Microsoft typically releases new security updates on the second Tuesday of this month, known as Patch Tuesday. But today, Microsoft also has some new features that it will gradually push to PCs like yours: the ability to resume Spotify on multiple PCs, better Windows Hello protections, and a handy new device card, among others. Officially, this is the KB5074105 update for Windows 11. Yes, there will be minor bug fixes that will be rolled out as part of today’s update, but Microsoft characterizes the features below as part of a “gradual” release, so that you may not see them immediately. Expect them soon, however. There is one immediate change (fix?) that may cause you to scratch your head: accessing the Storage settings (Settings > System > Storage) will require administrator access via the Windows User Access Control. It’s an odd change, but Microsoft says that it’s making it to prevent unauthorized access to system files. Cross-device resume: Pick up where you left off The most interesting feature of this new update is an improved cross-device resume function, which will allow you to play a song on Spotify on your phone, pause it, then resume playback on your PC. Microsoft also says that Honor, Oppo, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi phones — sorry, Google — will be able to open files that you opened in the Copilot app on your phone on your PC as well. Presumably this functionality will be opened to more phones and more apps in the future. If you don’t have the required Microsoft 365 app on your PC, it will open in a web browser. If you have a Vivo phone, there’s an extra benefit: You can pick up where you left off on the Vivo browser from your phone on to the Vivo browser on your PC. Device cards get unified This small update also brings with it the “device card” that Microsoft previewed in a Dev Channel preview last June. Microsoft has been tweaking its Settings “cards” for a while now; if you go into the Windows 11 Settings > About tab, you’ll probably see a bundle of small cards describing your CPU, storage, RAM, and so on. The updated card brings that information together into a more unified summary slide. A more secure Windows Hello You’re undoubtedly familiar with Windows Hello, the technology that began with the biometric depth camera in Windows 10, and expanded into fingerprint sensors, too. The latter technology works within desktops, but also allows desktops to get in on the action, too. You can also buy a Windows Hello webcam, too. Windows allows webcams to store your biometric information in the Trusted Platform Module as part of Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, which adds an extra layer of protection to your biometric credentials. What this update does is extend this added protection to fingerprint readers. Personally, I prefer a Windows Hello webcam for the additional functionality it offers. However, if you’re a desktop PC owner and prefer a fingerprint reader instead, this update helps protect that information, too. Smart App Control, without the pain My colleague Alaina Yee has written about a nifty Windows technology called Smart App Control, which protects your PC from malware by screening and then analyzing apps. The problem? It only runs via a clean install. If you haven’t set it up initially, turning it “on” means that you have to reset your PC. No longer! Thankfully, this particular aspect of Smart App Control will be a thing of the past soon.PCWorld Now, Microsoft has improved Smart App Control to eliminate the need to reset your PC.  To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings.  Voice Typing, Voice Access, and Narrator all improve Fun story: When my wife moved from Minnesota to Alabama as a child, she was told that the other children couldn’t understand her because she spoke too fast. I had a hard time wrapping my head around this one, but people do speak in different cadences. Microsoft’s voice typing now recognizes this by injecting optional delays before voice commands are executed, and helps people who speak slowly be better understood. Microsoft began testing this last October, and now it’s made its way into the release channel for your PC. Microsoft has also added a new AI voice model for Voice Access (those who need to command their PC orally because of difficulty using a mouse or keyboard), and each model is optimized for a chosen language. Narrator was designed for those who have trouble seeing. In this release, Narrator now gives you more control over how it announces on-screen controls. You can choose which details are spoken and adjust their order to match how you navigate apps, Microsoft says. Jamming with MIDI 2.0 I don’t know too much about music creation or production, but the music industry seemed to love the new improvements that MIDI 2.0 brought. Microsoft tested this a year ago, and now MIDI 2.0 is debuting within Windows. For the full list of changes, Microsoft has published a summary. Read...

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is available for a limited time at $19.97 (MSRP $229), offering a one-time purchase with no ongoing subscription and all the core Office apps included. If you’re tired of paying month after month for Microsoft Office, this deal lets you stop the cycle. For a single $19.97 payment, you get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and OneNote, all unlocked permanently — no renewals, no surprise fees, and no expiration dates. This is one of Microsoft’s most widely used Office versions for good reason. It’s stable, streamlined, and packed with the features that everyday users, business owners, freelancers, and spreadsheet wizards rely on. Whether you’re managing invoices, writing your next presentation, editing a résumé, or organizing your inbox like a boss, Office 2019 is built to make your life easier. Plus, this version’s got some sweet upgrades: better inking across apps, more data analysis in Excel, improved email handling in Outlook, and sleek new transitions in PowerPoint. Once installed on your Windows PC, it’s good to go with — no recurring costs, no cloud dependency (thank goodness), and no fuss. Don’t miss getting lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2019 while it’s just $19.97 (MSRP $229). No coupon is needed. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for WindowsSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

myFirst expands its kid-focused tech range and Circle app, offering smartphone-style features with tighter safety controls for families. Read...

