About the Author

Electrek

Bradley lives in Chattanooga, TN where he manages Apple devices for a private school.

Tips, feedback, corrections and questions can be sent to Bradley@9to5mac.com.

Electrek's favorite gear

Backblaze

Unlimited cloud-based backup for your Mac at $6 per month

AirPods

The best headphones I've ever owned.

Green Deals: Get a 16-pack of LED light bulbs for $14, more

Yankon Lighting via Amazon offers a 16-pack of A19 LED Light Bulbs for $13.99 Prime shipped. That’s as much as $4 off the regular going rate. Switching to LED light bulbs has a number of perks, including lower costs per month and longer lifespans. In fact, you can expect up to 11,000 hours of use per bulb. Rated 4.8/5 stars.

Worm or Meatball? Celebrate NASA with these $8 t-shirts on sale

Target is offering a handful of NASA t-shirts on sale today for $8. You can bag free shipping on orders over $35 or just opt for curbside pickup to side-step any fees. RedCard members can save an additional 5%, bringing prices down to $7.60. Each of these shirts typically sells for $13, making it a great time to snag some new gear, especially if you’re celebrating the recent launches or any of the upcoming events planned. You might recall some of the graphics found on these t-shirts, especially if you’re into the NASA’s lauded history of graphic design. From the meatball to the iconic worm design, which is making a return, there’s something for everyone here. Browse through the entire selection for more styles, including similarly priced items for kids, too.

Kindle Oasis Review: Is it better than the Paperwhite?

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Earlier this summer, Amazon announced a new version of the Kindle Oasis. The Kindle Oasis is Amazon’s top of the line book reader. The Kindle Oasis includes a 7-inch 300 ppi flush-front display, an adjustable warm light, IPX8 waterproofing, and a thing ergonomic design with physical page buttons. I got mine in a few days ago, and I been reading the next book in the Monk series over the weekend, so I feel like I’ve gotten a good feel for the Kindle Oasis, and its benefits over the Paperwhite. One of the most common questions with the Kindle lineup is which one to get. When I purchased the Kindle Oasis, one of the key questions I wanted to answer is should you buy the Kindle Oasis over the Kindle Paperwhite? Here is my Kindle Oasis review.

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The new Kindle Paperwhite review – Is it worth it?

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Before I get into my Kindle Paperwhite Review, I want to give you some backstory on where my life has been headed over the past few weeks. I’ve been pondering the role technology plays in our lives. It all started when my wife and I spent a weekend away for our anniversary, and I purposely didn’t keep my phone with me for an entire day. I knew she had her cell phone in case of an emergency with our children, so I just left it at the hotel. One of the main reasons I didn’t want it with me is because it was the day of the Georgia vs. LSU college football game, and I didn’t want to know the score until it was over. For the first time in many years, I went 12+ hours without picking up a cell phone to check e-mail, respond to a text message, or visit a website. 

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Green Deals: 4-pack LED Solar Motion Lights $13, more

Housmile (99% positive feedback) via Amazon offers a four-pack of its LED Solar Motion Lights for $12.99 Prime shipped when promo code NIXHQMOA is applied during checkout. Regularly $25 or more, today’s deal is $2 less than our previous mention and the best available. These solar-powered lights make it easy to illuminate just about any outdoor space. Rated 4/5 stars.

TiVo Bolt OTA for Antenna: a cord cutter’s dream?

TiVo is a brand name that is well known when it comes to recording TV shows. It was one of the original digital video recorders (along with ReplayTV). I purchased the Series 2 TiVo in 2003, and I used it for four years before retiring it for a Comcast branded DVR when I got my first HDTV in 2007. Even after switching to a non-TiVo DVR, I missed the familiar interface. Even to this day, I’ve used countless DVR solutions from various companies, and nothing touches the simplicity of the TiVo. Will the TiVo Bolt OTA for Antenna live up to the hype?

