TikTok has announced a suite of new features aimed at giving users more control over their experience on the platform, including content customisation tools and bedtime nudges. Read...

TL;DR: Accounting can be costly, but small business owners can now score pro-level accounting tools with a one-time payment of $250 for Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024. For small business owners seeking a reliable and cost-effective accounting solution, Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 is now offering a lifetime license for a one-time payment of $249.99 (reg. $699). This version provides robust features designed to streamline your business’s financial management without the burden of recurring subscription fees.? Let’s dive into what QuickBooks comes with to simplify your accounting needs: Enhanced reporting: Access advanced reporting tools, including custom dashboards and reports, to gain deeper insights into your business finances.? Inventory management: Track inventory with improved reports and manage stock more efficiently to prevent shortages or overbuying. Data security: Your business can become vulnerable to bad actors, which is why QuickBooks has AES 256-bit encryption—the industry-leading security standard—to ensure your financial data is protected. User-friendly interface: Navigate through an updated and intuitive interface, all designed to make it easy to manage your business accounting tasks.? With a lifetime license, you’ll never need to pay for a pesky subscription again. This version is optimized for Windows 10 and 11, so be sure that your PC’s operating system meets download requirements before purchasing. Whether you’re a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner, you can streamline your finance management by grabbing this Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 lifetime subscription, now available for $249.99 (reg. $699) while supplies last. Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 (1 User) for Windows: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

We love multi-purpose laptops that aren’t just great when you’re working but also performant when you’re gaming. And when such laptops are on sale, that’s something worth jumping on! Like this MSI Stealth 14 AI that’s now $1,250 at Best Buy, which might seem like a steep price except it was originally $1,600. That’s a $350 discount on an AI-ready laptop that’s going to rock your productive hours and your chill-out time. The MSI Stealth 14 AI moves fast, loading up your apps in a flash and swapping between them with little effort, able to handle hundreds of open tabs without choking. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor is relatively recent from 2023, and the 16GB of DDR5 RAM gives it the high-performance memory you need to get things done. The 1TB SSD is plentiful on storage space and quick for booting up and loading data. And if you’re hoping to squeeze some gaming in as well, then you’re in luck because the MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. We know it’s not the newest and greatest GPU, even of the 40-series cards, but it strikes a good balance between speed, features, and affordability. The 14-inch IPS screen is all-around gorgeous, complete with 1200p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. It comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed and ports include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and 3.5mm headset jack. Beware that despite it having “AI Studio” in its name, this laptop is NOT a Copilot+ PC, meaning it doesn’t have enough AI power to handle Microsoft’s AI features in Windows 11. At 0.75 inches thin and 3.75 pounds light, it’s pretty portable—and it’ll last long enough with its 72 watt-hour battery as long as you aren’t gaming too heavily. The MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio was pretty expensive at retail, but it’s not bad at all now that you can get it for just $1,250 at Best Buy. If you want to hold out for even better, check out the best laptops for your money. Save $350 on this AI-ready work laptop with RTX for gamingBuy now from Best Buy Read...

It’s only been a month since Microsoft released version 136 of its Edge browser, and they’re already rolling out version 137. But according to Neowin, this update isn’t just adding new features per usual—it’s actually removing a handful of features at the same time. The Image Editor, Image Hover Menu, Mini Menu, Video Super Resolution, and Wallet Hub features have all been removed in Edge version 137. All of your personal data from the Wallet Hub has now been moved to the browser’s password manager. (Incidentally, Microsoft also killed Authenticator’s password manager last month and is transitioning those passwords over to Edge’s password manager, too.) In addition to nixing features, Microsoft has added some improvements to Edge with this update. The browser’s Picture-in-Picture mode has been boosted with new controls for scrubbing through the progress bar, and you can now set up web content filters to block inappropriate sites by selecting various filter categories. Lastly, Microsoft has fixed 8 security vulnerabilities in the browser, making it a little safer for all. Read...

TL;DR: If you manage timelines, budgets, or team workflows, this one-time deal gives you Microsoft Project 2021 Pro for life—just $15. Project managers, team leads, and spreadsheet warriors—rejoice. If you’ve ever stared at a chaotic to-do list and thought, There has to be a better way, you’re absolutely right. And it’s called Microsoft Project Professional 2021. Even better? Through this offer, you can grab a lifetime license for just $14.97 (reg. $249.99). Whether you’re managing a massive launch, juggling timelines and stakeholders, or just trying to stay ahead of deliverables, Microsoft Project Pro gives you everything you need to stay organized and keep things moving. With features like pre-built templates, multiple timeline views, budget tracking, and automated scheduling, it’s like having a project manager for your project management. This version is yours forever, meaning you’ll never be caught off guard by another price hike or renewal email. And because it’s a one-time download for Windows PCs, you’ll be up and running the same day—no delays, no IT help required. It’s perfect for freelancers, small teams, or anyone who’s sick of cobbling together apps that don’t quite get the job done. Pick up a lifetime of organizational support when you purchase Microsoft Project 2021 Pro for just $14.97. Microsoft Project 2021 Professional: Lifetime License for WindowsSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

