Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the much-awaited follow-up to 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is now available for pre-order. You can get the digital version for the old Switch for $60 or for the new Switch 2 for $70 from Nintendo’s website. In case you have no plans to get the Switch 2 anytime soon and you do get the game for the first Switch console, you can purchase an upgrade pack for $10 to get access to better graphics and higher frame rate for Nintendo’s new system later on. Pre-ordering lets you pre-load the game so you can play it as soon as it becomes available on October 16. 

The action role-playing game is not just a follow-up to Arceus, but also a sequel to Pokémon X and Y. It’s set in Lumiose City, introduced in X and Y over a decade ago, and features three available starters: Chikorita and Totodile from Gold and Silver, as well as Tepig from Black and White. Its gameplay is a mix of the real-time capture mechanics on Arceus and the old-school turn-based gameplay of traditional Pokémon titles. The game is also bringing back X and Y’s Mega Evolution mechanic, which can temporarily transform a Pokémon into a much stronger monster, boosting its power and sometimes even changing its type. 

The physical version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A is now also available for pre-order from retailers like Walmart (Switch, Switch 2) and Best Buy (Switch, Switch 2.). It’s not clear if pre-ordering the game will get you any bonuses, but the Walmart listing URLs hint at an “exclusive gift with purchase.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/you-can-now-pre-order-pokemon-legends-z-a-for-the-switch-and-switch-2-140004626.html?src=rss

Nearly a quarter of consumers using buy-now-pay-later loans now finance their grocery purchases, representing a significant increase from 14% a year ago, according to a recent LendingTree survey. The shift marks a departure from the traditional use of these short-term financing services for big-ticket items like electronics and furniture toward everyday essentials including groceries, utility bills, and streaming services.

The BNPL market has experienced dramatic growth, expanding from $2 billion in consumer purchases in 2019 to more than $116.3 billion by 2023. Morgan Stanley found that 28% of surveyed Americans had used BNPL services with about 30% of those users applying the financing to grocery purchases. Food prices have risen 28% since 2020, creating particular pressure on lower-income households earning less than $50,000 annually, who represent the largest user base for these services.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Black Myth: Wukong is finally coming to the Xbox Series X|S, one year after it was released for the PlayStation 5 and for Windows PCs. Its developer Game Science will roll out the Xbox version of the game on August 20, but you’ll be able to pre-order the game starting on June 17 at 12PM Eastern time. If you place your pre-order before July 10 12PM Eastern, you’ll be able to get the typically $60 title with a 20 percent discount at $48.

The action role-playing game is inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, adapting its universe, as well as its characters and their backstories. You’ll take control of a monkey protagonist based on the novel’s main character, Sun Wukong, who uses a staff as a weapon. The staff shrinks and extends in combat and has several possible techniques that provide you a variety of moves to choose from. It’s considered as China’s first true AAA game and broke Steam’s concurrent players record for a single-player title just a few hours after it became available. 

In addition to announcing that the Xbox version of the game is coming out in August, Game Science has also launched a promotion for all platforms. Starting on June 17 at 12PM until July 2 at 12PM Eastern time, the standard and Deluxe PS5 editions of the game will be 20 percent off at $48 and $56, respectively. The PC version will be priced the same, though the sale will begin on June 19, 1PM and end on July 10, 1PM Eastern time on Steam, WeGame and the Epic Games Store.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/black-myth-wukong-is-getting-an-xbox-port-on-august-20-133100514.html?src=rss

Reverse image searching is a quick and easy way to trace the origin of an image, identify objects or landmarks, find higher-resolution alternatives or check if a photo has been altered or used elsewhere online. Google’s image search tools work on desktop and mobile devices, allowing users to upload a photo, paste a picture’s URL or use visual search features from the Google app to learn more about an image. Here’s how to perform a reverse image search using Google on a desktop browser, an iPhone or an Android phone.

How to reverse image search on a desktop browser

Google Images on a desktop browser provides the most direct way to perform a reverse image search. You can drag and drop, upload an image file or paste an image’s URL to find visually similar results.

Using Google Images on Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari:

1. Open a browser and go to images.google.com.

2. Click the camera icon in the search bar. This will take you to Google Lens.

3. Choose one of the following options:

• Paste image link: Use this if the image is already online. Paste the URL and click Search.

• Upload a file: Click Upload a file, select the image from your computer, and click Open.

Google Lens will display search results with visually similar images and web pages where the image appears. It replaces the old “Search by image” function and includes context-based information such as product suggestions, places and can even translate or transcribe text where relevant.

Right-click search (Chrome only):

In Google’s Chrome browser, you can also perform a reverse image search without visiting Google Images. This feature is built into Chrome for faster lookups.

1. Right-click on any image you see on a website.

2. Select Search with Google Lens.

3. A sidebar will open showing visually similar pictures and relevant search results using Google Lens.

How to reverse image search on an iPhone

On iOS, Google offers multiple ways to reverse image search through the Chrome and Google apps. It also supports uploading images directly from your photo library.

Using the Google app:

1. Download and open the Google app from the App Store.

2. Tap the camera icon in the search bar to open Google Lens.

3. Give the app permission to access your camera and photo library if prompted.

4. Choose an image from your camera roll or take a new photo.

5. Google Lens will analyze the image and show relevant results, such as related images, pages or products.

This method is ideal for scanning photos, receipts, objects or screenshots.

Using Chrome on iPhone:

You can also reverse search images found on websites using Google’s mobile browser.

In Chrome:

1. Touch and hold any image on a website.

2. Tap Search image with Google in the menu that appears.

3. Chrome will open a new tab or side panel with Google Lens results.

If the “Search image with Google” option isn’t visible, make sure Chrome is updated to the latest version.

How to reverse image search on Android

The process is nearly identical on Android. Whether you use Chrome or the Google app, Android devices are well integrated with Google Lens functionality.

Using the Google app:

1. Open the Google app (pre-installed on most Android phones).

2. Tap the camera icon in the search bar to open Google Lens.

3. Allow permission to access your photos or take a new photo.

4. Choose the image you want to search.

5. Google will display results with similar images and related information.

Google Lens can also be launched from the camera app on certain Android devices, including Pixel and Samsung phones, depending on your default settings.

Using Google Photos:

If the image is already saved on your phone, Google Photos offers another method. This is a quick option for scanning photos you’ve saved or screenshots you’ve taken.

1. Open the Google Photos app.

2. Tap on the image you want to reverse search.

3. Tap the Lens icon at the bottom of the screen.

4. Results will appear directly within the app, showing visual matches and possible sources.

Using Chrome on Android:

1. Open Chrome and go to any website with the image you want to search.

2. Tap and hold the image.

3. Select Search image with Google.

4. Chrome will launch Google Lens in a new tab and display relevant search results.

This feature works natively in the Chrome browser without needing to switch apps or upload files manually. Some newer Android phones like Galaxy and Pixel flagships also offer a Circle to Search tool that allow you to draw around things on your screen and quickly launch an image search, so you should check to see if your phone supports it. 

Tips for better reverse image search results

• Crop your image: If you’re looking for a specific object in a larger photo, cropping it to focus on that item can improve accuracy.

• Use high-resolution images: Low-quality or blurry images may return less accurate matches.

• Combine keywords with Lens: After searching, you can add a keyword in the search bar to narrow down the results.

• Try different angles: Searching the same subject from another image or angle may improve results.

