Most people choose a treadmill or exercise bike for their home gym, but rowing machines are an underrated option that has a lot to offer. They are great for improving your cardio, but also allow you to do some strength training for your arms, back, legs and abs. And right now is your chance to grab some of our favorite rowing machines for 2023 for less at Hydrow’s Summer Cyber ​​Week. You can save $250 on original Hydrow rowerwhich brings the price down to $2,245, or get the more compact Hydrow Wave rower for $1,795, which saves you $100. These deals are only available until July 31st, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

With an aluminum and steel frame and electromagnetic resistance system, this Hydrow rower it looks, feels and works like premium fitness equipment. You can fine-tune resistance levels between 1 and 300, and it’s equipped with a 22-inch HD display that you can use for on-demand training classes, although you’ll need Hydrow membership to access them. It also has built-in front-facing speakers and Bluetooth connectivity so you can blast your music while you work out.

And if you lack space, you can take Hydrow wave, which offers an almost identical workout in a more compact package. It has a 30% smaller footprint than the original Hydrow rower, as well as a smaller 16-inch display. Both paddles fold upright for easy storage when not in use. You can get the rowing machine alone, or combine it with a one-, two-, or three-year Hydrow membership, though you’re not saving any money compared to the usual price of $44 a month.

A stunning screen is just one part of a complete home entertainment setup. For a truly immersive watch experience, you’ll want to pair it with a soundbar for powerful, room-filling sound. And right now, you can grab one of our favorite models for 2023 at a discount. Amazon is currently offering a discount of $99 Klipsch Cinema 400 — a top-rated mid-range model and a great option for most people — which brings the price down to just $230. There is no set expiration date for this deal, so we recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

The Klipsch Cinema 400 earned top marks in our review thanks to its excellent audio, stunning design and premium build. It’s a two-piece setup that boasts 400W of power for a cinema experience right in your living room. It includes a 2.1-channel soundbar as well as a wireless 8-inch subwoofer for rich, booming bass. It’s a simple plug-and-play system that connects to your TV via an HDMI-ARC port and is controlled with its own remote. Having only one HDMI port is a bit of a downside, but it also supports Bluetooth connectivity for convenient wireless streaming. Plus, there’s a dialogue enhancement preset, so it’s not hard to hear what the characters are saying over the music or sound effects.

And if you’re looking for a different setup, you can check out our full range of all the best soundbar deals for even more bargains.

We are currently experiencing record heat waves. Walking in the heat is not only uncomfortable, but it is also difficult to sleep. Especially for hot sleepers, this heat wave can be irritating. When your temperature rises, it disrupts your body’s thermoregulation process. In short, you toss and turn and it’s hard to get comfortable enough to go back to sleep.

If you’re a hot sleeper, there’s probably something making you hotter at night, like your mattress, pillow, or even what you wear to bed. Here are six things to consider when you find yourself sleeping hot.

6 things that make you extra hot at night

There are many things that affect the quality of your sleep. Let’s start with the bedding.

Your pillow

Every aspect of your bedding, from your sheets to your pillows, can act as an insulator. Having a pillow with thicker material or memory foam can raise your body temperature and cause you to wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat.

When choosing your pillow, look for cooling pillows. They work by often containing perforated gel or foam, chopped poly foam, or a material that doesn’t absorb your body heat. Instead, there is usually a cooling cap or cooling layer that spreads the heat away from you. You can also check out our guide to the best pillows and find the right one for you.

Your sheets

Sheets can also be the reason you toss and turn or wake up in a puddle of sweat. When choosing your sheets, stay away from ones made of polyester or fleece – and keep thread count in mind, the higher the thread count, the warmer it can make you feel.

Instead, opt for cooling sheets or ones made of breathable material. Cooling sheets, like cooling pillows, draw heat away from you, spreading it around. This way you stay cool and comfortable.

Your comforter

Hot people should choose duvets made of cotton, silk or bamboo. Each one offers natural breathability so you don’t wake up wet. You can also buy a cooling blanket that distributes the heat from your body evenly, allowing you to sleep well without overheating.

What do you wear to bed?

You want to choose pajamas or other clothing with breathable material. PJs made of cotton, linen, silk or lyocell can keep you cool by letting your body heat escape.