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Green Deals: Sun Joe 14.5A Electric Pressure Washer $119, more

The official Snow Joe eBay outlet store offers its SPX3000 14.5A Electric Pressure Washer for $119 shipped. Regularly $139 at retailers like Amazon, today’s deal is a $26 savings and a match of our previous mention. This model sports a 14.5A electric motor and provides 1.76GPM. Rated 4.2/5 stars by over 5,700 reviewers.

Green Deals: 5-pack Wireless Remote Control Outlets $19.50, more

Century Products (100% positive feedback from 10,000) via Amazon offers a five-pack of its Wireless Remote Control Outlets for $19.59 Prime shipped when promo code 30DNEEXX is applied during checkout. Regularly up to $30, today’s deal is the best that we’ve tracked by $2. These nifty remote control outlets are very helpful for eliminating energy vampires and scheduling lights around the house. Rated 4.7/5 stars.

Football season is upon us, get ready w/ these tailgating essentials from $12

Football is back. We’re looking ahead to week two of the college football season here in America, and the NFL is quickly approaching. In the fall, I spend more time than I’d care to admit parked on the couch screaming at football games. It starts at 8:30 AM on Saturday and then ends on Sunday night with Sunday Night Football on NBC. Of course, tailgating is an essential part of football. Whether you are at the game or just in your backyard, having the right tailgating gear is a must-have for ensuring the best experience.

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Fall essentials for a memorable season from $19

I was cleaning up my backyard one-night last week, and I felt it. There was a little bit of a breeze, and I knew that Fall was coming. Fall is the greatest season of the year. Football is back. Light jackets are back. Cornhole is back Cider is back. I’m ready to spend cool October days watching football, cooking out with friends, watching my kids play in the leaves.

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Essential tools for new homeowners from $17

I think back to when I was growing up, and my Dad knew how to fix everything. I feel like there was a home repair class I was supposed to take but never got information about. I was talking to my Dad recently about this, and he had two things to say:

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Cool back-to-school lunch boxes from $15

It’s mid-July, so a lot of parents are starting to think about back to school supplies. One of the items that causes the most discussion in our house is the lunch box. For kids, it’s a lot of pressure. Do they go trendy with something like a Star Wars Solo one? It’s popular right now, but will that be lame come March?

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Roku announces $200 wireless speakers for its Roku-enabled TVs

Complaints about built-in TV speakers aren’t anything new. Soundbars have been around for a number of years, and new innovation is happening in that market as well. The Sonos Beam is one of the latest entrants in that market. It’s designed to be able to fit in more places as it’s only 25.6 inches, so it won’t hang off furniture or block the TV at all. But Sonos will face even more competition now from set-top box maker, Roku.

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Review: The Banzai Twin Falls Lagoon water slide delivers the summer fun

Trying to occupy small children during the summer can be a difficult task. In my part of the country, it’s hot and humid. The only outdoor activity I want to do from June to September is something water related. My kids feel the same way. Since we don’t have a pool, we looked for options to give them something in our backyard. We used the classic Slip N Slide – $27 for a few summers, but they quickly got bored with it.

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Five must-haves for your summer travels from $7

From $7

The summer is upon us, and many of us are traveling for family vacations. Being on the move with family can often be stressful, but having the right gear can make it a lot easier. Whether it’s a device to charge your fleet of iPhones/iPads or having the right bag for the beach, having a plan prior to setting off on a vacation can make the entire trip go a lot smoother.

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Our top recommended gear for new parents from $8

As a father of three small children, I’ll admit that parenting can be challenging. Even after having three, I’ll still argue that the first one was the biggest shock to our lives. It changes things so drastically that you sometimes are just wondering what has just happened.

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How do you decide between HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa?

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A decade ago, home automation was something that required you to hire a home integrationist during the building process. It was an expensive process, and you probably ended up with products you barely knew how to use. On top of that, if technology advanced in a few years, you’d have to hire that company again to come out and upgrade it. It reminds me of when I see those old intercom systems wired into homes. How dated do those look in 2018?

