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2019 Honda Accord review: The driving enthusiast's family sedan

2019 Honda Accord review: The driving enthusiast's family sedan

It's a bit of a surprise to see a brand-new midsize sedan arrive with three pedals and a six-speed manual transmission, and even more so when those pieces are attached to a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with a not-insignificant 252 horsepower. But this unusual and unusually sporting version of the 2019 Honda Accord is an absolute delight to drive, one that'll satisfy your need for speed even if your life circumstances have moved you away from sport compacts and into midsize sedans.

Powertrain aside, the 2019 Honda Accord is a wonderful car in which to spend time. It nails the mission brief of a midsize sedan, delivering easy everyday livability that makes this car our top pick in its class.

About that engine

Of course, with "2.0T" right in the name, there's no way to avoid discussing the brisk acceleration enabled by that engine. A cousin to the 2.0-liter in the Civic Type R, the turbo mill endows the Accord with 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the latter offered all the way from 1,500 through 4,000 rpm. That's quite a bit more verve than the 1.5-liter turbo engine in other Accords, which serves up a perfectly adequate 192 hp and 192 lb-ft and mates either to a manual or a continuously variable transmission.

On boost, the engine whips the Goodyear Eagle Touring tires into a frenzy and pulls swiftly through the manual transmission's lower gears. It's quite exciting for what is, ultimately, an ordinary family sedan.

Fortunately the engine is not all about big boost, and operates smoothly and quietly in more quotidian driving situations. There's ample torque right off idle for spurting through city traffic and enough midrange punch you don't even need to worry if you forget to downshift before merging.

The optional 2.0-liter turbo engine is a real powerhouse.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

Big credit also must go to the car's six-speed manual, which has to be among the loveliest gearshifts you can find in a new car today. Light enough to use with two fingers, direct enough that you never mistake one gate for another and paired with a just-right clutch pedal, it's the sort of stick-shift arrangement that takes no effort at all to drive -- even in stop-and-go city traffic. But I wouldn't fault anyone for buying this car with the optional 10-speed automatic transmission instead.

Daily driver extraordinaire

There's quite a lot of joy in the way the 2019 Honda Accord handles all aspects of driving, actually. With a great, commanding driving position and panopticon visibility in every direction, busy city streets are no chore at all. The Accord's steering is light but not without some sense of what the front tires are doing, the brake pedal reassuringly firm but not overly so. It's a car that feels like it was engineered by people who enjoy driving, and as a result, it's a car that is enjoyable to drive.

On the freeway, the Accord keeps wind and road noise remarkably hushed, while displaying well-mannered damping that keeps head-bobbing over dips and bumps to a minimum. However, those 19-inch wheels and low-profile (235/40 aspect ratio) tires struggle with cracked and brittle pavement. Impacts are both felt and heard in the cabin; other Accords ride more softly on 17-inch wheels with more tire sidewall, and that would be my preferred setup for daily-driving duty.

The Accord's interior is functional and well laid out.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

This Accord Sport model does benefit in terms of handling from a quicker steering ratio, upgraded anti-roll bars and wider tires than, say, the more common EX trim. But experience in other models suggests all Accords are equally as satisfying to drive as this sporty-ish model.

Business casual design

There's a lot to look about the stylish, modern design of the 2019 Honda Accord, which manages to be a whole lot less bland than the last-generation model. With a low nose and a curving roofline, the sedan has quite a sporty profile. I could do without the big chrome strip along the top of the windowline, but otherwise the Accord's jewelry, specifically the LED head- and taillights, nicely breaks up its big surfaces. Large 19-inch wheels, chromed dual exhausts and a trunklid spoiler are appreciated touches on this Sport model.

Functional interior

The cabin is equally pleasing to the eye, finished with high-quality materials that, despite the black-on-black color scheme, do not look in the least bit dour. Everything you touch, from plastics to switches to the teensy shift knob, feels nice, too. The two center cupholders are set deep into the console, so you can use taller coffee mugs or water bottles. The center console cubby itself is not enormous, though offers a USB and 12-volt power outlet to power gadgets. A cubby ahead of the shifter is home to another pair of outlets and can conceal a charging phone or iPod.

Honda's infotainment system works well and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

In true Honda fashion, the interior is extremely functional, with big knobs for the climate control, easy-to-find flaps covering the USB ports, big switches on the steering wheel and a superlegible, semidigital instrument cluster. While the right-hand side of the cluster is an old-school analog speedometer, the left-hand side can serve as a virtual tachometer or a trip computer, or can offer up any number of data pages for things like vehicle status, safety-system operation, music and phone calling info and even service schedules.

A big range of adjustment for the front seats and steering wheel makes finding a comfortable driving position a cinch, and there's head- and legroom to spare for average-size adults. The same is true of the second row, where you won't believe how much space passengers have. Even with the roof's sloping profile, back-seat headroom is generous.

Nor will you believe how much stuff you can fit in the trunk, which has a low liftover height, a wide opening and the ability to swallow a class-leading 16.7 cubic feet of your belongings. The back seats fold down easily, too, for transporting larger items if necessary.

The trunk is enormous, storage 16.7 cubic feet of luggage.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

Plentiful technology

All Accords save the base LX and the Hybrid use an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment that supports Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD Radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Built-in navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless phone charging are available on some models. It would be nice to have some USB ports in the back to keep the kids' tablets charged, too, though.

The touchscreen crams a lot of information onto its display, but its menu structure is simple to navigate and responses to inputs are near-instant. Redundant physical buttons surround the screen, making it easier to jump between options or to adjust settings by feel while driving.

Safety technology is in abundance and, best of all, most of it comes standard across all trim levels -- something that can't be said of all rivals. Standard equipment includes forward-collision warning automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic headlights and adaptive cruise control. That ACC is offered even on a manual-transmission car is a rarity. Blind-spot monitoring is also offered on most trim levels.

These wheels look great but don't do ride quality any favors.

Jake Holmes/Roadshow

Economy and pricing

One downside to electing the 2.0-liter engine is that fuel economy falls to 22 miles per gallon city and 32 mpg highway in this Sport model. While that's comparable to other high-powered midsize sedans -- the Toyota Camry XSE V6 also scores 22/32 mpg, for instance -- it's not too impressive by the standards of the class. Most shoppers will be more compelled by Accords equipped with the car's 1.5-liter turbo engine, which return up to 30/38 mpg in EPA testing. The Accord Hybrid, meanwhile, is rated for 47/47 mpg.

