(Image Credit: LG)

As if there weren’t enough display-related acronyms, such as “TN” or “HDR,” now the popular IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen technology has a variation known as “Nano IPS.”

In this article, we’ll compare traditional IPS technology with the newer Nano IPS technology and help you understand which might be better suited for your needs.

Understanding IPS Technology

IPS technology has been a staple in LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels for years. This technology is known for wide viewing angles and color accuracy, outperforming other LCD panel types like VA (Vertical Alignment) and TN (Twisted Nematic) panels.

Regular IPS displays offer a consistent and accurate color experience, even from various angles, making them a favorite for professionals and gamers alike.

One of the key benefits of IPS panels is their response times. While they may not have historically matched the speed of TN panels, modern IPS monitors have seen significant improvements, making them a viable option for gamers.

Additionally, IPS displays generally offer a good contrast ratio and support a wide color gamut, covering sRGB and often the wider DCI-P3 color space, which is crucial for tasks that demand color fidelity.

The main drawback of IPS technology is the so-called “IPS glow,” where light is reflected internally and shows up as a bluish haze, especially in dim or dark scenes.

Otherwise, IPS screens have the best mix of attributes overall. It is cheaper than OLED, has better color than TN panels, and better responsiveness than VA panels.

The Emergence of Nano IPS

IPS is great, but it could be better. Enter Nano IPS technology, a term LG coined for its Nano IPS monitors. This technology involves applying nanoparticles to the LED backlight of the LCD panel.

These nanoparticles absorb unwanted light wavelengths, enhancing the purity of the red and green colors displayed on the screen. The result is a richer, more accurate color display with a wider color gamut.

This is essentially the same approach taken with “quantum dot” displays, where nanoparticles enhance color vibrancy.

Nano IPS displays offer a much higher contrast ratio and better color than standard IPS panels. They can display a broader spectrum of colors, often exceeding the sRGB color space and covering a significant portion of the DCI-P3 color space. This is especially beneficial for creative professionals who require a wider color palette for their work to ensure that what they see on screen matches the true colors of the media.

Gaming Monitors: Nano IPS vs. Regular IPS

For gamers, the choice between Nano IPS and regular IPS often boils down to specs like refresh rate, response times, and support for technologies like NVIDIA’s G-SYNC and AMD’s FreeSync.

High refresh rates are critical for smooth gameplay, and both Nano IPS and IPS monitors can offer them. Many models offer 144Hz or even higher refresh rates.

With its enhanced color gamut and higher contrast ratio, Nano IPS technology delivers an image quality that can be particularly appealing in gaming. When coupled with features like G-SYNC or FreeSync, which synchronize the monitor’s refresh rate with the output of the graphics card, it can provide a smooth, tear-free gaming experience.

However, just as with regular IPS screens, not every nano IPS display will have the right features to make them suitable for anything but casual gaming.

HDR and Backlight Technologies

High Dynamic Range (HDR) is another factor to consider. HDR on displays allows you to see more details in the darkest and brightest parts of the picture. IPS technology has improved over time to offer better HDR capabilities. Still, Nano IPS monitors take it further with their advanced LED backlight, which can produce more vibrant colors and deeper blacks.

This is where the difference between LED backlights and newer technologies like QD-OLED and Quantum Dot comes into play. While Nano IPS uses a traditional LED backlight enhanced with nanoparticles, QD-OLED and Quantum Dot displays use a different approach to achieve an even higher contrast ratio and color accuracy. However, Nano IPS remains a more accessible technology than high-end alternatives.

In particular, compared to regular IPS specifically, only nano IPS can offer “true” HDR because it exceeds 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. So, if HDR content matters, nano IPS is the way to go.

Viewing Angles and Color Accuracy

Both Nano IPS and regular IPS displays provide wide viewing angles. This is thanks to the in-plane switching nature of the liquid crystals, which ensures that colors remain consistent even when you’re not sitting directly in front of the screen. Wide viewing angles are a must-have for collaborative work environments and for users who want flexibility in their position relative to their display.

Color accuracy is another shared strength. IPS monitors are often used by professionals who require accurate color representation. Nano IPS monitors push this even further, offering a wider color gamut and better color, which can be particularly noticeable in the nuances of shaded areas and ensuring gradients are smooth and banding-free.

Panel Technology and Brand Considerations

When comparing panel technology, it’s not just about Nano IPS vs. IPS. Brands like Samsung, Dell, ASUS, and ViewSonic offer a variety of panel types, each with its strengths. Samsung, for example, has been known for its VA panels, which offer deeper blacks than IPS but can’t quite match the viewing angles.

While the nano IPS trademark is specific to LG, other brands have their quantum-dot style solutions and screens. Samsung’s QD-OLED (Quantum Dot Organic LED) screens represent the pinnacle of current computer monitor technology. Combining quantum dots and OLED technology into one. So, in other words, don’t limit your choices to IPS vs nano IPS, but keep the pros and cons of all available options in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve covered a lot of ground, but let’s address some common FAQs that people struggle with when trying to understand nano IPS:

Is Nano IPS better than regular IPS for professional use?

Nano IPS, with its wider color gamut, can offer an advantage for professionals who rely on color accuracy. However, standard IPS panels are usually more than sufficient for most professional tasks. Don’t spend money on additional color gamut your workflow doesn’t need!

Do Nano IPS monitors cost more?

Generally, yes. The additional technology in Nano IPS monitors does come at a premium. However, prices are always fluctuating, and you can find deals on platforms like Amazon all the time.

Can I notice the difference between Nano IPS and regular IPS?

This depends on the content you’re viewing and your sensitivity to color differences. In side-by-side comparisons, the better color and higher contrast ratio of Nano IPS can be noticeable, especially in color-critical applications.

So, Is Nano IPS Worth It?

Nano IPS and regular IPS panels offer excellent image quality, with Nano IPS displays providing some incremental benefits in color gamut and contrast ratio. For gamers, the choice may be influenced by factors like refresh rate and compatibility with NVIDIA or AMD synchronization technologies. Which are, on balance, much more important for the gaming experience. OLED gaming monitors are also starting to penetrate the market, and as their prices come down, this is likely to be the best overall choice for gaming monitors and TVs.

For professionals, the decision might hinge on the need for a wider color gamut and more accurate color representation. LG is marketing its nano IPS monitors on the pillar of color gamut, so if you’re highly concerned about color accuracy and how many colors your monitor can reproduce, give nano IPS serious consideration.

Ultimately, whether Nano IPS is “better” than regular IPS is subjective and depends on your specific needs and budget. What is clear, however, is that both technologies continue to push the envelope in display technology. The average IPS panel you’d find on a laptop or in a monitor today almost always looks fantastic, so don’t sweat too much whether your IPS screen also comes with a coating of quantum magic.

The post Nano IPS vs. IPS Displays: What’s Different and Which Is Better? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Before introducing you to these best Plex alternative hidden gems, let’s discuss a few factors that should guide your decision-making.

Points to Consider Before Diving In

It’s essential to ensure you choose the Plex alternative that best suits your needs. These are the most important factors to consider.

Operating Systems

Does your world revolve around Android TV, or have you pledged allegiance to Apple iPhone? Either way, ensure your new media server can comfortably fit into your existing ecosystem of devices. This is particularly important if you want to run your media server on a NAS (Network-attached Storage) device or if you’re looking to build a Linux or macOS server. Windows users generally don’t have to worry as support is universal.

Media Files and Formats

From mainstream MP4s to more obscure FLAC files, your multimedia server should be able to handle all formats. Be sure you’re not left converting files at the last minute or that at least your server software can convert your files on the fly or overnight to work as optimized streaming media.

Parental Controls

Some media servers offer built-in parental controls, and if you’re handing off your tablet to the little ones, you don’t want them accessing your vintage horror movie collection.

Streaming Devices

Whether tied to Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or casting via Chromecast, ensure the media server you choose can stream seamlessly on your device of choice. Sometimes, you may have to sideload apps onto your device to make a particular streaming platform work.

1. Kodi: The Open-Source Powerhouse

Kodi is an open-source media player that emerged from what was initially known as Xbox Media Center (XBMC). It has developed a cult following, and it’s easy to see why. The interface can be customized to an almost ridiculous degree. Want to add weather reports to your media dashboard? You can do that. Moreover, you can access streams worldwide, all within your personalized interface.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. A massive selection of add-ons takes customization to the next level.
2. Kodi runs on virtually any device, from your Android phone to a Raspberry Pi.
3. Real-time streaming ensures you’re never waiting for your content to buffer.

Kodi’s open-source nature can make it more prone to bugs and less reliable support. However, the community is active, often making up for the need for more official support channels. Its open nature also means it’s more susceptible to unauthorized add-ons, which might raise legal concerns. So, ensure you don’t accidentally install a third-party Kodi add-on that runs against local laws. However, the vanilla Kodi installation is entirely legal, and that’s all you need to stream your collection of media files.

2. Emby: The Plex Lookalike with a Twist

Emby is like that relative who looks a lot like you but is entirely their own person. Visually, it shares similarities with Plex, but Emby offers more robust customization options. The platform’s premium version, Emby Premiere, delivers advanced functionalities like DVR and live TV capabilities. A standout feature of Emby is its support for parental controls and subtitle downloads.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. The interface is refreshingly intuitive but doesn’t skimp on customization options.
2. Emby Premiere takes the experience up a notch with DVR and Live TV.
3. Built-in parental controls make it a family-friendly choice.

The potential downside to Emby is that the free version is limited, nudging you towards the paid Emby Premiere. It has a smaller community than other platforms, which may mean fewer add-ons and slower issue resolution. It’s worth keeping these factors in mind as you explore your options.

3. Jellyfin: The No-Frills Open-Source Solution

Jellyfin doesn’t bother with a super-polished exterior. But what it lacks in looks, it makes up for with features like built-in transcoding and excellent NAS compatibility. This platform is entirely open-source, meaning a community of developers continually contributes to its evolution. You might encounter a bug or two, but remember: You’re not paying a dime for this robust media server.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Jellyfin is entirely free, making it ideal for the budget-conscious.
2. In-built transcoding ensures your media playback remains smooth.
3. Compatibility with network-attached storage (NAS) is a godsend for extensive media libraries.
4. On virtually all platforms, and supports all media, even books and comics.

Where Jellyfin stumbles is in its user interface—it’s functional but won’t win any beauty contests. The platform also lacks premium features in more established servers, like a polished mobile device app or integrated streaming services. However, these are likely minor concerns if you want a free and functional alternative to Plex.

4. Universal Media Server: A Truly Universal Experience

(Image Credit: MajorGeeks)

Universal Media Server promises cross-platform functionality and delivers it in spades. It works with everything from game consoles to smart TVs, offering a universal experience. This media server is a plug-and-play solution requiring minimal setup. Install the software, and you’re ready to stream across multiple devices.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Whether it’s PlayStation or Xbox, Universal Media Server speaks the language.
2. UPnP and DLNA device compatibility make it a versatile choice.
3. The user interface is refreshingly simple, even for beginners.

One caveat to keep in mind is that Universal Media Server doesn’t offer much in the way of customization. Also, while the server does support various devices, you may encounter occasional compatibility hiccups.

But these issues might be a minor concern if you’re not too fussy about personalizing your interface and want to get up and running quickly. Just remember that this is just a server. There’s no dedicated app or front end for your devices, so you’ll have to get the client app of your choice, which will work as long as it’s compatible with UPnP or DLNA, but that’s almost guaranteed.

5. MediaPortal: The Windows Wonderland

Exclusively designed for Windows, MediaPortal is a dream for those who’ve gone all-in with Microsoft. With features like live TV shows and DVR support, you can turn your PC into a complete home theater solution. While MediaPortal does offer a wealth of features, its Windows-only availability can be limiting if you have a diverse collection of devices.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Tailor-made for Windows users with seamless Microsoft integration.
2. Live TV and DVR capabilities make it more than just a media player.
3. Community-contributed plugins add extra dimensions to your media experience.
4. It can work with Blu-ray players as well as video files.

One of the downsides of MediaPortal is its steep learning curve. It’s feature-rich, but you’ll need time to navigate its complexities. Another point to consider is the Windows-only restriction. If you’re running various operating systems across your devices, this could be a limiting factor, but it has a web interface and Android functionality via aMPdroid.

6. Stremio: The Netflix Lover’s Dream

Stremio goes beyond your personal media library by integrating with streaming services like Netflix using its add-on feature. With a clean and intuitive user interface, accessing your favorite content has never been easier. And if you’re worried about compatibility, Stremio has got you covered—it’s available on Android, iOS, Windows, and even Linux.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Combine Netflix, YouTube, and other streaming services with your media collection.
2. A single click brings you right into the streaming experience.
3. Cross-platform availability makes it adaptable to your digital lifestyle.
4. Stremio can stream content from torrent and magnet links directly.

The possible downside is Stremio’s reliance on third-party add-ons for much of its extended functionality. While this adds a layer of versatility, it also exposes you to potential security risks if you need to be more careful with the add-ons you install. Additionally, it doesn’t have the extensive customizability some other servers offer, so you’re locked into its existing interface and capabilities.

7. Serviio: Organize, Stream, Repeat

Serviio stands out for its powerful organizational features. It offers dynamic media categories based on your content metadata, keeping your extensive media collection well sorted. With a Pro version that adds extra features like a media browser and live streaming, Serviio offers robust capabilities tailored to your needs.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Excellent organizational features keep your media library sorted and accessible.
2. Live streaming capabilities with the Pro version offer a dynamic media experience.
3. Compatibility with a wide array of devices ensures your media is available anywhere.