Two months after teasing us with the prospect of skinny bundles, YouTube TV is spilling the beans on its upcoming—and marginally cheaper—genre-specific plans, with a sports-focused bundle among the first on the runway.  Among other details, we’re finally pricing for a quartet of the new “YouTube TV Plans,” with rates ranging from $71.99 a month to $54.99/month for existing YouTube TV subscribers, while new subscribers will get limited-time discounts.  Overall, we can expect more than 10 of these skinnier YouTube TV Plans, which are slated to roll out over the “next several weeks,” YouTube says.  The main offering is the YouTube TV Sports plan, which will include sports networks such as FS1, NBC Sports Network, and all the ESPN networks for $64.99 a month, with new subscribers paying $54.99/month for the first year.  The YouTube TV Sports plan will include local TV affiliates such as ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, while ESPN Unlimited access will be added this fall.  Also coming soon is a pricier Sports + News Plan, which includes everything in the sports bundle while adding news networks such as CNBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CSPAN, Bloomberg, and Fox Business. The bundle will cost $71.99 a month, while new subscribers will get a discounted $56.99/month rate for the first three months.  Then there’s the Entertainment Plan, which offers Comedy Central, Bravo, Paramount, Food Network, HGTV, and “many more” entertainment-focused networks for $54.99 a month, or $44.99/month for new subscribers for their first three months. Local TV affiliates will also be included in the package.  Finally, the News + Entertainment + Family plan serves up news and entertainment channels while also adding family-oriented content to the mix, including the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, National Geographic, Cartoon Network, and PBS Kids. The package will run you $69.99 a month, or $59.99/month.  Meanwhile, the YouTube TV Base plan—now known simply as the “main YouTube TV plan”—will remain $82.99 a month.  All the new YouTube TV skinny bundles will offer unlimited DVR access, as well as multi-view and other standard YouTube TV features. You’ll also be able to opt for add-ons such as NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, HBO Max, and 4K Plus.  YouTube TV first announced it was getting into the skinny-bundle business back in December, and it’s joining a crowded field that includes DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling.  This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services. Read...

Security researchers have discovered new Android malware that allows attackers to track almost every action taken on a smartphone. Among other details, this includes PIN entries, login credentials, and content within messaging and banking apps. What makes this particularly insidious is that the malware uses Hugging Face—a reputable developer platform—to spread inconspicuously. Malware that pretends to be a security app This malware campaign was discovered by researchers at security company Bitdefender. At the heart of this campaign is an Android app called “TrustBastion,” which masquerades as a security solution. Victims of the attack are confronted with advertisements and/or pop-ups claiming that their smartphone is infected. In order to remove alleged threats—including phishing attempts, scam texts, and other malware—they’re instructed to install the app. The application appears harmless at first glance. In fact, however, it’s a so-called “dropper,” which means the app itself doesn’t initially contain any malicious functions but downloads them later. A fake update downloads malware Immediately after installation, TrustBastion displays a supposedly necessary update. The window is visually similar to official Android or Google Play dialogs, and anyone who agrees to the update ends up downloading a manipulated APK file in the background. The APK download doesn’t take place via underground servers but rather via Hugging Face. The platform is widely used in the developer and AI community and has a good reputation, which is exactly what the attackers exploit: connections to Hugging Face aren’t classified as suspicious by many security solutions. Accessibility abuse as a gateway After installation, the actual malware requests extensive permissions. It pretends to be a system component called “Phone Security” and prompts users to activate Android accessibility features. These access rights are particularly critical. They allow an app to read screen content, log inputs, and overlay other applications. This means the malware can start capturing every PIN entry and/or unlock pattern, plus overlay fake login interfaces on top of genuine apps. This access allows data for payment services, messengers, and other sensitive apps to be intercepted. The captured information is then transmitted to a central control server belonging to the attackers. From there, new commands or updates can also be sent to infected devices. New variants make detection difficult According to Bitdefender, the attackers rely on so-called server-side polymorphism to evade detection—in short, new versions of the malware are generated approximately every 15 minutes. Each slightly modified APK file has the same functionality with negligible tweaks. Within one month, the researchers counted more than 6,000 different variants. The aim is to circumvent classic signature-based virus scanners. The campaign also changed names and icons several times after individual software packages were removed. What should you do now? Android users should only install apps from the Google Play Store and not allow apps from external sources. You should be particularly cautious with apps that claim to be security or protection software while also requiring extensive system permissions. Make sure to activate Google Play Protect for maximum security against threats. You should also be wary when downloading apps and files from well-known platforms. A reputable infrastructure doesn’t guarantee that provided files are safe or clean. Only activate accessibility features if you clearly understand the purpose of the app asking. If you’ve installed a suspicious app, you should remove it immediately and scan your device for malware. When in doubt, you may also want to reset your device to factory settings. Read...

