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Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising
THE PRICE IS…WRONG Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHETHER it's early Christmas shopping or just a treat, buying new phones, TVs, and gadgets off Amazon can end up being a costly nightmare. There are loads of simple mistakes that could be costing you thousands, from getting sucked in by flashy TV specs you don't need, ignoring a little-known iPhone menu that reveals if you're being scammed, and falling for a costly Amazon "price trick". 16 The iPhone 16 is the latest model – but you don't necessarily need it Credit: Apple 16 Refurbished schemes are an easy way to bag huge discounts on top tech – without the downsides of bagging a used phone from a mate or stranger Credit: Apple / The Sun Here are some of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you're snapping up new gadgets. PHONE SHOPPING MISTAKES Mistake 1 – Ignoring official 'refurbished' schemes It's easy to forget that buying phones isn't just a choice between a new mobile from the shop or a used one via eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There's a third (and easily missed) option: certified refurbished schemes. Many gadget makers and retailers have dedicated services where they restore used or unboxed phones so that they're basically as good as new, but with big discounts. Apple is a good example. Go to the website and look for the Certified Refurbished section here. There you'll find top iPhone models that have been fully tested, include a one-year warranty, a brand new box with all accessories and cables, and a fresh battery too. And they're all heavily discounted because they're "refurbished". Right now, you can get £310 savings on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models (but we've seen discounts as high as £460 before). Samsung has a similar scheme called Certified Re-Newed here. iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit And again, you'll get gadgets in a brand new box with a cable, SIM ejector, plus a year-long warranty. Then there are third-party marketplaces like Back Market that also refurbish mobiles. So don't pay full price for a phone without checking the refurbished version too. Just remember: you might struggle to find refurbished units for the absolute-newest phone models. Mistake 2 – Buying a used phone with fake parts When you're buying a used phone from a person directly, you'll often be nabbing it at a saving. 16 Apple has set up the iPhone to show when it's packing fake parts Credit: Apple But that person might have secretly repaired the mobile with fake parts – and not told you. Now you've got an iPhone that might break down, not work properly, and require expensive repairs. Not only that, but it'll affect the resale value of your mobile too. You'll want to get into Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History. This will show parts of your iPhone, and whether they're legit or not. "If a part is labelled Genuine Apple Part, the part has been replaced with a genuine Apple part using genuine Apple parts and processes," Apple explained. "If a part is labelled Unknown Part, this means that the installation is incomplete. "Or the part was replaced with a non-genuine part, was previously used or installed in another iPhone, or isn't functioning as expected." If you're not seeing the menu, it means your iPhone hasn't had any parts swapped. 16 If an iPhone has been repaired, you can see in Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History Credit: Apple You should check this page before you accept the smartphone from whoever you're buying it from. "Genuine Apple parts are designed to fit precisely within the device and provide optimal performance, safety, and reliability," Apple explained. "Repairs performed by Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers are covered by Apple's warranty. "Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine parts might affect the functionality, safety, security, and privacy of the device." Apple adds: "Using non-genuine batteries might also result in unexpected behaviour after installation, device software updates, or while charging. "Using non-genuine batteries might also lead to safety issues." Mistake 3 – Not looking at the phone's 'software' version All phones run on an operating system, with settings, menus, and design. 16 Google's latest phone software is called Android 16 – but not all mobiles can run it Credit: Google Apple's iPhone runs on iOS and most other mobiles run on Google's Android. These operating systems are updated fairly regularly – usually receiving a major upgrade once a year. These updates are important for two reasons. The first is that they deliver new features, keeping your old mobile feeling fresh with the latest tricks. And the second is that software updates are how tech giants deliver security fixes to your phone. These fixes will close dangerous security loopholes that hackers can use to break into your device, accounts, and potentially even your finances. If your phone is too old to receive these updates, it's seriously exposed to cybercrime – not to mention missing out on new features too. So before you buy a used phone, make absolutely sure that it can still receive software updates. 16 Apple is rolling out iOS 26 to iPhones later this year, but millions of older devices will miss out Credit: Apple A quick Google search will reveal the latest iOS or Android software version, and whether your mobile can get it. For instance, only the following iPhones can get the iOS 26 update coming out in September: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) So if you buy an older iPhone than that, you're leaving yourself exposed. DON'T RISK AN ANCIENT MOBILE Here's some phone advice from The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach... Buying a phone from last year or the year before is a savvy move to save money. But if you're snapping up a mobile that's five years old, you might be in serious danger. Make absolutely sure that it is still getting updates – and isn't cut off, or about to be. If you're left with a gadget that can't get security updates, you're an open goal for cybercriminals. They can waltz right in through unpatched security holes that are well-known in hacker communities. Free security updates are one of your best defences against hackers. So don't leave it to chance and don't leave the front door to your digital life unlocked. Picture Credit: Sean Keach It's better to buy a newer model that will still get updates for several years, to avoid having to upgrade (and paying hundreds to do so). Sure, it might be tempted to get a very old phone on the cheap – but going too far back is simply not worth the risk. TV SHOPPING MISTAKES TVs can vary wildly in price – so if you bungle your purchase, the cost of the mistake can be huge. It's not like picking the wrong pastry at Greggs, you could be throwing away hundreds of pounds. Mistake 1 – 8K? Not OK First off, watch out for telly jargon – and 8K is at the top of the list. It sounds better than 4K, right? But splashing out on 8K TV is one of the easiest ways to end up spending way more than you need to. These terms relate to the resolution of your TV's screen – that's the number of pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that light up with colour to make up the picture that you see. If you have more of those tiny dots, your telly can show more detail. 