One drawback with Serviio is that the free version feels like a teaser for the Pro version. Many of the most desirable features, such as media browsing and live streaming, are locked behind a paywall. Moreover, the interface could be more user-friendly than some other options, but if you like tinkering and more functional software Serviio might appeal to you.

8. JRiver Media Center: The All-In-One Maestro

JRiver Media Center is like a Swiss Army knife regarding functionality. This software has everything from media playback to home network streaming and even home automation. What makes it stand out is its audio quality, often praised as the best in the business. This makes it an excellent choice for audiophiles who want to integrate their high-quality sound systems.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. High-quality audio playback is a boon for audiophiles.
2. An all-in-one solution that covers everything from media playback to home automation.
3. Support for various formats ensures your media collection is fully compatible.

The downside of JRiver Media Center is its price tag. The software is expensive, especially considering that many of its competitors offer similar features for free or at a lower cost. Additionally, its array of features can make the interface feel cluttered and overwhelming for new users.

The post The Top 8 Plex Alternatives You Should Try first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The Must-Have Smart Camping Gadgets For Your Next Adventure

Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just dipping your toes into outdoorsy activities, you probably already know that a comfortable camping trip needs more than just a water bottle and a sleeping bag.

At the very least, you want to bring some comfortable camping chairs to sit around the fire pit, a camping stove for cooking, and maybe even a coffee maker. Some other essentials include a headlamp, a first aid kit, a pocket knife, and a power bank to keep your cell phone alive.

Check out the following smart gadgets that will make your next camping trip even more fun.

1. FirePit+ by BioLite

Imagine the joy of gathering around a crackling campfire amid nature’s beauty. Don’t want to struggle with igniting the fire and dealing with its aftermath? Then, the BioLite FirePit+ is the must-have camping gadget for you!

BioLite, a brand focused on off-grid solutions, created a FirePit+ – a portable gadget to help you turn any place into a campfire. FirePit+ is a battery-powered grill/BBQ/fire pit device that offers a traditional campfire’s warmth, aroma, and ambiance without the usual hassles of fanning flames and smoke-filled faces.

This portable fire pit has a built-in fan system that overcomes the typical firestarter challenges and helps to keep your campfire almost smokeless. You can use charcoal and wood; the fan will help you start the fire, so you don’t have to deal with hazardous fire-starting liquids or paper.

You can use the free BioLite app to control the fan and your fire, but that’s not the end. The 12,800mAh USB rechargeable power pack can also charge your devices if your phone’s battery is running low.

The FirePit+ is a perfect camping device that will help you cook your food comfortably during outdoor adventures and create an ideal atmosphere when the sun goes down. If you want something more portable and practical, check out the BioLite CampStove 2+ portable camping stove.

Price: from $224.98 for the FirePit+ only or $348.71 for the FirePit Essentials kit with a durable carrying bag, protective ground mat, and a stainless steel fire poker.

2. Tiny Repel Mosquito Repellent by FLEXTAIL Gear

Mosquitoes and horse flies can ruin any camping adventure. That’s why a mosquito repellent should be #1 on your outdoor gear list. But what if we told you that you can get a smart mosquito repellent gadget that also functions as a lantern and a power bank?

Flextail created Tiny Repel – a 3-in-1 solution to repel mosquitoes, as well as charge your gadgets and bring light into your campsite. It is designed with a rechargeable battery and accommodates two repellent mats for heightened mosquito protection. To activate the mats, you simply need to turn the gadget on. It takes about two minutes before you feel the differences and see the mosquitos disappear.

Tiny Repel has a camping mode — where it forms a 10-foot safeguard around you by heating the repellant mats to 110℃, which can last for 10 hours, and an outdoor mode for broader area coverage, which lasts for about 7 hours on a full battery charge.

The basic kit comes with ten repellent mats, enough for five nights if you use two each night, but you can buy more separately on the website.

The repellent works very well inside the tent or when there’s no strong wind outside. It’s not as effective with horseflies as with mosquitos, but it’ll make your life easier.

Tiny Repel has a built-in 4800mAh battery and a USB-C port, which allows you to charge your gadgets. With a double press on the button, you can activate the lantern function and use one of the four modes available: 50, 100, 200, and 400 lumens.

It’s fantastic that Flextail thought of many ways to place the Tiny Repel near your campsite. There’s a carabiner hook on top of the gadget to hang it near your hammock, a magnet on the bottom, and a little tripod that you can get as an add-on if you need to place it above the ground.

Price: from $49.99 on the FLEXTAIL Gear website and $46.98 on Amazon.

3. BLUETTI AC60 Portable Power Station

Our next pick may seem to belong in a guide about off-grid living rather than camping gear, but we’re here to prove you wrong. A portable power station is a lifesaver on any camping trip, as it can make your stay much more comfortable and safe thanks to the ability to charge your gadgets and maintain your connection with the outside world.

The Bluetti AC60 is a perfect candidate for a power station to throw into your car before your next adventure.

The AC60 model makes for an excellent companion on your adventurous escapades or remote camping trips due to its compact design, substantial power output, and the option to expand from 400Wh to a remarkable 2000Wh (with the addition of a second battery). On top of that, the AC60 is TP65 splashproof, which means it can withstand light rain, and you don’t have to worry about spilling liquids on it.

If you’re going on a prolonged camping trip, you can also bring a solar panel. The AC60 has a total solar input capacity of 200W and can be fully charged using solar energy in just a few hours.

The AC60 measures a modest 29 x 20.5 x 23.4cm and features a foldable handle, making it easy to pack and bring. It weighs about 18.9 lbs, which isn’t ultralight. You can easily carry it to and from your car, but probably not much further, especially if you bring more things on your trip. So it’s more suitable for car camping than wild backcountry adventures.

The station’s total capacity is 403Wh, which is enough to charge your “communications” gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and laptops multiple times. A 100W device would last over 3 hours on charge using one of the USB ports. However, an AC device would drain the battery much quicker, so if you’re planning to charge any appliances like a cooking stove or an espresso machine, it’s best to have a solar panel with you or be ready to charge the power station from your car battery.

Another awesome feature that will improve your camping experience is a large LED panel light at the back of the unit. It’s a practical solution for needing light on a camping trip, and it’s bright enough to light your campsite at night. Make sure to activate the DC output before turning on the light.

Price: $699 on the Bluetti website and on Amazon.

4. Max Pump 2 Pro Air Pump by FLEXTAIL Gear

Max Pump 2 Pro is another multi-tool by Flextail Gear that made it onto our list of the best smart camping gear to bring to your next adventure. It’s compact, lightweight, serves multiple purposes, and has a great battery life.

If you plan to spend more than one night outdoors, you must have strong lungs or get an outdoor air pump that can pump up any inflatable air product in a minute.

This tiny gadget weighs only 5.6ox (160g), so you can easily carry it in your pocket. The pump comes with several nozzles, making it a versatile air pump compatible with most brands. You can inflate your camping mats, air bed, inflatables, and even a pack raft.

You can also use this mighty gadget to deflate your air products, which is sometimes a more tedious process than inflating them. Mac Pump 2 Pro is also compatible with vacuum bags, which is another way to save space while camping or traveling.

The pump features a built-in rechargeable 3600mAh lithium battery charged via a USB-C cable. A single full charge empowers you to inflate and deflate a pack raft for up to 10 cycles. The IP55 water-resistant rating means you can use your pump in damp conditions without worrying about spilling liquid.

Aside from inflating and deflating, the Max Pump 2 Pro can be a source of light. Depending on your mode, you can get from 50 to 400 lumens out of it and up to 12 hours of light at the maximum brightness setting.

Finally, this multi-tool can be used as an emergency charger for your smartphone — a nifty feature for iPhone lovers.

Price: $42.99 on the FLEXTAIL Gear website and $46.98 on Amazon.

5. TREBLAB HD77 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Everything’s better with music, and camping is no exception. For those looking for an affordable portable Bluetooth speaker, we recommend looking at HD77 model by Treblab.

The HD77 is a small, well-built portable Bluetooth speaker, perfect for your next outdoor adventure. It’s compact and has a removable carrying strap and a carabiner clip, so you can easily attach the speaker to your bag and take it wherever you go.

The design and build of this speaker will remind you of the JBL’s Flip series, such as the JBL Flip 5 and Flip 6. The HD77 is also rated IPX6 for water resistance, ensuring it can withstand direct contact with water for up to three minutes. This feature gives you peace of mind when you use it outdoors, even in wet conditions.

One of the best features of this speaker is the 360-degree design, which provides a wide and immersive soundstage. You can place it anywhere on your campsite, enjoy music around the campfire, or watch a movie with friends.

Aside from the lightweight design, build, and 360-degree music, the other important reason for getting this speaker would be its low price. Treblab specializes in budget solutions for music lovers, and the HD77 model is one of them.

So, are there any drawbacks? The HD77 has its limitations, of course. It lacks a thumpy low bass and doesn’t get very loud. But who wants a booming sound when enjoying nature and your surroundings?

Price: from $69.97 on Amazon.

6. POWERADD PRO PD 20 W Portable Charger

If a power station is too much for you, the next best alternative is to bring a portable charger or a power bank on your trip. The PowerAdd Pro Power Bank is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable, fast-charging, 20,000mAh power source.

The PowerAdd Pro can fully charge most phones two to three times and features two fast charging ports. While it’s not the smallest power bank at 7.87 x 1.97 x 1.18 inches and a weight of 13 ounces, you can still easily carry it in your bag or pocket. It’s also not very slim, but with the bigger size comes more power.

The power bank comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable for convenient charging. With its 20W USB-C Power Delivery port and USB-A Quick Charge port, you can enjoy fast recharging for two devices at the same time.

The PowerAdd Pro is best suited for charging phones and tablets due to the power delivery capacity limited to 20W. However, the 20,000mAh capacity is more than sufficient for daily use.

The 20W USB-C power delivery port supports fast charging compatible with Android phones and iPhones with a USB-C lightning cable. So if your group of friends all have different types of phones, they can still use your PowerAdd power bank to top up their phones. The USB-A Quick Charge port is primarily designed for fast-charging Android phones but can also be used with non-quick charge devices.

Price: $29.99 on Amazon.

7. TREBLAB XR700 Wireless Sports Earbuds:

If you’re camping in a big group, only some people’s musical tastes may align. But what if you can’t imagine a day without listening to your favorite tunes?

We recommend grabbing a pair of sports earbuds with you, like the Treblab XR700. While every earphone brand is now focused on creating the best true wireless earbuds packed with the latest technology and active noise cancelation, we recommend sticking with something simpler but more effective for camping.

The Treblab XR700 is a pair of sports headphones that stands out from the competition with its unique ear hook design. These headphones prioritize comfort and offer a superior fit to other athletic headphones in the same price range. You can move around, jump, and even run in them without worrying about losing your earbuds.

In terms of aesthetics, the XR700 has a sleek and minimalistic look, with a predominantly black color and subtle red highlights. Each earbud is slightly larger than usual and is connected to a black console with the Treblab name etched along its side.

The controls are made as physical buttons, which is a plus for their reliability, and you don’t want to waste time fiddling with touch controls when you’re on a hike.

Despite their larger size, the XR700 earbuds remain lightweight, weighing just two ounces. The ear tips are angled and easy to insert into your ears. The cable connecting the earbuds is flattened to prevent tangling, making them easy to handle and store.

The XR700 comes with an IPX7 certification, meaning the earbuds are water-resistant and can withstand a couple of feet of submersion. While not recommended for complete water immersion, these headphones are shower-friendly.

With a maximum battery life of approximately nine hours, the XR700 offers above-average usage time for athletic earbuds. The slightly larger size and weight contribute to this extended battery life, making frequent recharging less necessary.

The ear-tips of the XR700 provide a layer of passive noise cancellation of around 11dB, but the noise isolation improves significantly when music is playing. Besides, you don’t want to cancel the outside noise when camping or hiking.

The XR700 may seem like an average pair of headphones with today’s technology. However, they’re the perfect pair of earphones for camping trips. The price tag of under $40 only adds to the headphones’ appeal.

Price: from 39.97 on Amazon.

8. Insta360 Go 3

The final addition to our list is the latest tiny camera by Insta360 – the Go 3.

The Insta360 Go 3 is the perfect companion for your camping trip. It weighs just 1.2oz (35g), has a super compact design, and will fit in any pocket without adding unnecessary bulk to your camping gear.

The upgraded 2.7K lens allows you to capture stunning, high-quality footage of your outdoor adventures, whether with friends or on your own. Thanks to a new magnet pendant accessory, you can use the Go 3 to film completely hands-free and in POV mode. You can film unique footage and then relive your adventures long after they’re finished by rewatching it at home.

One notable improvement is that the Go 3 does not overheat. This means you can record for extended periods without worrying about the camera shutting down.

There are plenty of things to cover with this camera, so watch out for our team’s full detailed review of the Go 3. Otherwise, we recommend bringing the coolest Insta360 Go 3 camera to your next camping trip to document all the crazy things you experience in the wild.

Price: from $379.99 on the Insta360 website.

Time to Organize Your Next Camping Trip

From practical tools to innovative gadgets, the right gear can make a big difference to your next adventure. So, gear up with these top smart camping gadgets and embark on your next outdoor adventure.

