Liverpool tattoo artist Rachel Baldwin made charming tattoos for each line of the Talking Heads classic and made it into a music video #

like curling meets shuffleboard on a tabletop board #

The Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel's clearheaded "endorsement of democracy, solving problems, and Kamala Harris" #

research and short essays about cultural loss and the critical importance of preservation and access #

in some cases, Meta is automatically creating the pages #

a useful case study given the current debacle stemming from WordPress's "benevolent dictator for life" model #

the BBS goes read-only on Friday, replaced by Substack comments, and the community is not happy #

BRAIN scraped 16 years of Twitter to find the first people to post "RIP" when celebrities died, turning it into a morbid competition #

getting it to run DOOM is only a matter of time #

grateful to Mia Sato for staying on this beat, which affects so many smaller sites I care about #

he has an extraordinary memory, reliving the stories behind a beautifully simple song #

Ada Ada Ada is documenting her transition on Instagram, uploading shirtless photos weekly to test their nudity guidelines #

Louie Zong, Worthikids, and Brian David Gilbert formed a supergroup making Steely Dan-inspired music and are playing L.A. next month!? #

look in the direction you want to move, open and close your mouth to go faster #

a dozen surprise new games released to everyone at the same time on a regular schedule #

for the last 19 years, Michael Pusateri has tracked children's Halloween costumes at his front door and published the stats online #

Papers Please/Obra Dinn creator Lucas Pope dropped a surprise spooky free web game inspired by 1980s LCD handhelds #

short horror story in the form of a series of 1999-era screenshots about a Windows screensaver simulating life on an island #

Aardman Animation worked with Patrick McHale and the original voice cast for an elaborate stop-motion tribute #

the incredible web-based Mac/NeXT system emulator somehow keeps getting better #

I didn't even realize iOS automations could do this #

they're asking people not to access NYT games or cooking apps until it's over, so give up that Wordle streak #

anything out of frame is immediately forgotten, making it very dream-like and surreal to explore #

inflation was a painful global phenomenon, and every ruling party was punished for it regardless of political leanings #

useful Chrome/Firefox add-on that finds your X/Twitter friends on Bluesky #

short fiction about "the near future of art and creative work" #

If you’re a remote worker, or even work remotely part-time, you can step up your video conference game by investing in a good webcam. Built-in cameras on laptops and desktops have improved in recent years, but you typically still get higher quality and more personalized controls with an external webcam. And if you plan on video chatting with friends across the country or game-streaming regularly, you’ll want the best webcam experience possible. But there’s a lot of junk out there, as is typical in an overcrowded space. In this buying guide, we'll dive into the best webcams that will help you look sharp, no matter where you're dialing in from.

Factors to consider before buying a webcam

Resolution and field of view

While some newer computers have 1080p webcams, most built-in cameras have a resolution of 720p, so you’ll want to look for an external webcam that has a higher resolution. FHD webcams will give you better video quality; ideally, you’re looking for something that can handle 1080p at 60fps or 30fps. If you’re considering a cheap 720p webcam, make sure to get one that supports at least 30fps (most will) or, even better, 60fps. However, if your primary concern is better picture quality during video calls, 1080p is the way to go.

Some webcams can shoot in 4K, but that’s overkill for most people. Not to mention most video conferencing services like Zoom, Google Meet and Skype don’t even support 4K video. When it comes to streaming, Twitch maxes out at 1080p video, but YouTube added 4K live streaming back in 2016. Ultimately, with 4K webcam shots having such limited use, most people can get by with a solid 1080p camera.

Field of view (FOV) controls how much can fit in the frame when you’re recording. Most webcams I tested had a default field of view of around 78 degrees, which captured me and enough of my background to prove that I really need to organize my home office. On cheaper webcams you’ll usually see narrower fields of view (around 60 degrees), and those aren’t necessarily bad. They won’t show as much of your background, but that also means you won’t be able to squeeze as many friends or family members into frame when you’re having Zoom birthday parties. On the flip side, more expensive webcams may let you adjust the field of view to be even wider than average, and some even offer features like digital zoom.

Autofocus and other “auto” features

Webcams with autofocus will keep the image quality sharp without much work on your part. You should be able to move around, step back and forth, and remain in focus the whole time. Some standalone webcam models let you manually adjust focus, too, if you have specific needs. Devices with fixed focus are less convenient, but they tend to be more affordable.

In the same vein is auto framing, a feature that some high-end webcams now offer. Similarly to Apple’s Center Stage feature, the camera automatically adjusts to keep you in the center of the frame even as you move around. This used to be a feature only available on the most premium webcams, but now you can find it on sub-$200 devices.