The Fractal Design North is currently the enclosure to beat in the PC building landscape—what remains of it, anyway. Tons of features and a sleek, stylish look with wood accents on the front has informed designs from competitors all over the world. Today, Fractal is announcing a “Momentum Edition” of the North and North XL. What does “Momentum” mean? It means black. Really, really black. The new versions of the case swap out the walnut (or lighter oak on the white cases) front slats with “blackened oak,” and “dark alloy” replacing the steel and brass flourishes on parts like the power buttons. That means, yup, more black. The ATX North and E-ATX North XL only come with a tempered glass side, no mesh panel option (at least at launch). The cases come with three upgraded Momentum 120mm fans, a switch-up from the two 140mm fans offered on the standard North. If I seem dismissive of this Momentum Edition, well, guilty. As someone who appreciates PC cases that don’t look like stealth jets covered in Christmas lights, I really like the original North (and I’m currently using it for the PC on which I’m typing these very words). The woody North is an expression of the PC as a design and decorative element rather than something to either be displayed like a status symbol or hidden in shame. Making a “stealth” version of this case seems antithetical to the distinctive parts of the case design that I actually appreciate. But to each their own. Amazon and Newegg have the new cases available right now: $180 for the North Momentum Edition and $210 for the North XL Momentum Edition. That’s a $25 premium—but considering the extra fan included, it’s not an outrageous bump up. Read...

As of this year, YouTube is old enough to drink in the US (21). What started as a place to put your class project and also a whole lot of pirated TV episodes is now a 30-billion-dollar moneyspinner for owner Google. Google wants you to pay $14 a month for YouTube Premium, and it’ll kneecap the free experience in every way possible to achieve that. The latest victim is song lyrics. Reddit users report that the YouTube Music mobile app is now demanding users upgrade to a Premium or Music Premium ($11) subscription in order to access the Lyrics tab, with only a few “views” available before the feature gets blurred out. I’d test it myself… but the Android app automatically gave me a free preview of Music Premium when I downloaded it. (Always Be Closing, I suppose.) Lyrics do not appear to be hidden for my non-premium account on the YouTube Music web interface, for songs that feature them. But many lyrics on the platform are supplied by users, either directly or crawled from sources on the web. That might sting especially hard for users, who might need to pay to access information that’s easy enough to find in a browser tab. Android Authority reports that Google has been testing this paywall for a while, but that competitors like Spotify have backed off locking lyrics behind a paid account. Google is trying to force users to upgrade in other ways. Android users who wanted access to YouTube background audio without paying had a fairly simple workaround: Load up the video in a third-party browser like Firefox. With basic web video capabilities not hobbled by Google’s monetary interests, they could then switch to another app or turn their screen off and listen to the audio, something that the mobile version of Chrome and the free version of the YouTube app do not offer. YouTube has reportedly sabotaged this basic functionality, as many alternative browsers can no longer continue a YouTube video tab in the background. Google and umbrella corporation Alphabet seem to be intensifying its efforts to annoy and cajole free users into paying up. This, even as the platform itself chokes under algorithmic strains, don’t-call-it-censorship, and mountains of “AI” slop, much of it provided by Google itself. Incidentally, there are still ways around the background audio issue, at least on Android. Read...

