2022-08-01 PC Magazine

CONS • Expensive to publish on consoles THE BOTTOM LINE *DPH0DNHU6WXGLRDEVROXWHO\\OLYHVXSLWVSURPLVHRIOHWWLQJ\\RXPDNHUHDO video games, whether you’re a coding prodigy or have never thought about sprites in your life. Investing in its power and publishing possibilities, no matter how high the price, never feels like a waste. It’s our Editors’ Choice pick for consumer game-development software and gets within striking distance of robust options that let you build AAA games. Although it can be pricey, no game-development program helps you transition from an amateur to a SURIHVVLRQDOEHWWHUWKDQ*DPH0DNHU6WXGLR KHAN ACADEMY EDITORS’ CHOICE FREE PROS • Free • No account necessary • Uses video lectures, readings, and quizzes • Impressive test-prep and college-prep resources • Generous language support CONS • 0LVVLQJVRPHVXEMHFWVVXFKDVIRUHLJQ languages and music • Caters uniquely to the US education system and needs THE BOTTOM LINE 1RQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQ.KDQ$FDGHP\\PDNHVLWVRQOLQHFRXUVHVIUHHIRUDOO $OWKRXJK.KDQ$FDGHP\\FDWHUVVSHFL¿FDOO\\WRVWXGHQWVLQSULPDU\\VFKRRO WKURXJKWKHFROOHJHSUHSSKDVHDQ\\RQHZLWKDKXQJHUWROHDUQFDQEHQH¿WIURP LWVFRXUVHV:KLOHLWPD\\QRWFRYHUHYHU\\WKLQJLWGRHVR̆HUZHOOPDGHOHVVRQV for the majority of basic academic subjects US students must learn—apart from foreign languages.

CODE AVENGERS STARTS AT $29.00 PER MONTH PROS • Free demo courses • Tracks for kids, adults, and educators • Built-in text editor and quizzes • Responsive customer support CONS • Slightly more expensive for slightly fewer features than competition • Lacks community forums THE BOTTOM LINE &RGH$YHQJHUVZLGHR̆HULQJVDSSHDOWRFKLOGUHQDQGDGXOWVWU\\LQJWROHDUQFRGH as well as educators trying to teach it. Its built-in tools make learning fun, help \\RX¿JXUHRXW\\RXUFRGLQJPLVWDNHVDQGXQGHUVWDQGKRZ\\RXUFRGHZRUNVLQ WKHUHDOZRUOG,W¶VD¿QHFKRLFHIRUOHDUQLQJKRZWRFRGHDQGFRPHVFORVHWR matching our Editors’ Choice picks, Codecademy and Treehouse, in terms of instruction. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

TIPS & HOW TOS Image: Shutterstock/Visual Generation ONLINE EDUCATION 8 Ivy League Courses You Can Take for Free Seeking enrichment? Skip the tuition fees and take an online class from a prestigious university. BY CHANDRA STEELE An Ivy League education comes with a lot of cachet—and costs a lot of cash. But for just a bit of computer cache, you can take some Ivy League classes without investing anything more than your time. The eight institutions that comprise the Ivy League join lots of other places of KLJKHUHGXFDWLRQLQR̆HULQJVRPHRIWKHLUFRXUVHVRQOLQHDQGIUHTXHQWO\\IRU free. Though they are not for credit, they can enrich your life in lots of ways. Taking an online course doesn’t have any of the pressure that being in school has. There are no deadlines for papers, no tests you forgot were today. Instead,

you can focus on actually absorbing the material. When there is coursework VXFKDVUHDGLQJVRUTXL]]HVLW¶VFRPSOHWHO\\RSWLRQDO6R\\RXFDQFKRRVHWRJHW involved with some side projects or just enjoy the lectures. Finding these classes takes a little work, though. Apple iTunes U once had half a million classes available for free, but it shut the service down last year (although there is an archive online). Now there’s a smattering of classes available on the sites of individual schools and other platforms like edX and Coursera. We’ve put WRJHWKHUVRPHRIWKHPRUHLQWHUHVWLQJR̆HULQJVEHORZ MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN AT BROWN UNIVERSITY Fantastic Places, Unhuman Humans: Exploring Humanity Through Literature (edX) This Brown class asks us to consider what makes us human by examining ZKDW¶VQRWURERWVDQGURLGVDQGDOLHQV6WXGHQWVZLOOFUHDWHDQDYDWDUDORQJWKH way of this unusual literary journey. The class takes about three weeks and is archived, so you can start it at any time. Credit: edX

