At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely easy to install and set up Pan/tilt allows camera to monitor a wide area Users can choose between local and cloud storage or use both Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home Cons Night vision is only effective to ~25 feet Might be too large for some fixtures, so measure before buying QR Code on bulb is too small, making it hard to capture with a phone camera Not compatible with Apple HomeKit Secure Video Our Verdict The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is one of the easiest ways to add smart home security features to your home. Screw it into a light socket, connect it to the internet, and you’ve got a powerful pan/tilt camera to help protect your home. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lorex 2K Wi Fi Lightbulb Camera Retailer Price $54.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is a $69.99 pan/tilt security camera with an integrated, general-purpose, dimmable LED light source designed for homeowners who want a basic, no-hassle path to adding security cameras to their homes. That ease-of-use comes with a few tradeoffs; but if you’re looking for something simple that can get the job done, Lorex has you covered. If you install the Lorex 2k Wi Fi Lightbulbcam outdoors, it will need to be in a luminaire that offers some protection from the elements.Lorex Installation Actually, “installation” seems too complicated a word to describe setup for the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera. Pick a light fixture with a standard E26/E27 socket and screw in the unit just as you would with a standard lightbulb. Most users will want to use a ceiling fixture, but the Lorex app allows you to flip the camera lens’ orientation if you prefer to use a floor or table lamp. Note that the camera/bulb must be installed in a weather-protected luminaire if you install it outdoors (more on that in a bit). You’ll find plenty of similar lightbulb/camera combos, but none that carry the reputation and history of such an established brand as Lorex. Download the Lorex app for iOS or Android, turn on the light fixture, and scan the QR code on the unit to connect the app and set up a Wi-Fi connection for the unit. The QR code is incredibly small, so make sure you’ve got a plan (or at least a stepladder and a flashlight) before you start your scan. Once the install is complete, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera looks like a slightly overgrown lightbulb. Hardware You can flip the camera’s video stream if you install it upside down in something like a torch lamp. James Barber/Foundry The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera looks like a standard bulb at first glance, but this is a substantial device—measuring about 7 inches tall and more than 3 inches wide. The bottom half houses a 2K (2560 x1440 pixels) motorized pan/tilt camera that sweeps a full 360 degrees. Its stationary field of view is 107.9 degrees diagonal, 92.2 degrees horizontal, and 50 degrees vertical).  The light is a 400-lumen, 6,500?K LED ring, which is roughly the brightness of a 40-watt incandescent. That makes the unit suitable as an accent light or for porch mood lighting (although its color temperature is relatively cool for that purpose), but it’s not at all capable of lighting up a driveway. The bulb carries an IP65 weatherization rating. According to our IP code guide, that means it’s impervious to dust ingress and that it’s protected against water projected in jets from any direction. As I’ve already mentioned, the bulb’s LED element must be covered if installed outdoors. Put it a transparent sconce or some other type of indoor-outdoor fixture. The camera’s pan/tilt motor is remarkably quiet, and its entire housing is a sturdy plastic that should hold up to years of use. Video quality Lorex’s app has all the features you’d expect to find for a modern security camera. James Barber/Foundry Like many smart home devices we’ve tested, the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera is limited to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. Its 2K video, captured at 15 frames per second, features excellent image quality, with details that remain clear when using its digital zoom. Motion detection effectively identifies people and vehicles when they enter the camera’s field of view. Lorex doesn’t include a microSD card, but users can add their own (up to 256GB). Of course, limiting yourself to local storage means that you could lose access to your video in case of theft, accident, or natural disaster. As a backup, Lorex also offers a cloud subscription plan that gives users access to the last 30 days of live recordings for $2.99/month or $29.99 year. If you want to use multiple Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Cameras or pair them with Lorex video doorbells or security cameras, you’ll need to pay $9.99/month or $99.99 year for up to 10  devices in one location.  