PC Magazine
Sennheiser HD 450BT: Best Budget Noise-Cancelling Headphones
It’s no secret that noise-cancelling headphones cost a good deal more than their traditional counterparts. Priced at $199.95, Sennheiser’s HD 450BT headphones are far from inexpensive, but they cost considerably less than leading ANC (active noise cancellation) models such as the $400 Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. For half that price, Sennheiser’s pair offers above-average ANC performance and excellent Bluetooth audio. Add in adjustable EQ, a comfortable fit, and easy-to-operate controls, and you get the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy for $200, as well as our Editors’ Choice.
5 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
Motorola Moto e: Best Budget Phone
Though it’s been mere months since Motorola released its budget-friendly handsets, the Moto G Power ($249.99) and Moto G Stylus ($299.99), the company is back with an even more affordable model. The Moto e is the company’s least expensive smartphone, with an attractive, durable design, a big display, and admirable performance for the price. Of course, Motorola makes some compromises to get the price this low, but it doesn’t change the fact that the Moto e is the best affordable phone we’ve tested so far this year, and it’s now our Editors’ Choice in that category.
6 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
THE BEST FREE PC GAMES
Free-to-play games have become increasingly popular over the years, and it’s easy to understand why. They’re now so robust that you never feel handcuffed for not plunking down real cash. In case you’re wondering why developers wouldn’t charge anything for the game itself, they generally make money with in-game ads and selling virtual objects.
7 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
WILL WE EVER BE ABLE TO UPLOAD OUR BRAINS?
We’re in an era of remarkable high-concept situation comedies, with shows such as “The Good Place” using the 22-minute joke-packed framework to explore some of humanity’s deepest issues. Premiering on Amazon Prime in May was “Upload,” a show created by Greg Daniels of “The Office,” and it looks to be a contender.
5 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
Microsoft Surface Book 3 (15-Inch): More Work of Art Than Workhorse
If Microsoft-designed mobile PCs are the essence of the Windows computing experience, and the Surface Book is Microsoft’s flagship model, then the Surface Book 3 has a reasonable claim to be the ultimate Windows-powered mobile device. This detachable 2-in-1 laptop certainly offers the best blend of unique features, operating-mode flexibility, computing power, and portability of any Microsoft PC. With an advanced mechanical locking system for the keyboard base, powerful graphics processing, multiple cameras and batteries, and a choice of two screen sizes, the Surface Book 3 is a category-defying device for the few laptop buyers who can afford it and realize its full potential.
10+ min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
Most Americans Reject COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Apps
COVID-19 is invisible, but the people who are diagnosed with it are not. And so for epidemiologists to do their disease detective work to prevent more cases, people are their most valuable clues. One way to follow these clues is through contact tracing. Yet a study from Avira finds that the majority of Americans are against apps that would allow this.
1 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
YES: YOU CAN PLAY GAMES ON AN OLD, LOW-END PC
While many PC enthusiasts look to high-end units or trick out their own custom rigs with the latest hardware, some of us are cursed with integrated graphics and two gigs of RAM. Though you can actually build a gaming PC for less than $1,000, not everyone is going to take the time to piece one together.
4 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
How to Report Abuse on Social Media
We live in divisive times, which is why you should know how to protect yourself on social media. People use these platforms to freely express their ideas and opinions, and some can be deemed controversial, offensive, misleading, or just plain inaccurate. For those reasons, the major social networks all offer options for reporting posts and users for a variety of infractions.
4 min |
July 2020
PC Magazine
Dell G5 15 SE (2020): A Solid Budget Offering
The market for budget gaming laptops is ultra-competitive these days, with the latest components from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia allowing for better performance than ever at lower prices.
10+ min |
July 2020
Mother Jones
Bitter Pill
We need covid-19 treatments asap—but a perverse incentive could slow pharma breakthroughs.
5 min |
July/August 2020
PC Magazine
10 CHEAP AND EASY WAYS TO LEVEL UP YOUR HOME OFFICE
Are you working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic? Not knowing how long your remote-work situation will last might leave you wondering how much effort you should put into creating a nice home office.