Google Lens is designed to recognize faces, landmarks, logos, plants, animals, clothing, furniture and text. For product identification or location searches, the app often returns contextually rich information and shopping links.

Alternative reverse image search tools

While Google’s reverse image search is widely used, there are alternative platforms worth considering, especially if you want different search results or additional features.

• TinEye (tineye.com) – Offers a dedicated reverse image search with browser plugins and sorting filters.

• Bing Visual Search – Microsoft’s reverse image tool provides results similar to Google Lens with built-in search options.

These tools work well when Google doesn’t deliver the results you’re looking for or when you’re trying to locate the earliest appearance of an image online.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-trace-a-pictures-origin-with-reverse-image-search-130053431.html?src=rss

The surprise release of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on April 22 shocked the gaming world, but what’s even more surprising is how many people lined up to play a 20-year-old RPG. It’s been more than a month now, and both the new generation of RPG heads and nostalgic oldsters are wrapping up their return to Cyrodiil. It’s a deep game, but it’s not bottomless—so here are five more RPGs to check out if you’re a fan of Oblivion.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

The sequel to Oblivion is the most obvious choice for a follow-up to Oblivion. While Skyrim is a marginally more polished, focused, and serious RPG than Oblivion, the lore, style, and gameplay of these two games are very close. The main missing element in Skyrim is the spellcrafting system, but in place of customizing your own magic, Skyrim has dragon-shouts and dragons, so it’s ultimately a wash. If Oblivion was your intro to The Elder Scrolls universe, you will really like Skyrim, I promise. Fus Ro Dah! You can play The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Xbox systems, PlayStation systems, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018)

The makers of Kingdom Come: Deliverance (and its sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II) were clearly influenced by the Elder Scrolls game. They are first-person, action role-playing games with open world settings that allows players to develop whatever kind of character they want based on archetypes like warrior, bard, and thief. “Mage” or “wizard” aren’t included, because the Kingdom Come games have no magic. They’re meant to be historically realistic depictions of life in central Europe in the 15th century. But if you like intricate little systems that manage things like weapon wear and hunger, you’ll love Kingdom Come. You can play Kingdom Come: Deliverance on PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt (2015)

One of the few RPGs regarded as on par with Skyrim and Oblivion in terms of scope and quality, The Witcher III is a swords-and-magic RPG with a massive open world to explore and a deep universe and fully drawn world that seems alive. But it’s more plot focused than Oblivion. You can only play as main character Geralt of Rivia instead of rolling your own, and Geralt has definite goals, so there’s less of a focus on finding your own reason to exist. Still, in terms of ambition and attention to detail, The Witcher III is a match for Oblivion. You can play The Witcher III on PlayStation systems, Xbox systems, the Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Ultima VII: The Black Gate (1992)

If you’re curious about where the Elder Scrolls games came from, and you can deal with old-school controls and graphics, check out prehistoric RPG Ultima VII: The Black Gate, a landmark release that heavily influenced the Elder Scrolls games and every other RPG that followed it. Like Oblivion, U7 features a real-time open world with tons of NPCs and objects to interact with, and deep lore and story. U7 encouraged players to wander the world just checking things out and progressing at their own pace, too; it’s just not in first-person. Ultima 7 shares a similar mix of ambition and goofiness with Oblivion as well. Just look the video posted above of the game’s opening, in which the fourth wall is fully destroyed. Charming! You can play a port of Ultimate 7 on PC through Good Old Games.

Elden Ring (2022)

If Ultima VII represents past RPGs that inspired Oblivion, Elden Ring is the future of the genre. It’s an immersive, addictive open world game that’s heavy on exploration like Oblivion, but there are no quest-givers or books that explain the world. The lore is just as deep, but Elden Ring shows instead of tells, leaning on sandbox style play instead quest style. Then there’s the combat. Oblivion improved on the “press A to swing sword” style of older RPGs, but Elden Ring turns it up to 11 by featuring intense fighting and magic mechanics that take real skill to master. You can play Elden Ring on Xbox systems, PlayStation systems, and PC.

A court has denied Apple‘s appeal for an emergency stay on a ruling over purchases made outside the App Store in the US, TechCrunch reported. That means Apple will no longer be able to be able to collect fees when users click on links within an app that takes them to an external site for a purchase. “After reviewing the relevant factors, we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate,” the judges stated in a filing. 

Earlier this year, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple violated her 2021 ruling on Epic’s lawsuit against Apple. The judge originally ordered Apple to allow developers to direct users to other payment systems that would let them bypass the App Store’s usual 30 percent commission fee. However, Apple still took up to a 27 percent cut for external purchases while showing users a “scare screen” warning that paying they’d lost the company’s protection if paying outside the app store.

As part of the ruling, Gonzalez Rogers ordered Apple to stop collecting fees for external payments in the US immediately. She also prohibited Apple from creating rules that would prevent developers from presenting customers with buttons and links for external payments. Apple complied with the order but immediately filed an appeal for an emergency hold on the ruling so it could resume collecting fees on external app purchases — and that appeal has now been denied. 

“The long national nightmare of the Apple tax is ended,” Epic CEO Tim Sweeny wrote on X in response to the ruling. “May next week’s WWDC be the Apple-led celebration of freedom that developers and users have long deserved.” Apple has yet to comment on the matter.

Other companies with a large presence on iOS like Amazon and Spotify have already moved quickly to establish external payment methods for their apps. Epic itself resubmitted Fortnite to the App Store but was denied, calling Apple’s actions “blatant retaliation.” However on May 20th, Fortnite finally returned to the App Store in the US. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apples-appeal-for-an-emergency-hold-on-app-fees-denied-by-court-123017700.html?src=rss

Looking for a Windows video player that looks nice, is easy to use, and supports every media file you can imagine? Screenbox is a free and open source application that fits perfectly in Windows 11. It’s the media player Microsoft should have made for its own operating system.

We’ve talked about IINA, a sleek Mac alternative to VLC. Screenbox is the Windows version of that. It goes without saying that VLC is a powerful video player—if you like it, you should absolutely keep using it. But there are downsides: VLC’s various toggles can feel cluttered and overwhelming and the mostly gray application doesn’t exactly blend in on a modern Windows desktop. Screenbox is built using LibVLCSharp, meaning it supports every media format VLC does and offers the same performance. The big difference is the user interface.

And what a difference it is. Open a video with this application and you’ll see a beautiful player with only buttons that are useful. And there are some nice features included too. The player supports YouTube’s hidden keyboard shortcuts, meaning if you’re learned those, you’ll be able to use them in your desktop video player. There’s also picture-in-picture support, allowing you to play a video in the background while you’re working on something else.

The application also offers a media library feature, if you want it. By default, your video and music folders are included—you can add more folders in the settings. I find this particularly nice for browsing music. You can explore by track, album, or artist.

Credit: Justin Pot

But most people, I suspect, are going to use this just to open the occasional file, not manage a library. I like that it works for both use cases, though. Check it out if you haven’t found the perfect Windows media player yet—it might work for you.

Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

The best summer day I’ve ever had was when I was 15. I rolled out of bed around 11 a.m. and headed to my local beach without a plan. After sunset, my pals and I skateboarded around town. Nothing really happened—just shit-talking and playing SKATE like we’d done a thousand times—but I remember being struck by the fact that I wouldn’t always be doing this. School was starting soon, and The Future was on its way, like it or not, so I’d better enjoy the moment before it melted away like a dropped popsicle. I don’t remember spending any money on my best summer day, and I definitely didn’t worry about it. It was about freedom, not finances.

