LG’s 32-inch Ultragear QHD gaming monitor on sale ahead of Prime Day

LG's 32-inch Ultragear QHD gaming monitor on sale ahead of Prime Day

Save $103.99: The LG 32GN650-B 32-inch Ultragear QHD gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate is down to just $296 at Amazon as of June 10.


Not every gamer buys into the hype of the new consoles. Plenty of them prefer the wide range of options available with an investment in a premium gaming laptop. But one drawback is few gaming laptops really wow you with high-end graphics on little 15-inch screens. So one way to fix that problem is an upgrade to a more sizable 32-inch gaming monitor.

SEE ALSO: Dipping your toes into PC gaming? Here are 6 laptop options for under $1,000.

One of the best options right now is the LG 32-inch 32GN650-B Ultragear QHD gaming monitor on sale for $296 at Amazon. Released earlier this year, its $130.99 discount makes this the best price ever on a brand new model just ahead of Prime Day.  Read more…

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New Line and Warner Bros. announce a new animated ‘Lord of the Rings’ film

New Line and Warner Bros. announce a new animated 'Lord of the Rings' film

This year marks 20 years since Fellowship of the Ring was released, bringing audiences into the epic world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Now, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation have announced The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, a new movie set in Middle Earth.

The War of the Rohirrim is an anime film directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), produced by Joseph Chou (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) and written by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance). Philippa Boyens, one of the screenwriters of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, is a consultant on the project. Read more…

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Facebook wants to make an Instagram Youth — but the youth aren’t so sure they want it

Facebook wants to make an Instagram Youth — but the youth aren't so sure they want it

People under 13 can’t sign up for Instagram because of federal privacy law, but that doesn’t actually stop most kids from signing up. Lying about your age online is an easy thing to do! 

But Instagram says they have come up with a solution — that might also get some other kids interested and engaged at an earlier age. They’re looking into creating a platform called Instagram Youth.

“There is clearly a large number of people under the age of 13 who would want to use a service like Instagram. We currently do not authorize them to do that,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at a congressional hearing in March. And it’s true: According to a report from the nonprofit Thorn, 40% of kids surveyed under the age of 13 already use Instagram. Zuckerberg’s solution is to create an Instagram for kids, called Instagram Youth, with extra parental controls. We don’t know a ton about how the new platform would actually work, and so far, it’s just an idea. But it’s an idea many people consider to be bad.  Read more…

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Transform your living room with these impressive speakers

Transform your living room with these impressive speakers

When was the last time you saw a movie in the theaters? 

If it’s been a while, it’s for good reasonMovie theater attendance dropped some 80% in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. And while some analysts predict a rebound, we don’t blame you for being skittish.

The good news is if you invest in a good set of speakers (and a bag of popcorn, of course!), you can definitely create your own little home theater. Before you invest though, there are some important factors to consider to fit your preferences and needs.

Stereo vs. surround sound

The first thing you’ll notice when shopping for speakers is this distinction. Stereo sound is created with a pair of speakers and is often the best option if space is limited in your home. Stereo is also a good starting point if you’re on a budget because you can always add to your speaker system later to create more of a surround-sound experience. If this is the case, give considerable thought to the quality of your center speaker — it plays about 60% of a film’s dialogue and much of its soundtrack. Read more…

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BEST WIRELESS OPTION

Sonos Beam 5.1 Surround Set

This wireless surround system is pretty much the best you can get.

  • Drivers: Two force-canceling drivers, four full-range woofers, and one tweeter
  • Stereo or Surround: Surround
  • Set includes: One soundbar (beam), two speakers, and one subwoofer
  • Color: Black or White

$1,359 from Sonos

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST STEREO OPTION

Q. Acoustics 3050i

These powerful, floor standing home stereo speakers look great in your living room.