Credit: edX ALL DALAI’D UP AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Indian & Tibetan River of Buddhism (edX) This class from Professor Robert Thurman is perennially packed at Columbia. 7KXUPDQZDVWKH¿UVW$PHULFDQ%XGGKLVWPRQNDQGZDVRUGDLQHGE\\WKH'DODL Lama. (He’s also Uma Thurman’s dad.) This class covers the history and SKLORVRSK\\RI%XGGKLVPWKURXJKRXW,QGLD6RXWKDQG6RXWKHDVW$VLD7LEHW and Central Asia. Here you can get a seat right in front and take your time in completing the approximately 12-week class. SHARKNADO FOR INTELLECTUALS AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY Sharks! (edX) 6KDUNVDUHWKHVXEMHFWRIVRPDQ\\RIRXU¿FWLRQVDQGWKHYLFWLPVRIPDQ\\RIRXU misperceptions. This Cornell class adds a delightful exclamation point to its title and blends lectures from three professors to cover their biology, place in ecology, human-shark interactions, and more. The class takes about four weeks and is self-paced, because it’s archived. Credit: edX

Credit: edX SHAPED BY SHAPES AT DARTMOUTH UNIVERSITY The Engineering of Structures Around Us (edX) )RUDGL̆HUHQWSHUVSHFWLYHRQWKHFRQVWUXFWHGZRUOGFRQVLGHUWKLVHQJLQHHULQJ IRFXVHGFODVV7KRXJKLWOLVWVKLJKVFKRRODOJHEUDDQGJHRPHWU\\DVSUHUHTXLVLWHV you really don’t need them, because you’re taking this class just for yourself. Instead, you can enjoy the discussion of what goes into structures from engineering and creative points of view. There are also opportunities to design, VNHWFKDQGEXLOGSURMHFWVRQ\\RXURZQ7KHFODVVWDNHVDERXW¿YHZHHNVDQGLV self-paced and archived. POETRY IN MOTION AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY Poetry in America: Modernism (edX) Even if you don’t think you’re a poetry person, this class could convince you otherwise. It’s a dynamic look at modern American poetry. You’ll witness lively GLVFXVVLRQVLWLQRQLQWHUYLHZVZLWKSRHWVDQGHYHQWDNH¿HOGWULSVWRSODFHV such as Robert Frost’s cabin. This class takes about eight weeks and goes at your own pace. Credit: edX

Credit: edX LIGHTS, BOOKS, ACTION AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA Credit: Coursera Hollywood: History, Industry, Art (edX) There’s so much more to Hollywood than what you see onscreen. This class goes WKURXJKWKHKLVWRU\\RI+ROO\\ZRRGWHDFKHV\\RXKRZWRDQDO\\]H¿OPVWDONVDERXW WKHH̆HFWWKHLQWHUQHWKDVKDGRQWKHLQGXVWU\\DQGPRUH7KHFODVVWDNHVDERXW four weeks and is self-paced and archived. ANYWHERE BUT HERE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY Imagining Other Earths (Coursera) Here and now on this planet, a lot of people feel alone. Imagining Other Earths DVNV:KDWLIZH¶UHQRW\"3URIHVVRU'DYLG6SHUJHOOHDGVVWXGHQWVRQDQ astrobiological tour of the cosmos and lets them imagine their own. The class is about 26 hours, is self-paced, and can be started at any time.