You don’t need a fat wallet or an Instagram-ready vacation to capture that summer vibe. Whether you’re dead broke, playing it safe because it’s crazy out there, or just looking for a simpler, more relaxed season, there are plenty of ways to have the best summer ever without emptying your bank account. Below are free (or nearly free) things you can do to have a summer that’s about freedom, creativity, laziness, and catching those little moments that make summer feel like summer.

Free (or nearly free) summer activities

• Hiking: They haven’t figured out how to charge people for walking around outside (mostly), so put your zip code into the All Trails website and see what’s out there. You don’t need more than a pair of sneakers and a water bottle for a lot of hikes, so get out there and get you some nature.

• Park life: If a hike sounds too ambitious, go hang out at the park. A lot goes on at the park if you’re open to it. Lay in the grass. Sit on the bench. Feed the birds. People-watch. Pack a picnic. Invite a friend. If someone asked me to go have a lazy picnic in the park, I’d say, “hell yeah.”

• Water hunt: Whether it’s in a community pool, a lake, a river, or just out of your hose, water and summer go together like jam and toast. So get on the googles and figure out the hours of your local community pool, find a lake with no entry fee, or just turn on the hose and load up the water pistols. (Water wars are the only wars I approve of.)

• Summertime events: I don’t know where you live, but most towns offer low or no cost summer entertainment. I’ll bet there are local outdoor movie nights, community concerts, theater in the park, and/or neighborhood festivals, and the organizers really want you to show up. You don’t even have to stay through the whole thing; just stop by. 

The great indoors

• Public air conditioning: Why spend your own dough on cooling when so many places have the A/C blasting: Malls, libraries, museums on free days, matinee movies, or even big-box stores all are delightfully chilly in summer. So walk around like you own the place, stop and get some meatballs at IKEA and pretend you’re shopping for a new kitchen. 

• Stay home: I have great respect for people who never leave their homes, so I’ve gone into great detail about how to have a great summer inside in my Indoor Person’s Guide to Summer.

Mindset and vibe: The real secret to a great summer

Have you ever known anyone who is miserable on vacation? That’s because spending money doesn’t make you happy. The line between a dreary, miserable, hot, boring, broke day and the best damn day of your life is razor thin, and it isn’t for sale. So say “yes” to stupid little plans. Keep your schedule loose. Take time to compliment every cute dog you see. Bring some bongos to the park. Quietly chat with the librarians at your local library. Invite your friends along to share moments instead of splitting checks. Summer is in your heart, baby.

Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

Summer is here, and this year is going to be different. This year you’re going to get outside. You’re going to camp, hike, swim, and explore the area you live in. If that’s you, but you don’t know where to get started, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few of the best websites and apps for getting outside and finding new places to explore this summer.

Best apps and sites for finding campgrounds

Camping is a classic summer activity—assuming you can find a good spot. I personally recommend finding out about campsites from friends, family, and anyone else with local experience, but that’s hard if you’re new to a place or are just visiting. Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools for finding a place to camp.

Credit: Justin Pot

If you just want somewhere to put down a tent—and are willing to rough it a little—the website FreeCampsites.net is always worth checking. In the United States, it is perfectly legal to camp on certain public lands, including most National Forests, and there’s no cost. FreeCampsites points out some of the best campsites you can find in such public lands. It also highlights other free campsites offered by municipal governments. Now, this isn’t for everyone: Free campsites usually won’t have bathrooms, and almost certainly won’t have running water or electricity. I’ve personally had a lot of success using this site to find free places to stay during road trips, though.

If you’d prefer a little more in the way of amenities—and are willing to pay for your campsite—there are options. Recreation.gov is a service of the U.S. government that makes it easy to browse and reserve camping options available in federally owned wilderness areas. Most states offer a similar service for state parks, as do most countries where camping is common.

If you don’t have any luck on government sites, though, there are other options. HipCamp is essentially an Airbnb type service for campsites. The advantage here is that you get access to campsites on private property, meaning you’ll have more options and (potentially) amenities. Another similar tool to check out is The Dyrt. As with Airbnb, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to the listing and the customer reviews before booking. It’s also worth using a search engine to see if a given campsite has its own website or even just a phone number—sometimes booking directly can save you money.

Before you head out, check out this guide for all the essential camping gear you need (and some things you’ll just want).

Best apps and sites for finding hiking trails

Credit: Justin Pot

Summer is the best time to lose yourself in a hike. As with campsites, it’s a good idea to ask people you know for recommendations before checking online, but there are also plenty of tools you can use to find good hikes wherever you are.

All Trails is mentioned a lot in this space, and it does indeed offer a lot of trails. Hikes generally have thorough descriptions with photos, length, and other information. The problem: This website tends to inundate visitors with a lot of pop-ups and upsells. Wikiloc is an alternative service full of user-submitted hikes that’s better on that front. Another thing worth remembering is that, in many places, there is a local database of trails. For example, I live in Oregon and generally find the best hikes using Oregon Hikers—I recommend doing some research and finding out if there’s anything similar in your state or region.

Finally, it’s a good idea to have an offline map handy during the hike itself. When I’m out on the trail, I like to use Organic Maps, a free and open-source application that works entirely offline. I’ve used it on three continents and it am yet to walk on a trail it doesn’t have. I like being able to use turn-by-turn directions, or check how far I am from the next junction. Just make sure to download the region you’re going to hike while you still have data.

Best apps and sites for finding pools

Nothing says summer quite like jumping into a pool, but most people don’t have one of their own. The free website Places 2 Swim is the simplest way I’ve found to local public pools nearby. The site asks for your location and shows you public facilities that are open year round. The site, which is actively curated, includes information about each pool including size, diving options, and price. There’s also a phone number for every pool, making it easy to call someone with questions.

Credit: Justin Pot

That works for public pools, but what if you want something a bit more private, or to throw a pool party? In that case, you should check out Swimply, a website where pool owners make a little bit of extra money by letting others rent their pool for a few hours. The prices, and the quality of the pools, varies a lot, but it’s invariably cheaper than putting a pool into your own backyard. Just make sure you review the listing details and reviews carefully before booking.

Best apps and sites for wandering the city

Credit: Justin Pot

Not everyone wants to leave civilization during the summer—that doesn’t mean you can’t spend some time outside. I love a good urban wandering with friends, but what if you’re not sure what’s worth checking out? There are a few apps that can give you some bearings. The website Whats-Near.me points out all buildings, parks, and other landmarks near you that have their own Wikipedia page. I’ve learned a lot about my neighborhood this way.

You could also check out services usually intended for travelers, like Trip Advisor or Atlas Obscura, to find nearby attractions you might otherwise ignore. The idea is to find some excuse to walk around. If you’re more of a game-motivated kind of person, there’s always Pokemon Go. Sure, the app’s heyday is long behind it, but it can still be a fun way to force yourself to do a little bit of exploring. Whatever it takes to get you out there, enjoying your summer.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

My summer cannot be “best” unless I spend a lot of time on beaches. I crave the time-has-stopped feeling of spending all day in a place where it’s impossible to do anything useful. A lifetime of hanging out on sand near water has taught me that it’s easier to achieve “beach zen” if you plan ahead and bring the right gear—the difference between a great day at the beach and sandy headache comes down to what you pack. Below is everything you need for the best beach day ever, from towels and shades to underwater scooters.

