TL;DR: Download Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 for Windows or Mac at just $199.97 through July 15 (reg. $699). While many small businesses rely on QuickBooks, the subscription pricing for the online version can be a serious financial burden, especially with payroll features that push monthly costs to as much as $270 when promotions aren’t active. That adds up fast for freelancers, new ventures, and lean teams. It only makes sense that our QuickBooks lifetime subscription has been flying off the virtual shelves—now 71% off for our version of Prime Day. This version includes key features like inventory management, sales and purchase order tracking, job costing, fixed asset tracking, and tools for tracking billable time, making it a practical option for freelancers and businesses that want more control without a subscription. It also includes bank feed integration and robust reporting tools to help you stay organized and prepare for tax season. Whether you’re just getting started or want to streamline your existing operations, QuickBooks Desktop 2024 offers a familiar, dependable system at a price that makes sense, even if you only plan to use it for a short time. Get QuickBooks 2024 on sale for $199.97 until July 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. No coupon is needed to get this PCWorld Deal Days discount (reg. $699). Intuit® QuickBooks® Desktop Pro Plus 2024 (1 User) for Windows: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

TL;DR: This Lenovo 300E touchscreen Chromebook is on sale for $74.97 with free shipping through July 15, or while supplies last (reg. $284.99). Amazon’s biggest sale of the year just wrapped, but that doesn’t mean the deals are over. If you were looking for a budget-friendly laptop, but didn’t end up finding anything under $100, our answer to Prime Day, Deal Days, is still bringing discounts for a few more days. Check out this Chromebook with a 73% discount that’s great for students, travelers, or anyone with basic needs. It’s not trying to be a full workstation, but it nails the basics. You’ll get 4GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD, and an Intel N3450 quad-core processor, which is plenty for emails, streaming, document editing, or hopping on Zoom calls. Plus, it has a touchscreen and weighs under three pounds, so it’s super easy to carry. How is it discounted so dramatically? It’s a grade “B” refurbished device, so it arrives with some light scuffing on its exterior. However, that doesn’t affect its internal performance—it basically just means you get an even steeper discount. Get a refurbished Chromebook for $74.97 with free shipping until July 15 at 11:59 p.m. with no coupon needed (reg. $284.99). Lenovo 300E 11.6? Touchscreen Chromebook (2018) 4GB RAM 32GB Storage (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

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RealSense, a depth-camera technology that basically disappeared within Intel, has returned as a separate company. The company has spun out from Intel and raised $50 million in funding. The company will be led by Nadav Orbach, Intel’s former vice president and general Manager for the Incubation and Disruptive Innovation group. RealSense plans to address “increased demand for humanoid and autonomous mobile robotics (AMRs), as well as AI-powered access control and security solutions,” the company said. RealSense flourished, so to speak, about a decade ago, when its depth-camera technology was competing with the Microsoft Kinect system. Though Intel was able to license the RealSense technology to device makers like Creative, the tech seemed to flounder in the PC space–even as Windows Hello and its depth-camera tech became a staple on Windows 10 PCs. Intel instead adapted its technology for the robotics market. “RealSense will continue to support its existing customer base and product roadmap, including the acclaimed RealSense depth cameras, embedded in 60 percent of the world’s AMRs and humanoid robots, an incredibly fast-growing segment,” RealSense said in a statement. “Its recently launched D555 depth camera, powered by the next-gen RealSense Vision SoC V5 and featuring Power over Ethernet (PoE), demonstrates the company’s ongoing leadership in embedded vision technology and edge AI capabilities.” Intel, meanwhile, has been feverishly working to cut costs, revamping its foundry strategy, and laying off employees in a bid to get its finances back on track. Read...