Meanwhile, when the temperatures rise, you may feel the temptation to sleep without clothes. However, this means your body will sweat without any material to wick it away like you would with cooling PJs. So while sleeping in your birthday suit seems like a smart option, it can actually keep you warm at night.

Your partner

Having a partner or four-legged companion snuggled up next to you can be divine—until the body heat combines to resemble a Florida afternoon in July.

Here are some ways to keep cool while you cuddle: Place fans on each nightstand to keep each person cool. You can put the hottest bed next to the window, put fans on each nightstand to keep you cool, make sure everyone is properly hydrated before bed, or forgo the larger comforter instead of two double cooling comforters.

Your top mattress

Finally, if you need extra comfort but don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a new mattress, consider a mattress topper. Cooling top mattresses like the Saatva Cooling Graphite Top Mattress offer you three inches of blissful foam. And the graphite layer draws body heat from each sleeper, dispersing it evenly throughout. You get a comfortable nights sleep without waking up in puddles, and your wallet can rest easy since you didn’t fork over a kidney for a new bed.

The US Federal Trade Commission is reportedly planning to drop its case against Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of game publisher Activision Blizzard, bringing the Xbox maker one step closer to completing the deal.

FTC Secretary April Taber on Thursday ordered a stay of the case, which was scheduled to be heard before the agency’s administrative law judge on Aug. 2, according to a Reuters report. It comes a week after the Federal Trade Commission lost its appeal in federal court to temporarily block the Microsoft-Activision deal from proceeding until the commission’s administrative law process is complete.

Microsoft first revealed plans to acquire Activision in January 2022. Closing the deal would make Xbox maker Microsoft one of the top three video game publishers, just behind rival Sony. Activision Blizzard is one of the biggest third-party publishers, with some big franchises that will give a much-needed boost to Microsoft’s game catalog, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Overwatch.

Microsoft has until October 18 to finalize its deal with Activision. The two companies moved the deadline to October from the original date of July 18, giving more time to get regulatory approval. If the deal is not completed, there is a termination or “breakup” fee that must be paid by Microsoft to Activision. The fee is $3 billion, but increases to $3.5 billion on Aug. 29 and then to $4.5 billion if the deal doesn’t close by Sept. 15. Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a tweet on Wednesday that the companies were “confident in our prospects for getting this deal across the finish line.”

Although Microsoft has won several merger battles, there are still hurdles to overcome. Here’s what you need to know about the deal and what it means for gamers.

Who is left to approve the deal?

Microsoft still needs to convince British regulators to sign off on the acquisition. In April, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority blocked the $69 billion deal, saying it would lead to higher prices and fewer choices for gamers.

Microsoft’s appeal against that decision says the CMA “made fundamental errors in its calculation and assessment of market share data for cloud gaming services by failing to take into account the limitations of native gaming (where gamers access games installed on their devices via digital download or physical disc).”

The CMA will review the deal and make a decision by the week of August 7, according to Reuters.

In the US, the FTC opposed the deal, saying the acquisition would harm competition in the video game industry. But so far his challenges have been unsuccessful.

Earlier this month, a federal judge refused to issue a preliminary injunction that would have stopped the deal. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sought to temporarily halt the merger pending a separate internal administrative proceeding. The FTC now reportedly plans to drop that domestic case. In the past, the FTC has declined to oppose deals if a federal judge declined to issue an injunction.

Microsoft continues to deny that the deal will hinder competition in the video game industry. It has already received approval from the EU, China, Japan and other major countries.

What does this deal mean for gamers?

For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, the merger would mean Activision Blizzard’s catalog of games would be included in the service, presumably similar to how Bethesda games were when Microsoft acquired this company in 2020.

It’s less clear how gamers who don’t have an Xbox and use a Sony PlayStation or Nintendo Switch console instead will be affected. Critics of the deal are concerned that Microsoft could make future games developed by Activision unavailable on competing consoles. (Microsoft did this for games developed by Bethesda.) This is especially worrisome for a big Activision title like Call of Duty.

Microsoft has already agreed to a 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty games to its consoles, but Sony reportedly rejected a similar deal when it presented it last year.

