I’ve tested more productivity tools than I can count. From complex second-brain setups to minimal note apps that promise focus but end up cluttered anyway. So I wasn’t expecting much when I stumbled across Kortex. It’s a free productivity app that looks like yet another Notion clone at first glance. But a few hours in, I realized this one is actually different; it has something most other productivity apps don’t.

Pi-hole is one of those rare tools that feels indispensable once you start using it. It quietly filters out ads and trackers for every device on your network, reducing bandwidth waste and enhancing privacy with minimal maintenance. For a long time, I ran Pi-hole on my NAS because it seemed efficient to keep everything centralized. After all, if the NAS is already always on, why not let it handle DNS too?

I've been rocking a 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 memory kit ever since I got my current AM4 build. It's natural to consider an upgrade to a 64GB DDR5 kit when I eventually move to AM5 in a year or two. After all, 64GB kits aren't exactly "overpriced" on a high-end build, and there are obvious benefits to having more spare memory than ever. However, all things considered, I've decided to stick with 32GB RAM even on my next build. Based on my needs and preferences, spending more on a 64GB kit doesn't make sense (yet).

The Inspire 3 can’t do it all, but for a budget band, it handles the basics quite well. The sheer volume of deals available for Prime Big Deal Days can feel overwhelming, and seeing four-figure discounts on a 4K TV or gaming laptop may give you the sense that the biggest discounts are the best. That’s not necessarily true, though, because some of the best deals we’ve seen this year will set you back less than $100. The AirPods 4, base Fire HD 10 Tablet, and Ring Battery Doorbell Plus are three great examples, all of which are on sale at or below their best price to date.Below you’ll find 30 deals for $100 or less from Apple, Google, Amazon, Lego, and more. Many items are under $50 (or even $25!), so you can stock up on chargers, earbuds, media streamers, and other accessories that you’ll rely on every day, or can give as gifts for the holidays. If you are looking to splurge on some more premium gear, we also have Prime Day recs for robot vacuums, noise-canceling headphones, and Apple gear. That said, be aware that Amazon’s sale ends tomorrow, October 9th, so you only have a few more hours to take advantage of it.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 at Amazon $129 $89 at WalmartApple AirTagsApple’s AirTags are unobtrusive, waterproof, and tap into the massive Find My network for out-of-range locating. Read our original review.Where to Buy: $99 $64.99 at Amazon (four-pack) $99 $64.99 at Best Buy (four-pack) $99 $64.99 at Walmart (four-pack)The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a budget-friendly fitness band that’s on sale for $79.95 ($20 off) at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. It features a slim OLED display, offers up to three days of battery life, and can be easily detached from its band and clipped onto your clothes if you prefer not to wear it on your wrist. It can track your activity, heart rate, and sleep, though heart rate tracking is unavailable when it’s clipped on. If you subscribe to Fitbit Premium ($9.99 a month / $79.99 a year), you’ll also get access to Daily Readiness Score and stress tracking. Read our hands-on impressions.The Galaxy Buds FE, which offer a pared-down experience compared to the step-up Buds 3 Pro, are matching their all-time low of $54.99 ($45 off) at Amazon. For the price, you get decent sound, a comfortable design, and noise cancellation that performs relatively well. They also offer around six hours of battery life with ANC enabled. That said, they lack several notable features, including wireless charging and multipoint support, and only carry an IPX2 rating. Read our review.Twelve South’s 50W PlugBug, which features a pair of USB-C ports, is down to $38.99 ($31 off) at Amazon, matching its best price to date. The charger’s built-in support for Apple’s Find My network makes it a particularly good choice if you travel frequently and want to ensure you don’t accidentally leave your charger behind at an airport or hotel room. It’s also relatively compact, featuring foldable prongs and a slim profile that makes it easy to slip into your bag.Amazfit Active 2The Amazfit Active 2 delivers outsized value for the price. It looks spiffy and has a wide array of health tracking features, plus built-in GPS and AI chatbots to provide extra context to your data. Read our review.Where to Buy: $99.99 $80.74 at Amazon $99.99 $84.99 at Amazfit $99.99 $84.99 at WalmartAmazon 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 $69.99 at Amazon (32GB, with ads) $179.99 $79.99 at Amazon (64GB, with ads) $154.99 $84.99 at Amazon (32GB, without ads)Amazon’s Echo Spot is on sale for $44.99 ($35 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, matching its best price to date. In addition to serving as a solid smart speaker, the latest Spot also functions as a great bedside alarm clock, with a customizable 2.83-inch screen that displays the time, weather, and other useful information. It also integrates seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, letting you set reminders, control smart home devices, and handle other tasks completely hands-free. Read our review.We’ve found Roku to have the easiest user interface of any streaming hardware platform, and you can snag its Streaming Stick 4K for a new low price of $29.