The best beach basics

I’m from a beach town, so I used to roll up to the sand with just a ratty towel—even a pair of flip-flops was extra baggage. There’s something to be said for minimalist beach-bum style, but these days, I like things to be more comfortable. I’m usually bringing the family too, and that requires stuff, so there are a few must-haves I always bring.

Towels and beach mats

Instead of showing up with a bleached out, threadbare towel from 2004, consider a microfiber towel. They’re more absorbent than regular towels, they dry faster, they’re lighter, and they’re super cheap. Less than $10 for a a generous ‎72 x 36 microfiber beach towel with your choice of bold beachy designs.

This picnic blanket with an attached strap is a higher-end option. It’s easy to carry, waterproof, and versatile.

If you’re staking out a lot of ground, nylon beach mats are a great option. I don’t love how they feel lying on them, but you can get a 10′ by 9′ beach mat that packs up small and weighs little, then put your (generously sun-blocked) toddler in the middle of it and watch them crawl around.

Sun shades

I like shade, but I hate beach umbrellas. They’re a bear to set up, and a sudden gust of wind can cause them to take flight, turning them into dangerous projectiles. There are better options.

I really like the Shibumi Shade. I was a little skeptical of whether this ultralight piece of fabric would float on the breeze as advertised, but I got one, and it works, no cap. If there’s no breeze on your beach (lucky), you can pick up an accessory that makes wind for you.

Personal sun protection

Sun hat: Big straw hats like this one from Quiksilver have been a staple among Southern California surfers since the 1960s and absolutely can’t be improved upon. Generous sun protection and a cool, locals only, look.

Sunglasses: I love my Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, even after wearing them regularly for over six months. They hover around $300, but they do a lot, including letting you capture video on the fly that looks like this.

Sunscreen: I always use Banana Boat sunscreen because it’s what they tend to have at the drug store, and my face has never burned off. But I’m not refined. If you want a sunscreen that’s actually good for your face, Marlowe’s 128 is niiiice.

Quiksilver Men’s Pierside Lifeguard Beach Sun Straw Hat

$20.00
at Amazon

$22.00
Save $2.00

$20.00
at Amazon

$22.00
Save $2.00

Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen

$14.99
at Amazon

$19.98
Save $4.99

$14.99
at Amazon

$19.98
Save $4.99

Ray-Ban Meta – Wayfarer Large glasses with Meta AI, Audio, Photo, Video Compatibility – Polarized Gradient Graphite Lens (Refurbished) – Matte Black

$263.00
at Best Buy

$263.00
at Best Buy

Coolers

I want to tell you about my dream cooler: The KoolMAX is a ridiculous, maximalist dream of a cooler. It can chill your drinks like any cooler, but it also has a built in 350W Bluetooth-compatible sound system, a guitar amplifier, and it’s karaoke-ready. These features won’t come in handy very often, but there may come a time when you need to start an instant beach party, and you’ll be ready.

If you’re only packing a few things and you don’t need loudspeaker, over-the-shoulder carried coolers like this Polarbox 1 Ice Chest have a retro appeal.

What to bring for fun in the water

With the basics settled, let’s talk about fun things you can do at the beach, starting with the thing that differentiates a beach from a pile of dirt: the water.

Electric hydrofoils and underwater scooters

Over the last few years, electric hydrofoils have taken over the waves off Southern California (at least the beaches for people with disposable income), and whenever I see one, I think, “Yeah, humanity has reached its peak.” I don’t know whether this Waydoo Flyer One is a great example of an electric hydrofoil, but please buy me one and I’ll let you know.

Waydoo Flyer ONE Plus eFoil

$5,399.00
at Amazon

$5,399.00
at Amazon

I’m not sure what the most fun thing you can do in water is, but snorkeling comes close, especially snorkeling with an underwater scooter. These things are amazing. They’re about the size of a soda bottle, and can pull you along with over 14 pounds of thrust. You can even clip one on a paddle board and use it like a little outboard engine.

For less adrenaline-packed water fun, paddleboards, many say, are awesome. I don’t love them personally—too much work—but hey, that’s just me. They’ve come down in price so much lately that you can get a nice inflatable paddle board for a decent price.

Fun things don’t have to be expensive, though. The Surfer Dudes Wave Powered Mini-Surfer costs around $25, but it’s hours of fun for kids, as long as you’re at a beach with any kind of waves. You can throw it into the surf at random and it will catch a wave, or you can get skillful with it and try to catch one just as it breaks, like real surfers.

What to bring for fun in the sand

I might say doing nothing on the sand is the personal goal, but you don’t want absolutely nothing to do. So pack these “almost nothing” things to do:

An e-reader

I used to always bring a book to the beach. Now I pack a Kindle Paperwhite. Kindles are better than books in every way. They can stay under the lake for an hour and still work (try that with a copy of War and Peace). Unlike antique paper books, Kindles are Bluetooth-compatible for when you decide you’d rather listen to a podcast anyway. (The Kindle will be OK if you drop it in fresh water, but salt and sand is a different story, so get a screen protector.)

A camera

It’s not a day at the beach if you don’t have a record of it, right? So bring a camera (unless there’s one in your sunglasses) I love my GoPro. This small camera is rugged as hell, fully waterproof, mounts onto literally anything, and has almost no learning curve. Check out this glowing GoPro Hero 13 review for a lot more detail.

GoPro HERO12 Black Creator Edition Bundle

$399.00
at Amazon

$399.00
at Amazon

A deck of cards

Little is more beach-zen than breaking out the cards and playing spades on the beach. I like these waterproof playing cards from Hoyle. They’re practically indestructible, so you can play Bridge while whitewater rafting.

A guitar

Bringing a guitar to the beach is like wearing sunglasses at night. Most people shouldn’t do it, but some people should always do it. “The beach will damage my delicate guitar!” you might be saying. Yeah, that’s why you need a carbon fiber guitar, like this Klos Deluxe acoustic/electric. They can plug right into your cooler, and they’re practically indestructible—a feature that will come in handy if you’re playing “Wonderwall” through a cooler.

A Bluetooth speaker

If you like a little music at the beach, but a cooler-based sound system is a bit much for your personal style, pick up one of these beach-ready SoundLink Flex speakers from Bose. They’re IP67 waterproof, so they can be fully immersed in water with no ill effects, and they’re designed to resist outdoor threats like dust, sand, and UV light.

An extra charger

You will be the hero of the beach if you can whip out a charger when someone’s phone dies. I like this Poseidon Nano Charger. It’s small, but packs eight hours of go-juice. Plus, it’s water-resistant, and it holds a charge for up to two years. 

Speaking of phones, they overheat at the beach—but not if you pack them in a thermal phone case. Not only do they reflect sunlight and heat in the summer, they protect your phone from extreme cold in the winter too. 

A personal air conditioner

I have heard rumors that there are people who don’t like the beach, who don’t see the fun of doing nothing all day in the hot sun. Those people need to hang a personal air conditioners around their necks. It will keep them cool until they can convince everyone else it’s time to leave.

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Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible (preferably somewhere with good air conditioning), we’ve got you covered, because the best summer doesn’t just happen. You have to make it happen.

