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In this installment of the Internet of Things, we take a look at how safety around your home has evolved. We’ve gone from loud, blaring alarms and simplistic security systems to something much more hands-on and its all thanks to your Internet Connection and how it connects you to home even when you’re not there.

There are some amazing new products hitting the shelves of Best Buy this month. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the cool products you can pick up right now.

Windows 10 is a pretty big deal right now. You can bet that by now, millions of PC users will have downloaded Microsoft’s new operating system and will be playing with the new features like Cortana. But what if your computer is showing its age? Now might be the time to replace it. Upgrade to a new PC and you can be sure your hardware can take full advantage of Windows 10’s new features and if your existing PC is running an older version of Windows, you’ll save a chunk of cash by not having to pay for the upgrade.

When we talk students and technology, we often focus on the big stuff like laptops, tablets and smartphones. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned as part of having three kids work their way through elementary school and into high school, it’s that a little piece of inexpensive technology is indispensable: a thumb drive. From “sneaker-netting” assignments between school PCs and home to collaborating on assignments with other students, USB thumb drives are indispensable. Here’s what you need to know.  

Here are some key things to look for when choosing the perfect backpack for back to school!

The Internet of Things has been covered in-depth on a few fronts. Tom gave you an overview of the IoT with this article, talking about how the internet is finding its way into televisions. We’ve seen other articles on how IoT is affecting our interaction with computers and wearables. There’s a category that has seen huge changes over the last decade as the internet becomes more integrated: gaming and toys. While this is by no means a comprehensive overview, here’s a look at how those categories are making the most out of their pipeline to the internet.

While I’ve been out of school for quite some time now, I still have vivid memories of the pleasure I took in prepping for a new year. Yup, I was one of those kids who enthusiastically went shopping for back-to-school supplies while everyone else relished the last few weeks of summer freedom. And believe it or not, we’re only a little over a month away from the start of another school year, so whether you have little ones heading to elementary school for the first time, or are a university student yourself, here are the top 5 backpacks for 2015–ideal for toting all your shiny new school supplies.

Once the kids head back to school, bring on the homework! Sure, you can help them out as they get lots of it done while sitting at the kitchen table. But to encourage great scholastic excellence, a good idea is to give them some private working quarters in their bedroom.

Maybe it’s Murphy’s Law, but dropped calls usually happen at the most inopportune times. An important or engaging conversation cut short by a sudden drop in reception can be annoying—even more so if it happens with any sort of regularity. Cell phone signal boosters are designed to amplify sending and receiving those signals, and weBoost has products that cover both your car and home.

With the live videogame streaming scene growing at an unprecedented rate, more and more people want to start broadcasting their own gameplay streams. It doesn’t take too much to get started but if you really want to rise above the pack with a quality stream there are a few tips for your streaming setup that you’ll want to heed. If you make use of the right equipment you can quickly find yourself creating content that really shines and draws in the viewers.