Night vision is color during low-light, shifting to IR black-and-white imaging when pitch dark. The capture works well up to 20 to 25?feet; past that, details fade. It’s usable, but not the enhanced-video quality familiar to viewers of TV crime shows. App and AI You’ll need to scan this tiny QR code when you set up the Lorex 2k Wi Fi Lightbulbcam in the Lorex app.James Barber/Foundry Lorex touts its use of on-device AI (i.e., video is processed locally, vs being first uploaded to the cloud) to differentiate between people and vehicles when motion is detected, at which point it will send an alert to your smartphone. The camera also supports two-way audio and there’s an onboard siren should you need to deter an unwelcome visitor from hanging around. The app has a clean and simple interface, but you can dig down to access myriad options. A privacy slider on the app’s home screen disables the camera if you’re going to be in field of view for extended time and don’t want anything recorded. You can invite shared users to install the app, after which they’ll gain access to all the features of your installed unit. Two-way audio lets you hold a conversation with anyone who approaches the camera, and there’s a menu of responses that lets a pre-recorded voice tell a visitor things like “We’ll be there shortly” or “Please leave the package at the door” when motion is detected. You can choose from five levels of motion sensitivity, and you can limit motion alerts to the presence of people or vehicles. You can also adjust the audio sensitivity of the camera’s onboard microphone by decibels. The built-in light is controlled by a slider that shows up on the home screen just above the video image. There’s also a snooze button on the home screen that offers a variety of time spans to pause notifications. If you’re an Apple Watch user, the Lorex app sends notifications to your wrist and users can pause them from the watch screen. Lighting The dimmable integrated LED light bar produces a maximum of 400 lumens of brightness, roughly equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. James Barber/Foundry Think of the light fixture as an accessory for the camera more than a traditional light bulb. Lorex designed the light primarily to optimize the camera’s ability to capture video. The unit’s 400-lumen limit keeps it from being an effective primary light source in a basement or dark hallway. If you’re using it indoors, you’ll want lamps or other overhead lighting sources in the room for everyday use. While it’s an effective light source for nighttime video capture outdoors, don’t compare this product to such floodlight/camera combos as the Ring Floodlight Cam Pro (2,000 lumens), the Eufy Floodlight Cam E40 (also 2,000 lumens), or even the Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100 (1,200 lumens). Understand its limitations—as well as its benefits, given that each of those three devices must be hardwired to your home’s electrical infrastructure—and you’ll likely see past its limitations. There are plenty of low-cost, no-name 2K cameras that screw into a light fixture. Some of them even have light bulbs. A few even have a limited range of pan and tilt the Lorex. What you won’t get is the reputation and history of an established brand like Lorex, a concern that seems far more important to consider with home security systems than, say, a portable Bluetooth speaker. The pan/tilt camera has a privacy mode that covers its lens.James Barber/Foundry That feature also makes the Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera a compelling option for renters. There’s no drilling or screws involved, and no extras cables. Unscrew the unit when you move and be set up at your next address in a matter of minutes. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Should you buy a Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera? The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi Lightbulb Camera adds a security system to the kind of light fixture that everyone already has at their home. A simple swap can add with high-end smart surveillance, at least somewhat discreetly camouflaged inside a bulb. Image quality is above average, and features like local storage, voice control, and an on-demand lens cover for privacy demonstrate thoughtful design. Some users will be less impressed with its other performance metrics. The brightness of its onboard LED lamp will be the biggest sticking point for many, and the camera’s night vision fades with distance. Outdoor installations are limited to luminaires that offer some protection to the camera. Finally, setup can be a mild nuisance due to the tiny QR code on its base. Overall, however, this unit is a winner. You get a rotating, talking security camera that screws in like a light bulb for less than $70. There’s no easier way to get into smart home security. Read...

Last week, Microsoft released a new optional patch for Windows 11 called update KB5060829. Since then, users have been reporting that the update is causing problems with the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut. According to Windows Latest, the issues don’t just stop at the popular productivity shortcut either. Other issues include mouse cursor lag, screen resolution issues, and difficulties adjusting volume. KB5060829 is a preview update, which means it’s optional to install and allows you to try out new features and improvements ahead of the general release. However, preview updates can have problems like this, so you shouldn’t blindly install them on mission-critical PCs. The update is supposed to be rolled out to all users in two weeks, so hopefully Microsoft fixes these issues in time. Until then, you should hold off on installing update KB5060829 to avoid these issues. Meanwhile, if you’re affected, try rolling back the problematic update. Read...

