The Difference Between Power Strips and Surge Protectors

August 9, 2022

Are you valuable electronics plugged into a power strip or a surge protector? These products may look identical, but they’re actually quite different. And that difference could save you a ton of money (and heartbreak) during a storm or power grid failure.

Check our top story to learn the differences between power strips and surge protectors.

Other Highlights:

• Apple’s upcoming mixed reality headset is genuinely insane.
• Your Google TV device is about to gain 50 free live TV channels.
• Netflix’s exclusive mobile games are a massive flop, even with Stranger Things branding.
• … and more!

-Andrew

Although the terms “power strip” and “surge protector” are often used interchangeably, these are two vastly different products. A power strip just gives you more outlets, but a surge protector can shield your valuable electronics from excess voltage. Knowing the difference could save you a ton of money and heartache. Read More »

Portable chargers are a great way to keep all your gadgets powered on when you’re enjoying the great outdoors or on the go. But once it runs out of battery or you go off the grid, you’re out of luck. That’s where the new Anker 515 Portable Solar Panel charger comes to save the day. Read More »

While rumors of Apple’s AR/VR headset have been floating around for years, things are starting to come into focus. If the latest reports are accurate, Apple’s upcoming VR headset will be bonkers in more ways than one. Read More »

The electric bike market is getting more crowded and expensive by the day, but that’s not the case with Ride1Up’s latest Core-5 eBike. While the model already had plenty to offer at an affordable price, it’ll now come with two big upgrades, all for the same low price. Read More »

Late last year, we heard rumors that Google TV would gain a free ad-supported live TV service. And it seems that this feature is almost ready to launch—as discovered by 9to5Google, the latest Android TV launcher APK contains references to 50 “Google TV Channels.” Read More »

Windshield shades keep your vehicle cool while it’s parked. But keeping a bulky, raggedy shade in your back seat can feel like a waste of space, especially when you have friends or family in the car. So, why not use a more compact windshield shade?

The BrellaShield is basically a sun shade mixed with an umbrella. It collapses down to a compact size that you can fit anywhere in your car, even the glovebox. Plus, it fits most windshields, even those on trucks or SUVs.

Less than 1% of Netflix users are engaging with the company’s mobile game offerings, according to Apptopia (via CNBC). About 1.7 million subscribers have downloaded Netflix’s 24 mobile games 23.3 million times since the company launched the gaming apps in late 2021. Read More »

Waze is one of the best navigation apps available, which is why I recently left Google Maps for Waze. However, lately, we’ve seen a lot of reports that Waze is lagging and nearly unusable on both Android Auto and CarPlay. Read More »

LG just announced some new pairs of wireless earbuds for 2022, and they each have plenty to offer. These include the new LG T90 earbuds with Dolby head-tracking “spatial audio,” along with the company’s first sporty earbuds for the Tone Free lineup. Read More »

The latest Chromecast with Google TV update introduced some much-needed bug fixes. Unfortunately, it also removed the ability to use third-party screensaver apps. Screensaver Preferences no longer acknowledges third-party options and only lets you use Google’s screensavers. Read More »

In an odd move, Motorola canceled a planned launch of its new smartphone models hours before the scheduled event. Motorola and Lenovo mobile chief Chen Jin posted the cancellation announcement on the Chinese social media site Weibo. Read More »

AI-based image generators like DALL-E 2 have boomed in popularity. People love to enter bizarre prompts and see what gets spit out. Midjourney is one of the more advanced tools for this, and you can try it now. Read More »

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The 7th mainline entry in Amazon’s Fire series of tablets predictably brings improved specs, a longer battery life, and a $10 price increase. However, while the Fire 7 Tablet (2022) remains an inexpensive way to enjoy media, it seriously lacks power. Read More »

Have you finally gotten your hands on an Xbox Series X or S? There’s a lot packed into this Microsoft gaming console, so let’s take a look at the features that will help you make the most of all your new console has to offer. Read More »

Tripod heads may not seem like the most important piece of a photographer’s kit, but the best ones help you get the perfect shot. From ball heads to geared heads and everything in between, here are the five best. Read More »

When you shop for a mesh network, they usually come in packs of two or three, with the option to buy extra nodes if you need them. Can you just use a single mesh network node by itself, though? Read More »