16 Netflix has plenty of 4K telly – but you won't find any 8K movies in its library Credit: Netflix So a 720p HD TV would have a resolution of 1,280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically. That totals to 921,600 pixels across the entire screen. Here's how common resolutions compare: 720p HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) – 921,600 pixels total 1080p Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) – 2,073,600 pixels total 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) – 8,294,400 pixels total 8K Super HD (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) – 33,177,600 pixels total More pixels mean more potential detail on your TV screen – but that's not always particularly useful. For a start, your eyes will struggle to tell the difference between 4K and 8K. You'd need to have an absolutely enormous TV, bigger than would fit in most living rooms, to see a noticeable change. Or you'd need to be sitting so close to your telly that you're basically on top of it. But that's not even the biggest problem. 16 A 4K TV is a nice happy medium when it comes to quality and pricing – very few people need an 8K telly today Credit: Samsung To enjoy a 4K picture on a 4K TV, you also need a piece of 4K content – and the same is true for 8K. There's almost no 8K content out there. In fact, loads of telly still isn't even shown in 4K, never mind 8K. It's trickier to capture and produce 8K content, and streaming it would put a much bigger strain on home internet. So no one really bothers. And even though your 8K telly will promise to "upscale" lower quality footage, this is just computer trickery – and not comparable to the real thing. So I wouldn't bother with 8K just yet. At the same time, I'd recommend picking a 4K telly over a cheaper Full HD TV. You can get 4K TVs for very cheap now, and most streaming apps (like Netflix and Amazon Video) serve up 4K content. And if you buy a Full HD telly, you'll probably want to upgrade far sooner than if you get a more future-proofed 4K – so it's worth the slightly higher upfront cost. Mistake 2 – Plug-in power Just because your TV is slow does not mean you need a new one. You'll find that loads of cheap televisions run awfully slow, taking an age to navigate through menus. You click your remote and it feels like that signal is travelling through mud. That's because one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a cheap telly is by fitting it with a budget computer processor. 16 An Apple TV 4K is a great plug-in option for your telly – and will instantly speed it up Credit: Apple If you're happy with the picture, then the far cheaper option is to buy a plug-in streamer. My personal pick is the Apple TV 4K, which costs £149 and goes into the back of your telly. It's lightning quick to navigate with, and has all the top apps you'd want (BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, Prime Video, Now TV and so on). But you could also bag yourself a 4K Amazon Fire Stick (£60) or a 4K Roku box (£39) and use that as your main TV interface instead. That way, you get to enjoy your TV's picture – but it's the streaming stick that's powering what you see. And it means you don't need to pay hundreds (or even thousands) for a brand new telly that runs faster. Mistake 3 – Getting the wrong kind of TV What you absolutely don't want to do is get the wrong telly for your needs. 16 Make sure you pick a telly with plenty of ports – or you might find it lacking down the line Credit: Samsung Then you'll get it, use it for a few months, and realise you've made a big mistake. There are a few common bungles to watch out for. The first is the number of HDMI ports – you need to make sure that you have enough. If you're connecting a Fire Stick, an Xbox, and a Sky TV box, that's three HDMI ports gone straight away. And if the TV only has three ports, what do you do if you bag yourself the new Nintendo Switch 2? Whoops. Two HDMI ports will be a real struggle, so try to get a telly that has at least four. Secondly, if you're planning to do some serious gaming on the telly, pay attention to the refresh rate. Video is just a series of still images shown very quickly – and the refresh rate tells you how many times a second your TV is updating those images. For gamers, a screen with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate gives you a smoother motion when you're playing games at a high frame rate. 16 Some TV brands offer 144Hz televisions that are better for gaming Credit: Samsung And that's important especially in fast-paced games. AMAZON SHOPPING MISTAKES Amazon is a treasure trove for gadget fans – it's packed with tech, often sold with heavy discounts. Mistake #1 – Falling for fake deals But one of the pitfalls for Amazon shoppers is finding a fake deal. This is when a price seems to be discounted, but the truth is that the "full price" isn't totally honest. Sometimes, sellers will only list a product at its full price for very short periods of time. This allows them to display a product as heavily discounted – even though that's the real price. Fortunately, there's a brilliant tool called CamelCamelCamel (here)that lets you plug in any Amazon product link to see its full price history. 16 You can easily check the price history for Amazon products by using CamelCamelCamel Credit: CamelCamelCamel / The Sun You'll be able to see a graph that charts its price movements, plus its highest, lowest, and average mark-ups. That way, you can tell if you're actually buying a great deal – or you're being massively ripped off. Mistake #2 – Not using price alerts The problem with buying products online is that it always feels like there's a sale on – until the moment you actually want to buy a product. 16 Make sure you're using your Amazon Wish List for discount alerts Credit: Amazon Then suddenly it's full price everywhere and you're paying hundreds more than you'd hoped to. The best way to tackle that with Amazon gadgets is to set up price alerts. This is perfect if you don't need something right away and want to get the best value for money. For a start, you can add items to your Amazon Wish List, and then switch on notifications in your Amazon account settings. That way, you'll be notified when prices drop for any of the items on your wish list. You can also go into the Amazon app, head into the Notifications > Recommendations settings and toggle it on. This will give you personalised deal alerts based on your shopping activity – like for items that you've recently searched. This is handy, as it'll capture gadgets that you forgot to add to your wish list but might still be interested in. 16 Try toggling on recommendation notifications for personalised deal alerts Credit: Amazon It could save you from massively overspending. Mistake #3 – Ignoring Amazon's hidden discounts There are a few easy-to-miss discount schemes on Amazon worth noting. Firstly, there's the Amazon Renewed store here. This is Amazon's Certified Refurbished store, where it professionally inspects, tests, and resells gadgets – with a one-year guarantee included. 16 Loads of discounted gadgets can be found in the Amazon Renewed store Credit: Amazon / The Sun You'll find significant discounts on products, including phones, headphones, and laptops. So it's worth checking on that store before you pay full price on regular Amazon. If you're a Prime member, you can also take advantage of the Buy More & Save store – you can find that here. This knocks 15% off your total bill if you buy at least four qualifying items. 16 If you're a Prime member, you can instantly cut your shopping bill Credit: Amazon / The Sun There's plenty in there, including food, clothes, and home essentials – but also some electronics too. So it's an easy way to trim your Amazon bills if you need the items on offer.