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Tonga`s Salote Adi Lopaukamea Sisifa was confirmed as president at the 10th Oceania Netball annual general meeting in Nuku`alofa on Thursday. Read...

Lord Hermer told the BBC that politicians using the phrase needed to think about the `dangers` they were posing to Britain`s `essential institutions`. Read...

A few months ago, I kicked off an experiment to replace the Apple TV in my living room with a cheap mini PC, and I’m ashamed to report it hasn’t gone well. The fault lies entirely with me, because after picking up a Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC and writing that story, I never got around to solving a fundamental remote-control problem. I didn’t want a full-sized keyboard and mouse on my coffee table, but I kept waffling on what to use instead. In the meantime I drifted back to my old streaming setup for the convenience. But during a recent attempt to watch Mr. Robot on Tubi, in which a single episode was broken up by a half-dozen commercial breaks, I knew I had to take this experiment more seriously. Being able to skip those ads was one of my main reasons for bringing a mini PC into the living room, and I needed a proper remote control to make it all work. I think I’ve finally found the answer. The weird world of PC mini remotes Search on Amazon for “PC remote,” and you’ll find options in all shapes and sizes, from air mouses with gyroscopic controls to full-sized keyboard/trackpad combos that sit on your lap. But I didn’t want anything too bulky, and waving a remote at the TV to control it doesn’t sound very relaxing. Jared Newman / Foundry Ultimately, I settled on a $32 mini remote from a brand called Fosmon. It has a little trackpad on the right-hand side, and mouse buttons along its top edges. The idea is to grip it in both hands like a game controller, moving the cursor with your right thumb and clicking with your index fingers. (You can also tap the trackpad to click or use the additional mouse buttons at the bottom edge.) Compared to a standard streaming remote, the Fosmon remote is a lot thinner and only a little taller, so it doesn’t look out of place in the living room. It uses Bluetooth to connect wirelessly with the PC, and it has a USB-C port to charge its built-in battery. As for the keyboard, it’s reminiscent of the landscape keys on old Android phones, such as the Motorola Droid. I wouldn’t want to write a lengthy email on it, but it’s a huge step up from the on-screen keyboards you must deal with on smart TVs and streaming players. The arrow keys beneath the trackpad are also helpful for scrolling through pages and advancing through videos, and unlike most streaming remotes, the keys are backlit (you can this off if you don’t need or want it). Controlling your TV this way is obviously less convenient than using a traditional remote, but that’s the inherent trade-off with a living-room PC setup, where you’re navigating streaming sites that were made with cursor control in mind. I did need to dial down the mouse sensitivity settings in Windows to keep the cursor from jumping all over the screen, but I’d gotten pretty used to it within a few minutes. Room for improvement Jared Newman / Foundry While I like this type of remote for living-room PC use, I’ve also identified some issues with the Fosmon remote that have me looking at other options. For one thing, the Bluetooth connection isn’t ideal. Unlike USB peripherals, the Fosmon remote is unable to wake my mini PC from standby, which means I must set the PC to only turn its screen off instead of going to sleep when idle. The Beelink S12 Mini PC I’m using doesn’t consume much power to begin with, but I’d still rather not have it running at all times. My living room also seems to be somewhat hostile to Bluetooth controllers in general. If I sit on the couch and lean back, the remote connection gets a little finicky. I’ve had similar issues with Bluetooth game controllers both in the living room and in the basement directly below, so your mileage may vary. Lastly, the Fosmon can’t directly control my TV or soundbar. It does have built-in volume keys for adjusting the sound level in Windows, but that only works up to the maximum volume set by my TV remote, which I need to keep handy for TV power and input switching anyway. Looking around on Amazon, I’ve yet to find any remotes that solve all the above problems while preserving the Fosmon remote’s design, which I really like. There are a bunch of remotes with similar layouts—including ones with wireless USB connectivity and a programmable IR emitter for TV control—but none with Fosmon’s convenient shoulder buttons for triggering mouse clicks. iPazzPort So far, the closest alternative I’ve found is a $22 remote from iPazzPort. It has a bulkier design that puts the keyboard underneath the trackpad, but it offers wireless USB connectivity, programmable IR controls, a trackpad you can reach with your right thumb, and shoulder-mounted mouse buttons. I’ll play around with that one next, and keep whichever option performs best. In the meantime, at least I have a way to start using my living-room PC in earnest, complete with the ad-skipping tools and streaming guide apps I’ve been wanting to use for months. Next, I’ll start looking for software refinements to make the experience even more couch-friendly. Stay tuned. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