One of the most frustrating things about owning a Windows PC is when it crashes, refuses to boot, or simply doesn’t work. Microsoft is preparing to roll out a technology called “quick machine recovery” for consumers to help solve this, after testing it in an enterprise environment. Microsoft tests various features across different Windows Insider testing channels, before eventually pushing them to your PC. Quick machine recovery comes courtesy of Windows 11 Build 26100.4762, part of the Release Preview Channel. It’s the “closest” channel to the traditional Windows updates, so it’s likely to debut on your PC soon. In fact, this preview gathers several features, many of which you might find useful, including “semantic search” in Settings: the ability to describe a problem and let Settings understand what you’re talking about in terms of natural language. Quick machine recovery, however, sounds like a lifesaver in certain situations. It’s been around since March, but only in this recent build has it been specifically turned on for consumer PCs. If your PC glitches and throws a BSOD, it might boot up in what’s known as the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), which gathers up several Windows 8-looking options to get things running, from uninstalling updates to playing with the Windows startup settings. The Windows Recovery Environment, with Quick machine recovery taking over for Startup Repair in the upper left.Microsoft What quick machine recovery does is essentially troubleshoot what’s wrong, without you needing to intervene. If a device enters the Windows RE recovery mode, it tries to ping Microsoft via a network connection. If it can, it then sends recovery information directly to Microsoft itself. (Remember the obscure codes that would accompany a Blue Screen of Death? This removes the need for you to take action, and puts the heavy lifting on Microsoft itself.) Microsoft then analyzes the crash data, identifies any patterns of behavior, and then sends down a patch or fix via Windows Update, according to Microsoft’s support documentation. Microsoft does this in two ways: cloud remediation, where the device connects to Microsoft’s servers, and looks for an update; and auto remediation, where your PC will keep periodically checking for a solution. Auto remediation is off by default on home PCs, which makes sense: An example screenshot of auto remediation below shows that it could be an hour or more before your PC checks again. Until then, you’re essentially sitting on your hands. Auto remediation may take a while, so it’s off by default. Microsoft already has a tool called Startup Repair that quick machine recovery essentially replaces. Startup Repair will remain on your PC, in case your PC can’t connect to the internet. Quick machine recovery can also be turned off, and in that case Startup Repair will be the default option if something goes wrong. (This image may be difficult to read because of its formatting, but here’s how Microsoft describes the recovery process.) The new quick machine recovery process workflow.Microsoft Microsoft describes this feature as part of a “gradual rollout” of features attached to this build, so even if you have this build on your PC, you might not see it right away. Semantic search in Settings draws closer Other features in this new build are more familiar. In January, Microsoft made “semantic search” part of its Dev Channel builds, and locked them to PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips inside. Now, this feature appears to be coming to all Copilot+ PCs, though it’s still restricted to Windows on Snapdragon for now. The new “Mu” language model that this feature is built upon is specifically offloaded to the NPU on a PC, Microsoft said in June. Click to Do is also taking advantage of a Microsoft app that you might not be aware of: Reading Coach, which appears in the Microsoft Store. Right-click a word or phrase, and you can then read the text aloud to Reading Coach and it will offer feedback. A similar Immersive Reader option will actually read the text to you, aloud. You can also “Draft with Copilot,” turning that phrase into a “full draft.” Finally, email addresses can be highlighted and turned into Teams meetings, again via right-click. For some reason, Recall snapshots can now be exported to trusted third-party apps, too, but only in Europe. “When saving snapshots is turned on for the first time, a unique Recall export code appears,” Microsoft says. “This code is required to decrypt exported snapshots and is shown only once during initial setup. Microsoft doesn’t store or recover this code. To export, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots > Advanced Settings and authenticate with Windows Hello. Choose to export past snapshots (from the last 7 days, 30 days, or all) or start a continuous export. Third-party apps can access exported snapshots only when both the export code and folder path are provided.” To me, Windows Recall seems increasingly risky with the aggressive policing actions now taking place, and I’ve advised (American) readers to turn off Recall. Quick machine recovery, however, sounds like one of those useful features that hide within Windows, such as Windows Sandbox. The difference here is that you don’t need to know about it, and it will simply offer to help when needed most. Read...

Councillor Ray Chung has confirmed he will stay in the race for Wellington’s mayor, after his lewd email about Mayor Tory Whanau hit the headlines. Read...

These days, the pre-leaving checklist goes: “phone, keys, wallet, power bank”—because you never know when you’ll need to recharge your phone. If you’re also carrying a laptop around, you’ll love this deal because the Anker 25,000mAh power bank is down to $94.49 right now, a 30 percent discount from its $135 MSRP. This power bank is incredibly versatile, featuring not one but two built-in cables. One of them serves as a handle, while the other is retractable so you can pull it out whenever you need it. To top it off, there are two ports—a USB-A and USB-C—on the side of the device. The retractable cable extends up to 2.3 feet, while the strap-style one measures just under a foot. It delivers a total output of 165W when both USB-C ports or cables are in use. It also supports up to 100W single-port charging, which is perfect for pretty much any laptop. The small display on the power bank will tell you exactly how fast each port or cable is charging. Frankly, what are you even waiting for? This 25K power bank is ideal for any situation and is easy to carry around, so snag one for $94.49 while deal is still around. Save 30% on this fantastic Anker power bankBuy now at Amazon Read...