For years, Notepad has existed as a bare-bones text editor. No longer. Microsoft keeps adding to it, including a new update that includes capabilities that you might have expected in another Windows application, WordPad. Microsoft said Friday that it is adding “lightweight formatting” in Notepad, including markdown input and file support, but also bold and italic fonts and even hyperlinks. They’re all accessible via a new toolbar that includes these new formatting options. Microsoft didn’t indicate that it is testing the new Notepad or offering these features in preview, so presumably these updates will arrive on your Windows PC soon. Two things seem to be going on here. In late 2023, Microsoft killed off WordPad, the rich text editor that served as a poor man’s alternative to Microsoft Word. (There’s a way to bring WordPad back, but you’d need access to an older version of Windows where WordPad still existed.) Traditionally, Notepad has been the Windows answer to a light text editor that coders can use or write in, although more sophisticated alternatives like vim exist. It seems that Microsoft is adding more features to try and help those users, while moving towards a WordPad replacement. Microsoft, meanwhile, is bringing the Edit app to Windows as well. Edit is an open-source app that was basically designed as a command-line interface, or CLI, and Microsoft specifically references how obtuse vim was to use when it announced it. Either way, by beefing up Notepad –heck, even with Copilot! — and adding the Edit option as well, Windows is offering a number of lightweight CLI and text-editing interfaces without bloating the operating system even further. Read...

Microsoft Edge Game Assist has worked its way through Microsoft’s development cycle, and has been released for everybody. It’s your new tool for solving those pesky puzzles in your favorite PC games. Even though we associate “Microsoft” with “Windows,” Microsoft has numerous little platforms that it bolts features on to. Microsoft Edge Game Assist is one of these: It’s a specialized hint tool for Game Bar, a Windows gaming feature that’s been around for over half a decade with a steadily advancing feature set that includes performance tools, screen capture, and more. Microsoft Edge Game Assist bolts Edge to Game Bar. Instead of forcing you to stop what you’re doing and start typing terms into search boxes, Game Assist “knows” what game you’re playing and opens up what you might call a specialized hint browser. I went hands-on with Microsoft Edge Game Assist in January, where I launched it alongside Baldur’s Gate 3 to see what sort of tips it could offer. At the time, Microsoft Edge Game Assist supported just a handful of games. Now, the list of games that Microsoft Edge Game Assist supports has grown quite long from newer games like Split Fiction, Avowed, and the “new” The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, to more interesting strategic choices like Hearts of Iron IV. Each of the games has been enhanced with tips and guides, Microsoft says. Personally, I find all of this fascinating, because Microsoft seems to be converging on an AI-powered game assistant that will steer you to some of your favorite games’ more challenging puzzles. Game guides are one thing; bringing them into the game is another. But combine this with the new (and somewhat mediocre) talents of Copilot Vision, and the future clearly is an AI assistant who can see what you see and offer advice. Give it a year or two. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extends the range at which Blink Outdoor 4 cameras can be deployed Can store motion-triggered video recordings on up to a 256GB microSD card Much faster than the Blink Sync Module 2 Cons Extended range functionality reduces video resolution, and is limited to two Blink Outdoor 4 cameras Local storage still limited to 256GB Our Verdict If you’re using Blink home security cameras and you don’t already have a Blink Sync Module 2, the Blink Sync Module XR delivers a host of benefits. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Blink Sync Module XR Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I’m a big fan of security cameras with the capacity to stream their recordings to local storage on my home network. Amazon’s Blink family of cameras, floodlight cameras, and video doorbells has long had one of the most inexpensive options thanks to its Sync Module series. And the all-new Sync Module XR is a significant improvement over the Blink Sync Module 2 that precedes it. Most security camera hubs must be hardwired to your router or to an ethernet switch connected to your router, but the 3.25-inch-square, 0.75-inch-thick Sync Module XR connects to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (5GHz networks are not supported). You can view live streams and recordings from up to 10 Blink cameras—one at a time—in the Blink app. The Sync Module XR provides a superior means of storing video recordings from up to 10 Blink cameras. Specifications The Blink Sync Module XR is easy to set up; just scan the QR code on the bottom of the device to get started.Michael Brown/Foundry The XR in the product’s name is related to a new Extended Range feature that works with the latest generation of battery-powered outdoor cameras, the Blink Outdoor 4. When you connect one of these to the hub, you can choose between a Wi-Fi connection; Extended Range (XR), to reach cameras up to 250 feet from the hub; or Extended Range Plus (XR+), to service cameras up to 400 feet away. The latter two connections use a Blink-proprietary network operating in the 900MHz spectrum. Note that these range estimates assume a single wall between the hub and the camera, and that you’re limited to using two XR-capable cameras with these settings. The longer-range features also entail trade-offs: Using an XR connection reduces video resolution from 1080p to either 720p or 360p, and using XR+ drops resolution down to 360p. You also lose the two-way talk feature with this setting. Performance You can install up to a 256GB microSD card in the Blink Sync Module XR for local storage of motion-triggered video recordings. Michael Brown/Foundry The Sync Module XR also provides a superior means of storing video recordings from up to 10 Blink cameras. Where you’d plug a USB thumb drive into the Sync Module 2, tempting curious toddlers to yank it out, this new model features a microSD card slot. You’ll need to provide the storage device in both cases. There’s been no improvement in capacity, however; the Sync Module XR still limits your storage to 256GB. If you find you need more storage than that, sign up for a Blink subscription plan that provides 60 days of cloud storage for all your Blink cameras (30 days in the EU and UK) in the cloud. Subscriptions cost $10 per month or $100 per year. There’s also a $3/mo, $30/year plan, but that only covers a single Blink camera. The Blink Sync Module XR supports up to 10 Blink cameras, but only two Blink Outdoor 4 cameras can use its proprietary extended range feature. Michael Brown/Foundry In addition to cloud storage, a Blink Subscription provides person detection (on cameras that support it), the ability to send video recordings via email or text message, extended live viewing (you get 5 minutes without a plan, and up to 90 minutes with one), automatic thumbnail image refresh, and a few other perks. I had been using three of Amazon’s impressively inexpensive Blink Outdoor cameras (two 4th-generation and one 3rd-gen) for the past couple of years, along with a Blink Sync Module 2. The cameras deliver impressive battery life of nearly a full year on a pair of AA Lithium disposable batteries. The Blink Sync Module XR comes with a power supply and a USB-A to USB-C cable.Michael Brown/Foundry Removing the old sync module and migrating the three cameras to the Sync Module XR was a snap. While I couldn’t migrate the old recordings to the new storage, I was able to plug the thumb drive I was using into my PC and watch the recordings and move them to my NAS box as unencrypted MP4 files. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Should you buy a Blink Sync Module XR? Anyone who owns Blink security cameras will benefit from adding a Blink Sync Module XR to their home security portfolio. The increased range promise is genuine, even if it does compromise video quality. While the Blink Sync Module XR doesn’t offer any more storage capacity than the Sync Module 2, it initiates live streams and plays recordings with much less delay than the older model did. If you don’t already have a Blink Sync Module 2, the $20 difference in price between the second-generation model and the XR is fully justified. The calculus is a little more complicated for those who already own the earlier product. Personally, I don’t need the extended range, and the speedier performance and the support for a microSD card with the same storage limit as a USB thumb drive aren’t enough to justify the cost of the upgrade. My bottom-line score, therefore, is from the perspective of a Blink camera owner who doesn’t want to pay for a subscription and who doesn’t own a previous-generation Sync Module. Read...

