Tausi Insider

Photo : Bonsales ( Shutterstock ) Anytime you have someone new over your house, one of the first questions they’ll ask is, “What’s the wifi?” Sure, you could tell them, but do you even know? To be honest, I don’t. If you’re like me, you have some convoluted wifi name and password combo on the bottom of your router you need to consult every time it’ s needed. Luckily, there’s an easy way to step up your wifi sharing game without needing to change passwords or commit anything to memory. Of course, the situation isn’t as bad as it used to be. If you and your guest both have iPhones, you can share your network credentials with a single tap. That said, to start that process, your friend first needs to choose your wifi network from the list, and they need to be a contact in your phone, adding extra steps to what could be a seamless setup. On the Android side of things, you can share your wifi password using a built-in QR code. Again, more convenient than the past, but there’s room for ...

Photo : ALDECA studio ( Shutterstock ) Smartphones these days have great cameras, to the point where it’s tough to make the wrong decision when picking one. If you’re like most people, though, you’re a bit loyal to one brand, especially if that brand happens to be iPhone, and never have a chance to really see what else is out there. It’s possible your current smartphone doesn’t actually take your favorite photos, but without shopping around, how would you know? Marques Brownlee, otherwise known as MKBHD , wants to help. At the end of each year, the MKBHD team holds a blind smartphone camera test to see which smartphone photos people actually prefer. They started the tradition back in 2017, pitting the top five smartphones of the year against each other in a YouTube video (without telling you which was which, of course) but the test has grown exponentially since then . Now, the list covers the top 16 smartphones of the year, and millions of people vote on their favorite. The po...

Samsung is having some neat deals right now, especially if you qualify for their Samsung Offer Programs , which adds up to 30% on some previously-discounted TVs . To qualify , you need an active student email and go through a verification process, though some p eople have noted being able to use family or friends who are still in school . Some employers are also eligible, as well as government workers, first responders, and veterans. If you do mange to get the verification, you can get a 75" Class QN85B Samsung Neo QLED 4K Smart TV for $1,259. The same model sells for $1,797 on Amazon, which has been the lowest price since its release in March , according to Camelcamelcamel . The same model is also available in 55", 65", 85", and 98" sizes at similar discounts. https://www.tausiinsider.com/6-of-the-best-tv-deals-you-can-still-get-before-christmas/?feed_id=328440&_unique_id=6424feb81c0e1

Companies want you to buy their products, Samsung included. Whenever the company drops a new product—like, say, the highly anticipated Galaxy S23—it hopes you’ll ditch your old smartphone and upgrade. And now, aside from offering a device with enticing new features like improved cameras and hardware, Samsung has another incentive up its sleeve: It wants to give you money. Samsung is currently running a promotion for its “upcoming” Galaxy phone and Galaxy Book devices. While the company doesn’t explicitly refer to the upcoming Galaxy Phone as the S23, you can rest assured that’s what will be announced during the next Unpacked Event on Feb. 1. We can also expect to see the Galaxy Book3 lineup, seeing as last year’s models go by Galaxy Book2. Under the promotion, Samsung will give you $50 in Samsung Credit if you “reserve” the upcoming Galaxy phone or Galaxy Book, or $100 credit if you reserve both. That’s a reservation, not a pre-order, mind you—that means no payment is required tod...

Photo : Africa Studio ( Shutterstock ) Politicians and social media can’t get enough of the gas versus electric stove debate (at TausiInsider, we think Electric Stoves Are Good, Actually ) —but regardless of where you stand on it, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) federal legislation that was passed last year can essentially score you a free electric range in the hopes of incentivizing people to make the switch. Who qualifies for a rebate for a new electric range The rebate amount you’ll qualify for will depend on how your income compares to the Area Median Income in your area. (You can calculate your AMI with this tool by entering your address.) If your income falls between 80% and 150% of your local AMI , you’re eligible for a rebate of 50% of the price of your electric range, cooktop, or wall oven   (up to a maximum credit of $840). If your income falls below 80% of the AMI, you’ll qualify for a rebate of 100% of the price (up to $840) . (If your i ncomes is above 15...

Photo : George Dolgikh ( Shutterstock ) I’m a big advocate for keeping your tech as long as possible. I still have my original Touch Bar MacBook Pro, and I plan to run it into the ground. But one legitimate reason to upgrade your tech is when a company stops supporting it with security updates. That begs the question: How l ong c an y ou u se an iPhone b efore i t’s a s ecurity r isk? Security updates keep you and your devices safe I’m not talking about feature updates, mind you. Sure, it’s a bummer when your iPhone stops gaining the latest features Apple has to offer. But it’s still perfectly usable as-is. Once a company stops issuing security updates, however, your device becomes susceptible to new vulnerabilities that pop up. Let’s say you have a smartphone whose OEM dropped support for completely. At some point, a major security vulnerability is discovered that could allow bad actors to run whatever code they want to on your phone, essentially taking it over. Maybe they achiev...

Photo : ALDECA studio ( Shutterstock ) Smartphones these days have great cameras, to the point where it’s tough to make the wrong decision when picking one. If you’re like most people, though, you’re a bit loyal to one brand, especially if that brand happens to be iPhone, and never have a chance to really see what else is out there. It’s possible your current smartphone doesn’t actually take your favorite photos, but without shopping around, how would you know? Marques Brownlee, otherwise known as MKBHD , wants to help. At the end of each year, the MKBHD team holds a blind smartphone camera test to see which smartphone photos people actually prefer. They started the tradition back in 2017, pitting the top five smartphones of the year against each other in a YouTube video (without telling you which was which, of course) but the test has grown exponentially since then . Now, the list covers the top 16 smartphones of the year, and millions of people vote on their favorite. The po...