RØDE Wireless GO Review: The Best Wireless Audio System for YouTubers

Our verdict of the RØDE Wireless GO:
The RØDE Wireless GO is compact, lightweight, and insanely easy to use. Combine it with a lavalier microphone for high-quality audio anywhere.1010

Clean audio is essential for YouTube work. While substandard video with crisp audio is still watchable, high-quality video with bad audio will have audiences clicking away in no time.

Unfortunately, clean audio isn’t the easiest to set up. You need a microphone, you need a way to record the microphone, and you probably want it to be as hassle-free as possible. Wireless audio solutions tend to be expensive, but with the $199 RØDE Wireless GO, YouTubers now have an affordable, hassle-free option for recording audio.

The RØDE Wireless GO is a two-piece system with a transmitter (TX) and a receiver (RX). Here’s what you need to know about it and how much we like it. And at the end of this review, we’re giving a set away.

RØDE Wireless GO: Specifications

For the system:

• Physical dimensions (each): 1.7 x 1.8 x 0.7 inches (44.0 x 46.4 18.5 mm)
• Physical weight (each): 1.1 oz (31.0 g)
• Wireless transmission: 2.4GHz only
• Transmission encryption: 128-bit
• Max transmission range: 230 feet (70 meters)
• Max simultaneous systems: 8 TX-RX pairs
• Audio channels per system: 1
• Battery life (each): 7 hours
• Battery type (each): Built-in rechargeable
• Battery charging options (each): USB Type-C

For the TX transmitter:

• TX audio input: 3.5mm TRS microphone
• TX dynamic range: 100 dBA
• TX frequency range: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• TX polar pattern: Omnidirectional

For the RX receiver:

• RX audio output: 3.5mm TRS microphone
• RX audio gain options: 0 dB/-6 dB/-12 dB

RØDE Wireless GO: What’s Included?

In addition to the TX-RX system, the package comes with a few goodies:

• 1 TX (transmitter)
• 1 RX (receiver)
• 2 TX windshields (a.k.a “deadcats”)
• 2 USB Type-C-to-Type-A cables
• 1 3.5mm TRS male-to-male cable
• 1 pouch to hold the accessories

RØDE Wireless GO: Design and Build Quality

The first thing I noticed after unboxing is that the RØDE Wireless GO truly is the world’s smallest wireless audio system. Prior to this, every audio pack I’ve ever seen or held has been the size of two playing card decks held in hand. But this? This wireless audio system is tiny, and I’m actually concerned that I might lose it someday.

The RØDE Wireless GO is a two-piece system:

There’s the RX receiver, which uses the included 3.5mm TRS cable to plug into any device that accepts a TRS microphone input, most likely your camera. The RX receiver itself has no built-in memory or recording function.

There’s also the TX transmitter, which pairs wirelessly with an RX receiver using the 2.4GHz band (more on the pairing process below). It has a built-in omnidirectional microphone so you don’t need to buy a separate mic, but it does accept a 3.5mm input which is great for plugging in a lavalier mic.

See our recommendations for the best budget lavalier microphones.

The bodies of both the TX and the RX are made from high-quality matte plastic, while their faces are glossy and sleek. Both have clips that allow you to stick them onto clothing, bags, or whatever else, and they hold on pretty well from my experience. The buttons are nice, providing a satisfying tactile click with each press.

Overall, despite how lightweight they are, the build quality is excellent and I’m confident that they could take a beating in real-world scenarios without sustaining too much damage.

RØDE Wireless GO: Usability and Performance

The RØDE Wireless GO is so simple to operate that it doesn’t even come with a manual—only a wordless Quickstart Guide printed on the box itself. I didn’t even need the guide to set things up, but I admit that my previous experience with audio equipment comes with its privileges. I might have struggled if I had never seen an audio pack before.

For a first-time YouTuber, I trust that they’d know enough to decipher the guide and get there eventually.

