New York's Groundbreaking Right to Repair Law Got Hobbled at the Last Minute

December 30, 2022

We don’t cover political issues much at Review Geek, but when something comes up that directly affects our tech lives, we put it front and center. Such is the case with our top story. New York governor Kathy Hochul signed America’s first “right-to-repair” bill into law this week. But it wasn’t as expansive as it could have been. In this story, our Editor in Chief explains what happened, lays out the bill’s journey to becoming law, and goes over what this means for the future of technology–specifically, your right to repair the gadgets you own.

Other Highlights:

• LastPass gets raked over the coals by 1Password.
• Your next refrigerator could have a 32-inch touchscreen display.
• Amazon drones finally make their first deliveries.
• … and more.

–Danny

It’s been a long road for New York’s Right to Repair bill. It could have (and now does) serve as the first statewide law granting fundamental requirements to make repairing devices easier. But after six months of waiting for a signature, we almost lost hope. That changed today: with a big catch. Read More »

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Earlier this year, the state of New York passed the “Digital Fair Repair Act.” It’s a landmark bill, and if signed into law, it will be the first Right to Repair legislation in the United States. But one obstacle could lead to this bill’s downfall—it will be automatically vetoed if it isn’t signed by December 31st of 2022. Read More »

Do you like the feeling of ruling the world? Maybe you’ve flexed your tyranny in every game of Risk1 you’ve ever played but yet the dominance is growing a little old. Or are you ready to overthrow the current tyrannical board game dictatorship? You may need another game that leads to global supremacy. Read More »

Released on October 13, 2022, the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro have received critical acclaim as two of Google’s best smartphones yet. If you’ve got one or both of these pricey devices, then spending a little more money on extra protection is a wise investment and a no-brainer insurance policy. Read More »

Smart home automation aims to simplify every aspect of our lives, even something as relatively effortless as turning on a light. Amazon’s Smart Plug may be the most basic device in the hierarchy of smart home integration, but it’s an essential part of adding convenience to your day-to-day. Read More »

The holidays are winding down, and you’ve got your new entertainment system all set up, and it looks great. The only problem is the mess of cables by your electrical outlet. Use this cable box from Chouky to hide them. It fits a medium-sized surge protector easily and has a handsome wooden-stye finish that will blend in nicely with your home decor. Plus, it protects your cables from accidentally getting unplugged or having someone spill drinks at your New Year’s party.

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 »

Edifier’s HECATE G5000 desktop gaming speakers are certainly not cheap, but when you spend a lot of time at your desk, investing in a quality speaker setup is practically a must. You can use these speakers for an immersive gaming or movie-watching experience, or just blast your favorite songs. 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 »

Password manager LastPass has been embroiled in a data-leak scandal, with each update worsening the situation. In its most recent post, the company assured users their passwords were safe so long as they followed LastPass’s guidelines. Today, competitor 1Password released a scathing rebuttal. Read More »

Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerators are a bit of a novelty, packing giant touchscreens that double as a smart hub or tablet. With the new Family Hub Plus fridge, Samsung added an even bigger 32-inch touchscreen for making shopping lists, following a recipe, or doomscrolling through TikTok. Read More »

Did you get a fancy new Roku TV or streaming device for Christmas? If so, you’ll want to take advantage of a slew of different Roku features or channels during the holiday season. We’re talking about holiday wallpapers, putting a fireplace on your wall, or ringing in the new year. Read More »

After years of testing and regulatory hurdles, Amazon delivery drones are finally taking to the skies in Texas and California. Residents of Lockeford, CA, and College Station, TX, can now receive small airborne packages from the online retail giant. Read More »

Acura issued a small recall covering just 19 vehicles last week. The issue stems from the tires on the 2022 Acura TLX sports sedan. And all the cars involved were built on the same day: Sept. 1, 2022. It’s an odd recall, not just for the small number of vehicles or the tires themselves. Read More »

Waze is one of the most popular navigation apps, preferred by many over Google and Apple Maps, and with good reason. Waze has several excellent features, and now the company is testing a way to warn drivers of dangerous roads with a “history of crashes.” Read More »

Smart home gear isn’t just for showing off to friends and automating your life. It’s also really handy for making your home look occupied when you’re away. Here’s how to use your smart home gear to fool burglars. Read More »

Maybe you’re not into the new year, new me. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you do have some health and wellness goals (let’s not call them resolutions) you want to meet this year, there’s a Fitbit sale you might want to check out. Read More »