There wasn’t much in the way of GPU announcements at (or around) CES earlier this year, with the integrated graphics in Panther Lake laptops the only real shocker. But MSI resurrected its top-shelf Lightning brand for the RTX 5090, announcing a bombastic card with water cooling. The price was assumed to be high, since MSI didn’t set one—and now we have at least one source for the approximate cost. MSI posted a promotional page for the RTX 5090 Lightning on its Taiwanese site, including a lottery with 10 winners for the card. The “Commodity amount” for the prize, according to machine translation, is 165,000 New Taiwan dollars, including sales tax. At today’s exchange rates, that works out to $5,229.85 USD. Assuming that value holds, it would be more than double the MSRP of the standard 5090, and about 10 percent higher than the Asus ROG Matrix Anniversary Edition. Foundry / Michael Crider The Lightning has a laundry list of features that MSI is hoping will appeal not just to gamers, but to those hoping to set world overclocking records. By default, it draws 1,000 watts of power (almost double the standard RTX 5090 spec). It can be pushed up to 2.5 kilowatts if you’re willing to fry your warranty and your desktop at the same time. An absolutely enormous copper heat spreader covers the GPU and the surrounding RAM, and an 8-inch screen rests on the water block, positioned so it can be seen from the exterior of the case if you mount it vertically. Dual BIOS options and a control panel accessible from both web and mobile apps will help you keep an eye on things. MSI says it’s only making 1,300 units of the 5090 Lightning, and frankly even that seems ambitious. Adam Patrick Murray was with me at the announcement at CES and remarked that this card is for the Shaquille O’Neal crowd—the kind of people who want “the best” version of something and don’t even bother to look at the price. (Mr. O’Neal, Razer would like a word.) The card is expected within the first quarter of 2026, and since the lottery for Taiwanese gamers is only open until tomorrow, it seems like the release is imminent. Strangely, the MSI RTX 5090 Lightning is looking like a better deal, at least in the context of the current market. Amid rumors of slashed chip production from Nvidia (in favor of “AI” industrial output, of course), many high-VRAM cards are almost impossible to find. Here in the US, secondary resellers are slinging 5090 cards for $3,600 to $4,500, making a $5,000+ card with all the trimmings seem almost reasonable. Paramount Pictures Such is the reality of high-end gaming during the current RAM crunch. But hey, at least MSI doesn’t have the most expensive RTX 5090. That honor distinction goes to Asus with its $500,000 card made with pounds of actual gold, aimed squarely at Saudi princes who make NBA superstars look like paupers. Read...

Don’t let the high prices and infrastructure requirements of some top-shelf smart home devices intimidate you. You can get all the convenience and security benefits of living in a smart home without spending a lot, wrestling with complicated installs, or learning entirely new skills. As the smart home market has matured, the prices of smart home components have plummeted as manufacturers recovered their R&D costs—thanks early adopters! Meanwhile, a raft of new competitors has forced many premium brands to further shrink their profit margins to stay in the game. When you’re shopping for products you’ll install in your home, however, you don’t want to shop by price alone—there’s a chasm between inexpensive and cheap. Saving a few bucks here and there isn’t worth dealing with the frustration—and even the security risks—second-rate smart home products can present. But the good news is that we’ve personally tested the devices we’re recommending here, and each one costs less than $100 (most cost much less). If you can afford to spend a little more, we’ll present step-up options in several categories (don’t worry, they’re still priced at less than $100). Since each of these products operates on your existing Wi-Fi network, you won’t need to purchase a smart home hub and worry about everything being compatible with that. (That’s the primary reason why we haven’t included the otherwise excellent Lutron family of smart lighting controls on this list.) While we’re talking about saving money, none of our recommendations hooks you into paying for an “optional” subscription to wring the full value out of the product. Small appliance control Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug Christopher Null/Foundry Why you need a smart plug for small appliances A smart plug is the easiest way to add smart home capabilities to your home, and it’s the simplest and best jump-off point for anyone exploring the technology for the first time. These fall into two categories: On/off smart plugs that can work with small appliances—space heaters, fans, air purifiers, pump-equipped water features, as well as lamps—and smart plugs with dimming capabilities, for lamps. Either way, you gain the ability to turn the devices plugged into a smart plug on and off on preset schedule, with a smartphone app, or—if you also have a Amazon, Apple, or Google smart speaker—you can control the connected device with voice commands. Most smart plugs can also work with motion sensors and other smart home devices, so you’ll never need to enter dark room. Why you’d want this smart plug The Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug from TP-Link is one of the least expensive smart plugs you can buy, with Amazon selling a 3-pack for just $25 as of this writing. While TP-Link’s smart lighting collection isn’t as broad competitors such as Leviton, the company does offer a line of smart light bulbs where Leviton doesn’t. More importantly, The Tapo P125M is Matter-certified, so it can be controlled with voice commands to a smart speaker. The Tapo P125M can handle incandescent light bulb loads up to 1,800 watts, but anyone looking to