Should You Use Lensa AI, the "Magic" Portrait App?

December 7, 2022

If you’ve been on Facebook or Instagram the last few days, you’ve definitely seen your friends post AI-generated portraits of themselves. Some of them look pretty cool. But trust me, the ones they don’t post might give them nightmares for a while. In our top story, we break down what app everybody uses to make those AI masterpieces, what the price and copyright concerns are with using it, how the company that’s running it is using your data, and some other issues that have cropped up along the way. After reading, you’ll have a much better idea if this is the kind of thing you want to give your face to.

Other Highlights:

• Get that smart kid in your life a STEM toy this Christmas.
• If your Joy-Con controller for your Nintendo Switch is broken, read this before you pay anyone to fix it.
• The popular image editing program for Mac, Pixelmator Pro, just got some new video tools. And it’s on sale.
• … and more!

— Danny

Self-flattery is pushing AI into the mainstream. But should you join the thousands of people who are experimenting with AI portraiture? This new trend, enabled by an app called Lensa AI, raises some very difficult questions about craft, consent, and bias. Read More »

Never replace another battery again with these stylish solar powered watches from Solios. Crafted from recycled stainless steel and eco-friendly vegan leather, these watches are made with highly durable materials that are meant to last you a life-time. If you're still looking for the perfect holiday gift for someone special in your life, be sure to check out the men's and women's collections at Solios! Plus, Solios is also offering free in-house engraving services until December 31st. Check them out!

It never seems to feel like Christmas until it smells like Christmas. If you’ve decked the halls with an artificial tree and store-bought gingerbread cookies, then you’ll need to grab some Christmas-scented products to get that holiday smell. Read More »

The holidays are fast approaching, and you might be wondering what to buy for the kids in your life. Before you start to panic and ultimately decide to give a gift card (again!), consider picking up a fun high-tech or STEM toy. Read More »

The Boox Tab Ultra might look like a thick e-book reader, but it’s closer to a computer or tablet in use. I even found myself in the web browser watching YouTube videos to prove it was possible. Of course, whether you should actually be doing the same computing on this device as others is debatable. Read More »

Instead of dumping all of your laundry into a tiny hamper, why not try a large organizer? This laundry organizer comes with three easily-removable baskets so you can separate your lights, darks, and colors. It even has a clothes hanger for your clean laundry.

Wordle was just too easy, wasn’t it? You probably left that behind and moved on to Quordle, the true “hard mode” of the word-guessing game format. But now you’re stuck and so close to failing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with a hint—and if you really need it, today’s Quordle Answers. Read More »

Most of us have narrowly avoided a car crash by hitting the brakes in the nick of time. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, and accidents happen. But what if your car could brake for you? Read More »

Are you a huge fan of Wordle and absolutely stuck today? Let me guess; you’re hanging out on guess four or five and feeling the pressure. We get it entirely: nothing feels worse than losing your streak. If you’re not ready to outright cheat, we have you covered with hints and today’s Wordle answer. Read More »

Today Google announced three helpful new features for Google Chrome that will supercharge your web browser experience. In the Chrome address bar, users can use @tabs, @bookmarks, and the @history shortcut to quickly search for those categories or tabs instantly. Read More »

If your Joy-Cons are acting up, it’s probably not your fault. Nintendo admits that “Joy-Con drift” is an unavoidable problem on Nintendo Switch systems, as the controllers’ joysticks simply can’t the normal wear and tear of gaming. Thankfully, you can get your Switch Joy-Cons repaired for free. Read More »

Unfortunately, software-based performance and feature upgrades on vehicles are here to stay. Today, the Swedish carmaker Polestar announced a one-time fee for owners to unlock tons of extra performance on its Polestar 2 electric car. Read More »

Pixelmator users holding off on upgrading to the Pro version of the image editing software may have the nudge they need to open their wallets for some new tools. Version 3.2, “Lumiere,” recently dropped, includes new features, including video editing, and is on sale for half the regular price. Read More »

Every tech enthusiast worth their salt loves to pour over technical specs. But there’s one spec you’ve probably seen that you might not fully understand: IP ratings (like IP67). This enigmatic code represents a device’s resistance to intrusion from elements like dust and water, but what does each character mean? Read More »

Following some teaser images last week, Seattle-based electric bike maker Rad Power Bikes just announced its latest offering, a 3-wheeled electric trike. The all-new RadTrike aims to bring mobility to more riders. Read More »

In a surprise move, Amazon Luna now offers free cloud streaming for Ubisoft games you’ve purchased on PC. An Amazon Prime subscription (or Luna+ membership) is all you need to stream games from your Ubisoft library. Simply link your Amazon and Ubisoft accounts to enjoy the fun. Read More »

If you’re in the market for a gaming monitor, in particular, you have the option of buying a model with G-Sync or FreeSync support. These features can attract a higher price, but are G-Sync and FreeSync worth it, and do you really need either of them? Read More »

Google Chrome is a very popular browser despite being infamously greedy with your computer’s resources. If you feel like Chrome is starting to get slow, there are a few things you can do to speed it up again. Read More »

Roomba is back with a model that can handle mopping, in addition to its vacuuming, complete with its own self-emptying dust bin. The iRobot Roomba j7+ is a hybrid unit that can pull double duty to clean floors, although it won’t empty its dirty water or refill clean water by itself. Read More »