It’s almost impossible to not have heard something about cryptocurrency these days. Whether it’s on the news, social media, or just a friend who can’t stop bragging about his big Bitcoin score, it feels like crypto is everywhere. Is it money? Is it an investment? Can it make you rich? Exactly how does everything work? If you have serious crypto FOMO (fear of missing out) or are just wondering what the hype is about, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a beginner’s guide to cryptocurrency.

What is Cryptocurrency?

The most basic definition of crypto is that it’s a form of digital currency. It can be used to buy goods or services, both online and in real life. There are dozens of different cryptocurrencies, although you’ve probably heard of the major ones — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dogecoin.

These digital currencies are sold in units called “coins” or “tokens.” You have to buy them with regular money (unless you mine them yourself – more on that in a minute). The price of a single coin or token goes up and down all the time, much like the stock market.

How is Cryptocurrency Created?

This gets a bit tricky – and a bit technical. Crypto uses a technology called blockchain. It’s a decentralized system, spread across many computers, that manages and records every single transaction. This technology has appeal because it’s very secure and incredibly fast.

Before a coin hits the blockchain, though, it has to be created in the first place. This is typically done via “mining.” It’s a complicated process, but it basically boils down to using your computer’s processing power to solve extremely complex mathematical problems. In exchange, you can be granted a small amount of the coin.

However, mining is incredibly slow and costly. Your laptop from BestBuy isn’t going to cut it. You’d need a whole network of incredibly powerful processors and spend a small fortune on electricity to keep it all humming 24/7. There’s also no guarantee you’ll earn the token, because someone else might prove they solved the required equations first.

What is Crypto Worth?

This is another question that doesn’t have a single answer. Like we said, there are many different cryptocurrencies available. Bitcoin, the most popular, is valued at thousands per coin.

On the other hand, there are plenty of “budget” coins available for less than a dollar per coin. The popular Dogecoin was available for pennies until it suddenly shot up in price in 2021. Since then, it’s levelled off around low cents per coin.

Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash both hover in the few hundred dollar range. Ethereum is a few thousand dollars per coin, depending on the price fluctuations. Other coins like Stellar, Curve, and Cardano can be bought for a few dollars per coin or less.

Why Is Bitcoin So Valuable?

When Bitcoin was created, the first few coins were very easy to mine. Now, it’s incredibly hard to mine even a single coin. The process was designed to get progressively harder over time. The reason for that is there’s a maximum amount of Bitcoin that will ever be available: 21 million Bitcoins.

Once the last Bitcoin is eventually mined, that’s it. No more Bitcoins will ever exist in the future. So with a limited supply and an increasing demand, the laws of economics kick in and drive up the price. Some other cryptocurrencies don’t have a limit of the number of coins created, meaning that supply can (theoretically) always outpace demand, keeping their prices low.

Is Crypto a Good Investment?

This is probably the million-dollar question. You’ve probably heard stories about the lucky individuals who bought Bitcoin on a whim when it was first introduced in 2009. You could get a single coin for as little as $1 at first. By 2011, the price jumped up to $32 per Bitcoin, then down to $2, and then back up $13.50.

Now a single Bitcoin is worth a lot. If you invested $1,000 when the price was $13.50, you’d be sitting on millions right now. Even Dogecoin rose in value over 12,000 percent at one point in early 2021.

Unfortunately, these stories are the exception rather than the rule. Yes, some people have made money getting into crypto early and then selling when the prices spike. But like the stock market, these things are hard to time. Plenty of people bought into the hype when Bitcoin was at $60,000 or Dogecoin was at $0.50, thinking it was going to go up forever. Those investors are currently sitting on heavy losses if they sell their crypto off now.

To put it simply: all investments contain a certain degree of risk. The wild price fluctuations of crypto mean investing is not for the faint of heart. You could see massive returns. You could just as easily lose most (or all) of your money. Never invest money you can’t afford to lose, especially in something as volatile as cryptocurrency.

Why Is Crypto Suddenly So Popular?

In the beginning, it seemed like crypto was just for tech bros or IT nerds. (No disrespect to any self-proclaimed nerd.) Now it’s everywhere. It even took over Reddit for a while. Mainstream news is covering it. Suburban soccer moms are even opening their own crypto accounts. Why is everyone suddenly so gung-ho on cryptocurrency?

Part of the answer is that previously-mentioned FOMO. Something gets trendy, gains popularity, and then every average person wants to make sure they get in on it too. There are lots of people who only buy crypto because they think it’s the next big investment opportunity. After all, imagine getting in early on Apple, Google, or Amazon stock, as a comparison! However, there’s more to crypto’s recent rise.

The last decade or so has been uncertain, to say the least. There’s been multiple financial crises, growing concern over climate change, multiple extremely divisive presidential elections in the United States, and (of course) a global pandemic. Plenty of people have seen their long-term financial prospects dry up. Mistrust of the Federal Government and big banks is growing. So a decentralized form of money like cryptocurrency appeals to a lot of folx.

