Most note-taking apps promise structure, but at some point, they just add friction. I’ve probably tried about a dozen notes apps by now, and started wondering if they’re actually making the process more complicated. I lose track of things, databases get heavy, syncing gets weird, and exporting my own notes turns into a whole project. So, I thought back to what I used to do before all these apps — plain text files. Turns out, this old-school approach was simpler and more flexible once I gave it real structure.

I only started taking NotebookLM seriously a while ago. I treated it more like a notetaking app that has an AI layer. But the more I used it and started feeding it my thoughts, it clicked. It’s not that NotebookLM makes me more productive now, it just helps me free up mental bandwidth. I don’t have to hold everything in my head or keep circling back to half-baked thoughts over and over.

Labor Day weekend has finally arrived, and after a week of early discounts trickling in, the sales are now in full swing. From big-screen OLED TVs and outdoor gear to back-to-school essentials like the latest MacBook Air, we rounded up a guide of almost 100 deals we think are worth your time and money.But we get it. In times of tariffs and inflation, spending a couple a hundred dollars on a new gadget isn’t always feasible, and many of the sales we wrote about in our larger Labor Day deals roundup may not feel accessible. Luckily, some of the best deals cost under $100. To make them easier to find, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, which include everything from the latest Kindle, the entry-level AirPods, and Google TV Streamer (4K) to games and smart security devices.AirPods 4Apple’s AirPods 4 are the latest update to the company’s base-model wireless earbuds. The hard, plastic buds feature improved audio over the third-gen model, along with deep iOS integration and spatial audio with head tracking. Read our review.Where to Buy: $129 $89.99 at Amazon $129 $89.99 at Walmart $179 $138.99 at Amazon (with ANC)Kindle (2024)Amazon’s most recent entry-level Kindle features a 6-inch, 300ppi display, support for USB-C charging, and up to six weeks of battery life. It’s also brighter than previous models and offers noticeably faster performance.Where to Buy: $109.99 $89.99 at Amazon $109.99 $89.99 at Best Buy $109.99 $89.99 at TargetBeats Pill (2024)The latest Beats Pill offers improved sound, USB-C, and native support for both iOS and Android features, including their respective Find My networks and voice assistants. It also bests the previous model with double the battery life and IP67 water resistance. Read our review.Where to Buy: $149.95 $99 at Amazon $149.95 $99.95 at Walmart $149.99 $99.99 at TargetThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s AwakeningThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening brings back the classic adventure from the original GameBoy to experience on the Nintendo Switch with an extremely cute art style. Read our review.Where to Buy: $59.99 $39.99 at Best Buy $59.99 $49 at Walmart $59.99 $50.48 at AmazonGoogle TV Streamer (4K)Google’s terrific TV Streamer (4K) is the company’s best attempt at a streaming device yet, with built-in ethernet, an excellent interface, and smart home compatibility with both Matter and Thread. Read our review.Where to Buy: $99.99 $84 at Amazon $99.99 $84 at Walmart $99.99 $84.99 at Best BuyBeats Studio Buds PlusThe Beats Studio Buds Plus sport an eye-catching translucent option and build upon the original with improved sound, better voice quality, and more effective ANC. They also include swappable silicon ear tips and support for native iOS and Android features. Read our review.Where to Buy: $169.95 $84.95 at Woot $169.95 $129.95 at Amazon $169.95 $129.99 at Best BuyBlink Video Doorbell (second-gen-en) with Sync Module CoreBlink’s second-gen Video Doorbell records 1080p video in a 1:1 aspect ratio to show their entire body. It comes with a Sync Module that acts as a hub and helps extend its battery life to roughly two years.Where to Buy: $69.99 $39.99 at Amazon $69.99 $39.99 at Best Buy $69.99 $39.99 at TargetEcho Show 5 (third-gen)The newest Echo Show 5 is just as small as its predecessor, but it features updated microphones and a speaker system that delivers double the bass and clearer sound quality.Where to Buy: $89.99 $64.99 at Amazon $89.99 $64.99 at Best Buy $89.99 $64.99 at TargetMario & Luigi: Brothership In this turn-based RPG, the Mario brothers sail across islands on a quest to return to the Mushroom Kingdom, fighting bosses along the way. It’s a lighthearted Nintendo Switch game full of clever gameplay, charm, and