In terms of pricing, however, this Sport 2.0T falls right in the middle of the 2019 Accord range, at $31,630 as tested. The sedan's pricing structure largely mirrors its competition, with models powered by the base 1.5-liter engine running from $24,640 for an LX up to $31,040 for an EX-L. Opt for the 2.0-liter mill and you'll pay between $31,630 and $36,870.

This Accord Sport 2.0T is definitely the driving enthusiast's choice, what with its power and six-speed manual transmission. Yet spending a week behind the wheel of the Accord really just underlines how well-sorted the entire car is for whatever type of driving you like: City, suburb, or highway, the Accord handles it well. Plus, it's affordable, efficient, incredibly spacious and filled with technology that just plain works. With all that in mind, there's no midsize car we'd recommend more readily than the Honda Accord.

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Source

https://nichols.my.id/how-to-fix-valorant-error-code-57.html

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How to get your drone license (and legally make money)

How to get your drone license (and legally make money)

Aerial photography. Real estate tours. Drone burrito delivery.

Imagine the money you could make (and fun you could have!) if you flew for profit.

Sadly, drone businesses aren't legal in the United States unless the government makes an exception for you -- or unless you get your own drone license under the FAA's brand-new rules.

Starting Monday, August 29, you can apply for your very own license by passing a multiple-choice test and paying a small fee. No experience necessary!

What, you mean I can't just sell my drone photos already?

Nope! You could get fined $1,100 (or more) for operating your unmanned aerial system (UAS) for business purposes without FAA approval.

What is a Remote Pilot Certificate?

It's the official name for the drone license I've been talking about. With it, you can legally fly drones with intention of making a profit -- either by selling the footage, delivering goods and everything in between. You still have to follow a lot of restrictions when you fly...but more on those in a bit.

Prosumer camera drones like the popular DJI Phantom start at around $500 -- but the sky's the limit on price.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

What if I'm just flying for fun?

You don't need the certificate...but you do still need to register your drone if it weighs over half a pound (0.55lb to be precise).

Oh, but if you're a drone racer -- weaving through obstacles with a nifty set of first-person-view glasses on your head -- you'll still need that Remote Pilot Certificate. At least that's what the FAA tells Forbes.

OK, I want to make money. What do I need to get my license?

• Be at least 16 years old
• Have a valid government-issued picture ID with your name, address and signature
• Make an appointment to take the knowledge test at a test center near you
• Pay $150 to the testing firm
• Study
• Pass the test
• Wait up to 48 hours for your test score to get uploaded
• Apply for your Remote Pilot Certificate (using the code from your successful test as proof)
• Complete a TSA background check
• Print out a temporary Remote Pilot Certificate (while you wait for the real one to be delivered by mail)
• Register your drone (maybe do this first?) and start flying!

OK, that does sound like a lot. Let's break it down.

How do I get an appointment for a Remote Pilot Certificate?

You need to call, email or submit an online request form with one of the two companies supervising the test -- not the test center.

CATS (Computer Assisted Testing Service):

• 1-800-947-4228, then press 3 (Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT, Saturday to Sunday 7 a.m. PT to 3:30 p.m. PT)
• Online registration and payment (CATS calls you back within 24 hours to schedule)

PSI (formerly LaserGrade):

• 1-800-211-2753, then press 1 twice (Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT, Saturday 5 a.m. PT to 2 p.m. PT)
• examschedule@psionline.com (PSI replies within two business hours)
• Online request form (PSI replies within two business hours)

According to testing centers we called, CATS and PSI handle pretty much everything, including assigning you a test center and accepting your $150 payment.

The DJI Phantom 4 taking flight.

CNET

How long is the waiting list?

In the San Francisco Bay Area, it's not too bad as of August 26. One testing center told us they were booked for two weeks, another said they had openings later in the week.

Is there a testing center near me?

Probably! There are 686 of them across the United States. Check for yourself in the FAA's full, official list of test centers (PDF).

You'll need to call CATS or PSI to get your appointment, though. While the FAA's website says you can just walk in, testing centers in the San Francisco Bay Area told us we needed to arrange everything with CATS or PSI first.

How hard is the test?

You get two hours to answer 60 multiple-choice questions, and you only need to answer 70 percent of them correctly to pass! (You can totally miss 18 questions and still succeed.)

But these aren't exactly easy questions. You'll probably need to study.

Oh yeah? How hard can the questions be?

While monitoring the Cooperstown CTAF you hear an aircraft announce that they are midfield left downwind to RWY 13. Where would the aircraft be relative to the runway? (Refer to FAA-CT-8080-2G, Figure 26, area 2.)

A. The aircraft is East.

B. The aircraft is South.

C. The aircraft is West.

That's just one of the FAA's sample questions. Find more here (PDF).

What's the best way to prepare for the test?

The FAA actually offers a free two-hour training course (register here first) to get you up to speed, plus an 87-page study guide (PDF).

But you may need more help than that, because the FAA's course materials don't explain some of the simplest concepts in plain English.

For instance, would you believe you can answer the sample question above without looking at a map? I didn't figure it out until I found this third-party study guide by drone manufacturer 3DR.

I passed the test! Where do I apply for the actual certificate?

• Register here first (pick Applicant) and fill out your personal information. (You can ignore the Airman Certificate Number and Date of Issuance fields)
• Log into the site using your new username and password
• Apply for the certificate here; pick Pilot from the first dropdown menu, then click on the Remote Pilot certification

If you get lost, here's a complete set of instructions.

The Yuneeq Typhoon H drone.

Joshua Goldman/CNET

Now that I've got my certificate, I can fly anywhere, anytime, yes?

Not so much -- as you'll see when you study, there are a lot of rules (PDF) about when and where you can fly your drone.

Unless you get a 107 waiver (and you need to apply for those months in advance), you can't fly:

• At night
• Over people
• Higher than 400 feet (unless you're within 400 feet of a building; skyscraper climbing is OK)
• Further away than you can see with your naked eye
• At speeds over 100 miles per hour
• From a moving vehicle (or inside a covered stationary vehicle)
• Within five miles of an airport -- unless you clear it with air traffic control using this tool at the FAA's website.

Also, you need to register your drone (if it weighs between 0.55 and 55 pounds), do pre-flight checks before you fly and report any accidents that hurt people or do $500 worth of damage to property.