How Do I Buy Crypto?

In order to buy your own cryptocurrency, you need one of two things: either a crypto wallet or a brokerage account with a firm that offers crypto for sale. One of the most popular online markets for cryptocurrency in the U.S. is Coinbase. Or Coinberry, in Canada.

A crypto wallet is software for your PC or smartphone. It uses encryption to secure your coins and ensure that every transaction is safe. There are plenty to choose from, so do a little research before you pick one. Once set up, you can use your wallet address to send and receive crypto when you buy or sell it.

In recent months, many online investing apps like Robinhood or WealthSimple (in Canada) are now selling cryptocurrencies. You simply fund your brokerage account with your own money, and then use it to buy your coin of choice. You don’t need a crypto wallet, since your coins stay safe inside your investing app. The downside of this method is that you can’t actually use your coins for anything other than investing. You’d need to convert them back into regular cash in order to actually buy something.

What Can I Buy With My Crypto?

Although many people are only using cryptocurrency as a speculative investment, it’s still a currency at its core. That means you can pay for things with it, if you want. The only catch, of course, is that you have to be shopping somewhere that accepts Bitcoin (or Ethereum or Dogecoin or whatever) as acceptable currency.

Tesla Motors famously started to accept Bitcoin payments for their electric vehicles, before pausing that decision in 2021 based on environmental concerns. However, there are still hundreds of businesses – both online or brick-and-mortar locations – that accept various cryptocurrencies as payment. The list continues to grow all the time. You can even donate to certain charities with Bitcoin!

Are Cryptocurrencies Legal?

The legality of cryptocurrencies largely depends on where you live. In the United States, they are perfectly legal. However, China has pretty much banned all cryptocurrencies. And then there’s El Salvador, which recently adopted Bitcoin as legal tender on a federal level. In short, look up your local laws before making the plunge into buying or selling crypto.

So far, most governments have stayed away from trying to regulate cryptocurrency. After all, the whole point of crypto is to have a decentralized, deregulated form of currency that isn’t subject to the whims of a Federal Treasury (who can influence interest and inflation rates with their decisions). However, there are some concerns that governments will step in if crypto ends up being used to launder money, commit tax evasion, or defraud innocent citizens on a regular basis.

Are Cryptocurrencies Safe?

For the most part, yes, cryptocurrencies are safe. That is, your coins won’t magically disappear out of your wallet or brokerage account. However, they remain extremely volatile in terms of value.

If you invested $10,000 in your crypto of choice, it could be worth $25,000 in a couple weeks. Or it could be worth $2,000. So in terms of being a “safe investment,” they definitely aren’t a sure thing. While the big “brand name” coins like Bitcoin or Ethereum are fairly safe to own, there are some things you should watch out for.

Plenty of smaller cryptocurrencies have been founded in recent months, claiming to be “the next Bitcoin.” However, critics are quick to point out that these seem a lot like “pump and dump” scams, where online influencers promote a new crypto coin, encourage people to buy it up, and then sell their own stake when the price goes up. That leaves the retail investors stuck holding heavy losses. With more than 10,000 different cryptocurrencies available on the market, it can be hard to figure out which ones are the safest.

The Future of Cryptocurrency

Crypto hit a bunch of all-time highs in the first half of 2021, but the markets have cooled off since. Is the bubble slowly popping? Or is this just an expected dip before the value of various coins spikes up again in the future?

No one knows the answers to these questions. If we could predict the financial future with that much accuracy, we wouldn’t be writing articles about cryptocurrency. Things could go a number of ways, since the future is wildly unpredictable.

More governments could attempt to regulate cryptocurrency, which would probably hurt its value. On the other hand, it continues to increase in popularity. With coins like Bitcoin having a finite supply, the continued demand could potentially keep the price going up. There’s also chatter that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could approve a “Crypto ETF” — an investment fund of various crypto coins. That would be a big boom for speculative investors.

If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the crypto waters, follow a few basic rules. Don’t expect to get rich quick. Don’t risk money that you can’t afford to lose. Do as much research as you can on your coin of choice. Finally, try to have a little bit of fun. Crypto is definitely an interesting and exciting new merger between the technology and finance spheres.

Most laptops these days come with a built-in webcam. However, if you’re still rocking a desktop (with no camera), have a broken cam, or simply need something higher quality than the cheap model built into your computer, you can turn to your iPhone. The HD camera in your smartphone can, in a pinch, make a great webcam. Whether you’re attending remote meetings or simply trying to launch your career as a Twitch streamer, you can use your iPhone as a makeshift webcam.

Specialty Apps

“There’s an app for that!” 