  • Drivers: Two 6.5 inch woofers, 0.87 inch tweeter
  • Stereo or Surround: Stereo
  • Set Includes: 2 speakers
  • Color: Black, white, gray, or English Walnut

$839.99 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST SURROUND SOUND

Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 System

Small and compact, this speaker system delivers incredible surround sound.

  • Drivers: 5” speaker driver and ¾ dome tweeter; 4” driver and subwoofer
  • Stereo or Surround: Surround
  • Set Includes: 3 satellites, 2 loudspeakers and 1 subwoofer
  • Color: Black

$1,490 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST OVERALL FOR HOME THEATERS

ELAC Uni-fi UB5 Bookshelf Speaker

These large speakers are an excellent choice if you’re setting up an epic entertainment system.

  • Drivers: 5 1/4 -inch woofer, 4 inch midrange cone, 1 inch tweeter
  • Size: 10.8 x 7.9 x 12.8 inches
  • Weight: 35.9 lbs
  • Color: Black

$579.98 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Vizio



BEST BUDGET OPTION

VIZIO M-Series™ 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X

The most affordable home theater surround sound system we could find.

  • Drivers: Nine total (Three mid-woofers and three tweeters in the soundbar, one midrange driver in each of the satellite speakers, six-inch driver in the subwoofer)
  • Stereo or Surround: Surround
  • Set includes: One soundbar, two satellite speakers, and one wireless subwoofer
  • Color: Charcoal gray

$349.99 from Vizio

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IMAGE: Sennheiser



BEST SOUNDBAR

Sennheiser 5.1.4 AMBEO Soundbar with Dolby Atmos

This soundbar delivers amazing, realistic, emulated surround sound.

  • Drivers: Thirteen high-end drivers on the front, sides, and top of the unit (five tweeters, six longthrow woofers, two fullrange top-firing drivers)
  • Stereo or Surround: Emulated Surround
  • Set Includes: 1 soundbar
  • Color: Black

$2,500 from Sennheiser

Dear iPhone owners: AirPods aren’t your only option

Dear iPhone owners: AirPods aren't your only option

AirPods are great and all, but have you heard of literally anything else?

Listening to music, podcasts, or audio books on your iPhone makes perfect sense given its origins are steeped in the old days of the iPod. To get the most out of your audio experience however, you really need a good set of headphones or earphones. The ones that come bundled with your iPhone just don’t sound as good as a dedicated pair. 

It’s important to know what you’re looking for when seeking out the best headphones for iPhone. Here’s what you need to know and the best headphones and earphones for every scenario in life. Read more…

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST FOR EVERYDAY USE

AirPods Pro

Specifically designed for the iPhone, the impressive noise cancellation capabilities and a comfortable fit make these the easy choice.

  • Colors: White
  • Battery life: 5 hours
  • Truly wireless: Active Noise Cancellation

$249 from Amazon

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BEST FOR COMMUTERS

Bose QuietComfort 20

Block out the outside world with these Bose SoundSport 20 headphones. But be warned: You will need a dongle.

  • Colors: Black
  • Battery life: 16 hours (Noise cancellation)
  • Wired: Active Noise Cancellation

$249 from Amazon

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BEST FOR WORK

Beats Solo Pro

The active noise cancellation option in the Beats Solo Pro make these a great pair of headphones for tuning out coworkers (and then tuning back in when you need to.)

  • Colors: Black, Gary, Red, Dark Blue, Ivory, Light Blue
  • Battery life: 22 hours with Active Noise Cancellation on
  • Wireless: Active Noise Cancellation

$299.95 from Amazon

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BEST FOR IPHONE NOVICES

AirPods

Need a pair of solid, dependable wireless earbuds? The original AirPods won’t let you down.

  • Colors: White
  • Battery life: 5 hours
  • Truly wireless: No noise cancellation

$129 from Walmart

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BEST FOR RUNNING

Jabra Elite Active 65t

The built-in accelerometer of the Jabra Elite Active 65t headphones make these a top option for runners.