Credit: Coursera LISTEN UP AT YALE UNIVERSITY Introduction to Classical Music (Coursera) Whatever your level of interest in classical music, you’ll learn and be inspired by Professor Craig Wright’s lectures. They get to the fundamentals of music and why we enjoy it. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

TIPS & HOW TOS Credit: Brian Westover SATELLITE SERVICE How to Get Starlink Satellite Internet and Set It Up the Right Way The satellite-based Starlink internet service unlocks excellent speeds pretty much anywhere. Here’s what you need to know and how to get started. BY BRIAN WESTOVER ,I\\RXOLYHLQUXUDO$PHULFD\\RXNQRZ¿UVWKDQGWKDWPLOOLRQVRISHRSOHGRQ¶W KDYHFDEOHRU¿EHULQWHUQHWRSWLRQVOHWDORQHDFFHVVWRWKHJLJDELWR̆HULQJV DYDLODEOHLQVRPHSDUWVRIWKHFRXQWU\\$VDUHVXOWPDQ\\SHRSOHDUHVWXFNZLWKD FRQQHFWLRQEHWZHHQ0ESVDQG0ESVWKURXJK'6/RUDVLPLODUVHUYLFH (YHQ3UHVLGHQW-RH%LGHQKDVUHPDUNHGRQWKHIDFWWKDWRI$PHULFDQVLQ UXUDODUHDVGRQ¶WKDYHDFFHVVWRKLJKVSHHGLQWHUQHW$QGDFFRUGLQJWRWKH86 &HQVXVPRUHWKDQDTXDUWHUPLOOLRQ$PHULFDQVVWLOOXVHDGLDOXSFRQQHFWLRQ

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TIPS & HOW TOS Image: Getty Images/Westend61 SMART HOME SECURITY 4 Easy Ways to Make Your Smart Home More Secure Will hackers use your appliances against you? Probably not, but there are still valid reasons to address the privacy and se- curity of your smart home. Start here. BY KIM KEY I’m a new homeowner, and recently, I ventured to the local big-box hardware store in search of the induction stove of my dreams. While navigating a maze of gleaming home appliances, a refrigerator with a built-in display caught my eye. Putting aside my initial confusion over the need for a screen and an Alexa connection on an appliance that has only one job, I was surprised to see that the IULGJHGLVSOD\\HGDVHFXULW\\FHUWL¿FDWHHUURU

The error shown in the photo happens when the common name of the site’s VHFXULW\\FHUWL¿FDWHGRHVQRWPDWFKWKHGRPDLQH[DFWO\\)RUH[DPSOHLIDZHEVLWH GRHVQ¶WLQFOXGHDYHUVLRQRILWVQDPHZLWKRXW³ZZZ´LQLWVFHUWL¿FDWH\\RXJHWDQ error when you try to access the website without it. 7KHIULGJHLVSUREDEO\\¿QHDQGWKHFHUWL¿FDWHHUURULVOLNHO\\EHQLJQ6WLOOLW¶V LPSRUWDQWWRUHPHPEHUWKDWWKHUHDUHUHDOSULYDF\\DQGVHFXULW\\ULVNVZKHQ bringing internet-connected devices into your home. I don’t intend to scare you DZD\\IURPFUHDWLQJDVPDUWKRPHE\\OLVWLQJDOOWKHWKHRUHWLFDOZD\\VDKDFNHU FRXOGJHWLQWR\\RXUVPDUWKRPHGHYLFHVDQGZUHDNKDYRF0RVWKDFNHUVDUHLQ WKHEXVLQHVVRIPDNLQJPRQH\\DQGFROOHFWLQJGDWDIURPWKHLUYLFWLPVQRWWU\\LQJ WRDQQR\\WKHPE\\¿GGOLQJZLWKWKHWKHUPRVWDW

