We all want to get the best performance out of our computers, and keeping it running as good as new can seem like an impossible challenge. It may get to a point where you're tempted to install an optimizer or cleaner app, but if you ever do find yourself thinking about that, it's best to stop.

For me, moving to a new place wasn't just about the boxes. Along with packing up my physical belongings, I spent a good amount of time and effort moving my digital life as well. I made sure to set up a few self-hosted apps before I even unpacked the first box. These aren't just apps; they are the very pillars of my day-to-day life. From managing my finances to helping me track my belongings while moving, this self-hosted setup is what truly makes my place feel like home.

The DJI Mic 3 has shrinked without scrimping. DJI is making its latest wireless lavalier microphone system even smaller without scrimping on features or battery life. The DJI Mic 3 is half the size and weight of its Mic 2 predecessor and introduces new capabilities, including two adaptive gain control modes, three voice tone presets, and a sizable increase in storage capacity for internal recordings.DJI’s latest wireless mic can support up to four transmitters and eight receivers at once for recording audio from large groups, with a range of 400 meters (1,312 feet). The Mic 3 automatically switches between 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands to help keep the transmission stable and prevent interference. Two-level active noise cancelling is also available for reducing background sounds.The Adaptive Gain Control modes include an Automatic option that can suppress sudden volume spikes and prevent clipping in noisy environments, and a Dynamic mode that automatically adjusts gain to keep volume consistent in quieter indoor settings like studios. The three voice tone presets include Regular, Rich, and Bright, which can be selected based on the vocal characteristics of whoever is speaking to adjust clarity.At 16 grams, the Mic 3 is closer in size and weight to the 10-gram Mic Mini system that DJI launched last year. Unlike the Mic Mini, however, the Mic 3 retains features like built-in backup recording abilities to prevent losing audio, and a touchscreen display on the receiver to adjust settings and monitor battery levels. It also includes 32GB of storage for dual-file internal recordings that support both 24-bit and 32-bit floating points, which is significantly larger than the 8GB of built-in storage on the Mic 2.Battery life sits between the two older DJI lav mics, providing up to eight hours for the receiver and 10 hours for the transmitter, compared to six hours for both on the Mic 2, and up to 11.5 hours and 10.5 hours on the Mic Mini’s transmitter and receiver, respectively. The Mic 3 charging case provides 2.4 full charges, according to DJI, giving users 28 hours of extra juice on the go.What we don’t know is the price or release timeline. DJI says the Mic 3 won’t be available in the US immediately, which suggests it’ll be launching in other markets first. The two-microphone transmitter kit for the Mic 2 launched at $219, and the more affordable Mic Mini is $169 by comparison, so we’ll have to wait and see how the Mic 3 stacks up when it arrives in the US.

On Thursday, Xbox announced it’s widely rolling out cross-device play history. With the new update, even if you’re on a different Xbox console, Ally handheld, or PC, your recently played game list will remain the same, so you can jump right back in where you left off.The change, which first started testing with Insiders last month and is now rolling out to everyone, also includes putting cloud-playable games in your recently-played list. As described in the blog post, “That means every cloud-enabled title, from original Xbox classics to Xbox Series X|S exclusives, is now in one place whether you own it or play through Xbox Game Pass.”On console, you can find your recently played games through the “Play history” tile on the home page. Your recent titles will also surface on the Xbox PC app within the “Play history” tab beneath the “Most Recent” section, as well as in your library.

Aura. It's not about how many enemies you can cut down, because then, even a nameless, faceless, and voiceless Tarnished could be one of the most awe-inspiring characters ever. It isn't about how stylish you are, either, because you don't see anyone talking about Yamcha in a conversation about aura. Aura is a rare combination of presence, charisma, kindness, danger, and charm that makes a protagonist larger than life itself.