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. The 4K streaming device supports the latest audio and video technologies, including Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, and features a more powerful Wi-Fi receiver than previous generations. It works with Apple’s AirPlay, too, allowing you to wirelessly stream music and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac; it can also be controlled using Amazon Alexa when connected to an Alexa-enabled smart speaker.Smart bulbs let you change the mood of your room using your phone or voice, and you can pick up a two-pack of Lifx’s Color A19 800-lumen bulbs for just $29.42 (about $10 off) at Amazon. The Wi-Fi bulbs can be used with all three major smart assistants (Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri) without requiring a hub. You can also adjust their brightness and color (including a wide range on the white color spectrum), and set them to turn on and off on a schedule so they won’t accidentally stay on overnight.Blink’s Wired Floodlight Camera has all the essential features of similar outdoor cameras, but it’s on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, and The Home Depot for $49.99 ($50 off), which matches its all-time low. The 1080p security cam features two built-in lights, a siren that activates when the motion sensor is triggered, and two-way audio, allowing you to communicate with someone when you can see them. Signing up for a Blink Subscription Plan will also enable AI-powered smart detection for packages and people.Blink 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 $34.99 at Amazon $259.99 at Amazon (three-pack)Ring Battery Doorbell PlusThis wireless Ring doorbell has great video quality, head-to-toe view, and speedy response times for a battery doorbell. It works with Amazon Alexa and can send alerts for people and packages with a Ring Home subscription.Where to Buy: $149.99 $79.99 at Amazon $149.99 $79.99 at Best Buy $149.99 $79.99 at The Home DepotMarshall’s Emberton II has returned to $99.99 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Marshall’s online storefront. The unique speaker resembles one of the company’s iconic amps, but it boasts an IP67 rating, ensuring it won’t be damaged when exposed to water. It can also play music in true stereo, and you can pair two together to create a larger wireless system. Marshall says the speaker can last over 30 hours per charge (it’ll partially depend on your preferred listening volume), so you shouldn’t have to charge it too often.If you want a compact Bluetooth speaker to stash on a backpacking trip, JBL’s Go 3 is a great choice given it’s currently on sale for $27.95 ($12 off) at Amazon. It plays music in mono, but weighs under half a pound and lasts up to five hours on a single charge. The built-in strap is carabiner-ready, too, and its IP67 rating means you won’t have to immediately stash it away if it starts to rain.If you don’t need surround sound but still want something that can outperform your TV’s built-in speakers, Amazon’s entry-level Fire TV Soundbar is a great budget option that’s now matching its all-time low of $89.99 ($30 off) at Amazon. The loud, inexpensive soundbar measures a mere 24 inches long — so it’ll fit comfortably on most media centers — and features built-in Bluetooth support for expanded audio playback.Lego Walt Disney Tribute CameraLego’s tribute to Disney’s 100th year in the movie business is an 811-piece kit shaped like a vintage-style film camera. Minifigs depicting Disney’s early animated stars — including Mickey, Minnie, Bambi, Dumbo, and Walt Disney himself — are also included. Where to Buy: $99.99 $68.59 at Amazon $99.99 $68.59 at Target $99.99 at LegoLego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees setLego’s 709-piece kit lets you construct three brick-ified bonsai trees, including a black pine, a ginkgo with yellow leaves, and a wisteria with hanging lilac flowers. It also comes with three ornamental displays, just in case you want a raised stand on which to showcase them.Where to Buy: $64.99 $44.99 at Amazon $64.99 at LegoThe iOttie Easy One Touch Car Mount is a great road trip companion, one you can currently grab at Amazon for $17.99 (about $7 off), which is about $1 shy of its best price to date. It features relatively strong suction that allows you to easily stick it to your