Quick Links Summary There are many different file types used for audio. Most people know MP3, M4A, WAV, or FLAC, but one of the most popular modern audio codecs is OPUS. It’s used a lot in streaming, and some of your favorite apps rely on this oddly named format. What is OPUS? OPUS is a modern, high-fidelity, real-time, royalty-free, and open-sourceaudio codec. It’s similar in purpose to otherlossyaudio codecs such as MP3, AAC, and Vorbis, though many unique qualities distinguish it from its peers....

Companies have slowly been hiking the prices of games from the time-honored $60 to $70 or even $80, eliciting much grumbling from gamers. However, games should probably cost more than that, and I’d still pay for them anyway. Video Games Are Weirdly Inflation-Resistant By the early 2000s, it was common to see newly-released games that cost between $40 and $60. Now, in the year 2025, it is still common to see games at that price....

As fun as it is to play through a game as its hero, there’s a certain allure that comes from being a villain. Even games with morality systems often don’t delve too deeply into what it means to be truly evil. The games on this list don’t shy away from the concept, and even reward it, making them great choices for those who want to play fast and loose with righteousness....

Have you ever selected a dialogue option in a game, only to realize it really didn’t matter which one you chose? Something I’ve noticed as of late is how often games present choices like this to us, but everything plays out the same regardless. For a long while, this left me bitter about games asking me to make decisions. Thankfully, I’ve since played quite a few that have shown me it’s very possible for my decisions to matter....

The cosmos is truly magnificent, partly due to how massive it is. No matter how much we learn about space, there are always new incredible things to discover, each more amazing than the last. If you’re looking to impress your friends with some rare space facts, these gems will serve you well. 3The Largest Known Star Is 2,150 Times the Size of Our Sun Our Sun is huge, relative to us....

Quick Links Shooting videos can be a great way to remember a trip, but if you also like to share your travel videos with friends, there are a number of things you’re able to do to make it more likely they will enjoy viewing them. Even better, some of the keys to making your videos enjoyable to watch also make them easier to shoot. Think Entertaining, Not a Record of Your Trip When you watch your own videos, it brings back all the memories and lets you relive the experiences....

Quick Links Summary Number pads are one of those things in life that you either use for hours every day or forget they exist. I belong to the latter camp. I like to get rid of things I don’t use, and my next victim is the number pad. I Never Use the Number Pad I’m a leftie, but thanks to years of experience using a computer mouse with my right hand, I got comfortable using the right-handed configuration....

A healthy body is a healthy mind. That’s why I’ve made a point out of making my self-care routine easier and more fun with these six gadgets. It’s worth noting that many items on this list have cheaper alternatives if you’re in the market for a budgeted quality-of-life improvement. 6Electric Toothbrush Honestly, there’s little reason not to invest in an electric toothbrush. They provide a superior cleaning experience and end up being cheaper and less wasteful than buying disposables, even when factoring in the minor long-term cost of replacement brush heads....

Quick Links Groucho Marx had the right idea when he said that he wanted to live forever or die trying. There are plenty of things we should be doing to not only extend our lifespans but also how long we remain healthy. The good news is that help is available. I’m using a selection of iPhone apps to try and live forever by moving more, making exercise a core part of my routine, eating better, and taking care of my mental health....

Black holes are some of the weirdest, most fascinating things in the universe, but thanks to sci-fi and pop culture, a lot of what people think they know about them isn’t actually true. Scientists have been studying black holes for decades, and while there’s still plenty we don’t fully understand, we do know that some of the most common ideas about them are way off. 9Black Holes Are Cosmic Vacuum Cleaners A lot of people thinkblack holes just roam around space, sucking up everything like some kind of cosmic Roomba....

Summary Unlike smartphones and computers, tablets sit in a category of gadgets that not as many people deem essential. However, when it comes to kids, there’s no better device. TheAmazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet (2023)is made with kids in mind, but it’s not the soft case that stands out. Amazon calls the Fire HD 10 Kids (2023) the “13th generation,” but it’s actually only the third kids model the company has released....

Quick Links It’s natural to wear your smartwatch the same way you would wear any other watch. However, if you’re not wearing itthe right way,it can interfere with the accuracy of the health sensors. Why You Shouldn’t Wear a Smartwatch Like a Traditional Wristwatch The smartwatch sensors need to make perfect contact with your skin to accurately read your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and so on. Even a tiny gap can significantly reduce its efficiency and produce inaccurate data....

Quick Links Those old tapes in that cardboard box in your basement aren’t going to last forever. Luckily, you can bring them back to life with a cassette-to-MP3 converter kit. They’re easy to use, affordable, and some do much more than digitize tapes. What to Look for in Cassette-to-MP3 Converters There are plenty of great options out there to convert your cassette tapes to MP3, and most of them will get the job done well enough....