What if my drone weighs more than 55 pounds?

You can't do it with a drone license, or even a 107 waiver. Only a 333 exemption (which are hard to get, can take a long time and generally require a real pilot's license to fly) can let you pilot something that heavy.

What if my company already has a Section 333 Exemption?

Lucky you! But in many cases, you can't actually fly a drone for profit under the 333 unless you're a certified pilot. The Remote Pilot Certificate is another option.

What if I've already got a pilot's license?

If you want your Remote Pilot Certificate, you can actually skip the knowledge test and take the online training course instead. You'll still need to fill out a form, make an in-person appointment and have completed a flight review within the last two years, so it's not necessarily any easier.

Here's a step-by-step guide for existing pilots.

Could I really start a drone burrito delivery service?

Yes, the FAA says package delivery is OK -- but it'd be tough! Particularly given the rule about needing to keep the drone within eyesight, and the one about drones needing to weigh 55 pounds or less. It'd probably be easier to just hand someone their food.

How about a journalist covering breaking news stories?

That could be tough, too. You can't fly over people without a waiver, and the FAA says those will take months. But if you're not reporting live, or not directly over people... the FAA says media companies can do it.

What if I have awesome video goggles and a camera on the drone? Do I really need to watch it with my actual eyes?

Someone needs to: either you, or a second person who can act as a visual observer. Them's the rules!

Which drone should I buy?

If you've never flown before, buy a toy drone. Not kidding -- you'll learn the basic motor skills without any risk of hurting people or turning a $1,000+ aerial camera into scrap. Then, pick one of our top-rated prosumer drones that matches your needs and budget.

Is that it?

So far, so good...but there's still a lot to think about. Maybe you'll want to insure your drone against damage, and yourself against liability? You'll definitely want to practice flying and camera skills, and you'll need to figure out how to convince potential clients that you're right for the job.

Lastly, know that your Remote Pilot Certificate is only good for two years. You'll need to pass another knowledge test once that's done.

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Source

https://nichols.my.id/how-to-do-zoom-meeting.html

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Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 Review: An Excellent Ultrabook Value

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Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 review: An excellent ultrabook value

Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 review: An excellent ultrabook value

Editors' note: According to Toshiba's specification information for the Portege Z935-P300, the RAM is not user upgradeable. However, one of our readers, "fozzyfozborne," confirms that while 2GB of the Z935-P300 memory is fixed to the motherboard, there is a slot with a 2GB stick of removable memory. You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver as well as a T7 security bit to remove the entire bottom cover of the system. This review has been changed to reflect this.

The Toshiba Portege Z930 series is a textbook example of a mainstream ultrabook. It's thin, it's light, its battery life is very good, and the entry-point model I tested, the Z935-P300, has enough processing performance for normal everyday computing.

It also isn't any different on the outside than its predecessor, the Z835. We had a few quibbles about that model, which are amplified for higher-priced versions in the series, but at the Z935-P300's $862.50 MSRP they're not deal-breakers, and on the whole the Z935-P300 is an excellent value.

Design
The Z935 is an inoffensive-looking laptop featuring a magnesium alloy chassis with a brushed finish. People likely won't be craning their necks to see what laptop you're using at the coffee shop; it's one that blends in. On the other hand, the large chrome "Toshiba" on the lid will definitely let people know what brand it is. And if you like stickers, this system's got plenty: six on the palm rests and three on the bottom. (You can always remove them with a little effort, but it's one of those things that is less than thrilling to see when you open up a new laptop.)

Sarah Tew/CNET

Other things that cheapen its appearance are the plastic chrome accents by the screen hinges and the chrome power and touch-pad buttons. Putting chrome on things you'll be touching isn't a good idea unless you like looking at fingerprints all the time, and while I understand the desire to add interest to the design, it's unnecessary. More importantly, there is a lot of flex to the lid, which, if you're not careful about handling it, could damage the screen. That said, if you care more about performance, size, and weight, then none of these things matter and certainly don't affect performance.

What might slow you down, however, is the keyboard. If you like big comfortable keys with a lot of travel, this probably isn't the laptop for you. The keys are shrunken; they're a normal width, but shortened. Basically, it can take some adjustment if you're a sloppy typist or are simply used to larger keys. The travel is quite shallow, too, but with a laptop this size that's understandable. On the upside, the keys are backlit and the keyboard itself is spill-resistant.

Other than the chrome buttons, the touch pad is fine: responsive and with the Synaptics' usual assortment of multitouch tools for two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, and rotate, among other options. I also didn't experience any cursor jumps from my palms brushing the touch pad while typing.

Features
Compared with the components used in the Z835-P370 we tested earlier this year, the Z935-P300 has a new third-generation ultralow-voltage dual-core Core i5 processor and less, but faster RAM. It comes in at a lower price, too, all without sacrificing its 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) for storage or extras like Bluetooth and Intel Wireless Display support.

Price as reviewed	$862.50
Processor	1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory	4GB, 1,600MHz DDR3
Hard drive	128GB SSD
Chipset	Intel HM76 Express
Graphics	Intel HD
Operating system	Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)	12.4x8.9 inches
Height	0.63 inch
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	2.5 pounds / 3.1 pounds
Category	13-inch

The display on the Z935 has the same 1,366x768-pixel native resolution as the vast majority of 11- to 15-inch laptops. That's fine for a sub-$1,000 laptop, but some of the other thin 13-inch models offer more; the Asus Zenbook, for example, has a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen, and the MacBook Air is 1,440x900 pixels. Generally speaking, the screen gets the job done -- no more, no less. Horizontal off-axis viewing is OK, though you'll have to adjust the screen angle so it doesn't completely invert colors.

The front-firing stereo speakers are fine for impromptu music and movies, but you'll want to connect some headphones or desktop speakers for a more enjoyable experience.

	Toshiba Portege Z935	Average for category [13-inch]
Video	VGA plus HDMI; Intel WiDi-ready	VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader	2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader
Networking	Ethernet, Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi	Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive	None	DVD burner

The Z935-P300 has a well-rounded selection of ports and connections, including USB 3.0 and an Ethernet jack, the latter of which some of the other ultrabooks don't have. One of the USB 2.0 ports has Toshiba's Sleep and Charge feature that makes it possible to charge a device even while the computer is sleeping.

