Digital devices still have a long way to go before they can match the instant feedback and flexibility of paper. Even the low-latency touch screens found on the Microsoft Surface or iPad Pro still need expensive stylus peripherals to take advantage of handwritten notes and drawing features, and can be difficult to see in direct sunlight. If you are a visual thinker with a preference for physical touch over indirect manipulation, a paper notebook is still the preferred computing device: infinite battery life, and tangible, persistent storage.

The Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebook aims to bridge the gap between the immediacy of paper, and the convenience of cloud storage, with a clever twist that helps you cut down on personal paper waste. It’s available in our Boing Boing store for $22.99.

At its core, the Rocketbook is just a bound bundle of acid-free dot-grid paper. But when paired with the your phone’s camera and the Rocketbook app’s computer vision tricks, it instantly digitizes and sorts your notebook pages. The bottom of each page features a row of printed icons that act as user-configurable visual links to folders in various cloud vaults like Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive.  You can set up to 7 custom locations in any compatible storage services. All you have to do is quickly mark the icon that’s associated with a particular cloud location, point your phone at the page, and all of your work is backed up remotely.

Why should you use their notebook over any old legal pad laying around? Read the rest

While it’s possible to cook a brilliant dish out in the woods with nothing more than some sharpened sticks and a roaring fire, most of us aren’t quite at that level of mastery yet. For some extra assistance in your food prep take a look at the following kitchen conveniences: 

Salad to Go Container - $11.99

Bringing your own salad for lunch is usually a compromise in the name of frugality and healthiness, but it doesn’t have to be with this to go container. It keeps your ingredients separated and comes packed with its own silverware set, so you don’t have to suffer through another dressing-soaked mess with leftover takeout utensils. Get one here for just $11.99.

Star Wars Ice Trays (Set of 8) - $16.99

Whether you are throwing a cantina-themed house party and need the perfect finishing touch for your signature cocktail, or just like to feel the force with every cold drink, these Star Wars Ice Trays make a great addition to any geek’s freezer. And they’re microwave- and oven-safe for making galactic sweets. This set of eight molds is available for $16.99.

Avocado Joy Slicer- $9.99

Avocados are easily one of the most delicious savory fruits around, and the Avocado Joy Slicer makes it even easier to extract from their leathery skin. This multitool features a serrated knife, a pitter, and a row of blades to quickly cut uniform slices, all for just $9.99.

Stovetop Popcorn Popper - $29

Although mastering the timing of microwave popcorn is its own art, making it on the stove is always going to yield tastier and healthier results. Read the rest

Whether you’re someone who often works remotely from cafes, airports, or hotel lobbies, or are just concerned with the alarming frequency and specificity of targeted ads in your timeline, you should consider investing in a VPN. But with the myriad of commercial options available, it can be tough to find one with the right balance of features, scale, and price. Here’s what you should expect from a quality VPN, and how much you should be willing to shell out for a subscription:

1. Actual privacy protection

When subscribing to a VPN service, you’re paying for privacy, not a neat way to consolidate your browsing data for advertisers. Sadly, the increased interest in online privacy has given rise to scores of phony mobile VPNs — many of which would love to take over the exclusive rights to your browser traffic from your ISP. If your chosen provider doesn’t mention a no-log guarantee, there’s a good chance they have a side hustle of selling your search history to advertisers or law enforcement.

Additionally, a VPN should ensure that the tunnel they are providing is actually secure. This means offering strong encryption over a variety of data transfer protocols like PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec to maintain compatibility with the most platforms. Just because your bleeding-edge desktop OS supports a certain secure communication method doesn’t mean your 2-year-old smartphone will.

2. Ease of use

There’s no silver bullet for internet security. It’s all about making the right compromise between convenience and strength, and having the world’s most impenetrable data shield doesn’t matter if it’s a pain to use every day. Read the rest

You can get two years of access to this one-stop-shop for all things professional development from the Boing Boing store for over 90% off the regular price.

Cudoo features extensive video resources for over 160 languages, all of which are structured around the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) — perfect for anyone looking to learn a new language (or become multilingual as fast as possible) for business or fun. You can brush up on workplace skills like body language recognition, or prepare for a new job with an expert business writing course. Cudoo also has an extensive library of technology resources, from basic office training to advanced lessons in database design and management.

