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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeThe Fender Mustang Micro Puts a Tiny Amp In Your Pocket
Most guitar gear is pretty simple: You plug a cable designed in the 1950s into a jack that’s just as old and start playing. The electronics inside the various amps and pedals are where things get interesting, which is why Fender has created the $99 Mustang Micro. The Mustang Micro is a tiny device that … Continued
By John Biggs -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeArduino’s New DIY Kit Makes It Easy to Build Smart Home Gadgets
The Arduino Oplà kit is a simple way to start building Internet of Things gadgets for fun and, for some, profit. The $114 starter kit includes an Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 board—basically a tiny, programmable microprocessor—and an IoT Carrier that looks kind of like a flower with an OLED screen in the center. What you … Continued
By John Biggs -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeAsus’ First Wi-Fi 6E Router Is a Beast for Gaming, but Struggles Everywhere Else
It seems like only yesterday that Wi-Fi 6 routers really started to hit the market, and that’s true—the first products trickled out in late 2018, and the new 802.11ax standard is only now going mainstream. But the FCC has opened up the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use, so router manufacturers are taking the ax … Continued
By Wes Davis -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeThis Little Cube Puts Game Boy Games On the Big Screen
Back in ‘94, Nintendo released the Super Game Boy, a cartridge adapter that made Game Boy games playable on a TV through the SNES. Hyperkin’s new Retron Sq does the exact same thing, but as a standalone console that offers modern HDMI connectivity. Its simplicity makes it easy for anyone to use, but it also … Continued
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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeAnker’s R2-D2 Mini Projector Is Adorable but Flawed
They say if you build a better mouse trap, the world will beat a path to your door, but you can probably be just as successful by slapping some Star Wars graphics on it instead. That’s what Anker’s done with its Nebula Capsule II mini projector, which now looks like a legless version of R2-D2. … Continued
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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeGoogle’s New Nest Hub Is the Perfect Alarm Clock
Most of us have long since replaced a standalone alarm clock with a phone, but the new Google Nest Hub is the first smart display that justifies its placement on your nightstand. Its new sleep-tracking capabilities are impressive, and it finally offers an easy sleep-tracking solution for those of us who hate wearing a fitness … Continued
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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeAmazon’s Motion-Tracking Smart Display Is Kinda Creepy, but Damn Is It Useful
Amazon’s new Echo Show 10 will track you as you move across its line of sight, which feels strange at first. That’s just one of the device’s many unique features, and its other abilities make it a handy sous-chef while you’re preparing meals. But its limited app support is a disappointing shortcoming of an otherwise … Continued
By Catie Keck -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeNanoleaf’s New Smart Bulb Is the One to Beat for HomePod Mini Owners
There are two kinds of smart bulbs in this world—those that work well, and those doomed to languish in drawers with all of your other bitter regrets. If you haven’t done your research, or just failed hard a lot, you have probably come to the same conclusion many of us have: Just buy the friggin’ … Continued
By Wes Davis -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeThis Off-Brand Roomba Rival Gets the Job Done, With a Few Quirks
The Neabot robot vacuum is a stark white puck that hugs its charger like a baby monkey in a Harlow experiment. It has three buttons—start, charge, and clean—and a prominent sensor on top that spins rapidly as it scoots around your house. It does exactly what’s advertised on the box: It sucks up dirt and … Continued
By John Biggs -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeI Can’t Believe I Actually Like the Alexa Shower Speaker
I’m well aware that inviting Alexa—and therefore Amazon—into my shower is probably not-so-smart. Nevertheless, I love shower karaoke and my bathroom Bluetooth speakers weren’t cutting it. Some fell down off the tile wall because of their weak suction cups. Others sounded muffled because of the shower curtain. So it was in this exasperated state that … Continued
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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeThis Soundbar Isn’t the One I Covet, but It’s the One I Deserve
We’re all guilty of lusting over top-of-the-line gadgets despite the fact that a cheaper one will usually do. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Vizio M-Series 5.1 M51a-H6 soundbar. It’s a good, solid option that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for a not-so-ridiculous price. Still, it’s hard to feel hype about it. Part of this … Continued
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ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeEpson’s EF12 Portable Laser Projector Is a Mighty but Pricey On-the-Go Streaming Box
The EF12 checks a lot of boxes for on-the-go projector needs, but it costs about as much as some OLED TVs. So, is it worth it? That depends. I’ve spent weeks testing the performance of Epson’s EF12 portable laser projector, and I found myself raving about it to friends and colleagues—with a couple of caveats. … Continued
By Catie Keck -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeEufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid Vacuums and Mops, But Leaves Little Treats for Your Feet to Find
The Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid vacuum/mop is, prima facie, a clear upgrade over the Roomba 650 that raptly held my attention when I bought it five years ago. But while the Eufy might do a lot more for a great price, you don’t really want a vacuum that just does more. You want one that … Continued
By Wes Davis -
ReviewsHome Entertainment & Smart HomeVizio’s OLED Is the Perfect TV if You Want Quality on a Budget
If you’ve been hoping to upgrade your old TV for an OLED model but don’t want to spend a fortune for a decently sized display, Vizio’s OLED is the TV for you. For perfect blacks while watching movies or TV, you probably want an OLED. The OLED display to buy last year was the LG … Continued
By Catie Keck