Sarah Tew/CNET

As for software, along with the stuff that's included with Windows 7, Toshiba installs a long list of utilities for everything from improving battery life to controlling the built-in Webcam to Toshiba's ReelTime, which gives you a visual timeline of recently opened documents, photos, and videos. And as part of the Intel Ultrabook package, you get Intel Anti-Theft Technology, which can disable the laptop if it is lost or stolen as soon as it's connected to the Internet or after a certain number of days.

Battery life
The Portege Z935-P300 lasted for just more than 5 hours of running our video playback battery drain test. Both the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and Samsung Series 9 were able to keep going past the 6-hour mark, but they're more expensive and the Toshiba essentially matches them or beats them in performance.

Running video really taxes the battery, too, so if you're just doing more basic tasks you can expect to get more than 5 hours of uptime with some power management. Also, if you like having the ability to swap batteries, the Z935-P300 does not have an easily replaceable battery pack.

Performance
Despite having an ultralow-voltage processor and 2GB less memory than the Z835 we reviewed, the Z935-P300 outperformed it. It's also able to beat or keep pace with similarly configured ultrabooks from other manufacturers, but at a lower price.

As long as your needs don't stretch too far beyond the basics (such as Web browsing, streaming video and music, casual gaming, office tasks, and light photo and video editing), this ultrabook should be able to handle them relatively well.

That said, if you have more demanding tasks in mind for this laptop, Toshiba does sell other configurations with more memory and a faster Core i7 processor. Also, only 2GB of this system's RAM is fixed to the its motherboard; the other 2GB is a user-replaceable stick that can be swapped out for more memory.

Warranty and support
Toshiba includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, and a customized support search page can direct you to online documents and driver downloads for this specific model.

Conclusion
With the same design as its predecessor and improved components, Toshiba's Portege Z935-P300 is an excellent value for an ultrabook. Its physical flaws are harder to overlook in pricier versions of this model. But since the starting-point Z935-P300 model is currently available for less $850, I'm more concerned with performance and battery life, and it does just fine in those areas.

Find out more about how we test Windows laptops.

System configurations:

Toshiba Portege Z935-P300
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Toshiba SSD

Lenovo IdeaPad U310
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Samsung 5,400rpm

HP Envy Spectre XT 13-2050nr
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Samsung SSD

Samsung Series 9 NP900X3C (13-inch, 2012)
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB SanDisk SSD

Dell Inspiron 13z - 5323
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Western Digital 5,400rpm

Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Adata XM11 SSD

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Source

https://nichols.my.id/how-to-repair-a-corrupted-excel-file-on-mac.html

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How to Factory Reset a MacBook, Windows Laptop or Chromebook to Sell or Give Away

How to Factory Reset a MacBook, Windows Laptop or Chromebook to Sell or Give Away

One side effect of spending more time at home during the pandemic is the realization that I have a lot of old tech lying around. A lot. Then, when I made a KonMari attempt at decluttering said tech, I unearthed several things I forgot I had -- including an old laptop I stopped using years ago because it was too slow for my high-end computing needs. 

While this laptop no longer sparked joy for me, it turned out to be a perfect fit for my mom. It just needed to be cleaned up first, and I'm not just talking about removing dust and mystery goo with a few swipes of a disinfectant wipe, though you'll want to do that, too. The type of cleaning I'm talking about is restoring the laptop to like-new condition inside and out. Cleaning the outside is the easy part. Wiping the computer of all your apps, files, folders and other personal information isn't necessarily as straightforward. Of course, how much data scrubbing you need to do will likely depend on the recipient. 

The big picture steps you take to refresh a laptop are the same regardless of whether it's a Windows laptop. Apple MacBook or Chromebook -- save your old data, remove all personal information, then go for a factory reset. It's the actual step-by-step procedure that differs depending on the type of laptop you're dealing with. Below, you'll find everything you need to know and do before giving your laptop a second life. And with supply chain issues, shipping problems and chip shortages making new devices harder to get, passing along a new-to-you laptop can be a welcome holiday gift. 

Last thing first

I typically save the laptop's physical cleaning until last (why clean your fingerprints off twice?), but you may want to start there -- especially if it's been gathering dust in the back of a closet/under a bed/in the garage for the past several years. The basic equipment required for a good laptop cleaning is a can of compressed air and some disinfectant or alcohol wipes. For a slightly deeper clean, you may also want to grab a screwdriver and remove the bottom cover of your laptop (if possible) so you can carefully blow out any dust that's accumulated on the fans and vents. 

After the laptop is clean, you can also wipe down the power adapter and any related accessories. It's also a good idea to ensure the power adapter is still in good, working condition. If you're still not quite sure where to start with the cleaning, check out our complete guide to getting your laptop looking its best.

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Gifting a used MacBook

Óscar Gutiérrez/CNET

Before you even think about doing a factory reset on your MacBook, you need to save any data you want to keep. You may have already done this at some point if you migrated data from this old MacBook to a new one using using Apple's Migration Assistant. If that's not the case, it's time to hook up an external drive and use MacOS' built-in Time Machine tool to create a backup. If you have an iCloud account, you can back up your data there as well. 

Sign out of everything

You'll also want to log out of all accounts before wiping your MacBook's drive. Start with iCloud, Find My Mac and iMessage. Then look for individual software accounts you may need to deregister. If you use a browser other than Safari, such as Chrome or Firefox, you should sign out of those as well. Basically, if it's got personal account information, you'll want to sign out. (Here's how to find account settings in MacOS.)

Two other things you should do before a factory reset: Unpair any Bluetooth devices -- particularly if the MacBook is being gifted to someone in your household -- and reset the NVRAM. The latter is memory that holds onto settings that the MacBook needs before loading MacOS. On startup, press and hold Option-Command-P-R to reset the NVRAM.

Perform a factory reset

If you've done everything above, you're ready to return your MacBook to its out-of-the-box state. On an Intel-based Mac, reboot the system and press and hold Command-R to enter Recovery Mode. (Accessing Recovery Mode on MacBooks running on the company's Apple Silicon chips is different, however.) 

Read more: Before selling your MacBook, you need to factory reset it

Once in Recovery Mode, you'll see a window of MacOS utilities. Use the Disk Utility to erase your drive. When that's complete, you'll be able to reinstall MacOS. After it's done reinstalling, you'll reach the Setup Assistant. From there you can stop and shut it down or set it up for the recipient. 

