Brian Fagioli

I decided to cut the cord and switch to YouTube TV over four years ago, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. No longer do I have to rent clunky boxes from the cable company to watch live television. Instead, thanks to YouTube TV, all of my devices serve as makeshift televisions! I can watch live TV anywhere on all my devices -- my smartphone, tablet, laptop, Apple TV, and more.

While the price of YouTube TV has gone up over the years, I never really minded the cost increases too much. Why? Because YouTube TV has remained consistently excellent thanks to the unlimited DVR, top-notch customer service, and ever-expanding channel lineup. It is rare to be completely satisfied with a service, but with YouTube TV, I literally have no complaints.

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The summer is officially here! Yes, it is time to go outside and enjoy the nice warm weather. Whether you go to the park, the beach, or just stay in your own backyard, it is a good idea to have some music playing. After all, some funky tunes can make everything better.

While you can play music from your smartphone's built in speakers, that is hardly a great experience -- especially if you are having a party with friends and/or family. To truly have a great music experience, a Bluetooth speaker is an absolute must-have accessory -- it can really get your booty bouncing. Today, Sony launches three new water-resistant wireless speakers under its X-Series branding -- SRS-XG300 (up to 25 hours playing time), SRS-XE300 (up to 24 hours), and SRS-XE200 (up to 16 hours).

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Times are hard right now for many people; everything is extremely expensive, including gasoline and groceries. Many economic experts predict we will soon enter a recession -- if we haven't already.

And yet, despite the financial woes many are currently experiencing, consumers still need to buy computers. Look, for most people, it simply isn't feasible to live a successful life nowadays without having a computer -- especially with so many jobs being remote since the pandemic happened.

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Apple's AirPods Pro wireless earbuds are cool, but they are far from perfect. They are uncomfortable and not at all attractive -- the white stems that protrude from your ears are very unsightly. Not to mention, they are only offered in white -- don't like that color? Sucks for you. Worst of all, most of the unique features, such as spatial audio, are only compatible with Apple devices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

If you are an Android and/or Windows user that wants some premium wireless earbuds that aren't made by Apple, then today, you are in luck. The company beyerdynamic has launched its first-ever "True Wireless" earbuds, and they look incredible. Called "Free BYRD," these Bluetooth earbuds are discreet, attractive, come in two colors, and best of all, beyerdynamic promises exceptional audio quality.

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So, you need a PCIe M.2 solid state drive for your laptop or desktop and you aren't sure what type to buy, eh? Well, while your computer should support PCIe 5.0 SSDs and below, the performance will be determined by your machine's PCIe type. In other words, a PCIe 3.0 M.2 slot can only achieve PCIe 3.0 speeds at best -- even if you install a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 SSD. And so, it usually doesn't make sense to spend a premium for a drive that is rated higher than your computer.

Today, Crucial (a subsidiary of Micron) officially launches its P3 and P3 Plus M.2 PCIe solid state drives. Both affordable SSDs come in capacities ranging from 500GB to 4TB and use Micron's 176L 3D NAND, but they have a big difference between them. You see, the "Plus" designation indicates that the drive uses PCIe 4.0 as opposed to the "regular" P3 that uses PCIe 3.0. As a result, the P3 drive achieves read/write speeds up to 3500MB/s, while the superior Plus variant gets read/write up to 5000MB/s.

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If you don't already own a Switch console, and you have been wanting one, then prepare to get very excited. Today, Nintendo unveils its latest special edition of the video game system. This time, it is the OLED model Switch with a funky Splatoon 3-themed paint job.

Nintendo explains, "Adorned with splashy, squid-tastic images straight out of Splatsville, the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model Splatoon 3 Special Edition includes a set of one blue and one yellow gradient Joy-Con controllers with white underbellies and a white, graffiti-themed Nintendo Switch dock."

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Does anybody actually use Bing Maps? I mean, I am sure some people do (right?), but I have never met any of them in my travels. In my experience, most folks use either Google Maps or Apple Maps -- I prefer the latter.

However, thanks to some new features being added to Bing Maps, maybe it is finally time to consider trying Microsoft's offering. You see, the Windows-maker has added some new things, such as a parking finder and a distance calculator to its app.

