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Not all speakers are made the same, just like all listeners aren’t the same. Some people are content with something cheap for their audio — as long as they can hear it, it’s a success. And that’s completely fine! You’re not like that though, you’re what they call an “audiophile.” In other words, what comes out of your speakers needs to sound amazing, and if it’s not, the whole thing is a bust. While that is also completely fine, shopping for a new speaker is going to be significantly more work for someone like yourself; there’s going to be a lot more research and paying attention to the nitty-gritty details involved. Read more…

More about Speakers, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Consumer Tech

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR 360 AUDIO

Sony SRS-RA5000

The Sony SRS-RA5000, with its room-filling 360 Reality Audio and balanced set of drivers, is one of the best ambient experiences you can have with a Bluetooth speaker right now.

$698 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FLOORSTANDING SPEAKER

Polk Audio Signature Series S60

If you have a lot of space, fill it with well-rounded sound from Polk Audio’s S60 floorstanding speakers.

$449 from Amazon

IMAGE: Klipsch

BEST BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS

Klipsch Reference R-51M

This set of speakers strikes a great balance between size and sound quality, all for a relatively affordable price.

$289 from Klipsch

IMAGE: Sonos

BEST PORTABLE SPEAKER

Sonos Move

Take your tunes on the go without compromising on how they sound.

$399.99 from Sonos

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST POWERED SPEAKERS

Elac Navis ARB-51

These active speakers are easier to set up and use compared to passive ones (although they don’t sound as good as the Klipsch), so if you’re looking for a more convenient option, check out the Elac Navis ARB-51.

$2,300 from Amazon

IMAGE: Sonos

BEST DOLBY ATMOS SPEAKER

Sonos Arc

Fully immersive Dolby Atmos sound in a sleek speaker — it doesn’t get any better for your mini home theater setup.

$799 from Sonos

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST COMPUTER SPEAKERS

Logitech Z407

If your built-in computer speakers aren’t cutting it anymore, the Logitech Z407 is a great option (and it won’t break the bank).

$79.99 from Amazon

Hulu has come a long way since its initial launch in 2007 and is now one of the premier streaming services. Its current lineup of movies is impressive, including the 2020 Academy Award Best Picture winner Parasite, but let’s not forget that the service also has Emmy and Golden Globe–winning original television shows and a massive library of content from networks. 

Now that the service’s interface has been updated to make it easier to use, here are some of the best original and non-original shows on Hulu — without needing to buy any of its add-on services like Hulu with Showtime, Hulu with HBO, or Hulu with Starz. Read more…

More about Hulu, Streaming Guides, Entertainment, Streaming Services, and Movies Tv Shows

There are literally thousands of different headphones, earphones, and earbuds out there to choose from. All have the same idea at heart — to provide you with audio without having to play it out loud for everyone to hear. But some achieve this result so much better than others. 

Sure, you could just hit up Amazon and buy the cheapest pair (especially during Prime Day), but that’s not always a great idea. You’re going to want to get the best pair for you, and that means you’ll have to think about how you plan on using them after you buy them. Are you planning on listening at home? Taking them on your commute? Do you want to avoid lousy battery life? Go completely wireless? Read more…

More about Headphones, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Consumer Tech

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OUR TOP PICK

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

One of Bose’s best creations yet, the second generation Quiet Comfort 35s offer a classy look and optimal noise cancellation.

• Battery life: 20 hours
• Colors: Black, silver
• Bluetooth range: 30 feet

$349 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR THE TRULY WIRELESS EXPERIENCE

Bose SoundSport Free

These glorious little guys from Bose are basically guaranteed to stay in your ear, but if you lose one, there’s an app for that.

• Battery life: 5 hours
• Colors: Triple black, midnight blue, orange
• Bluetooth range: 30 feet

$299 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR SOUND QUALITY

AKG N60NC Headphone

The sound performance on these bad boys gives Bose a run for their money, and they’re significantly cheaper.

• Battery life: 15-30 hours
• Colors: Black
• Bluetooth range: Wired

$175.85 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR CUSTOMIZATION

Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones

Picky audiophiles will adore the customizable modes while frequent flyers will love the seamless connection, even in the air.

• Battery life: 20-30 hours
• Colors: Black
• Bluetooth range: 50 feet

$349.95 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500

They’re not the slickest choice, but if you’re tired of headphones feeling heavy, these are your guys.

• Battery life: 18 hours
• Colors: Black, teal
• Bluetooth range: 33 feet

$39.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR WORKING OUT

JLab Epic Air Earbuds

Gym goers and runners know the pain that is earbuds constantly falling out — these puppies will stay in while delivering exceptional volume.

• Battery life: 7 hours
• Colors: Black
• Bluetooth range: 30 feet

$99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST BUDGET HEADPHONES

Skullcandy Jib Wireless Earbuds

They definitely get the job done, but the lack of tweakable features shows that you get what you pay for.

• Battery life: 6 hours
• Colors: Black, red, blue, purple
• Bluetooth range: 6 feet

$34.99 from Amazon

The assumption that Chromebooks are specifically kids laptops makes sense. They’re typically smaller and more lightweight than traditional laptops, and can hold up well against drops or spills. They usually don’t have fast processors, 4K screens, or many other high-end specs that kids just don’t need, which slashes the price big time. 