Finding a solid computer at an affordable price can be tough because they have to tick so many boxes, and you can’t always get everything you need within your budget. But with this discount, the Acer Swift 16 AI might be the unicorn you’re looking for. It’s now just $850 at Best Buy, which is a crazy $400 off its original price! When we reviewed the Acer Swift 16 AI, it came close to being one of our favorites. We gave it a 4-star rating for its sleek and sturdy design, its sharp OLED display with 3K resolution, its lovely keyboard feel, and its long battery life. And keep in mind that this is a 16-inch laptop! Between that and the OLED panel, battery life usually suffers. But not here. The laptop runs on a brand-new Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor that’s AI-ready and compatible with Microsoft’s Copilot+ features on Windows 11. It also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD. All combined, this is the perfect workstation for daily work and browsing, with over 17 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Intel Arc integrated graphics are even good enough for some light gaming. Other features of note include two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports (both on the same side), two high-speed USB-A ports (one on either side), a full-sized HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The laptop itself is 0.63 inches thin and 3.37 pounds light, making it perfect as a thin-and-light for portable productivity. Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed. The Acer Swift 16 AI was a bit pricey when it first released, but it’s a darn good bargain now that it’s slashed down to $850! Take advantage of this deal soon because we don’t know when it expires. Save $400 on Acer`s AI-ready OLED productivity laptopBuy now from Best Buy Read...

If you’re looking to get a computer with a great performance without selling a kidney, you should look into mini PCs because these things deliver lots of power at a great price. The Kamrui AM21, for instance, is only going to cost you $360 now that it’s 25% off on Amazon. As tiny as this PC is, it’s packed when it comes to what’s under the hood. An AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX on a device that can fit in the palm of your hand? Yes, it’s true, and it’s what makes it ready to tackle your entire workload or your next passion project. The AM21 also features 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which is pretty darn good for the price. But if that’s not enough for you, you can always upgrade it to 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Now that’s a powerful combo! There’s no dedicated graphics card, but you can get away with light gaming and video editing with the integrated Radeon 680M graphics. It’s powerful enough to connect up to four(!) 4K@60Hz displays via the two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort and USB-C video. Other niceties include four high-speed USB-A ports, double LAN, another USB-C for data, and a 3.5mm headset jack. It’s a multitasker’s dream! A powerful machine like this for just $360? That’s way better than you’d get in a comparable laptop, and good luck finding a full-blown desktop PC at this price. Get the Kamrui AM21 on Amazon before it expires! Get a 25% discount on this Ryzen 9 mini PC with quad 4K supportBuy now at Amazon Read...