humor. Read our review.Where to Buy: $59.99 $39.99 at Best Buy $59.99 $39.9 at WalmartStar Wars Jedi: SurvivorStar Wars Jedi: Survivor is the captivating sequel to 2019’s Fallen Order, one that continues the story of Cal Kestis and his little droid, BD-1. It’s an action-adventure game blending elements of games like Tomb Raider, Metroid, and God of War with Dark Souls — except you’re a Jedi with a lightsaber. Read our review.Where to Buy: $69.99 $19.99 at Amazon (Xbox Series X) $69.99 $19.99 at Best Buy (PS5)Logitech G Pro X SuperlightLogitech’s G Pro X Superlight was one of its lightest gaming mice up you could buy until the release of the pricier Superlight 2. It remains a great mouse, complete with a 25,600 DPI Hero sensor and a clean, minimalist design that features a single LED for displaying the battery level.Where to Buy: $159.99 $98.6 at Amazon (white) $159.99 $98.99 at Best Buy (white)Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 sports a 10.1-inch, 1080p display and 3GB of RAM, which is plenty if you’re streaming or browsing. It’s lighter than the last-gen model, too, and comes with support for both the Made for Amazon Stylus Pen and Amazon’s handwriting recognition technology.Where to Buy: $139.99 $89.99 at Amazon (32GB, with ads) $179.99 $99.99 at Amazon (64GB, with ads) $154.99 $104.99 at Amazon (32GB, without ads)LifeStraw Peak Series StrawLifeStraw’s redesigned Peak Series Straw features a durable, leakproof design that’s great for backcountry treks. It can remove unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink — just like the base model — but benefits from an increased flow rate and more premium materials.Where to Buy: $24.95 $18.69 at REI $24.95 $18.71 at Amazon $24.95 $18.71 at LifeStrawMpowerd Luci Solar String Lights: ColorMpowerd’s solar-powered string lights are perfect for camping or a backyard shindig. The 18-foot string can display six colors and last up to 15 hours on a single charge; the case also doubles as a charger, allowing you to top off your phone in a pinch.Where to Buy: $54.95 $32.93 at REI $54.95 $32.97 at AmazonAnker MagGo Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1, Dock Stand)Anker’s MagGo Wireless Charging Station features a MagSafe charging stand, a Qi wireless charging pad, and an Apple Watch charger. It should charge all three devices at their top speed simultaneously, and comes with a 40W USB-C power adapter and cable.Where to Buy: $89.99 $69.99 at Amazon (with Prime) $89.99 $69.99 at Anker (with code WSPDV2QWE69S)Elgato Stream Deck NeoThe Stream Deck Neo is a compact macro controller with eight LCD keys, which can be programmed to carry out various shortcuts on your computer. It also features a small information display and two capacitive buttons, allowing you to quickly navigate pages upon pages of macros.Where to Buy: $99.99 $79.99 at Amazon $99.99 $79.99 at Best Buy $99.99 $79.99 at ElgatoRing Battery Doorbell (2024)The 1080p camera on Ring’s latest Battery Doorbell has improved color night vision and a taller, head-to-toe field-of-view for package detection than the previous model. It also features better battery life and push-pin dismounting.Where to Buy: $99.99 $54.99 at Amazon $99.99 $54.99 at Best Buy $99.99 $54.99 at TargetKelty Low LoveseatThe Kelty Low Loveseat is a sturdy, low-profile camp chair built for two. It features a steel frame, a padded seat, and extra-large cup holders for your drinks or gear. It also includes a padded roll-tote storage bag, making it easy to transport when it’s folded down.Where to Buy: $129.95 $97.39 at REI $129.95 $97.46 at BackcountrySea to Summit Hanging Toiletry BagSea to Summit’s small toiletry bag lets you keep all of your essentials close at hand for weekend getaways. It features a water–resistant fabric and a convenient hanging hook, along with internal mesh pockets so you can quickly find whatever it is you need.Where to Buy: $49.95 $37.39 at REI $49.95 $37.39 at Amazon $49.95 at Sea to SummitBlink Outdoor 4The 1080p Blink Outdoor 4 security camera offers support for motion detection, night vision, and two-way audio. There’s the option of local recording with the bundled Sync Module 2 (the newer Sync Module XR is out, but we haven’t tested it yet), and unlike the third-gen model, it supports person detection and has a wider field of view.Where to Buy: $99.99 $44.99 at Amazon $179.99 $89.99 at Amazon (two-pack) $259.99 at Amazon (three-pack)

It's no secret that I love exploring projects that utilize an e-ink display. Every time I see one, I just have to check it out and write about it. They're sleek, they look great, and they don't consume a lot of power—what's not to love?

