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The best free tools and services for college students
Lucid's Air Grand Touring EV delivers luxurious speed and range
Snapchat's messaging and calling features land on a new set of screens
Apple's latest iPad mini with LTE is $99 off at Amazon
Elgato's Stream Deck MK.2 falls to an all-time low of $125

The best free tools and services for college students

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 07:30 AM PDT

Whether or not you're returning to in-person classes this fall, you'll likely need a slew of services and software to get your classwork done, manage your time and relax after a long day of lectures. Don't worry about adding to your ever-growing student debt in the process, though. There's an increasing number of free services and tools that have surprisingly robust features, ranging from office suites to pro-quality media editors. You might not need to pay a cent to listen to a hot new album or indulge in a TV marathon, either. Our recommendations could help you thrive this school year while leaving some money for extracurricular fun.

Google Docs

You're probably going to need a productivity suite at school. Thankfully, the days of having to buy an expensive software bundle are long gone. Google Docs can handle the document creation you'll need over a semester, whether it's writing term papers, crunching data in spreadsheets or whipping up group presentations. Automatic cloud saves can spare you the heartache of losing progress.

You may want to subscribe to a Google One plan if the free 15GB of Drive storage proves too limiting. And as capable as Docs may be, there may be some classes where professors insist on paid services like Microsoft 365. If you're free to choose your work tools, however, Docs is an easy choice — particularly if you already rely on Calendar, Meet and other parts of the Google ecosystem.

Todoist

Student life is defined by time management. You'll likely have to juggle multiple assignments, study sessions and a personal life (remember that?) without missing a beat. Todoist is our pick for keeping yourself on track. You can not only create the usual to-do lists, but set up task boards, set priorities and even delegate items to others — helpful if it's a roommate's turn to buy dinner.

The free Todoist plan will likely be enough for school with support for five active projects, five collaborators and 5MB file uploads. You'll only want to shell out $36 per year for a Pro account if you have many on-the-go projects (up to 300), need to upload large files or want to set reminder alerts. Whatever you need, this might be key to getting a paper done on time.

Inmagine Pixlr E

It used to be that free image editors were underpowered or ungainly, and you could generally forget about web versions. That's not the case with Pixlr E. Inmagine's more advanced free editor offers many of the tools that previously required a subscription or a hefty offline app, such as image healing, visual effects and multi-layer compositing. It works with Photoshop files (PSD) and other common formats, too. You might not need much more if you want to touch up a presentation picture or crop a snapshot for photography class.

There are limitations. Pixlr E is ad-supported, and you'll miss out on the $59 Premium level's AI-powered tools, 8K by 8K resolution support and templates. You'll also want to investigate tools like Inkscape if you're creating vector illustrations or need a host of artistic apps. Pixlr is far more affordable than Adobe Creative Suite, mind you, and the browser-based technology might prove a lifesaver if you have to edit a project on an unfamiliar computer.

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve

You might not have to pay for a costly video editing package to make it through film school. Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve provides an in-depth bundle of editing, color correction, audio and effects tools at no cost. You could make a short film for class using the same core tools used to produce Hollywood blockbusters, complete with multi-user collaboration.

In fact, you'll likely have little need for paid editing products unless your coursework has very specific requirements. You'll only want to think about spending $295 for DaVinci Resolve Studio if you want to edit footage beyond 4K at 60 frames per second, work with more video formats or rely on advanced 3D, AI and HDR tools. Unless your professors demand that you use a rival tool like Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro, this should be enough to learn the fundamentals.

Blender

If you're creating 3D artwork for games or videos at school, you'll want a strong modeling suite — and one of the more capable packages happens to be free. Blender provides a wide range of modeling, animation and sculpting tools for 3D content, while budding movie producers can take advantage of built-in compositing, motion tracking, story art drawing and simple video editing. You might have everything you need to create a CG short film.

You'll want to be sure that Blender can fulfill your class requirements, and you might want more focused software like Natron (an equally free compositing tool) to supplement your work. With that said, Blender's open source code and extensible design work in its favor. It's easy to find a bevy of free or low-cost add-ons that can meet your needs, and you can even write your own extensions if you're comfortable with scripting.

Audacity

Some courses may need an audio editor, whether it's to create a podcast, tweak game sound effects or finesse a song. If you're in that boat, Audacity can sometimes do the trick. The free, open source editor gives you the essentials for capturing and editing multi-track recordings, including support for effects and plugins.