Yes, Apple’s marketing tagline for their App Store does apply here. In fact, there are multiple apps for this particular need. Some come without fees. Others are paid. Some offer limited functionality for no fees, with advanced features locked behind a paywall. Regardless, there’s probably an option that will work for you.

We should point out that all of these apps require you to also download a small application for your PC too. The smartphone app will connect to the PC software (which is essentially running a small server for your phone to communicate with). So make sure you download both parts in order to make these apps work properly.

iVCam

The good news is that iVCam will do the job, without fees. You simply download the app to your iPhone (and the accompanying software for your PC). After that, the set-up is quite simple. Your PC will use whatever your iPhone camera sees as its webcam feed.

The no-fee version of iVCam does include a small watermark. If you want to remove it (and unlock some other advanced features, like higher resolutions and the ability to record video), you’ll have to part with some cash. You can buy an annual subscription or pay a one-time fee to unlock all the premium features, forever. 

EpocCam

EpocCam is very similar to iVCam. You download the app and install the driver on your PC. After that, you can use a USB connection to make your iPhone work as your webcam. And much like the previously discussed app, EpocCam locks some of its niftier features behind a paywall.

Instead of using in-app purchases, there are two entirely separate apps. The complimentary one works just fine, but paying for the premium version will allow you to remove the watermark, access full 1080p video, use a Wifi connection, replace your background digitally, use your flashlight, and a few other odds and ends. It’s also a bit cheaper than iVCam, for anyone on a budget.

iCam

iCam is yet another app that allows you to use your iPhone as a PC webcam. Unfortunately, there’s no complimentary version to try out first. 

It doesn’t have quite as many features as the other two apps we’ve mentioned. It also relies on UPnP for a wireless connection to your PC. That gives some people issues, depending on their wireless router. 

Tips and Tricks

No matter which app you end up deciding to use, there are some more ways to improve the entire experience. If you want the best quality video footage for your meeting, livestream, or whatever else you’re needing a webcam for, try to follow some (or all) of these tips.

Use a Stand or Tripod

No one wants to watch your shaky video footage like it’s some kind of modern, online Blair Witch documentary. So do everyone a favor and get yourself some sort of stand or tripod. You can get a bunch of different styles fairly cheap on Amazon. 

If you don’t have a tripod, you should still rig something up. Just MacGyver yourself up a sturdy stand using books, binder clips, or whatever else you have laying around. Just please, we beg you, don’t attend your Monday Morning Meeting by just holding your phone in front of your face. It’s incredibly distracting.

Opt For a Wired Connection

While the apps we discussed above mostly have wireless options, it’s best to skip them. A wired USB connection will always provide a more consistent and high-quality video feed. So unless whatever you’re streaming requires you to be up and moving around, go ahead and plug your iPhone directly to your PC.

As an added bonus, using a wired connection will eliminate any potential issues with your phone’s battery dying mid-stream. Sending live HD video to your PC over Wifi will really tank your iPhone’s battery in a hurry. Might as well just plug it in, if possible.

Use Good Lighting

If you’re going to have your face on-screen, you might as well make sure you look half-decent. While the work-from-home revolution may tempt you to attend meetings unshaven, unwashed, or just generally looking disheveled, you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference some proper lighting can make.

Turn on the lights in your room. If you can, position yourself somewhere that’s full of natural light from a window or skylight. If you plan to be on a webcam often, you can buy a cheap ring light online. (As a bonus, most ring lights can also double as your stand/tripod). If all else fails, you can even use your iPhone’s back camera and turn your LED flash on to light up your video. 

Use Headphones

Your laptop probably has a built-in microphone. Your iPhone, of course, also has one. You may even have a USB mic that you use for voice recording or meetings. However, for the best sound quality (including the audio you transmit to whoever is watching you), consider using a set of headphones with a built-in microphone.

Apple’s AirPods (or AirPod Pros) are both great choices, since they already work so well with your iPhone. But any headset with a mic will do the trick, really. This especially helps if you happen to be positioned a bit far from your laptop mic. Having the mic in your headphones be only a few inches from your mouth (and specifically designed to pick up what you’re saying) will help you sound loud and clear.

Use The Native Apps Instead

While the apps we discussed above will certainly get the job done, you should also consider just using the official app for whatever platform you need a webcam for. For meetings, there are official apps for web-conferencing software like Zoom, Slack, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams. Just download those, sign in, and use them for your meeting (while following our other tips about using a stand and having good lighting). 

You can also use your iPhone to stream on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. The only downside is that you can’t get too advanced, like streaming a video game, sharing your screen, or using custom overlay graphics. For basic video meetings, though, go ahead and use first-party apps instead of creating a workaround for your PC.

Learn More Today

In a world where remote work and online interaction are more common than ever, having a high-quality webcam can make a big difference. With your iPhone and a few easy tweaks, you can upgrade your video quality for meetings, livestreams, or even casual calls without purchasing a new webcam. From choosing the right app to improving lighting and sound, these small adjustments can create a more professional and engaging experience. So whether you’re on a budget or just looking to enhance your setup, turning your iPhone into a versatile, high-quality webcam is a simple solution that can elevate your digital presence.

