How to Save Hundreds on Technology Buying with Costco Direct Offers

some additional major membership benefits, yet the wholesale retailer also offers its own online bundle-and-save option, Costco Direct. Given current prices, it’s a deal definitely worth leveraging, though there are some aspects you should be aware of to maximize its potential.

The great aspect of Costco Direct is that it is available to all membership tiers, comprising Business, Executive, and Gold Star members. Even more advantageous, it’s valid for bundling various products, which encompasses tech items like appliances, televisions, and others. Locating these Costco Direct products can be fairly straightforward, provided you know where to search, and merging them with other promotions can result in significant savings.

Alongside instructing you on how to identify a Costco Direct product, we can also guide you on how to make the most out of the offer while discussing some factors to keep in mind prior to your next significant purchase. With the potential to save up to $400 by combining orders across different product categories, it presents a favorable opportunity when planned wisely. Although there are methods to shop at Costco without a membership, you’ll need one to genuinely benefit from this deal.

What is Costco Direct?

Five Creative Techniques to Hide Your TV in Any Space

deactivating the alarm on your iPhone. Confessing, it’s not the most beneficial manner to kick off your day, but if you choose to go this route, you might as well do it with a touch of modern flair. In particular, you can install a flat-screen TV on a lifting system that emerges from the foot of your bed to welcome you in the morning, then disappears from view when it’s bedtime in the evening.

There are numerous cabinets available on Amazon that feature a lifting mechanism integrated into their centers, with a space designed for flat-screen televisions up to approximately 60 inches. Simply install the TV in that space and position the cabinet at the foot of your bed or against a far wall, press a button, and the TV rises for your viewing pleasure. Utilizing a pre-made cabinet is the simplest option for this method, but if you’re feeling creative, you could craft a custom mount and fit it directly into your bedframe. All you genuinely require is a motorized mechanism, a wireless receiver, and some wood. You might also apply a comparable method to conceal a TV within a kitchen island.

William Shatner Critiques a Star Trek: TNG Aspect for Contradicting Gene Roddenberry’s Vision

The Hollywood Reporter, Shatner asserted that “Star Trek”s successor series, “The Next Generation”, fell short in one aspect of creator Gene Roddenberry’s dream.

The inaugural “Star Trek” film, “The Motion Picture”, received poor critical reception due to its sluggish and dragging pace. It didn’t aid matters that it debuted two years after the original “Star Wars,” which revolutionized sci-fi with its dazzling effects and rapid pace. Nevertheless, it achieved commercial success at the box office, earning $139 million against a $44 million budget, but failed to align with the shifting preferences of audiences and critics. Following this, Roddenberry temporarily lost authority over the franchise, as the subsequent films featuring the original Enterprise crew were handed to different creative teams.

Upon getting “The Next Generation” on the air, Roddenberry exercised a much tighter grip on control. He was infamous for discarding scripts and imposing restrictions that no successful ’80s show could abide by. The misfortunate Season 1 of “The Next Generation” (TNG) is regarded as a strange initiation for the show and garnered negative reactions from fans. One episode is chosen by Michael Dorn, who portrayed Worf, as the worst episode. Among the restrictions imposed by Roddenberry were the prohibition of conflicts between characters and the disallowance of romance amongst the crew of the Enterprise D. Viewing season one of “TNG” feels like an odd transitional period between the original series and what “TNG” would ultimately evolve into. Shatner, in a different interview with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews

“Consumer Reports’ Highest-Rated Streaming Device Outshines Apple TV and Fire TV Stick”

Numerous individuals depend on streaming platforms for their entertainment needs, to the extent that streaming applications are frequently integrated into smart televisions. Nonetheless, devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick should not be disregarded, as they typically launch applications more swiftly than smart TVs. If you’re in pursuit of the leading streaming gadget available, you may be astonished to discover that it doesn’t originate from Amazon or even Apple.