Audacity won't replace heavy-duty digital audio workstations like Audition, Logic Pro, Pro Tools or Reason. Those offer non-destructive editing, and often include a slew of effects generators and other tools aimed at music and video production. This is a good place to learn some basics, though, and may well be all you need if a class isn't particularly demanding.

Evernote Scannable

Paper is still a reality in the classroom, whether it comes in the form of a handout, a sketched diagram or a friend's handwritten notes. But you won't have to worry about how you'll digitize them. There are a number of free document scanning apps available, and Evernote Scannable is one of the best. You just have to point your camera at documents to produce easily readable PDF and JPEG files you can share with the rest of the class. While you can sync content with Evernote, it's not required.

Scannable is limited to iPads and iPhones as of this writing, so you'll want to look to alternatives like Microsoft Lens if you prefer Android (there's also an iOS version). Microsoft's app is also a good pick if you want to export scans in Office formats or convert handwritten text. Either way, you might not have to worry about lugging a binder around campus.

Spotify

Let's be frank: you're going to need some study music, and Spotify still provides the best free soundtrack for those lengthy learning sessions. The no-charge tier will periodically interrupt your listening with ads, but you can create playlists, follow podcasts and enjoy much of the core Spotify experience. You can stream songs on mobile and smart speakers, too, so the music won't stop when you leave your desk.

You may still want to pay for service. Spotify's mobile app makes you listen to all but a handful of playlists in shuffle mode, and you'll have a limited number of skips per hour. The higher maximum audio quality (320Kbps versus 160Kbps) is also worthwhile if your audio system can do it justice. Mercifully, you might not have to deal with the full $10 monthly fee if you upgrade. Students can get Premium for $5 per month, and you're eligible for up to four years. The free plan is nonetheless a good way to test the waters, and might just do the trick if you're searching for some background tunes.

PDF Candy

There's a distinct possibility you'll encounter PDF documents at school, whether it's a research paper or the class syllabus. You won't have to pay for apps like Adobe Acrobat to edit those files, at least. PDF Candy offers a free web-based editor. You can modify PDFs, convert to and from common formats (including Word and PowerPoint), extract images and otherwise take control. This might do the job if you need to flesh out scanned class notes or extract a quote from a scientific study.

There are time and size limits for the free version (up to 500MB per task), and you should also consider the $48 yearly or $99 lifetime plans if you want faster web processing or the Windows app's offline editing. Alternatives like Acrobat are also better if you need commenting, mobile editing and other advanced features. Still, the free web tool is difficult to beat for basic utilities.

Peacock

You won't need to pay for a streaming video service to help yourself unwind after a mind-frying midterm. NBCUniversal's Peacock is one of the few major streamers to offer completely free viewing. You'll have to live with ads and won't get the full breadth of content (more on that in a moment), but it might be just what you need if you'd rather watch back-to-back episodes of The Office than hunt down YouTube videos.

The no-cost version only includes a portion of what the service has to offer. You may want to spend $5 per month for Peacock Premium to get originals like Bel-Air, every season of The Office, next-day access to current NBC shows and live sports. And if you despise ads with a bitter passion, your only choice is to pay for a $10 per month Premium Plus membership. Competing services like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix often don't have any free option, however. This lets you splurge for a sports event or must-see show without losing access to the entire video catalog when you stop paying.

Lucid's Air Grand Touring EV delivers luxurious speed and range

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT

We were impressed with the Lucid Air Dream Edition earlier this year, even though it was just a pre-production vehicle. Well, the automaker gave time behind the wheel of its latest top-of-the-line Grand Touring Performance model with all the proper pieces of hardware and software ready to go. This is a Lucid you can actually buy — although the starting price is $179,000. We have to say, it's better than anticipated.

The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Performance deliver on the Lucid promise to take on the German sport sedans in an all-EV package. The newish automaker was so confident in the 1,050 horsepower Performance trim level that it took it to the Goodwood Festival hill climb and was victorious in the production vehicle category. The regular $154,000 Grand Touring model is a touch slower — it takes 3 seconds to hit 60MPH, rather than 2.6 in the Performance — but you'll get another 70 miles of range (516 total, compared to the Performance's 446).

All of which is to say, the Lucid Air GT models are more than just fast electric sedans. Check out the video below for the full story.

