Ben PattersonSenior Writer, PCWorld
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and home-theater devices.
Best cheap laptops: We rate the best-selling deals on Amazon
The best cheap laptops on Amazon give you a good set of features and few regrets. We sift through the bestselling models and pick the ones with best bang for buck.
The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box just got its own gradient LED lightstrip
The new lightstrip has separate LED segments that can glow in different colors at the same time. Signify is also re-introducing the Philips Hue Iris table lamp.
LIFX’s latest smart bulb boasts germ-fighting LEDs
The $70 LIFX Clean antibacterial smart bulb can emit the same spectrum of HEV light used by hospitals and other “clean” environments, LIFX says.
Lenovo’s pared-down Smart Clock Essential has an old-school LED display
The basic LED on the $50 Smart Clock Essential only tells you the time and temperature, but you can still ask Google Assistant to set an alarm.
Some of Netflix’s most popular movies and TV shows are streaming for free
"Bird Box", "Murder Mystery," "When They See Us" and more available for free now, along with the first episodes of hit TV shows such as "Stranger Things" and "Grace and Frankie."
Soundbar shoppers: Consider these 10 essential features
From Dolby Atmos to eARC, weigh these key features when choosing a soundbar.
A Google Nest Hub might join you for your next hotel stay
Google’s seven-inch Nest Hub smart display is about to double as a bellhop.
Netgear’s new Meural WiFi Photo Frame focuses on family snapshots
The Wi-Fi-enabled frame from Netgear-owned Meural syncs with photo albums on your iPhone or Android phone.
Aura Carver review: This landscape-only photo frame automatically pairs portrait images
The Aura Carver picture frame uses AI to ensure you don’t see letterbox bars when the frame is displaying portrait images.
Zoom will arrive on Amazon, Facebook, and Google smart displays this year
Zoom for Home will debut on Facebook Portal displays in September, followed by Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest displays before the year is out.
Distance learning: 4 smart tech solutions for keeping kids on track
Get some badly needed school-from-home help from Alexa, Google Assistant, your smart lights, and more.
Its arsenal of virtual 3D modes is impressive, but without Wi-Fi, the HT-G700 is missing a bevy of key features given its price tag.
The latest version of Philips Hue’s Lightstrip Plus is perfect for accent lighting and it doesn’t require a bridge, but we’re concerned about its durability.
Google Assistant’s new Family Bell feature adds structure to endless summer days
Now you can ask Google to set daily reminder bells for the whole family, as well as set the mood for school and broadcast messages to a specific room.
ADT will sell and install Nest devices under $450 million Google deal
Nest cameras and displays will soon become the “cornerstone” of ADT’s smart home offerings, Google says.