Picture this scene: It’s a summer backyard party. The weather’s perfect and everyone showed up. Even Gary from IT made it, rocking a Hawaiian shirt. The blender’s full of rum and sugar water, tiki torches flicker in the breeze, and a full moon glows over the lawn. You cue up some old-school Chaka Khan, back when she was funky, but the music that oozes out of the Bluetooth speaker you got for free at a trade show is weak. Tinny. Wind-compromised. It sounds like a party dying. Do not let this happen to you. 

Whether you’re throwing a red cup bash, relaxing at the beach, or just hanging out with the kids by the pool, you need decent audio to have a decent life: A good outdoor sound system doesn’t just make music louder—it sets the vibe and saves the day. So here’s a guide to building the perfect outdoor sound setup for summer.

How good can outdoor sound get?

Outdoors, even flawlessly reproduced audio loses quality with wind, landscape, and other hard-to-control acoustic challenges, so speaker placement, volume, and bass response matter more than expensive gear. Good outdoor sounds isn’t about tube amps, turntables, and acoustic baffles hanging from the trees. Instead, think Bluetooth-based, battery-powered outdoor speakers you can control from your phone, then toss into the trunk and take to the beach.

What to consider when buying outdoor bluetooth speakers

• Weather resistance and ruggedness: Can it handle an accidental splash or a surprise summer shower?

• Sound quality: Balanced audio with clear highs, decent mids, and bass that kicks. At least a little. 

• Battery life: A speaker that dies before the second margarita doesn’t make the scene. 

• Portability: Can you carry it solo and put it in the trunk?

• Output (volume): It is enough sound for your backyard?

• Multi-speaker sync: We’re getting into the high end here, but some speakers can pair together to spread sound wider. It makes a difference. 

• Bluetooth range: You want to DJ from your phone without hanging around the speaker.

It’s a lot, but you can find something in just any price range that checks all these boxes (or most of them, anyway).

Best overall outdoor bluetooth speaker: JBL PartyBox Stage 320

JBL PartyBox Stage 320 – Portable Party Speaker with Telescopic Handle & Wide, Sturdy Wheels, Powerful Pro Sound, Futuristic lightshow, Up to 18 Hours of Play time, Splash Proof (Black)

$549.99
at Best Buy

$599.99
Save $50.00

$549.99
at Best Buy

$599.99
Save $50.00

Cutting to the chase, my pick for best Bluetooth speaker overall is the JBL PartyBox Stage 320. It offers 240 watts of output power outputting up to 100 decibels, a microphone support for karaoke, a guitar input, and a light show. It’s a true party-in-a-box. Check out Lifehacker’s full review for more details.

Below are some other options.

The best outdoor Bluetooth speakers for under $100

• Anker Soundcore Motion+: This speaker is small but powerful enough for intimate outdoor gatherings; it’s waterproof, dust-proof, and you can control the EQ from an app. Not too shabby for $80.

• JBL Clip 4: This speaker is rugged. It fits in the palm of your hand, costs less than $40, and sounds great (if you don’t mind a little lack of low end). Best of all, the Clip’s built-in carabiner lets you attach it to bike handlebars, trees, or anything else.

• Ultimate Ears Boom 3: This waterproof and dust-proof speaker sounds amazing given its small size, and it can be synced with another Boom 3 for stereo sound—or pair it with 148 more Booms if you want.

The best outdoor Bluetooth speakers for $100-300

Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker, Cream

$298.79
at Amazon

$298.79
at Amazon

• it.innovative technology Outdoor Rock Speakers: If you really like rock music, these stereo bluetooth speakers are for you. Because they look like rocks. They’re also solar powered and can be left outside all year.

• Sonos Roam 2: For smaller speakers, Sonos Roam 2’s sound great, and of course they’re compatible with other Sonos equipment.

• Marshall Middleton Portable Bluetooth Speaker: These might be the coolest looking Bluetooth speakers out there, and the sound lives up to the Marshall name.

The best outdoor Bluetooth speakers for $300–$1,000

• Sonos Move 2: This Bluetooth speaker features dual tweeters for almost full-stereo sound in one speaker. Of course, it integrates with the rest of your Sonos system. PCMag rated the Sonos Move 2 “excellent.”

• Soundboks Go: With a maximum output of 121db and 10 hours of continuous-play battery life, Soundboks Go is a serious speaker. Check out Lifehacker’s review to go more in-depth.

• Brane X: If you like the low-end, this bass-heavy portable smart speaker will blow you away. It features the best bass of any wifi speaker. Check out our full review here.

• Sony ULT Tower 10 Bluetooth Karaoke Party Speaker: It’s not portable, but this tower-of-power will rattle your windows with its 1,000W output. It’s got a karaoke mic, light show, and a guitar input.

Other outdoor music extras

Summer is not a competition, but the little details are how you win it, so consider going a little overboard with these tips:

• Use a higher-quality streaming service: If you’re just vibing outdoors, paying a little extra to stream lossless FLACs from Tidal probably doesn’t matter, but it definitely won’t hurt.

• Multi-speaker pairing: All of the “more than $100” Bluetooth speakers above either are already a pair of speakers (Bose, it.innovations) or can be paired up with another speaker for true stereo. This makes a huge difference.

• Take your playlist offline: To ensure the tunes don’t end because of internet issues, save your playlist to your phone or laptop before the party.

• Power tip: If things are going to go late, consider a portable power station like the Ecoflow 2 or the Jackery Explorer 300.

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Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

There are two kinds of people: outdoor folks, who see summer as a time to hike, grill, tan, and experience “the world,” and indoor folks, who would rather keep the AC and the TV cranked up all the way until September rolls in. If you’re the type who thinks summer is best when experienced through a window, you can still have an amazing season. With a few tweaks to your home decor, some indoor-friendly activities, and some comfort-enhancing gear, your summer can pass by blissfully (or at least tolerably).

Prepare your home for summer

If you’re going to be spending the season inside, make your inside as summery as possible: Start by cleaning and servicing your air conditioner. This summer is likely to be global-warming hot, so keeping your air conditioner performing at peak efficiency is vital to having a tolerable home. That starts with cleaning. You should clean your AC at least once a year; why not this weekend? Look up the owner’s manual and get going. If you have central air, call a professional.

If you don’t have an air conditioner, our sister site, PC Mag, recently posted a guide to the best smart air conditioners of 2025, so if you’re shopping, start there.

GE Profile Clearview PHNT10 Smart Air Conditioner

$469.00
at Amazon

$499.00
Save $30.00

$469.00
at Amazon

$499.00
Save $30.00

Dreo Portable Smart Air Conditioner AC516S

$449.98
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $50.01

$449.98
at Amazon

$499.99
Save $50.01

Midea Duo Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner

$455.97
at Amazon

$579.99
Save $124.02

$455.97
at Amazon

$579.99
Save $124.02

Hisense 10000-BTU Window AC Inverter WiFi (AW1023TW1W)

$449.00
at Lowe’s

$449.00
at Lowe’s

Midea 8,000BTU U-shaped Air Conditioner

$363.05
at Amazon

$363.05
at Amazon

Windmill AC

$439.99
at Amazon

$439.99
at Amazon

Create air flow: Air conditioning is king, but that doesn’t mean you should hermetically seal your place until September. Open the windows and shades strategically during cooler summer mornings and evenings. Stick a fan in an upper window to suck the hot air out, while letting another fan circulate air inside. Nothing makes it feel like summer more than warm breezes blowing through.

