Articles by Ben Patterson
You can’t change the Roku’s quick shortcuts, but there’s a workaround
If you have the right Roku remote, you can program its personal shortcut buttons. Here's how.
The Sonos Sub Mini: What we know so far
Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for the Sonos Sub Mini, the smaller, more affordable subwoofer that Sonos hasn't even announced yet.
Disney+ and Hulu get hefty price hikes
Starting in December, you'll be paying three bucks more for Disney+ each month, and Hulu is getting more expensive too.
Want Alexa to tell you when your wash is done? Here’s how
Thanks to Alexa's ability to listen for specific sounds, it's easy to make a dumb washing machine or dryer smart.
Spotify makes it easier to keep music and podcasts separate
Don’t want podcasts cluttering your Spotify tunes, or vice versa? A new filter on the Spotify home screen can help.
The Google-Sonos spat is only getting worse
Google just filed a pair of new lawsuits against Sonos, escalating the feud between the two companies.
Amazon snaps up robot vacuum maker iRobot for $1.7 billion
Already a giant when it comes to smart speakers and security cameras, Amazon will soon be a major player in the robot vacuum market.
Vizio M-Series Elevate review: Rotating drivers redux
Vizio's second soundbar with rotating drivers adds LED accents and a unibody design, but drops Wi-Fi. It's also cheaper than the first Elevate, but not by much.
The troubled LIFX smart light brand has a new home
LIFX's future looked dim after its former parent went into receivership earlier this year, but now the brand has a new owner: Feit Electronics.
Keep strangers from accessing your AirPlay 2 speakers and TVs
You may unwittingly be allowing total strangers to see and even cast to your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers, TVs, and streaming players. Here's how to stop them.
Spotify rolls out separate Play and Shuffle buttons
Spotify Premium users will soon get a more prominent choice between Play and Shuffle when teeing up albums and playlists.
Apple TV: How to close apps and switch between apps
Want to force quit a buggy Apple TV app, or quickly change from one app to the other? Here's the trick.
Google’s 2021 Nest Cams finally work with Chromecast
One of the biggest complaints about Google's 2021 Nest Cams--their inability to stream live feeds to Chromecast with Google TV--has finally been fixed.
NFL+ kicks off with live NFL games on mobile devices
The NFL's new streaming service lets you watch local regular- and postseason matchups starting at $4.99 a month, but only on your phone or tablet.
Netflix with ads: What we know so far
A cheaper Netflix ad-supported tier is coming soon, but it might not include everything that ad-free subscribers get.
Change your Disney+ parental controls to prep for ‘Deadpool’
R-rated movies 'Deadpool,' 'Deadpool 2,' and 'Logan' are coming to Disney+. Here's how to change your parental control settings to protect your tykes.
Alexa will soon play nice with Skullcandy’s voice assistant
Alexa already works alongside "Hey Sonos" and "Hey Disney," and it's about to get cozy with Skullcandy's Skull-IQ voice assistant, too.
Netflix password-sharing crackdown expands to more countries
Seeking to rein in password sharers, Netflix is rolling out an "add a home" feature to five Latin American countries.