As reported by Consumer Reports, the premier streaming device you can acquire is the Android OS-based Nvidia Shield TV Pro. This device is often advertised as a cloud gaming solution that allows users to engage in PC gaming on a television with 4K HDR graphics, Dolby ATMOS sound, and performance akin to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080. Naturally, you will require your own controller, a collection of games from platforms like Steam or GOG, a reliable internet connection, and a GeForce NOW membership. Joining is free, but to play beyond an hour at resolutions exceeding 1080p — and to steer clear of advertisements — a monthly subscription fee is necessary.

So what distinguishes the Nvidia Shield TV Pro as an exceptional streaming device rather than merely a cloud gaming titan? Access to streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV, that’s what. Some of these services come pre-installed on the Shield TV Pro, while others must be downloaded from the integrated app store. Similar to game streaming features, you need an active subscription to each service to view their respective content. Moreover, this is in addition to the Shield TV Pro’s $200 price point at the official Nvidia store.

What sets the Nvidia Shield TV Pro apart

Though Consumer Reports’ leading suggestions for “4K streaming media devices” include the Roku Ultra, the Amazon Fire TV Cube, and the Onn 4K Pro, the highest accolade went to the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. How did this device secure the top spot despite a higher price than its rivals? What does it offer that others lack, aside from gaming capabilities? Nothing; it simply presents a more refined package.

In Consumer Reports’ assessment of the Nvidia Shield TV Pro, the device received top scores in several areas, including “Features” and “Picture quality.” The publication commended the Shield TV Pro’s agile interface and exceptional picture quality, although the latter relies on your television — the device accommodates HDR10 and Dolby Vision, but you require a TV that can display images in those formats to utilize them. The same is mostly applicable to the other highly-rated streaming devices, but the Fire TV Cube and Onn 4K received lower scores for being more temperamental.

The real determining factors in the competition among streaming devices were “Data privacy” and “Data Security.” These were the only categories where the Nvidia Shield TV Pro did not excel, though the others fared even worse; the Roku Ultra exhibited poorer privacy and security overall, and while the Fire TV Cube matched the Shield TV Pro in privacy and security, the Onn 4K fell short in privacy. These concerns weren’t significant, but they were sufficient for the Nvidia Shield TV Pro to emerge as Consumer Reports’ top recommended streaming device.

Five Essential USB-C Devices for Your New iPad

like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, numerous USB-C devices can enhance your iPad’s functionality. Furthermore, as Apple continues to elevate iPad features through enhanced software updates, such as an advanced Files app and compatibility with third-party SSDs and microphones, users can accomplish much more on their devices than they could just a few years back.

In this overview, we will discuss some of the most sought-after selections available, as well as gadgets that the BGR team has been utilizing on their personal iPads for work, individual projects, or simply to capitalize on the iPad’s capabilities.

USB-C microphone for podcasts

If you rely on your iPad as your primary device and frequently engage in activities involving your voice, such as attending meetings, producing podcasts, or showcasing songs, then the Sennheiser Professional Profile is one of the most impressive tools you can acquire for your iPad. With USB-C compatibility, you can connect this microphone directly to your Mac or iPad, and it’s ready for use without the need for extra software or an interface. If you want to adjust audio settings, you can do so using the physical buttons on this device, making it one of the most professional and user-friendly accessories available for your iPad.

Among its features, this Sennheiser microphone comes equipped with a mute option, gain control for adjusting mic volume, a mix control for balancing voice and iPad audio, and a volume adjustment for those monitoring the experience with

Comparing Soundbars and Surround Sound Systems for the Best Home Theater Configuration

replacement for television audio. However, a soundbar is simply not comparable to a surround sound speaker system when it comes to home theater audio.

A surround sound system offers separation and detail that soundbars are unable to replicate because they can only mimic multiple speakers. While some soundbars may do a decent job of simulating sound, it will never truly match the experience — there is, after all, just one speaker. Envision a nighttime scene in the woods. A whisper is heard distinctly on a center channel speaker. On the left and right speakers, you detect a soft piano and corresponding footsteps. Then a branch breaks behind you through the rear left speaker. You react. That same noise via a soundbar sounds more artificial. It does not genuinely come from behind you; instead, it is reflected off your walls to imitate the directional audio of that left rear speaker. You hear the branch snapping, yet it lacks precision. You don’t react.