You’ll also see other “auto” features listed in webcam specs, most notably auto light correction. This will adjust the camera’s settings to make up for a dimly lit room. If you don’t have bright lights, or often take calls in places where you can’t control the lighting, this feature will be valuable. Alternatively, you might consider using your mirrorless camera as a high-quality webcam solution, taking all of the benefits and features with you (albeit in a cumbersome package).

Microphones

Most webcams have built-in microphones that, depending on your setup, might end up being closer to you than your computer’s own mics. Check to see if the model you’re considering has mono or stereo mics, as the latter is better. Some even use noise-reduction technology to keep your voice loud and clear. While audiophiles and streamers will want to invest in a standalone microphone, most others can get by using a webcam’s built-in mic.

Design

There aren’t a ton of fascinating breakthroughs when it comes to external webcam design. Most are round or rectangular devices that clip onto a monitor or your laptop screen. Some have the ability to swivel or screw onto a tripod stand and others can simply sit on your desk beside your computer. But unless you really like having people stare up your nose, the latter isn’t ideal. We recommend clipping your webcam to your monitor and ensuring that it’s at or slightly above eye level.

A few webcams go above and beyond by adding hardware extras like built-in lights and lens covers, too. The former can help you stand out in a dark room, while the latter makes it so hackers can’t view you through your webcam without your knowledge.

Price

Most external webcams that are just good enough to be a step up from your computer’s built-in camera cost between $60 and $150. If the webcam has the same resolution as the internal one on your laptop, you should look out for other specs like auto light correction, a wider field of view or an extra-long connecting cable that can provide a step-up in quality or ease of use.

Spending $150 or more means you might get advanced features that tend to be present in a pro webcam like 4K resolution, vertical and horizontal recording options, stereo mics, customizable video settings and more. But unless you’re spending hours on video calls each day or streaming multiple times each week, you can settle on a budget webcam and safely skip most of those high-end options.

How we test webcams

We primarily test webcams by putting them through as much real-world use as possible. We examine their design, how flexible they are and how easy they are to reposition, and make note of how heavy they are and if that affects their ability to stay put while sitting on top of a screen. We use each webcam for at least a week straight as our primary camera for all video chats, and we make sure to use the device in different lighting environments to test low-light performance. We also use any built-in microphones as our primary audio inputs on video calls as well. Finally, although most of these webcams are plug-and-play, we test out any proprietary software that’s intended to work with each webcam, tweaking things like field of view, video resolution and effects, and using any special features like Show Mode on Logitech webcams.

Best webcams for 2024

Others webcams we tested

Logitech C920s Pro HD

Our previous top pick, the Logitech C920s Pro HD webcam remains a solid option for those with less than $100 to spend and really only need a basic 1080p camera to upgrade their setup, or something affordable to make them look better on those inevitable Zoom calls. It has a 78-degree field of view, decent microphones and handy privacy shutter built in. The Brio 500 took the top spot away from this model thanks to its advanced light correction, auto-framing and Show Mode.

LG Display’s new free-form screen technology can expand from 12 to 18 inches, with a resolution of 100ppi. The display also uses a micro-LED light source smaller than 40 micrometers, so it can apparently be stretched over 10,000 times. While this probably isn’t your next smartphone, we could see the tech in clothing, car panels and more.

LG Display has pushed the boundaries of screen tech for a while, revealing folding screens before foldable phones appeared, roll-up TVS before roll-up TVs went on sale and transparent displays before they appeared in fancy stores, theme parks and elsewhere. So expect to see this Bop-it of displays somewhere, eventually.

— Mat Smith

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Netflix’s ad tier has attracted more than 70 million subscribers

However, many have probably downgraded from a premium tier.

Netflix is crowing that its ad-supported tier now boasts 70 million global users. Amy Reinhard, president of advertising at Netflix, says the company continues “to see steady progress across all countries’ member bases.” But there isn’t any information about existing customers. It’s very possible a lot of people downgraded from a premium tier to an ad-supported tier.

Continue reading.

Fujifilm is developing a 102MP medium format cinema camera

With a new sensor 1.7 times larger than full frame.

Fujifilm is developing a medium-format, 102-megapixel cinema camera, the company said in a surprise announcement. Due next year, the GFX Eterna will carry a boxy, modular design reminiscent of Sony’s FX6. The new camera will have a medium format GFX 102-megapixel (MP) CMOS II HS sensor, the same one used on the GFX100 II. That sensor is 43.8mm x 32.9 mm in size — that’s 1.7 times larger than the full-frame sensor on the FX.

The benefits will be extra dynamic range, potentially high resolution and a very shallow depth of field, which should enable cinematic shots with the right lens. Having said that, Fujifilm currently has no GFX glass designed specifically for film production. It’s working on it, though.