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Gifting a used Windows laptop

Screenshot by Josh Goldman/CNET

As with gifting a MacBook, start by backing up any important folders and files on your old laptop to cloud storage or an external drive. If you're doing the latter, go to Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Add a drive and select the external drive. Then click on Backup Now. 

Sign out of all your apps

A lot of paid software requires you to sign in with an account, a product key or both. Before you wipe your laptop's storage, sign out of any accounts and deregister software licenses (if possible). If you need those product keys to re-register software on a new laptop, be sure to save that information. If you use a browser other than Edge, such as Chrome or Firefox, sign out of those as well. Basically, if it's got personal account information, sign out.

Reset the laptop

Ready to clean the drive and reinstall Windows? Go to Settings > Update and security > Recovery. At the top of the window, you'll see Reset this PC. Click on Get Started and select Remove Everything from the box that appears. From there, you can select to reinstall Windows from the local drive or download from the cloud. After that, Windows cleans the drive of all software, settings and data. When it's done, the laptop will start in its setup assistant mode. You can then stop and shut it down for a fresh-out-of-the-box experience or do some setup, which is nice touch, especially if it's going to a family member so they can use it right away.

Unlink from your Microsoft account

If you used a Microsoft account to sign in to the laptop, the last thing you'll want to do is remove the laptop from that account. Sign in to your account from another computer and click on the Devices tab at the top of the page. Find the laptop that you're gifting on the list of devices, and at the bottom of the listing, you'll see the option to remove the device. Click it and you're done. 

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Gifting a used Chromebook

Sarah Tew/CNET

Chromebooks are the easiest to refresh for gifting. That's mainly because of their cloud-based design. Google also makes it extremely easy to wipe your data and securely clean the internal storage as well as remove the Chromebook from your Google account. 

Check the AUE first

Before you even consider gifting an old Chromebook, check its auto-update expiration. Google only guarantees Chrome OS and browser feature support on non-Google hardware for so long. Every device has a date on which it stops receiving updates, aka its AUE date. Current models receive updates for eight years; older models could potentially be a year or two away from reaching their AUE. 

Google maintains an AUE list, so finding the date your Chromebook will stop receiving updates is as easy as locating your model on that list. The AUE can also be found in your Chromebook's settings. Here's how to find the AUE from Google and in your Chromebook.

Give it a Powerwash

Powerwash is Google's built-in factory reset tool for Chromebooks. Once you've backed up folders or files stored on the Chromebook's internal drive, running Powerwash will securely scrub the system and reboot. When it restarts, it'll be just like the day you unboxed it. 

The actual Powerwash typically takes less than a minute to complete. A simple search for "powerwash" in your Chromebook's settings will bring you right to the feature, but here's everything you need to know about the procedure. 

Remove the Chromebook from your Google account

Although you've removed your account from the Chromebook, you haven't removed the Chromebook from your account. Start by signing into your Google account and head to the Security settings. If you use the Chrome browser, you can also click on your account avatar and select Manage your Google Account from the drop-down menu. 

In the Security section, scroll down until you see a box labeled Your devices, which lists all the devices attached to your account. At the bottom of the box, click on Manage devices and find the Chromebook you're gifting and select Sign Out. 

Give the Chromebook a good external cleaning, gather up any accessories and it's ready to hand off to your giftee.

Read more: How to regift a game console

How Factory Reset Your Devices

Make sure to wipe personal data before selling, trading in or regifting your gear.

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https://ajaranhx.jawop.my.id/

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Best Baby Clothes of 2022

Best Baby Clothes of 2022

When it comes to having and raising a baby, there's an awful lot to worry about. From where they're going to sleep to what car seat to buy, you have to do some research to find the best option for you. One of the biggest tasks is refreshing their wardrobe every couple of months as they grow out of their clothes unbelievably fast. Dressing up your baby can be a lot of fun, but constantly shopping for clothes can be a nightmare. It can be very difficult to tell the quality of a piece of clothing, and you never want to buy more than you need.

Your preference in baby clothes is subjective, as your own personal style will largely dictate what your infant wears (you're welcome for that Astro Boy onesie, son!). But just because you vibe with an outfit doesn't mean it will fit right or the materials will agree with your baby. After some trial and error, you'll start to get an idea which brands of baby clothes are best for your little one. 

This guide to baby clothes during the first year can point you in the right direction. We've broken down which items and styles to look for, from onesies to dress clothes, along with top product picks for each category.

Onesies

The all-purpose bodysuit, or onesie, will make up the majority of your baby's wardrobe for the first six months or longer. Onesies are easy to throw on and allow for quick diaper changes, with a flap at the crotch that unsnaps when you need access. Another less celebrated but incredibly handy feature of the humble onesie are the envelope folds at the neckline, which allow the garment to be slipped off the shoulders and pulled down. When your baby inevitably has an epic diaper blowout, you'll be thankful you can remove their soiled onesie over their legs instead of their head. 

Carter's

Even if your baby doesn't blow out every day, you're going to need a few onesies on hand for frequent changes. Whether from milk spills, food stains or dozens of other reasons, baby clothes get dirty fast in the beginning. Suggestions on how many pieces of clothing you should own vary depending on who you ask, but I'd recommend having seven to 10 onesies in rotation so you're not doing laundry all the time. To make shopping easy, look for onesies that come in sets. This set from Carter's comes with seven cotton onesies in various colors and patterns. 

Pajamas

Footie pajamas or sleepers will keep your baby comfy and warm at night, but they're also great for wearing during the day. Chilly morning? Keep them in their pj's. You'll find many styles of pajamas, but if you take one thing away from this article let it be this: Avoid footies with snaps -- or worse, buttons -- as much as you avoid the changing table in a dollar store bathroom. They might be the cutest jammies in the universe, but they won't be at 3 a.m. as you curse yourself for missing a snap and realize you have to start all over again. Get zippers and save yourself a lot of time and hassle.     

Old Navy

Normal zippers are great, but 2-way zippers or zippers that zip from top to bottom are even better. This setup allows you to undress only half of your baby's body for diaper changes, keeping the top half warm and toasty. This particular set of pj's also has fold-over mittens, which you can use to cover baby's hands to prevent them from scratching themselves at night.  

Hanna Andersson

If your baby has sensitive skin, you may want to consider sleeping them in pj's made from 100% organic cotton, like this set from Hanna Andersson, or other natural materials like linen or bamboo fiber. These garments are typically free of chemicals so there's less chance of irritating your little one's skin. Prices range from $11 to $4 depending on the style you choose. 

