December 1, 2021

Let’s talk about DNA for a second. I know; what an odd way to start a newsletter, right? But for a while, DNA tests to find out about your ancestry and other details have been all the rage. Once you hand over your DNA, though, it’s literally out of your hands. You have to depend on whatever company holds the data to keep it safe.

And oh boy, an Ohio-based genetic test firm managed to get hacked. The good news? Hackers didn’t get any DNA data. Can you imagine if that got into the wild? It feels like we’re this close to Gattaca. Unfortunately, that’s where the good news end. Hit the top story for all the sordid details.

On a side note, it’s December 1st already, which just seems crazy. It feels like the year began yesterday. With Christmas this close, I’m sure you’re holiday shopping, and we have gift guides to help with that. But what about you? Sometimes the best gifts are the ones you get yourself. And that’s why I thought I’d point out a deal on Amazon that’s worth jumping on.

The first is iRobot’s latest and greatest robot vacuum, and trust me; this one is THE one. It can clean just the rooms you want; it will stop cleaning, recharge, then pick back up where it left off. And it will even empty itself for you so it can keep cleaning longer. Better yet, now it can avoid your Christmas tree! I have the “previous” model version of this robot vacuum, and it’s a revelation. With the combination of self-charging and self-emptying, these robots finally deliver the promise of convenience they’ve given for years. Although I admit it’s still expensive, you can get it for $650 today, which is $200 off the full price, and the lowest it’s ever been.

iRobot Roomba j7+ (7550) Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum – Identifies and avoids obstacles like pet waste & cords, Empties itself for 60 days, Smart Mapping, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair

Amazon

$649.00
$849.99 Save 24%

Other Highlights:

• Rocket League now has a mobile game! It’s pretty great! But there’s bad news and good news for Pixel 6 owners.
• Eric took a look at GeForce Now’s new “RTX 3080” game streaming service, and he has some thoughts.
• It’s beginning to look a lot like a Roku Christmas.
• ..and more! Check it out!

-Josh

Hackers could one day steal your DNA to resell on the black market, and they may not have a hard time doing it. DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a genetic testing firm based in Ohio, now confirms that it suffered a data breach that affected over two million people. And what’s worse, it took the company six months to notice and disclose this breach. Read More »

Though its devices aren’t available in the United States, Fairphone is by far the most well-known sustainable phone brand. Its products are easy to repair, come with crazy-long warranties, and receive software updates several years after their release. And now, iFixit’s teardown of the Fairphone 4 shows what manufacturers like Apple and Samsung need to do if they want to make repairable devices. Read More »

Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service will eventually turn every computer and smart TV into a high-quality cloud gaming console. But if you want a taste of that future now, you should use Xbox Cloud Gaming in the Microsoft Edge browser. That’s because the latest Xbox Cloud Gaming feature, called Clarity Boost, is an Edge exclusive. Read More »

Some people will spend tons of money renting Christmas movies on Amazon this year, but you’ll have the pleasure of watching these movies for free. That’s because The Roku Channel just added over thirty Christmas movies to its free, on-demand catalog. And yes, they’re actually good movies! Read More »

After a long wait, Rocket League Sideswipe is now available on Android and iOS. But if you own a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, you may need to dip into your soul and find a bit more patience. We discovered that Rocket League Sideswipe isn’t working properly on Pixel 6 devices, and its developer is yet to acknowledge the problem. Read More »

Need a new keyboard and mouse for your home office? We got you. Logitech’s simple wireless keyboard and mouse combo offer reliable performance, a few programmable buttons, and sleek style at a budget-friendly price point. The keyboard features 11 hot keys and four programmable F-keys for controlling your multimedia; it also boasts low-profile quiet keys that are comfortable to use. The keyboard can last up to 24 months and the mouse for 12 months, and both use a reliable encrypted 2.4GHz connection so you can have fast data transmission and few to no dropouts or delays.

Get it at Amazon →

If you missed some of the many Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals over the weekend but still want a Google Nest Hub, we have good news. It looks like Google is still pushing its 50% off sale until the end of today, November 30th. Read More »

If you have a dog parent in your life, gifting them fun items, like personalized socks, a dog-shaped key chain, or a custom pet portrait might be tempting. While any of those would likely be loved by your recipient, they probably wouldn’t be used very much. That’s why we’ve put together a list of more practical gifts for dog parents. Read More »

Attempting to take your kid’s holiday photos at home can be much more stressful than it should be. We got tips from professional photographers to help you get the best pictures possible. Read More »