Why You Can Trust CNET Add a 100-LED smart light strip to your home for $8 (Update: Sold out)
Great for both indoor and outdoor use, this 33-foot waterproof string of "fairy lights" can be controlled by app. Plus: Save $61 on this 14-inch HP Chromebook.
Put 100 LEDs just about anywhere, indoor or out, for $8.
Let's pause for a moment to acknowledge the modern miracle that is LED lighting. LEDs consume little electricity, last for years and fit just about anywhere. And despite all that, they're crazy-cheap! To wit: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon seller Govee has the Minger 100-LED waterproof fairy-light strip for just $8. That's after applying promo code WDZ4TW63 at checkout. Update: This sold out soon after I posted, alas. The 16-foot version is still available, but it's $11. If you're okay sacrificing Bluetooth, here's another 100-LED option for $11, this one with a remote. Or get a 66-foot (!) version of the same for just $2 more.
This 33-foot string of lights plugs into any USB port, including the one on the included AC adapter. There's an inline controller for quick manual settings, but you can also pair the string via Bluetooth to your phone. The Govee app lets you control the brightness, choose from eight different modes (such as "twinkle" and "slow fade") and set timers.
Read more: The best LED light bulb for every room in your house in 2020
Although the controller and USB plug aren't waterproof, the strip itself is. That means you can use it outdoors, provided only the lights are exposed to the elements. I could see this being a great addition to a porch or patio.
There are lots of similar fairy-light strips available for around the same price, but few that can pair with an app. For eight bucks, this is an impossibly cheap way to add some lovely LED decor. I just ordered one myself.
Your thoughts?
Get an HP Chromebook 14 for $229 (save $61)
With so many people working (and going to school) at home, Chromebook deals have been few and far between. But here's a good one: For a limited time, and while supplies last, BuyDig has the HP Chromebook 14a for $229 when you add it to your cart. Original price: $280.
Though not a powerhouse by Windows standards, the 14a has enough oomph to run ChromeOS. It sports a dual-core Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The 14-inch screen is the only thing that gives me pause, as its native resolution (1,366x768) is a bit on the low side for that size.
Still, it's an anti-glare display, and it allows for a full-size keyboard. Other notable specs include B&O speakers, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, two USB-C ports and a wide-angle webcam.
This is definitely one of the better Chromebook deals I've seen lately.
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