Additionally, there is the subwoofer. Numerous soundbars now include a subwoofer. However, it is not always a true powered subwoofer, which can provide low frequencies that shake you while preserving layered tonal sounds and adapting to new low frequencies. Reflect on the opening scene of “Top Gun” where the deep rumble of jets aligns with the synthesized bass of “Danger Zone.” A soundbar’s subwoofer is more prone to muffle or distort it than a powered subwoofer.

Reasons a soundbar may be preferable to surround sound for you

Utilizing HDMI for Daisy Chaining Displays: Opportunities and Constraints

lacks essential functionalities that other cables provide. Specifically, HDMI does not accommodate Multi-Stream Transport (MST), a feature reserved for cables adhering to the DisplayPort 1.2 standard or more advanced, which includes USB-C and Thunderbolt. Since 2014, USB-C has been compatible with DisplayPort, thereby enabling MST. Nevertheless, certain contemporary computers, such as those using Apple Silicon, do not support MST. In such instances, it is advisable to utilize docks that are Thunderbolt 4 or USB4-compatible for connecting multiple displays.

Thunderbolt is the method for daisy chaining in 2026

Docks are available that transform DisplayPort into HDMI, but this does not qualify as “daisy chaining” in the same respect. These adapters and docks merely translate the MST signal into dual video outputs, extending a single cable to multiple outputs. True daisy chaining entails connecting cables to two distinct ports, then linking to the next monitor, with a singular output from the laptop or computer. 

If your intention is to daisy chain monitors in 2026, the most reliable choice is Thunderbolt. Although the USB4 standard competes with Thunderbolt in numerous aspects, including peak transfer rates, it still falls short compared to Thunderbolt. However, Thunderbolt can be quite pricey, with short cables priced between $20 and $129 if purchased from Apple for the 1.2m-long variant.

Monitors that are compatible with daisy-chaining will

Grasping the 60-60 Principle for Secure Headphone Usage

using headphones for extended durations.

It’s not solely about ear safety, but also the potential for hearing impairment. This is where the 60-60 guideline can be beneficial, as it aids headphone users in safeguarding their ear health and hearing abilities. The guideline is simple to recall and encompasses two factors: sound intensity and exposure time. The 60-60 guideline indicates that you should enjoy music at 60% of the headphones’ maximum volume for a maximum of 60 minutes before taking a pause. Following the 60-60 guideline would assist an individual in remaining within safe listening thresholds, and provide the ear opportunities to rest from sound exposure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) clarifies that continuous exposure to loud noises can result in a form of hearing loss termed noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This occurs because the sensory cells within the ear that convey sound to the brain can be impacted by loud noises. The California Hearing Center further elucidates that the cells that facilitate hearing do not regenerate once damaged, rendering NIHL permanent. They emphasize that the three factors that can contribute to hearing loss are elevated volume, prolonged exposure, and cumulative exposure. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders further elaborates that the damage can occur instantly when the volume is excessively loud. It can also develop over extended periods of exposure to high volume. This type of NIHL may initially go unnoticed, but some individuals might eventually display symptoms.

Why is 60% volume considered safe?

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Survey Uncovers Surprising Smartphone Brand at the Forefront of Customer Loyalty

SellCell.com evaluates information from users in 2026 and compares it to earlier surveys conducted by the company in 2019 and 2021. As per the findings, iPhone user loyalty has increased in recent years, jumping from 91.9% in 2021 to more than 96% in 2026. While this may appear to be a slight increase, it stands out notably when contrasted with Android’s 86.4% loyalty score.

There are several factors driving users to remain loyal to their iPhones. The primary reason is the comprehensive value that devices such as the iPhone 17 provide, particularly for those who are already deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.

Reasons behind the growing iPhone loyalty