EXCHANGING YOUR DATA AND SAFETY FOR A If you’re surfing COLD BEER the web using ,I\\RX¶UHVXU¿QJWKHZHEXVLQJD931EHFDXVHRISULYDF\\ a VPN because concerns, it’s time to disconnect your smart appliances. of privacy $V0DOFROP+LJJLQVDWVHFXULW\\FRPSDQ\\1RUG931KDV concerns, noted, smart devices are data-harvesting machines. it’s time to These devices monitor how and when you use them and disconnect send that information to advertisers or other your smart businesses. appliances. There’s also the issue of maintaining basic home security when choosing which smart devices to bring LQWR\\RXUOLYLQJVSDFH,QUHFHQW\\HDUVKDFNHUVKDYH found vulnerabilities in smart doorbell cameras, and UHVHDUFKHUVKDYHQRWHGWKDWVPDUWVSHDNHUVFRXOGEH manipulated with lasers. Researchers also found they could compromise security systems with a smart plug. 7KHWDNHDZD\\LVWKDWLIVRPHWKLQJLQ\\RXUKRPHLV FRQQHFWHGWRWKHLQWHUQHWVRPHRQHFDQKDFNLW HOW TO STAY SAFE THE SMART WAY 6PDUWKRPHSULYDF\\FRQFHUQVDUHVHULRXVEXW\\RX VKRXOGQ¶WKDYHWRVDFUL¿FHFRQYHQLHQFHIRUVDIHW\\+HUH DUHIRXUWKLQJV\\RXFDQGRWRKHOSPDNH\\RXUVPDUW home more secure. 1. Read both professional reviews and user reviews of products before buying anything. +DYHPDQ\\SHRSOHFRPSODLQHGDERXWWKHLUVPDUW GLVKZDVKHU¶VVFUHHQVKRZLQJ'16HUURUVPLGF\\FOH\",I so, avoid that particular model or brand. ,W¶VKHOSIXOWRORRNLQWRWKHKLVWRU\\RIWKHPDQXIDFWXUHU DVZHOO6PDUWGHYLFHVDUHDQHPHUJLQJPDUNHWDQG many new, untested appliances are hitting the sales ÀRRU'RQ¶WJLYHLQWRWKHK\\SHDQGVOLFNPDUNHWLQJ/HW ERWKSURIHVVLRQDOUHYLHZVLQFOXGLQJWKRVHDW3&0DJ com) and user reviews guide you.

2. Change the default password. 0DQ\\GHYLFHVFRPHZLWKVLPSOHHDV\\WRJXHVVGHIDXOWSDVVZRUGVWKDWDUH intended to be changed after you purchase the device. Don’t forget to change WKHP0DNH\\RXUQHZSDVVZRUGVORQJVWURQJDQGGL̇FXOWWRJXHVVDQGVWRUH them in a password manager. 3. Review the privacy and security settings. 6RPHWLPHV\\RXFDQOLPLWKRZPXFKGDWDDGHYLFHFROOHFWVVWRUHVRUWUDQVPLWV You may also be able to opt out of sharing some or all of your data with third- party advertisers. Comb through the privacy and security settings to see what’s available. You should review these options not only for new devices but also for ones you’ve owned for a while, in case new options have appeared through updates since you bought the products. 4. Check your router’s security settings. 0RVWVPDUWGHYLFHVXVH\\RXUURXWHUWRJHWRQOLQHZKLFKOHDYHV\\RXUVPDUW KRPH¶VGDWDRSHQIRUYLHZLQJDIWHUDVXFFHVVIXOKDFN<RXFDQEHHIXS\\RXU router’s security by changing the login code and using a long, complex, unique password. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

THE WHY AXIS TECH FOR CHILDREN These Are the Best Tech Products for Kids—According to Parents A new PCMag survey reveals the tech products kids love, which ones help them learn—and which ones parents will pay for. BY ERIC GRIFFITH Every child in the United States wants a smartphone. And almost half of them have one, according to their parents. Our new survey shows that a smartphone is typically the primary device of children under the age of 18. Around one-third of kids use a tablet primarily, and one in 10 use a laptop.

This data is part of what we found in an extensive tech-parenting survey conducted from May 20 to 23, 2022. The 1,079 survey respondents were all adults over age 18, and they had to be parents of one or more children under the age of 18. Though smartphones are pegged as the primary device, children generally use more than one product. When we asked which of the following children use and let people click more than one option, the numbers shot up for each device type, but the order stayed the same: smartphones, tablets, and laptops are used most, in that order. Only desktop PCs and gaming consoles with web browsers switched places from chart to chart. We then dove more deeply, by asking parents which devices their kids either own themselves or share with others in the household. Although the numbers are high for children who own their own smartphone (82%), tablet (80%), and laptop (71%), plenty of them also have their own desktop PC (68%) and game console (67%). The latter two just don’t get as much use, perhaps because when it comes to sharing, desktops are the most-shared device, at 32%. Laptops are second at 29%.