Yes, even this 98-inch mode is discounted. | Image: TCL Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, which is a bit sad, but it’s a great time to get a deal on a fancy, new TV. The US holiday is happening just before the start of the 2025-2026 NFL season, the World Cup qualifiers, and the lead-up to the MLB post-season games. This sports trifecta means you can take advantage of Labor Day sales on 4K TVs, whether you’re planning on hosting big at-home viewing parties, or you just want to tune in alone.Right now, you can save hundreds of dollars on high-end OLED TVs like Samsung’s S90D or Sony’s Bravia 8 II. If you don’t want to spend as much, you can pick up a 70-inch 4K TV from Insignia for well under $400. That’s just a taste, but we’ve got more deals below that should suit gamers, cinephiles and sports fans alike. Many of these TVs are at or matching their lowest prices, and, as always, there’s no guarantee that Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will beat these prices.Insignia F50Insignia F50Where to Buy: $499.99 $329.99 at Amazon (70-inch) $449.99 $319.99 at Best Buy (65-inch) $349.99 $189.99 at Best Buy (55-inch)Insignia’s massive 70-inch F50 4K TV is on sale for $329.99 ($60 off), its lowest price ever at Amazon (that size isn’t available at Best Buy, although plenty of other sizes are). In terms of specs, it’s about as basic as they come, with a 60Hz refresh rate screen and three HDMI 2.0 ports. It’ll be just fine for watching sports and movies on, but 60Hz means it can’t display PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, or Switch 2 games at their fastest-possible frame rates, but 60 frames per second isn’t so bad. The F50 supports HDR10 for more contrast-rich and accurate colors when viewing TV shows, movies, or games that support the format.The TV runs Amazon’s Fire OS, and has Alexa voice capabilities built into its included remote, so you can use your voice to search for content. You can also utilize Alexa to change the TV’s volume and input without manually navigating through menus. If you have an Alexa-enabled camera, such as the Blink Mini, you can ask it to fetch a live video feed, which will appear as a picture-in-picture frame at the top of the TV screen. The F50 also supports AirPlay, so you can mirror your Apple device’s display onto the TV. It doesn’t have every bell and whistle, but Insignia’s F50 is a solid 4K TV, especially considering its size and price. If you want a smaller TV, Amazon and Best Buy are offering the 55-inch model for $189.99 ($160 off), which matches its all-time low price. TCL QM6KTCL QM6K 4K QLED TVWhere to Buy: $598.99 $446.99 at Amazon (55-inch) $598.99 $449.99 at Best Buy (55-inch)If you want a more premium 4K TV than the Insignia model above (without breaking the bank, of course), TCL’s 55-inch QM6K comes with a surprising amount of features for its roughly $446.99 ($350 off) sale price at Amazon, and $449.99 at Best Buy. The TV has a 144Hz panel, which will make fast-paced console or PC games display with fabulous fluidity compared to using a 60Hz screen. It has a full-array local dimming panel for even lighting across all dimming zones (negating the bloom effect that some cheaper TVs exhibit in dark scenes).The TV has two HDMI 2.1 ports, which can carry a 120Hz 4K signal that modern game consoles and PCs can take advantage of. Its two HDMI 2.0 ports top out at 60Hz, which is suitable for a Blu-ray player or perhaps a Google TV 4K Streamer streaming device. The TV runs on TCL’s AIPQ Processor, which the company says analyzes what you’re watching or playing to optimize its brightness, color, and contrast in real time. If you want a larger TV, you can get the 65-inch model for $549.99, which matches its all-time low at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Interested in the 98-inch model as seen at the top of this post? It’s $1,799.99 at Best Buy (was $2,999.99).Samsung S90D Samsung S90D TVWhere to Buy: $1599.99 $1197.99 at Amazon (65-inch) $1599.99 $1199.99 at Best Buy (65-inch) $1599.99 $1197.99 at Walmart (65-inch)OLED TVs are more affordable than ever before, and this Labor Day deal on Samsung’s 65-inch S90D is proof. Its price is down to just $1,197.99 ($500 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The OLED panel is the star spec, of course, delivering better contrast and brightness control than any other type of screen tech. Its other specs are good, too. The TV has a 120Hz panel and four HDMI 2.1 ports, letting consoles and PCs display at 4K/120Hz. It runs on a processor that can upscale non-4K video to look better on a higher-resolution set, and can analyze what you’re watching to make objects in the foreground look closer than the background. The S90D doesn’t support Dolby Vision (typical with Samsung TVs, unfortunately), but does have HDR+ for more accurate color. The TV has Amazon Alexa built-in, and it runs Samsung’s Tizen operating system, so you can access TV shows and movies with your voice using a microphone built into the remote. The S90D can also access Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which allows you to play games from your Steam library directly from the TV (via Wi-Fi or ethernet) rather than manually connecting it to a PC. If you want an even larger OLED TV, the 77-inch S90D is around $1,797.99 ($602 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Samsung The Frame TV ProSamsung The Frame TV ProWhere to Buy: $2197.99 $1797.99 at Amazon (65-inch) $2199.99 $1799.99 at Best Buy (65-inch) $2197.99 $1797.99 at B&H Photo (65-inch)Samsung’s The Frame TV Pro can display artwork when you’re not actively watching video or playing games on it, and the 65-model for an all-time low price of around $1,798.99 ($401 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo. The TV’s standout feature is its “Art Mode,” which allows you to display an image from Samsung’s Art Store. The store has over 2,000 images, including classics like Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, and requires a subscription that costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Another interesting aspect of the Frame TV Pro is that you don’t need to connect video sources directly to it. Samsung’s Wireless One Connect Box contains four HDMI 2.1 ports, and sends an audio and video signal wirelessly from devices to the TV. Samsung also includes a wall mount with the Frame TV Pro. The Frame TV Pro has a 120Hz panel, making it great for fast-moving games and other high frame rate content. Plus, its processor can upscale lower-resolution video, and can automatically adjust video settings based on what you’re watching and your environment. The Frame TV Pro has a matte display, which won’t show glare from light sources as much as an LCD or OLED screen, so the image on screen will look a little more canvas-like. The TV also has a thick white bezel around the screen, and you can pick up an optional frame to fit around the outside to make it look even more like a painting. For a bigger model, the 75-inch Frame TV Pro is $2,497.99 ($700 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo.Sony Bravia 8 IISony Bravia 8 IIWhere to Buy: $2999.99 $2298 at Amazon (55-inch) $2999.99 $2299.99 at Best Buy (55-inch) $3499.99 $2998 at Amazon (65-inch)Sony’s Bravia 8 II was recently voted the best TV of 2025 by a panel of experts (including The Verge’s Nilay Patel), and the 65-inch model is matching its all-time low price of around $2,998 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The 4K OLED has a 120Hz panel, and its custom AI processor optimizes its color and contrast based on what you’re watching and playing. It has two HDMI 2.1 ports (which take full advantage of its refresh rate) and a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports that top out at 4K/60Hz.Sony says the Bravia 8 II has studio calibration modes for Netflix, Prime Video, as well as its own Sony Pictures Core streaming service. The panel who favored the TV were comparing images on the Bravia 8 II against a $43,000 Sony reference monitor. Based on its performance in those tests, we’re confident the Bravia 8 II can display video better than top OLED TVs from Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. Although, you’ll pay a heftier price for it.The TV has Google Assistant built in, can be controlled by an Alexa-enabled speaker, and supports AirPlay 2. Sony has also discounted the 55-inch model to around $2,298 ($701 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.