Apple first released the AirPods in 2016. People loved the way these wireless earbuds worked seamlessly with their iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads. Then, Apple one-upped itself with the AirPod Pros. With better waterproofing, active noise cancellation, and a ton of additional features, the Pros became the earbud of choice for many. Whether you use your AirPod Pros in an office, at the gym, or while running the local trails, there are a ton of cool features that you might not know about.

Test Your Tip Sizes

Every pair of AirPod Pros comes with three sets of silicone tips. You can choose the best fit, depending on the size and shape of your ears. This is an especially great addition for those who just couldn’t quite get the original AirPods to fit in their ear correctly.

Apple takes things one step further, though. When you select your AirPod Pros from the Bluetooth menu, you can tap “Ear Tip Fit Test.” It will walk you through a short audio test and determine whether your AirPods are fitting snugly in your ears or not. If they aren’t, you can try a different size.

Connect Directly to Apple TV

Plenty of smart devices for streaming TV only give you the option of sending the audio directly to your TV speakers. While some devices (and even TVs) are starting to include Bluetooth out features, using an Apple TV and a pair of AirPod Pros is a super simple solution. 

Just open up the Bluetooth settings on your Apple TV menu and connect your AirPod Pros. Now you can binge Ted Lasso all night without waking up your partner, children, or neighbors.

Use Live Listen

Most people never use the Live Listen feature, but it can come in quite handy. It allows you to use your iPhone as a microphone, transmitting the audio directly to your AirPods. The only catch is that you have to keep your two devices within range of each other for it to work. Still, it can be great if you’re hard of hearing or just can’t sit close enough to the audio source you’re trying to listen to.

Go to your Control Center and tap the little ear icon. If it’s not there, you may have to enable the Hearing widget from settings. Tap the “Live Listen” to turn it on. Then just set your iPhone down close to the thing you want to hear, and the sound will be sent directly to your AirPods.

Read Your Text Messages (Or Announce Calls)

Apple now prompts you to set up this feature the first time you connect your AirPod Pros to your iPhone, so you may already know about it. If you don’t, it can be an extremely handy way to know when someone is trying to reach you but you can’t look at your phone right away. Many people use this feature while working out at the gym or running outdoors.

You can toggle this feature on and off in the “Siri and Search” section of your iPhone settings. When enabled, Siri will automatically dictate incoming text messages or announce who is calling you. Then you can choose to answer the call (click the AirPod stem once) or reply to the message (Siri will keep listening for a few seconds after). 

Switch Between Modes

The biggest difference between regular AirPods and the Pro version is the active noise cancellation. AirPod Pros use a series of microphones to detect any surrounding noise. Then it sends sound inverse and neutralizing sound waves into your ears to cancel it out. The result is pretty incredible.

There’s also a mode called “Transparency.” It’s basically the opposite of noise canceling, where the AirPods purposely allow outside noise to come in. That means you’ll be able to hear the things around you while you’re listening to music – your children calling your name, your departure flight being announced, or that car behind you while biking.

By default, you can switch between these modes without even using your phone. Just press and hold the button on your AirPod stem until you hear the beep. If you don’t want to use either of these modes (there is a middle-ground), you’ll need to select it with your phone.

Change Your AirPod’s Name

By default, your AirPods will be called something like “John’s AirPod Pros” the first time you connect them. Maybe that’s cool with you. However, if you want something a bit more unique, you can actually change the name of your AirPods.

First, open up your AirPods and make sure they are connected to your phone. Then go to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the little ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods. That will bring you to another settings menu with more options. If you tap on the current name of your AirPods, you can change them to whatever you want.

We suggest you change them to your email address or phone number. Name them something like “If Found: name@domain.com.” That might make it more likely they are returned to you if they end up lost.

Share Your Audio

Are you vibing to a new song and just need to share it with your bestie? Except maybe you’re a bit squeamish about sharing earbuds with another human? If you’re both using AirPods (Pros, Max, or even regular ones), you can share audio with just a few clicks.

While listening to something, pull up your Control Center and tap on the AirPlay icon. Then hit the Share Audio button. If your friend’s AirPods are already in their ears, you should see them listee there. Send your new favorite track directly to their ears! As a bonus, you can control the volume for each person separately.

Change The Controls

The AirPod Pros come with default controls. A single press of the stem button starts and stops music (or answers and ends calls). A double-press skips to the next track. A triple-press skips back to the previous track. On the regular AirPods, you can customize these actions to do different things. Unfortunately, you can’t change them on the AirPod Pros.

You can, however, change what the long presses do. Instead of toggling between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, you can set the long presses to turn both modes off or even use it to activate Siri. 

