Mpowerd’s $26 Luci Pro Lux is a solar inflatable light that charges phones

One day only.

Today only, Amazon has the Mpowerd Luci Pro Lux on sale for $26.21 right now. Today marks its first and steepest price drop ever on Amazon. Normally it costs $35, but we’d like to argue that this thing is worth its weight in gold.

This versatile, durable gadget can charge via the sun’s rays or through the two-way USB port. It lasts up to 50 hours on a single charge, too. It features 10 warm white LEDs and four light modes, including low, medium, high, and flashing. The USB port will also work to charge your phone, making this thing even more handy. Additionally, it has an IP67 waterproof rating, meaning the Luci Pro Lux can be used for emergency situations as well as for camping, hiking, fishing, and whatever else you like to do outside.

The real benefit here, in my opinion, is the option to use solar power. If you aren’t near a power source or you forget to plug it in, just leave the thing outside all day and you’ll have it ready to go at night. No hand cranking is required, and the massive battery life means even if you forget to charge it up over the course of a day, you should still have some light to guide you when it gets dark out.

Note that the Pro model with USB only has a few reviews since it’s a newer product. However, the original Mpowerd Luci, which doesn’t have a USB port, has stellar customer reviews. It’s also discounted by five bucks or so right now.

See at Amazon

Get a costume for your phone with one of our custom themes

This is Halloween! This is Halloween!
Smartphones scream in the dead of night!
This is Halloween, everybody pick a theme!
Trick or treat till the app is gonna crash in fright!

You’ve probably got a costume for Halloween, right? Well, do you have one for your phone? You don’t want to leave your most important device out of the fun, do you? Especially when you can make your Android phone look like anything from an old iPhone to Deadpool and everything in between. Android themes are amazing, and there’s no better time to try one of our many Android themes than Halloween! So dress up your phone! Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it so much you keep these decorations up ’til Christmas.

Trick or Treat

Want to make your phone festive without dedicating to a specific costume or character? We’ve got a Halloween theme for you, complete with an adorable black and white cat, candy, and ghoulishly dark theme icons and widgets!

Get cute this Halloween with an adorable jack-o-lantern theme

Dark themes

Going as a devil? A ghost? A dark and brooding character from your favorite franchise? Just want a practical costume for your phone that could help you eke out a little more battery while you’re off tricking, treating, and partying the night away? Our dark themes are here for you!

Get dark as Devil’s Night with these AMOLED themes

Invisible home screen

Want a Halloween costume that doubles as a prank? Set your icons to clear and make your home screen invisible! This theme is great for Halloween: just add a wallpaper that matches your costume and voila!

Trick would-be phone pranksters with an invisible home screen

Canada and America

Whether you’re going as Justin Trudeau or your friendly northern lumberjack, get some Canadian majesty on your home screen, eh? And for those going as someone who bleeds red, white, and blue like Captain America, we’ve got you covered too.

• Heart Canada Theme
• American Pride Theme

Rainbow themes

No matter the color of your costume, we’ve got a colored theme to match it and compliment it! Just grab a wallpaper with the color or costume of your favorite character and dive into these instructions. There’s also a La Muerte theme in here perfect for Dia de los Muertos.

Show your pride with our rainbow theme pack

Disney Princesses After Dark

Everyone thinks princesses — and everything around them — should be light, bright, and saccharine. Well, we’ve got a princess theme that brings our favorite royals into the lovely embrace of the dark.

Dark Disney Princess theme pack

Beauty and the Beast

From Belle to Beast, Lumiere to Cogsworth and beyond, we’ve got six spectacular Beauty and the Beast themes for you to rock as you get enchanted this Halloween. These magical themes will keep you smiling and humming along to Be Our Guests all night.

These Beauty and the Beast themes will bring some magic to your Halloween

Little Mermaid and Frozen Fever

We’ve got a double-scoop of Disney Princess awesomeness with an Under the Sea theme fit for a mermaid and an adorably festive Frozen Fever theme to hold us over until Olaf’s Frozen Adventure comes out.

Under the Sea and Frozen Fever themes

Star Wars

We’ve got BB-8! We’ve got Jedi! We’ve got Sith! We got robot awesomeness! Episode VIII can’t get here fast enough, but until it does, we’ve got a double dose of Star Wars theming mojo to get your Force senses a-tingling. May the Force be with you!

Star Wars Themes

Get even MORE Star Wars Themes here, including Dark Vader!

Pokémon Go

Valor, Instinct, Mystic, we love all trainers and their Pokémon, though some are clearly better than others. (coughcoughMysticcoughcough) In this spirit, we have home screen themes to show off your team spirit as you enjoy the spirited event going on right now in the game. And for those seeking peace between the teams, we have a little something for you, too!