The pairing process is super simple: as soon as you turn on both TX and RX, they automatically pair. If you have multiple systems, you can do it manually by holding the pairing button on the RX until it enters pairing mode, then pressing the Ø button on the TX you want to pair. Done!

While multiple systems are supported, there’s a limit of 8 simultaneous pairs due to the limitations of the 2.4GHz wireless band. In fact, note that the 2.4GHz band is the same one used by Wi-Fi connections, and you may experience interference in densely populated areas (e.g. apartments in large cities) due to Wi-Fi congestion.

Each TX-RX pair has an operating range up to 230 feet (70 meters) , which is more than enough for any kind of YouTube video, even ones that have you going outside. And while the official specifications say line-of-sight is required, I found that audio transmission still works fine even behind multiple walls.

As for weight, the TX transmitter and RX receivers are like feathers. Individually, they weigh less than my wallet—and trust me, my wallet is minimal and sparse. It’s absolutely perfect for taking on trips (and the included windshields are a nice touch for outdoor recording), but even if you stay in and only record at home, the lightness makes it a joy to work with.

And with the clips, you can mount them pretty much anywhere.

That said, it’s a shame that the RX receiver doesn’t have a shoe mount for mounting directly onto a camera. Instead, you simply plug it into the microphone port and let it dangle. It’s light enough to cause no concern for damage, but it’s a bit unsightly. If you don’t like the dangling and can’t clip the RX receiver to the camera, there’s always gaffer tape.

The audio quality out of the TX transmitter’s built-in microphone isn’t bad, but it does leave me wanting. Then again, how much can you expect out of something so small? My expectations weren’t high, so it’s not like I’m disappointed. It’s certainly passable for anything but the most professional podcasts and YouTube videos.

But I do recommend using it with a lavalier microphone, as that’s when the RØDE Wireless GO system really shines. See the review video at the start of this article to hear an audio comparison between the built-in microphone and a Boya BY-M1 lavalier microphone.

The slated battery life is 7 hours, and I found that to be true. The package comes with two USB-C-to-USB-A cables, allowing you to charge both TX and RX at the same time. But there is no charger included, so you’ll have to use your computer or one you probably already own.

RØDE Wireless GO: Final Thoughts

The RØDE Wireless GO is available for $199. With a budget lavalier microphone, the total goes up to about $219. For comparison, the RØDE RodeLink Filmmaker Kit—which comes with a receiver, a transmitter, and lavalier microphone—costs $399. Of course the RodeLink is slightly more advanced, but the functionality is essentially the same, and the Wireless GO is half the price.

That’s an insane deal for what you’re getting, and the fact that the Wireless GO is so tiny and lightweight cannot be overstated. You can literally slip these into your pocket, take them anywhere you want, and you won’t even notice they’re in there.

Honestly? The RØDE Wireless GO is a game-changer for YouTubers. Highly recommended.

Enter the Competition!

Rode Wireless Go Giveaway

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Startups Weekly: Will the Seattle tech scene ever reach its full potential?

Greetings from Seattle, the land of Amazon, Microsoft, two of the world’s richest men and some startups.

I’m always surprised the Seattle startup ecosystem hasn’t grown to compete with the likes of Silicon Valley — or at least Boston and New York City — since the dot-com boom. Today, it’s the strongest it’s has been due to the successes of companies like the newly minted unicorn Outreach, trucking business Convoy and, of course, the dog walking startup Rover. But the city still lags behind, failing to adopt the culture of entrepreneurship that defines San Francisco.

I spent a lot of time wondering why it hasn’t reached its full potential. Is it because Microsoft and Amazon pay their employees so well they don’t have the same urge to build something from the ground up? Is it a lack of access to capital? Is the city not attracting top talent? If you have thoughts, send them my way.

“We think part of the issue is a lack of capital and a lack of help,” Rover and Pioneer Square Labs co-founder Greg Gottesman told TechCrunch earlier this year. “If we can provide a little bit of both of those things, we can really put Seattle where it deserves to be, should be and will be.”