Unlike other course libraries, Cudoo provides access to new content as it becomes available, so you can learn as much as you want. A 2-year subscription to the Cudoo Online Language & Professional Development Library is just $29 if you order it here. Read the rest

Whether you are diagnosing strange noises from home appliances, or inspecting computer equipment for dust, or god forbid, nests of vermin, a small camera is an indispensable tool. This Endoscopic Android Camera uses your device as a handy video display, and is going for $17.50 in our store.

This posable camera is totally waterproof, making it perfect for inspecting all manner of household nooks. You can use it to get a better view of your car’s engine, or explore the source of clogged waterways. Its flexible neck is a meter long to give you ample reach inside compact machinery. It’s compatible with desktop PCs as well as Android devices, and provides a crisp image up to 720p HD.

Usually $139.99, pick up this Endoscopic Android Camera here for 87% off — just $17.50. Read the rest

The Pry.Me Bottle Opener holds tens of thousands of times its own weight, and you can pick one up now from the Boing Boing Store.

This remarkable keychain is considerably smaller than any of your keys, but don’t let that fool you: it can easily open any bottle, and could even tow a trailer full of bowling balls if you had a hitch small enough. It’s made from Grade 5 titanium — the same type that’s used in countless industrial and aerospace applications. Needless to say, this tiny piece of hardware will easily outlast you.

Because of its unique shape and comically high tensile strength, this bottle opener can be so small that you’ll never notice it’s in your pocket. It also includes a heavy-duty key ring to replace the flimsy one that probably came with with your house keys. You can get one of them here for $10.99. Read the rest

Guaranteeing your privacy online goes way beyond checking the “Do Not Track” option in your browser’s settings. To ensure that your internet activity is totally hidden from Internet Service Providers, advertisers, and other prying eyes, take a look at Windscribe’s VPN protection. It usually costs $7.50 per month, but you can get a 3-year subscription for $22.49 from the Boing Boing Store.

Windscribe offers the usual collection of VPN capabilities: encrypted browsing over a secure tunnel, and location masking by spoofing your IP address. You can freely download torrents and access region-locked content, but its extra privacy features set it apart from other VPN offerings available. It has a dedicated firewall to protect all of your devices from malware and unauthorized connections, and it actively blocks ads and ad trackers to keep your personal information away from indiscriminate data collection.

You can pick up a 3-year subscription to Windscribe VPN here for $22.49. Read the rest

This project management bundle will help you get organized and learn how to lead a team to success. You can pay what you want for these five courses when you pick them up from the Boing Boing Store.

To help you become an invaluable asset for your company, this bundle includes a curated collection of professional resources. In the Six Sigma certification course, you’ll learn how to efficiently plan manufacturing processes that minimize waste and product variation. You can get the best out of your organization’s employees by learning how to set goals for your teammates and monitor their progress in the Performance Management section. This bundle also includes a crash-course in the fundamentals of project planning and cost estimation, as well as handy guides for decluttering your life and getting things done.

You can pay what you want for this Project Management Bundle here. Read the rest

Despite the push towards USB-C as the one connector to rule them all, most peripherals in the wild are still largely USB-A. Since there’s little reason to upgrade all of your old flash drives, wired keyboards, and game controllers, you’ll need a decent hub to keep them all talking to your new computer.

The MondoHub Master USB Hub features 24 USB 2.0 ports to connect all of your legacy gear, with hardware on/off switches for each one. To quickly charge phones and tablets, and take advantage of external storage with high-speed data transfer capabilities, it also includes four USB 3.0 ports. And to keep your devices safe, it has automatic over-current protection.

Reduce cable clutter and extend your desktop’s connectivity options with a MondoHub Master USB Hub. You can pick one up in the Boing Boing Store for $54.99. Read the rest

You don’t always have to pay out the nose for household items, everyday accessories, or memorable gifts. If you’re searching for something unexpected that can be had for less than two sawbucks, take a look at the following goods:

20oz Insulated Water Bottle ($18.99)

This stainless steel water bottle is double-walled with vacuum-sealed insulation to keep drinks cold for 24 hours, or hot for 8. It has a durable powder coat that’s available in 17 vibrant colors, and it fits in most car cupholders. The interior is completely free of BPA plastics and is totally rust-proof, so any liquid you put in it will taste delicious. Pick one up for just $18.99.