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Costly mistakes EVERYONE makes when buying new phones, TVs & Amazon gadgets – why you're losing £1000s without realising
WHETHER it's early Christmas shopping or just a treat, buying new phones, TVs, and gadgets off Amazon can end up being a costly nightmare. There are loads of simple mistakes that could be costing you thousands, from getting sucked in by flashy TV specs you don't need, ignoring a little-known iPhone menu that reveals if you're being scammed, and falling for a costly Amazon "price trick". 16 The iPhone 16 is the latest model – but you don't necessarily need it Credit: Apple 16 Refurbished schemes are an easy way to bag huge discounts on top tech – without the downsides of bagging a used phone from a mate or stranger Credit: Apple / The Sun Here are some of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you're snapping up new gadgets. PHONE SHOPPING MISTAKES Mistake 1 – Ignoring official 'refurbished' schemes It's easy to forget that buying phones isn't just a choice between a new mobile from the shop or a used one via eBay or Facebook Marketplace. There's a third (and easily missed) option: certified refurbished schemes. Many gadget makers and retailers have dedicated services where they restore used or unboxed phones so that they're basically as good as new, but with big discounts. Apple is a good example. Go to the website and look for the Certified Refurbished section There you'll find top models that have been fully tested, include a one-year warranty, a brand new box with all accessories and cables, and a fresh battery too. And they're all heavily discounted because they're "refurbished". Right now, you can get £310 savings on some iPhone 14 Pro Max models (but we've seen Samsung has a similar scheme called Certified Re-Newed iPhone 16e review – I've secretly tested Apple's cheapest mobile and I love the new button but that's not the best bit And again, you'll get gadgets in a brand new box with a cable, SIM ejector, plus a year-long warranty. Then there are third-party marketplaces like Back Market that also refurbish mobiles. So don't pay full price for a phone without checking the refurbished version too. Just remember: you might struggle to find refurbished units for the absolute-newest phone models. Mistake 2 – Buying a used phone with fake parts When you're buying a used phone from a person directly, you'll often be nabbing it at a saving. 16 Apple has set up the iPhone to show when it's packing fake parts Credit: Apple But that person might have secretly Now you've got an iPhone that might break down, not work properly, and require expensive repairs. Not only that, but it'll affect the resale value of your mobile too. You'll want to get into Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History . This will show parts of your iPhone, and whether they're legit or not. "If a part is labelled Genuine Apple Part, the part has been replaced with a genuine Apple part using genuine Apple parts and processes," Apple explained. "If a part is labelled Unknown Part, this means that the installation is incomplete. "Or the part was replaced with a non-genuine part, was previously used or installed in another iPhone, or isn't functioning as expected." If you're not seeing the menu, it means your iPhone hasn't had any parts swapped. 16 If an iPhone has been repaired, you can see in Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History Credit: Apple You should check this page before you accept the smartphone from whoever you're buying it from. "Genuine Apple parts are designed to fit precisely within the device and provide optimal performance, safety, and reliability," Apple explained. "Repairs performed by Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers are covered by Apple's warranty. "Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine parts might affect the functionality, safety, security, and privacy of the device." Apple adds: "Using non-genuine batteries might also result in unexpected behaviour after installation, device software updates, or while charging. "Using non-genuine batteries might also lead to safety issues." Mistake 3 – Not looking at the phone's 'software' version All phones run on an operating system, with settings, menus, and design. 16 Google's latest phone software is called Android 16 – but not all mobiles can run it Credit: Google Apple's iPhone runs on iOS and most other mobiles run on Google's Android. These operating systems are updated fairly regularly – usually receiving a major upgrade once a year. These updates are important for two reasons. The first is that they deliver new features , keeping your old mobile feeling fresh with the latest tricks. And the second is that software updates are how tech giants deliver security fixes to your phone. These fixes will close dangerous security loopholes that hackers can use to break into your device, accounts, and potentially even your finances. If your phone is too old to receive these updates, it's seriously exposed to cybercrime – not to mention missing out on new features too. So before you buy a used phone, make absolutely sure that it can still receive software updates. 16 Apple is rolling out iOS 26 to iPhones later this year, but millions of older devices will miss out Credit: Apple A quick Google search will reveal the latest iOS or Android software version, and whether your mobile can get it. For instance, only the following iPhones can get the iOS 26 update coming out in September: iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) So if you buy an older iPhone than that, you're leaving yourself exposed. DON'T RISK AN ANCIENT MOBILE Here's some phone advice from The Sun's tech editor Buying a phone from last year or the year before is a savvy move to save money. But if you're snapping up a mobile that's five years old, you might be in serious danger. Make absolutely sure that it is still getting updates – and isn't cut off, or about to be. If you're left with a gadget that can't get security updates, you're an open goal for cybercriminals. They can waltz right in through unpatched security holes that are well-known in hacker communities. Free security updates are one of your best defences against hackers. So don't leave it to chance and don't leave the front door to your digital life unlocked. Picture Credit: Sean Keach It's better to buy a newer model that will still get updates for several years, to avoid having to upgrade (and paying hundreds to do so). Sure, it might be tempted to get a very old phone on the cheap – but going too far back is simply not worth the risk. TV SHOPPING MISTAKES TVs can vary wildly in price – so if you bungle your purchase, the cost of the mistake can be huge. It's not like picking the wrong pastry at Greggs, you could be throwing away hundreds of pounds. Mistake 1 – 8K? Not OK First off, watch out for telly jargon – and 8K is at the top of the list. It sounds better than 4K, right? But splashing out on 8K TV is one of the easiest ways to end up spending way more than you need to. These terms relate to the resolution of your TV's screen – that's the number of pixels. Pixels are the tiny dots that light up with colour to make up the picture that you see. If you have more of those tiny dots, your telly can show more detail. 16 Netflix has plenty of 4K telly – but you won't find any 8K movies in its library Credit: Netflix So a 720p HD TV would have a resolution of 1,280 pixels horizontally and 720 pixels vertically. That totals to 921,600 pixels across the entire screen. Here's how common resolutions compare: 720p HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) – 921,600 pixels total 1080p Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) – 2,073,600 pixels total 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) – 8,294,400 pixels total 8K Super HD (7,680 x 4,320 pixels) – 33,177,600 pixels total More pixels mean more potential detail on your TV screen – but that's not always particularly useful. For a start, your eyes will struggle to tell the difference between 4K and 8K. You'd need to have an absolutely enormous TV, bigger than would fit in most living rooms, to see a noticeable change. Or you'd need to be sitting so close to your telly that you're basically on top of it. But that's not even the biggest problem. 