Continue reading.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's research center responsible for robotic space missions, will lay off more workers before the year ends due to budget constraints. JPL Director Laurie Leshin has announced in a memo addressed to employees that the reduction will affect 325 people, or about five percent of its whole workforce. Leshin explained that the lab took various measures to meet its budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year and to minimize the adverse effects of a limited budget on its workers. In the end, though, JPL "reached the difficult decision" to make "one further workforce reduction."

The lab already cut 530 employees and cut over 100 contractors from its roster earlier this year because of uncertainty over the final budget that the Congress will give NASA for 2024. It also froze hiring in response to the dilemma. The main reason why the lab had to implement those measures was because the Mars Sample Return Program was allocated a much smaller budget than it needed. NASA had requested $950 million for the mission, but only $300 million was allocated for it. 

NASA's original plan was to bring home the samples collected by the mission in 2040. But its budget ballooned from $7 billion to $11 billion, and as The Washington Post notes, the government found the return date "unacceptable." For the 2025 fiscal year, NASA only requested $200 million for the project that could go through significant changes. The agency is now looking for ways to alter the mission and is even considering proposals from private companies. 

Leshin said that the layoffs will affect all areas of the lab, including its technical, business and support divisions. "[W]e had to tighten our belts across the board, and you will see that reflected in the layoff impacts," she said. JPL's director also said that the US presidential election results have nothing to do with the reduction that the "action would be happening regardless" of its outcome. 

It’s 2024, and chances are you know at least one person who works remotely in some fashion. While the WFH life has its perks — nobody likes a long commute — it certainly comes with its own set of challenges, from lacking pro-level equipment to dealing with household disturbances. If you’re looking to give a gift to someone who spends much of their time in their home office, we’ve rounded up a few techy gift ideas that should make their days a little more delightful, or at least easier to manage.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

Apple and art house film company A24 are in early development on a film about convicted crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried with a script written by Lena Dunham, Variety reported. The project will be based on the Michael Lewis book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon that many critics found overly deferential to Bankman-Fried. 

The book describes the dizzying rise and equally vertiginous fall of Bankman-Fried and his FTX crypto exchange and Alameda hedge fund. However, it paints the FTX founder as a benevolent prodigy and glosses over the fact that he embezzled billions of dollars from customers and spent it on things like celebrity endorsements, political donations and high-end real-estate purchases.  

FTX was worth billions at its peak, but the exchange eventually collapsed and Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Most FTX customers will get their original investments back, plus interest, but that's based on a bitcoin price of around $17,000 — and the current price is nearly five times that.

Basing the film on Lewis's fawning hagiography isn't a promising start. Hopefully, Dunham or other writers will also draw on far better books (like Numbers Go Up by Zeke Faux) that show the dark, scammy side of crypto promoters like Bankman-Fried and the entire industry in general.

Apple Original Films and A24 have announced other collaborations recently, including the Spike Lee and Denzel Washington film High and Low. Other scripted FTX projects are also in the works, including a limited Amazon Prime series from the Russo brothers based on the 2022 FTX collapse. 

Our newest product BreezeDoc did $60,093+ in 40 days. It’s our 4th product in the last 3 years on track to generate $1m in revenue in ~12 months. Last week, I sat down with David Kelly, the General Manager for AppSumo Originals to share exactly how we ideate, build, test, and launch products. The goal […]

The post 5 Lessons From My Newest Startup appeared first on Noah Kagan.

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the marketing strategies I use to promote the book. In a previous podcast, I broke down the launch of Million Dollar Weekend (Spotify – iTunes). Today, I want to break down the 3-part system I’m using to continue 24/7 marketing my book after launch. 1- Exposure – […]

The post Million Dollar Weekend crossed 100,000 sales!! appeared first on Noah Kagan.

Listen to my full conversation with Bill on YouTube Go to college, get good grades, find a ‘stable’ job, work 40 hours a week in a boring cubicle, work until you’re 65+, and save your best adventures until retirement. Who decided this was the norm? Recently, I spoke with Bill Perkins, hedge fund manager, Hollywood […]

The post He makes $100M/year but will die with $0. Here’s why: appeared first on Noah Kagan.

This week’s email is about Dr. Cal Newport: Full-time professor at Georgetown University Author of multiple best-selling books Has ZERO social media He also has a new book called ‘Slow Productivity’ about how to accomplish more (without burning out). It’s helping me think about sustainability and success. I’ve known Cal for several years – and […]

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Listen to our full conversation: Spotify – iTunes You’re crushing it as a commercial real estate broker. Your biggest deal was for $62M!! But then the housing market bottoms out and you’re forced to file for bankruptcy. What then? How do you respond? This was the dilemma Peter Maldonado (interestingly he has almost no social […]

The post The $500,000,000 meat stick company ???? appeared first on Noah Kagan.