Warmer weather often means travel—a fact that scammers know very well. You just want to plan your vacation, so they flood the internet with fake booking sites, phony emails, and bogus deal links to take advantage of the unsuspecting. To avoid losing your money to fraud, it pays to stay sharp when making reservations or buying gear for your trip. Fortunately, you can do so pretty easily if you ask yourself the questions below. Is the booking site you’re on legitimate? Whether booking direct on a carrier website or through a third-party online travel agency, make sure the website you’re on is legit.PCWorld You can save a lot of headache by double-checking the reservation website you’re on before committing to plans. For direct bookings, make sure the URL matches the known address. Scammers can buy a search engine sponsored link to promote false websites that look like the real ones. Or they can display copies of real websites when you enter the wrong address into your browser. For third-party travel sites, run a search to see if the online travel agency (OTA) is well-known, as well as what the reviews say about the booking process and customer support. Travel forums and Reddit are good sources for opinions, good and bad. Is that email deal real? The first Travelzoo email I ever got was a forward from a friend—and I spent some time checking out the source before clicking on any links.Travelzoo / PCWorld You should only be getting travel deal emails from sites you signed up for—and those messages should be easily traced back to legit senders. A first clue that an email is fishy: The sender email address doesn’t match the official URL. (e.g., deals@expedia.com)  To be more sure, you can dig into the message headers to see if the email was sent from a server owned by an official travel agency. In Gmail, you can click on the three-dot icon in the far right of a message, then choose Show original. Is the deal reasonable? ravel sites gush about this $275 suitcase—and it sells quickly whenever it goes on sale.Even before I looked up historical data, that tells me I’d still pay at least $200+ after the best discounts. (Research on Slickdeals bears that out.)Away / PCWorld Maybe you saw a deal shared on social media, or a friend forwards you a link. Whether shopping for a flight or hotel, or a new suitcase or power bank, go into your purchase knowing what a reasonable discount price is. For flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises, you can compare costs against the big online travel agencies (Expedia, etc.) or find recent reports from people who’ve visited your destination. If a price seems absurdly low, you can gauge from online discussions if it’s reasonable. (e.g., I saw nonstop flights between San Francisco and Tokyo for under $600 on ZipAir, but didn’t recognize the airline. A little searching showed it was a new budget airline, and people had already tried it out.) For gear like power banks, suitcases, and the like, you can look up past deal prices for that model (or at least general style of the item) with a quick online search. You can also look up reviews—maybe a discount is unusually high due to a new version having released, or there’s a flaw that caused the product to be unpopular. Travel booking resources I like to use Current fares for SFO-JFK on Google Travel—September looks like a good time to visit.Google / PCWorld Deal hunting is one of my side hobbies, and for travel, I have a few sites that help me find good discounts with very little fuss. Google Travel’s flight search engine helps me see which dates have the cheapest prices for a particular route (e.g., SFO to JFK). I like this data because it’s the prices on the airlines’ direct sites, which I can then compare against online travel agency offers. Usually I book direct for better customer support, should something go wrong with my flight. Google Travel also offers a hotel search feature that lets you scout hotels and their prices near a given location (e.g., 6th and Canal in Manhattan). It gives a list of various third-party booking sites (some I think of as less established than others). I use that info to get an idea of what’s reasonable, and then I look directly on a hotel’s website for equal or better deals. (Booking direct sometimes works out more in my favor.) Costco comes through strong for its members, especially on car rentals. A second driver is included, and you can cancel your reservation any time before pickup without penalty. Depending on how good a deal you get on a vacation package or car rental, the savings can end up covering the cost of a yearly Costco membership for access. Finally, searching on Slickdeals.net helps me see historical data for previous deals on a given product. Sometimes none exists though, so then I turn to the Keepa.com extension to see if price history exists for the item on Amazon. Read...