Sunday, June 22

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I Tried Bing’s Free AI Video Generator, and It’s No Match for the Paid Options
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I Tried Bing’s Free AI Video Generator, and It’s No Match for the Paid Options

AI video generation is a rapidly developing field, with the likes of Google's Veo and OpenAI’s Sora constantly out-doing each other. We are approaching the time when it might be difficult to discern some AI generated video content from reality. But all those gains are limited to the top-tier paid services. To get access to Google’s flagship Veo 3 model (which can now generate dialogue), you need to fork over $250 a month. Until now, no one has really tried to make free AI video generation a thing, given just how resource intensive it is. But now, Microsoft's stepping up to the plate.Of all things, the Bing app is integrating a free video creator, that while limited, generates short videos for free using OpenAI’s Sora model. But is it worth your time? And how does it compare to Gemini’s Veo...
Six Rumored iOS 26 Features I’m Actually Excited About
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Six Rumored iOS 26 Features I’m Actually Excited About

I didn't think I'd be talking about iOS 26 before the year 2032, but here we are. At WWDC 2025, Apple will likely announce the latest update for iPhones, complete with new features and a fresh naming scheme. We won't know for sure what Apple is planning until they officially announce it, but there's reason to believe some leaks and rumors are accurate. I've been following those leaks and rumors closely as they've trickled in, and have a good sense of what to expect with iOS 26. Not all of the rumored features are winners—cough cough, Apple Intelligence—but there are others I'm genuinely excited for. Here are six of the features I hope really do make it to iOS 26. RCS End-to-end encryptionRCS support was probably my favorite new feature of the iOS 18 era. For the first time since iMessage l...
I’m a Professional Cake Decorator and I Never Bake Without Cake Strips
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I’m a Professional Cake Decorator and I Never Bake Without Cake Strips

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Putting together a cake might seem straightforward, but it’s so much harder than it looks. Making the “bones” of the cake sturdy is just as important as making the outside look good, and having layers that are domed or topsy-turvy can mess up your cake from the jump. I’ve been a professional cake decorator for 14 years and there’s one tool that makes cake baking so much easier that I no longer bake without them: cake strips.  One thing that used to drive me crazy in commercial kitchens and bakeries is food waste. Some waste is to be expected, but it can become rather extreme. Working as a cake decorator, I would chop off pounds of domed cake tops a day to make flat cake layers. As you might guess, if the layers aren’t flat,...
The Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones Are at Their Lowest Price Ever
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The Sony WH-CH720N Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones Are at Their Lowest Price Ever

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been searching for a pair of wireless over-ear headphones that combine sound quality with comfort, these Sony noise-cancelling headphones are currently on sale for under $100. According to price trackers, they’re at their lowest price yet, and are a worthy alternative to those who find in-ear and clip-on headphones uncomfortable.  With plush ear cups and wireless capabilities, Sony’s lightest over-ear headphones (weighing just 192 grams, or a little over six ounces) offer comfort as well as more immersive sound. They're suitable for long listening sessions or blocking out distractions at home, but are also a potential fit for commuters or r...
Gmail Will Automatically Summarize Your Emails Using Gemini AI (but You Can Disable It)
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Gmail Will Automatically Summarize Your Emails Using Gemini AI (but You Can Disable It)

Ever since Google started integrating its Gemini AI into all its apps, users have complained about seeing the optional AI-powered Summarize button in their Gmail threads. Now, Google is so confident about this feature that it’s enabling automatic summaries for all paying Google Workspace accounts with Gemini access. Now when you open a long email or thread, an AI Summary will be the first thing you see, right up top.Personally, I think these summaries can be quite convenient, depending on the email. But even though Google says these automatic summaries won't show up on every email, just the ones where the AI thinks they would be useful, I could still see them getting annoying if they start showing up a bit too often. In that case, you might want to turn them off. Luckily, you can do that, ...
A Four Pack of These TSA-Approved SmartLocks Is $80 Right Now
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A Four Pack of These TSA-Approved SmartLocks Is $80 Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Losing your luggage might not be the end of the world, but it’s definitely the worst part of a trip. That’s where something like the SmartLock comes in, and a four-pack of these TSA-approved travel locks is going for $79.99 on StackSocial right now, which is the same price Amazon charges for a three-pack. It’s designed for Apple users, integrating directly with the Find My app, so you can track your bags on a map, ping them with sound if they’re nearby, or get alerts if you’ve walked off and left them behind.Each lock uses a simple three-digit combination and is TSA-approved, meaning airpo...
You Can Get a Lifetime License to Qlango for Just $35 Right Now
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You Can Get a Lifetime License to Qlango for Just $35 Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Language learning apps usually fall into two camps—either they’re too rigid and boring, or they gamify things so much that you stop learning and start guessing. Qlango tries to find the middle ground, and right now, you can grab a lifetime subscription for $34.97 from StackSocial (down from $119.99), which gives you access to all 50+ supported languages. That includes the big ones like Spanish, French, and German, plus less common ones like Georgian, Tatar, and even Latin. Whether you're prepping for a trip, brushing up your vocabulary, or just trying to keep your brain busy, it’s a lot of...
No One Is Buying Phones for AI
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No One Is Buying Phones for AI

If you're entrenched in tech news, you'd think Apple was on the brink of collapse. The company undoubtedly is having a rough go of all things AI—while companies like ChatGPT, Google, and Microsoft have hit the AI ground running, Apple's AI department is in disarray. Some features, like Clean Up and Writing Tools, have made their way to products like the iPhone, but, others (notably Siri's AI overhaul) are still nowhere to be seen. The situation is, objectively, not great. Apple advertised these features alongside the iPhone 16 line, even casting The Last of Us' Bella Ramsey in a commercial showing off said AI-powered Siri. (The commercial has since been deleted.) While the rest of the tech industry seems to be entirely focused on AI, Apple is, uncharacteristically, struggling to keep up....
18 of the Best Shows on Tubi
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18 of the Best Shows on Tubi

Unlike the other big streamers, Tubi only has a handful of original shows, most of them imports (their original movie selection is much larger). That's not to say it's a wasteland for TV addicts: The streamer might actually have too many shows, a vast and sometimes wild catalog that spans decades. As the likes of Netflix and HBO Max have slimmed down their catalogues, Tubi is growing, offering a mix of established hits, underrated gems, and more obscure offerings. For the sheer breadth of material on offer, it has become the first place I look for anything outside the current zeitgeist—like the following 18 shows, an entirely non-comprehensive sampling of what Tubi has to offer, crossing genres and decades.Gossip Girl (2007 – 2012) Occasionally referred to as the greatest teen drama of a...
You Can Get This ASUS Chromebook CM30 for Just $180 Right Now
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You Can Get This ASUS Chromebook CM30 for Just $180 Right Now

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’ve been eyeing a lightweight, all-purpose Chromebook for casual work, school, or everyday browsing, this open-box ASUS Chromebook CM30 might be worth a closer look. Currently priced at $179.99 (down from $329.99), it’s one of those mid-range 2-in-1s that doesn’t try to be everything, but nails the basics with enough flair to feel premium. The 10.5-inch WUXGA touchscreen is responsive and sharp, and thanks to the Kompanio 520 processor and 8GB of RAM, general multitasking is smooth, whether you’re juggling docs, Google Meet, or your Spotify tab. ChromeOS keeps things lean and fast, a...