Improve Sound Quality (with accessibility features)

This one is pretty hidden unless you know where to look. While the AirPod Pros already sound great right out of the box, you may want to tweak them a bit more to your liking. If you navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations, you can find some additional options.

You’ll hear sample audio and then you can choose from a few different options to make it sound slightly different. Maybe you want to boost softer frequencies or optimize your settings for podcasts instead of music. While these settings were originally designed to assist those with hearing impairments, regular audiophiles enjoy tinkering with them too.

Use Spatial Audio

The Spatial Audio feature made its debut in iOS 14. It brings head tracking and a more immersive surround sound mode into play when watching supported videos. Imagine you’re watching a scary movie with your AirPod Pros in. Suddenly, you hear a growl that literally sounds like it’s behind you. If you turn your head around, the next one will sound like it’s in front of you.

You may have been prompted to set up Spatial Audio when you first connected your AirPod Pros to your iPhone. If not, you can access it in the AirPod settings menu when you tap on your headphones in the Bluetooth menu.

Talk Directly To Siri

If you have “Hey Siri” enabled on your iPhone, you already know that you can trigger Apple’s virtual assistant without even touching your phone. This functionality also crosses over to your AirPods, meaning you can summon Siri anytime you’re wearing them.

Many people use this when they’re exercising. For example, you can say, “Hey Siri, shuffle my running music mix” or “Hey Siri, text [insert name] and let them know that I’ll be home in an hour.”

You can also ask Siri about the weather, the score of a game, or even how much battery life is left on your AirPods. And you can do it without taking your phone out of your pocket.

Connect To a PC (or other non-Apple products)

There’s no denying this simple truth: AirPods of any kind simply work better with Apple devices. From seamless connections to more diverse options, Apple’s hardware was designed to work together in a simple and elegant way.

However, at the end of the day, AirPods are just Bluetooth devices. That means you can connect them to any non-Apple device that also supports Bluetooth. So your Android phone or Windows PC both work with AirPods. Just press and hold the button on the back of your AirPods case until the light on the front is flashing. Then open the Bluetooth menu on your desired device and look for new pairings. Click on the AirPods and you’re all set.

Wireless Charging

The first generation AirPods sadly did not come with wireless charging. Apple quickly rectified that with the second-generation models. When the AirPod Pros were released, wireless charging was built directly into every pair. It’s much more convenient than having to track down an extra lightning charger.

Simply put your AirPod Pros in their case and plop the case down on the iPhone-compatible wireless charging pad. The light on the AirPod case will briefly illuminate to let you know they’re charging. Best of all, it takes very little time to recharge your AirPods – even when doing it wirelessly.

Find My AirPods

Apple’s ‘Find My’ device tracking feature has long been a useful one. The only problem, when it comes to AirPods at least, is that devices need to be actively connected to the internet to be tracked. Since AirPods are only Bluetooth enabled, they could only really show the last place they were used. That’s not great if they’ve been lost, stolen, or otherwise misplaced. A new feature in iOS15 gives you the ability to track your AirPods using the Find My feature. As long as your AirPods are near another Find My device (say, your iPad or MacBook), they will also update their location. Only a slight improvement, but a welcome one nonetheless.

Wearable technology has become a huge industry. With so many options to choose from, how do you pick which fitness tracker is right for you? Well, it depends on a few things. What are your exact needs or goals? What kind of smartphone do you use? What kind of workouts do you prefer? Let’s break down the best options for fitness trackers you can buy right now.

Fitbit Charge 5

We would have highlighted the Fitbit Charge 4 as one of the best all-around trackers. And it’s still a very good choice. However, Fitbit announced its successor – the Charge 5 – would be released in September 2021. It includes all the best things about the Charge 4 – sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, exercise tracking, stress management, built-in GPS, ECG scans, and 7-day battery life – with a gorgeous new color screen.

For a bit less money, the Charge 4 is still a great choice. Just keep in mind that the Charge models don’t act as full-fledged smartwatches. They will display your texts (and some other notifications), but if you’re looking for more functionality beyond fitness tracking, you might want to skip these ones.

Apple Watch Series 6

If you already use an iPhone, you should strongly consider springing for an Apple Watch. The two devices work seamlessly together. The Apple Watch is chocked full of great features – fast charging, blood-oxygen monitoring, GPS, calorie tracking, and heart rate monitoring. It also serves as a full fledged smart watch, with access to text and email – plus additional apps to control your music or plan your workouts. The only real downside is the battery, which needs to be charged once every 24, roughly. It’s fast, at least.