Burt's Bees

Gowns are another category of baby sleepwear you might consider, especially in the early months of your child's life. Being open at the bottom, gowns make diaper changing even easier because you don't have to wrestle baby's legs out of any footies. You simply pull the gown up whenever you need to change them. This set from Burt's Bees is affordable and highly rated. 

HALO

Another item you might want to consider is a sleep sack or bag. Part clothing and part bedding, a sleep sack is worn over pj's and is intended to replace loose blankets, which the American Association of Pediatrics advises against to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. A sleep sack serves the same purpose as a swaddle, but unlike swaddling, you don't have to stop using a sleep sack once your baby can roll over. If your child likes the security a sleep sack provides, they can keep using it through their first birthday and beyond.

Pants

Because onesies leave your baby's legs exposed, you should also have a few pairs of pants or leggings in their wardrobe. Baby leggings should be stretchy so they're easy to get on and off. Sweatpants are another practical choice, and they can even be stylish when paired with an appropriate top. If you're considering dressing your little one in stiff, tight-fitting jeans or khakis on the regular, my advice is to save those for special occasions. Actual pants are a real pain to put on a baby, and you don't want to be doing it multiple times a day.   

H&M

Because you'll be taking pants off and putting them on again so often, you should make it easy on yourself. As long as your baby doesn't have serious skin allergies, cotton with a little bit of spandex is a safe material choice that will make diaper changes go much smoother. This set from H&M, for example, is 95% cotton and 5% spandex.

Lamaze

When your baby starts crawling, you might consider adding some pants with built-in knee pads to their wardrobe. This will give them a little cushioning when crawling on wood floors or other hard surfaces.

Socks and booties

Our extremities, including hands and feet, get colder faster than the rest of our body. This goes double for babies as they lose heat more quickly than adults, so it's important to keep their little piggies dressed in the cooler months. 

Gerber

The problem with most baby socks is they don't stay on. No matter how high you pull them up, one sock will inevitably be missing the next time you turn around. Gerber's Wiggle-Proof socks are designed to deal with this with elastic bands that hold onto your baby's calves without leaving marks.

Hudson Baby

Booties tend to stay on better than socks because they typically have some method of fastening around the ankle to prevent slippage. They can still be kicked off if your kiddo is determined enough, but at least their feet will be warmer for a bit longer.

Jackets

No matter where you live, at some point in your baby's first year it will be cold enough for you to want to throw on a jacket. If it gets really cold, you may even be tempted to dress them up in a heavy winter coat. Though that would undeniably be cuteness overload, the American Association of Pediatrics advises against bulky coats. This is mostly due to the fact that you can't safely buckle a child into a car seat while wearing one, as the jacket leaves space between the straps and your child's chest.

Carter

In addition to interfering with safety harnesses, thick jackets are largely unnecessary because you can dress a child in many thin layers and achieve the same result. A light fleece jacket like this pick from Carter's is warm and versatile, and can be all a baby needs for a stroll around the block or can serve as the final layer for a snow day. 

Buckle Me Baby

If you just love the puffy jacket look, consider getting one from Buckle Me Baby. These coats are specially designed to maintain contact between the seat harness and your child. How it works is the front panel of the jacket unzips and opens, allowing you to buckle your little one in and zip the jacket back up over it. If you're going somewhere cold, this is a great choice to wear in the car while it warms up.

Dress clothes, special occasion 

Babies aren't expected to dress up. If you showed up to a wedding with your six-month-old wearing their toastiest footie pajamas, people would understand. But we like dressing our babies up for special occasions, so having one set of fancy duds in the closet doesn't hurt. Sure, they might only wear it once, but think of all the adorable photos.

Cat & Jack

Though dress clothes by nature are less comfortable and convenient to get on and off, the same general rules for baby clothes apply: Make it as easy on yourself as possible. Imagine your baby having a two-way blowout in the middle of whatever special occasion you're dressing them for. Would it be a nightmare to change them out of the outfit you're looking at? Better keep shopping. 

This little number is made up of two pieces. The top is really just a fancy onesie with the typical snaps on the crotch, but you wouldn't know it once it's tucked into those tiny chinos. Topping off the ensemble is a bow tie and suspenders, which are just precious.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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https://housemyb.pops.my.id/

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How to train yourself to become a back sleeper and pregnancy how to train yourself to become a back sleeper and flat how to train yourself to become a morning person how to train yourself to fight how to train yourself to wake up early how to train a puppy how to train a dog how to take a screenshot

How to Train Yourself to Become a Back Sleeper (and its Benefits)

How to Train Yourself to Become a Back Sleeper (and its Benefits)

Unless you're some kind of Incredibles Elastigirl, there are three primary sleeping positions: side, stomach and back -- although, some can be a combination of these. In 2019, a study that involved over 3,700 volunteers concluded that only 7% of people sleep predominantly on their back, a stark contrast to the 54% of people who favor sleeping on their side. 

However, what if back-sleeping had real, tangible evidence that it's better for you? Would you give it a try? It turns out there are many benefits to back-sleeping as it has a long list of benefits, ranging from reducing physical pain to preventing wrinkles and pimples. 

Don't worry, it's never too late to train yourself to become a back sleeper, but it will take effort to accomplish. Becoming a back sleeper may not happen overnight, but it's worth a shot if you want to reap its benefits. Find out below how sleeping on your back can improve your health and the steps you can do to make the switch. 

See more: Best mattress 2022

The benefits of back sleeping

Back sleeping has been praised as the ultimate sleeper position, and for good reason. It can do wonders for your body, face and overall health. 

There are a few exceptions to this. The first is pregnant women (usually after 20 weeks) because back sleeping can cause more pressure to their bellies. The second is people who snore or suffer from sleep apnea, as back sleeping can cause the tongue to obstruct your airway and cause breathing difficulties. Otherwise, training yourself to sleep on your back is worth considering. 

• Prevent back and neck pain: The key to preventing back pain while you sleep is ensuring your spine, neck and head are all in proper alignment -- one straight line, if you will. Back sleeping on a firm mattress can promote a neutral alignment, relieving pressure on your back and spine. A 2017 study revealed that sleeping on your back with your arms resting on the side or your chest is the best position to relieve pain. 
• Prevent acid reflux and clear up your sinuses: Sleeping with your head elevated above your heart helps prevent the build up of mucus in your sinuses, and relieves symptoms for those who experience acid reflux by preventing the exposure of acid to the esophagus. 
  