4 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
COWORKING COMMUNITIES CHART A NEW PATH DURING COVID-19
We checked in with Pauline Roussel, CEO of Berlin-based Coworkers to find out what’s next in collaborative (but socially distanced) workspaces.
9 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
15 AFFORDABLE SMALL TOWNS IN THE US WITH FAST INTERNET
Millions of Americans have been working from home during the COVID-19 crisis.
6 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2020): Gets the Basics Right
A controversial keyboard once present on every Apple laptop is now a thing of the past.
10+ min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
Garmin Vivoactive 4: Best High-End Fitness Tracker
If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that really balances form and function, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 should be at the top of your list.
10+ min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
Dell Inspiron 14 7000 (7490): Ultraportable Excellence
Dell’s Inspiron laptops are positioned below its higher-quality, more powerful XPS series, but you’d never know it judging by the Inspiron 14 7000.
9 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
COVID-19 Creates Soaring Demand for PCs
The coronavirus and the ensuing need to work from home is creating skyrocketing demand for PCs, according to research firms. Canalys attributes the surge to businesses upgrading their workforces with new laptops and IT equipment.
1 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
HOW TO WORK FROM HOME SECURELY
When you step into your office or cubicle and sit down to work at a company-owned computer, you shouldn’t have to worry much about security.
6 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
TCL 10 Pro: Best Midrange Android Phone
When you hear TCL, you probably think of TVs; but the company is no stranger to making smartphones.
7 min |
June 2020
PC Magazine
REMOTE WORK WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AND THAT'S A GOOD THING
The home office you’ve occupied for months could be the wave of the future.
10+ min |
June 2020
Popular Science
Kandy-Kolored, Streamlined, and Definitely Around The Bend
Pinewood Derby Racing and the dads who just can't get enough
10+ min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
Hell? Yes!
Endurance athletes and the pleasure of pushing it
10+ min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
The Dolls THAT CHANGED The World
WHEN SCIENTISTS BRING dolls into the lab, the toys transcend their role as playthings. They can expose racism and unleash aggression.
3 min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
dune buddy
ODDS ARE, YOU DON’T NEED A VEHICLE LIKE THE CAN-AM MAVERICK X3 X RS TURBO RR. BUT IF YOU WANT OODLES OF HORSEPOWER AND A MAMMOTH SUSPENSION, THIS SIDE-BY-SIDE HAS YOU COVERED FOR EVERY ADVENTURE.
1 min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
HEAD TRIP
why Disney's massive lines feel so short
1 min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
digital domination
GAMING ON A CONSOLE OR PHONE IS FUN AND ALL, BUT ELITE PLAYERS RELY ON MASSIVE PCS WITH PRECISION PERIPHERALS TO WIELD THEIR WEAPONS WITH JOHN WICK–LIKE AGILITY. THIS RIG IS READY TO SMITE EVERY ONLINE FOE.
1 min |
Summer 2020
Popular Science
Anatomy Of a Laugh
The oldest known joke dates back nearly 4,000 years, and it’s a fart gag. The fact that we’ve been crackin’ wise for so long suggests there’s something innate about the need to laugh.
2 min |
Summer 2020
PC Magazine
Kensington Pro Fit Ergo Wireless Keyboard: Affordable Ergonomic
It’s tough to make an ergonomic keyboard feel approachable.
4 min |
May 2020
Scuba Diving
Ascend: Sea Heroes
Sea Hero FRANCESCA VIRDIS Bringing divers together to protect Bonaire’s greatest treasure
4 min |
May 2020
PC Magazine
Wyze Scale: Unbeatable Value
Whether you’re trying to lose weight or you want to put on muscle, a smart scale can help you track your progress and stay motivated. The Wyze Scale connects with your smartphone and does a lot more than just tell you how much you weigh: It tracks 12 metrics, including your BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, heart rate, muscle mass, protein level, and weight up to 400 pounds.
7 min |