The Hookup News

News: Bring Your Gaming Ideas to Life with the School of Game Design

With everyone sheltering at home, gaming is even more popular than ever. And it was already popular. In 2019, mobile gaming was valued at $64.4 billion, PC gaming brought in $29.6 billion, and on the desktop, $15.4 billion. There are now over 2.5 billion gamers on the planet. That's a lot of playing.

News: Now's the Perfect Time to Brush Up on Your Excel Skills

We've become accustomed to new models of learning over the past generation. What once required classrooms and chalkboards now only needs a laptop and an internet connection. At this moment, with much of the population staying inside, eLearning has never been more necessary than now.

Deal Alert: Learn to Code for Only $39 While You're Stuck at Home

Being stuck inside for the near future is less than ideal, but at least you have the world of eLearning to sharpen your skills while you kick back on your couch. Case in point, The 2020 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle has all the training you need to start coding like a pro right at home, and it'll only cost you $39 today.

News: The Best Microphones for Your Podcast & Voiceover Recordings

The landscape of podcasting has exploded in recent years, with everyone from dedicated longtime podcasters reaching the mainstream spotlight, to traditional media personalities moving from TV, radio, and newspapers to grab a slice of the listening pie. The good news is that the barrier to entry is relatively low, so even if you're not a celebrity or media luminary, you can still get your voice out there by starting a podcast.

News: If You Have Philips Hue Bulbs, This $25 Accessory Is a MUST

I got my first Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs because they're the consensus best of the best for colored lighting. But after spending 90 bucks on two light bulbs, when it came to all the accessories like switches and buttons, I went with cheaper third party options. Little did I know, I was overlooking a great first-party accessory with a surprisingly reasonable price.

News: Print Custom Labels Right from Your Smartphone or Computer & Organize All the Things

Life is too chaotic to be organized all the time, but little steps in the right direction make things easier overall. File folders keep paperwork from spiraling out of control. Spice jars take the clutter out of cabinets. Storage totes keep basements neat and tidy. But to find what you're looking for faster, you need a label maker.

News: Best Winter Flu Kit Essentials — All You Need to Feel Better, Faster

Congratulations, you've made it deep into the middle of flu season! If you're reading this, you're either a very smart preemptive sick day prepper, or already in the throes of fighting off a cold or flu situation.

Grab It Fast: 2nd Generation AirPods with Wireless Charging Case Drop to Lowest Price Since Black Friday

Second-generation AirPods just went on sale with the best prices since Black Friday's deals. So if you missed your shot at snagging a set of AirPods with the Charging Case or Wireless Charging Case, you've got another chance. But you'll need to act quickly to take advantage.

News: You Can Master Adobe's Hottest Tools from Home for Only $34

If there's any silver lining to being stuck at home right now, it's the fact that many of us have way more time to take care of those things that have been sitting on our back burner for ages, like beefing up our resumes.

News: This Dongle Lets You Connect Wireless Headphones to Anything with an Aux Cable — Airplanes, Nintendo Switch, You Name It

In this post-3.5 mm world, Bluetooth is the most universal option. But a lot of older electronics still don't support wireless audio. Welp, now there's a dongle for that.

News: The Only Cat Litter Scoop You'll Ever Need

If you have a cat, trying to get all of the little clumps out of the litter probably feels like an impossible task. It pretty much is, but we've found the best cat litter scoop that gets more of those tiny pieces out than any other scoop. Plus, it's sturdy, degradable, and ethically sourced.

News: The Best Thermos to Get You Through Winter Is from Japan

Decades ago, Japan rocked the automobile industry with its revolutionary manufacturing and car quality, but today that title seems to be moving over to Elon Musk's electric car company Tesla. Nevertheless, Japan isn't done innovating mass-produced hardware.

News: 3 Child-Proofing Products That Aren't Total Garbage

I'm a new parent and I just moved into a new home. The first thing I wanted to do was ensure my toddler's safety in his new digs. That meant buying a bunch of baby-proofing products from Amazon, realizing most were junk, then buying some more until I found solutions for all my needs.

News: Keep Your AirPods Case from Getting Dirty in Your Pocket or Bag with This Dust-Tight Cover

We love our set of Apple AirPods. The battery could last a little longer, but overall, there's only one gripe we really have: the dirt that builds up inside the case. Whether you stick it in your pocket, a backpack, or your purse, the inside of the case's lid and main base will get dirty in a week, give or take. But there's a way to stop that from happening.

News: The Best Streaming Media Devices to Watch Your Favorite TV Shows & Movies

By now, you've probably been inundated with enough Baby Yoda memes to last you a lifetime. But if you don't have the new Disney Plus streaming service on your TV, you're probably wondering where all this is coming from. Well, lucky for you, just in time for the holiday season, we're here to guide you to the best ways to take part in all the streaming fun when you're not glued to your mobile devices.

