The most reliable Plex server HDDs, the best Super Bowl TV deals, play 'Wordle' free forever, and more

February 3, 2022

Not all hard drives can stand up to the demands of a Plex server. It’s an unfortunate reality that’s made worse by the lack of real information on HDD reliability, lifespan, and durability—you can’t just test hundreds of thousands of HDDs to see which one works the best in a server!

Hold on, that’s exactly what Backblaze does every year. The could server company regularly publishes information on the hard drives it uses in data centers, giving us a clear picture of which HDDs are the most reliable and long-lasting. Check our top story to get a full overview of the company’s latest findings and learn which HDDs may be best for your Plex server.

Other Highlights:

• The New York Times just bought Wordle, and it will eventually hide the game behind a paywall. Don’t worry; you can save Wordle for offline use and enjoy it forever!
• This year’s Super Bowl airs February 13th. Naturally, we tracked down the 15 best Super Bowl TV deals available before the big game.
• Speaking of the “big game,” Beijing Winter Olympics coverage begins today! Here’s where to watch the weeks-long event with or without cable TV.
• … and more!

-Andrew

Very few HDDs are made to handle the continuous usage, heat, and vibration of a Plex server. And that’s a huge problem. Replacing a failed drive takes time and money, especially if you don’t have redundancies in place. Thankfully, a new report from Backblaze reveals which popular HDDs perform the best in a real testing environment; its cloud data center. Read More »

Why suffer through the Super Bowl? With less than two weeks until the big game, it’s time to get a bigger and better TV. As always, manufacturers are running crazy sales to help you get set up, and they’re even slashing prices on some futuristic 8K TVs. Read More »

After nearly being delayed, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics are finally about to begin. If you can’t wait to watch some epic figure skating, triple corks, or intense ice hockey, you’ll be able to catch all the excitement on NBC Universal channels. Read More »

After trending for a month straight, Wordle is now owned by The New York Times. Needless to say, it’s a big disappointment. Wordle will eventually become a paid game and lose the purity that made it so successful in the first place. But hey, we’ve got good news. You can save Wordle for offline use and play it forever. Read More »

Few things in life are worse than missing a Steam sale. Thankfully, Valve just shared the bulk of its 2022 schedule to prepare developers for upcoming events. You’re probably not a game developer, but hey, you can still plug these dates into your calendar to avoid missing Steam sales throughout 2022. Read More »

Still looking for that unique—but still nerdy—bit of decor for your living room or home office? We highly recommend this moon lamp! It’s perfect for ambient lighting, it can easily sit atop a table or bookshelf, and would look great behind you in a Zoom call. It has built-in LEDs that run on batteries, and you can control it either by touch or with the included remote. The LEDS allow you to change it to one of 16 different colors, and they have special effects, too, like flashing and fading. The moon lamp comes in six sizes, ranging from 4.8 inches up to 9.6 inches.

Get it at Amazon →

LEGO just announced three new Star Wars helmets for 2022, and this year it has a little something for everyone. LEGO has you covered whether you love Star Wars, Dark Troopers, or The Mandalorian. This is the way. Read More »

You’ve probably seen people everywhere talking about a new word puzzle craze called Wordle. And if you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering what other word games are out there (especially after the buyout). Thankfully, there are lots of excellent mobile and tabletop options! Read More »

Email is more like physical mail than we might like. You probably get tons of unwanted emails, but unlike physical mail that can literally fill your mailbox until you dispose of it, you can let unread emails pile up forever. Don’t let that happen to you. Read More »

Disinfecting wipes are a handy way to clean surfaces and disinfect them in the process, but they don’t last forever. Here’s what you need to know about when they expire, how to read the expiration code, and more. Read More »