Declutter: The beginning of summer is the perfect time to get rid of things you don’t need anymore. So toss, donate, and store your junk and give yourself a clean summer slate. If you find it hard to organize and declutter, Lifehacker’s decluttering expert Lindsey Ellefson has laid out a ton of strategies to make it easier, so I won’t belabor the point—but whether you use the Marie Kondo’s famous KonMari method or the more indie rock ski-slope technique, it’s the perfect time to get rid yourself of Winter-You’s possessions so Summer-You can shine.

Deep cleaning: Now that’s there’s less stuff, it’s easier to get in there and give everything a deep clean. A clean house is a necessary foundation for enjoying everything else about your indoor summer, so don’t just straighten up—get in there and really do it. Clean the baseboards. Clean the oven. Be a civilized person. It’s good for your mental health to have a clean place, and getting rid of dust, mold, and allergens is good for your physical health too. Check out our in-depth guide to spring cleaning for everything you could ever need to know about sprucing up your place.

Decorating tips for bringing a summertime vibe indoors 

Now that your house is decluttered, cooled-off, and clean, let’s talk about how to make it look, feel, and smell summery, because even if you’re suspicious of the whole “going outside” part of summer, the power of the season’s breezy vibe can’t be denied.

Home Brilliant Yellow Throw Pillow Covers 18×18 Set of 2 Super Soft Couch Pillow Covers Decorative Striped Corduroy Mustard Throw Pillows for Couch Bed Fall, 18 x 18 inch, Sunflower Yellow

$13.99
at Amazon

$13.99
at Amazon

Meekio Set of 2 Seafoam Green Pillow Covers 18 x 18 Inch Summer Beach Decorative Throw Pillow Covers Linen Cushion Covers for Sofa Couch Décor

$13.99
at Amazon

$13.99
at Amazon

KOUFALL Aqua Blackout Curtains for Beach Room Decor,Ocean Themed Summer Coastal Curtains for Living Room Bedroom Window,84 Inch Length 2 Panels Grommet,Seafoam Blue Mint Green

$29.99
at Amazon

$31.99
Save $2.00

$29.99
at Amazon

$31.99
Save $2.00

PrinceDeco Primitive Textured Linen 100% Blackout Curtains for Bedroom/Living Room Blackout Curtains 84 Inches Long, Energy Saving Window Treatment Curtains with White Liner (2 Panels, Natural)

$29.94
at Amazon

$38.49
Save $8.55

$29.94
at Amazon

$38.49
Save $8.55

Feelyou Beach Duvet Cover Set King Size Summer Sea Ocean Bedding Set Hawaiian Tropical Palm Tree Nature Comforter Cover Microfiber with 2 Pillow Shams,Zipper, 3D Print Soft Sunset 3 Pieces

$40.84
at Amazon

$40.84
at Amazon

Make your house smell like summer: Every season has a scent, so I asked perfumer Sarah Horowitz of Sarah Horowitz Parfums for some expert tips on making your house smell like summer. According to Horowitz, you can’t beat a scented candle. “Look for notes like sea salt, tropical florals or fruits, or subtle coconut to bring the sun-kissed seaside straight to your space,” she suggests.

Another trick: Lightly spritz your favorite summer fragrance onto a cool light bulb before turning it on. “The warmth will gently diffuse the scent throughout the room,” Horowitz said.

Fresh flowers are another simple way to set the mood. “I love to weave sprigs of fresh mint into a bouquet—it adds a crisp, unexpected note that feels instantly refreshing. Plus, they look gorgeous,” Horowitz said.

Summer decor: You can create a summertime feeling in your home without a complete overhaul or surrendering to cheesy “life’s a beach”-style decor. A few simple swaps—adding bright new throw pillows, switching out your drapes, or swapping your heavy duvet for something lighter—could turn your apartment into a Tahitian bungalow. (Maybe that’s overstating it a bit.)

Bold patterns and sun-washed colors like ocean blue, jungle green, or golden yellow, are summer classics. But if you’re after something calming, go with airy linen fabrics and soft neutral tones for a breezy, upscale vibe. Or you can just go overboard and make it as ridiculous as possible; it’s your summer.

Houseplants: Houseplants produce oxygen, improve your mood, and give your place an outdoorsy vibe, like a tiny organic oasis in your living room. You can’t go wrong with summer classics like birds of paradise or spider plants—both of which are relatively easy to care for. If you want a hardier, even lower maintenance plant, you could stick with hard-to-kill succulents or flowering cacti, and still project a summer vibe. Plant them in colorful pots or by a sunny window for instant seasonal charm.

Indoor summer entertainment guide

Being an indoor person doesn’t (necessarily) mean being antisocial. Interacting with others is important even if you stay indoors. You have to get your friends to come to you, of course, but now that you have a clean, breezy house with a summer look and smell, you might find your outdoorsy friends are only too happy to spend a low-key summer Saturday in an air conditioned house watching Annette Funicello movies and drinking margaritas. Here are some ideas:

Movie night: Lifehacker’s Ross Johnson has compiled a list of the ultimate summer movies. Watching any one of these movies with good friends is a perfect hot August night.

Board games: For a Summer board game night, you can’t go wrong with easy-to-play classics like Uno, Sorry, or Jackbox Games. But if you are feeling more ambitious, check out Daggerheart, a new table-top RPG that plays like Dungeons and Dragons with less math.

Doing nothing: Themed parties and activities are great, but so is not doing anything with people you like. Doing nothing can be the best thing about summer, so invite people over to do as little as possible. Pick a summer Spotify list and sit around and scroll Instagram or trash talk about friends who didn’t show up. No pressure is what summer is about: But make sure you have refreshing drinks.

Summer cocktails: Whether you’re mixing drinks or pouring from a pitcher, these beverages bring the summer:

• The classic margarita: The margarita is the drink most people associate with summer. It stands up to endless variations, but the simple original is best.

• Corona with lime: It’s time we all admit that IPAs taste terrible. A light, refreshing Mexican pilsner like Corona with a wedge of lime in the bottle tastes great, and is quintessentially summer.

• The blue Hawaiian: The blue Hawaiian looks ridiculous, but if it’s mixed correctly it’s a kitschy classic instead of a syrupy gross-out.

• The cucumber Collins: A mixture of gin, seltzer, cucumber, lime, and mint, the cucumber Collins is a light, refreshing, sophisticated summer tipple.

• Any cocktail made by the pitcher: What is summer if not the perfect time to mix up 10 drinks at once and share the pitcher until everyone is too sloppy to fill it up again?

OpenAI has appealed a court ruling from last month that forces it to retain ChatGPT data indefinitely as part of a copyright violation case brought by The New York Times in 2023. CEO Sam Altman said in a tweet on X that the judge’s decision “compromises our users’ privacy” and “sets a bad precedent.” 

In May, federal judge Ona T. Wang ordered OpenAI to preserve and segregate all ChatGPT output log data that would otherwise be deleted due to a user request. She said that the ruling was justified because the volume of deleted conversations is “significant.” The directive notes that the judge asked OpenAI if there was a way to anonymize the data to address users’ privacy concerns. 

The New York Times sought the order so that it can accurately track how often OpenAI violates its IP, including instances when users requested deletion of chats. A federal judge allowed the original case to proceed, agreeing with the NYT‘s argument that OpenAI and Microsoft‘s tech had induced users to plagiarize its materials. 