News: Black Friday Deals on Smart TVs & Streaming Devices That Work with Apple TV+

If you have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple TV, then you already have a quick way to subscribe to Apple TV+, Apple's entry into the streaming wars. Some of you might even have a free year of the service. But if you don't have any of those products or you're just looking for a smart TV or streaming device that supports Apple TV+ natively, check out these Black Friday deals.

News: Get the Apple Watch Series 4 for Cheap with All of Series 5's Best Features

While we just called the Apple Watch Series 5 the "best lifestyle assistant and fitness wearable you can get," it doesn't mean that it's the model you should get. Whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else and are on a tight budget, the Series 4 offers the majority of features that the Series 5 does at up to $300 less than the newer comparable models.

News: Apple Watch Series 5 Offers the Best Lifestyle Assistant & Fitness Wearable You Can Get

The wearables space experienced its "big bang" moment back in 2015 when Apple released its first wearable device, the Apple Watch. Although the device was initially dismissed by some as an unnecessary charm bracelet packed with frivolous tech, in very short order, the public learned just how useful the Apple Watch can be.

News: The Best Touchscreen Gloves to Get You Through the Winter

Not that long ago, touchscreen-friendly gloves were an outlier accessory, something you had to track down at a specialty brick-and-mortar store or solely online. But as the smartphone has become an integral part of our lives, so, too, has the need for fashion accessories that cater to our desire to be always connected. So now, touchscreen gloves are everywhere.

News: Transform Your Smartphone Photography with the Moment Anamorphic Lens

All those Apple commercials encouraging people to use their iPhones to make their smartphone movies look amazing, but how can you achieve some of the same looks? That's the question many often ask after plunking down over $1,000 for a brand new iPhone, shooting some video, and getting somewhat mediocre results.

News: Our Writers' & Editors' Must-Have New Phone Accessories

It's new phone season — new handsets are releasing every few weeks, we're seeing endless software updates, and the holidays are right around the corner.

News: Make Your Smart Home Smarter with a Truly Universal Remote

True home automation doesn't require interaction from the user. But let's be real, no system is going to be 100% autonomous. You'll always need a manual override for situations programming can't account for. So what's the best manual override system? I'll tell you right now, it doesn't involve yelling at Alexa or Google.

News: Oculus Quest Is the Best Way to Experience VR on the Go

At Next Reality we mostly focus on augmented reality, but that doesn't mean we're not also absolutely obsessed with virtual reality, too. If the thing that's been keeping you from diving into the deep end of VR has been clunky tethered headsets or the expensive but necessary gaming PCs, then it's time for you to try the Oculus Quest, which is currently available to buy here for less than most gaming systems on the market.

News: This Futuristic Wearable Keyboard & Mouse Combo May Be a Perfect Companion for Your Smartphone

Android phones have supported keyboards and mice for a long time, and you've even been able to use physical keyboards with iPhone and iPad models. But iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 finally include official mouse support. That means you can use a wireless or wired mouse and keyboard with your iPhone or iPad, though, a futuristic peripheral that combines the two may be even better.

News: Get Rodriguez's '70s Rock Albums Remastered on Vinyl or CD

A relatively unknown musician from the early-'70s that's gained popularity stateside over the last ten years just got the remastered treatment with two new reissues available on CD and 180-gram vinyl. And they're available right now.

News: The Best Black Friday 2018 Deals on Headphones for Your Smartphone

The holiday season is upon us, and that means all the big-box stores are competing against each other to offer the best prices on electronics. What was once a 24-hour period of flash deals the day after Thanksgiving has now become a holiday in and of itself — Black Friday is an event you don't want to miss.

News: The Best Black Friday 2018 Deals on Wireless Chargers for Your Phone

If you or someone you're shopping for has a newer iPhone model or an Android smartphone like the Galaxy Note 9 or Pixel 3, they come with wireless charging capabilities. Problem is, they don't come with wireless chargers. But there's no better time to snag one than on Black Friday, and we've found the best deals out there for 2018's holiday season.

News: The Best Black Friday 2018 Deals on Smartphone Cases

The holidays are here, which means a slew of new smartphones are set to be gifted to loved ones in the spirit of giving. Of course, a great case to compliment and protect that precious flagship is a must, regardless of whether it's a OnePlus 6T, iPhone XS, or Galaxy Note 9. And while quality cases usually come with a hefty price tag, there are plenty of Black Friday deals to keep you from going broke.

News: The Best Black Friday 2018 Deals on iPhones

Let's face it, iPhones are expensive. With the latest iPhone XS Max reaching as high as $1,449, our wallets could all use a little support. That's where Black Friday comes in, supplying us with deals and discounts on iPhones of all kinds. If you're looking for a new iPhone this holiday season without having to break the bank, you've come to the right place.

News: The Best Black Friday 2018 Deals on Android Phones

It's that time of year again. No, not Thanksgiving. Black Friday. There are a lot deals available this holiday weekend, many of which include flagship Android devices. Whether you are thinking of buying a phone for yourself or looking for a gift for someone else, you can find a little savings to shop smart during the holidays.