16 A 4K TV is a nice happy medium when it comes to quality and pricing – very few people need an 8K telly today Credit: Samsung To enjoy a 4K picture on a 4K TV, you also need a piece of 4K content – and the same is true for 8K. There's almost no 8K content out there. In fact, loads of telly still isn't even shown in 4K, never mind 8K. It's trickier to capture and produce 8K content, and streaming it would put a much bigger strain on home internet. So no one really bothers. And even though your 8K telly will promise to "upscale" lower quality footage, this is just computer trickery – and not comparable to the real thing. So I wouldn't bother with 8K just yet. At the same time, I'd recommend picking a 4K telly over a cheaper Full HD TV. You can get 4K TVs for very cheap now, and most streaming apps (like Netflix and Amazon Video) serve up 4K content. And if you buy a Full HD telly, you'll probably want to upgrade far sooner than if you get a more future-proofed 4K – so it's worth the slightly higher upfront cost. Mistake 2 – Plug-in power Just because your TV is slow does not mean you need a new one. You'll find that loads of cheap televisions run awfully slow, taking an age to navigate through menus. You click your remote and it feels like that signal is travelling through mud. That's because one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a cheap telly is by fitting it with a budget computer processor. 16 An Apple TV 4K is a great plug-in option for your telly – and will instantly speed it up Credit: Apple If you're happy with the picture, then the far cheaper option is to buy a plug-in streamer. My personal pick is the Apple TV 4K, which costs £149 and goes into the back of your telly. It's lightning quick to navigate with, and has all the top apps you'd want (BBC iPlayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, Prime Video, Now TV and so on). But you could also bag yourself a 4K Amazon Fire Stick (£60) or a 4K Roku box (£39) and use that as your main TV interface instead. That way, you get to enjoy your TV's picture – but it's the streaming stick that's powering what you see. And it means you don't need to pay hundreds (or even thousands) for a brand new telly that runs faster. Mistake 3 – Getting the wrong kind of TV What you absolutely don't want to do is get the wrong telly for your needs. 16 Make sure you pick a telly with plenty of ports – or you might find it lacking down the line Credit: Samsung Then you'll get it, use it for a few months, and realise you've made a big mistake. There are a few common bungles to watch out for. The first is the number of HDMI ports – you need to make sure that you have enough. If you're connecting a Fire Stick, an Xbox, and a Sky TV box, that's three HDMI ports gone straight away. And if the TV only has three ports, what do you do if you bag yourself the new Two HDMI ports will be a real struggle, so try to get a telly that has at least four. Secondly, if you're planning to do some serious gaming on the telly, pay attention to the refresh rate. Video is just a series of still images shown very quickly – and the refresh rate tells you how many times a second your TV is updating those images. For gamers, a screen with 120Hz or 144Hz refresh rate gives you a smoother motion when you're playing games at a high frame rate. 16 Some TV brands offer 144Hz televisions that are better for gaming Credit: Samsung And that's important especially in fast-paced games. AMAZON SHOPPING MISTAKES Amazon is a treasure trove for gadget fans – it's packed with tech, often sold with heavy discounts. Mistake #1 – Falling for fake deals But one of the pitfalls for Amazon shoppers is finding a fake deal. This is when a price seems to be discounted, but the truth is that the "full price" isn't totally honest. Sometimes, sellers will only list a product at its full price for very short periods of time. This allows them to display a product as heavily discounted – even though that's the real price. Fortunately, there's a brilliant tool called CamelCamelCamel ( 16 You can easily check the price history for Amazon products by using CamelCamelCamel Credit: CamelCamelCamel / The Sun You'll be able to see a graph that charts its price movements, plus its highest, lowest, and average mark-ups. That way, you can tell if you're actually buying a great deal – or you're being massively ripped off. Mistake #2 – Not using price alerts The problem with buying products online is that it always feels like there's a sale on – until the moment you actually want to buy a product. 16 Make sure you're using your Amazon Wish List for discount alerts Credit: Amazon Then suddenly it's full price everywhere and you're paying hundreds more than you'd hoped to. The best way to tackle that with Amazon gadgets is to set up price alerts. This is perfect if you don't need something right away and want to get the best value for money . For a start, you can add items to your Amazon Wish List, and then switch on notifications in your Amazon account settings. That way, you'll be notified when prices drop for any of the items on your wish list. You can also go into the Amazon app, head into the Notifications > Recommendations settings and toggle it on. This will give you personalised deal alerts based on your shopping activity – like for items that you've recently searched. This is handy, as it'll capture gadgets that you forgot to add to your wish list but might still be interested in. 16 Try toggling on recommendation notifications for personalised deal alerts Credit: Amazon It could save you from massively overspending. Mistake #3 – Ignoring Amazon's hidden discounts There are a few easy-to-miss discount schemes on Amazon worth noting. Firstly, there's the Amazon Renewed store This is Amazon's Certified Refurbished store, where it professionally inspects, tests, and resells gadgets – with a one-year guarantee included. 16 Loads of discounted gadgets can be found in the Amazon Renewed store Credit: Amazon / The Sun You'll find significant discounts on products, including phones, headphones, and laptops. So it's worth checking on that store before you pay full price on regular Amazon. If you're a Prime member, you can also take advantage of the Buy More & Save store – you can find that This knocks 15% off your total bill if you buy at least four qualifying items. 16 If you're a Prime member, you can instantly cut your shopping bill Credit: Amazon / The Sun There's plenty in there, including food, clothes, and home essentials – but also some electronics too. So it's an easy way to trim your Amazon bills if you need the items on offer.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Harnett County man charged with rape, assault, other crimes
A western Harnett County man is facing multiple charges, including two felony counts each of statutory rape of a child under 15 and indecent liberties. Tommy Joey Tapia, 26, of the 500 block of Thomas Farm Road between Seminole and Mamers, was indicted April 21 in Harnett County Superior Court. He was initially arrested May 14, 2024 and held on a $100,000 secured bond. That was modified to an unsecured $100,000 bond on Aug. 28, 2024, and he posted it on Sept. 3, 2024. However, his bond was revoked on May 5 due to new charges following his arrest on April 10 for violating a protective order, assault on a female and domestic violence, all misdemeanors. He is now being held on secured bond of $200,000. Tapia allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl on and after Nov. 22, 2022, according to a court document. On Dec. 16, 2023, he allegedly hit her on the head with a firearm and then threw her cell phone out the window of a car when she was 15. On April 13, 2024, he allegedly punched her in the right eye and stole her iPhone 14 Pro Max valued at $1,200. For those incidents, he is facing felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods, assault on a female and interfering with emergency communications, the latter two are misdemeanors. Tapia also faces multiple charges stemming from Jan. 14, 2024, including driving with a revoked license, expired tag, no inspection, no insurance, window tint violation, no seat belt and failure to stop at a red light. He failed to appear in court on Sept. 12 and Oct. 18, 2024. He was served with a civil suit for failure to pay child support on Feb. 27. On May 7, 2019, Tapia pleaded guilty to no driver's license and was fined $440, stemming from July 9, 2016. He failed to appear in court one time, and also was found responsible for failure to maintain lane control. He paid the fine. A charge of simple assault and communicating threats and stemming from 2015 and 2016 were dismissed. No reasons were given in eCourts.
