I'm Dumping Alexa, but I'm Letting Her Stay as a Roommate

April 18, 2022

I’ve been in the smart home game for a long time now (at least in tech years, which are a bit like dog years, but it makes you even older). Along the way decked out my house in smart lights, plugs, locks, thermostats, sensors, doodads, widgets, who-whoobas, gar-ginkas, trum-tookas, and sloo-slunkers. Ok, those last few might be made-up items from one of the best Christmas stories of all time.

Along the way, I’ve filled my home with smart speakers powered by both Amazon and Google. And after years of living this way, I’ve made a decision. I’m ditching all my Alexa speakers. Except one. Find out why in the top story.

Other Highlights:

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• Future Google Nest Hubs might blow air at you to get your attention. Maybe I should rethink that plan to dump Alexa.
• …and more!

-Josh

As a journalist in the tech field who specializes in smart homes, I admit I don’t live a life like most people. Take smart speakers: I have Google Assistant and Alexa speakers in most rooms of my home. But that’s about to change—I’m giving almost every Alexa device the boot. Except one. Read More »

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We’ve seen a ton of retro-inspired Raspberry Pi projects over the last few years, including an e-ink Macintosh calendar and an iPod that streams from Spotify. But nothing will prepare you for the weirdness of JamHamster’s ZX Spectrum Raspberry Pi Cassette. Read More »

For over half a decade, savvy Chromebook users have logged into their laptops using nothing but their Android phone. But this passwordless sign-in feature, called Smart Lock, is about to disappear. And it doesn’t look like Google has a replacement in the works. Read More »

LEGO has unveiled two new Jurassic World Dominion sets to celebrate the launch of the third installment in the movie franchise reboot. The company will also release a LEGO set depicting the infamous T-Rex breakout scene, complete with a Jeff Goldblum Minifigure and more. Read More »

There are plenty of options out there for basic cable management, like twist, ties, zip ties or even nicer velcro cable ties. These colorful magnetic silicone cable ties offer unlimited applications in a reusable and long-lasting form factor. They come in a set of 14, and are made with premium silicone that’s soft and stretchy, so they’re easy to pull to the exact size you need. The magnetic ends, shaped like stars, connect and seal cleanly. You can use them to tidy up the cables on your desk or TV stand, to hold up your shower curtain, to pin a to-do list on your fridge, or even to keep things neat in a drawer.

Get it at Amazon →

We all have that one friend or family member that just doesn’t click with technology. You’d love to give them techy items but worry that it’ll just entangle you into a lifetime of technical support. Luckily, these gadgets are all a cinch to use and should make life easier for those who use them. Read More »

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of Wordle, the popular word game that’s taken the Internet by storm. And while plenty of clever Wordle alternatives have popped up in the game’s wake, this one—Waffle—is by far the tastiest of them all! Read More »

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If you buy a computer that runs Windows, it’s usually called a “PC.” But sometimes a Mac is called a PC, too. What’s going on here, and why is a PC called a “PC” anyway? We’ll explain. Read More »