Brian Fagioli

USB-C docks and docking stations are rather common these days, so it can be hard to get excited about them. Websites like Amazon are absolutely littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor are they all the same. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs.

With all of that said, StarTech.com has managed to create a USB-C mini travel dock that stands out from the crowd. Called "DKT31CHDVCM," it features a unique hockey puck shape. Its small footprint and integrated USB-C cable should make it perfect for travel. You can, of course, use it at home too. It even has three video outputs -- VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

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There are way too many streaming services nowadays. If you want to subscribe to them all, it will cost a small fortune. For instance, there is Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. One of the newer services is HBO Max, which is already wildly popular. It will only gain in popularity, as several Warner Bros. movies will debut on the service simultaneously with theaters in 2021. This includes the highly anticipated Matrix 4.

With all of that said, HBO Max has not been available on Roku, which is absolutely tragic. After all, millions on households depend on Roku devices for their streaming services. Today this changes, however, as HBO Max finally comes to Roku. Woo-hoo!

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Back in October, we told you that Linux Mint 20.1 would be named "Ulyssa." There was excitement about this version of the operating system, especially since the developers planned to release it around Christmas. Unfortunately, there was controversy and drama surrounding Ulyssa too, as we learned the Linux Mint developers were foolishly wasting resources on an IPTV player named "Hypnotix."

So here we are -- Christmas is fast approaching, and today, the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint 20.1 'Ulyssa' BETA finally becomes available for download. The pre-release operating system can be had with your choice of three excellent desktop environments -- Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce.

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The Surface Duo is a pretty cool device on paper. If you aren't familiar, Microsoft essentially connected two Android smartphones using innovative hinges. Why did the company do this? Well, the goal was productivity -- having two apps running simultaneously on two displays would be great for business use (and entertainment).

Unfortunately, Surface Duo doesn't just exist on paper -- it is an actual product. And for the most part, it has been panned by critics. Its software is reportedly buggy and the hardware durability is questionable -- the damn thing develops cracks. Its bezels are large and unsightly, making it look very outdated. There are reports that the camera is horrible too.

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There are so many docks and docking stations nowadays, that it can be hard to get excited about them. Look, I get it, they all pretty much do the same thing -- turn your laptop into a desktop while also charging it. The thing is, not all of them are created equally. In fact, some are much better than others.

With all of that said, Plugable has a new docking station that is worth your attention. Called "TBT3-UDC3," it is compatible with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C computers thanks to its use of Intel's Titan Ridge chipset. What makes this port so intriguing (beyond its 11 ports) is its 100 watts of power delivery and affordable price -- especially with a limited time coupon.

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Development of Mageia 8 seems to be moving along nicely, which is great news for users of that Linux-based operating system. Back in August, we shared that the first Beta of the distribution was available for testing, and now today, the second Beta arrives. As with the first Beta, the second is available with your choice of three desktop environments --  KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Xfce.

"We are happy to announce the release of Mageia 8 Beta 2. After a long time since the beta 1, we look forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts so that we can continue to get Mageia 8 ready for release. As we said in a previous post, a lot of work had to be done for the base system upgrade, java, kernel, and the graphical stack. These upgrades are now in a state that allows for the Beta 2 ISOs to be built and tested," explains The Mageia Development Team.

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MSI is a company popular for many of its products, but it is probably best known for its excellent motherboards. Many PC builders choose that company's boards when building a new gaming computer. Of course, MSI makes other great products, such as desktops, laptops, and more.

Today, MSI launches its latest monitor, and gamers should take notice. Called "MAG274QRF-QD," this 27-inch display (2560 x 1440 resolution) features Quantum Dot technology and NVIDIA G-Sync. Not to mention, it looks absolutely gorgeous -- it would look wonderful next to a gaming PC.

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Having 1TB of storage in a tiny memory card may not be so incredible to consumers these days, but to me, it is still quite amazing. Hell, many computers -- including the newest Apple MacBook Air and Mac mini -- have just 256GB of storage by default. So yeah, having 1TB of storage in an SD card is impressive.

Now, PNY launches its 1TB PRO Elite SDXC flash memory card, and photographers should be very excited. Not only does it offer a lot of storage capacity, but it is very fast too.

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We recently told you about the ADATA XPG STARKER -- a beautiful compact ATX mid-tower gaming PC chassis. That case was notable for being small while also accommodating a full-ATX motherboard.