The post Top 8 Must Have Smart Camping Gadgets For Your Next Adventure first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Power stations use larger and more efficient batteries to store and provide electricity, and they are safe to use both outdoors and indoors. They come in different sizes and have different features, so it can be hard to decide which one to invest in. This article will list some of the best portable power stations on the market today, and discuss why they are a top choice depending on your specific needs.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Portable Power Station?

Nowadays, we prefer power stations in most situations over diesel-powered generators, even though the second ones are cheaper. That’s because generators are noisy, and emit toxic carbon monoxide. Not to mention that generators can be a pain to carry on your camping trip, considering they also need fuel.

Power Stations are more expensive, but they have several benefits over generators. They are eco-friendly (and you use solar power to charge them), safe to use, quiet, and very portable. Their efficiency can vary, depending on the size and capacity of the battery. Some are small and easily portable, but their power output is not that great, while others are large and powerful enough to power an AC unit. That said, they can be useful for short trips out in nature when you need to charge your smartphone, laptop, electric grill, or camera battery.

When choosing the right portable power station to meet your needs, you’ll have to consider its size, capacity, time needed to discharge and recharge, as well as its voltage, available outlets, and charging ports. You should also consider what electronic devices you will power up with your power station and how much energy output those devices need.

Finally, you’ll need to consider your budget. Some basic small power stations cost as little as $500, while the big powerful ones can reach a price of several thousands of dollars. It can be hard to achieve the perfect balance between the cost and features, so carefully assess your needs and choose the best power station for your budget.

1. Ecoflow Delta Pro

Best Overall

Price: $3,199

• Runs almost all appliances.
• Multiple recharging options.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and app.
• 3.6-25kWh expandable capacity.
• 3600 Watts output.
• Weighs 42.5lbs.

Ecoflow Delta Pro is one of the largest and heaviest power stations out there. That’s because it was designed for indoor use, as an emergency power source for homes, camper vans, and RVs. When it comes to power output, it can easily rival generators. It can power almost all house appliances, tools, and heavy-duty devices as it has an output of 3,600 watts. In fact, it can power up multiple appliances simultaneously.

With the built-in X-Boost technology, Ecoflow Delta Pro can bump the electricity output to an incredible 4,500 watts. This allows it to power up a full-size refrigerator for over 51 hours. That alone makes the Ecoflow Delta Pro a perfect solution for power outages. Once the capacity of its battery is down to 0, this power station can be recharged in two and a half hours. However, the recharge time will depend on the power source you are using. Luckily, you have several options as Ecoflow can be plugged into a standard 120-volt home outlet, EV charging stations, solar panels, or a car power outlet.

2. 70mai Power Station Hiker 400

Best small and budget-friendly

Price: $399

• 8 available ports.
• Quiet design of only 35dB.
• Capacity of 378 Wh.
• 400 Watts output.
• BLE wireless connection and app.
• Weight 8.6lbs.

The 70mai Power Station Hiker 400 is a compact but versatile portable electricity solution designed for everyone who wants some comfort while enjoying outdoor adventures. It doesn’t have a large battery capacity, but 378 Wh is more than enough considering this power station is so light and portable weighing only 8.6 lbs. It can supply multiple small appliances and devices with its 8 ports. It has three USB-A ports, a 100W USB-C port, a DC cigarette lighter port, a DC 5521 port, and finally two 400W AC ports.

This is truly a small yet versatile power station. You can power up a heater, toaster, or coffee maker, or charge your smartphone, laptop, or camera while on the go. This power station has a quick charge option from multiple sources. An AC fast-charging brick is included. It’ll charge this power station from 0% to 100% in just under three hours. You can also use the USB-C port, or solar panels for recharging your Hiker 400.

3. Anker 767 PowerHouse

Best for RV use

Price: $1,999

• Battery Capacity of 2048 Wh.
• 2400 Watts output.
• 1000W Solar Output.
• Durable design.
• 12 ports
• Weighs 67 lbs.

The Anker 767 PowerHouse is primarily intended for outdoor use. It has a high battery capacity and you can use it to power up some of your home appliances too, but keep in mind running it into your main breaker would take some advanced installation knowledge. Although an amazing device for all those who prefer a lifestyle in nature, it is rather a heavy device to carry around. That’s why it has wheels and a retractable handle, so you can pull it or push it into place. This power station is certainly not for hiking but for camping. It’s designed to power up your camper van and the appliances in it. It even has a TT-30R RV outlet.

The battery capacity is large (although not the largest on the market), with 2048 Wh. However, if you invest in an expansion, the capacity jumps to 4096Wh and that’s impressive. This device also has an incredible selection of ports, 12 in total, and it can power up several devices and gadgets simultaneously. You can connect your laptop through one of two USB-C ports, or one of four AC ports. There are also three USB-A-type ports for charging smaller devices, 2 carports, and the already mentioned T-30R RV outlet.

Also, check out the Anker 757 PowerHouse as an alternative.

4. Bluetti AC200MAX Portable Power Station

Best power station with solar power generation.

Price: $2,946

• Battery capacity up to 2048 Wh.
• 2200 Watts output.
• 17 ports.
• LCD touchscreen.
• 900 Watts solar input.
• Weighs 61.9lbs.

Bluetti AC200MAX was the first power station to use the LiFePo4 type of battery. That means its life cycle was upgraded from 500-1000 charges to 3500 charges, making this power station a great investment as it will last you around 9 years or possibly more depending on use. With 4,800 Watts in surge mode, it will keep your household appliances running even during harsh winter blackouts since it can power up to 17 devices simultaneously. The station is also Bluetooth enabled which means you can control it with a smartphone app.

The Bluetti Power Station truly shines when paired with solar charging panels. That’s why you can buy it with a solar generator kit and receive 3 PV200 monocrystalline portable solar panels with a maximum of 900 Watts solar input. That makes the Bluetti AC200MAX a great outdoor solar generator. In fact, you can charge this power station with solar panels and through the AC outlet simultaneously, and all that in just 2 hours.

5. 70mai Tera 1000

Best budget-friendly high-capacity power station.

Price: $1,099

• Battery capacity up to 1000Wh.
• 1200 Watts output.
• 10 ports and sockets.
• BLE smartphone connection.
• Weighs 27.5lbs.

The 70mai Tera 1000 has a battery capacity of 1000Wh that can power up all small and medium household devices in your home, car, or camper van. Also, it’s one of the smallest and lightest power stations with a high-capacity battery, which makes it perfect for traveling and camping where packing space is tight. But the best part of the 70mai power station is the great balance between its price and the features it brings.

You can control the Tera 1000 Power station with your smartphone through the Bluetooth app, but it also sports a large LCD screen and controls on the power station front side. It even has an integrated flashlight so you can see the controls in total darkness. It has 10 ports, including three AC and DC ports. The AC/DC Pure Sine Wave inverter is built into the power station, so no need to carry a brick with you. A 200W Anderson port allows it to be connected with solar panels for charging outdoors.

6. Jackery Explorer 1000

Best durable power station.

Price: $1,099

• 1000 Wh capacity.
• Output of 1000 Watts.
• Power up 8 devices simultaneously.
• Shock and fire resistant.
• BMS, Over Voltage, and short circuit protection.
• Weighs 22.04lbs.

Jackery Explorer 1000 is one of the most popular portable power stations out there because it’s light and easy to use when camping, and organizing outdoor parties or sports events. Explorer 1000 has similar features to the 70mai Tera 1000, but it’s built to take a heavy beating. This makes it a great choice if you are adventurous and you need a power station that can endure rough handling and the elements.

On the other hand, Explorer 1000 has only eight ports. Although this is more than enough for everyday use, it might not be enough if you want to use this power station as an alternative power source for your home during blackouts and emergencies. It also doesn’t have any app connectivity which means it can be controlled only with the controls on the unit itself.

7. GoalZero Yeti 1500X

Most versatile power station.

Price: $1,799

• 1500 Wh capacity.
• 2000 Watts output.
• Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.
• Built-in cable storage.
• Weighs 45.6lbs.

The Yeti 1500X can be used as an emergency home power source, or as an off-grid power bank for camping, road trips, or partying outdoors. It’s also great for powering up CPAP machines or even power tools due to its 2000W output and high-capacity battery. It has enough power to supply four refrigerators with electricity for up to three hours.

However, the Yeti 1500X has a long charge time when using the wall outlet, up to 13 hours. But if you have access to a 600-watt power supply, that time can be cut down to only 3 hours. Other charging options are also available, such as car or solar power charging. The best feature of GoalZero Yeti 1500X is its multiple connection options. You can use either Bluetooth or WiFi to control the unit remotely.

From the compact and versatile options suitable for camping trips to the robust and high-capacity units that can power essential appliances during emergencies, there is a power station for every need. Moreover, with the integration of solar panels, fast-charging capabilities, and smart features, these devices have become more user-friendly and eco-conscious than ever before.

The post 7 Best Portable Power Stations in 2023 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In this article, we’ll discuss the best team management apps on the market today for both small and large teams.

The 5 Best Team Management Apps

Here are the 5 best team management apps:

1. Trello: Simple Task Management for Small Teams

Trello is one of the best-known project management tools for small businesses and startups. It uses a Kanban board system to enable teams to create and organize tasks. Users can add due dates, descriptions, attachments, and checklists to each card and get notifications when team members complete tasks.

Some of Trellos’ key features include:

• Boards and cards. Create multiple boards for different projects, departments, and teams. Then, create a card for each task and customize these with labels, due dates, descriptions, and checklists. Organize cards into lists like “To Do”, “In Progress”, and “Completed” to track progress. Create checklists within cards to break down tasks into smaller, actionable items.
• Comments and attachments. Leave comments on cards to provide your team with updates, ask questions, or collaborate on tasks. Also attach files, documents, or links to cards to provide additional information or resources.
• Notifications. Receive notifications and updates after key milestones to stay informed on projects.
• Integrations. Trello integrates with various third-party apps and tools, like Google Drive.

Trello Pros:

• Very easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality and a stack of useful features.
• Excellent customer service.
• Workflow automation helps streamline projects and reduce manual work.
• Templates can be used to speed up board creation.
• Can be used as a basic customer relationship management (CRM) tool.

Trello Cons:

• Limited customizability
• No built-in time-tracking capabilities
• Limited analytics

Trello Pricing:

Trello offers four plans:

• Free: Unlimited cards, 10 boards per workspace, and all key features.
• Standard: $5 per user per month (billed annually). Unlimited boards and more advanced features for small teams.
• Premium: $10 per user per month. Everything in Standard, plus features targeted at larger teams with multiple ongoing projects.
• Enterprise: Starts at $17.50 per user per month. For organizations with multiple large teams.

2. Asana: Scalable Management for Teams of All Sizes

Asana is another well-known web-based project management tool that helps teams organize, track, and manage their projects. Asana provides a stack of features that improve collaboration, like task allocation and tracking.

Some of Asana’s key features include:

• Project organization. Easily create project plans and break them down into tasks and subtasks to organize work and track progress at different levels.
• Task management. Create, assign, and prioritize tasks within different projects. Set due dates, add descriptions, attach files, and ensure all necessary information is included where it should be.
• Collaboration tools. Comment on tasks, mention team members, and hold conversations within individual tasks. Asana also provides virtual meeting management tools to improve collaboration.
• Timeline and calendar view. Visualize your projects on a timeline or view them in a calendar to get a clear overview of deadlines and team availability.
• Integrations. Asana integrates with a wide range of third-party tools and services, including Google Drive, Slack, Microsoft Office, and Dropbox.

Asana Pros:

• Regular updates
• Intuitive interface
• Robust communication tools
• Easy customization and cross-platform availability

Asana Cons:

• Many advanced features are locked behind a paywall
• Limited reporting and analytics features
• Can have overwhelming notifications for every activity

Asana Pricing:

Asana offers a free plan and three paid plans:

• Free plan: Up to 15 team members with unlimited tasks, projects, and conversations.
• Premium: $10.99 per user per month (billed annually). Includes Workflow Builder and various advanced features, including Gantt chart view.
• Business: $24.99 per user per month. Adds interdepartmental control features for managing multiple teams.
• Enterprise: Contact Asana for a quote. Includes the most advanced enterprise-tier features.

3. Slack: Best for Team Communication

Slack is a fantastic tool for promoting teamwork through real-time communication. It enables team members to send direct messages, create channels for different projects, share files, and conduct video calls and meetings. It also integrates with dozens of other tools and applications to facilitate effective team management.

Here are Slack’s main features:

• Channels. Easily create channels for different teams or projects and enable focused discussions. Channels can be public or private, giving users control over who can join and participate. Within Channels, people can share attachments and documents and tag other team members for immediate feedback.
• Notifications and alerts. Your team can easily stay updated on important messages and activities by receiving real-time notifications for specific channels, keywords, or mentions.
• Workflow automation. Slack lets you automate repetitive tasks, create custom workflows, and streamline your overall work processes. And this works not just for Slack, but its app integration platform, too.
• Mobile and desktop apps. Your team can easily access Slack from wherever they are with a desktop and mobile app.