Things got a little scary with the new Windows 11 update. First, Microsoft stated that it was investigating reports that the newest update would render SSDs undetectable if attempting to move at least 50GB of data onto a drive with over 60% of its storage capacity used. This would potentially cause data loss or even cause the drive to brick itself. There was just one problem; while there were a handful of claims, it hadn't seen anyone else come forward with the same bug. So, it made a call asking people to tell the company if they've ever encountered the bug.

When a Waymo pulls up and parks in front of her home on a residential street in West Los Angeles, 10-year-old Morgan rushes to the window."The Waymo is home!" she says, calling to her parents, Lisa Delgin and Zach Tucker.It is by no means the first time a Waymo has come "home" to this particular spot. Last year, a Waymo robotaxi dropped Delgin and Tucker off after a New Year's Eve party and idled there for several minutes until it took off for the next ride. Since then, Waymos have been parking in that same spot, day after day, sometimes for minutes, sometimes for hours."It would always come back here, like a beacon," Delgin said. "Lik …Read the full story at The Verge.

Productivity software is essential in my workflow. Without something to help me stay on task, my mind will wander and find something else to focus on. It's easy enough to stay on task while online, but I've found myself away from home and reliable internet much more often lately (with a baby on the way, my wife and I go to a lot of prenatal appointments). To combat my natural tendency to get distracted, I started looking to build an offline productivity pack that would help me work, even with access to the web.

For the last week or two, reports have been circulating that recent Windows 11 updates (specifically KB5063878 and KB5062660) were causing some SSDs using Phison controllers to fail. Tech influencers on YouTube and TikTok were quick to jump on the reports of corrupted data and disappearing drives, laying the blame squarely at Microsoft’s feet. We’re not saying any company is above lying to the public, and Microsoft has a history of rocky update rollouts, but both Microsoft and Phison claim they’ve been unable to recreate the issue.Phison said it was made aware of reports that the Windows update was causing drives to fail on August 18th and began investigating the issue. Then it issued a statement on August 27th saying that after running over 2,200 test cycles totaling more than 4,500 hours it was, “unable to reproduce the reported issue, and no partners or customers have reported that the issue affected their drives at this time.”Microsoft followed up just a few days later by saying that, “After thorough investigation, Microsoft has found no connection between the August 2025 Windows security update and the types of hard drive failures reported on social media.”This isn’t terribly surprising since the reports were fairly limited. A Japanese user on Twitter appears to be the first to suggest the Windows update was bricking SSDs and there were some in the comments claiming that they had experienced similar issues. But, there was little evidence to suggest it was widespread and it’s entirely possible that this is a localized problem related to a bad batch of drives. So it seems there’s little reason to believe the August 2025 Windows security update is going to fry your hard drive, no matter what some dude on TikTok says.

The Arrow Lake range wasn't Intel's finest moment. Things started going south when people discovered that Arrow Lake had an issue that caused it to deteriorate over time. The good news was that the hardware itself wasn't going bad; it was due to the microcode that defined how the system used the processor. So, Intel told us not to worry, as this could be fixed with a quick firmware update. Intel then provided us with the update, but it didn't work. And so, the legacy of Arrow Lake was Intel providing updates, and users hoping their chip wouldn't slowly erode itself away.

There's a pleasing rhythm to cozy life sims. The virtual days pass, filled with chores of tending crops or running a business, punctuated by strange mysteries or evolving relationships. At their best, these games merge busywork with exploration and storytelling, in a way that makes them hard to step away from. Discounty, from developer Crinkle Cut Games, applies this idea to running a small-town supermarket. And while in many ways it can still be considered "cozy" like its contemporaries, it also comes with a bit of bite.Instead of starting up your own business from scratch, Discounty has you taking over a grocery franchise from your crank …Read the full story at The Verge.

If you thought the PC-building landscape was full of cool components, just wait until you step into the home lab ecosystem. While you can keep the initial investment cost fairly low by going the SBC or mini-PC route, enthusiast home servers can involve numerous PCs – including those designed for enterprise workloads. You’ll also need a network stack, which typically involves switches, routers, WAPs, and other fun (and low-key intimidating) paraphernalia.

It's almost September, which means it's almost October, which means it's almost October 31st, which means it's time to get excited for Halloween. I will roll my eyes the second I see Christmas decorations on the shelves before December, but I will absolutely, definitely start getting ready for scary stuff and creepy creatures the second the Fall hits.