Buzz Feed
01-05-2025
- Buzz Feed
38 Things That'll Help Your Tech Alive And Kicking For Much Longer
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. It's a lovely day to fit a screen protector into your budget instead of buying a whole new Kindle. 1. A tempered glass phone screen protector that has saved my phone time and time again from my butter hands. It's so good (and you get three for under $10!) that I've been buying from this brand consistently since ~2017. Plus, it takes just a few minutes to stick onto your screen. If you buy anything from this story, buy this. It comes with everything you need to install the screen, including cleaning wipes and dust-removing stickers. And when the protector catches your phone's fall and cracks (as seen above), it does a good job of staying put until you need to remove it. This is one of the first things I started buying consistently after joining the BuzzFeed Shopping team thanks to compelling Amazon reviews, and I swear by it now. Promising review: "Today my daughter SLAMMED my truck door shut and it bounced back open. She looked down, and her phone was what stopped it from closing. She picked it up, and the bottom corner was shattered. We took the screen protector off, and her screen was perfectly fine. To say I'm SHOCKED that the phone was still in one piece would be an understatement. 1000% recommend!!!" — Debra J Get a three-pack for the iPhone 15 Pro Max from Amazon for $7.98 (available in basically every other phone size eve r). 2. Or if you love a multitasker, an iPhone 14 Pro Max privacy phone screen protector that's privacy, but make it glitzy. It's so cute! But what's even cuter is your nosey cubicle neighbor not being able to see that you're swiping on Bumble during your coffee break. Promising review:"It's been about five months since I purchased this screen protector, and I have to say, that it's held up well. The screen is beautiful when the screen is off. I've had a lot of compliments on the screen protector, and after five months and few light drops, it hasn't cracked or gotten scratched up (minus a few wear on the screen like light scratches). Well made and overall, a great screen protector. Installation is pretty easy with the kit it comes with, and I still have the second unused that I may end up switching if at some point the screen actually cracks." — Timothy Jay Get a two-pack from Amazon for $18.99 (also available for the iPhone 14 Plus/13 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max). 3. A Phoozy thermal phone pouch could really come in handy this summer when you find yourself parked outside in the sun but need your phone nearby so you don't fall behind in the group text. This Shark Tank –featured product is made with NASA tech and is military-tested, but won't interfere with your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular service so your phone keeps phone-ing without overheating. PHOOZY is a small biz specializing in thermal phone and electronic cases. Promising review: "Bought this so I could have my phone around the pool and in the garden with me. It does well in Oklahoma high summer heat. Also took it on vacation to Las Vegas, and it did great on a day trip to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. SUPER hot those days, but this kept the phone cooled down when I wasn't taking pictures with it. Well worth the money to have a functional phone when I needed it!" — Heather Bell Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes). 4. A cooling laptop stand with a built-in fan to keep your lil' laptop going as long as possible, even if sometimes it gets a little TOO noisy when elbow deep in a spreadsheet. Merely keeping your electronics from overheating can go quite the long way in making them last longer. Promising review: "It looks small but is surprisingly heavy and therefore stable, even when using the swivel function. I love that the fan itself is removeable and has several positions. The fan is not loud at all. Keep in mind the fan is not rechargeable and does need to be plugged in viq USB-C the entire time it's being used. This stand is great for mobile use, especially when I want to use my walking pad under a table/desk — since I don't have a standing desk. There are lots of feet and grips for nonslip, which I deeply appreciate lol. Time will tell how it holds up, but I love it so far." — Mamma Bear Get it from Amazon for $50.34. 5. A surge protector you can plug your laptops, PCs, TVs, and gaming systems into so you don't have to worry about harmful power surges that can lead to data loss and shortened electronic lifetime expectancies. (Psst, power strips and surge protectors are NOT the same thing!) Amazon FYI, there are whole-house surge protectors and plug-in ones. This is a plug-in one! (You need to call in a pro for a whole-house version.) Surge protectors have ratings in joules and, according to CNET, you want a joules range of 200–400 to 2,000+. No, you don't want to plug ALL your stuff into the same surge protector. So you need to research your electronics, their positioning in your home, and the appropriate joules range for each surge protector. So this suggestion is less of a "This is top-ranked on Amazon and looks good!" Add to Cart situation, but perhaps a medium dive. Read more in this in-depth surge protector explainer. Get this Anker one with 2100 joules from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two cord lengths and two colors). 6. A pack of AirPod cleaning putty because you don't need to wait around 'til Prime Day to pick up a pair on the cheap. Turns out your built-up earwax is what's compromising the sound. Clean 'em! Airsquares is a small biz specializing in this product. And yes, you can use them on other ear buds, not just AirPods! Promising review:"I never usually write reviews but this is an exception. I've had my AirPods for over a year and when the sound quality was diminishing, I was afraid they had a short life expectancy and I would need to get a new pair! Even after using cotton buds to clean the AirPods out, I thought that was enough until my friend said there's stuff built up and hard to see, but there was nothing able to get it out! Enter this product — it literally took five minutes to clean each ear bud effectively and instantly the sound quality was as good as new! Loud, clear, less trouble connecting to my phone, etc. I really suggest giving this product. You don't need a full square to clean them, so you can pull a piece off or reuse a square with a side you haven't used! SO happy I found a solution!" — Amazon Customer Get 24 from Amazon for $16.99. 7. Goo Gone will zap all sorts of sticky messes on stuff you're trying to make outlive you, from post-sticker residue on electronics that's attracted every bit of dust in your home to a laptop that's covered in stickers you don't like. When I moved into my rental apartment years ago it came with a fridge with some stuck-on magnets I couldn't scrape off with my finger (and thus, ruined a manicure). My mom rec'd this stuff and it got rid of the mess easy-peasy. Since then I've rec'd it to a friend to successfully remove stickers from garage door windows. Note that this is flammable and you need just a drop or two! Promising review (for the laptop):"Updating my grandson's laptop that was covered in stickers. Peeled most of them off but was left with heavy sticky residue. After just a couple of applications of Goo Gone the laptop lid looked like new and smooth as glass." — RodH Promising review (for the speakers):"I used this on my JBL LSR4236P Studio Monitors, and it worked very well. For some reason, JBL decided to put some kind of weird adhesive on the front of these monitors, which caught every piece of cat hair and dust that touched it over the years. Used this with some paper towels and a little elbow grease and the adhesive came off quickly. The Picture I added: (Left) After Goo Gone (RIGHT) Before Goo Gone." — Andrew Promising review (for lots of other things): "I use it frequently to remove ultra-sticky labels from second-hand electronics and video games, and to remove other sticky gunk from them. Just a few drops go a long way, allowing me to restore these devices to their retro glory. Even new item price tags and labels can be hard to remove, sometimes leaving behind a messy residue, and without this stuff sometimes they get damaged trying to scrape the gunk off. With a drop or two of Goo Gone and letting it sit for a bit, this stuff always comes off extremely easily without marring the surface. One bottle lasts a long time." — Barefoot Birdie Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in different sizes). 