Slack pros:

• Real-time messaging and notifications make collaboration easy between team members or entire departments
• Easy customization
• Integration with dozens of other tools
• Mobile accessibility, making work-from-home arrangements a breeze

Slack cons:

• Information overload and a lack of context can occur because of the constant stream of messages, especially with a larger team
• It can be difficult to find key information, even with Slack’s search feature
• The free version lacks some key features
• Constant messaging can be distracting for some team members

Slack Pricing:

Slack offers four subscription tiers:

• Free: One-on-one video conversations, 90 days of message history, and up to 10 integrations.
• Pro: $7.25 per month per user. Adds full message history, unlimited apps, video conversations with up to 50 people, and advanced security features.
• Business+: $12.50 per month per user. Includes everything in Pro, as well as advanced identity management and compliance features.
• Enterprise Grid: Slack’s enterprise-grade plan — contact Slack’s sales department to learn more.

4. Basecamp: Best for Development Teams

Basecamp is another project management and team collaboration app. It acts as a centralized platform for teams to collaborate on projects and communicate with each other.

Basecamp’s main features include:

• Projects. Create individual projects with their own set of tasks, discussions, and attached files. These serve as the central hub for collaboration in Basecamp.
• To-do lists. Create to-do lists inside each project. For each, assign tasks and set due dates. You can also organize to-do task lists into categories with sub-tasks and dependencies.
• Messaging. Basecamp has a real-time communication feature called Campfire which lets team members have group chats about projects. Your team can also leave messages and share updates on a message board for each project.
• Client collaboration. Add clients as external users so that they can weigh in on project discussions and access files.
• Integrations. Basecamp offers several third-party integrations that expand the app’s capabilities.

Basecamp pros:

• Adding clients as external users is helpful for development teams
• Strong privacy and security protocols
• Desktop and mobile app
• Great price structure for large teams and businesses

Basecamp cons:

• Limited customizability
• Can be more confusing to use than some of the alternatives
• Limited time tracking capabilities
• Lacks more advanced features found in Trello and Asana

Basecamp Pricing:

Basecamp is $15 per user per month and includes 500 GB of cloud storage and every feature. Basecamp Pro Unlimited is $299 per month and allows unlimited users, additional cloud storage, and priority support. Basecamp also offers a free trial.

5. ClickUp: Most Comprehensive

ClickUp is a team management and productivity tool that helps organize projects and tasks. It has a wide range of features that improve collaboration, communication, and time management.

These features include:

• Task and project management. Create projects, tasks, and sub-tasks in ClickUp. Organize these into lists and folders for better clarity and assign tasks to individual team members easily.
• Collaboration and communication. Tag your team in comments and mentions or converse with them using the real-time chat feature.
• Workflow automation. Create rules based on triggers to automate repetitive manual tasks and processes.
• Time tracking. Track the amount of time spent on tasks to improve productivity and work management.
• Document management. ClickUp supports file uploads, version control, and document collaboration to improve file management on the platform.
• Dashboards and reports. Use ClickUp’s reporting features to get visual insights into your task and project progress.

ClickUp pros:

• Easily customizable workspaces
• A broad range of integrations
• Accessibility across multiple devices including web, desktop, Android, and iOS
• Powerful document management and file-sharing tools
• Excellent customer support

ClickUp cons:

• Steeper learning curve than some of the alternatives
• Lacks an offline mode meaning you need a constant internet connection
• Complex pricing structure

ClickUp Pricing:

ClickUp offers five plans:

• Free: 100MB storage for docs and files, unlimited tasks and members, real-time chat, calendar view, and many more features.
• Unlimited: $7 per month per user. Everything in the free version plus unlimited everything (storage, dashboards, integrations, and so on).
• Business: $12 per month per user. Everything in the Unlimited plan, plus a stack of advanced features like time tracking, automations, public sharing, and more.
• Business Plus: $19 per month per user. Everything in the Business plan, plus a stack of features focused on managing multiple teams at once (like custom permissions and role creation).
• Enterprise: Contact the sales team for prices. Offers enterprise-level features.

What’s the Best Team Management App?

At the end of the day, the best team management app is the one that meets your team’s needs. For example, ClickUp may have the most features, but it could be overkill if all you need is a communication platform with some basic functionalities.

We recommend using the free trial for the apps we’ve listed here to get a feeling for which app is best for your team and management style.

The post 5 Best Team Management Apps (For Small and Large Teams) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

If you want to take steps towards helping the environment, one place you can start is with green technology products. There are products on the market which aim to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint. In this article we’ve gathered some of the best products, with a wide range of functions, so you can find something for any purpose.

1. Wemo Insight Smart Plug

Energy usage can be a big factor in reducing not only your carbon footprint and energy consumption, but also your electric bill. The Wemo Insight Smart Plug provides you with total control over your electronics and appliances, right from your phone. You can remotely turn devices off or on, or even schedule these switches.

Besides these features, this plug also allows you to monitor your energy usage so that you can manage it accordingly, ensuring that you don’t waste energy as well as money. Also, Wemo is compatible with Amazon Alexa for hands-free control.

2. Panasonic Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries

Batteries are often thrown out once their charge has depleted, making for a whole lot of waste that could otherwise be prevented. Rechargeable batteries are a solution to this issue, and can also save you money from having to replace batteries whenever they run out. All you need to do once a battery has lost its charge is to set it into the included charger, and wait a few hours for a fully charged battery.

These Eneloop batteries can be recharged up to 2100 times, and retain 70% charge for up to 10 years when not in use. The charger will also stop charging the batteries once they are full, preventing them from being damaged.

3. Google Nest Thermostat

The Google Nest thermostat is an amazing resource for helping you use less energy. You can control the temperature in your home right from your phone, allowing you to change it when you may be in your home as well as when you’re away. You can turn the temperature down when you may be gone, allowing you to save energy and money.

You can even create a schedule for your thermostat so that it changes temperature automatically, and you can get suggestions on the best ways to create this schedule in the app.

4. House of Marley Portable Bluetooth Speakers

House of Marley is an eco-conscious, sustainable brand of audio devices. Their products are created from bamboo, FSC certified wood, and other sustainable materials. Besides this, House of Marley products are also high quality, providing great sound for your favorite music.

A highlight from the brand are their portable Bluetooth speakers, which come in a large range of shapes and sizes to fit your every need. Some of their best offerings are the Get Together Duo Bluetooth Speakers, as well as the Get Together 2 XL Portable Bluetooth Speaker.

5. LARQ Self-Cleansing Water Bottle

We all know how big of a toll single-use plastic products have taken on our environment. Committing to using reusable water bottles can be a huge help in reducing the amount of plastic waste, and it’s a relatively easy switch to make. One pitfall of a reusable water bottle, however, is making sure it stays clean. LARQ is a great product in this case, because it self-cleans to prevent bacteria or germs from contaminating your water.

The LARQ stainless-steel bottle is suited for both cold and hot drinks, and is double-wall insulated to keep the temperature for hours. And, it comes in six different colors.

6. Rocketbook Reusable Notebook

Notebooks are a necessity for many, however the use of so much paper for these products raises an environmental issue. Of course, there are many notebooks now made with recycled paper, but what if you never had to get another notebook again? This is what the Rocketbook product aims to do; it’s a reusable notebook where you can write, and later wipe it all away to use again.

If you want to save things you’ve written in your notebook, Rocketbook has created an ingenious app where you can scan what’s in your notebook so you can archive it for later. This ensures you’ll never lose whatever you write, and you can still reuse the notebook.

7. Pela Phone Cases

Pela is a company dedicated to sustainability and lessening the environmental impact from items such as phone cases, Airpod cases, and more. Pela makes completely compostable phone cases from plant-based materials, while still providing strong security to your phone. Not only that, but Pela cases come in a huge range of styles, and can be used for iPhone and many different Android phones.

If you eventually want to part ways with your Pela phone case, you can send it back to the company so they can use it to create new products or compost it.

Help the Planet With These Products

It’s a lot easier to be environmentally conscious when you have the tools around you to do so. These gadgets can help you achieve this, whether it’s by reducing waste, fostering sustainable practices, or being more efficient with your energy use.

Do you have any other environmentally friendly products you like to use? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Tech Products That Can Help the Environment first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

If you don’t have much programming experience, these beginner programs can help you understand what it takes to create a full-fledged game. Depending on what kind of game you want to make, different types of programs are available to help you. Below we have listed the best of these programs so you can get started on your very own video game.

1. GameMaker Studio

GameMaker Studio is terrific for creating 2D games, even if you have little game development knowledge. This program allows you to easily edit every aspect of your game, making it exactly as you envision. No coding knowledge is necessary. Don’t be fooled by the program’s simplicity, though– indie studios have used it to create games of great acclaim, such as Undertale, Hotline Miami, Forager, and more.

You can start using this program for free, with all features included. However, if you want to export your game to different platforms such as desktop, mobile, or even console, you’ll need to upgrade to a subscription, which runs anywhere from $4.99 to $79.99 monthly.

2. RPG Maker

RPG Maker has everything you need to create a 2D pixel RPG, even if you have zero programming or game development experience. Through this program, you’re provided with plenty of assets to create settings, characters, combat mechanics, and more. Plus, tons of DLC (Downloadable content) are available to further add to your creations. And, if you do have some programming knowledge, you can customize the code to alter RPG Maker’s functions as you wish. Games made through RPG Maker can even be distributed commercially, with no licenses needed.

The RPG Maker brand also has a product called Visual Novel Maker, which you can use to create Visual Novels if that’s more your speed. Either way, RPG Maker provides powerful resources to help make your games, regardless of skill level.

3. Construct 3

Construct 3 is a great program utilized by companies like Sega, Zynga, EA, and more. It’s mainly useful for creating mobile games for Android or iOS but can also be used to develop desktop apps. It can be used to create 2D games with absolutely no programming knowledge required. However, you can tinker around with JavaScript programming if you want to.

You can try Construct 3 for free. However, to use the whole program, you’ll need to buy it. You can pay $19.99 a month or $119.99 a year for a personal license.

4. Core

Core is one of the best programs for amateur game developers looking to make 3D games. It uses Unreal Engine to help beginners create beautiful graphics for their projects, providing many pre-rendered models, game frameworks, and more. You can publish your created games to the Core website, and even monetize it through in-game purchases.

The best part is that Core is free for anyone to use and provides plenty of instructional content to help you start making your game.

5. Stencyl

Stencyl is for amateur game developers to create their games for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and HTML5. The game logic is developed through a drag-and-drop system of command blocks. However, you can also write code for your games too. Stencyl also provides a great graphics editor to get your game scenes just right.

Stencyl is free to use and publish games to the web; however, if you want to publish on other platforms, you’ll need to upgrade. The Indie tier is $99 a year and will allow you to publish to desktop, and the Studio tier is $199 a year and will grant you publishing to mobile app stores.

6. GDevelop

This program is unique as you can create games on your Android or iOS devices. You could potentially work on developing a game wherever you go. However, there’s also a desktop version if you prefer. GDevelop requires no coding knowledge and provides tons of 2D and 3D models for games. And when you’re done with your game, you can export it to many popular platforms, including Steam, Microsoft Store, Facebook Gaming, and more.

This open-source program is free to use, and you retain rights over any games you create. However, you can pay to access certain features of the program. $5.47 a month will get you the Silver tier, while $10.95 a month will get you the Gold tier. Both upgrade cloud space, provide more player experience features, access to the unlimited mobile app, and more.

Make a Game of Your Own With These Programs

Making a basic game doesn’t need to be hard, even if you have never tried any sort of game development before. These programs can become the stepping stones to jumpstart your knowledge and understanding what programming a game entails.

Are there any other programs you’ve used to make your games? Let us know about it in the comments.

The post 6 Programs for Beginners to Make Their Own Video Games first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Keep in mind that being waterproof does not mean that you can chuck your speaker into a pool and take it out weeks later – the idea is to save it from accidental splashes and the rare dunking, not operate it in fluids. A waterproof speaker might handle being occasionally sprayed, but not held under a constantly running stream of water for long.

What Is IP Rating And Why Does It Matter?

It’s all very well to claim that a speaker is waterproof, but what exactly does it mean? Is it waterproof in the sense it can survive a few droplets of water, or in the sense that you can immerse it in a pool and still not damage anything?

That is where the IP rating comes in. The degree of waterproofing on a speaker (or any electronic device, really) is measured by the IP rating or the Ingress Protection rating.

As the name suggests, the IP rating of a device suggests how protected it is against intrusion by foreign particles. This includes both solid particulate matter like dust along with liquids like water.

Therefore the IP rating of a device consists of two digits; the first denotes its immunity to dust while the second digit measures how it fares against water. It is occasionally also followed by an alphabet to indicate additional capabilities – for example, K denotes resistance to pressurized water jets.

What Should Be the IP Rating of a Waterproof Speaker?

When you are shopping for a waterproof speaker, you want an IP rating of IP64 or better. The 6 indicates complete immunity to dust, while the 4 in the second digit means that the speaker can take water splashes without breaking down.

Of course, a better rating is always better, especially if your speaker is going to be subjected to more than just stray splashes. A rating of 5 or 6 (in the second digit) is required for withstanding water jets, while 7 and 8 deal with immersion.

9K is the highest possible value and denotes immunity to high-pressure jets – basically, equipment that is meant to be cleaned with jets of pressurized water, usually required in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Is a Waterproof Speaker Worth It?

At first glance, waterproof speakers sound like a stupid idea. After all, why on earth do you need your speakers to be waterproof?

But if you think about it, waterproof speakers are actually pretty useful. There are many situations that can bring your speakers in contact with fluids, and buying one that can weather these conditions can save you a lot of pain in the long run.