Apple’s Fitness+ (subscription required) program also adds to the Apple Watch’s appeal. If a brand new Apple Watch (Series 7 is coming out soon!) is not in your budget, consider the Apple Watch SE. It’s more like the Series 5, missing a few features compared to the flagship model, but it’s cheaper. The Fitbit Sense is also a decent choice for those wanting a full smart watch in their fitness tracker, but aren’t in love with the Apple brand.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4

For those who aren’t deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, there’s the Samsung Galaxy Watch4. It’s a great choice for anyone who uses an Android smartphone. It has all the features you’d expect – heart rate monitoring, ECG reading, and body composition sensors. It tracks your workouts automatically and has full GPS tracking. It has slightly better battery life than the Apple Watch, but only just, at roughly 35 to 40 hours.

The Watch4 uses Google’s WearOD operating system, meaning it easily integrates with the rest of your Google accounts and services. Like the Apple Watch, you can download more apps to the Galaxy Watch4, such as Spotify to control your workout music or Maps to ensure you don’t get lost on those long trail runs.

Garmin Forerunner 245

Garmin has a whole lineup of smartwatches and fitness trackers to choose from. Some of them are designed specifically for serious long distance runners or triathletes. For something a little more budget friendly, consider the Forerunner 245.

It has a  seven day battery life, heart rate tracker, VO2 Max oxygen sensor, daily suggested workouts, the Garmin Coach feature, built-in GPS, and even sensors that track your running form. It also has a live tracking feature that helps you keep you safe while running alone or at night. The Garmin lineup is great for anyone who runs multiple times per week.

Coros Pace 2

If you find the Garmin lineup too pricey, we suggest the Coros Pace 2. Although it’s a lesser-known brand in the fitness tracking market, it’s still an excellent choice. This incredibly light and waterproof watch has all the normal features for tracking your runs, along with a battery that lasts for weeks. No other fitness tracker on this list compares when it comes to battery life.

The Pace 2 integrates with popular running app Strava. However, it doesn’t have quite all the same bells and whistles as the top-tier trackers. It keeps track of your heart rate while you’re running, swimming, or biking and has over 200 built-in exercises to work your entire body. The vibrant color LCD screen displays all your workout stats in real time.

Polar Grit X

If you find yourself in need of a more rugged fitness tracker, check out the Polar Grit X. Marketed as an “outdoor multisport” watch, it’s as great for workouts as it is for camping, hiking, and basically anything else you can throw at it.

The Grit X comes with built-in GPS, a compass, baromate, altimeter, and Polar’s unique Smart Coaching features. The battery lasts up to seven days and has multiple power-save options if you find yourself miles from an outlet to recharge it. It’s fully waterproof and was even tested at below zero temperatures. This watch is built to withstand whatever you can throw at it.

WHOOP Strap

And now for something completely different. Amazon is getting into the wearables market with the Whoop, a screenless fitness band that looks more like a bracelet than a smartwatch. It has some basic fitness tracking, but the real gimmick is measuring your body fat percentage and listening to the tone of your voice to determine how stressed you are. It promises to alert you when it detects you’re becoming irritable, allowing you to take a pause in order to relax again.

Do you feel comfortable wearing an Amazon product that is always listening to you? Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. That’s for you to decide. The best thing about the Whoop was that Amazon was giving it away after it was first released, in order to build a user base (although you had to sign up for a monthly subscription service). That offer doesn’t seem to be on the table anymore (plus Amazon’s claims of detecting your overall mental health via the sound of your voice are dubious science, at best). The Whoop is a neat idea, but not executed with much elegance.

Oura Ring

Don’t like watches or bracelets? There’s still a fitness tracker for you, in the form of the Ouro Ring. As you probably guessed, it’s a ring that slips around your finger and offers most of the usual fitness tracking data. It tracks your heart rate, activity minutes, and gives you a sleep score. It also presents your data (in an app) as a two-week baseline average, helping you better understand it.

The Ouro ring also detects your temperature. For users who menstruate, this can be extremely helpful in tracking your monthly cycle. The NBA even used Oura rings to track player temperature in their 2020 bubble, when Covid-19 concerns were at all-time highs. The rings are water resistant and the battery lasts up to seven days. 

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When it comes to wearable fitness technology, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re a serious athlete, a casual exerciser, or just looking to track daily wellness, the options are more versatile and advanced than ever. From feature-packed smartwatches like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch4 to specialized fitness trackers like the Garmin Forerunner and Polar Grit X, and even unique options like the Oura Ring or the WHOOP Strap, each device brings its own set of strengths. Choosing the right fitness tracker ultimately comes down to your personal preferences, lifestyle, and fitness goals. Explore your options, find a wearable that fits seamlessly into your life, and start making the most out of your fitness journey.

It’s often said that sports are the final frontier of scheduled television. Just about everything else is available on demand, from the nightly news to your favorite TV sitcoms and dramas. But when your favorite team plays Thursday at 7:00, you’re probably sitting at your TV when the hour arrives. At the same time, traditional cable TV packages continue their dramatic decline in popularity. A new generation of sports streaming services, however, has filled in the gap.