power a motor would be better off our step-up recommendation, the Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch (2nd Gen) (model D215P), see below. Tapo’s offering can handle only up to 1/6-horsepower motors (compared to 3/4-horsepower motors for the Leviton smart plug). The Tapo product also lacks a physical remote control accessory—beyond the app on your phone, of course—that enables you to switch the smart plug on from anywhere else in the room. Read our Tapo P125M review. Buy the Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug at Amazon Small appliance control, a step-up option Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch (2nd Gen) Michael Brown/Foundry Why you’d want this smart plug The Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch (2nd Gen) (model D215P-1RW) is one of our top picks in this category. It connects directly to your Wi-Fi network, so it doesn’t depend on a smart home hub, and its Matter certification ensures universal compatibility with the huge number of other Matter-certified smart home products on the market. In addition to on/off control for lamps, it can also handle small appliances with up to 3/4-horsepower motors. Leviton also offers one of the biggest collections of smart lighting accessories, including the battery-powered Leviton Smart Switch Anywhere Companion (model DAWSC-1BW) ($28 at Amazon), which you can you mount to a wall and use to turn Leviton’s smart plug (or any other Leviton Decora Wi-Fi smart lighting control) as if it were on a 3-way circuit. Read our Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug (2nd Gen) review. Buy the Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug (2nd Gen) at Amazon Lamp control with dimming Tapo P135 Kit TP-Link/Tapo Why you need a dimming smart plug for lamps If you want a smart plug that can dim the light in a lamp that’s plugged into it—as well as turn it on and off—pick up TP-Link’s Tapo P125M. It’s not as visually elegant as our step-up recommendation from Leviton (see below), but it’s $19 street price (at Amazon) is tempting, especially when you consider that it comes bundled with a remote dimmer knob that you can mount to a wall in the same room. The Leviton accessory for the same purpose costs $29 on top of the price of the smart dimmer plug itself. Why you’d want this smart dimming plug The Tapo P135 Kit can handle higher-wattage LED loads than the Leviton product can—150 versus 100 watts—but its 300-watt limit for incandescent and halogen bulbs is the same. Meanwhile, its Matter certification ensures compatibility with every important smart home ecosystem. While we haven’t reviewed this particular product, we have enough experience with other Tapo products to recommend it to our budget-conscious readers. Buy the Tapo P135 Kit at Amazon Lamp control with dimming, a step-up option Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Plug (model D23LP-1BW) Leviton Why you’d want this smart dimming plug As indicated in its name, Leviton’s other indoor smart plug, the Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Plug (model D23LP-1RW) ($25 at Amazon), can dim the bulb in the lamp you plug into it, in addition to turning it on and off. Note that this device doesn’t have a ground connection, so you shouldn’t use it to control smart appliances (and you’ll need to make sure the light bulb in the lamp you plug into it can be dimmed without a problem—some compact fluorescents and LED bulbs have trouble doing this). Leviton’s smart dimmer plug can accommodate up to 100-watt LED or CFL bulbs, and up to 300-watt incandescent and halogen loads. Mount the wire-free Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Anywhere Companion ($29 at Amazon), and you can dim the controlled lamp from that location as well as switch it on or off. Buy the Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Plug (model D23LP-1BW) at Amazon In-wall dimmer Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer (model S505D) Christopher Null/Foundry Why you need a smart in-wall dimmer Smart plugs are quick and easy to install, and they’re great for controlling lamps and small appliances, but when you need to control ceiling cans and other hardwired lights, you’ll need to replace the switches in your walls. This is a relatively easy DIY job, and we can guide you through it, but you should hire an electrician if you’re still intimidated. Why you’d want this smart in-wall dimmer Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer is Matter compatible, guaranteeing compatibility with all your other smart home devices, and it’s remarkably inexpensive: $19 at Amazon as of this writing. Be aware that you’ll need to have a neutral wire in the box where you install this dimmer, which is a common requirement. The Tapo’s relatively large dimensions and somewhat unconventional wiring setup—pigtails for neutral and ground, and screw terminals for line and load—presented a minor installation challenge in our review, but this dimmer delivers excellent performance If you’re replacing a 3-way switch, you’ll want to buy the Tapo S515D Kit ($45 at Amazon), which includes a second dimmer. Unlike Leviton’s step-up solution, however, both dimmers in Tapo’s kit must be hardwired, and both depend on the presence of a neutral wire in the respective boxes you’ll install them in. Leviton’s dimmer also requires a neutral wire, of course, but its companion switch is battery powered and can be installed anywhere. Read our Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer (model S505D) review. Buy the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer at Amazon In-wall dimmer, a step-up option Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Switch, Wi-Fi (model D26HD) Michael Brown/Foundry Why you’d want this smart in-wall dimmer If you’re already using Leviton smart plugs and want to use the same app for your in-wall lighting controls, consider the Leviton Decora Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer Switch (model D26HD) ($39 at Amazon). As with Leviton’s smart dimmer plug, you can add a wireless companion dimmer to control the same load from another area of the room—no additional wiring needed. Be aware, however, that you will need a neutral wire in the box where you install the primary dimmer. If you want the lights to turn on as you enter the room, as well as with voice commands, Leviton’s app, or on a schedule, consider the Leviton Decora Smart Motion Sensing Dimmer Switch (model D2MSD-1BW) ($60 at Amazon). While we haven’t reviewed the Leviton model D26HD, Michael Brown has had one installed in his own smart home for several years. The Leviton motion dimmer we have reviewed is essentially the same device with the addition of an onboard motion sensor. Buy the Leviton Decora Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer Switch at Amazon Garage door opener controller Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control (model MYQ-G0401) Chamberlain Why you need a smart garage door opener controller Radio-signal garage door openers have been around since the early 1930s, and recent technology allows them to open automatically as a homeowner approaches. What can the latest tech do for you? A smart garage door controller will allow you to remotely open the door for deliveries or visitors and keep track of when someone opens and closes the garage with an event log. For those times when you leave home in a rush and then worry that you forgot to close the garage door, a quick look at an app will let you know–and let you remotely close the door if you did. The best part is that these controllers can retrofit onto your existing system. Why you’d want this smart garage door opener controller The Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control (model MYQ-G0401) ($30 at Amazon) comes at a bargain price. The myQ app is easy to set up and use, and the controller works with Vivint Smart Home, Amazon Key, Ring, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. While it’s not compatible with every garage door opener (check online before you buy), the myQ Smart Garage Control is an outstanding product. Read our Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control review Buy the Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control at Amazon Smart light bulbs Philips Hue White Ambiance (Bluetooth + Zigbee) Michael Brown/Foundry Why you need smart bulbs No smart home accessory is more convenient to install or easier to use than smart light bulbs. Beyond illuminating a space, they can operate on schedules, with voice commands, or be triggered by other devices. Most can be dimmed, you can tune the white color temperature of many, and you can opt for bulbs that can glow in your choice of millions of colors to set a mood or celebrate holidays. Why you’d want this smart bulb When it comes to smart bulbs, there’s Signify’s Philips Hue and then there’s everyone else. Yeah, they’re expensive, but no manufacturer has surpassed their quality, versatility, or the sheer size of their smart lighting ecosystem, which goes far beyond smart bulbs to include smart lamps and hardwired fixtures for the entire home, including your landscaping. If you’re just dipping your toe in the Hue waters, be sure to pick one of the bulbs that supports Bluetooth as well as Zigbee. Onboarding and controlling them with Bluetooth means you won’t need to buy one of the Hue Bridges: the Hue Bridge ($50 at Amazon) or the more powerful Hue Bridge Pro ($100 at Amazon). It will, on the other hand, limit you to deploying just 10 Hue bulbs before you’ll need to buy one of the Hue Bridges (which will also open a host of other smart home options. I should also note that you’ll need one of the Hue Bridges for most of the Hue fixtures). The Philips Hue dimmable warm white A19 smart bulb is the least-expensive entry point (about $14 at Amazon). It delivers up to 1,100 lumens at its maximum brightness (equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent bulb), with a fixed color temperature of a warm 2700K. Moving up to the White Ambiance line (about $31 at Amazon) gives you the ability to adjust the white color temperature over the full spectrum, from energizingly cool to warm candlelight. If you want to choose from millions of colors as well as the full scale of white color temperatures, go for the Hue White and Color Ambiance line ($44 at Amazon). Read our Philips Hue Bluetooth + Zigbee smart bulbs review. Buy the Philips Hue Bluetooth + Zigbee A19 smart bulb at Amazon Smart lock Tapo DL100 James Barber/Foundry Why you need a smart lock A smart lock’s obvious home security mission is enhanced by features you won’t get with a conventional deadbolt: automatic locking; remote monitoring, locking, and unlocking; tamper alerts; integration with home security systems; revocable PIN codes; event logging; eliminating the risk of lost or duplicate physical keys; and more. A smart lock’s convenience features are just as valuable. You don’t need to carry a physical key, for starters, which is especially great for latchkey kids. You can unlock with a PIN code or an app on your smartphone. Need to grant a contractor temporary access to your home while you’re at work? Assign them a temporary PIN that’s only valid during a window of time on a given day. Have a weekly housecleaning service? Give them a PIN that only works on the days and hours they’re supposed to be at your house. Want to track who’s been in your house and when? Just consult the lock’s event log. Why you’d want this smart lock You won’t find many sub-$100 smart deadbolts on the market, but the Tapo DL100 is a value-packed offering at its $70 MSRP, and Amazon was offering it for just $60 as of this writing. Yeah, it’s not quite as pretty as some of its high-end competitors (with the all-but-invisible $350 Level Lock Pro at the top of that heap), and it doesn’t offer as many entry options (it has a rubber-button PIN pad, a physical key, or you can use the Tapo