Sony is still opposed to the acquisition and has filed documents with regulators regarding its concerns about the deal. On Sunday, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Microsoft and Sony had agreed to a 10-year “binding agreement” to keep Call of Duty on the PlayStation platform. It’s unclear whether the latest agreement is different from the one Microsoft offered Sony last year.

Earlier this year, Microsoft struck a 10-year deal with Nvidia that ensures Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming platform continues to have access to games from Microsoft and Activision.

Microsoft is using these agreements with its competitors to show regulators that there will be no lack of competition in the video game industry.

E-bikes in general are great, they’re changing how people get from A to B, and they can help you get or stay healthy in the process (if you at least stay off the gas pedal). But often their design doesn’t quite match the excitement of riding them. Engwe’s L20 and M20 e-bikes avoid this trap, so whether you’re a 16-year-old like my son or [redacted]-year old like my wife, you can drive something that feels great and it looks great.

The two electric bikes are essentially the same, although they look completely different. The L20, a step-up commuter bike with massive tires, and the M20, which is a bike in name only. They are both great at what they do and my family adores them.

Although I’ve spent a lot of time testing electric bikes (and many other products), my wife rarely gets involved. We both have full-time jobs and several full-time children, so our work rarely overlaps. However, when the L20 from Engwe arrived, she was underwhelmed. We intended to ride together and unfortunately most of the bikes I test are too big for her. For example, one of the bikes I test is 4 feet, 6 inches from the floor to the handlebars, so her 5-foot-5 self doesn’t get on it. The L20 is said to have been custom made for her, so she was excited to try it out.

Both the M20 and L20 have the same 20-by-4-inch thick tires that work great in rain, mud, grass and road, and the same Shimano 7-speed gear system. Using none of the features of an e-bike, the L20 is a much nicer bike to ride as it is significantly lighter than the larger M20. The stepped design of the L20 also makes it a good choice for a baby seat as it is much easier to fit. The L20 also comes with front and rear baskets, making it a real workhorse, especially with its reach.

The M20 has two 13-amp-hour batteries with a claimed range of up to 47 miles each; Engwe claims the L20 has a maximum range of 90 miles with a single 13 amp hour battery. Of course, these numbers vary greatly depending on how much you weigh and how much you use the pedal assist (PAS) or throttle to propel you. I’m 280 pounds, and in my tests the L20’s range averaged about 70 miles on fairly flat terrain using its PAS at level two with occasional use of the throttle when I got a little tired. My wife does about the same mileage, but she also rides with our 5 year old on the back and a backpack in the front.

A style to love

Styling wise, both bikes look great for different reasons. It’s clear to me that the M20 is styled after a military motorcycle from the 1940s. Even the placement of the batteries makes them look like gas tanks, and its big chunky headlights add to that aesthetic. It’s a great looking bike that draws attention everywhere I go.

The bright pink stepped L20 also catches the eye, mainly because it’s a dazzling pink, but its shape is much more efficient than the M20. Being able to pass through an e-bike is useful, especially when it has a basket on the back. No e-bike is light, so it’s much easier to balance if you don’t have to swing your leg on it.

Engwe L20 vs Engwe M20

	Engwe L20	Engwe M20
Tire size	20×4-in	20×4-in
Motor	750 watt brushless	750 watts (1000 watts peak)
Torque	50 newton meters	55 newton meters
Battery size	13 Ah	13Ah (x2)
maximum speed	25 mph	28 mph
Factory maximum mileage	Up to 90 miles PAS	Up to 92 miles PAS
Gear type	7-speed Shimano	7-speed Shimano
The application is activated	No	No
USB-A output	No	Yes

As I said, the M20 looks a lot like a motorcycle and looks like it wants to be ridden. The PAS works pretty well, but with a seat that doesn’t adjust, it’s hard to pedal comfortably, or at least it is for my 6-foot, 1-inch frame. My 16 year old son is 5’6″ and finds it much more comfortable.

We recently reviewed a similar-looking machine, the Super 73-R Adventure Series, and didn’t find it particularly comfortable to ride as a bike. The M20 has a similar problem – you can’t adjust the seat height – but it wins over the Super 73 in many ways, not least price; that’s nearly $2,000 cheaper. While Russell Holley, our local long-distance cyclist, found the Super 73 to be a difficult bike to use, the M20 works great for average people when pedaling, and even better for anyone holding the throttle.