Why Use a Sports Streaming Service?

Consumers are drawn to sports streaming services for many reasons. Some want to cut ties with cable providers without losing access to live events. Others are superfans who want complete access without purchasing individual packages from each of the major leagues. There are many other personality types and consumer profiles in between, but they all share a passion for sports.

Streaming services deliver access to live games, but with added bonuses. First, they get around the blackout restrictions common to league-based streaming services. Most major North American leagues restrict viewer access to in-market games until local TV broadcasts have ended. Among other perks, most sports streaming services also allow viewers to store games in the cloud for later viewing.

FuboTV

FuboTV originated as a streaming service for soccer fans. It still excels at delivering all the action of the world’s best soccer leagues, but it’s also expanded. FuboTV hosts more than 100 channels, including ESPN and the NFL Network. New customers can give FuboTV a week-long tryout with no obligation. The service also supports dozens of non-sports channels, giving it added value during downtime.

Hulu + Live TV

Reviews generally acknowledge that FuboTV has the highest number of channels dedicated to sports programming. The service supports 14 live sports channels. In addition, Hulu + Live TV is often cited as the leading option for sports fans who want a diversified experience.

Hulu + Live TV affords viewers the chance to bundle the core service with ESPN+ for a modest price upgrade. Few other streaming services offer comparable combined access to sports and entertainment content. If you’re looking for an all-in-one provider, Hulu merits a closer look.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is another strong option for viewers seeking an all-inclusive experience. It supports more than 85 live channels in addition to an impressive lineup of specialty sports content.

YouTube TV customers get all four major U.S. networks. They also enjoy access to CBS Sports, NBC Sports, TNT, and four ESPN channels. In addition, YouTube TV links viewers to the NBA, NFL, and MLB networks along with niche channels for sports like golf and soccer.

Sling TV

Sling TV’s claim to fame is its low price point. The service stands alone in offering customizable programming access. Fans are often happy just signing up for Sling Orange, the company’s specialized service for sports content.

Reviewers also note that Sling TV provides a seamless streaming experience. It works best with reliable broadband internet, but video quality is still good even with a leaner connection.

ESPN+

ESPN+ earns inclusion in this list mainly for its very affordable price point. The service is ideal for budget-conscious sports fans. If ESPN broadcasts your favorite leagues and teams, the price can’t be beat.

The main downside is that ESPN+ doesn’t include live access to some major-league games. You can work around this limitation by bundling ESPN+ with other streaming services. However, this will also raise your monthly costs.

More Streaming Options for Live Sports

Sports fans have other options when it comes to streaming services. Honorable mention goes to DirecTV Stream. This service also offers extensive access to sports content, albeit at a higher price point.

It’s best to take a test drive before committing to a sports streaming service. Many of these services make it easy to opt-out, as few of them require long-term contracts. Even so, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and effort by trying out a service before formally signing up.

Playing video games on a PC (instead of on a dedicated gaming console) has always been a thing. However, PC gaming is having a bit of a golden age lately. While the Steam game store has been operating for a couple decades, PC gamers have a ton of new options, too. The Epic Game Store is throwing tons of money around securing a user base by offering complimentary games. More recently, Microsoft expanded their Game Pass service to include PCs running their Windows operating system. Long story short, PC gaming is hotter than ever.

Microsoft XBox Controller (Xbox One or Series X)

Why complicate things? If your gaming PC runs Microsoft Windows (and most of them do), go ahead and use a controller made by Microsoft. It just makes sense. It doesn’t matter whether you get one made for the Xbox One or the newer Xbox Series X. Both of them will work just fine with your Windows PC. 

You can opt for a wired model if you prefer, but the wireless version works equally well. You just have to connect the controller to your PC via Bluetooth and you’re good to go. If you game a lot, though, you may have to invest in a rechargeable battery (or battery pack). If your house also has an Xbox, the controller can perform double duty on both gaming platforms.

Sony DualSense Wireless

If you’re more of a PlayStation person, it might make sense to use your Sony DualSense Wireless controller to game on your PC. This controller is extremely well-made and durable. It features haptic feedback and “adaptive triggers,” which actually offer resistance under your fingers.

The only downside is that you won’t get access to some of these advanced features when using it with a PC. While some PlayStation games are programmed specifically to take advantage of them, most PC games won’t be. Still, the DualSense will easily connect to any gaming PC. Plus it has a built-in rechargeable battery, so you won’t burn through all those single-use AAs.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma

If you’re the kind of PC gamer who needs all their gear lit up with fancy RGB LED lights, check out the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma. It’s basically a wired clone of the standard Xbox controller – except it comes with a customizable RGB lighting display. 

Since the Wolverine V2 Chroma is wired, you don’t have to worry about those flashing lights sucking up precious battery life. You can even set the controller’s lights to react a certain way to in-game situations, if you want. This controller also features swappable thumbsticks and four extra buttons – two spare shoulder buttons and two extra paddles.