Pokémon Go Themes

Finding Dory

Want a theme for your phone that’s both adorable and functional? This Finding Dory theme takes advantage of Google Keep’s colors and widgets to make a theme that’ll help you be a little less forgetful than Dory as you struggle to remember which houses you still need to hit and which to avoid.

Finding Dory Theme

Marvel Themes

We got Cap. We got Iron Man. We got Spidey. We got Panther. We got Widow. Whichever side of Marvel’s Civil War you fall on, there’s a theme for you, and these themes are amazing every single day of the year, but they add an extra touch of AWESOME to your costumes for tonight.

Marvel Themes

Deadpool

Deadpool treats every day like it’s Halloween: he dresses up in a sexy costume, tricks a bunch of bad guys, and tries stealing treats from everyone he can. This theme might look like it takes Maximum Effort, but it’s really one of the easier themes to apply.

Deadpool Theme

Batman and Superman

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s ANDROID! Okay, these themes don’t come with utility belts or capes, but they are amazing themes for the Dark Knight and Man of Steel that you can rock on Halloween or any other night of the year. Because you’re Batman!

Batman vs. Superman Themes

Suicide Squad

Harley’s theme is playful, colorful, and ever so slightly crazy, so it’s perfect for Halloween! Deadshot’s muted theme is both deadly efficient and drop-dead beautiful. So be a bad guy this holiday and get your Suicide Squad on with these lovely themes.

Suicide Squad Themes

iPhone

Halloween’s a wonderful night for getting in costume and tricking people, so grab your Android, slap this iPhone theme on it, and go see how long it takes your friends to realize they’ve been had. Bonus points if you can show them how awesome Android’s home screens can look by switching back to a more creative theme once their minds have been blown.

iPhone Theme

Windows Phone

Say what you will about Windows Phone, dressing your Android up as one for Halloween can also lead to some fun pranks. Also, considering the robust Android offering Microsoft offers, this could also be a gateway into some of their apps you’d never considered (or known). No Ninja Cat costume is complete without one!

Windows Phone Theme

MrMobile

Our favorite tech reviewing YouTuber MrMobile was honored with his own home screen theme shortly after his launch. If you wanna go to a party as MrMobile, get some gel in your hair, a Star Trek communicator and this theme on your phone. Stay mobile, my friends.

MrMobile Theme

Updated October 2018: We’ve added another year’s worth of themes for Halloween 2018!

Out for a run? Check out these headphones

If you’re a runner, you know that any old pair of headphones won’t always work, whether you’re completing miles on the track or around town. If you want to listen to your music or a podcast while on the move, you need headphones that are sweatproof, lightweight, and offer great sound. No matter if you’re a pro or just get started with the running lifestyle, these are our favorite headphones for runners.

Flagship earbuds

Jaybird X4

Want running headphones that do it all? Jaybird X4 are for you. Sound quality is fantastic, battery life is rated for eight hours of use per charge, they’re extremely comfy to wear, and have a waterproof design. Learn even more in our full review!

$129 at Amazon

Super compact

Jaybird Tarah

If you want about 90 percent of what the Jaybird X4 bring to the table but for $30 less, the Jaybird Tarah earbuds are a perfect fit. Battery life is shorter at six hours and the sound isn’t quite as powerful, but the even more compact design is fantastic. Check out the review here.

$99 at Amazon

Stretch your dollars

Senso Bluetooth Headphones

For buyers that really want to stretch their dollars, it’s hard to do much better than Senso’s headphones. You’ll find deep bass, clear treble, and a seriously impressive battery that lasts up to eight hours on one charge. There’s even an IPX7 water resistance rating and a 1-year warranty.

$29 at Amazon

Ultimate running earbuds

Samsung Gear IconX (2018)

Truly wireless earbuds are getting better all the time, and Samsung’s Gear IconX are among the best. There’s up to five hours of battery life, customizable eartips, good audio, and even built-in fitness tracking!

$132 at Amazon

Dirt cheap

Mpow Flame

The Mpow Flame are among the cheapest headphones on our list, but don’t let the small price tag fool you. For less than $20, Mpow offers headphones with IPX7 water resistance, 7-9 hours of battery, multiple colors, and a snug fit in the ear.

$16 at Amazon

Super reliable

Phaiser BHS-530

Phaiser struck a winning balance of offering a ton of great features while keeping things affordable. The 10mm speakers offer great sound for the price, the sweat-proof design is great for all sorts of runs, and you get a lifetime warranty for your purchase.