Pool Party

A party means music, calling for a great portable speaker to pump out those groovy tunes, but a pool party makes things tricky. No matter how careful you try to be, one of your friends is going to splash your expensive speaker, and for some models, that doesn’t end well.

A waterproof speaker (with a rating of at least IP64) can take a few splashes of water and keep going. An even higher-rated speaker will even survive being dunked into the pool, though no one is going to do that. Right?

Shower

Listening to music while showering is a common habit, even if it can be an expensive one. Most speakers don’t do well with water, particularly when it is coming out of a high-pressure nozzle.

Ideally, you want a speaker rated IP66K or IP69K (the K means they can deal with high-pressure water jets), but you can also use an IP65 speaker if you manage to keep it away from the direct spray.

General

A waterproof speaker isn’t useful only if you are looking to play music around water sources. Even a low-cost waterproof speaker can save your day if you happen to spill water on it by accident.

And if you are fond of wiping your devices clean with a damp cloth, an IP-rated enclosure can protect the moisture from getting in. Playing music in the kitchen, for example, becomes far more stress-free if the Bluetooth speaker can handle a little water.

#1: Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 – Best Overall

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers (or any electronic device, really) there is no upper limit. No matter which model you buy, you will almost always get better sound quality in a more expensive one.

But if we’re talking about the best waterproof speaker overall, we need to balance the cost with the performance. This makes Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 the clear winner.

It combines a powerful bass and excellent sound quality with an IP67 rating, making it impervious to dust, water sprays, and even short-term immersion. And all this at less than a hundred bucks.

To be fair, the lack of USB-C charging does sting a bit since it makes the charging process much slower, and there are speakers with better sound quality out there. Yet all said and done, you would be hard-pressed to find a better waterproof speaker at this price range.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• Small and portable
• Decent battery life (around 14 hours)
• Supports pairing for Stereo sound
• Specialized outdoor mode for listening in open spaces
• Powerful bass and good sound quality
• Everything configurable with physical buttons

Cons

• Lacks USB-C charging
• Not supported by the Ultimate Ears app
• Not the most powerful speaker

Price

$85.00

#2: Sonos Roam – Best Smart

Sonos is known for its high-quality smart speakers, and its cheapest model makes for the perfect portable speaker. Appropriately named Sonos Roam, the speaker offers voice assistant support and great sound quality in an IP67-rated enclosure – which means it’s all but immune to water, surviving even complete submersion for a limited time.

While priced higher than Wonderboom 3, the Sonos Roam is nevertheless the most affordable model of the Sonos lineup, and actually has a few extra features than its competitor.

It charges using a USB-C cable, for example, allowing the speaker to charge rapidly using the same cable you use for your smartphone and laptop. Then there’s the wireless connectivity, leveraging both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to play music and receive voice commands.

But its best feature has to be Auto TruePlay. This functionality ensures that the sound output is constantly modulated to carry through the background noise, letting you listen to your favorite tracks in the middle of a busy outdoor area.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support
• Auto TruePlay feature for outdoor listening
• USB-C charging
• Great sound quality
• Alexa and Google voice assistant integration

Cons

• More expensive than Wonderboom 3
• Complicated setup

Price

$199.00

#3: JBL Charge 5 – Best Powerbank

The JBL Charge 5 brings an interesting quirk to the table – it is a waterproof speaker that can also function as a power bank, charging other devices through a USB cable. Even if you choose not to use this feature, it translates into a much larger battery capacity, which is always great for a portable speaker.

Apart from that, it is a pretty solid Bluetooth speaker, with an IP67 rating and powerful audio output. The bass is surprisingly good for its size, even at low volumes. A dedicated PartyBoost (along with the JBL Portable app) lets you connect the device with any compatible JBL speaker, playing the same audio from multiple angles.

Thanks to the use of Bluetooth 5.0, you get a low-latency high-range connection that can smoothly play your music without any degradation in quality. In a departure from Charge 4, however, the JBL Charge 5 ditches the AUX port, which might be a deal breaker if you intend to plug in your phone with an audio jack.

Pros

• IP67 rating
• 7500 mAH battery
• Can act as a power bank
• Can connect with other JBL speakers using PartyBoost
• Bluetooth Multipoint support

Cons

• Lacks wired audio connectivity
• No specialized outdoor sound mode

Price

$149.95

#4: Tribit Stormbox Micro – Best Portable

If you’re looking for the cheapest possible waterproof speaker to carry around everywhere you go, the Tribit Stormbox Micro is just the device for you.

While not the smallest speaker you can buy, the 4×4-inch footprint is pretty tiny, fitting even in a small handbag. The build quality is solid, with an IP67 rating that makes it untouchable from dust and water.

You’ll be surprised by the pretty powerful audio output, even if it distorts a bit at the maximum volume. It has pretty good bass though, and Bluetooth multipoint support to boot. At a little over $50, it is certainly a steal.

Pros

• Small and lightweight
• Very affordable
• IP67 waterproof rating
• Built-in microphone
• Bluetooth multipoint
• Good bass and volume output

Cons

• Distorted sound at higher volumes
• Lacks advanced modes or a dedicated control app

Price

$49.99

#5: Anker Soundcore 3 – Best Value

The Anker Soundcore 3 doesn’t look particularly fancy, but with its $50 price tag, it doesn’t need to be. It is a portable speaker with a decent audio output and an IPX7 rating, making it one of the best value-for-money Bluetooth speakers you can buy.

Of course, the sound quality isn’t exactly great, especially as you approach the really higher volumes. The bass is lacking as well, even if Anker’s BassUp feature tries its best to push the bass.

That being said, the Anker Soundcore 3 performs pretty well as an everyday speaker. The battery life is pretty good for its price, and the inclusion of a Soundcore app to control the speaker and modify the EQ settings is a godsend. All in all, the Soundcore 3 is a great waterproof speaker for your simple music needs.

Pros

• IPX7 waterproof rating
• Very affordable
• EQ settings through the Soundcore app
• Good battery life

Cons

• Insufficient bass
• Average sound quality
• Simple design

Price

$50.99

#6: JBL Flip 6 – Best Sound

JBL speakers are all the rage and for a good reason. They offer a good balance of affordability and quality, with a variety of different models suitable for various use cases.

The JBL Flip 6 is perfect for a handy portable speaker with amazing sound quality. The clarity is incredible, and the vocals are pretty crisp. You do miss out on voice assistant integration, but if you just want to listen to music, that’s not an issue.

This model supports PartyBoost as well, so you can pair other JBL speakers for a Stereo sound. Better yet, the IP67 rating protects from dust and water submersion, unlike Flip 5’s waterproof-only rating.

Ultimately the best part about this speaker is the sound quality, which is way better than most of its competitors in the same price bracket. Of course, you can always use the JBL Portable app to tweak the EQ settings, perfectly customizing the sound.

Pros

• IP67 Rating
• Great sound quality
• Graphical EQ
• Decent battery life
• Bluetooth 5.1

Cons

• No integrated voice assistant
• No outdoor mode

Price

$99.95

#7: Sony SRS-XB33 – Best Bass

If you love listening to bass-heavy soundtracks, the Sony SRS-XB33 is just the speaker for you. Part of Sony’s EXTRA BASS series, the SRS-XB33 packages some powerful bass into a portable package.

While the audio clarity suffers a bit, there is no beating the thumping bass of this speaker at this price range. Add to that the cool RGB lighting that flashes with the beat, and you get a cool party speaker for carrying around with you.

Since it’s Sony, you can use the Sony Music Center app to customize the LED lighting or the EQ settings, giving you complete control over the speaker. The Party and Stereo pairing modes can be used to connect with other SRS speakers, along with a battery-saving mode to make the charge last longer.

You can even plug in other devices with a USB-A cable to charge them using the speaker’s battery, letting it double up as a power bank of sorts. Although you should perhaps refrain from doing that since the powerful bass and the LED lighting are going to burn through the battery pretty quickly on their own.

Pros

• Incredible bass
• Customizable RGB lighting
• Graphical EQ
• Powerbank feature
• IP67 waterproof rating

Cons

• Average sound quality
• Battery drains quickly

Price

$59.99

What’s the Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker?

Waterproof Bluetooth speakers are no longer a rare breed, and you can find a great option at almost any price range. Almost all of them have an IP67 rating (or at least IPX7), allowing them to be carried into your shower or even submerged in a pool without going kaboom.

Go with the Tribit Stormbox Micro or the Anker Soundcore 3 if you are looking for an affordable option, otherwise, something like Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 would be perfect.

Of course, if you’re more interested in the sound quality, something like the JBL Flip 6 (or the Sony SRS-XB33 for bass lovers) might serve you better. No matter which speaker you choose from the list, you will get a waterproof device that you can carry with you and blast music anywhere.

The post 7 Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers (And Why You Should Buy One) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Keeping up with your fitness routine can certainly be challenging at times, especially if you find yourself growing bored with your activities or if you find yourself hitting a plateau. One method of getting around these obstacles is a “gamification” of your fitness. This means you treat your routine as a game, setting up multiple goals and rewards once you reach them.

There are many apps out there designed to help you gamify your fitness journey, which can be extremely helpful when you find yourself hitting roadblocks. Some place you in an in-game story where your fitness activities can help you progress. Others allow you to track your habits and provide you with experience and rewards for meeting your goals. Below we have listed the best gamified fitness apps to help you kickstart a new chapter of your fitness journey.

1. Walkr: Fitness Space Adventure

In Walkr, steps you take from walking are converted into energy, which can be used within the game to explore new planets, feed planet inhabitants, build space stations, and more. Besides this main function, you can also pick up missions to complete once you reach certain planets. You can also design your spaceship with new parts as you progress.

The app also tracks the number of steps you’ve taken overall and a log of planets you’ve discovered. You can also use the social platform on the app to invite friends and see their ranking on a leaderboard compared to your own. Overall, it’s a fun app if you’ve gotten bored with your regular walking routine.

Download Walkr for iOS

Download Walkr for Android

2. Zombies, Run!

This popular app was created to help gamify the physical activity of walking, running, and jogging. The app’s main feature is a post-apocalyptic zombie story that you can listen to while running and imitating the experience of being chased by zombies. You can complete missions to keep the story going whenever you get active.

Besides the zombie chase feature, the app also includes activity tracking with a GPS function, allows music to be played through Spotify or another music app, and you can set the duration of the run. The app also includes a base-building game which is fun to play in between runs or walks. Also, if zombies aren’t your thing, many other stories are available to play instead through the app, such as sci-fi or fantasy adventures.

Download Zombies, Run! for iOS

Download Zombies, Run! for Android

3. Nerd Fitness Journey

This app allows you to create a superhero persona and gain experience points as you complete workouts and exercise routines. This app is apt for any exercise and provides workout plans to complete each day. Besides the main training path, you can also add optional side quests to progress through. As you gain experience points, you’ll level up and can gain new items for your avatar. Your avatar is also fully customizable.

The app provides you with a free trial for seven days. However, after that trial period, you’ll need to pay for a subscription to continue– either quarterly at $38.99 for 3 months or annually at $98.99 for a year.

Download Nerd Fitness Journey for iOS

Download Nerd Fitness Journey for Android

4. Habitica

While this app isn’t focused on fitness, Habitica is still a great way to gamify your workout routines. It functions as a habit tracker where you can add your own tasks, and then when you complete them you’ll earn experience points to level up your character. Each level has set objectives for you to complete, and when you do so you can earn coins. These can be used to reward yourself with items for your character.

If you want a social aspect, Habitica allows you to invite friends to a party or join one yourself. By doing this, you can work with friends to complete objectives by just finishing your daily tasks. To make this fitness oriented, you only need to set tasks to achieve your fitness goals for the day.

Download Habitica for iOS

Download Habitica for Android

5. WayBetter

On this app, a fitness plan is laid out for you, and you can complete objectives to reach higher levels. Each level provides more objectives which will help you become more and more active. You can also find separate fitness games within the app, related to nutrition, fitness and mindset. These change throughout each month, so there’ll always be something new to do.

WayBetter also provides a couple of incentives you can add to your journey: You can plan to make financial commitments based on meeting your goals, or you can invite an accountability buddy to keep you on track.

Download WayBetter for iOS

Download WayBetter for Android

Turn Fitness Into a Game With These Apps

No matter where you are in your fitness journey, these workout mobile apps can help you stay motivated by using game elements to keep you incentivized. So whether you’re just looking to start healthy habits, have met some of your fitness milestones but need a reason to keep going, or just want to have some active fun, you’ll want to try out some of these best fitness apps.

The post 4 Best Gamified Fitness Apps of 2023 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

To fix these issues, one solution is to download a trading card collection app. These apps allow you to scan in your cards, keep them all organized in one spot, and many of them will even value your cards and collection as a whole. This is a much more efficient option than trying to physically organize and value cards yourself. In this article we’ve listed the best of these trading card tracker apps to help you keep them all in one place.

1.Collectr

Collectr is one of the top apps for organizing your trading card collection. To add a card, you first select from the many different trading card games available on Collectr’s database, which includes Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering, and more. From there you can search for the exact card you own and add it to your portfolio.

In the portfolio section of the app, you can look through all the cards you own and sort them through multiple filters, including price, TCG line, name, and more. You can tap on an individual card to see its value. Collectr also has a marketplace tab where you can search for and buy trading cards through eBay and other sites.

