another way to bring tech into your Halloween celebration is to get one of these awesome LED masks by Depointer Life. More than just a mask, the LEDs can transform into any facial pattern you want. There are around 50 styles to pick from, and there’s a rechargeable battery built in. It also has gesture sensing, so you can swap out the facial design on the mask by holding your hand in front of the sensor for a few seconds. Get the Depointer Life LED Mask and impress your friendsBuy now at Amazon Decorate your garage door Garage Buddy If you want to turn your garage door into a Halloween decoration, then Garage Buddy offers various garage door covers to pick from, with prices depending on size and design. These covers come with hooks attached, so they’re easy to take off when the season is over. Deck out your garage doors with Halloween coversBuy now at Garage Buddy Take your yard to the next level Home Accents Holiday And because it looks so cool, we couldn’t resist including this absolutely massive 12-foot levitating reaper. Not only is the reaper animated, but it features changing colors and even has some pre-programmed phrases. Just imagine hiding a Bluetooth speaker at its base and playing all the right spooky background sounds! Terrorize your street with this 12-foot levitating reaperBuy now at Home Depot Read...