And now, ADATA has another elegant chassis that goes in the other direction. Called "XPG DEFENDER PRO," it is instead quite deep, allowing it to support up to E-ATX boards. It should also be able to fit the latest NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards without issue. The front of the case is a beautiful mesh, which will allow optimal air-pull.

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Reading books is for nerds, right? Well, that depends on your definition of "nerd," I suppose. While I must confess to not being a regular reader, I greatly admire those that are. Reading is surely a better way to spend time than mindlessly watching sports on TV -- something I am quite guilty of doing.

So no, reading is not for nerds, nor is it nerdy -- it is quite the respected hobby, actually. And thanks to technology, many folks now read eBooks -- paper books are so last century. While Amazon is likely the most popular company for selling digital books via Kindle, it should not be forgotten that Google does this as well. In fact, Google Play Books (the search giant's book store), is celebrating a 10th Birthday this week. Time really flies, eh?

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Video doorbells are friggin' awesome. For my home, I rely on the Arlo smart doorbell and I couldn't be happier with it. Arlo's offering was very easy to install, but more importantly, it lets me know when there is any activity at my front door, such as food delivery people, packages, the occasional nighttime raccoon, and more. For a few dollars a month, I can even save recordings to the cloud.

Of course, not all video doorbells are the same. For instance, you should avoid Amazon's Ring Doorbells as there are too many privacy red flags surrounding it. While Arlo is great, another respected company is getting into the doorbell game. You see, Logitech has launched the Circle View Doorbell, and it looks like a solid product. Unfortunately, it only works with Apple HomeKit, meaning Android users should look elsewhere.

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Are you rich? Me neither. While I am not poor, I work hard for my money, and I am not about to waste it on frivolous things. So when I saw the price of Apple's new AirPods Max wireless headphones, I nearly fainted. Are you ready for this, folks? The company is asking $550! Seriously. Oh, Apple...

Don't get me wrong, they actually look like nice over-ear headphones. I really like the design; they look well-made and comfortable. And of course, Apple has all kinds of fancy technology to try and justify the asking price. But let's cut out the marketing for a moment and be honest -- you'd be a fool to spend so much money. Hell, these beautiful Audio-Techinca Bluetooth headphones can be had for less than a third of the price!

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Believe it or not, you really can use just some Apple devices without buying into the ecosystem entirely. Using myself as an example, I own an iPhone and iPad, but I don't own a Mac -- I instead use Linux and Windows on the desktop. I also don't have an Apple Watch or AirPods. I do, however, own a couple of Apple TV boxes for media.

For smart home assistants, I chose Google rather than the Siri-enabled HomePod. The problem, however, is I am a hardcore Apple Music user, and while I can use that service on pretty much any platform, it has not been available on Google Assistant-enabled devices such as the Nest Audio or Nest Hub. This means I haven't been able to call upon Google with my voice to play my favorite tunes from Apple Music. Thankfully, this finally changes today!

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With the iPhone 12 series of smartphones, Apple went all-in on magnets with its all-new MagSafe technology. I say "all-new" as it is not the same MagSafe used in older MacBook computers -- Apple is simply reusing the name. This new MagSafe is essentially a "wireless" charger (with a wire) that connects to the back of the iPhone magnetically. It's kind of weird, and sort of cool, but yeah, it requires an iPhone 12.

With all of that said, popular accessory-maker Satechi has its own MagSafe-compatible cable on the way. While it looks nicely made, I am not entirely sure why it exists. It is $10 less than Apple's version, which is appreciated, but it apparently maxes out at 7.5 watts -- half the potential wattage of Apple's model (I have reached out to the company to clarify). The Satechi Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable is about 2-feet longer, however.

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Back in June, System76 launched its first-ever laptop powered by AMD processors. Called "Serval WS," that computer was a beastly portable workstation with desktop-class CPUs -- not AMD's highly praised Ryzen 4000 mobile processors which offer performance and impressive battery life.

But now, System76 is teasing exactly that. Called "Pangolin," this upcoming laptop from the company will have two Ryzen 4000 mobile processor options -- the Ryzen 5 4500U and AMD Ryzen 7 4700U. In other words, this should be the Linux laptop for which AMD fans (that are also road warriors) have been clamoring.

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