Download Collectr for iOS

Download Collectr for Android

2.CollX

If you’re a sports card collector, CollX is a great app to try out. You can scan your cards, add them to your collection on the app, as well as see other’s collections. You can buy and sell cards through the app too, making it an easy way to offload some cards in your collection.

It’s also a great app for connecting with like-minded card collectors, allowing you to follow other’s activity and even message other users. For sports card collectors, CollX should be one of the first you check out.

Download CollX for iOS

Download CollX for Android

3.Cardbase

Another useful app for sports card collectors is Cardbase. You can add cards to your in-app collection by either searching for it, scanning it, or adding a full set of cards you may own. Cardbase also allows you to browse cards to add them to your Favorites, allowing you to find cards you may want to buy next. If there’s a card you’re really interested in, you can add it to your Watchlist, which allows you to track the card’s availability and value.

You can also find Pokemon cards on the app, however the main focus on Cardbase is sports cards. You can buy cards from other users as well as sell cards yourself. You can even see the current value of your collection as a whole. Overall, Cardbase is the perfect app for card collectors looking to organize and value their collection.

Download Cardbase for iOS

Download Cardbase for Android

4.Poke TCG

This app from Dragon Shield allows you to scan in your Pokemon cards and organize your collection easily. You can sort cards into decks, create a wishlist and trade list, and see all your cards in your inventory, which can be sorted into folders. In your inventory, you can also see the value of your cards.

You can also pay for a premium version of the app which allows for an ad-free experience, card price charts, and more. You can get a yearly subscription for $29.99 a year, or a monthly subscription at $2.99 a month. Also, besides an app for Pokemon cards, Dragon Shield also has apps for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Flesh and Blood cards.

Download Poke TCG Scanner for iOS

Download Poke TCG Scanner for Android

Organize Your Card Collections With These Apps

All of these apps listed are great choices if you need to organize a card collection, no matter what kinds you’re into. What these apps are especially good for too, is finding other card collectors to connect with and buy and sell cards. It’s a great way to easily stay involved with a card collecting community no matter where you are.

What kind of cards do you collect? Let us know in the comments.

The post 4 Best Trading Card Tracker Apps for Organizing Your Collection first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

We’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time on Amazon racking our brains about which machine offers the best laptop gaming experience for no more than $2000. After lots of coffee and dreams about GPUs, here’s what we found.

What to Look For in a $2000 Gaming Laptop

With a budget of up to $2000, you’re right in the price-to-performance sweet spot for gaming laptops. In this price bracket, you can access some of the fastest available laptop CPUs and GPUs, but you’ll still have to make some compromises in build quality or some features that aren’t directly related to performance.

Our criteria for laptops in this price range aren’t complicated. At the time of writing, NVIDIA has just released its first 40-series GPUs, so there is a bit of confusion about whether gamers should go for discounted last-generation laptops or these new shiny systems. We’ve included great laptops from both generations, although it’s usually better to go with newer systems when possible. However, the state of the computer market being what it is, you’re likely to have a hard time finding the latest laptops in stock, so we’ve gone for a mix of new and slightly older machines that might be easier to buy.

Our strategy at this price point is to select laptops with the best possible performance components while accepting small sacrifices in areas such as build quality, screen specifications, or other irrelevant gaming factors. Each laptop has a slightly different purpose, but that’s the main thrust of our filter. We want something that can handle demanding games and stay relevant for some time.

The Best Gaming Laptop Under $2000: ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)

This is the latest ROG (Republic of Gamers) Strix G16 at the time of writing and comes in at exactly our upper budget limit. You can donate the 1c of change to a charity of your choice.

This is a high-performance machine that’s geared toward gamers and power users. It comes with Windows 11, a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop graphics card at 140W Max TGP, which delivers impressive frame rates for gaming and multitasking. This is about as good as it gets at this price point, and really you might be getting a taste of more expensive laptops here with this visual design.

With 16GB RAM (DDR5-4800MHz) and 1TB of PCIe 4×4 storage, this laptop is OK for modern games in terms of memory, but in the medium term, you’ll want to upgrade that to 32GB. Still, you’ll get fast loading times out of the box with that SSD. The advanced cooling solution, which includes Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU and a third intake fan, promises that the laptop can handle the power it can deliver over long gaming sessions.

The Strix G16 has a fast FHD 165Hz refresh rate panel with 100% sRGB color space coverage, Dolby Vision, Adaptive-Sync support, and a thin bezel 90% screen-to-body ratio offers a great gaming and viewing experience. QHD would have been nice, but at least you won’t have issues hitting that 165Hz high refresh rate.

Between its solid cutting-edge specs and Cyberpunk-inspired design, this laptop is at the top of our wishlist for this budget segment if you can find one!

Last Year’s High-end: Asus ROG Zephyrus G15

The various Zephyrus laptops from Asus always impress in the categories they’re designed for, and as a ROG (Republic of Gamers) machine, this G15 has a lot to live up to. Priced so that there’s still enough cash for a decent mouse and headset left in our $2000 budget, the spec sheet is impressive.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB GDDR6 and ROG Boost up to 1345MHz at 80W (100W with Dynamic Boost 2.0) means plenty of gaming performance at the screen’s native resolution and medium-detail 4K gaming if you hook it up to an external display. The AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor and 16M Cache offer plenty of power for multitasking, despite being a slightly older generation of AMD CPU.

The 15.6” 165Hz IPS-Type Quad HD display with adaptive sync is a nice touch, offering sharp visuals. That said, some reviewers think this panel isn’t as vibrant and colorful as it could be.

The 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD provide ample storage and memory, although new laptops are moving to DDR5 now, and 32GB should be on everyone’s medium-term upgrade list. The new memory standard isn’t worth the cost right now, but some future applications may benefit more from DDR5, so if you want to buy a laptop to use for an extended period, you might want to look for something newer in this roundup.

The main “problem” with this laptop is the RTX 3080 GPU. At this wattage, it won’t perform any better than an RTX 3070 Ti. So you’re better off buying the version of this laptop with the GPU model one tier down. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any in stock as we wrote this. However, the 3080-equipped model is still a great deal in isolation at this price, so we still recommend it. Just note that this laptop has no webcam! Would you even notice?

That Alienware Magic: Alienware m15 R7

Alienware has quite the reputation for gaming laptops that have great specs and performance and bring something different to the design department.

The Alienware m15 R7 is equipped with a crisp QHD (2560×1440) 240Hz display, and the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX processor and 32GB DDR5 RAM should be plenty for even the most demanding non-gaming tasks.

With 170W of total power available, its 3070 Ti might not get to stretch its legs as much as with larger laptops, but it should be more than enough for QHD gaming at up to ultra settings depending on the game.

The updated Cryo-tech cooling system and hexagonal-shaped vents help to maintain performance by maximizing air movement and dissipating heat during high-performance tasks. This helps to keep the laptop cool even during long gaming sessions. This also plays into Alienware’s signature style, and we think it looks fantastic, but that’s highly subjective.

In short, this is one slick laptop with good performance to be relevant for years to come, and since it’s a Dell product, you know you can RMA it easily if the worst happens.

The Dark Horse Option: Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

Lenovo is better known for making retro-styled ThinkPad laptops, but its Legion line of gaming laptops has slowly been building a reputation for performance at a fair price.

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 16″ boasts some impressive specs for the money. Its WQXGA (2560×1600) 165Hz display delivers vibrant visuals with remarkable clarity and offers that golden 16:10 aspect ratio to make this a great machine for gamers who also do creative work. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8 GB GPU offers more than enough power to run modern games at the panel’s native resolution, and don’t forget that most new big games have DLSS support.

The laptop features the Latest AMD Ryzen 7 6800H Processor Octa-Core, clocked at 3.2 GHz (guaranteed base clock) and up to 4.70 GHz Max Boost, with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 16 MB Cache. Eight cores are more than adequate for gaming, and it should be just fine for creative work if you don’t mind waiting just a little longer for renders to finish.

The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro comes with 32GB of fast DDR5 4800 MHz RAM and a 1TB SSD, allowing faster performance for memory-hungry applications and multitasking. It may not yet be one of the go-to laptop gaming brands, but you’d be making a mistake if you overlook the Legion 5 just because it’s not established in the gaming laptop space yet.

Business in the Front, Party in the Back: MSI Stealth 15

MSI makes various gaming laptops, including its enormous desktop-killer Titan series and the uber-gamer Raider series. Its Stealth laptops are the antithesis of those machines, packing serious gaming hardware into an understated chassis that wouldn’t draw any attention in the boardroom.

This 15.6″ FHD 144Hz Gaming Laptop has no trouble living a double life. The 13th Gen. Intel Core i7 processor offers reliable performance for gameplay, multitasking work, and productivity. Depending on your needs, you may want to opt for the QHD option, although that will push the laptop’s price well over our budget limit here. The good news is that with an RTX 4060 mobile chip in play, you’ll have no trouble hitting the 144Hz limit of the panel at 1080p.

The laptop has USB Type C and DDR5 memory, which you’d expect in an up-to-date 2023 machine, but sadly no Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. MSI’s latest Cooler Boost Trinity+ cooling system includes 3 fans, 7 pipes, and (they claim) the world’s thinnest 0.1mm fan blades, which help to ensure optimal thermal dissipation. In a thin-and-light gaming laptop like this, noise and thermals are always a central issue, but based on user reviews, it seems like whatever MSI is doing here is keeping noise at bay. Although the laptop does get quite hot by all accounts.

One minor issue is that when using this laptop for non-gaming purposes, such as watching videos or browsing the web, it is just short of six hours. That should be fine for most people’s mixed usage, but if you need more battery life than that, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Gaming on battery power is just as pointless here as on any modern gaming laptop.

If you don’t care about portability and live for that gamer aesthetic, there are better choices than the Stealth 15, but if you want a single laptop that can be used for work, play, and any creative hobbies you may have, it’s a killer machine. However, you may also want to consider a Razer Blade if you have more to spend.

The post 5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $2000 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

HDMI switchers (also “switches”) solve the problem of having too many devices for the number of HDMI ports your TV shipped with. It’s a far better solution than wearing out your HDMI ports swapping HDMI cables around!

There are a lot of 4K HDMI switches on the market, so we’ve scoured Amazon for the handful of the best HDMI switchers worth your attention.

What to Look For in the Best HDMI Switch for 4K Ultra HD

Despite HDMI being a well-established standard with generally excellent compatibility, buying the right HDMI switch adapter can be surprisingly tricky. While you should be more or less fine with any switch, there are a few key things to look out for.

First, make sure that the switch meets or exceeds your resolution and refresh rate needs. This largely depends on the HDMI version the switch supports. For example, HDMI 2.1 switches should support 4K resolution at 120Hz. However, cheaper switches using older versions of HDMI might only have 4K support at 30Hz.

If you’re only watching Netflix, hooking up a Blu-ray player, or using a 4K upscaling DVD player, there’s nothing wrong with that since these content sources almost never exceed 30 fps. However, if you want to use gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you want at least 4K at 60Hz, or 4K at 120Hz if you have a television that can run at that refresh rate.

The next, and perhaps most obvious feature is the number of HDMI inputs. You need a switch with at least as many inputs as the number of HDMI devices you want to connect to each HDMI port on your TV. Of course, you can use multiple switches for each HDMI port, and most televisions have at least two.

Check if a given HDMI switch is certified for special features you want to use, such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital, DTS-HD Master Audio, etc. Support for these features is inherent to the HDMI standard in question, and they won’t always be mentioned, but it’s good to double-check that they work with a given switch.

HDCP compliance (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is virtually a given these days, but do check that it’s mentioned just in case. This feature is crucial if you want to watch any copy-protected content, which includes streaming shows, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Audio features can be a nice additional extra. Some HDMI switches offer an eARC HDMI output port to send audio to an AV receiver or sound bar. You may also see some switches with an integrated audio extractor, which lets you connect analog speakers or headphones. Handy for monitors with no speakers or if you have a receiver or soundbar without HDMI input. HDCP 2.3 is the latest version at the time of writing, but most switches on the market currently will be HDCP 2.2.

Remote controls are common with HDMI switches, but in some cases some may not have one. In the case of switches with an automatic switching function, you may never use the remote, but even auto switches get it wrong sometimes, so a remote is still a decent convenience.

Best All-Around Switch: Kinivo 550BN

This switch from Kinivo is an excellent all-around 4K 60Hz switcher. It offers 18Gbps of bandwidth, and auto-switching functionality. Although you also get a wireless remote. It also ticks the boxes for Dolby Vision and HDR support.

The 550BN has a generous set of five HDMI inputs, and this particular bundle even comes with a nice braided cable to connect the switch to your TV.

Really the only thing we don’t like all that much about this switch is its design, but since you’re supposed to tuck it out of sight anyway, that’s largely irrelevant. It also comes with a nice two-year warranty, somewhat offsetting its slightly higher price.

Budget Cinephile Switch: Zettaguard 4 x 1 HDMI Switch

The Zettaguard switch uses the older HDMI standard with support for 4K 30Hz only. It makes up for this somewhat by offering a cool picture-in-picture feature and it’s got a great price tag to boot for a 4-input switch.

It has official support for the full RGB 4:4:4 deep color space and LPCM 7.1 and Dolby TrueHD audio formats. While it’s not a great choice to use with 4K gaming consoles, 4K PC HDMI output, or anything else that needs 60Hz or greater at 4K UHD, for cinephiles on a budget it’s an awesome choice.