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NVIDIA SHIELD TV: The best tech device you’ve probably never used

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It’s no secret that I am all in on Apple products. My house is full of Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Apple TVs. I use Apple Music, iCloud Photo Library, and iCloud Drive. I’m all in on Apple. There is one exception, however. I purchased the NVIDIA SHIELD TV this past Christmas, and it’s become one of the favorite devices in my house.

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The best gear and services to protect your kids from inappropriate content

During the summer, kids are out of school with a lot more free time on their hands. If your kids are like mine, after a long day of playing outside, they enjoy playing a few games, watching Netflix, and browsing YouTube Kids. They do all these things on an iPad. One of the things you’ll want to think about is how you are protecting your children from the not so nice parts of the internet. Another thing you’ll want to consider is how much time they are spending on the internet as well.

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Essential BBQ accessories for Memorial Day and July 4th cookouts from $13

It’s warming up here in the southern United States, so that means it’s almost time for grilling season to move into full swing. As we get closer to Memorial Day and July 4th, you’ll want to make sure you have your grilling setup in tip-top shape. While I am not a grilling expert, I suspect you aren’t either. I’ve gotten better over the years, and I wanted to share some of my favorite gear with you.

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Essential gear for outdoor running this summer from under $10

I’ve been running since 2010, and it’s one of the best hobbies I’ve ever picked up. Outside of some essential gear, it’s free to run so that’s even better! I love running when traveling as it allows me to see a new city. When I was in Chicago for Apple’s last education event, I even ran with some of the 9to5Mac crew. When you are starting a running hobby, there is some essential gear that makes it easier, so I wanted to list some of my favorites. Do you have anything to add? List them in the comments if so! Head below for more.

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How to build a robust and reliable home Wi-Fi network

A great home Wi-Fi connection is something that was nice to have ten years ago but wasn’t something most people put a lot of effort into (and certainly not money). The iPhone was only a year old, the iPad wasn’t even out, and we certainly weren’t cutting the cord for streaming services. In 2008, I had three devices in my home that used Wi-Fi. In 2018, I have 25 (iPads, iPhones, Macs, Nest thermostats, and HomeKit-enabled devices). A great home Wi-Fi connection is required for all of these devices to work well.

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Adobe’s new Creative Cloud pricing for K-12 schools looks great until you read the fine print

Adobe has long been a significant player in education institutions ranging from K–12 all the way to colleges and universities. Before the Adobe Creative Cloud days, it was one of the most commonly pirated software for college students. The cost for Photoshop was usually above $1,000, and that generally wasn’t in the budget for cash-strapped college students.

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Best Tech Gift Ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week from under $15

From $11

National Teacher day is coming up on May 8th, and schools celebrate Teacher Appreciation week from May 7th–11th. I have many teachers who made a positive difference in my life, and I am sure you did as well. If you want to surprise your child’s teacher with a few tech-related gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week, here are some things I recommend from personal experience in the classroom.

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Our favorite cord cutting gear and services to ease the transition from cable

I’ve been without cable since 2013, and I’ve never looked back. Initially, it was to save money, but now I’ve gotten so used to streaming services that I don’t think I’d ever return to paying the cable man. In this guide, I’ll discuss some of our favorite streaming boxes, popular apps, along with how to watch over-the-air TV.

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Behind the Screens: Bradley Chambers’ Ergonomic MacBook Pro Setup

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Behind the Screens is a weekly 9to5Toys series that takes you through our writers’ setups, be it mobile, desktop, gaming or home theater. Next up is Bradley Chambers, he writes a weekly column called Making the Grade for 9to5Mac.

Welcome to my office! My name is Bradley Chambers, and I write over at 9to5Mac with a weekly article on Apple in K-12 education. In addition to writing for 9to5Mac, I also write for The Sweet Setup and Tools and Toys. Over at The Sweet Setup, we cover the best apps and workflows for the Apple ecosystem. Because of that, a lot of my apps are usually “in transition”. While I usually settle on a set of core apps, I tend to bounce around a lot. I also find switching up apps to be a healthy way to make sure your devices/services are still meeting the majority of your needs.

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