I’ve been a fan of containers ever since I came across Docker. Between their lightweight nature, decent isolation, and a massive number of images, containers are ideal for deploying a self-hosted application stack. As such, my container army outnumbers the virtual machines in all my server nodes – to the point where I’ve got some SBCs and mini-PCs that only run Docker and Podman containers.

Tech obsolescence can be quite brutal when you’re a computing lover. After all, few things are as disappointing as watching your top-of-the-line system turn into an ancient toaster over the course of a few years. But unless you’re a power user who loves playing graphically demanding games at high settings, there are a couple of ways to restore some of your PC’s lost vitality.

When it comes to gaming laptops, I've personally always gravitated toward the ultraportable ones. Laptops like the Razer Blade 16 (2025) or Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 always made more sense to me. I did own and frequently travel with an MSI Stealth 15 after all. But throughout the years, desktop replacement gaming laptops have always held a corner of the laptop market.

Gadgets are expensive to replace, and sometimes the only thing wrong with them is a small broken part or a missing accessory. With 3D printing, you can breathe new life into your devices by fixing these issues yourself. It’s a practical way to extend the lifespan of what you already own while saving money and reducing waste. Even better, the solutions you create are often more personalized and functional than the originals.

Google is phasing out its Preferred Care extended warranty plan for the Pixel Care Plus program. Pricing between the two is pretty similar. You’ll still pay $8 per-month, or $159 for a two-year plan on a Pixel 9. For a Pixel 10 Pro Fold, that jumps up to $339 for two years, or $18 per-month, with the optional loss and theft package for a small extra charge.  The big changes here are that screen and battery repairs are free, and service fees for other accidental damage are much lower. Under the old Preferred Care program, replacing a cracked screen would run you $29. Under Pixel Care Plus a cracked front screen or battery running at under 80-percent capacity will get swapped out for $0. Unfortunately, if you happen to mess up the internal screen on your 10 Pro Fold, you are not covered. Other accidental damage fees vary depending on model, ranging from $49 on some older models like the Pixel 8a and 9a, to $99 on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. On average they’re lower though, with service fees reaching $129 for the Pixel 9 Pro and Fold models. The new loss and theft option, which adds $1 or $2 a month to the plan, also varies per model with deductibles ranging up to $149 on the high end. The new plans bring Google more inline with the likes of Samsung, which ditched screen replacement fees under its new extended coverage plans back in January.

If you’re a writer with an easily distractable mind like me, you probably also have a mess of apps scattered across your desktop. One for drafting, another for notes, a mind map tool, and probably a couple of other distractions pretending to help with focus. I live in that chaos every time I turn my computer on — until I discovered FocusWriter.