8. A protective cable covering for keeping all sorts of critters from chewing on your cords, from cats to squirrels. They're going to have to go elsewhere for snacktime. Promising review: "These wire protectors work amazingly! I got them to keep my cats from chewing on my wires, and they do the job perfectly. They are tough to cut, but that's actually a good thing, it means they're strong and hard to break into, just as they should be. If you need reliable protection for your cables, these are a great choice!" — Clayton "The Alex Tech cord protector easily wraps around wires. I even had it continue over a hard 1/2-inch plastic cord protector. I used this to protect my trailer harness from the nut thieving tree rats, my loving wife calls squirrels. They chewed the last harness off." — CB in FL Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in a variety of sizes). 9. Or an expandable bundler that'll keep cords *neatly* contained behind your desktop, TV, stereo, gaming get my organized drift. This is a great option if you still want to protect and organize all your cords, but don't have to worry about any little chewers. Amazon, Promising review:"This was used to bundle up some 120-volt wires running the family room floor behind some chairs. We have a kitten in the chewing stage and needed to protect both the wires and the kitten. The installation was easy. The finished product looks neat." — Lion Mac Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes). 10. A sturdy Pikk-It tool with sharp metal teeth to un-ensnare tangled hair from your pricey vacuum cleaners. And perhaps even your beloved round brush dryer that you ALSO want to keep around as long as you can make it work. Simply cleaning your stuff on the reg can also go a long way in keeping it in tip-top shape! Yes it's effort, but it's well worth it. Promising review: "Cleaned three items in less than five minutes. Vacuum brush head and two hair brushes that have three girls' long hair. I can't wait to get the whole vacuum and rug cleaner bristles cleaned. I had to write this review after testing it out. Design is strong, sturdy, and handles great. Highly recommended." — Rob Get it from Amazon for $8.99. 11. Or a hairbrush cleaning tool that, yes, goes to work on a manual brush. But it'll really keep your pricey Dyson AirWrap (or not-so-pricey Revlon dryer brush) brush attachments in tip-top shape so you can keep giving yourself at-home blowouts. This tool helps get out dirt, hair, and product buildup that makes the dryer less effective. My colleague Jenae Sitzes is a big fan on her manul brush: "I finally tried out this tool with my Crave Naturals brush, which I used for (*checks Amazon order history*) TWO YEARS without every doing a deep clean of it. I mean, sure, I would regularly pull out the loose hair and whatever I could get to using my fingers, but there was always this gross layer at the bottom I couldn't reach, and I kind of just tried my best to pretend it wasn't there. LET ME TELL YOU: This tool is genius. With barely any effort, it pulled out that gross, years-old layer of *stuff* at the bottom of my brush (the photo above shows that layer already ~dislodged~ by the tool, right before I pulled it out), and now I don't have to feel disgusting every time I run it through my hair. It actually feels like it's doing a better job of *brushing* now too! Seriously, if you are a human with brushable hair on your head, you need this." Promising review (for using with a dryer brush): "It seems weird to buy a brush to clean your brush, but if you are like me and have long hair, this is a must. My hairbrushes were looking gross with hair stuck in them, and for some reason, my daughter gets a lot of lint stuck in her hair, which also gets in the brush. This thing removed it all! I also use it to remove hair from the bristles of my Revlon barrel hair dryer." — Bmu741 Get it from Amazon for $11.95. 12. A USB-powered LED light strip you can stick on to help improve your TV-watching experience by bringing in a bit of ambient light to your personal theater. Try this out to see if it gives you your desired at-home entertainment upgrade before you start measuring wall space and contemplate moving around furniture for a different TV. Promising review:"Easy to install. Lights provide ample lighting; USB allows lights to be a standalone fixture without tying up another wall socket. The USB interface also acts to turn the lights on and off with the TV. Backlighting also seems to make the screen seem sharper." — Shaun Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes). 13. A tiny but mighty tube of White Lithium Grease will help lubricate and, therefore, quiet down noisy parts that are rubbing together in the worst way possible — whether it's on your car sunroof, bicycle, garage door.... So many possibilities. At $5 a pop, it's worth buying now and keeping in your junk drawer before you need it. Reviewers have use it on their clippers, laptop fans, a garage door opener chain, snow blower parts, restoring old record players, suspension rod points in a washer, recliner parts, a car sunroof, and more. Just make sure that it's OK to use on whatever you're using. Promising review: "I use this on our garage door that gets a lot of wear and tear (upper Midwest winters and three active kids). It keeps the rails lubricated so the door runs smoothly." —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $4.59. 14. An attachable LED light for your vacuum because you've been eyeing the Dyson with the dust-finding light after your friend said she bought it but you KNOW you don't need to get a whole new vacuum. This is under $20 AND, according to the reviewer quoted below, just might not be a good thing because you'll see even more dirt and dust that needs cleaning! Promising review: "Was easy to attach. I had to bring it forward a little so it would get a little more light in front. The only complaint is that it shows every bit of dust and debris in front. Now, instead of taking a few minutes to vacuum, it takes a while longer, but when I am through, the floor is clean. I am satisfied." — Radford swindell Get it from Amazon for $16.19+ (available in battery-powered or rechargeable models). 15. A pack of adhesive cord bundlers you can stick on the back of your kitchen appliances to keep power cords orderly instead of tripping up you and accidentally ripping them out of your prized KitchenAid mixer. 16. A waterproof pouch that I buy for every water-adjacent vacation I take (like Greece, Croatia, Panama, and even Iceland's Blue Lagoon) so I can freely use my phone and take pics without worrying about it dipping into a body of water. It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It also keeps out sand, dirt, and rain. With these, I find that they're good for about a day or two due to condensation and sunscreen rubbing on it. So, for a trip I'll buy two to three, except for this one where I just knew I'd be in the water at the Blue Lagoon. And while I'm on the subject, check out a TikTok I made using the phone case! On the day I went, we had to duck and run inside because of rain. And it was hailing on us when I was in the water, so I had to face a certain way to keep from getting pelted in the face. But, when in Rome! Then we went inside and ate lunch at the Lava Restaurant, and it was GORGEOUS and clear outside post-lunch. So, this case worked well taking pics in both bad and good conditions (as you can see from the two pics for comparison). I've used this case to take underwater pics, on boat rides, and have worn it with the lanyard jumping off a boat into water. So, I really trust these! Promising review:"Vacation must-have. I was skeptical about purchasing a waterproof case, but I'm so glad I did because I was able to capture fun water excursions worry free!" — Lisa D Get it from Amazon for $6.79 (available in 14 colors). 17. A keyboard cleaning gel to help get LOTS more mileage out of that wireless keyboard you bought for your WFH setup and has basically turned into a placemat for your work lunches. It'll help clean up dust, grime, and crumbs from in between the keys. You simply press it and watch it pick up allll kinds of mess. Promising review:"Working from home like a lot of people I eat at my desk. Crumbs were getting everywhere. Plus my cat loved to lay on my keyboard if I was using my laptop. It does such a great job of getting fur and crumbs up. I used a little bit at first because some of the reviews were saying it was sticking. But I didn't have that problem at all. It only now it's sticking to my keyboard and hands more. But that makes sense it's just a glob if junk. So much better than an air can. A must-have for all office desks." — Ashley Get it from Amazon for $5.99. 