For budget-conscious parents, though, it’s noteworthy that many beloved Chromebooks are rarely at their full price — especially near shopping holidays like Prime Day. Expect price cuts of 25% or more, dropping some models to near or below the $200 price point.

But there’s a more serious aspect that makes Chromebooks a no-brainer for cautious parents: They’re some of the most secure devices on the market. On top of traditional “stranger danger” worries, parents are likely concerned about their family’s data getting into the wrong hands. Read more…

More about Parenting, Chromebooks, Mashable Shopping, Tech, and Kids

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BEST GENERAL DETACHABLE TABLET

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Lenovo’s true detachable Chromebook has impressive specs for its price, and you don’t need to buy a separate keyboard.

• Battery life: 10 hours
• Weight: 2.03 pounds total (0.99 pounds without keyboard)
• Display: 1920 x 1200
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 128GB

$329 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST 2-IN-1

Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Visual learners and streaming fans will be psyched on this hi-res screen and its immersive aspect ratio.

• Battery life: 12 hours
• Weight: 3.02 pounds
• Display: 2256 x 1504
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB

$679.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR OLDER KIDS

Google Pixelbook Go

Arguably the best bang for your buck on the market, the Pixelbook Go is lightweight and a total powerhouse.

• Battery life: Up to 12 hours
• Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Display: 1920 x 1080 touchscreen
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC

$649 from Amazon

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST CONVERTIBLE WITH INCLUDED STYLUS

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2

The included battery-free pen will be a game changer for school and creative projects alike.

• Battery life: 9.5 hours
• Weight: 2.98 pounds
• Display: 1920 x 1200
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 32GB eMMC

$499.99 from Amazon

IMAGE: Dell

BEST FOR SOMETHING STURDY

Dell Chromebook 11 3100

A flippable touchscreen puts a fun, modern touch on Dell’s durable little laptop.

• Battery life: 10 hours
• Weight: 2.85 pounds
• Display: 1366 x 768
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 32 GB

$339 from Dell

IMAGE: Amazon

BUDGET PICK

HP Chromebook 11

There’s not much power under the hood, but this little guy will surprise you with how it handles tabs and online games.

• Battery life: Up to 12.5 hours
• Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Display: 1366 x 768, non-touchscreen
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 16GB eMMC

$259 from Amazon

It’s a sad reality that thousands of social media accounts get hacked daily. In fact, a recent University of Phoenix survey found that as many as two-thirds of American adults had experienced at least one of their social media accounts being hacked. Instagram is not exempt from the hacking risk. And that’s where good passwords come in.

Instagram suggests that you “change your password regularly” and that you make your password a strong one. The company advises using “a combination of at least six numbers, letters, and punctuation marks (like ! and &).” Instagram also recommends making sure your password for the site is different from passwords you use elsewhere on the internet — which is a good rule of thumb for all passwords, really. Read more…

More about Tech, Social Media, Tech, Social Media Companies, and Consumer Tech

It can be incredibly frustrating when your AirPods run out of battery, especially if you’re in the middle of listening to a really good song or podcast.

Thankfully, AirPods charge their battery extremely quickly, and checking the life of your AirPods battery is very easy. With just a few simple steps, you can monitor the battery’s charge on your AirPods charging case, as well as the battery of both the left and right AirPods. 

How to check your AirPods battery life on your iPhone or iOS device

Whether you’re on your iPad or your iPhone, checking the charge your AirPods have is the same, though it may take a few awkward seconds for your device to connect to actually see the battery level.  Read more…

More about Airpods, Tech, and Consumer Tech

Bad news for Big Tech. 

Lawmakers have introduced five blockbuster pieces of legislation meant to limit the power of, and possibly even break up, large tech firms such as Facebook and Amazon. 

This comes after a massive investigation into the monopoly power of some Silicon Valley giants. 

Led by the ranking members of the antitrust subcommittee, Democrat David Cicilline and Republican Ken Buck, a bipartisan coalition in the House introduced the legislation on Friday. If passed, the bills would give the government more power to regulate Big Tech.

More about Monopoly, Antitrust, Tech, Politics, and Big Tech Companies

In August 2020, Google decided to hide all parts of a web address in Chrome except for the domain name. However, less than a year on, the so-called “simplified domain experiment” is coming to an end.

As Android Police reports, the experiment was implemented in spite of protest from users because Google genuinely believed it would help with security and cut down on successful phishing campaigns and other social engineering techniques used to trick users. But ultimately, Google has admitted defeat on this front.

In a post on the Chromium bug tracker, software engineer and Google Chrome manager Emily Stark announced the simplified domain experiment was being deleted because it, “didn’t move relevant security metrics, so we’re not going to launch it. :(“—the sad face denoting the disappointment this didn’t work how the team had expected it to. Read more…

More about Google, Chrome, Tech, and Consumer Tech

Have you heard that new Lorde song? What do you think? I like it. Sure, it’s a little different than what we’ve come to expect from her, but I enjoyed it. Really looking forward to the whole album dropping.

Anyway, yep, another week in the books. It’s Friday, baby. So why don’t you queue up “Solar Power,” crack your knuckles, and read some good tweets we rounded up. After all, the weekend is coming and we all deserve a nice laugh. 

So here they are, our 22 favorite tweets of the week.

1. Love a meat cube park

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