$29 at Amazon

Bone conducting magic

AfterShokz Trekz Titanium

If you often find yourself running on a busy street, it might be worth getting AfterShokz bone-conducting headphones. By vibrating your cheekbones, you can listen to all of your music in high-quality glory while leaving your ears open to hear traffic and other potential hazards.

$98 at Amazon

Premium sound

Bose SoundSport Wireless

The Bose SoundSport Wireless are easily the best-sounding headphones on this list. The sound that comes out of these really is amazing, and along with that, you’ll also get up to six hours of battery and a sweat- and water-resistant design.

$149 at Amazon

Look ma no wires

Jabra Elite Active 65T

Another good truly-wireless pair of headphones is the Jabra Elite Active 65T. These come with a 2-year warranty against sweat and dust, enhanced wireless tech that allows for fewer music dropouts, up to five hours of battery, and Amazon Alexa is built right in.

$189 at Amazon

As someone who tries to squeeze in a run whenever I can, I’ve found myself gravitating towards the Jaybird X4. The combination of high-quality sound, excellent battery, and a comfy and durable design all comes together to create one heck of a product that’s definitely deserving of its steeper price.

Nest Secure vs. Ring Alarm: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe consumer technology, and use nearly every one to find the best smart home picks for you.

Ring Alarm

Security on a budget

$199 at Amazon

Pros

• Inexpensive compared to the Nest system.
• Includes all the pieces you need to get going.
• No long-term commitments or cancellation fees.

Cons

• Fewer sensors included than the Nest system.
• More complicated to set up.

If you have a smaller home — or just don’t want to spend too much on your first security system — the Ring Alarm system is for you. It includes all the pieces you need to get started and works wonderfully with Amazon’s Echo speakers.

Nest Secure

Better integration

$399 at Nest

Pros

• Integrates with other Nest products.
• Includes more sensors out of the box.

Cons

• Twice as expensive.

If you already have a Nest thermostat, adding this security system will make everything easier to use than using a security system from another company. You can use the same Nest app that you use for your thermostat to activate your alarm and get alerts. And if you already have a Nest camera, that’ll make your security system that much better.

Both the Ring Alarm and the Nest Secure are great choices for your home security system. But dig a little deeper, and there are a few differences that should help you decide which is better for you. A lot of it comes down to a couple factors: do you already have Nest or Ring products, and how much money you’re willing to spend.

Ring Alarm vs. Nest Secure

Keypad	Yes	Yes
Motion Detector	Yes, one included	Yes, two included
Contact Sensor	Yes, one included	Yes, two included
Range Extender	Yes, one included	Separate purchase
Smart home integration	Yes	Yes

The Ring Alarm starts off being cheaper than the Nest Secure, and will likely still end up being cheaper when all is said and done. The Ring Alarm only includes one motion detector and contact sensor (the thing you wear to tell the alarm to trust you), but buying more of these is well within the $200 you’ll save compared to the Nest system. Since Ring has fewer sensors in the box, it’s a better fit for those that have smaller homes and less area to cover. That way, you don’t need to buy extras and you’ll keep the cost down.

The range is a big consideration since a sensor that can’t talk to other sensors is kinda useless. Nest says its Detect sensors will work up to 50 feet away from the main Secure sensor, but this can be shorter depending on interference from other gadgets in your home. If you need the Detect sensor to reach further, you’ll need to spend extra money on a Nest Connect range extender. Ring includes a range extender in the box, so interference and dropouts should be less of an issue. It’s also another thing to consider if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.

The real difference, however, comes down to what’s already in your home. Nest has been around for a few years, and there’s a good chance you already have a Nest thermostat or camera in your home. If you do, getting another Nest product may be worth the extra cost since the Nest Secure’s motion detector can work in conjunction with a Nest camera, and you’d be able to control everything from one application instead of two. Both Nest and Ring work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, so no matter who makes your smart speaker you’re in business.

If you’re just getting started building your smart home — or you don’t mind living in two ecosystems — Ring is the better option. It works just as well as Nest’s product, and even with the cost of extra sensors, you’ll save some serious money.

Ring Alarm

Low price

$199 at Amazon

For your first smart home

The Ring Alarm is significantly less expensive than the competition, and it works just as well. Everything you need is in the box, and you can add more sensors without blowing your budget.

Nest Secure

Better integration

For when you already have some Nest gear

$399 at Nest

If you already have some Nest gear at home, it’s worth spending the extra money for Nest’s security system. You get easy integration with your Nest Cams, and the benefit of having all your smart home products inside one application.