Are Expensive Stud Finders Worth Buying?

December 28, 2022

You may have gotten some framed art or a wall-mounted TV for Christmas this year. And mounting it requires you to put some holes in your wall. Before you start hammering, you need to find the studs. You could knock around, try to guess where they are, and hope for the best. Or you could nab a cheap stud finder at the local grocery store. But putting holes in your walls is risky, and you could do serious damage to your home if you mess up. In our top story, Cory runs down the reasons why you should consider purchasing a high-quality stud finder to hang that picture or mount that TV on your wall.

Other Highlights:

• Optical telephoto lenses are coming to smartphones next year.
• Chinese search engine Baidu launches a fleet of nighttime driverless taxis.
• A great wall outlet extender will help you keep your Christmas gadgets charged up next year.
• … and more!

— Danny

Stud finders are an invaluable tool that everyone should have at home, but do expensive ones work any better? When hanging pictures, mounting that fancy new 75-inch TV to the wall, or working on a DIY project at home, you’ll want a good tool to safely find studs and avoid electric wires behind the wall. Read More »

The Hop backpack at ODA is the perfect travel companion that is built to last. Made with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship, this backpack is also carry-on size, so you can easily take it with you anywhere. Plus, the durable water-resistant fabric will keep your belongings safe and dry, no matter where you go. Learn More >>

So you’re ready to buy a new TV and want it to be a good one. If this is your first time purchasing a TV where the consideration goes beyond price, you might want to brush up on some terms. Read More »

Charging multiple devices via a single wall outlet can be time-consuming, especially when you also have to share it with other users. But thanks to wall outlet extenders, you can simultaneously charge up to five devices. In fact, some of the best wall outlet extenders come fitted with up to 15 ports. Read More »

Brands like Razer have spoiled gamers with high-quality, feature-rich peripherals. So much so that when a modest option is released, it may be unfairly overlooked. The CHERRY MX 10.0N RGB keyboard is a functional model, but its simplicity overshadows a sturdy build and quiet mechanical keys. Read More »

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 »

It’s a new year and a new you. Right? All jokes aside, many people choose to be healthier and eat better for a New Year’s resolution, especially after all the yummy holiday meals. Whether you’re trying to meal prep, need some food containers for leftovers, or plan on making the kids lunch to pack for school, you’ll want this 10-pack of food containers and lids. These are reusable, microwavable, and dishwasher-safe. You can even color-code the meals or kids with three different color options.

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 »

Audiobooks are a huge part of my life. I listen to books the same way many people listen to podcasts and music. I can go through two or three titles a week. As of this writing, I’ve finished 143 audiobooks in 2022. Here are the ones that I enjoyed the most this year. Read More »

Kia is going all in on electric SUVs. This week, the company teased the upcoming EV9 ahead of its 2023 launch. The 11-second promo video was posted on the company’s Kia India Twitter account. Read More »

Using “password” as your password has never been a good idea. If you’re having trouble remembering your passwords (or coming up with good ones to begin with), a password manager can take care of that for you. Read More »

LG Innotek stopped making smartphones last year. However, it is still manufacturing mobile components, notably cameras. In a press release, the company announced the world’s first optical telephoto zoom camera module. The new module will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show next month. Read More »

Google’s 2nd-gen Nest Hub that came out in 2021 isn’t much different than the original, aside from improved audio and sleep-tracking features. Google calls it Sleep Sensing, which was supposed to become a paid feature at the end of 2022. Read More »

Baidu, the Chinese version of Google, just took another big step in autonomous driving. While the company launched its self-driving robotaxi service in 2020 and started offering driverless rides in 2022, now the service is available to operate at night. Read More »

It’s been a little over a year since the release of the sixth-generation iPad Mini, and Apple is looking forward to the seventh in 2023, according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Read More »

We’re all used to scheduling emails so we can both hide our neediness at getting a prompt response and appear more professional in our hours than we actually are. Many email apps are just scheduled messages responding to each other with minimal human involvement Read More »

Mousepads have been a staple on desks for decades, but as mice have gotten better, they’ve become less necessary. You may not technically need one anymore, but you should still use a mouse pad. Read More »

While Sonos typically focuses on higher-end products and price tags, it has been moving more toward the realm of the affordable as of late. Following this trend, the company introduced the Sonos Ray soundbar, a pared-down alternative to its more expensive models. Read More »

The bell part of the doorbell equation seems like an immutable part of the experience, but video doorbells are mixing things up. Here’s what you need to know about using a video doorbell without a chime. Read More »