What I found surprising about the M20 was its throttle-only range. If I set the power level to two, I can use the throttle and get almost 40 miles (about 38 average) on one battery. The factory spec for the M20 is 47 miles on battery, so getting nearly that on gas alone is impressive.

The motors on both bikes are in the hub of the rear wheel and you can feel this as you pedal, being pushed instead of the motors actually helping you pedal. Using the throttle is also the easiest way to force yourself to stop. The torque on the L20 and M20 is good (50N.m and 55N.m respectively), so the power is immediately there when you turn the handle, although the acceleration of the L20 is noticeably less than the M20. Maybe the M20’s extra 5N.m makes the difference, or maybe it’s the way you sit, but when you crank the power up to level 5 and go full throttle, the M20 almost bounces. It really feels like an electric motorcycle. That’s pretty exciting.

My only real gripe with Engwe’s L20 and M20 is the bike computer user interface. Although it explains everything you need to know like speed, mileage, total mileage and miles per hour, it doesn’t go far enough for me. A bluetooth connection to a phone with an app to view my ride in more detail would be greatly appreciated.

Oddly enough, Engwe added a USB-A port to the M20 batteries for phone charging, but omitted it from the L20. It takes 3 Ah from the bike’s battery to fully charge the iPhone 14 – or about 10 miles of range – but as an emergency measure, you can easily charge your phone to 20% and still have enough power to get you home. It’s a shame the L20 doesn’t have the same feature and I’d like to see this in other e-bikes moving forward.

Engwe L20 and M20: past and future collide

Although these samples will soon be heading back to the manufacturer, the Engwe L20 and M20 changed the way my family spent their free time during the review period. Now, instead of me going on a test bike ride solo, my wife and I strap our toddler into the bike seat, my son uses one of our other bikes, and we all ride around together. We stop every now and then to sightsee, but mostly we ride around enjoying each other’s company. The M20 and L20 have the range to keep us riding for hours and look good while doing it.

Nissan is the latest automaker to ensure that its electric vehicles can use Tesla chargers. Nissan announced an agreement with Tesla on Wednesday to adopt the North American Charging Standard, or NACS, from 2025.

Nissan’s first battery-powered SUV, the Nissan Ariya, will come with a NACS charging adapter starting in 2024. And in 2025, Nissan EVs in the US and Canada will have a NACS port so you can use Tesla Superchargers.

“We are pleased to provide access to thousands more fast chargers for Nissan EV drivers, adding confidence and convenience when planning long-distance trips,” said Jeremy Papen, president of Nissan Americas.

Nissan follows General Motors and Ford, which earlier this year said they would adopt Tesla’s charging standard for their electric vehicles.

Read more: All electric vehicles available with free charging in 2023

Nissan plans for 40% of its US sales to be EVs by 2030 – including two new all-electric vehicles to be assembled in the US from 2025.

Earlier this month, Kentucky became the first state to require Tesla’s NACS connectors at federally funded highway charging stations. A $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed in November 2021 earmarked $7.5 billion to create 500,000 public EV chargers in the US by 2030.

Electrify America, the largest DC fast charging network, also announced last month that it will add NACS connections to all of its charging stations by 2025.

Annual EV sales are expected to surpass 1 million vehicles for the first time this year, and prices are falling thanks to the new $7,500 EV tax credit.

If you’re looking to go electric, here are the best electric cars to buy in 2023, every electric car currently available, ranked by range, and the most affordable electric cars on the market now.

Read more: What Biden’s proposed EV charging standards mean for you

Shopping for a new smart home device could feel a little more secure in the future if a proposal announced Tuesday by the Federal Communications Commission goes into effect.

Under the proposed program (PDF), which is expected to pass, Internet-enabled smart devices (think Amazon Echo, Google Nest, and others) that meet FCC security standards would carry the US Cyber ​​​​Trust Mark – a logo on a shield that users can search before they buy. It will also stand next to a QR code so you can scan for more information.

To receive one of these labels, companies and products will have to meet cybersecurity criteria set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, according to a White House press release. This includes criteria for things like data protection, default passwords, software updates, and incident detection capabilities.