In a FAQ on its site, OpenAI painted the order as a privacy issue without addressing the millions of alleged copyright violations. “This fundamentally conflicts with the privacy commitments we have made to our users,” the company wrote. “It abandons long-standing privacy norms and weakens privacy protections.” OpenAI noted that the order “does not impact ChatGPT Enterprise or ChatGPT Edu customers.”

The NYT and other AI copyright cases are still ongoing, as courts have not yet decided whether OpenAI, Google and other companies infringed copyrights on a massive scale by scraping material from the internet. The tech companies have argued that training is protected by “fair use” copyright law and that the lawsuits threaten the AI industry. Creators of that content, in turn, argue that AI harms their own livelihoods by stealing and reproducing works with little to no compensation. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-appeals-court-order-forcing-it-to-preserve-all-chatgpt-data-120032364.html?src=rss

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Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

There’s a moment on some lazy summer evenings that practically demands a movie. It’s too dark to keep playing corn hole, but too early to call it, and someone says, “We should watch something.” Suddenly, you’re wishing drive-ins were still around, because a movie under the stars sounds perfect. 

Luckily, you can recreate that nighttime movie vibe in your backyard, and do it better than your grandparents did it in 1967. Whether you’re hosting the whole block or just hanging with the family, below is everything you need to turn your lawn into a legit backyard theater that will make you the envy of the cul-de-sac.

Choosing a projector for a backyard movie theater

The most obvious solution to screening movies outside is to haul your TV to the backyard and set it up, but what are you, a caveman? You can avoid the logistical problems of extension cords, finding stable surfaces, and the risk of ruining your gear with either a dedicated outdoor TV or a projector.

If you plan to watch TV outside a lot, a set like the Samsung Terrace receives excellent reviews. But it’s several thousand dollars, so a projector is a better option for us mere mortals. Not only is it less expensive than a high-end set, there’s an authenticity that comes with projecting onto an actual screen. What better way is there to watch Jaws?

Our top overall top pick for outdoor projector: The XGIMI MoGo Pro. If you’re a get-to-the-point kind of person, Lifehacker’s resident AV expert, Daniel Oropeza, has been testing a ton of outdoor projectors, and his top choice is the XGIMI MoGo Pro. It’s definitely worth it to add the stand/powerbase to make it totally cordless.

There are a lot of choices out there, though, and some projectors are better than others for some situations and preferences. Here are some things to think about when choosing the right one for you:

• Resolution: If you’re a true cinephile, and you need high resolution, even on casual movie night, consider this Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE. It delivers full 4K resolution, just like it says on the tin.  

• Brightness: The bigger the screen, the brighter the projector needs to be. You also need to take the ambient light into account—the more ambient light, the more brightness you need. Luckily, even a budget-friendly projector like this BenQ GV30 projector will do a decent enough job for movie night, and they’re extremely light and portable, too.

• Tight space: If you don’t have a huge backyard, but you still want to project a big image, you can take a look at projectors with short throw lens, like this Optoma GT780.

• Cords: You can avoid the hassle of running extension cords outside with a cordless projector, like this Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector.

Our sister site PCMag recently took a deep dive into outdoor projectors and named the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 as the best overall, so that’s an excellent place to start (or end) your research.

Samsung Terrace

$3,044.80
at Amazon

$3,044.80
at Amazon

BenQ GV30

$730.00
at Amazon

$730.00
at Amazon

Optoma GT780 Short Throw Projector for Gaming & Movies

$998.00
at Amazon

$998.00
at Amazon

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12

$699.99
at Amazon

$999.99
Save $300.00

$699.99
at Amazon

$999.99
Save $300.00

Choosing the right screen for your backyard theater

Throwing video onto the wall of your house or garage might work, but only if the wall is white and not textured. Any imperfection will throw distracting shadows. Stucco is a definite no-go. A hung-up bedsheet could work in a pinch, if it’s wrinkle-free and there’s no breeze to ripple your movie. But a better solution is a dedicated screen. Here are a couple suggestions:

• The go-big option: This 16-foot diagonal inflatable screen is a hit among Amazon’s users, and it’s absolutely huge.

• A more modest pick: Lifehacker’s Daniel Oropeza swears by the 120-inch Manual Pull Down Projector Screen: “It’s cheap and it works great in Atlanta’s humidity,” he told me. (We talk about movie screens a lot.)

16ft Inflatable Movie Screen

$98.99
at Amazon

$149.99
Save $51.00

$98.99
at Amazon

$149.99
Save $51.00

Choosing a media player for your outdoor theater

Most projectors designed for home use, even on the budget side, are smart devices that stream out-of-the-box, so you won’t have to drag your Blu-ray player outside. But if your projector doesn’t do that, plug in a USB-based streamer like a Roku Streaming Stick or an Amazon Fire TV Stick. Boom: problem solved.

Roku Express 4K+ 2021 | Streaming Media Player HD/4K/HDR with Smooth Wireless Streaming and Roku Voice Remote with TV Controls, Includes Premium HDMI Cable, Black (Renewed)

$25.99
at Amazon

$27.25
Save $1.26

$25.99
at Amazon

$27.25
Save $1.26

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote

$52.99
at Best Buy

$54.99
Save $2.00

$52.99
at Best Buy

$54.99
Save $2.00

Choosing a sound system for your outdoor movie theater

Many projectors feature onboard speakers, but these are often tinny and sad. Since sound is half of the experience of watching a movie, you’ll probably want something better. Most people will want to go the Bluetooth speaker route. I’ve already written a guide to great outdoor speaker setups, and the same rules apply to movies as music.  But if you want to get more serious, something like this Sonance Patio Series 4.1 Speaker System can live in your yard permanently and provide background music all year, as well as full surround sound for movie night.

Outdoor movie theater extras that you might not have thought of

Extension cords: The amount of cords that will need to run into your backyard depends entirely on how your yard is wired and what gear you’re using, but it can’t hurt to stock up on a long extension cord or two so you won’t be running to Staples on movie night.

Cord cover mat: Speaking of cords, consider a cord cover mat to make sure any wiring is covered so guests don’t trip.

Wifi extender: Before movie night, check if your wifi actually reaches your backyard. If not, consider a wifi extender.

Blankets: Remember to keep a supply of blankets on hand in case things get chilly.

What movies should you show at your outdoor movie night?

The movie you choose is really the most important thing about your outdoor movie night. Conventional wisdom says to go for classics with good vibes: Back to the Future, The Goonies, Raiders of the Lost Ark. But it’s your movie night, so screen some Bergman if you want. For a ton of great movie ideas, check out Lifehacker cinephile Ross Johnson’s list of the hottest movies ever for summer.

Ideas for making your home movie night extra special

There are lots of ways you can make your best-summer-ever movie night an occasion instead of just “watching movies outside.” Here are a few ideas:

• Themed night: Pick a lane and stick to it: 1980s flicks, superhero night, rom-com marathon—whatever suits your crowd. 

• Create a program: Take some inspiration from the way movie houses did it in the past and show some related trailers, drive-in movie interstitials, or even a newsreel before the main feature. You can find compilations of all of these on YouTube.

• Trivia: Everyone likes a trivia contest. You can make your own group trivia contests at Kahoot that can be shown on your backyard screen, so make one related to the genre you’re showing.

With just a few pieces of gear and a little planning, you can bring back the magic of the drive-in—without leaving your yard.

