Articles by Chris Wedel

From improving latency to ensuring you always have the best satellite, Starlink is rolling out some major improvements to its beta internet.

What you need to know

Upgraded satellites with space lasers are being prepared to launch for improved data transfer.
A new feature allows a customer’s Starlink system to connect to seamlessly connect to a satellite, so it’s always be connected to the best option.
Starlink is rolling out a fix to address invalid “Thermal Shutdown” due to high temperatures.

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet has continued to grow since the service launched in May 2019. Since my review of Starlink in May 2021, the service has grown more and more stable in my daily use. This is in part to the 1,500+ satellites that are currently in operation. In an email to current subscribers, there are a host of recent updates to Starlink.

Potentially one of the most significant updates coming in the future for the satellite internet service will be the introduction of sp…

Chromebooks make great computers for kids for many reasons, and it’s partially why so many schools use Chromebooks in the classroom. If your child doesn’t already have one, there five things to know about buying your child a Chromebook, and once you have those things considered, you’re ready to pick up one of the best Chromebooks for kids. Whether you already have a device for your child or need to buy one, we’re here to help you set up a Chromebook for kids in no time.

How to set up a Chromebook for a kid

Setting up a Chromebook for a child is a relatively straightforward process and can be done in a few minutes — let’s get into it.

Turn on the Chromebook.
Click on Add person at the bottom of the screen.
Choose A child when asked whom you’re adding.

If your child already has a Google account, click on Sign in with a child’s Google Account, if not Create a Google Account for a child which will do so through Family Link.

With a Google Account for your child ready, enter that…

Plugging your phone into the wall is the most common way to power up your device, but it can be a pain fussing with cables. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best Samsung Galaxy S21 wireless chargers out there. While charging with a cord is faster at 25W, the Galaxy S21 can still power quickly at 15W wirelessly. So, here are the best wireless chargers that will help you take full advantage of that cable-free power.

Full speed ahead

Samsung Wireless Charger Stand 15W 2.0

Staff Pick

The Galaxy S21 devices are capable of 15W wireless charging, and this Samsung wireless charger stand will deliver the precise power you want. Using this stand, you can have your phone in portrait or landscape orientation and still get top charging speeds. There’s even a built-in fan to help keep everything cool.

$59 at Amazon $60 at Best Buy $60 at B&H

Purely powerful

Anker PowerWave Alloy

This simple-looking wireless charger is capable of some high-speed wireless charging. Your Galaxy S…

With some of the best Android tablets for kids and smart speakers like the Echo Dot Kids, there’s no question that Amazon has been a leader in the kid’s tech space for years. Amazon recently launched a new Alexa skill called Reading Sidekick to help kids improve reading. It’s an interesting feature that can help younger kids start exploring the world of books and inspire older kids to improve their skills. Reading Sidekick is intended for children ages 6 to 9 and already works with hundreds of books. And with an Amazon Kids+ subscription, kids have access to curated age-appropriate apps, movies, games, and books while you have complete control via the parental dashboard. So let’s get your child ready to start reading with Alexa.

How to set up Reading Sidekick on your Echo devices

To get started with Reading Sidekick, you’ll first need to have a subscription to Amazon Kids+. Once that is taken care of and you have set up your child’s profile, the rest of the process is relatively si…

Google Duo is a fantastic video calling service that works on many devices. Because of Duo’s simplicity and flexibility in its ability to make both voice-only and video calls, the service has become one of the best teleconferencing apps for Android. There are many tips and tricks for using Duo, but perhaps one of the most useful may be screen sharing. This feature is helpful in many ways; from helping someone with a problem on their device to showing a funny video to your friend, knowing how to share your phone screen on a Google Duo call can come in handy on your next chat.

How to share your phone screen on your next Google Duo call

Currently, you can only initialize the screen share feature from an Android device, but regardless of what device the person on the other end of the call is using, they’ll be able to see what you’re sharing.

