Brian Fagioli

If you aren't familiar with Roblox, you probably don't have any young children. You see, the Minecraft-like game is wildly popular with younger folks -- it is a legit phenomenon. And yes, older kids and adults enjoy the game too.

Today, Roblox announces a partnership with the National Football League. Players can now customize their avatar with an NFL helmet, and all 32 football teams are represented.

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Mechanical keyboards are a dime a dozen these days. In fact, Amazon is littered with countless inexpensive models from no-name companies. You know what, though? They are not created equally. Quite often, the build quality on these cheap offerings is downright terrible. When it comes to typing, a defective or non-functioning key can be absolutely maddening. That's why I always suggest sticking with a reputable brand, such as Logitech or HyperX -- you'll be glad you did.

Speaking of the latter, the company has a new mechanical gaming keyboard that looks quite intriguing. The "Alloy FPS RGB," as it is called, features Kailh Silver switches. Don't be scared off by the switches being made by a company other than Cherry -- Kailh is a respected brand. The silver switches found here are short and designed for speed. And yes, as the product name implies, this HyperX keyboard features RGB lighting!

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Linux Mint is a rather great operating system. The distribution is based on the fabulous Ubuntu, so it is very stable and has plenty of compatible packages. Not to mention, the Mint developers focus heavily on the user experience. Linux Mint isn't just designed for Linux experts (although they can totally use it), but beginners too -- it is easy to start using straight away.

The developers have a long history of using female names as the code name for each version of the operating system. For instance, in the past, they have used "Tara," "Sylvia," and "Sonya," to name a few. Today, we learn the female name assigned to the upcoming Linux Mint 19.1 -- "Tessa."

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Thunderbolt 3 docks can be quite amazing. I recently reviewed such a dock made by StarTech and came away very impressed. That dock can transform a MacBook Pro or Windows 10 laptop into a desktop. It is designed to be kept at home or in the office -- stationary on a desk.

But what if you want a Thunderbolt 3 dock for when you are on the go? If you have a MacBook Pro, for instance, that isn't so crazy. Since you only have USB-C ports, a portable dock can be a great way to expand connectivity without carrying multiple dongles. In fact, there are already some portable TB3 docks on the market, Today, Elgato (a company recently acquired by CORSAIR) unveils its latest such product -- Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock.

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TP-Link is mostly known for offering cost-friendly networking equipment, but that doesn't mean it can't also focus on the high-end too. Quite frankly, it is wise to offer many models with differing specifications -- and at different price points -- to best meet the needs of all consumers.

Today, TP-Link releases a router that caters to gamers and enthusiasts. The "Archer C5400X," as it is called, is breathtakingly designed -- it looks like an alien spaceship, or some sort of overturned robotic spider. To be honest, it is almost a bit scary in its appearance -- the eight antennas look intimidating and menacing. Looks aside, it is chock full of top specs and plenty of useful ports. And yes, it features Amazon Alexa support, because, why not?

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There are two types of Linux users -- those that think GNOME 3 is the overall best desktop environment, and those that are wrong. Yes, if you use Linux on the desktop, you should be embracing GNOME for optimal productivity. Sure, other DEs such as KDE Plasma, Xfce, and Cinnamon are good, but they simply pale in comparison.

Today, the latest version of the desktop environment -- GNOME 3.30 -- sees release. It is has been dubbed "Almería," which apparently is the Spanish city in which this year's GUADEC conference was held. As you can expect, it is chock-full of new features, bug fixes, and improvements. In fact, there are an insane 24,845 changes! The GNOME developers claim it will use fewer system resources too -- nice! There is even a new podcast app -- the simply named "Podcasts."

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For many consumers, dial-up internet is a distant memory. Broadband has long replaced the slow and unreliable telephone-based internet connection. Believe it or not, some people in rural areas still utilize it -- ugh, those unfortunate people.

Surprisingly, TiVo still offers dial-up access to some of its users, allowing them to download program guide information. Yes, really. Sadly, today, the company began alerting those users that it will be discontinuing dial-up connectivity later this month -- the end of an era.

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When Google released its Chrome web browser ten years ago, everything changed. At the time Microsoft's terrible Internet Explorer reigned supreme -- it was a slow and bloated piece of software with massive security issues. Many people only used it because it came pre-installed on Windows. It seemed unfathomable to even try to compete since Microsoft's browser was already installed -- how do you convince users to switch?

Google managed to convince consumers to switch through speed and good design. You see, Chrome was simplistic and focused. More importantly, it was fast. Users were given a clear reason as to why Chrome was superior. Over time, Chrome has become more bloated, but it remains the best web browser on all platforms. Today, the search giant celebrates the Chrome web browser's 10th birthday with a makeover -- on both desktop and mobile.

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When I bought my first-ever Apple computer in 2016 -- a MacBook Pro with touchbar -- I was a bit nervous about the lack of ports. While on the go, I am pretty much fine with only having USB-C, but when home, I like to connect my laptops to a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and hardwired Ethernet. In other words, I make my notebooks serve double-duty as makeshift desktops too. I would need to leverage dongle/adapters to meet my needs.