18. An electronics organizer with a place for just about every one of *your* and every member of your family's devices and corresponding cables so you don't get everything tangled up while searching for that ONE cord while you're on a trip. BUT reviewers also like it for at-home use. Promising review:"I've had this cord/charger organizer for three years. Been on several vacations, and it's going on another cruise (#3) next month. Not paying attention to anything negative, since I have nothing bad to say." — VB54 Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 19. A charging station rack so the fam's electronics can be neatly filed away (the cords get tucked into the base!) while they gas up for the next marathon of YouTube videos. This'll keep everything where you can see it AND the cords safe from trips. Promising review:"Wow, I wish I had purchased this long ago. We have five or six devices floating around/charging at any given time in our house. This is a great way to keep the charging area organized." — David Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two finishes). 20. A genius humidifier tank cleaner can help look after that lil' machine that's saving your skin and sinuses. This cartridge "swims" around the water tank, helping inhibit the growth of buildup for up to 30 days. You DO need to clean the tank! Promising review:"Just drop this in your humidifier and it keeps the water pretty darn mildew and mold free. Super easy to use, no smell, and safe. I have already repurchased and given a few to other people as well." — Kristine Get it from Amazon for $4.99. 21. A universal phone lanyard wristlet that'll serve as a little accessory but also keep your phone where it belongs, by your hand and not smashed on the ground. It's also great to prevent theft! PlusDesignCrafts is a small biz specializing in phone accessories. Promising review: "Wonderful item! Definitely works when I don't have pockets to put my phone in! Super cute colors and the quality is great!" — Morgan Fowler Get it from PlusDesignCrafts on Etsy for $8 (available in seven colors). 22. Or an adjustable guitar strap–like crossbody that'll keep your phone RIGHT where you want it. And it even has a clip-on for a zippered pouch in case you really wanna go hands-free and skip the purse. All the better to keep your phone NOT on the ground. Amazon Promising review: "I lose everything, I lose all my cards, especially my ID, definitely my phone, for sure my keys, and obviously my vape. Plus, I never have cash on me. Every problem listed solved for less than $10, and when I'm going on vacation, it will be much easier to keep my stuff secure as opposed to falling out of my pocket or being snatched, win-win." — Jennifer W. Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in eight styles). 23. And a universal phone connector patch can let you easily mix and match a wristlet, crossbody lanyard, or maybe even a bracelet you love with your phone. Cara Freeday / Etsy Cara Freeday is a Toronto-based small biz. Get it from Cara Freeday on Etsy for $3.76 (available in eight colors and with or without an initial). 24. Some moldable glue will help you extend the life of ALL kinds of chargers by wrapping it around vulnerable parts. This magical stuff *permanently* sticks to surfaces like glass, ceramic, wood, metal, and non-oily plastics. Several reviewers have also used it to repair expensive key fobs. Promising review:"I was skeptical, but this stuff has already saved me $60. My Macbook charger was fraying by the magsafe connector and I was looking at having to spend $80 on a new one. I saw this stuff online and decided to give it a try. Took one of them out of the package and it was soft and malleable, like putty. I molded and shaped it around the break in the cord, and below the break and over the magsafe connector. After 24 hours, it was hard rubber that was stuck to the cord and magsafe connector like glue. I can see this lasting a long time. It'll probably still be going strong long after I decide to retire this Macbook and move on to another. Incredible stuff!" — Scott K Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.84 (available in several color combos). 25. A Strapcicle for your Kindle that'll keep the corners from getting dinged up and keeps the screen from touching any rough surfaces when you put it face down. But perhaps most importantly, it helps you hold your Kindle in a hand-friendly way instead of falling on your nose when you start to doze off after it just gets good. Just one more chapter! One reviewer with carpal tunnel says this made it much easier to read at night. Promising review: "I will probably never go back to a Pop Socket. These are so comfortable. I do miss being able to see more of my stickers, but it's still cute, and these are more practical. They are not bulky and add protection to the corners and even prevent the screen from touching any surface you lay it on. The matching clutch adds even more protection. They fit perfectly with the Strapcicle clear case." — Clint Get it from Amazon for $15.68 (available in 11 colors and three sizes). 26. A *matte* Kindle screen protector if you can only do an e-reader without the glare. Reviewers say this does the trick! Promising review: "I'm so glad I found these! The matte aspect of it was why I wanted them, and it looks basically the same as the matte on my Kindle ColorSoft!" — Monica P Get a three-pack from Amazon for $5.94 (available in a variety of screen protector types). 27. A zippered, padded laptop sleeve (or tablet sleeve!) because throwing your laptop just into your tote hasn't been the best choice you've made recently. Vandel is a small biz specializing in laptop and tablet cases. Promising review: "I got this so I could protect my laptop (Lenovo Ideapad 5) while we traveled. It protected it in my carry-on for several flights and is super cute. Will be taking this to college as well to protect it as I go from class to class." — TJM Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 10 colors/patterns). 28. A Steam Deck screen protector you might forget you installed (because there's no glare) until you let it slip out of your hands when your cat sneaks up on you close to dinner time. Amazon Promising review: "This was easy to install, and protects very well. I installed this on my OLED model and my wife's LED model. I like that it provides glare resistance so I don't lose that from the etched glass on the OLED, and also get protection from scratches or cracks." — Mitchell Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.99. 29. Plus, a Steam Deck protective case with a detachable front that reviewers say will take up less room in your backpack than a standard carrying case. And, there's a cooling option available. Amazon Promising review: "The case works to perfectly protect your device with cutouts in all the perfect spots to plug items in. Saves me so much backpack space compared to storing the Steam Deck in the standard carrying case." — Gogoferrari "I'm mad I didn't look sooner. The wrap-around case itself adds a lot of security in the grip of the Steam Deck without being super intrusive. The texture on the grips is great. Overall, the case doesn't inhibit anything about the deck. The ports and vents are unobstructed. The power and volume buttons are covered but maintain their tactile feedback. The kickstand feels strong enough. Time will tell. The cover fits snugly. It requires some force to take off, but then you can rest assured it won't come off in a bag. There is padding against the screen as well." — Rob Get it from Amazon for $28.49+ (available in four types, including a cooling one). 30. Electronic screen–cleaning wipes that'll be a total game-changer if using window and glass cleaner and paper towels has yielded less-than-desirable results. The cleaner the screens are, the longer you can live 'til your partner starts talking about buying a new TV.... EVEO is a small biz specializing in screen cleaners. Promising review: "I wish I had come across this product a long time ago. I used to clean my electronics and screens with standard cleaners/wipes/Windex. This was a game changer and actually protects your electronics, along with cleaning them. The only downside is that they can be a little wet and take a while to dry. I use a microfiber cloth to clean up the excess. I will definitely be buying this product again when I use up what I have left." — Chris R Get 80 wipes from Amazon for $14.97. 32. Replacement joystick covers that'll work on your Switch or Switch Lite and are ready to take all kinds of punishment without budging. Promising review: "Best replacements I could hope for. I think they're more comfortable than the originals because they don't have the little notches in them, these are much smoother. They do not rotate or twist, it's truly a snug fit." — Rebecca Get a six-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (available in black or white). And if you're looking for other replacement parts, the brand Skull & Co has LOTS of options. 