PowerA Enhanced

Believe it or not, gaming on a budget can be done. There are plenty of cheap (and even free) games available online. On top of that, you can build (or buy) a gaming PC without breaking the bank on the latest and greatest hardware. If your gaming budget is already tapped out, but you still need a controller, try the PowerA Enhanced wired controller.

You get a sturdy controller that is basically another clone of the traditional Xbox gamepad. While it doesn’t have the bells and whistles that some other controllers have, it does have a couple notable mentions. First, there’s a handy microphone mute switch directly on the front. There’s also some extra mappable buttons on the back. In short, you get a pretty great controller for a super-cheap price.

Logitech F310

Here’s another budget controller option. There’s nothing fancy about it, but it models itself after the old PS3 DualShock controller. It still has all the basics – two joysticks, shoulder bumpers/triggers, four standard face buttons, plus an 8-way directional pad.

This controller is probably best for PC gamers who prefer using a keyboard and mouse for most games. When you do come across a game that just works better with (or exclusively required) a gamepad, dust off the F310 and get playing.

Scuf Instinct and Impact

No more budget controllers. The Scuf Instinct and Impact models are high-end equipment for serious gamers. The real difference between the Instinct and the Impact is that the former is designed to also be used with the Xbox, and the latter is compatible with the PlayStation. Both, however, work great with your gaming PC.

The Scuf controllers are durable and customizable – in fact, you can order them with (or without) certain features and even choose your color. The only downside is the price. Some gamers will argue the price is still well worth it, considering the quality of the controller you get. 

Microsoft Elite Series 2

If you want the best of the best, look no further than the Microsoft Elite Series 2. It’s widely regarded as the go-to controller for any serious PC gamer.

In terms of features, it has a ton of customization options – you can tweak the buttons, joysticks, and paddles to your liking. It also boasts a 40-hour battery life via a rechargeable battery. You can even connect the Elite Series 2 to your iPhone or iPad if you also love mobile gaming. The price tag is definitely a bit of a shock – you could buy three regular Xbox controllers for the same price – but we’ve yet to hear of a single person who regretted buying the Elite Series 2.

Turtle Beach Recon

Turtle Beach is best known for making excellent gaming headphones, but their controller offerings are also quite good. The Recon is a great option for anyone not wanting to give even more money to Microsoft or Sony for a controller. This model is wired, meaning you’ll get the absolute best response time from your inputs.

Additional features include remappable buttons, audio enhancements (including dedicated voice control buttons), and a pair of bumpers on the backside. Turtle Beach marketing promises that you can use the advanced audio EQ options to highlight enemy footsteps or reloads.

Switch Pro Controller

Surprisingly, the Nintendo Switch Pro controller actually works pretty well as a PC controller. The only problem, however, is that it can be a bit tricky to get it connected and set-up with Windows. Once you pass that hurdle, though, the Pro is recognized basically as an Xbox controller by your PC.

The Pro features durable build quality and exceptional battery life. If you happen to have a Switch Pro controller laying around because you own a Switch, then great. You can give it a go for your PC gaming needs without spending more money. However, if you don’t happen to already own one, it’s probably not going to be your first choice.

Sony DualShock 4

Speaking of controllers you may already have laying around the house, the Sony DualShock 4 (originally designed for the PS4) also makes a really good PC controller. It has an extremely comfortable (and familiar) design, a customizable touch bar, and full Steam support.

Unfortunately (and somewhat predictably, given Sony and Microsoft’s opposing roles in the console wars), the DualShock 4 doesn’t get the full native Windows support in the same way that an Xbox controller (or clone) does. Much like the Switch Pro, the DualShock 4 is a great choice for PC gaming, but maybe only if you already own it.

Astro C40 TR

The Astro C40 TR is, by far, the most expensive controller on this list. It’s definitely one of the most feature-rich PC controllers you’ll ever find.

The C40 TR features full remappable buttons, can be used both wired and wirelessly, adjustable trigger/stick sensitivities, and entirely swappable components. In fact, you can even adjust the location of the joysticks and buttons. That means you can set-up your controller with offset sticks, like the Xbox gamepad, or keep them in-line like the PlayStation models.

Astro is best known for making extremely high-end gaming headsets. Their premier game controller more than lives up to their lofty reputation.

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Ultimately, selecting the best PC gaming controller depends on your preferences and needs. From budget-friendly options like the Logitech F310 and PowerA Enhanced to premium choices such as the Astro C40 TR and Microsoft Elite Series 2, there’s a controller for every type of gamer. Each model offers unique features, from haptic feedback and customizable lighting to fully mappable buttons and swappable components, allowing you to elevate your gaming experience. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a dedicated enthusiast, finding the right controller can enhance gameplay and make the most of your PC gaming setup.