dashboard or windshield, freeing up your AC vents, and it offers wide compatibility with smartphones and cases of different sizes. It also features a magnetic tab near the bottom, which helps keep the charging cable organized.Nerf’s Pro Stryfe X, an electric-powered dart gun that can send darts flying at up to 150 feet per second, is on sale at Amazon for $65.63 ($about $15 off) right now. The Stryfe X comes with 30 darts, as well as a clip that holds up to 15 at a time. Nerf includes protective glasses to keep your eyes safe, which is actually important given the darts’ velocity.Asmodee Azul Board GameAzul is a game in which you arrange patterned tiles in order to create the most beautiful tapestry possible. Arranging tiles in a strategic sequence will help you build your score while limiting your opponents’ ability to grow theirs. Where to Buy: $39.99 $26.99 at AmazonCatan (6th Edition)In the iconic board game classic Catan, players strategically compete and trade for resources.Where to Buy: $54.99 $34.49 at AmazonThe Sennheiser IE 200 are on sale for $99.95 ($60 off) at Amazon, which is basically the same price we saw in July. Although the earbuds ditch Bluetooth for a more reliable wired connection, they still feature adjustable ear hooks and a detachable braided cable, which is easy to replace if it becomes worn out. A “dual-tunable” design also allows you to adjust the position of the ear tips, allowing you to fine-tune the sound profile depending on your preferences. The IE 200 don’t feature a built-in mic, though, which means they’re strictly for listening to music and podcasts. Read our review.The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are on sale at Amazon for $71.24 ($59 off), matching their previous all-time low. The newer earbuds use licensed technology and audio tuning by Bose, so they’re basically low-end Bose earbuds in disguise. That means you can expect a well-balanced sound, along with up to 40 hours of battery life, decent noise cancellation, and IPX4 water resistance.If you’re an avid concertgoer who’d like to retain your hearing later in life — and who wouldn’t? — Loop’s ultra-comfortable Experience 2 earplugs are on sale at Amazon for $28.95 ($10 off), nearly matching their best price to date. The stylish earplugs won’t reduce noise as effectively as a custom set; however, they do carry a noise reduction rating of 12dB, which is totally adequate for that occasional Turnstile set.You can currently buy the Tile Pro at Amazon for $21.36 (about $14 off), which is its lowest price to date. The platform-agnostic tracker is our top pick for Android users, offering reliable, accurate tracking both at home and on the go. It features a built-in keyring and a user-replaceable battery, and if you sign up for the $14.99 monthly subscription, you can also send SOS alerts to loved ones and Tile’s 24/7 emergency dispatch service.Birdfy Feeder 1Birdfy’s entry-level smart feeder features a 1080p camera and an app that lets you view birds up close as they munch on seeds. If you fork out $4 per month for the premium subscription, you also get access to Birdfy’s AI, which identifies bird species and lets you set custom alerts for your favorites.Where to Buy: $229.99 $99.99 at Amazon $229.99 $139.99 at BirdfyAeroPress Original Coffee MakerThe AeroPress has made a name among enthusiasts for its great brewing ability and extreme portability. Its simple, hands-on operation can make your morning coffee ritual more fun and engaging than a traditional drip-style maker.Where to Buy: $39.95 $29.95 at Amazon $39.95 at AeroPressLevoit’s Core 300-P air purifier is currently down to $84.99 ($15 off) at Amazon, matching the low we last saw during July Prime Day. The air purifier promises to filter out 99.97 percent of ultra-fine particles, including pollen, dust, and animal dander, resulting in cleaner indoor air. It weighs just under eight pounds and measures approximately 14 inches tall, making it a good option for small bedrooms.Amazon’s Smart Plug is on sale for $12.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, which is just $2 shy of its lowest price to date. You can use the smart plug to easily add smarts to various traditional gadgets, including Christmas lights, lamps, coffee makers, fans, and kettles. You don’t need a smart home hub either, though bear in mind that the plugs are only compatible with Alexa, so you might want to steer clear if you’re embedded in another smart home ecosystem.LifeStraw personal water filterLifeStraw’s basic filter removes unwanted viruses, bacteria, and microplastics as you drink, giving you a safe way to hydrate no matter where you are.Where to Buy: $17.97 $9.45 at Amazon $17.97 at WalmartChomChom Roller Pet Hair RemoverThe ChomChom is a reusable roller that works great for removing unwanted pet hair from furniture, allowing you to skip lint rollers, vacuuming, and other cleaning tools in a pinch.Where to Buy: $27.99 $15.95 at Amazon (with on-page coupon) $31.95 $24.99 at Chewy