68% 82% 67% 32% 18% 33% 80% 71% 73% 20% 29% 27% When it comes to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), we wanted to know how using tech products helps kids to learn. Parents were bullish on this: 80% said using tech products was extremely LQÀXHQWLDORUVRPHZKDWLQÀXHQWLDO)RUVFLHQFH VSHFL¿FDOO\\WKDWQXPEHUZDVPDWKZDVDQG engineering was 70%. Only 2% of naysayers per each DUPRI67(0VDLGXVLQJWHFKZDVQRWDWDOOLQÀXHQWLDO

38% 38% 37% 37% 17% 17% 6% 6% 2% 2% 35% 35% 35% 35% 22% 22% 6% 6% 2% 2% But now we come to the nitty-gritty question: Which devices do parents want to buy for kids to help them with STEM skills? The numbers don’t line up with what they say kids are using. More than half of our respondents said they’d buy WKHLUFKLOGDODSWRSRUDWDEOHWRQO\\FKRVHDVPDUWSKRQH6RPHNLQGRI technology-based toy was the fourth most popular choice at 30%, beating out desktop PCs at 28%.

The desktop PC is in a weird position as one of the most used but least desired products for a child’s STEM curriculum. Smartphones are coveted by the young, but parents seem wary about buying them (though not wary enough to take the small screens away when kids already own them!). The laptop—the core of many at-home-schooling sessions—seems to be the sweet spot. PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022

MASTHEAD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PC MAGAZINE NETWORK Wendy Sheehan Donnell MANAGING EDITOR, DIGITAL EDITIONS Carol Mangis PRODUCTION DESIGNER René Ramos NEWS & FEATURES CONTRIBUTORS EXECUTIVE EDITORS Chloe Albanesius (News), Jamie John R. Delaney, Tim Gideon, Ben Z. Gottesman, Eric Lendino (Features) Grevstad, William Harrel, Edward Mendelson, Stephanie Mlot, Nathaniel Mott, Oliver Rist, M. David SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Matthew Humphries Stone, Lance Whitney, Kathy Yakal SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Michael Kan THE INDEPENDENT GUIDE FEATURES EDITOR Eric Griffith PC Magazine is the Independent Guide to Technology. Our mission is to test and review SENIOR FEATURES WRITER Chandra Steele computer- and internet-related products and services and to report fairly and objectively on the EDITOR, HELP & HOW-TO Jason Cohen results. Our editors do not invest in firms whose products or services we review, nor do we accept EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Dreibelbis, Francisco Lahoz travel tickets or other gifts of value from such firms. Except where noted, PC Magazine reviews are of REVIEWS products and services that are currently available. Our reviews are written without regard to PCLAB DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR John Burek advertising or business relationships with any (hardware) vendor. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alex Colon (consumer electronics, HOW TO CONTACT EDITORS mobile) We welcome comments from readers. Send your MANAGING EDITORS Sean Carroll (software, security), comments to [email protected]. Please include Jeffrey L. Wilson (work & play), Eric Zeman (consumer your email address. We cannot look up stories from electronics) past issues, recommend products, or diagnose problems with your PC by phone. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORS Tom Brant (hardware), Jill Duffy (software, security) PERMISSIONS, REPRINTS, CONTENT, AND TRADEMARK RIGHTS EDITOR Ben Moore (consumer electronics, mobile) For permission to reuse material in this publication SENIOR EDITOR Neil McAllister (business) or to use our logo, contact us at Brand_Licensing@ ziffdavis.com. Material in this publication may not LEAD ANALYSTS Jim Fisher (digital cameras), Michael be reproduced in any form without written Muchmore (software), Neil J. Rubenking (security), permission. Copyright © 2022, Ziff Davis Inc. All rights Sascha Segan (mobile), Brian Westover (hardware) reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. SENIOR ANALYSTS Matthew Buzzi (hardware), Max Eddy (software, security), Will Greenwald (consumer electronics), Tony Hoffman (hardware) ANALYSTS Kim Key (security), Dave LeClair (consumer electronics), Jordan Minor (software, gaming), Angela Moscaritolo (consumer electronics), Gabriel Zamora (software) JUNIOR ANALYSTS Zackery Cuevas, Michael Sexton ART, VIDEO, & PRODUCTION HEAD OF ART Alisa Sterni SENIOR ILLUSTRATOR Bob Al-Greene PHOTOGRAPHER Molly Flores HEAD OF VIDEO John D’Amico SENIOR VIDEO PRODUCER Alex Humphries VIDEO PRODUCER Weston Almond INVENTORY CONTROL COORDINATOR Joseph Maldonado PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I AUGUST 2022