XXL Shower Speaker ($19.99)

The XXL Shower Speaker is totally waterproof, and has a sturdy suction cup for mounting anywhere in the bathroom. It puts out 3 watts of high-quality sound for up to 6 hours straight, so you rarely have to charge it. Playback controls are front and center with raised texture for easy operation, even when you have soap in your eyes. Get it from our store for $19.99.

UltraBright Military Flashlight: 2-Pack ($17.99)

It never hurts to have a dedicated flashlight around the house for when the power goes out unexpectedly. To keep you prepared for emergencies, this kit comes with two 500-lumen hand torches made from aircraft-grade aluminum and a durable carry case. Grab these tactical flashlights for $17.99.

MicroUSB Cables: 6-pack ($8.99)

Whether you’re a dedicated Android user or just have a plethora of portable electronics, you can‘t have enough microUSB cables. Read the rest

For anyone that’s always travelling between their home, office, storage unit, art studio, or any other location that’s behind a locked door, you probably have more keys than you know what to do with. Fortunately, the Extended KeySmart keeps them all in a single, compact place that mitigates the need for a huge janitor key ring.

This key holder houses up to 14 keys, including longer and foreign key shapes. Each key folds out of the frame for quick access — you’ll never forget which one is for your front door again. Constructed from lightweight aluminum with durable, stainless-steel hardware, the KeySmart can take a beating without weighing down your bag or pants pockets. It even comes with a handy loop to accommodate your irregularly-sized car key.

You can pick up one of these cleverly-designed key containers here for $19.99. But if your dwelling has several separate locks and you want to keep your spare keys in order for houseguests, a 3-pack of KeySmarts is just $39.99, 33% off the usual price. Read the rest

Working remotely often means using a full-size laptop, or forcing a tablet to do things it was never intended to do. Depending on your job, each may be a reasonable, if somewhat compromising solution, or an impossibly frustrating one. Either way, you’ll be stuck with a tiny screen and a form factor that will destroy any semblance of good seated posture you may have had.

If you are looking for a proper desktop experience wherever you call office, and have zero interest in making a Linux-powered Raspberry Pi your daily driver, the Ockel Sirius B is a complete Windows 10 PC in a package that’s no bigger than a portable hard drive. Just plug it into an external monitor, TV set, or projector, add a keyboard and mouse, and you’re good to go. Whether you frequently work from home, or need to give a presentation in a faraway conference room, this portable PC will work with any standard desktop gear.

Since most offices have yet to upgrade to the latest connector standards, the Sirius B’s got a pair of full-sized USB-A ports, HDMI, and even a MicroSD slot for maximum compatibility no matter where you are. In order to run modern desktop software, it has 2GB of RAM, modern integrated Intel graphics, and a quad-core processor. It even includes 32GB of internal flash storage for faster boot-ups and application launches.

The Ockel Sirius B Windows 10 Pocket PC is available now from the Boing Boing store for 24% off at $189. Read the rest

Web technology has matured considerably in the last decade, and developers are continually in demand. If you're looking to add some skills to your resume, or are just interested in exploring the possibilities of the web, check out this Interactive Web Developer Bootcamp.

In this course, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of full-stack development using modern tools. After learning the basics of HTML5 and CSS3, you'll delve into front-end development to build functional interfaces using Angular and jQuery. You’ll learn how to connect your interactive pages to back-end data, and build application logic for projects that include a blogging engine and an e-commerce platform. This course gives you access to 180 video lessons, comes with a companion ebook, and lets you get specific feedback from instructors.

The Interactive Web Developer Bootcamp is on sale now for $29. Read the rest

Even if you only use your PC for web browsing, media playback, or light document creation, default software can sometimes come up short. To give your Windows PC a bit of a boost, we've compiled a variety of helpful, paid apps that can enhance your user experience and make you more productive.

In the Premium PC Power Bundle, you get these three essential apps:

Netspot Pro

Netspot Pro is your best resource for optimizing your WiFi network. It‘s immensely helpful for troubleshooting your connection, but its mapping features are what really make it an essential. You can locate connectivity dead zones and determine the best places to put your wireless access points based on the layout of your home.