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Now is a wonderful time to be in the market for a laptop that comes pre-loaded with a Linux-based operating system, as there are many great options. Linux laptops used to be a bit of a rarity, but as Linux gains popularity, these computers are becoming more commonplace. Currently, my recommendation is the HP Dev One which runs System76's Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS, as that notebook is affordable, well-built, and offers an overall excellent experience.

Today, yet another new Linux laptop is announced, this time by TUXEDO Computers. Well, technically it isn't entirely new, but actually, it is the second generation of its Pulse 15. Yes, after two years, the company has decided to refresh the computer with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor (with 35W TDP) and 15.6-inch 165Hz WQHD (2560 x 1440) IPS display.

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Steve Jobs is dead. The Apple Co-founder is long dead, in fact. You see, the iPhone-inventor died way back in 2011 -- more than a decade ago. And yet, President Joe Biden has decided to give Jobs an award... in 2022. Yes, really.

No, Joe Biden is not confused, nor did the current President make a mistake. Actually, the leader of the USA has intentionally chosen to bestow the late Steve Jobs with a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. Even though Jobs is not currently alive, I am sure his family will appreciate the much-deserved honor.

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What is the purpose of a chair? Well, it is primarily designed to give your legs and back a break from standing. It works by cradling your buttocks and providing support for your back. Many people use chairs daily, for things like relaxing, working, and more.

Believe it or not, some companies even sell chairs that are specifically designed for playing video games. Called "gaming chairs" they often have a specific "racing" aesthetic that appeals to young men. Of course, women can use them too.

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Hey, storage fans! If you get excited by new external solid state drives like I do, then today, you are in for a real treat. Transcend has decided to launch a new USB-C SSD that offers a unique combination of good looks, durability, and speedy performance.

Called "ESD380C," the portable solid state drive features a USB-C port on its body, but it comes with both a USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cable in the box for maximum compatibility. Thanks to its USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, the SSD can achieve impressive read and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. While the drive features an aluminum body, it is covered in rubber for enhanced durability.

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Four dollars a month. That's all the new Snapchat+ service will cost you. Well, technically it is $3.99... but whatever. Earlier today, Snap Inc. announced this new "plus" subscription designed for power users and enthusiasts of the social platform. While that isn't a lot of money, it still doesn't mean Snapchat+ is a good value. In fact, many users will be shocked by what the premium service is lacking.

Unfortunately, despite paying Snap Inc. a monthly fee, Snapchat+ users will still see advertisements when using the app. This is very surprising (and disappointing), as many people assumed that a premium Snapchat subscription would get rid of ads. Instead, Snap Inc. is hoping users will find value in exclusive features, such as the ability to change the Snapchat icon on mobile or designate another user as your BFF (best friend forever).

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According to Plugable, its UD-ULTC4K USB-C 4K Triple Display Docking Station has been wildly popular. While the company has not shared sales numbers, it has apparently sold many of these docks since it launched back in 2017. This doesn't surprise me, as Plugable products are consistently great.

Since it has been five years since the UD-ULTC4K launched, Plugable though it was time to refresh it, so it has done exactly that -- while confusingly keeping the exact same product name. The biggest change is the inclusion of six video outputs -- three HDMI and three DisplayPort -- of which three can be used simultaneously. You also get 100W Power Delivery, meaning this dock can quickly charge up any laptop with USB-C PD. My favorite addition, however, is the SD card reader.

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If you are a computer builder, there is a good chance you have heard of Micro Center -- one of the last major brick-and-mortar computer retailers. You can walk into the store and walk out with things like motherboards, solid state drives, graphics cards, and more. It's a really cool place to shop.

Unfortunately, starting July 1, you can no longer walk out with your purchased items in a single-use plastic bag -- at some Micro Center locations at least. Yes, the company has decided to embrace what some refer to as "woke capitalism" by forcing consumers to either bring their own reusable bag or walk out with their bought goods loose in their arms.

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When I first learned that System76 and HP were partnering on a laptop running Pop!_OS, I was absolutely shocked. After all, System76 is a computer manufacturer, so HP is sort of one of its competitors. Not to mention, Pop!_OS isn't exactly a well-known operating system outside the Linux community -- it doesn't carry the same name recognition as Ubuntu, for instance.

Regardless of why this collaboration happened, the HP Dev One laptop is officially here, available to anyone in the United States that has $1,099. We have been testing the new developer-focused notebook and we have definitive opinions to share, including whether or not you should buy it. So, without further ado...

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