Tech Tips

The Best Tech Newsletters to Subscribe to in 2026 The better question isn't "which newsletter is the best?" It's "which newsletter is best for you?" That's the lens Greg Doig applies every week while putting together the Friday Tech Roundup at Tech Brewed. Greg has spent years sorting signal from noise in tech media, and the Friday Tech Roundup reflects that same discipline, built around what's actually useful rather than what's merely popular. This list follows the same logic: fit first, hype last. The goal is trusted insights and bite-sized insights you can use, not an endless stream of top stories. What makes a tech newsletter actually worth your time Before jumping into specific names, it helps to know what you're actually looking for. Most people subscribe based on a recommendation, skim the first two issues, then let the thing pile up unread. Anecdotally, that pattern shows up constantly in conversations about newsletter habits. Th...

Photographer: Ellicia | Source: Unsplash A small business does not need an enterprise security department or dedicated security staff to make meaningful progress. It does need a short list of controls that someone owns, checks, and tests. This small-business cybersecurity checklist focuses on the basics that protect access, reduce data loss, and make recovery less chaotic. It also includes two items many checklists underplay: knowing who owns your data and proving that your backups can be restored. The goal is not to build a perfect security program. The goal is to make the biggest vulnerabilities less likely and less damaging. Start with the accounts that control everything else Your email account is usually the first account to protect. Whoever controls it may be able to reset passwords for your website, cloud storage, social profiles, accounting tools, and other services. Make a list of your highest-impact accounts: Primary email Domain registrar and DNS provider Website and hostin...

Photographer: Nabil Saleh | Source: Unsplash Quick Summary Nine PBS, a public TV station, lost access to decades of programming when its storage vendor shut down and stopped responding. The data was probably still there, but the station couldn’t access it due to a dispute over control. The incident uncovers a basic data backup - definition: keeping independent, recoverable copies of important information. The takeaway: even if you pay your bills and use cloud services, you might lose access if your vendor disappears. What’s at Stake for a Small Business Website pages, blog posts, product info, and images Photos, videos, logos, and PDFs (menus, brochures, spec sheets) Customer records, invoices, and financial files Contracts and compliance documents, including GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations Email lists and marketing materials Domain, DNS, and key account logins Reports and historical records you need for taxes or audits Business information stored across SaaS applications and other ...

Photographer: Markus Winkler | Source: Unsplash Open source is more than a way to build computer software. It is a set of values centered on freedom, transparency, collaboration, and user control. In a world shaped by artificial intelligence, cloud computing platforms, and large technology companies, these ideas matter more than ever. They help people understand who controls the tools they use, where their data lives, and whether they can change or move their digital work. This guide explains the open source definition in simple terms. It also explores the difference between proprietary software and open-source technology, the concept of digital landownership, and why the open-source philosophy is becoming important for individuals, developers, creators, and small businesses. What is open source? Open source refers to software whose source code is available for people to inspect, use, modify, and share under the terms of a license. The source code is the set of instructions that tells...

Introduction If you’re about to spend four figures on a new phone or laptop, pause. For most people, the “latest and greatest” delivers tiny gains at massive markups. And if what you really want is a device that feels fast, lasts all day, and doesn’t stress you out—there’s a smarter move: buy refurbished . Refurbished tech (when it’s done right) delivers 90–95% of the real-world experience for a fraction of the price. It’s also one of the easiest ways to save money without “downgrading your life”—especially if you’re willing to buy used computers that have been professionally checked and warrantied. If you want a quick win before you buy anything, start here: these tips to speed up your iPhone and Mac without buying new hardware often make an “old” device feel surprisingly new again. This guide breaks down why the upgrade treadmill exists, what “refurbished” actually means, how to buy safely, and where the biggest savings usually are (including refurbished laptops online ). Why you ...

On June 2, 2026 , Microsoft used Build 2026 to make one thing very clear: it wants Windows 11 to feel like a “first-class” developer platform — especially if your daily workflow includes Linux commands, containers, and (increasingly) AI assistance. If you’ve ever bounced between PowerShell, WSL, Docker, and a half-dozen setup scripts just to get a laptop into a “ready-to-code” state… this is Microsoft trying to remove that friction. The official announcement is here: Build 2026: Furthering Windows as the trusted platform for development . The big shift: fewer workarounds, more “flow.” For years, Windows development has often meant one of these compromises: You run Windows, but you basically live inside WSL. You run Windows, but your scripts are constantly “if Windows then…” conditional chaos. You avoid Windows entirely for dev work. Build 2026 is Microsoft saying: let’s stop fighting the reality that developers like Linux tooling — and instead make it feel natural on Windows. 1) Co...