• Reduce tension headaches: Headaches that originate from the neck or cervical spine can be confused with migraine headaches, and often happen because of compressed nerves in the neck. Back sleeping helps relieve pressure on your neck, similar to how back sleeping prevents back pain. 
  
• Prevent wrinkles and blemishes: Sleeping on your stomach with your face down can have an undesired effect on your appearance. The compression and pinching of your face against your pillow can lead to wrinkles and fine lines, and the same thing goes for your neck. Additionally, your pillowcase is a hub for bacteria and sebum which can lead to breakouts. 
  
• Prevent puffiness in your face: When you sleep face-down on your pillow, fluid can collect in the tissues of your face resulting in swelling, puffiness and under-eye bags. Sleeping face-up on your back with your head elevated ensures the fluid is properly drained out. 
  

How to train yourself to sleep on your back 

Pillow placement is key   

Use pillows to your advantage to help train yourself. You should have a pillow with medium loft (height) to keep your head propped up, a pillow under your knees and a pillow under your lower back. This helps support the natural curvature of your body and relieve pressure. 

You can also create a pillow fortress to surround your whole body. It can prevent you from changing into a new position, and make you feel so cozy that you don't even feel the need to roll around. 

Properly elevate your head

To elaborate on step one, your pillow should keep your neck in a slight "C" curve to help reduce pressure on your neck and head. If you're staring straight up at the ceiling, your pillow isn't tall enough. If you're fully facing the wall in front of you, your pillow is too tall. The perfect back-sleeping pillow will be somewhere in between. 

Make sure your bed is firm enough 

Back sleeping on a soft mattress is a recipe for back pain. A soft mattress lacks the support to keep your spine and neck in a neutral alignment, allowing your back to sag into the bed. Instead, try a firm mattress or firm mattress topper to make your bed feel more accommodating. 

Try an adjustable bed frame

My Slumber Yard

An adjustable bed frame that allows you to move the head and foot positions up and down can keep you in a comfortable sleeping position, while also discouraging you to switch to your side or stomach. 

By raising your head above your heart and slightly raising your feet, you go into a "zero gravity" mode, and it relieves pressure from all parts of your body -- like you're floating in space (hence the name). The positioning also prevents you from moving into an uncomfortable position on your side or stomach. 

Consider the starfish position 

If you're a single sleeper, your bed is your oyster and you can do as you wish without bothering a co-sleeper. In that case, lay with your legs and arms spread out and stretched each way like a starfish. You're able to evenly disperse your weight to prevent the build-up of pressure, and people who have tried it swear by it. 

Mind your late-night meals 

As tasty as pizza and hamburgers are, try to refrain from eating heavily fatty foods too close to bedtime. If you eat dinner less than 2 hours before you plan to go to bed, you may feel an uncomfortable pressure on your belly when you try to sleep face-up. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Spotify's Car Thing Is About to Face the Music

Spotify's Car Thing Is About to Face the Music

A year has 525,600 minutes. Matt Suda spent 206,989 of them -- more than a third of last year -- listening to Spotify.

Suda was one of the earliest customers to get his hands on an invite-only release of Car Thing, Spotify's first-ever hardware device, which goes on sale Tuesday. Unlike him, you probably didn't spend more time streaming music than sleeping last year. But Spotify is betting that Suda and about 140 million of you have something in common: Your car doesn't have a fancy infotainment system to rival a Tesla's.

"I was just interested in seeing Spotify's take on actually building their own hardware," said Suda, a 26-year-old student in Houston, who drives a 2012 Honda. "I wasn't expecting a whole lot. But getting the device and using it -- you can understand more the problem they're going after."

Spotify's main listening location is the home, but the car is a close second, said Gustav Söderström, Spotify's chief research and development officer. He says Americans spent an "insane" 70 billion hours a year on the road pre-pandemic. But while roughly 50% to 70% of cars on US roads may be able to connect to a phone, they're not so fresh-off-the-line as to have an entertainment display that easily streams tunes and podcasts. 

To Spotify, that meant drivers in roughly 140 million cars might stream Spotify more -- or start paying for it if they don't already -- if a device could replicate Apple's Car Play or Android Auto for them. 

"Why would we do something ourselves here?" Söderström said. "If this already existed, we wouldn't have." 

Enter Car Thing.

Sarah Tew/CNET

It may look like a bit like a sideways Zune, Microsoft's failed music player that launched in 2006. But with a credit-card-size touchscreen, mics to pick up voice commands, five buttons and a dial, the $90 Car Thing is a souped-up Spotify remote control for your ride. It mounts to your dash, with the goal of bringing a better way to safely stream music to drivers missing one of those fancy infotainment systems -- no dashboard teardown or new car required. 

When Spotify first unveiled Car Thing in April, more than 2 million people signed up for its waitlist. The earliest people invited to try it got it free; by fall, people had to start paying $80. On Tuesday, it's finally going on sale in the US, with a $10 price hike to $90.

Currently, Car Thing works only with Spotify's premium tier. That means on top of the $90 you pay for the hardware, you also must pay for a Spotify membership. Its standard subscription is $10 a month, though it comes as cheap as $5 a month for students. 

So Car Thing is only for Spotify -- but only for now. 

Its software is on track for an update in "a few weeks" that will unlock it to control other audio apps, Söderström said. If you love Audible, Car Thing will be able to play, pause, skip and adjust volume for your audio books. The update will even allow Car Thing to work for services that are Spotify's direct competitors. "We want to be an open platform," he said. 

That openness could, eventually, extend to "deeper integrations with potential partners" if Car Thing takes off, he added. While Spotify wouldn't elaborate on future partnerships, a Car Thing that could toggle between Spotify and Google Maps or Waze would give it the one-two punch of both music navigation and, well, literal navigation. 

"Why would we do something ourselves here? If this already existed, we wouldn't have."

Gustav Söderström, Spotify chief research and development officer

Broadening Car Thing may be wise, because those 140 million cars may be a more niche market than it seems, according to Tatiana Cirisano, a music industry analyst and consultant at researcher MIDiA. Just 22% of US consumers stream music in the car. 

"Streaming services are battling for market share over this relatively small demographic," Cirisano said. 

With sales opening in the US on Tuesday, Spotify is about to start learning: Is Car Thing tapping into a caravan of unmet need for millions of drivers? Or is it driving headlong toward a dead end? 