Quick and Elegant Solution: Gana Aluminum Bidirectional HDMI Switcher 2×1

Sometimes all you need is to turn one HDMI input into two HDMI inputs. That’s where a high-quality yet inexpensive solution like the Gana comes into the picture.

Not only does this attractive aluminum switch come in a variety of cool colors, it’s also bi-directional. This means you can also use it to connect a single HDMI source to two displays. Sadly, you can’t drive two displays at once, but you can switch between them at the press of a button.

As an HDMI 2.0 device, this two-port HDMI switch will go up to 4k 60Hz and, perhaps best of all, doesn’t need any external power to work, so it’s easy and elegant to implement. It may even make more sense to buy one of these Gana switchers for each of your TV’s HDMI input sources, doubling the total number of ports you have.

Best for Apple TV 4K Compatibility: ROOFULL 5 Port 4K HDMI Switch

This is an updated version of Roofull’s previous 5-port switcher, now equipped with HDCP 2.2 pass-through and HDMI 2.0a, bringing it in line with modern standards. It would have been nice to have HDMI 2.1, but at this price and considering that so few people can even take advantage of 2.1, that’s perfectly understandable.

Apart from resolution and refresh rate, this switch supports virtually all of the most important image formats, deep color depth, and lists the Apple 4K TV in particular as being compatible. That’s a big deal, as anyone who has a 4K Apple TV knows how weirdly finicky the device can be with certain cables and switches, even though, on paper, they should work.

Best Budget 4K HDMI Switch: SGEYR HDMI 2.0 Switch Splitter 3 x 1

For most people, a switcher with three HDMI inputs is probably more than enough, and picking up such a switch for around twenty bucks while also getting 4K 60Hz support seems too good to be true. Not only that, but this is an auto switcher, so the included remote is really only for occasional use. There’s really not much to complain about and that would still be true at a 50% higher price.

Retro Design Future Specs: NEWCARE 8K HDMI 2.1 Switch

The Newcare’s design is a dead ringer for the old composite switches we used back when you had to connect your old Nintendo console and your VHS machine to the TV’s sole composite inputs, but inside the retro chassis is a cutting-edge HDMI 2.1 switcher with HDCP 2.3 support along with just about any other audio and video format you can think of.

It’s also priced incredibly well, although that comes with some sacrifices. For example, there’s no wireless remote, and it doesn’t auto-switch. So you’ll have to walk up to it to operate the device. Then again, this goes up to 8K!

Ports, Price, and Performance: XOLORspace 23051 4K 60Hz HDR HDMI Switch 5 x 1

The XOLORspace 23051 may look as boring as its name, but it offers five HDMI inputs with support for 4K 60Hz and most color, audio output, and video formats. Sadly, it does not support deep color, so it’s not the best match for higher-end OLED and miniLED TVs that can use the newer color depth format, but for most other mainstream 4K displays, this is going to be an excellent choice.

You can pay $59 for a lifetime warranty, but honestly we can’t recommend this. It would make more sense to just buy two more of these switches for the same money.

Switch Your Whole House: OREI 4K 4×4 HDMI Matrix Switch

The last switcher we’re looking at here is a doozy. Not just because it costs hundreds of dollars but because this matrix switcher kit can cover your entire home. It uses HDMI-over-Ethernet, to send signals to receivers wherever you can lay cable. Officially, that’s up to 230 feet! It’s a good solution if you have a dedicated home theater space too, or a large area with multiple HDTVs to serve a single audience.

In the past, this would have limited you to HD video, but if you use a faster Ethernet cable such as CAT5e or better, you can send 4K 60Hz signals with 12-bit color. This matrix switcher is meant for business use, but if you have a large house with, for example, a 4K cable box or Blu-ray player, you can share it to up to four other TVs.

This switch also has an RS-232 serial port, which means you can connect it to an HTPC to control it. You could also use the IR remote blaster function to extend the switch’s own IR remote.

The post 8 Best HDMI Switchers With 4K Support first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In the $1500 or less budget segment, you’re spoilt for choice and are solidly in the “next-gen” part of the gaming laptop spectrum. If you’re looking for one device that can replace your business laptop, console, and gaming desktop in one go, this is the place to start.

What We’re Looking For in a $1500 Laptop

Gaming laptops are generally more expensive on a dollar-to-performance basis than their desktop counterparts. While a $1000 desktop gaming system can be decently powerful, a $1000 laptop will exchange a significant chunk of performance for size, portability, and convenience.

At the $1500 mark, we’re moving into the sweet spot for gaming laptops. These machines offer enough gaming grunt that you won’t feel like you’re sacrificing much in mainstream gaming performance. While we don’t expect $1500 gaming laptops to be flawless, this is where you want to be for a gaming PC that can run contemporary AAA games at 1440p 60fps with a mix of high and even ultra settings.

If you’re looking for something to use with a 4K external display (4K screens in laptops aren’t really worth it for gaming), then you may find that GPU VRAM is a real issue at this budget bracket. You’ll also have to settle for a mix of medium and high settings at 4K, or dynamic resolution scaling up to 4K in games that support it.

Our expectations for build quality at this price point are moderate. Most laptops will have plastic bodies and a noticeable (yet irrelevant) amount of flex. We don’t expect the best keyboards, and internal speakers aren’t too important since you need headphones to cancel out the fan noise anyway.

Likewise, we’re not particularly looking for flashy gamer gimmicks such as RGB lighting or sports car air vent designs. These can be nice if they don’t come at the cost of performance and functionality but are superfluous.

Battery life is a tricky thing to assess in the gaming laptop space. To be blunt, no one plays video games on these laptops running on battery power. The cuts to CPU and GPU performance are too severe, and legal limitation to battery size means you’ll barely get a decent gaming session before the battery counter hits zero. Instead, the best you can hope for is good battery life when using the laptop for other things, like work or watching videos. If the laptop can get you through most of a typical workday without needing to be plugged in, that’s a win in our book.

Best Sub-$1500 Gaming Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)

This is the most modern laptop in our roundup and, at the time of writing, the only laptop we could find in stock with the latest 13th-gen Intel CPU and 40-series graphics card from NVIDIA. The RTX 4060 should match typical 3070 Ti laptop GPUs, with the added benefit of better DLSS, ray tracing, and DLSS3 frame generation technology. So it’s solidly future-proof.

The Intel Core i7 13650HX CPU has 14 cores, 6 of those being high-performance units, more than enough to tackle modern games. The eight efficiency cores can handle background tasks from the OS, or when you’re not gaming, these little cores stop the battery from draining too quickly.

You also get snappy DDR5 RAM but only a 512GB SSD, which we can’t complain about. The screen is “only’ 1080p Full HD (FHD), but with these specs under the hood getting to that 165Hz refresh rate should be no problem. If we had to buy a laptop purely for gaming at this budget point today, this is the machine we’d get for ourselves.

If The Strix G16 Is Out of Stock: Alienware M15 R6

While the R6 has a CPU two generations behind and a GPU one generation back, thanks to decent price cuts, this is an absolute powerhouse for $1500 and offers an excellent gaming experience for the money. Eight high-performance CPU cores, a chunky NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 mobile GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 360 Hz 1080p display.

Having a 1080p resolution is perfectly fine at 15.6” for the screen, which means this system can push eSports titles such as CS:GO all the way up to the maximum refresh rate of 360hz. If you want to turn up the eye candy in single-player games, we can’t think of any current modern title that wouldn’t run at 60 FPS or higher on this display with a mix of high and ultra settings.

If you want to hook this laptop up to a 1440p or 4K display, you can still use DLSS in games that support them. Since it seems virtually all major new and upcoming games have DLSS support, this laptop’s performance will likely stay relevant for quite a few years to come.

As for the design of the laptop, it’s classic Alienware, which is to say that it looks pretty sharp but not overdone. Ultimately this is a Dell product, but that little bit of corporate conservativeness is a positive here, as the M15 looks sophisticated, while still being just the right amount of cool.

Best Mainstream Work and Play Choice: Lenovo Legion 5 Pro

This machine from the previous CPU generation slipped into this price bracket but still holds its own without breaking a sweat. Thanks to AMD’s less expensive CPUs, this laptop offers excellent performance while being comfortably below the $1500 mark.

The 2560×1600 screen may be a little too high in resolution for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 to push games at high settings, but if you factor in DLSS or are happy with a mix of medium and high settings, it should be just fine, and crisp at this screen size.

Speaking of which, the taller 16:10 aspect ratio also makes this an excellent laptop for work. This is the same ratio favored by laptops like the MacBook, which might be a major selling point for many of you.

Best Bang For Buck: ASUS ROG Strix G15 Advantage Edition

We almost had to do a double take when looking at the specs for this Strix G15. Leaving enough room in our budget for a decent gaming mouse, this plucky machine packs properly fast components. The RX 6800M should make short work of 1440p games at high/ultra settings, and the AMD Ryzen 9 5980X CPU should have no problem keeping those 1% low frame dips at bay.

If you don’t mind the lack of DLSS and AMD’s rather middling ray tracing performance, the Strix G15 is hard to say no to. Its design is somewhat reserved (for a ROG product) despite the bright red accent panel and giant ROG angry eye on the back of the lid.

Best for Serious Work and Play: Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-74DE

This particular Helios 300 uses an older 11th-gen Intel CPU paired with an RTX 3060. Coupled with a 1080p 144Hz refresh rate screen, you’ll be playing current-generation games at great settings and decent frame rates, but that’s not what caught our eye.

No, this laptop is notable because it packs 32GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, a 2TB mechanical HDD, and a Thunderbolt 4 port. That makes this an excellent machine for those who want to do serious work that benefits from lots of RAM, storage, and a strong CPU and GPU.

Think of it as a bargain little workstation that doesn’t look quite as boring. Alternatively, there’s just a ton of room to download games and media. Either way, it’s a great mix of attributes, and that Thunderbolt 4 port opens up the possibility of an eGPU as well!

The Changing of the Guard

At the time of writing, gaming laptops are undergoing a generational shift, especially with their GPUs. This predictably creates market chaos as great deals on last-gen systems and stock shortages on cutting-edge machines make it hard to know what to choose.

Our advice is to compare the performance of current and last gen laptops within the same price range. Then decide whether a higher-performance discounted last-gen laptop is better for you than more power-efficient newer machines with new tricks (such as DLSS 3 or efficiency cores for longer battery life), which may not have the same raw performance. Finally, keep an eye on clearance discounts on sites like Amazon, and you could get the deal of the decade on last-gen high-end laptops!

The post 5 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

We’ve looked around Amazon’s virtual shelves to find the best outdoor speakers at currently available prices. But first, here’s what we’re looking for in these products.

What to Look For in an Outdoor Speaker

When looking for outdoor speakers, it’s important to find ones that can handle different types of weather, especially if you live somewhere with particularly wet, cold, or hot times of year. Ensure they have an IPX rating of at least IPX4 to withstand rain and direct splashes with this entry-level water-resistant standard.

If you’re looking for speakers you can install permanently, you’ll want something rated at a weatherproof IPX7. You could also consider speakers with weather-proof covers.

Since outdoor spaces are (usually) larger than indoor ones, you’ll need speakers that can produce enough sound to fill the area. Look for speakers with high wattage output and a medium- to far-field sound stage. Remember to check the RMS rating instead of the PMPO rating for a more accurate measure of the speaker’s true output power.

Outdoor speakers should also deliver clear, crisp audio with a balanced frequency response. If you want to boost the low-end response, consider features like bass radiators or built-in subwoofers, which are often key to getting great sound from these small speaker units.

Outdoor speakers may get bumped or knocked around, so choose models made from tough materials like heavy-duty plastics or metals.

Larger outdoor areas may require bigger speakers or multiple speakers, while smaller areas may only need a few smaller speakers. Consider whether you’ll be mounting or using freestanding speakers, and pay attention to how complicated the mounting system may be for a given speaker model.

Finally, these speakers don’t usually come with amplifiers, so remember to budget for an amp that can drive the number of speakers you want to install or buy a kit that includes an amp.

1. The Best For Your Beach House: Polk Audio Atrium 4

If you’re looking for wired speakers to bring audio to your outdoor space, the Polk Audio Atrium 4 speakers are an excellent choice. They produce impressive sound for their size, are relatively easy to install, and can be mounted anywhere from lawns to patios. The speed-lock mechanism makes it easy to mount them anywhere, and you can even tilt the speakers up to 180 degrees. This range of motion allows you to make the speakers face your audience and adds some flexibility to venues where folks might gather in different spots depending on the type of event.

The Polk Audio Atrium 4 speakers have several features that make them a great choice for outdoor use. They are compact and have a more rounded design than many bookshelf-style speakers. The speakers have a 4.5-inch driver and a 0.75-inch tweeter. Regarding weather resistance, they meet ASTM D5894-UV Salt Fog, Mil Standard 810 Immersion, and Mil Standard 883 for salt and corrosion standards. Perfect for seaside venues!

2. Great All-Round Sound and Value: Bose 251 Environmental Outdoor Speakers

The speakers are beautifully designed to suit any outdoor space. By all accounts, they impress both acoustically and aesthetically. Thanks to its multi-chamber bass enclosure, the speaker cabinet is designed to reproduce low frequencies with minimal audio distortion. They have an extremely wide sound field for larger outdoor areas.