33. An Oxo (so you know it's good) laptop cleaner with a brush and microfiber pad because not every mess needs compressed air or cleaning spray. And it'll fit in your pocket so it's easy to throw in your work bag. Promising review: "This little guy surprised me. The one end did a great job cleaning my screen. It is a touch screen, so it is in constant need of cleaning. The brush end for the keyboard is very soft-bristled. So it is really good at getting debris from the flat surface, but it doesn't really reach under the keys if there is anything under there. I like it, though." — Ria Get it from Amazon for $11.99. 34. A colorful HP laptop keyboard cover to put a physical barrier in between the coffee you sip on throughout your morning and your laptop. Just in case! There's a plethora of keyboard covers on Amazon. Just double-check that you're ordering one that'll fit your laptop model! Also check out a "ghost" keyboard cover. Promising review: "I initially chose this for the aesthetic of the black and silver look, but it ended up being more than just a stylish accessory. It actually saved my laptop when I accidentally spilled something on it, providing great protection." — Tierra Smith Get it from Amazon for $6.48+ (available in 15 styles). 35. A wooden cord organizer that'll blend in with the rest of your living room furniture while keeping your stash of charging cords handy and away from the cats. I mean, it doesn't have to be pretty inside. But it sure beats buying replacement cords for the stuff you already have. LuxeDesigns is a small business that makes sustainable wood decor items for the home. Promising review: "This is a very nice box for cable management. I put it on the back of my couch for all of the various things we have plugged in, and it hides all the cords nicely. The quality is great. Keeps the cords organized well, and it's not too heavy. It has little magnets on the lid to keep it closed, but the magnets are not so strong that you can't easily open the lid with one hand." — Alyssa Fyffe Get it from Amazon for $44.97+ (available in five finishes). 36. A set of heavy-duty cord wraps to get your extension cords up and off the floor, where they can stay clean and in fighting shape for the next time you use them. They're also a great way to turn a blank garage way into a useful, organized space. Amazon Promising review: "I was sick of my cords and compressor hose hanging off of and on top of my table saw. I saw these on Amazon and have (or had) some available wall space in my workshop. What a great solution!" — LrngToFly Get a six-pack from Amazon for $16.99 (available in other sizes and quantities). 37. A gaming controller stand will keep your precious controllers tidy and ready for use. Each tier is adjustable and swivels so you can put a variety of controllers, headphones, and handheld consoles on there. Sally Elshorafa / BuzzFeed My colleague Sally Elshorafa has and loves this: "This small but mighty stand has made my life so much easier, and I'm not being dramatic. I have two little kids, including one especially grabby toddler, and we run everything through a PlayStation: TV, movies, streaming, gaming — you name it. So the controllers are in constant use and used to be constantly missing. My kids loved to grab them, press every button, or stash them in mystery locations. It was chaos. Sometimes we'd hide them ourselves to keep them out of reach, then forget where we put them. This stand solved all of it. Now the controllers have a dedicated home, the kids can't reach them, and bonus: it actually looks really good. I'm a huge fan." Get it from Amazon for $21.91+ (available in white or black). 38. A 4-in-1 vinyl record cleaner kit to keep your collection in the best shape possible so you won't doubt whether it's time to start pricing out another record player. Is it the stylus or the record? That's never a fun guessing game! Each kit includes an ultra-soft velvet record brush, bottle of cleaning liquid, stylus brush, and a storage pouch Promising review: "I've cleaned a dozen or so records with this and love it! The wood handle brush works great. It takes just two sprays of the spray to clean an entire side, and it cleans well. I recommend this for anyone that wants to preserve their collection and protect their stylus." — BobbyD87 Get it from Amazon for $22.95. Also check out some outer sleeves for your records to keep the outer record sleeves pristine, too! Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Business Insider
26-04-2025
- Business Insider
Your iPhone comes with a built-in white noise machine. Here are 3 more cool things you may not know it can do.
Apple took the world by storm with the iPhone in 2007, and its crown jewel is only getting more features that can be lifesavers — or just really cool. I upgraded from the iPod Touch to an iPhone 5 as a 13-year-old in 2012, so I consider myself a bit of an expert. Yet years later, my iPhone 14 Pro Max seems to be outpacing me with innovations. I've grown used to the old ways of manual functions, typing queries into the Safari search bar, and having to rely on my memory. As Apple introduces new features, I've picked up on the tools that I see every day — like sending voice notes over iMessage or searching for apps instead of looking for them in all of my folders. However, there are more obscure additions that I hadn't made use of. These days, top-of-the-line iPhones cost over $1,000, and Apple analysts have said they could become much more expensive if President Donald Trump follows through with the steep tariffs he wants to impose on China, the main hub for iPhone manufacturing. I decided it's time to get my money's worth out of my handset since I won't be getting an upgrade for a while. Here are four ways I'll be putting Apple's software to good use. Shortcut Automations Apple launched the Shortcuts app as part of iOS 12 in 2018. It was marketed as a time-saving app that could perform actions according to custom commands. I remember the "I'm Being Pulled Over" feature being a big deal in 2020. When activated it would begin recording your interaction with police during traffic stops, but that's the last I paid attention to Shortcuts. I perused the app again and found a number of customizable features that could come in handy. What's more, they can be automated. For a trial run, I made a command for my phone to automatically FaceTime my friend whenever he sent me the word "hey." It worked, though it's probably not a command he'd like me to keep on. You can use Shortcuts for things like: Turning on "Do Not Disturb" when you open a certain app. Sending a message when you leave a location. Changing your wallpaper every day. Voice Isolation Voice Isolation is one of my favorite iPhone features of this decade. Since its release in 2021, I've been singing its praises to anyone I talk to on the phone. In New York City, I find myself talking in a loud environment as soon as I step out of my door. Inside, my two dogs go wild with barking whenever someone gets too close to the windows. Voice Isolation, however, silences all of the fuss. When my best friends and I fell into the habit of group FaceTime calls, we discovered that we could isolate our voices and silence non-vocal background noise. So, when a ambulance whizzes by with a loud siren, my friends can still hear me recapping my day. You can enable it by pressing "Phone Controls" in the Control Center while you're on the phone. Clean Up Safari Tabs Automatically If you're an organized technology user, you probably don't need this. However, if you're like me, you're welcome. I like to leave my Safari tabs open as a way to keep track of places I want to visit, things I want to buy, and any other helpful sites that I might need to refer to. Naturally, many many tabs are never revisited again as I continue to add more. Eighty-nine tabs is modest compared to the 150+ that I've proven to be capable of. I'm hoping that will change now that I know I can set my tabs to automatically close after a period of time. I think I'll start with monthly tab closings — just to ease myself into the concept. Follow these steps to close all of your tabs: Settings > Safari > Close Tabs. Background Sounds The most zen discovery of the group is also the coolest. I've played rain sounds and white noise before by looking them up on Apple Music, but I learned that they've been built into my iPhone. Through the Settings app, you can turn on Background Sounds to hear calming sounds like the ocean, dark noise, or a crackling fire. The sounds will continue playing behind other media if you that setting toggled on. Follow these steps to enable Background Sounds: Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Background Sounds.