Do you really need a laptop or a desktop PC? If you want a device you can use for work, daily browsing, streaming, and so on, then a mini PC might be all you need. The GMKtec M2 Pro mini has an insane configuration and is only $420 right now—34 percent off for Prime Day. So how insane is the configuration? Well, it runs on an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor and an impressive 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Now that’s a speedy combo! Even better, you can upgrade at any point—the system supports up to 64GB of RAM. You can also upgrade the 1TB SSD to 2TB if you need more room for photos, videos, and apps. Another great perk: you won’t need extra hubs to run multiple screens. This mini PC, tiny as it is, supports triple 4K displays via two HDMI ports and one Type-C. Connectivity won’t be a problem either, with plenty of USB-A ports, 2.5Gbps LAN, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. Grab the GMKtec M2 Pro for $420 before it jumps back to its $640 MSRP. Get a powerful mini PC for 34 percent off on AmazonBuy now at Amazon Read...

Apart from a handful of devices with Thread radios, most of Belkin’s Wemo smart home products will become obsolete on January 31, 2026. While the handwriting has been on the wall for some time now, it doesn’t make that bitter pill any easier to swallow. But look on the bright side: There’s one day left of Amazon’s Prime Day sale, and the most onerous of President Trump’s tariffs have yet to take effect. Belkin stopped selling some of these Wemo products several years ago, but the company continued to operate the servers they depended on. After January of next year, however, you won’t be able to operate them at all using the Wemo app or with any third-party services. These recommendations are based on my assumption that you’ll want to replace your Wemo devices with something equally simple, so I won’t get into every alternative, including some that might be more appealing to smart home power users. I will, however, help you minimize the brands you buy into, so you don’t need to juggle lots of smart home apps. There are some cases where that won’t be possible, however, because I’m recommending Lutron products as my top picks in many categories, and Lutron doesn’t make smart bulbs or indoor smart plugs that can handle small appliances. Lutron also doesn’t currently support Matter, if that’s important to you (it’s not to me). If you’re using Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Home, using more than one app isn’t all that onerous once you’ve set up a given product and perhaps set up some on/off schedules, because most of your interactions with it will involve using voice commands. You’ll find you won’t need to rely on those apps all that much. In any event, here are the Belkin products that will become obsolete next year, and the products I recommend you replace them with before then or soon after. Wemo smart light bulbs Wemo LED Lighting Bundle (model F5Z0489) Wemo Zigbee Bulb, E27 (model F7C033 Replace either of these hub-based smart lighting systems with a Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit (Philips Hue hub and two White and Color Ambiance bulbs for $90, 31% off at Amazon). A less-expensive alternative would be TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi light bulb, which Amazon has discounted to $22 for a 4-pack (31% off MSRP) for Prime Day. That would also be the way to go if you decide to buy any other smart home products in the Kasa Smart or Tapo ecosystems (Tapo is TP-Link’s other smart home brand, and you can integrate products from either family in either app). Philips Another budget alternative would be the Linkind Matter Smart RGBTW A19 smart bulb ($22 for a 4-pack, 26% off at Amazon). It also supports Matter (over Wi-Fi), but it doesn’t require a hub. While it’s very inexpensive, it can’t match the quality and sophistication of Philips’ offering. Wemo in-wall smart switches Wemo Switch Wemo Light Switch v2 Wemo Smart Light Switch These are simple on/off devices, not dimmers, but that’s what you need for loads that can’t be dimmed, such as ceiling fans and some types of lighting. Our top replacement pick would be the Lutron Caséta smart switch and Smart Hub ($84 for the two, 20% off at Amazon). Our bargain pick would be the TP-Link Kasa Smart Switch (model HS200), which is going for just $13 at Amazon on Prime Day, a 35% discount. TP-Link’s device connects via Wi-Fi and doesn’t need a hub. So, what makes Lutron’s product more desirable? Its comprehensive compatibility with most every smart home ecosystem, including Apple HomeKit. Note that the Wemo cloud service shut down will not impact the Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread (model WLS0503) or the Wemo Scene Controller with Thread. Wemo smart dimmers Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Light Switch w/Dimmer (model WDS060) Wemo?Dimmer Light Switch (model F7C059) We have two favorite smart dimmer switches, both from Lutron, and both require Lutron’s Smart Hub. The original