Be mindful when buying a pair of these speakers since a basic pair doesn’t come with an amplifier. You’ll either have to use an amplifier you already own or buy one to drive these units. You can buy a complete kit with two speakers, an amp, and a speaker wire.

3. Premium Sound, Premium Price: Sonos Outdoor Speakers

The Sonos Outdoor Architectural Speakers By Sonance is a great choice for anyone looking to install speakers where you expect harsh weather and need your audio to work year-round without constantly installing and uninstalling hardware.

These speakers were created through a collaboration between Sonos and Sonance, one of the largest and most respected outdoor speaker manufacturers in the US. They’re built to withstand humidity, water, salt spray, heat, UV rays, and even freezing temperatures. They have a unique look that sets them apart from other outdoor speakers if you’re feeling a little adventurous and want to draw attention to the speaker system rather than hide it.

Regarding sound quality, these speakers deliver a slightly fuller sound than other outdoor speakers, more in line with traditional bookshelf speakers. If you want outdoor speakers that are tough, stylish, and sound great, then these are worth checking out, albeit at a slightly premium price. Bear in mind that you’ll need to provide an amp for these. The recommended Sonos amp can power up to six of these speakers.

4. The Big Boys: Klipsch AW-650

The Klipsch AW-650 speakers are some of the most powerful non-commercial grade outdoor speakers we’ve seen. They deliver a bigger sound than smaller wired outdoor speakers, with much more bass and a wider sound field. They also deliver better detail than most outdoor speakers based on what customer reviewers say.

Regarding ruggedness, Klipsch says these speakers are “all-weather” but doesn’t provide an IP rating to support that claim. However, they do have a UV-resistant enclosure and a rust-proof grill. Even the zinc clamp has a weather-resistant powder coating. To top things off, the speaker is paintable so you can blend them in anywhere.

One thing to note is that these speakers are unexpectedly large compared to most outdoor speakers, with a height of 15 inches, a width of 9.5 inches, and a depth of 11 inches. As such, permanent placement outdoors may be an issue if you don’t have enough space under your roof to mount them. Measure twice, as they say!

5. Best Compact Outdoor Speakers: JBL Professional Control 23

The JBL Professional Control 23 speakers are a great choice for compact and lightweight outdoor speakers. Despite their small size, they deliver good sound quality and can get surprisingly loud. One of the standout features of these speakers is their InvisiBall mounting system, which allows you to mount them without any unsightly brackets.

The Control 23 is the most compact of JBL Professional’s Control Contractor Series. So it’s a perfect choice for those who want to hide their outdoor speakers so they don’t have any negative impact on your decorations. They have weather-resistant enclosures and transducers, so you don’t have to worry about them getting damaged by the elements.

The enclosure is paintable to match your decor. Regarding sound quality, the Control 23 speakers feature a 3-inch woven fiberglass woofer. According to user reviews, these speakers offer a pleasant sound stage with plenty of travel.

6. Ultra Value Champion: Yamaha NS-AW150BL

If you’re looking for a bang for your buck, the Yamaha NS-AW150BL speakers might be just what you need. These indoor/outdoor speakers are a popular choice from Yamaha, even though they’re an older line.

While they may be a bit bigger and pricier than some other options, they deliver in terms of sound quality with very good bass performance based on what customer reviews are saying.

Many customers have left positive reviews for these speakers. However, they may not handle extreme weather and some other outdoor speakers based on some of the more negative reviews. Also, while they offer good sound quality for their price range, these aren’t audiophile grade by a long shot. If you just want some background music for a restaurant’s outdoor tables or for your pool party area, that’s fine, but not for a dedicated music listening space.

7. The Dark Horse: Dual Electronics LU43PB 3-Way High Performance Outdoor/Indoor Speakers

These Dual Electronics speakers are among the most popular outdoor speakers sold online, with thousands of user reviews. It’s no surprise, given their specs, positive reviews, and very reasonable price.

With a 4-inch woofer and 1.6-inch midrange polypropylene cone, and the three-quarter-inch dome tweeter, you’re getting a well-rounded sound out of these puppies.

The best part is that these speakers can be used indoors and outdoors. Their sound quality and design make them suitable for indoor spaces, so you can just buy the same speakers for the indoor and outdoor sections of your building. They’re weather-resistant with a UV-resistant coating to protect against the elements. And their compact design means you can place them just about anywhere.

The swivel brackets that allow for a 120-degree range of motion make installing and adjusting these speakers relatively easy. You can mount them on walls or ceilings to get that perfect angle for optimal sound projection.

The Dual Electronics LU43PB speakers are great value for their price. They deliver high-quality sound in a compact, durable design that can withstand outdoor conditions. It may not be from a widely-known brand, but if you’re not a label snob, there’s no reason to avoid them.

8. Portable Power in Any Weather: JBL Boombox 2

The JBL Boombox 2 Bluetooth speaker is a portable jack of all trades, unlike the more permanent or semi-permanent outdoor speakers we’ve looked at so far. Its mid and treble ranges are fairly well balanced, so it can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly. However, it lacks a bit of low bass, so you may not feel the deep thump of bass-heavy genres like EDM. Still, that’s to be expected in a portable outdoor speaker system of this size.

There’s a graphic EQ in its companion app, which you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. The Boombox 2’s design is similar to the original. It feels fairly modern, and this design makes it easy to take with you, just like classic boomboxes from the 80s and 90s. Like any speaker, the Boombox 2 has its tipping point, and distortion eventually sets in. But according to customer reviews the speaker is already plenty loud before ever getting to that point.

This is a full-on IPX7 speaker system, so you can accidentally dunk it in the pool or take it to the beach without any worries, as long as you remember to have all the port plugs in place! The claimed battery life is 24 hours, but as with any battery-powered portable Bluetooth speaker, that will vary depending on the volume as well as the type of music you’re playing.

Get Some Fresh Air (by Bach)

Taking your audio outside doesn’t have to be complicated, and the speakers we’ve highlighted above all have something special about them, making it a great shortlist of speakers that might fit your needs exactly.

The post 8 Best Outdoor Speakers to Use in Open Spaces first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

In the interest of simplicity, we will not be making a distinction between different keyboard form factors. Whether you like a TKL or a 65% keyboard is always a personal preference, and most leading brands will offer multiple variants of the same model.

A Quick Guide to Keyboard Form Factors

If you are new to gaming keyboards, you may be surprised by the number of variations on offer. From TKL keyboards to 65% keyboards, there are many different keyboard form factors available today.

Basically, it’s all a question of how many keys you want. A full keyboard gives you more than a hundred keys, including a bunch of useless keys that you will never likely use. Cutting out some of these keys gives you different form factors.

A TKL or Tenkeyless keyboard, for example, ditches the Numpad. This removes a whole column of the keyboard, making it much more compact without hurting any functionality.

Then comes the 65% keyboard, doing away with the row of function keys at the top, and the 60% keyboard, discarding the arrow keys as well. All of these keyboards work well for typing as well as gaming since no useful keys are missing.

But there are also one-handed keyboards meant exclusively for gaming. As the name suggests, these gaming keypads stick with just the left side of the keyboard, letting you keep your other hand on the mouse alone.

#1: Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 – Best Overall

If you’re looking for a great mechanical keyboard with a solid build quality and extremely low latency, the Corsair K70 is the keyboard for you.

The K70 comes with all features you could expect out of a top-of-the-line gaming keyboard – RGB lighting, textured keycaps, Cherry MX switches – and then some more.

Durability is especially focused upon, with a sturdy aluminum faceplate and high-quality plastic frame. Even the keycaps are special, made of double-shot PBT that is highly durable and virtually immune to wearing out.

Thanks to the premium Cherry switches, the response times are already great, and can be improved further using the iCUE companion software – though you are unlikely to see the benefits on a low-end system.

Price: $159.95 on Amazon

#2: SteelSeries Apex Pro – Best Adjustable

A good gaming keyboard will register the slightest of keypresses, letting you fire off those blistering combos more quickly than your opponent. But trying to type with the same keyboard is an exercise in frustration, as simply brushing your fingers past the wrong key can register an input.

SteelSeries is probably the best-known name for mechanical keyboards, and with good reason. The quality and versatility offered by its products are second to none.

And the Apex Pro series takes it even further, giving you adjustable mechanical switches to perfectly customize key sensitivity. This makes it a great keyboard for beginners, as you can gradually ease your way into using a more responsive keyboard instead of jumping into the deep end.

Better yet, you can create multiple profiles with different levels of key sensitivity, letting you use the same keyboard for typing as well as gaming. The actuation can even be adjusted on a per-key basis, giving you complete control over your keyboard’s responsiveness.

Price: $139.99 on Amazon

#3: Razer Huntsman V2 – Best Optical

Mechanical keyboards are pretty fast, but if you’re looking for the fastest possible response times, you need to go further than that. And what’s faster than the speed of light?

The Razer Huntsman line of gaming keyboards is outfitted with Opto-Mechanical switches that use a beam of light instead of a metallic contact for actuation. This gives you the fastest possible actuation speed while also reducing moving parts to make the switches more durable.

Of course, you still get the usual features you can expect out of a quality gaming keyboard – RGB backlighting, a fully programmable layout, and a durable build using an aluminum frame and double-shot PBT keycaps.

Price: $139.98 on Amazon

#4: Logitech G915 – Best Wireless

Calling the Logitech G915 simply the best wireless keyboard is actually a disservice. It’s an amazing mechanical gaming keyboard in its own right, with a slim form factor and sleek design that does not sacrifice any essential features.

Mechanical keyboards usually have a lot going on underneath the keycaps, but the Logitech G915’s is surprisingly thin, thanks to its low-profile linear mechanical switches. The keycaps aren’t PBT, unfortunately, but the ABS version does the job well enough.

The principal focus of the construction is on aesthetics, giving it a premium look and feel with a classy metal finish. And of course, the wireless connectivity of Logitech devices is unparalleled, allowing you to game with a wireless keyboard without any lag creeping in.

The pricing is a bit high, however, especially since it skimps on a wrist rest and the ability to reprogram every key. You do get a row of media keys, apart from a few dedicated macro keys to remap as you want.

Price: $203.99 on Amazon

#5: Roccat Magma – Best Affordable

Roccat Magma is the only membrane keyboard on this list, and with good reason – membrane keyboards are usually not very good. Mechanical keyboards are far more tactile and precise, not to mention long-lasting.

But mechanical keyboards are also prohibitively expensive. Unless you are a pro gamer, you will not lose out on much by sticking to a high-quality membrane-based gaming keyboard.

Roccat Magma is the best budget gaming keyboard you can buy, with responsive keys, limited RGB lighting, and some macro functionality. It also comes with a wrist rest, giving you quite the value for your money.

Of course, the rubber dome keys don’t hold up well to a quality mechanical keyboard, even though it is leagues better than a standard membrane keyboard on the market. Overall, Roccat Magma is a decent choice for your first gaming keyboard.

Price: $49.99 on Amazon

#6: Wooting Two HE – Best Analogue

Analogue keyboards are nothing new, but they have only started to really pick up in the last year or two. And Wooting’s Two HE gaming keyboard is perhaps the best analog keyboard you can buy.

The build quality is impeccable, and the Hall Effect switches from Gateron ensure that the smallest actuations are registered accurately. Other manufacturers – like SteelSeries or Razer – offer analog gaming keyboards as well, but none come close to the performance of the Lekker switches used in Wooting’s keyboards.

At the end of the day, however, analog keyboards aren’t really essential. Very few games actually support the analog keypresses alongside mouse control, and setting it up can be a pain. But if you cannot choose between a controller and a mouse with keyboard setup, the Wooting Two HE might not be worth it to you.

Price: $194.99 on Wooting.io

#7: Mountain Everest 60 – Best Modular

Okay, we lied – it’s not exactly modular in the sense you can switch any key around wherever you want (though it does feature hot-swappable switches). No, the Mountain Everest 60 is a 60 percent keyboard with a modular keypad that can be attached to any side.

Let us repeat that last bit – any side. That may not seem like a big thing, but if you like gaming on your PC, chances are that you will find your right hand glued to the mouse, while the left-hand hovers over the WASD area of the keyboard.

This means the traditional keypad is useless to you, which is why many prefer the 60 percent keyboard for gaming. But by attaching it to the left, you can easily access the keypad with your left hand, giving a huge fillip in RTS games or in any other game by rebinding them as macros.

Even if you’re not interested in this feature, the Mountain Everest 60 is a great keyboard for gaming. You get exactly the number of keys you need, with pre-lubed, hot-swappable switches mounted on an aluminum faceplate and double-shot PBT keycaps.

The sound dampening is particularly impressive, considering how difficult it is to find a quiet keyboard. Add to that a per-key RGB lighting feature, and you have a gaming keyboard that is almost perfect in every respect.

Price: $149.99 on Amazon

Which Gaming Keyboard Should You Buy in 2023?

Any of the top-of-the-line gaming keyboards mentioned here will give you access to all the features you can expect – mechanical switches, RGB lighting, and reprogrammable macro keys.

Now, which of these is the best for you depends on the exact features you want. For optical switches, you want to go with Razer Huntsman. For analog switches, Wooting Two HE is the best.

SteelSeries Apex Pro is great if you are buying your first mechanical keyboard, thanks to its adjustable actuation distance. For a budget option, you can pick Roccat Magma – while it uses rubber dome switches, the quality is good enough to give a decent gaming experience.

The post 7 Best Gaming Keyboards to Buy In 2023 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.