  • Colors: Copper Black, Copper Blue, Gold Beige
  • Battery life: 5 hours
  • Truly wirelesss: No noise cancellation

$79.99 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST FOR WORKING OUT

Bose SoundSport Wireless

A cable unites the earbuds so they always stick together, but you’ll be completely untethered from your iPhone and are free to run, jump, and climb with ease.

  • Colors: Aqua, Black, Citron, Power Red
  • Battery life: 6 hours
  • Wireless: No noise cancellation

$129 from Amazon

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BEST FOR LISTENING TO MUSIC

Sony WH-H900N

Though we wouldn’t recommend wearing these Sony headphones for working out, they are stellar for your daily commute and can even be personalized to fit your audio preferences.

  • Colors: Black
  • Battery life: 28 hours
  • Wireless headphones: Active noise cancellation

$158.99 from Amazon

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MOST COMFORTABLE OPTION

Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

They may not be the latest model on the market, but this pair from Plantronics will stay comfortable on your ears for hours.

  • Colors: Black, Tan
  • Battery life: 24 hours
  • Wireless headphones: Active noise cancellation

$199 from Amazon

7 of the best Chromebooks out there right now

7 of the best Chromebooks out there right now

As the laptop market has grown over the last few years, Chromebooks have too often been shoved into a niche as a cheaper device that isn’t quite a full featured laptop but gives you a little more juice than a tablet. Well, guess what? Chromebooks have outgrown that label and it’s time to give them some real consideration as a primary laptop.

Here’s what is still true about Chromebooks. In general, they run smaller and lighter than your standard laptop. They run on Chrome OS, as opposed to MacOS or Windows. And they rely on connectivity a bit more than your average machine, with smaller hard drives that get supplemented with cloud storage.  Read more…

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BEST CHROME OS EXPERIENCE

Google Pixelbook

The best-looking one of the bunch, the Pixelbook is an understandably pricey premium Chromebook that’s genuinely fun to use.

  • CPU: 7th Gen Intel Core processor
  • RAM: 8GB-16GB
  • Storage: 256GB-512GB
  • Battery life: Up to 10 hours
  • Screen: 12.3-inch
  • Display: 2400 x 1600 FHD

$849 from Amazon

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BEST FOR TRAVELING

Asus Chromebook Flip

A well-reviewed 2-in-1 with better specs than others at its price point, yet still small enough for any and every excursion.

  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i3 Processor
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Battery life: Up to 12 hours
  • Screen: 14-inch
  • Display: 1920×1080

$791.47 from Amazon

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BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

HP Chromebook 13

A high performance, sophisticated-as-hell Chromebook from HP that gives expensive traditional laptops a run for their money.

  • CPU: Intel Core m5
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Battery life: Up to 8 hours
  • Screen: 13-inch
  • Display: 3200 x 1800

$279 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Newegg



BUDGET PICK

Acer Chromebook 14

A huge FHD screen and 12 hours of battery, packed into a full metal body that’s built to last — all for significantly less than competitors.

  • CPU: Intel Celeron N3160
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Battery life: Up to 12 hours
  • Screen: 14-inch
  • Display: 1,920 x 1,080

$209.99 from Newegg

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BEST FOR ANDROID LOYALISTS

Samsung Chromebook Pro

A laptop that converts to a tablet and gives you the Android experience on a bigger screen, this convertible device is great for anyone who loves the Google Play Store.

  • CPU: Intel Core m3-6Y30
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Battery life: Up to 9 hours
  • Screen: 12.3 inches
  • Display: 2400×1600

$499 from Amazon

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GREAT FOR KIDS

Dell Chromebook 11

A little light on power and size, the Dell Chromebook 11 is made for students and folks who go light on laptop use.