Snapchat's messaging and calling features land on a new set of screens

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT

Snapchat's messaging and video chat features are no longer limited to just the mobile app. More than a decade after the Snapchat app first launched, company is introducing Snapchat for Web, a new browser-based version of its service.

Snapchat+ subscribers will gain access to the new web app first, but will eventually it will be available to all of the users. It will support messaging and video calling for now, though the company plans to add support for its augmented reality lenses and the ability to send photo and video Snaps "soon."

Snap also tried to build some of its signature privacy features into the web version. For example, it will block screenshot attempts it's able to detect, like those taken with keyboard shortcuts. The company also added a "privacy screen" that blocks the contents of users' chats if they click away into a separate window.

Snapchat's web version supports video calls and Ar lenses.

It's not the first time Snap has experimented with desktop or browser-based features. The company previously made some Stories posts viewable on web browsers, and brought its AR effects to the desktop with its Snap Camera app. But it is the first time some of Snapchat's core messaging features will be available to users outside of the mobile app.

The change could help Snapchat increase engagement with its most dedicated users. A Snap spokesperson noted that video calling has become more popular among Snapchat users in recent years, and that a desktop experience can be more conducive to longer video calls. It could also help Snap replicate the experience of apps like Discord where teens tend to use chats as places to hang out while doing other online activities.

Notably, there are no ads or other revenue-generating features in Snapchat for Web, though a spokesperson said the company could eventually bring other aspects of the mobile app to the browser version of the service — if there's enough demand.

Apple's latest iPad mini with LTE is $99 off at Amazon

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 05:30 AM PDT

If you've been holding out for a good deal on the latest iPad mini with cellular connectivity, you're in luck. Amazon has dropped the prices of all color options for the 64GB iPad mini with LTE, bringing them all down to $550. That's nearly $100 off their usual rate, not to mention the cheapest we've seen these models. It's hard to get your hands on the iPad mini right now if you're going through Amazon — most WiFi-only models are sold out, and very few WiFi + Cellular models are in stock. But if this configuration fits your needs, you can save a good sum of money if you pick it up right now.

Buy iPad mini (64GB, WiFi + Cellular) at Amazon - $550

Apple gave the iPad mini a much-needed facelift last year, and it only made the small tablet better than it was before. It now looks like a smaller version of the iPad Air, with a nearly edge-to-edge, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, flat edges, a TouchID power button and a USB-C port for charging. It also has Apple's latest camera array that features Center Stage, making the tablet even better for FaceTime calls.

Overall, the iPad mini is a slick little device that should not be underestimated purely because of its size. Powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the iPad mini handled everything we threw at it well. We also like that it works with the second-generation Apple Pencil, allowing you to treat the tablet almost like a digital notebook. Battery life is solid, too: we were able to get around 12 hours before needing to recharge the device.

The iPad mini now supports 5G, too, so you'll get faster data speeds if you're in an area of 5G coverage. Would we recommend using the iPad mini as your daily driver when you're out and about? Not necessarily, but only because most people prefer larger screens. The iPad Air may be better if you're looking for a true laptop replacement, but it's hard to beat the iPad mini if you want something as lightweight as possible to use when you're on the go.

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Elgato's Stream Deck MK.2 falls to an all-time low of $125

Posted: 18 Jul 2022 05:05 AM PDT

Next-level game streaming requires some serious hardware, but popular products from Elgato and others don't go on sale often. Luckily, you can now grab Elgato's popular Stream Deck MK.2 for just $125, or $25 off — the lowest price we've seen yet.

Buy Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 at Amazon - $125

The latest version of the Stream Deck has 15 programmable keys that let you trigger actions to launch apps, mute your mic, turn on lights, post to social media and more with just a press of a button — making it a handy tool to have if you want a more professional setup. We included the Stream Deck Mini in a recent gift guide as a smaller, more affordable option, but the MK.2 gives you more flexibility — plus, you can inject more of your style into the MK.2 by customizing it with a faceplate.

While Twitch and other streamers are the primary users of the Stream Deck, others can benefit too. Think of the device's hotkeys almost like keyboard shortcuts, but more powerful — you can program them to launch your most-used apps, open folders, control audio and video feeds and more. If you spend a ton of time on your computer, the Stream Deck could become an indispensable tool that makes your workflow more efficient. As mentioned, though, it rarely goes on sale — so if you've been waiting, now's the time to act.

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