Open Google Duo on your phone.
Find the contact you want to call and start your call.
Tap on the screen to bring up the controls.
Select the eff…

Amazon Fire Tablets are popular for many reasons: how seamlessly they sync with Amazon services, the variety of tablet options, or their very competitive pricing compared to other excellent Android tablets. However, one consistent issue with Fire tablets is app availability. Even though they technically run Android, they’re missing access to many apps and features found on competing tablets. The Amazon Appstore has some great options, but plenty of Google Play Store apps can’t be added easily. That’s where knowing how to sideload Android apps onto an Amazon Fire tablet can be beneficial.

How to prepare your Amazon Fire tablet to sideload apps

If you aren’t sure what sideloading is, the short explanation is that it’s the process of installing an Android app, or APK, directly to your device without doing so from an official app marketplace. There are a few steps to take before you can actually sideload an app from an unknown source — here are those steps whether you are using an Am…

Painting your walls can be labor-intensive and messy, but when you use a light capable of 16 million colors — it’s so easy.

For years, the idea of a light source in our homes was a light bulb that only turned on or off with the flick of a switch; that is no longer the case. In 2021, the range of lights for homes is extensive in both form and function — and Govee is at the forefront of pushing that innovation. Because of this, I was very excited to check out the Govee Lyra corner floor lamp.

While Govee may not be the first name you may think of when it comes to smart lights, it’s quickly becoming one that should. Though Govee does make some products that skew traditional in design, the company is pushing this sector forward with unique products like the Govee Immersion TV backlight and the Govee Glide Wall Lights.

From a technology standpoint, there are tons of excellent smart light bulbs that are in a traditional form-factor, to immersive lights for an incredible gaming exper…

The Amazon Fire HD tablets are great for games, and there are choices for all ages.

Amazon Fire Tablets are perfect for a lot of things. Whether it’s watching movies or being productive on the new Fire HD 10, one thing that kids love most about using a tablet is playing games. The Amazon Appstore has a lot of great options, but there are also plenty of not-so-great choices. These are the best kids games for Amazon Fire HD tablets, whether for a Fire HD 7 or the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro — there’s lots of fun to be had.

The games

Minecraft
School of Dragons: How to Train Your Dragon
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Subway Surfers
Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir – Run, Jump & Save Paris!
Angry Birds Transformers
Wild Kratts World Adventure
MARVEL Strike Force
Disney Magic Kingdoms: Build Your Own Magical Park
Angry Birds 2

Minecraft

Minecraft is one of the world’s most popular games today, even after its official release in 2011. Since then, the game has expanded onto nearly ever…

The original TCL MOVETIME Family Watch gets substantial upgrades with a camera and 4G connectivity.

What you need to know

The MOVETIME Family Watch 2 will feature a 2MP camera for taking photos, videos, and video chatting with family.
The connected smartwatch will offer real-time location tracking and geofencing so parents can have peace of mind knowing their child is safe.
With a €149 price tag, the MOVETIME Family Watch 2 will launch in Europe in mid-August 2021.

Tech for parents is getting another entry with the announcement of the TCL MOVETIME Family Watch 2 at MWC. This is the sequel to TCL’s original MOVETIME Family Watch, and it comes with some very nice upgrades.

The TCL MOVETIME Family Watch 2 has a larger 1.5″ display housed inside a more robust watch design. Also new this year is the inclusion of a 2MP camera so your child can take photos of things they find on their adventures and video chat with their parents or approved contacts. With 4GB of internal memory, th…

Isn’t losing your stuff the worst! Thankfully, it’s Prime Day, and Amazon has awesome deals to help solve the problem of our lost items. Tile has been making some of the best Bluetooth trackers for years, and you can save 30% off the Tile Performance Pack. Slip the credit card-sized Slim into your wallet, clip the Pro tracker onto your keys, and never lose them again!

Tile Performance Pack

This Tile two-pack snags you both a Pro and a Slim Bluetooth tracker to help you keep tabs on your most essential items. The Slim is perfect for a wallet or purse and the Pro can be attached to your keys or almost anything else.

$42 at Amazon

Whether you’re a forgetful person and always misplacing things, your kids like to play with your keys and inevitably lose them, or you just want to be prepared if something gets lost, Tile trackers can help. Simply pair your tracker with the Tile app and attach it to whatever it is that you want to keep track of, and you’re covered.

With this deal, yo…