Glasswire Pro

With Glasswire Pro, you can closely monitor the network activity of up to three PCs. This centralized security system protects your computers from malicious hosts, and notifies you of unauthorized logins when you’re away. It even keeps track of remote machines, so you can be sure that websites or game servers you control stay secure. It's such a comprehensive security solution, PCWorld gave it a rare 4.5/5 star rating.

CleanMyPC

You can’t always trust your desktop to clean up after itself when it downloads updates and installs new software. CleanMyPC makes sure your computer isn’t being slowed down by junk files or unnecessary autorun applications.

Beyond these headliners, the bundle also includes the following apps:

Zemana AntiMalware: A one-stop shop for preventing against malware, ransomware, and other browser junk

7 Speed Reading EX 2017: This TopTenReviews Gold and Excellence Award Winner can help you read up to 3.471 times faster

PaintShop Pro X9 for Windows: An image editor that’s great for designing graphics and quickly annotating screenshots

Sticky Password Premium: You'll get three years of access to this secure password manager that syncs with both Android and iOS

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery Home: Get back lost or deleted files and access the contents of corrupted disks

Android Data Recovery Pro for PC: Extract photos, contacts, and more from a dead Android device directly to your PC

Data Shredder 5 Professional for Windows: If you’re selling an old computer, this app ensures that your data gets completely deleted beyond recovery by a new end user

All of these apps are included in the Premium PC Power Bundle, available now in the Boing Boing Store for $29. Read the rest

Many people find it easiest to learn things by doing them. If you’re looking to give a doer in your life an interesting, hands-on project, check out these tech-focused DIY kits:

DIY AT-AT Cable Organizer & Card Case ($32.99)

With this kit, you get to put together a wooden replica of an AT-AT that keeps cables, pens, and other desktop detritus organized. And it’s legs are totally posable to let you re-create the battle on Hoth.

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 Complete Starter Kit ($69.99)

To set up a Raspberry Pi computer as quickly as possible, this Complete Starter Kit includes a MicroSD card preloaded with the aptly-named NOOBS OS, and all the hardware you need to boot it up.

The Complete Raspberry Pi 3 Training Bundle ($19)

The Raspberry Pi is capable of so much more than emulating old video games. You can learn how to use it for penetration testing, robotics, distributed computing, and internet-of-things devices with this course bundle.

TinyTesla Musical Tesla Coil Kit ($197)

You can build a singing Tesla coil, also known as a zeusaphone, with this kit. By controlling your plasma speaker from a laptop or midi source, you can put on quite an electrifying performance.

Extpro DIY Assemble Toy Set Solar Powered Car Kit ($10.95)

You and your kids can get excited about robotics and renewable energy together with this homemade Solar Powered Car kit. This project is best for ages six and up.

SunFounder Raspberry Pi Robot Kits ($149.99)

For a much more advanced electronic car project, this Raspberry Pi Kit will have you building a 4-wheeled robot. Read the rest

Although regular meditation has been shown to ease physical stress and reduce immune system activation, many people have embraced it as a powerful way to support their mental health. Mindfulness techniques like meditation and conscious breathing are powerful tools that can be used by anyone, and newcomers shouldn’t feel intimidated to try them.

If you’ve never meditated before or have found it difficult to fit into your life, Welzen’s 5-day program can help you develop your practice from scratch. Whether you’re looking for a daily commitment or just need a breather on certain tough days, Welzen offers a wide variety of subject-specific guided sessions, as well as a new 10-minute mediation every day. They have meditations to match your current mood, so you can enhance your focus when you’re feeling positive, and lift your spirits when the end of the day can’t come soon enough.

You can pick up a lifetime subscription to Welzen in the Boing Boing Store for $49. Read the rest

The XXL Shower Speaker sticks to your bathroom wall with a sturdy suction cup, and it promises to be the best accompanist you've ever had in the shower.

Aside from hearing your own singing voice, how often do you really get to enjoy the excellent acoustics of the bathtub? This Bluetooth speaker is totally waterproof, so you can bring your music, podcasts, and audiobooks with you into the shower. It puts playback controls front and center, with raised rubber texture so you can always find the play button when your eyes are full of soap. And you can easily answer or decline calls, depending on how hectic your morning is.

The XXL Shower Speaker comes in several bright colors, or flat black if that fits better with your bath decor. You can get it here for $19.99. Read the rest