  • CPU: Intel Celeron N3060
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 16GB
  • Battery life: Up to 10 hours
  • Screen: 11.6 inches
  • Display: 1366×768

$136.80 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Amazon



BEST FOR THE SECURITY-MINDED

HP Chromebook x360 14c

A fingerprint reader and webcam security switch makes the HP x360 14c among the safest and most secure Chromebooks on the market

  • CPU: Intel Core i3
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • Battery life: Up to 12 hours
  • Screen: 14 inches
  • Display: 1920×1080

$455.99 from Amazon

Best 2-in-1 laptops for the best of both worlds

Best 2-in-1 laptops for the best of both worlds

While laptops and tablets are great on their own, sometimes you just need both — at once — without the hassle of having to carry around two devices all day. 

Enter: the hybrid laptop (or just 2-in-1 laptop). It’s a device that you can convert from tablet to laptop and back again with ease.

Why would I want a 2-in-1 laptop?

Simply put, a 2-in-1 laptop allows you to have the best of both devices at your fingertips. You can use the tablet to draw and take hand-written notes with a stylus, or you can use its touch-screen and gesture features for your day-to-day activities. But when you need more control or need to type something up, you can switch into laptop and keyboard mode. Best of all, these machines feature the computing power to run full-sized applications like Adobe Photoshop and more. Read more…

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BEST STYLUS

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15

This 2-in-1 laptop looks cool, is easy to use, and comes with a great stylus.

  • Storage: 512 GB
  • Memory: 16GB
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 Processor 1065G7
  • GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics

$1,629 from Amazon

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BEST KEYBOARD

Lenovo Flex 2020

If you’re looking for a powerful, yet sleek 2-in-1 laptop, then look no further than the Lenovo Flex 2020 with its 14-inch touchscreen.

  • Storage : 1TB
  • Memory: 20GB
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel 4-Core i5-10210U
  • GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics

$999 from Amazon

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BEST CHROMEBOOK

Asus Chromebook Flip C436

A useful, powerful, and adaptable Chromebook.

  • Storage: 128GB
  • Memory: 8GB
  • CPU: Intel Core i3-10110U
  • GPU: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics

$782.09 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Dell



BEST BATTERY LIFE

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS is one of the few hybrids that can deliver high-working performance, as well as gaming chops in a trusty 2-in-1.

  • Storage: 256GB
  • Memory: 8GB
  • CPU: 11th Generation Intel Core i5-1135G7
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

$1,050 from Dell

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IMAGE: Microsoft



BEST FOR ARTISTS

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Lightweight and versatile, the Surface Pro 7 has a crystal clear display that’s perfect for artists on the go.

  • Storage: 128GB
  • Memory: 8GB
  • CPU: Dual-core 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics

$749.99 from Microsoft

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BEST FOR DRAWING AND SKETCHING

HP Spectre x360

This blazing fast 2-in-1 laptop doesn’t skimp on high-end specifications that are housed inside of a sleek and ultrathin package.

  • Storage: 256GB
  • Memory: 8GB
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor
  • GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics

$1,429 from Amazon

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BEST FOR TRAVEL

Microsoft Surface Go 2

A small and light laptop-tablet combo that’ll adapt to on-the-move lifestyles with no gimmicks.

  • Storage: 64GB
  • Memory: 4GB
  • CPU: Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4425Y
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615

$399.99 from Microsoft

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BEST DISPLAY FOR THE MONEY

HP Envy x360

A beautiful display at a decent price tag, along with a slew of other nice quality-of-life features that can stand up to pricier devices.

  • Storage: 1TB
  • Memory: 16GB
  • CPU: AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U
  • GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics

$1,049 from Amazon

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IMAGE: Lenovo



BEST 360-DEGREE HINGE

Lenovo Yoga C940

The best of both worlds: Slim and light in tablet mode, and a solid machine when used as a traditional laptop.

  • Storage: 512GB
  • Memory: 12GB
  • CPU: 9th Generation Intel Core i7-9750H
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB

$1,200 from Lenovo