Streaming DVR options, 2FA guide, laptop advice

Streaming DVR, two-factor authentication, and laptop guides

Plus: Google’s new Pixels and the case for a separate shopping browser

Jared Newman   |   August 26, 2025

Hey there! I’m Jared Newman, a longtime tech journalist, and you’re reading the free edition of Advisorator, my weekly tech advice newsletter. Did someone share this newsletter with you? Sign up to get it every Tuesday.

In lieu of a feature column this week, I’ve got a few new and updated guides for Advisorator’s paying members:

Streaming DVR explained: After a decade of writing about streaming and cord cutting, DVR is still the thing people ask me about the most. This guide explains every available way to record shows for later and skip the commercials—and how to approximate that experience with services that don’t do DVR directly. Read it here →

(You’ll notice I’ve also added a “Streaming and Cord Cutting” section to my list of guides. I’ll continue to fill out this section for Advisorator members as a complement to my Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter.)

Two-factor authentication done right: This one is all about how to protect your online accounts with an extra layer of security, why the verification codes you might get via text message aren’t ideal, and what you can do instead.

What to look for in a laptop: I wrote this one last year, but just made some updates for clarity and concision. “What laptop should I buy?” is a complicated question, and this guide gives you the knowledge to answer it with confidence.

An Advisorator membership gets you access to all the guides and tutorials I’ve ever written. You can even sign up for a month and read everything. I’d really appreciate your support!

News in brief

Google’s new Pixels: While I still prefer Samsung’s foldable phones, Google’s Pixels are in my view the nicest regular Android phones you can get. The company announced four new ones last week, plus a new smartwatch and wireless earbuds. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The standard Pixel 10 ($799) has a telephoto lens, brighter screen, and slightly faster processor than the Pixel 9. The Pixels 10 Pro ($999) and Pro XL (now $1,199, up $100) have larger batteries and brighter screens, plus AI camera zoom enhancements.
  • The Pixel 10 Pro Fold ($1799) is a step backwards in thickness and weight from last year’s foldable, but has a larger screen and is now dustproof, not just waterproof.
  • All four phones support Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, akin to Apple’s MagSafe. Google’s launching its own “PixelSnap” chargers and stands, but standard Qi2 products (such as power banks) will work, and some MagSafe accessories might also.
  • The Pixel Watch 4 ($350) fits a brighter and larger screen into the same round design, has a repairable screen and battery, and supports emergency satellite messaging. You can also raise your wrist to chat with Google’s Gemini assistant.
  • The Pixel Buds 2A have active noise cancellation and Gemini integration for $130, which is $100 less than the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
  • Unsurprisingly, Google is leaning more into AI with features like “Camera Coach,” which helps you with photo framing, and “Magic Cue,” which suggests actions to take based on what’s happening on screen. (A basic example: Pulling up calendar info when someone texts you about an upcoming event.)

Google’s spent the last two years talking up how AI will transform our phones, but never really delivering on that promise. I’ve got the new Pixels here and will be spending lots of time seeing if that’s changed at all, or if they’ll continue to just by solid smartphones with ignorable AI gimmickry.

Other notable reads:

Tip of the week

Set up a cash back browser: Lately I’ve decided to get back into finding cash back rewards from services like Capital One Shopping, Rakuten, and Honey. Each of these services offer their own browser extensions, which you can click to show cash back offers and coupons while shopping.

But here’s the thing: I’m not installing those extensions in my regular browser. I don’t want these companies collecting data on every shopping site I visit, not only because it’s creepy, but also because they annoy you with pop-ups on shopping pages and follow-up emails about the stores you’ve been to. This becomes especially chaotic if you have more than one shopping extension installed.

What I’m doing instead is relegating these cash back extensions to a separate web browser. (In my case, I’ve installed them in Google Chrome, which I pretty much never use.) When I’m about to buy something, I’ll open the product page in that browser, then look through each extension to see which one’s offering the best rewards. I get the monetary gain, but without the constant intrusions on my privacy and sanity.

Try these apps

Google’s free video editor: I totally missed it back in November, but Google now offers a free online video editor at vids.google.com. It’s a bit easier to access now, as you can open the editor from videos in Google Drive or type vids.new into your browser. It supports multiple video and audio tracks, and the only cost is in how much closer you get to Google’s storage limits with all your video uploads.

Between this and the flight deal finder I mentioned last week, it’s nice to see Google releasing some useful tools again.

Mac typewriter: Monotype is a free app that mimics the experience of using a typewriter. It even dings when you reach the end of a line and have to start a new one. You’re allowed to delete what you’ve written (no correction tape needed), but only one character at a time, so you can’t go back and edit selectively. Once you’re done you can copy and paste the text into any other app.

Would I write in Monotype exclusively? Of course not. But it’s a fun and satisfying way to get some words down without all the distractions of modern document editors.

Spend wisely

It’s a good time to switch to US Mobile (or add a new line), as the wireless provider is currently offering a year of its Unlimited Premium plan for $299 with code SUPER299, or a year of Unlimited Starter for $199 with code SUPER199. You can also save roughly $300 on any of the new non-foldable Pixel 10 phones.

I started using US Mobile last fall and wrote about my experience here. It’s unique in that you can choose between any of the three major carrier networks (“Dark Star” is AT&T, “Warp” is Verizon, “Light Speed” is T-Mobile). I have no major complaints, and the Premium plan has added more monthly data and hotspot use since I signed up. The current promos end on August 28.

Other notable deals:

Consider a paid membership!

Each week I’ll help you feel more confident about technology with extra advice and access to helpful benefits, like my friendly Tech Buds forum, full newsletter archives, and customizable deal alerts. The price I ask—$5 per month or $50 per year—is the same as it’s been since 2018.

Thanks for reading! Catch you next week.
– Jared

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