Who’s Sam? He’s the founder of Hampton and co-host of My First Million podcast and his new show Moneywise. He was annoying when I first met him, well sometimes he can still be annoying today ???? BUT he’s someone I’ve become close friends with and have been regularly admiring him. Why? Because his ‘annoying’ personality […]

The post I hated Sam Parr appeared first on Noah Kagan.

Listen to this email instead ???? – Spotify – iTunes When I walked into the first floor of the Facebook building on University Avenue, in Palo Alto, I wasn’t sure if I was in a frat house or a startup. There were cables falling from the ceilings, people running around and I was told to […]

The post What I Learned Working For Mark Zuckerberg appeared first on Noah Kagan.

Listen to our full conversation on Spotify or iTunes Meet my ex-CEO, Ayman Al-Abdullah. He joined AppSumo in 2016, and took the company from $5M to $70 million per year in revenue in only 6 years. Now, as a CEO coach, Ayman helps 7-figure CEOs get to 9-figure by working less. Here’s his story: Struggling […]

The post From employee to 9-figure CEO whisperer appeared first on Noah Kagan.

It’s been over a month since I published a piece of content on the internet… What happened? Where did I go? The short answer: I had a baby ???? The long answer: I’ve been pausing to reflect on how I can better live in alignment with what feels right (right now). Let me explain… Something […]

The post Le Pause appeared first on Noah Kagan.

I’m pedaling my bike up a steep hill in Austin. It’s steeeeep. I look up as far as I can see–and all I can think about is how I’m going to give up early. “I can just skip the last part of my ride. I’ve ridden enough. No one will even know.” I shake my […]

The post A few thoughts on suffering appeared first on Noah Kagan.

In the end, your success or failure is a combination of what you control (your decision making) and what you don't (timing). Most people aren't really great at decision making. But that's something you can get better at. So let's move to the harder dynamic that we can't control – and that's timing. Everything in ... Read more

The post Premature Optimization is a Timing Mistake appeared first on Chris Lema.

Things are Going to Get Tough Instead of writing a post about the upcoming (or already here)”recession,” I thought I would go a bit broader and talk about how to navigate the lean years. Businesses of all sorts go into this time under a lot of stress. Let's be honest, I'm not an economist. I ... Read more

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If you're looking to grow profits next year, you've likely already made your plans for the new year. I get that. And it's the last days of this year, so you've stopped reading blogs. I get that too. But there's a good chance that while you've used one or a couple of the strategies below, ... Read more

The post Grow Your Business Profits in 2023 appeared first on Chris Lema.

The other day I wrote an ebook about motivational segmentation. It wasn't called that, because, seriously, who would choose to read something with that title. Instead, I called the eBook, Grow Your Coaching Practice 8X With One Single Sales Strategy. But what I shared in that free eBook isn't just for coaches. I would submit ... Read more

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In the world of business, understanding unit economics is crucial for achieving scalability, profitability, and maintaining overall business health. It provides valuable insights into the financial performance of a company, allowing entrepreneurs and managers to make informed decisions about resource allocation, pricing, and profitability. I spend a decent amount of time talking about this in ... Read more

The post Scaling Your Business Requires Understanding Your Unit Economics appeared first on Chris Lema.

This week I'm headed to WordCamp US (#WCUS) and will see folks that I haven't seen in a couple of years. I stepped away from a full time focus on WordPress about 18 months ago, and I'm excited to circle back and see so many friends in a single event. I'm not speaking, sponsoring, or ... Read more

The post Choosing a Pricing Strategy appeared first on Chris Lema.

I graduated college 30 years ago. Email wasn't a big thing, and the web (and YouTube) didn't really exist. So imagine what it took, how much work was involved, to learn something new. I'm not saying I walked to school in the snow, uphill both ways. But learning something new meant either finding a mentor ... Read more

The post Learning Something New appeared first on Chris Lema.

I couldn't get my camera to focus by pressing the shutter button down half-way. It has always worked in the past. I didn't understand what had happened. I started with checking the modes – was I in a different mode than normal? Nope. Then I went to the settings. I set the focus setting correctly. ... Read more

The post Do you know your focus toggle? appeared first on Chris Lema.

Keeping high performers engaged at work not only maximizes productivity, but also drives revenue up. I won't bore you with the research, but studies show that a single top achiever can deliver as much productivity as up to four average employees. In the heart of every small business, there are standout stars – the true ... Read more

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