Caséta Smart Dimmer Switch has separate buttons for turning the connected load on and off, and separate buttons for increasing and decreasing the brightness of that load—so that’s four buttons in all. Lutron’s Pico remote control is even busiers, with five buttons, the extra one being a programmable “favorite” brightness level. You can buy the Caséta Smart Dimmer in a kit with Lutron’s hub and one Pico remote for $92 (20% off at Amazon). The Lutron Diva Smart Dimmer is our favorite product in its category.Michael Brown/Foundry If you find that too busy or geeky looking, consider Lutron’s newer Diva Smart Dimmer. It has a paddle design with a vertical slider on its right-hand side for adjusting the brightness of a connected light. Amazon is selling it in a kit with a Lutron hub and Caséta-style Pico remote for $100 (20% off).  You can purchase a Pico Paddle Remote that echoes the design of the Diva dimmer for $24.95 (there was no discount on that product as of this writing). For a less expensive alternative, look again to TP-Link and its Kasa Smart family. Amazon is selling the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer Switch, which operates over Wi-Fi and supports Apple HomeKit, for just $20—29% off MSRP. Unlike Lutron, however, TP-Link doesn’t offer remote controls—apart from its mobile app, that is. Wemo indoor smart plugs Wemo?Mini Smart Plug (model WSP070) Wemo?Mini Plugin Switch (model F7C063) Wemo Mini Smart Plug (model WSP080) There are lots of choices in smart plugs, with our longtime favorite being the 2nd-gen Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch (model D215P), which supports Matter-over-Wi-Fi.  Amazon is selling it for $23, but it’s not on sale for Prime Day. But if you want to stay in the Lutron ecosystem based on the products we’ve recommended above, go for the Caséta Dimming Smart Plug. It’s admittedly on the pricey side at $50, and Amazon didn’t put it on sale for Prime Day. Also, given that it’s a dimmer, you can only use it with lamps, not small appliances such as a space heater or fan. TP-Link’s Tapo P125M is inexpensive, very small, and Matter compatible.Christopher Null/Foundry If you do need to control a small appliance with a smart plug, consider the Leviton product, or—if you’ve decided to go with the TP-Link family –buy either the Tapo P125M ($19 for a 4-pack, 62% off at Amazon), Tapo P110M ($34 for a 4-pack, 32% off at Amazon), Tapo P100M ($19 for a 3-pack, 62% off at Amazon), or the Kasa Smart KP125M (which also has an energy consumption-monitoring feature, ($37 for a 4-pack, 33% off at Amazon). Each of those devices is Matter compatible. Note that the Wemo cloud service shut down will not impact the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread?(model WSP100). Wemo?Outdoor Plug (model WSP090) Lutron does have an outdoor smart plug that can handle things like pumps, fans, and other types of small motors, as well as outdoor lighting. It’s over-engineered and very expensive compared to the competition—$84.62 at Amazon, and it’s not on sale for Prime Day—but it can do things that most of the competition can’t, such as respond to motion detected not only by Lutron’s own sensors but by a Ring camera or video doorbell. You can also turn it on and off using one of Lutron’s Pico remotes. Bottom line: The Lutron Caséta Wireless Outdoor Smart Plug is the best product in its class, even if it does cost $85 at Amazon and isn’t on sale for Prime Day. Lutron Caséta Wireless Outdoor Smart Plug is quite expensive, but it offers some features the competition doesn’t.Michael Brown/Foundry If you want to stay in the TP-Link Kasa Smart/Tapo ecosystem—or if you’re just looking to spend a lot less—the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug (model P400M) is on sale for Prime Day for just $17. Should you want an outdoor smart dimmer plug, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Dimmer Plug (model KP405) is one of the few that offers that capability, and it’s on sale at Amazon for just $16. Finally, if you want a less expensive alternative to Lutron’s offering that also has a physical remote control, consider the Leviton Decora Smart Outdoor Plug-In Switch (model D215O) ($43 on Prime Day, 15% off) and add up to three of Leviton’s wall-mountable Anywhere Switch Companions (model DAWSC) ($33, not on sale for Prime Day). Leviton’s outdoor smart switch has an onboard light sensor that can turn the device on at sunset and off at sunrise without your needing to program it to operate on a schedule. The remote operates on a CR2025 battery that Leviton says should last for five years. Note that the Wemo cloud service shut down will not impact the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread?(model WDC010). Belkin has more information about its Wemo products nearing end-of-life. For in-depth reviews and additional information on all of these smart home product categories, check out TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart light bulbs, the best smart dimmers and switches, and the best smart plugs. Read...