Online shoppers in the U.S. spent a whopping $7.4B on Black Friday, according to data from Adobe Analytics. The figure set a new record for the day, beating last year's revenue by $1.2B. It was also the second-biggest online shopping day ever in the U.S., trailing 2018’s Cyber Monday record of $7.9B.

Soon, when you're typing something up in Google Docs, an A.I.-powered feature called Smart Compose can help you get it done more efficiently. At least, that's the idea. Google’s Smart Compose feature is a kind of advanced autocomplete tool that first launched with Gmail in 2018.

Amazon wants you to be able to restock office supplies more efficiently with its new Dash Smart Shelf. The shelf is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart scale that has weight-sensing technology to track inventory. The shelf tracks the stock for a product, and once it senses that item is running low, it re-orders it for you. 

It’s easy to channel your creativity once and awhile, but how do you sustain it for years, or even longer? While there are some new tools to help foster your creativity, we give some ideas on how to accomplish this important task.

The Katai BlueJay is a 360 camera with just a single lens. but rather than showing the entire immersive view, the BlueJay recognizes faces and gives each participant their own chunk of the screen, ignoring any empty spaces between. The 48-megapixel camera also offers a higher resolution than other 360 cameras.

On this episode of Work/Life, we discuss one of the big topics many workers find themselves struggling with: Figuring out what your boss is thinking. Is there a way to hone in on how and what your boss thinks? You might need to put yourself in their shoes. We find the answers on this episode.

It’s never too early to start your holiday shopping. If you have a student or professional on your list, Dell has a sale on a long list of printers going on right now but hurry because the sale only runs until October 28.

In this episode of Work/Life, we discuss one of the harder aspects of working life: Communicating what you’re worth. How do you figure out your own worth? And how do you say it? We give tips and context to finding your own voice and clearly communicating your value.

Learn the best Slack tips and tricks for your business team. We're going over the top Slack capabilities that every user should know for this popular business collaboration app. Find out how to customize notifications, use short cuts, add more features, organize your channels, and more.

On this episode of Work/Life, we sit down to discuss how to navigate one of the trickier elements of work: asking for a professional recommendation. How does one go about it? Which platforms are best? Are there things to avoid? Find out on this week's episode.

The Dell Semi-Annual Sale is on, featuring deep discounts on laptops, desktops, and server equipment. Even if you’re not a small business owner, this is a great chance to score some deals on a new computer, and we’ve gathered a generous handful of the best ones right here.

Looking for freelance video gigs? Vimeo just launched a new platform to connect video pros with businesses looking for, well, video pros. Vimeo For Hire is designed for videographers, video editors, directors, animators and more and is included with any Vimeo subscription.

A team of tech workers was locked out of their WeWork office for two whole days recently after one of their umbrellas fell in front of the entrance door, preventing it from opening. Twitter users stepped up to the challenge of solving the conundrum ... but all failed.

On this episode of Work/Life, host Greg Nibler sits down with Ciara Pressler to ask the question: "Should I stay or should I go?" When is the right time to strike out as an entrepreneur? We break down the biggest topics entrepreneurs need to consider before they strike out on their own.

Google will shutter Hire next year. The web app — part of G Suite — is designed to help with tasks such as posting job openings to multiple recruitment sites, collaborating with hiring teams, finding new employees, and setting up interviews, thereby enabling firms to keep tabs on all of their recruitment processes.

Apple is getting into the credit card business. Apple Card is a credit card you can sign up for directly on your iPhone, and it doesn't have fees. There's a lower interest rate, and you can even get Daily Cash from all purchases. It's supported everywhere Apple Pay is, and there's even a physical card.

Often in business, you need to keep your devices powered up while traveling or otherwise on the go. Here is our list of the best power banks to deliver the recharging you need to keep your devices, and your business, up and running.

A competent antivirus solution is the first line of defense against potential hacks or virus attacks, and you need something that works effectively for you. Here's a deep dive into the different options available from McAfee and Norton, and what's best for your firm.

Launched earlier this year, PushSend is a new platform that aims to simplify the marketing process and make it intuitive, even for those who aren't experienced in the field. Here's everything you need to know about the service, and how it can help your company attract new customers.

Social media is a great way to spread the word about your business, connect with customers and network within your niche. There are some online tools that can help you schedule posts, keep track of engagement and much more. Here's the best social media management tools for small businesses.

The internet is a dangerous place, with privacy and digital data concerns occurring across the tech world. A preferred privacy method has become the virtual private network, or VPN. Now ahead of Father's Day, IP Vanish has slashed prices on its monthly and annual VPN plans, saving customers up to 73%.

Dropbox has unveiled its most significant update yet as it continues to move away from its original core service as a place to store files in the cloud, toward a virtual workspace solution that offers access to all services in-app. Users can try the revamped desktop tool now via Dropbox’s early access program.

Mastercard has announced the new Mastercard Digital Wellness program -- with the goal of using artificial intelligence to make paying for things online a little easier. The new system makes use of "billions" of data points to authenticate users, enabling click-to-pay technology.

The BlackBerry Messenger app, better known as BBM, for Android and iOS is shutting down, nearly six years after it launched. The consumer version of the service will stop operating on May 31, but for loyal BBM'ers there is some good news, as BlackBerry has an alternative ready for you to use.

Apple has published a new website about the App Store and App Store practices, in an attempt to highlight that the App Store is now a monopoly. The website highlights that Apple allows apps from competitors like Google, and has paid out over $120 billion to developers so far.

In New York City? The MTA is bringing tap and pay systems to public transit, so you'll be able to use contactless payment options. The new system is called OMNY, and it will eventually replace the MetroCard. You can use Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other digital wallets. Here's what you need to know.

Consumer Reports reported some Honda CR-Vs and Civics sold in the U.S. have an engine problem which lets gasoline seep into the oil system. The Japanese company has extended the powertrain warranty of over a million cars to reassure owners that they won't need to cover an expensive repair bill down the road.

After the reveal of a loot box and microtransaction ban bill presented by a U.S. Senator, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has put out an official response. The company's CEO says the bill doesn't reflect how the gaming industry works and will be harmful to gamers.

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley revealed a bill that would ban loot boxes and pay-to-win microtransactions. In a new interview, he speaks on talking with the ESA, whether or not he believes this will gain traction, and the ideas that pushed him to put this bill into motion in the first place.

Collision is ostensibly a startup show, with nearly 1,100 startups, 26,000 attendees, and conference tracks for pitching venture capitalists called Growth Summit and MoneyConf. But in 2019, another theme was clear: Fixing the world. Here are our takeaways from the event.

Consumer Reports warns that last month's Autopilot updates that enabled automatic lane changing may put you at risk of a ticket or accident. Reaction times lagged what a human could do, testers say, and the system cut others off or passed in ways that could violate the law.

Sony says it will not give up on phones, and still considers them indispensable to its business, but will focus on only four regions around the world. The news comes after announcing changes to its range at MWC, with new designs and features, and alterations to its business in Asia.

The rise of hate speech, the trolling, the comment on Facebook? Not Facebook's fault, says Alex Stamos, former chief security officer, in a fireside chat with Kara Swisher at the Collision conference. But the site should still be broken up. And Google too.

Social media has led to a mental health crisis in Gen Z and a rise in hate speech. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, according to Ev Williams, the co-founder of Twitter and Medium. But weaning ourselves off today's social media won't be easy, he told Kara Swisher at the Collision conference.