Raspberry Pi OS, based on Debian 13 Trixie, lands with meaningful quality of life updates that you notice the moment the desktop loads. It is not just a new base with fresher packages. The team has reorganized settings, modernized the look, and made it far easier to tailor installs for your exact use case. Here are the four changes that stood out to me right away.

Out of all the things Windows 11 brings to the table, I think the Start menu bugs me the most. Not because it doesn't do the job it's designed to do (it does, for the most part), but because there are some seemingly easy-to-add features that have still not been implemented after all these years. For instance, you can't manually resize the Start menu. Granted, I am no Microsoft engineer, so I cannot say for sure what is and isn't easy to program, but...it doesn't feel that complicated from an outsider perspective.

Amazfit’s Active 2 is surprisingly stylish for a watch that retails for less than $100. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge Smartwatches from big brands like Apple, Google, and Garmin may get all the attention when it comes to wearables, but they’re not the only ones worth considering if you’re in the market for a capable fitness tracker. Amazfit’s Active 2 is a fantastic option if you’re working with a tight budget, and it’s one that touts a surprising amount of features for the price. And right now, it’s on sale at Amazon as a part of Prime Big Deal Days for $80.74 ($19 off), which is 75 cents away from matching its lowest-ever price.Amazfit Active 2Where to Buy: $99.99 $80.74 at Amazon $99.99 $84.99 at Amazfit $99.99 $84.99 at WalmartThe Active 2 is one of the best fitness trackers you can buy, boasting features typically found only in wearables that cost twice the price. However, despite being relatively cheap, the water-resistant wearable still offers snappy performance, a bright 2,000-nit OLED display, and a solid 10 hours of regular use on a single charge. The comfy wearable, which features a stylish stainless steel case and tempered glass screen, also offers offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation and location tracking, with support for all five major GNSS satellite systems.All the basic health and fitness features — from steps to calories burned — are included, but Amazfit has also added more advanced perks, such as continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen rate, and menstrual cycle tracking. Additionally, the wearable includes AI-powered features like the Zepp Flow assistant, which lets you issue basic voice commands, and Zepp Coach, which can create personalized training plans. And if you’re willing to pay $77 per year, you can even access the Zepp Aura AI chatbot, which provides tailored insights into your sleep and recovery. It’s not that insightful, but it’s well integrated and relatively quick to respond to your queries.Read our Amazfit Active 2 review.

When OpenAI released its new AI-generated video app Sora last week, it launched with an opt-out policy for copyright holders - media companies would need to expressly indicate they didn't want their AI-generated characters running rampant on the app. But after days of Nazi SpongeBob, criminal Pikachu, and Sora-philosophizing Rick and Morty, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced the company would reverse course and "let rightsholders decide how to proceed."In response to a question about why OpenAI changed its policy, Altman said that it came from speaking with stakeholders and suggested he hadn't expected the outcry. "I think the theory of wha …Read the full story at The Verge.

There have been a lot of changes going on with PlayStation and many of their services for PlayStation 5 owners. While PlayStation Plus has been adding more games to the ever-growing catalog of classics and new releases, the rewards program from PlayStation has also undergone big changes. Unfortunately, it was something that many PlayStation fans were baffled and annoyed by, which garnered a lot of negative reactions towards the company. After PlayStation Stars was discontinued by PlayStation and shut down, they announced that they would be launching a new kind of rewards program called Franchise Rewards. And the response from everyone was anything but positive.

For the last few years, I've been bouncing between productivity apps like Slack, Notion, Trello, and more. Now, let me be clear: these apps are great. However, when it came to building a system for my own business, I didn't want a scattered solution where notes were stored in Notion, conversations took place in Slack, and files were keptin Drive. Nor did I need the complexity that comes with the full capabilities of these systems. I wanted an app that could blend structured thinking with an easy way to converse with a small team. And if it could be run locally with no subscription fees attached, even better. That's how I stumbled upon Colanode, a self-hosted, open-source platform that combines Notion's structure and Slack's conversation flow into a single platform. It's private, lets you retain full ownership of your data, and runs fast. It's all I've been looking for.

If you’ve read my articles on XDA, you’ll know that I use Proxmox for the majority of my home lab tasks. After all, LXCs – especially those deployed using the Proxmox VE Helper-Community Scripts repo – are great for running FOSS tools inside containerized environments. Proxmox’s KVM-powered virtualization provisions deserve just as much credit, as it’s possible to run everything from obscure Linux distros to other home server operating systems on a PVE node.

I’ve tested just about every AI tool that’s crossed my path. Many have come, and many have gone. Very few actually manage to last past the first week in my workflow. Google’s AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, is one of the rare ones that did, and I can’t imagine going back to how I worked and studied without it.