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Welcome to “Best Summer Ever,” your guide to getting the most out of the sunny season. Whether your idea of a perfect summer is embarking on epic adventures or blissfully doing as little as possible, we’ve got you covered. Because the best summer doesn’t just happen—you have to make it happen.

If your idea of “going camping” involves a solo trek far off the beaten path to get in touch with primal survival, I’ll see you when you get home. My camping vibe is the opposite of “roughing it.” (Life is rough enough.) I love the outdoors, but I don’t like to suffer, so I’ve put together this gear guide to making your next camping trip as comfortable as possible.

I recently took a comfort-focused camping trip and tested all the products recommended below, and it was a game-changer: I’m usually over camping after a couple of days, but with this gear, I could happily spend much more time in the woods.

The most essential camping gear

Credit: Stephen Johnson

How to choose the right tent for your camping trip

God bless backpackers and adventurers, but I have no interest in spending any time in survival-style tents like this OneTigris Backwoods Bushcraft Shelter. I like my tents as large as possible, and after testing out a 12′ Teton Sports Canvas tent, I’m never going back to cramped nylon. This thing is like a portable hotel room—it sleeps 10 people. A tent this size is obviously too heavy for backpacking, but if you’re loading it in the car, or going to a festival or something, I highly recommend it.

While it’s not hard to set up a large tent like the Teton, it’s fairly time consuming—there are a lot of pegs to hammer into the ground. If you want ease-of-construction, check out this Gazelle T4. We timed the set-up, and it took 90 seconds to go from bag to finished tent, and another five minutes to hammer in a few pegs. It’s a tall tent, too, so no hunching over.

Another excellent choice: this Skydome Tent from Coleman (the portable stove people). It sets up easily, is six feet tall at its highest point, and is $250 right now. And it’s designed to block out 90% of light, so you can sleep in or take a nap in the middle of the day.

The best pads, cots, and air mattresses for camping

Credit: Stephen Johnson

I hate being uncomfortable when I sleep. I hate air mattresses. I need a frame and some support, so I was psyched to test out this Teton cot. Paired with a foam sleeping pad, it’s nearly as comfortable as my actual bed, and the coldness from the ground doesn’t seep into your bones like it would with an air mattress. No notes. My camping companion, David, swears by the Exped MegaMat. It’s pricey, but according to David, it’s ridiculously comfortable, even when laid directly on the floor of your tent.

The best sleeping bag for camping

… is no sleeping bag. For car-camping, since and weight and space don’t matter, I say forget the sleeping bag altogether. They’re constricting, claustrophobic, and often too hot for summertime camping, so I just bring some old blankets from home. I’d rather have layers of blankets so I can control the temperature and avoid feeling locked in.

The best cooking gear for camping

The idea of cooking over a fire pales in comparison to actually doing it, so pack a camp stove. This UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit and Grill is a very nice one. I have a battered old Coleman campstove like this one that suits all my needs, but I tested out this Jetboil Flash Camping Stove, and the thing boils water in less than two minutes. Amazing.

The best bug repellents for camping

Throw away your citronella candles and those horrible coil things. All you need for full mosquito protection is a Thermacell diffuser. It’s the final word on keeping mosquitos away. As for personal bug protection, if you want a DEET-based insect spray alternative, try the Tongo brand insect repellent—I tested it and highly recommend it. Not only did it keep all bugs off my skin, the scents of green tea-mint and citrus-sandalwood both smell great.

Absolute camping must-have: a first aid kit

Make sure you bring a first aid kit. You don’t need anything fancy; this one, for instance, is very lightweight, waterproof, and features hospital-grade first aid treatments for cuts, scrapes, fractures, headaches, and more.

Almost essential camping gear: trail shoes, cleansing spray, and more

The above tents, stoves, and beds are all you need for basic survival, but who wants to settle for basic? The below “extras” can be omitted from your trip, but only if you’re a bare-bones kind of person.

• Body cleansing spray: Just because you’re camping, doesn’t mean you have to be gross. I really like Pristine’s body cleansing spray. It feels amazing going on, and the Oakmoss and Aloe scent is tops. The company also makes toilet paper spray, which also works great—even if the sharks on Shark Tank didn’t see it that way.

• Trail shoes: An old pair of Converse are perfectly acceptable for car-camping, but if you’re doing any hiking, consider trail shoes, like these from Hoka, aim for the sweet spot between heavy hiking boots and running shoes. They’re a great solution for more casual hiking.

• An e-bike: If you have a rack, throw a Lectric Peak X 2 e-bike on the back of the SUV so you can get around the campground in style, or even do a little all-terrain riding. Read my full review here.

Non-essential, ridiculously luxurious camping gear

Credit: Stephen Johnson

So you’ve straightened out the basic survival, and you’ve got a way to clean and feed yourself. But is that enough? Don’t you want to take your camping trip to a new level of comfort? If so, the gear below will turn your camping trip into a glamping trip.

• Camping espresso maker: Just because you’re outside, doesn’t mean your coffee should suck. We tested out a Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker, and waking up to high-end coffee is seriously the best. Maybe this should be listed under “essential gear.”

• An air conditioner/heater: Being able to control the temperature inside your tent is game-changing. This Ecoflow Wave 3 air conditioner/heater, paired with the add-on battery, kept my tent chilly during the day, and comfy warm at night, and my tent is huge.

• Karaoke machine: If you want camping entertainment, you can’t do better than camping karaoke! The Ikarao Break X2 karaoke machine is portable, with enough battery power to keep campers caterwauling into the campground’s quiet hours. Check out my full review here.

• Bass guitar and drum machines: Breaking out an acoustic guitar and singing “Kumbaya” is for hippies. Instead, turn your local KOA into Burning Man by plugging a Roland AIRA T-8 Beat Machine, a Yamaha FGDP-50 finger drums, and a Fender bass into your karaoke machine, and make 1990s techno. (Seriously, do this. It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a camping trip.)

Camping gear you might not have even thought of

Credit: Stephen Johnson

• Fire-starting gear: My wife once gave me a Bear Grylls Fire Starter with a ferrocerium rod, SOS instruction, and a built-in emergency whistle. The thought was nice, but it’s useless. Just bring a lighter.

• Welding gloves: A pair of welding gloves are an essential part of my camping pack, because being able to manually rearrange hot logs leads to optimal campfires.

• Flashlight gloves: What can I say? I like gloves. These LED-powered gloves are better than a flashlight, because you don’t have to hold them. You’ll find them useful at home too, for all kinds of low-light, detail-oriented work. 

• Headlamp: Like LED gloves, headlamps are better than flashlights because they let you keep your hands free.

• Booze: It’s a taste thing, but my favorite camping tipple is Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock & Rye, a delicious mix of rye whiskey, rock candy, oranges, and honey that’s strong enough to matter but mellow too.

• Toilet paper tablets: These individually packaged, compact little “pills” contain disposable personal towels for all your business; throw some in the glovebox in case they didn’t refill the TP at the campground. 

• Guyline cord adjusters: Throw some cord adjusters in with the tent stakes. Whether you’re setting up a tent or a hammock, cord adjusters will take the place of knots. They’re the kind of thing you never knew you always needed.  

So this summer, if you see someone rolling up to the campsite on an e-bike, with espresso in hand, blaring techno, come say hi. I’ll be the one sleeping like a baby in a climate-controlled circus tent.