Thankfully, the MacBook Pro USB-C ports are also Thunderbolt 3, meaning the laptop is compatible with high-end docking stations. Yes, there are normal USB-C docks on the market too, but the Thunderbolt 3 models are far superior -- they can have more ports and provide better quality video to monitors. Since they are pricey, selecting the best model can be daunting. Luckily, after much testing, I am confident to say I have found one worth your hard-earned money -- StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station with SD Card Slot.

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Let's be honest -- in a world with easy legal streaming thanks to inexpensive services like Netflix and Hulu, Kodi media center is probably used mostly by pirates. It is not likely the average consumer is storing video and music files locally to play on their TV -- it simply isn't worth the hassle these days. With that said, not all Kodi users are thieves -- I am sure some are legally buying media for playback on the media software... maybe...

Regardless of why you use Kodi (I'm not judging), the best way to experience it is through a Linux distribution that focuses on it. LibreELEC, for instance, is a lightweight distro that exists only to run the Kodi media center. It is quite popular with Raspberry Pi owners, but it runs on other hardware too, including x86_64 and WeTek boxes. Kodi 18 "Leia" recently achieved Beta 1 status, and as a result, LibreELEC 9.0 Alpha has been updated with it. In other words, the most bleeding edge LibreELEC now runs the most bleeding edge Kodi.

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Linux Mint Debian Edition isn’t a very popular operating system. As you can imagine, the normal Linux Mint variant — which is based on Ubuntu — is used by far more people. It’s not hard to see why this is — the Linux Mint developers don’t really consider LMDE to be anything more than an experiment. You see, it serves as a contingency plan just in case Ubuntu development ever ceases.

With all of that said, there’s no reason why users shouldn’t give Linux Mint Debian Edition a try. Today, just in time for Labor Day Weekend, LMDE 3 “Cindy” finally sees release. With many people enjoying a long holiday weekend, it is the perfect opportunity to install the rolling release distro and play around with it!

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Nowadays, to get a quality wireless router, you do not need to spend a lot of money. There are several models from brands such as TP-Link which offer great specs and features for under $100. If money isn't an issue, however, there are certainly superior routers on the market for much higher prices. NETGEAR, for instance, sells some drool-worthy models under its Nighthawk branding that can be expensive.

Speaking of NETGEAR, that company has a new gaming-focused router which is sure to excite some consumers. The "XR700 Nighthawk Pro," as it is called, is tuned for gaming and features some top specs such as 802.11ad and a 10G Ethernet port. Overkill for most consumers? Totally, but gamers utilizing a wireless connection may be willing to pay the higher price for a potential edge.

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When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, the market is absolutely saturated with them -- some great, many terrible. Quite frankly, it can be a daunting task for consumers to pick one that best meets their needs. My advice? Stick with Ultimate Ears and you will be fine. The company offers many models from which to choose -- with various price points and differing specifications. None of its Bluetooth speakers are bad -- they are all exceptional.

Today, Ultimate Ears unveils its latest and greatest Bluetooth speakers -- the BOOM 3 and MEGABOOM 3. These third generation speakers retain the same glorious 360 degree sound as previous generation, but this time, sound quality is improved even further. The MEGABOOM 3 has up to 20 hours of battery life, while the non-MEGA model offers a still-impessive 15 hours. Not to mention, believe it or not, these rugged speakers are even more durable than before.

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When you think of SD cards, your mind probably goes to brands such as SanDisk and Kingston. While both of those companies make great storage products, they aren't the only game in town. In fact, Sony actually sells both storage cards and USB flash drives that are quite good.

Sony's latest SD card is very intriguing. Called "SF-G TOUGH," it is designed to be extremely rugged -- it is IPX8 waterproof, IP6X dust-proof, and will survive drops from up to 5 meters. By design, it has no write-protection switch, as that part that can be prone to failure. In addition, Sony says these TOUGH cards are "X-ray proof, magnet proof, anti-static, temperature proof and feature UV Guard." Its durability is only half of the equation, however.

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I am a huge fan of TP-Link routers. While not the most popular brand with the mainstream, in-the-know consumers choose the company's products as a way to save money without sacrificing quality. These budget-friendly routers offer very respectable performance and many useful features. Hell, you can score a really nice TP-Link router with Amazon Alexa support for less than $80!

Today, TP-Link announces a higher-end router powered by the Intel Home Wi-Fi Chipset. The "Archer C2700," as it is called, is an AC2600 (1733Mbps 5GHz band, 800Mbps 2.4GHz) Dual-Band Wi-Fi router with four Gigabit LAN ports. Two of those LAN ports can be aggregated for a combined 2 Gbps -- great for a compatible NAS. It also features two USB Type-A ports -- one is 2.0, while the other is 3.0. And yes, it has Amazon Alexa support!

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