But as vehicles steer toward a future of being more autonomous, anything Spotify can do to solidify itself as the must-have music service in the car may pay dividends down the road. 

"Full autonomy is probably the most elusive goal of all, but the dream is: You get into your car and all the windows turn into displays," said Edward Sanchez, a senior automotive analyst at Strategy Analytics. "That's what everyone's salivating at the prospect of."

Sarah Tew/CNET

Getting to mile one

The concept for something like Car Thing had been percolating at Spotify for a while, but the device's date of conception might be marked in 2018, when it got its name. First proposed over dinner among a handful of Spotify hardware designers and brand agents, Car Thing was a semi-serious placeholder that the design team adopted for a code name. The name was funny, very literal and a bit childish, said Andreas Cedborg, Spotify's head of hardware product. 

"People think, 'Hey, you can't name it like that,'" Cedborg said. "But, yeah, you can."

Hints about Spotify making hardware for the car soon trickled out. In 2018, some marketing materials made their way to a smattering of Spotify users, advertising a voice-command device you could mount on your dash and pay for as an add-on to your Spotify subscription. Images showed a round device with a lit-up text display with a green circle border. Spotify declined to comment on images at the time, but the company now says it was just a test; it never produced the device pictured.

By May 2019, Spotify came clean it was experimenting with a device called Car Thing. It was different from the device in the leaked test images, but it was also a long way from what Car Thing would become.

Spotify's first iteration of Car Thing. 

Spotify

The first Car Thing's screen was too small, its dial too big, Cedborg said. Its green accents, a nod to Spotify's flagship color, made it stick out from the rest of the dashboard rather than blending in. It also had its own battery, which the current version eschews in favor of a cable that connects to your car's USB port or 12-volt socket. While a battery would make Car Thing more self-sufficient, freezing temperatures inside a car during winter would ding battery life, and scorching heat with a car baking in the sun risked explosion. A battery also adds weight, making it trickier to mount well. 

The Car Thing team's eureka moment was combining a hat-trick of voice commands, touch screen and physical inputs like buttons and dials. Drivers needed all three, working in concert, they realized. A touchscreen is impossible for typing each letter of a song title while driving, but voice commands handle long titles easily. Yet voice commands are a frustrating way to get to the bottom of a long playlist; a physical dial makes that simple. This three-prong approach was "the user interface that we didn't see anywhere in the car world," Söderström said. 

After three more years of testing, redesign, user research and pandemic delays, Car Thing was ready for its unveiling. In April, Spotify published a blog post that yes, Car Thing was real. Yes, Car Thing was the name. And yes, it had arrived -- sort of. Spotify introduced the waitlist, and people who signed up for it could potentially get it free. 

The current design of Car Thing.

Sarah Tew/CNET

"We just can't make enough of them," CEO Daniel Ek said in October about getting Car Things into the hands of waitlisted customers. Progress was crimped by global chip shortages, a problem that halted carmakers' assembly lines, made Apple's iPhone 12 launch weeks late and turned finding a Sony's PS5 game console into a Christmas miracle. (Ek wasn't available to discuss Car Thing's US launch.)

But this slow seeding of the device allowed Spotify to gather feedback about Car Thing in the wild, figuring out what needed change or improvement. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Road ahead

The version of Car Thing on sale Tuesday is the same physical device purchased off the waitlist. What's changed is the software. And the price. 

In pricing Car Thing at $90, Spotify is straddling two worlds. On one side, Car Thing isn't meant to be a revenue engine. Hardware "is a means to an end," Söderström said. Spotify hopes you'll pay for its service more so than its hardware. But on the other side, Spotify doesn't want to sell Car Thing at a loss just to make back the money on memberships. It wants to get Car Thing in as many cars as possible, but it will gauge Car Thing's success by the new subscribers and higher listening rates from existing members it attracts.

Despite the price hike, Spotify wants to get the price down. The $10 price increase was the result of the rising cost of chips, the company said. One thing that could help bring down price is selling Car Thing, eventually, outside the US, since scaling production can bring down the unit cost of making them. Spotify isn't committing to international expansion, but there are clear markets where Car Thing could go next, Söderström said, pointing theoretically to parts of Central and South America and Europe.

The company could also pursue bundles and deals that could make Car Thing a stronger value, he said.  

Gustav Söderström is Spotify's chief research and development officer.

Spotify

Söderström likens Car Thing to the Kindle, Amazon's hit e-reader. As Amazon's play to keep Apple from dominating digital books, Kindle was a means to an end, too. When the Kindle first launched in 2007, it was $399. Today, coincidentally, Kindles start at $90, the same price as Car Thing. 

Car Thing also comes at a time when Spotify's public image has been buffeted by drama over its most popular podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience. The debate pits accusations of dangerous COVID-19 misinformation against advocacy of freedom of speech. Spotify declined to comment on the Rogan debate.

Though 2 million on the Car Thing waitlist is a big number, it may have included flocks of people looking to score a freebie and a gaggle who were enticed by the hype around Spotify's first hardware. Sara Kayden, the marketing lead for Car Thing, says Spotify's conversion rate -- the amount people who actually buy Car Thing when they get off the waitlist -- was "healthy," without specifying further. 

The buyer reaction to Car Thing so far runs the gamut. Social media is dotted with both raves and regrets by people who got one off the waitlist. One Redditor mounted Car Thing to his Harley Davidson motorcycle and paired it to his Bluetooth headphones. Before Car Thing, switching tracks or adjusting volume was "nearly impossible" with his phone in his pocket and leather gloves on. 

But others have complained Car Thing was overpriced even when it was $80. 

Suda, the Spotify power user who scored Car Thing early and free, is still using the gadget every time he drives, nine months later. He's noticed that Car Thing's software has gotten zippier. "To me, it just makes it easier to listen and it's actually safer, if you don't have CarPlay or any of that fancy stuff," he said. 

In 2019, when Spotify revealed its first iteration of Car Thing, it also brought to light the possibility of a "Voice Thing" and "Home Thing." It was hardware that never materialized. Still, "it wasn't vaporware," Söderström said. "I've tried it. But it's not something we're launching right now." Spotify declined to comment on what its next thing in hardware would be. Regardless, they should definitely code-name it Next Thing.

And if Next Thing is ever to become a Real Thing, Spotify must pray Car Thing follows the roadmap of Kindle rather than Zune.

CNET's Katie Collins contributed to this report.  

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