Best Cheap Android Phones for 2025 You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a phone that handles daily tasks. Here are top budget Android picks that balance camera, battery, display and performance. Top budget picks (2025) Google Pixel 9a — Excellent camera and clean Android; typical price: $400–$500. Buy / Search on Amazon Nothing Phone 3a — Stylish design with Glyph lighting and solid battery; typical price: $300–$350. Buy / Search on Amazon Moto G Power (2025) — Outstanding battery life; typical price: $200–$300. Buy / Search on Amazon Samsung Galaxy A36 5G — Balanced performance and good display with 5G; typical price: ~$350. Buy / Search on Amazon Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G — Long battery life and durable features; typical price: $300–$400. Buy / Search…

Geo Gods — Solo Card Game from Arnold Rauers (iOS) Translated summary: "Geo Gods" is a singleplayer card game for iOS from developer Arnold Rauers. We recommend many of Rauers' iOS card games and apps — recent coverage included Guncho, Card Thief and Card Crawl — and Geo Gods is another noteworthy solo card title. What it is Geo Gods combines card drafting with a simple tile-placing mechanic to create a "godly garden." Players use elemental magic from six different God factions, each with unique cards, to activate Power Crystals and boost their score. The game focuses on solo high-score runs and includes weekly global tournaments and Game Center leaderboards. Key features Solo card-drafting gameplay Tile placement to create scoring combos Six elemental God factions with distinct cards High-score chasing,…

Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL — Matter lamp with integrated JBL speakers Govee and JBL have teamed up for the Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL, a hybrid smart lamp that combines advanced RGBIC lighting with integrated JBL audio. Launched in June 2025, the lamp targets users who want immersive, customizable lighting paired with room‑filling sound in a single, portable device. Key features Lighting: 210 individually addressable RGBICWW LEDs, music‑reactive scenes with ~32ms response, adjustable color temperature and brightness, and over 100 presets. Audio: Built‑in 2.5" JBL driver (10W) with JBL tuning and EQ algorithm. Stereo sound possible by pairing two units via Wi‑Fi. Battery & portability: 5200mAh battery for up to ~4.5 hours at moderate brightness/volume; portable for wireless use. Smart home: Works…

There’s nothing more frustrating than shooting the perfect reel only to find the audio sounds like garbage. Mobile-focused microphones have come a long way; whether you need a wireless lav, a compact shotgun, or a budget lavalier, there’s a great option in 2025. Top picks (short descriptions) Rode Wireless GO II — Compact dual-transmitter wireless lav system, excellent for interviews and on-camera creators. Find on Amazon DJI Mic 2 — Reliable wireless kit with strong range and clear sound for run-and-gun shooting. Find on Amazon Shure MV88+ — Portable stereo condenser mic ideal for iPhone and USB-C phones with pro-grade capture. Find on Amazon Sennheiser MKE 400 — Short shotgun mic for directional audio when you need to reject background noise. Find on Amazon Rode VideoMicro — Tiny, affordable shotgun…

Spotify's "Mix der Woche": Genre controls only via iPhone app Spotify has added genre-selection controls to its Discover Weekly ("Mix der Woche") playlist — but currently the controls are available only in the iPhone app. Since July, iPhone users can choose up to five genres at the top of the playlist to steer recommendations toward specific styles (pop, electronic, jazz, techno, etc.). Important points: iPhone app: Genre selection controls present — select up to 5 genres to personalize your weekly mix. Mac app & Web Player: These platforms currently show the resulting playlist but do not display the genre-selection controls themselves. Effect: Choosing genres on iPhone changes what appears on Mac and Web, but those apps don’t yet let you change the genre selection. Why it matters: This gives mobile…

Osaurus: Open-source Apple Silicon LLM server brings local AI to Macs Osaurus is an open-source, Apple Silicon–native language model server designed to run local LLMs on M1/M2 (and newer) Macs. Lightweight (around 7 MB), Swift-native, and compatible with the OpenAI REST API, Osaurus aims to be a performant Ollama alternative that keeps models and data on device for better privacy and offline use. Key features Apple Silicon optimized (uses Apple ML frameworks) for improved speed on M1/M2/Pro/Max chips Extremely small footprint (~7 MB binary) Runs local models entirely offline — no cloud calls by default Implements the OpenAI-compatible REST API for easy integration Supports advanced features like KV-cache reuse, tool calling, and chat templates Why it matters For macOS users who prioritize data privacy and want low-latency local AI, Osaurus…

Anker Solix Wallbox V1: Smart EV Charger Integrates with Solar Anker has expanded its Solix home-energy ecosystem with the Solix Wallbox V1 — a smart EV charging station designed to integrate with home solar arrays and Solix battery storage. Key features Variants: multiple options targeting different installations Charging power: supports 7.4 kW (single‑phase) and 11 kW (three‑phase) App control and smart scheduling to prioritise solar energy use Seamless integration with Anker Solix modular battery systems Availability The Wallbox V1 is being rolled out in the EU and offered in several configurations aimed at users who want to route solar generation to their EV. For the most current purchase and regional availability information, check the official Anker Solix site linked below. More info Official product and brand info: https://www.ankersolix.com Discussion Would…

Google Vids: New AI features and a free basic tier Google has expanded its video editor, Google Vids, with several generative-AI features and — for the first time — a free basic tier for all users. The update aims to make video production easier and more accessible for businesses and private creators. Key features AI Avatars: Avatars that speak user-written scripts with selectable voices and personas — useful for training, demos, and onboarding. Image-to-video: Convert images into videos using the Veo 3 model. Automated transcript trimming: Removes filler words and long pauses to produce cleaner edits. Free basic tier: Provides essential editing tools, templates, fonts and stock media for consumers (AI features may require Workspace or Google AI subscriptions). Planned additions: Noise cancellation, background filters, and additional aspect ratios are…

EV13 — Free Light Meter App for iPhone EV13 is a free light-meter app for iPhone developed by Minsang Choi (who previously worked on Gboard and Google Lens). The app is aimed at film and classic-camera photographers and offers a simple, tactile interface inspired by analog meters. Key features Tactile, analog-style controls Automatic exposure reading Meter preview and recording functionality Designed with film photographers in mind Availability EV13 is available on the Apple App Store: EV13 on the App Store Developer page: Minsang Choi on the App Store Why it matters For photographers who shoot film or use classic cameras, a reliable light meter is essential. EV13 offers a mobile, free alternative with an interface that echoes traditional meters — handy when you want quick readings without carrying extra gear.…

Google: Reports of a 'Major' Gmail Security Issue Are False — What You Need to Know Google has publicly debunked recent reports claiming a "major" Gmail security issue affecting all users. In an update on its blog, Google said those reports are inaccurate and that its protections remain strong — blocking over 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts. The confusion appears to stem from a previously reported incident involving a Salesforce instance used by Google. That incident, first disclosed in June, involved limited data exposure and follow-up notifications to affected parties; it is not the same as a platform-wide Gmail breach affecting 2.5 billion users. Key links: Google’s statement: https://blog.google/products/workspace/gmail-security-protections/ Reporting and context: Engadget Further reading: Tom's Guide What you should do Enable passkeys and two-factor authentication (2FA) for your…