The upcoming label and the program behind it will “raise the bar” for home cybersecurity, the Biden-Harris administration said in the release. The FCC described it as working similarly to how the Energy Star program labels appliances that are more energy efficient.

“Increased interconnectedness also brings increased risks to security and privacy,” FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in the commission’s announcement. “Today, I’m proposing that the FCC create a new cybersecurity labeling program so consumers know when devices meet widely accepted security standards.”

Read more: Amazon to Pay $30 Million for Ring and Alexa Privacy Breaches: Tips for Protecting Your Smart Home Data

What devices can get a tag?

The US Cyber ​​​​Trust Mark program is not yet in effect, so there are no exact details at this time. But according to the White House, a full range of smart devices will be eligible for the label, including but not limited to:

According to the White House, major companies that make these devices have expressed support, including Amazon, Google, Samsung, Logitech and others.

When will the offer take effect?

It is currently unclear when the label will be rolled out at the consumer level.

The FCC said the program could be “activated by the end of 2024.” But before it goes into effect, the Commission will have to formally vote on it, followed by a public comment period.

The FCC applied on Tuesday to register its label as a national trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Read more: Home Security Cheat Sheet: Our top tips for keeping your home safe

Ford announced price cuts for its Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup on Monday, thanks to improvements in manufacturing efficiency and increased production capacity.

After temporarily shutting down its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan earlier this year for upgrades, Ford is bringing the plant back online. The facility’s increased production capacity, efficiency improvements and the falling cost of battery raw materials have allowed the automaker to expand production of its F-150 Lighting electric pickup truck to an estimated annual run of 150,000 trucks — nearly triple the previous pace — and to reduce prices on all versions to a level closer to (but still higher than) the original launch MSRP.

The base 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro work truck now starts at $51,990, including the required $1,995 destination and delivery fee. That’s a $9,979 reduction off the bottom line before any federal or state EV incentives or rebates are taken into account. The F-150 is one of the few EVs eligible for a $7,500 tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, which brings the adjusted starting price to about $44,490, all said and done.

Working down the trim level hierarchy, the F-150 Lightning XLT and XLT Extended Range packages are down from $8,479 to $9,479. Prices on the Lariat and Lariat Extended Range have been reduced by $6,979 and $8,479, respectively. And at the top of the range, the Platinum Extended range now starts at $93,990, or $6,079 less than before. Ford is also temporarily offering an additional $1,000 rebate as a bonus to customers who place an order for an XLT, Lariat or Platinum pickup truck by the end of July on Ford.com.

Updated F-150 Lightning pricing

Trim level	Previous price with destination	Updated price with destination	Reduction
F-150 Lightning Pro	$61,969	$51,990	$9,979
F-150 Lightning XLT 311A	$66,469	$56,990	$9,479
F-150 Lightning XLT 312A	$70,469	$61,990	$8,479
F-150 Lightning XLT 312A Extended Range	$80,869	$71,990	$8,879
F-150 Lightning Lariat 510A	$78,969	$71,990	$6,979
F-150 Lightning Lariat with extended range	$87,969	$79,490	$8,479
F-150 Lightning Platinum with extended range	$100,069	$93,990	6079 dollars

The lower price, increased availability and Ford’s recently announced partnership with Tesla to provide access starting early next year to more than 12,000 Supercharger stations via an adapter make the F-150 Lightning — our top pick for best electric truck — in a stronger position and helping to downsize the hatches in preparation for a wave of new competitors, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Ram’s 1500 REV and Tesla’s Cybertruck in the coming months.

Apple headphones, such as the AirPods Max, are popular despite their high price. With a superior design, impressive audio quality, and excellent noise-canceling technology, the AirPods Max scored top marks in my review. As you’d expect from a pair of Apple headphones, they’re designed to work seamlessly with iPhone and iPad, with outstanding features like spatial audio and hands-free Siri.

The list of AirPods Max for $549 at Appleand although you can often find them on sale for less (currently $480 at Amazon), not everyone wants to drop nearly $500 on a pair of headphones. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best AirPods Max alternatives you can pick up for hundreds less. Below are my current top picks, all of which I have either fully reviewed or had hands-on experience with for several weeks.

And for those who want AirPods Max alternatives, price be damned, check out ours list of the best high-end Bluetooth headphones and earbuds.

More headphone recommendations