app). You’ll need to spend a lot more if you want modern innovations such as a fingerprint reader, a palm vein scanner, or an integrated doorbell camera. Then again, you can buy a couple of the other smart home devices on this list with the money you save. More importantly, this isn’t a cheap smart lock: Tapo went to the trouble of attaining ANSI Grade 3 certification from the BHMA, a step some manufacturers of more expensive smart locks skip. While that’s the lowest ANSI grade, that standard is for commercial locks (BHMA has a different standard for residential locks, as we explain in this story discussing smart-lock quality). The Tapo DL100 doesn’t support Apple Home or Apple Home Keys, and it’s not Matter certified either, but you can integrate the lock with the Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings ecosystems. For the price, the Tapo DL 100 just can’t be beat. Read our Tapo DL100 smart lock review. Buy the Tapo DL100 smart lock at Amazon Outdoor security camera Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit TP-Link Why you need an outdoor security camera Outdoor cameras are great crime deterrents, provided they’re mounted prominently enough to be seen, but high enough that they can’t be disabled. You also want to ensure that the model you pick can withstand exposure to the elements (look for their IP codes. We’ll tell you all about IP codes if you’re not familiar.) Why you’d want this outdoor security camera If you’re willing to sacrifice video resolution to save more than a few bucks, look no further than the Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit. This outdoor security camera delivers only 1080p resolution—compared to higher-end models that can record in 2K, 3K, and even 4K—but the “Kit” in this product’s name tells you this battery-powered camera comes with a solar panel right in the box. What’s more, Amazon was selling the whole thing for just $40 as of this writing. You’ll get person, vehicle, and animal detection—all without a cloud subscription—and if you spring for a microSD card (capacities up to 512GB are supported), you can store your motion-triggered and other video recordings right on the camera itself (you can download them to your phone or PC at any time). Be sure to check our guide to picking a microSD card for your security camera.  Read our Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit review. Buy the Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit at Amazon Indoor home security camera Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Why you need an indoor security camera Indoor security cameras are just as useful as their outdoor cousins. If an intruder evades your outdoor defenses and manages to get inside your house, you’ll want forensic evidence of the crime. More commonly, these devices are used to keep an eye on latchkey kids, nannies, and pets while you’re away from home. You might even catch the culprit who’s been raiding the refrigerator in the middle of the night. Why you’d want this indoor security camera The best models are easy to set up, easy to move to a different location, and capable of delivering a clear image at a reasonable price. The Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) checks all those boxes, delivering 2K resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels) from a camera mounted on a motor that can pan 360 degrees and tilt over a 75-degree arc. AI-powered motion detection will even track a figure as it moves through the room, so you’ll never miss anything. The camera can host an optional microSD card (in capacities up to 128GB), so you can record hours of footage without needing to pay for a subscription owners can add hours of storage without a subscription. Alternatively, you can connect it to Eufy’s HomeBase 3 NAS box for even more local storage capacity. Read our Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) review. Buy the Eufy Security Indoor Cam (model C220) at Amazon Smart speaker Amazon Echo Dot Max Ben Patterson/Foundry Why you need a smart speaker Adding a smart speaker to your home yields countless benefits, ranging from serving as a know-it-all source of general information to playing music, podcasts, and weather forecasts. The Echo Dot Max features Amazon’s powerful new Alexa+ generative AI for more natural conversations and less need to repeat the Alexa wake word. Why you’d want this smart speaker The Amazon Echo Dot Max is a very good speaker for music streaming, too, with a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 2.5-inch high-excursion woofer tuned to deliver three times the bass of the smaller Echo Dot. You can stream music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, and several other services. Read our Amazon Echo Dot Max review. Buy the Amazon Echo Dot Max at Amazon Smart thermostat Amazon smart thermostat Brian Nadel / IDG Why you need a smart thermostat A true smart thermostat goes beyond manually set schedules of desired temperature targets to learning your lifestyle patterns to automatically adjust the heating or cooling of your home. The best models can even sense when you’re home and when you’re away, to help keep energy costs low by eliminating unnecessary operations. Having one of these devices controlling your HVAC system can save you hundreds of dollars on your utility bills every year. Why you’d want this smart thermostat The Amazon Smart Thermostat has been a TechHive Editors’ Pick for nearly five years because it delivers all the functionality of fancier—and much more expensive smart thermostats—at a price tag of just $79. The unit integrates with Amazon’s Alexa app, of course, and you can use Alexa to control the thermostat via voice commands. It’s compatible with most 24V HVAC systems, but you’ll need a power adapter kit if your system doesn’t have a C-wire. Read our Amazon Smart Thermostat review. Buy the Amazon Smart Thermostat at Amazon Video doorbell Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera Christopher Null/Foundry Why you need a video doorbell Video doorbells have become commonplace home security tools since Ring introduced the first one more than a decade ago. Now there are dozens of models on the market offering homeowners the ability to see who’s at their front door and communicate with visitors without opening the door or even leaving the couch. Why you’d want this video doorbell The Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera offers a full set of features at a price far below that of similarly capable competitors. You get a camera with 2K resolution (2560 x 1920 pixels) and the ability to run the unit on either battery power or hardwired to your home’s electricity. Add a microSD card (capacities up to 512GB) for local recording without the need for a cloud subscription. You also get a remote indoor chime in the box, a feature not usually available at this price. The doorbell works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart displays but does not work with Apple Home. If you’re going with the battery option, note that you’ll need to dismount the entire unit when it’s time to change the battery. Read our Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera review Buy the Buy the Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera at Amazon Water leak detector Moen Smart Water Leak Detector Michael Brown/Foundry Why you need a water leak detector Water damage caused by an overflowing toilet, broken pipe, failing water heater, burst washing-machine supply line, or countless other similar disasters can be nearly as devastating than a fire, and they’re a lot more common than that. Why you’d want this water leak detector The Moen Smart Water Leak Detector is a simple gadget that can instantly alert you to the presence of water where it shouldn’t be. There are contact sensors on the device itself, and it also comes with a 4-foot extension cable that extends its reach. Moen’s detector doesn’t depend on a smart home hub, as it connects directly to your Wi-Fi network, and it can also monitor ambient temperature and humidity at the locations you deploy them, further alerting you to conditions that indicate the danger of mold growth. What’s more, if you also own a Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor & Shutoff, the leak detector can trigger that smart valve to shut off your main water supply line to mitigate any damage to your home. Read our Moen Smart Water Leak Detector review. Buy the Moen Smart Water Leak Detector at Amazon Smart smoke detector X-Sense XS0B-MR Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm Christopher Null/Fouindry Why you need a smart smoke detector What’s the difference between a smart smoke detector and the dumb ones we’ve all been using for decades? The smart models will send an alert to your phone no matter where you happen to be, alerting you to danger even if you’re not home at the time. Why you’d want this smart smoke detector The best smart models—including the X-Sense XS0B-MR Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm—are interconnected, so that if one sounds off, they all sound off. And this model delivers the added benefit of voice notifications when smoke or fire is detected, informing you precisely which room(s) smoke is being detected in. The detectors are powered by 3V lithium cells that should last for five years, and when they start to fail, the app will let you know which batteries need to be replaced before they start that annoying chirp in the wee hours of the morning. The bundle we reviewed consisted of three smoke detectors and a central hub that connects to your Wi-Fi network. X-Sense also sells a package with the base station and six detectors for $170, or you can add single units to your existing hub for $40 each. Be aware that this is a fire-safety system only; it will not notify you of the presence of carbon monoxide. If that’s a must-have feature, you might consider the X-Sense XP0A-SR. It also offers voice warnings, but it’s a standalone device that doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi, connect to a central hub, or work with the X-Sense app. It also sells for $40 and will get the job done. Read our X-Sense XS0B-MR Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm review. Buy the X-Sense XS0B-MR Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm at X-Sense Read...

I don’t know about your house, but there’s a spot in mine where the internet is spotty on the best of days. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for problems like that: all you need is a Wi-Fi range extender. Before you spend hundreds on an upgraded router or a newfangled mesh network, try this: TP-Link’s RE615X extender is now $59.99 on Amazon. It’s a really simple solution. Here’s how it works: You plug it into an outlet somewhere between your main router and the area with spotty Wi-Fi, then connect it to your Wi-Fi network. The extender will rebroadcast the Wi-Fi signal, which should fill in that spotty area and strengthen your reception there. And that’s it! It’s as easy as that. The RE615X can extend Wi-Fi signal by up to 2,100 square feet and supports up to 64 device connections, making it an excellent choice for large families with lots of devices and homes with lots of smart devices. (Have you checked lately? You’d be surprised how many devices are actively connected to your home Wi-Fi network!) Other nice features include dual-band support with total speeds up to 1.8 Gbps (fast enough for streaming and gaming), plus a Gigabit Ethernet port for when you want a more stable connection. It also supports EasyMesh, allowing you to create a seamless whole-home mesh network if you have compatible devices. If spotty Wi-Fi is causing you way more frustration than you’d like, a range extender like this is the affordable first-line solution. Get it now for $59.99 on Amazon while it’s still on sale! Fill out those dead Wi-Fi zones with this nifty little accessoryBuy now via Amazon Read...