Despite its shortcomings, there is still some action in the city I want to highlight this week. A same-day delivery business, Dolly, is on the rise. The startup told me on Thursday it had raised a $7.5 million round from Unlock Venture Partners, Maveron and Jeff Wilke, the chief executive officer of Amazon Worldwide Consumer. Maveron, if you remember, is the VC fund co-founded by Starbucks founder Howard Schultz.

In other Seattle news, Madrona Venture Group, a well-regarded fund, raised an additional $100 million this week. Typically, Madrona focuses on companies based in the Pacific Northwest, but this fund will deploy capital throughout the entire U.S. Hmmm, that’s not necessarily a good sign for Seattle founders, but great progress for the ecosystem nonetheless.

If you’re interested in learning more about Seattle tech, I’ve covered it a bit because it’s my hometown! Start with this story, which dives deep into a Seattle accelerator that’s working hard to encourage entrepreneurship in the city. Alright, on to other news.

Want more TechCrunch newsletters? Sign up here.

IPO corner!

WeWork: The co-working giant now known as The We Company submitted confidential IPO documents to the SEC, the company confirmed in a press release Monday. Is this the next massive startup win or a house of cards waiting to be toppled by the glare of the public markets? TechCrunch’s Danny Crichton investigates.

Slack: The business is in its final steps toward a much-anticipated direct listing, with one source telling TechCrunch the listing will be complete within 45 days. The WSJ reported this week that Slack will make an online presentation to potential shareholders on May 13. This week, we dug deep into Slack’s S-1 and decided to evaluate just how well the tech press, us included, did in covering the company. For the most part, the tech press did decently well, except for one curious, $162 million gap.

Uber: Finally! That ride-hailing company is going public next week. That latest news? Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick won’t be ringing the opening bell. Uber would not be where it is today without Kalanick, but him being there would surely be a reminder of Uber’s rocky past.

Beyond Meat: Shares of the company surged up 135 percent in their market opener last week, valuing the company as high as $3.52 billion. Volatility was so high on the company’s stock that the Nasdaq had to pause trading of “BYND” shares.

Micro-mobility instability:

Ofo has run into its fair share of issues, laying off hundreds of workers, shutting down its international division and more. Now, you can buy a piece of the startup’s history.

Now you can buy a piece of startup history… Ofo bikes for ~$60 https://t.co/LLJbDOXm0C

— Jon Russell (@jonrussell) April 29, 2019

In other micro-mobility news, Lyft’s head of scooter & bikes Liam O’Connor, who was hired to help transportation company Lyft build its bike and scooter operations, has left after seven months with the newly-public company. TechCrunch’s Ingrid Lunden has the scoop. Plus, Bird, the electric scooter unicorn doing its best to overcome regulatory barriers, has made its way back to San Francisco. Bird is using its business license in San Francisco to introduce monthly personal rentals in the city. The program enables people to rent a scooter for $24.99 a month with no cap on the number of rides. We’ll how that goes.

WTF?

For some reason, people are giving Magic Leap more money. The company has secured another $280 million in a deal with Japan’s largest mobile operator, Docomo. Do you know what that means? The developer fo AR/VR headsets has raised a total of $2.6 billion. We’re just as confused as you.

Brand new venture capital funds:

Unshackled Ventures raised $20 million. 

Exclusive: @UnshackledVC has a new $20M pre-seed fund to invest only in immigrants. Why? Because immigrants are "inherently more entrepreneurial:" https://t.co/ZLiZ1UczJV

— Kate Clark (@KateClarkTweets) May 2, 2019

Jungle Ventures closed on $175 million.

And Toyota AI Ventures launched a $100 million fund.

Startup Capital

• UiPath nabs $568M at a $7B valuation
• Utah’s Divvy raises another $200M to eliminate expense reports
• Glovo, the on-demand app, raises $169M Series D
• Awair raises $10M to help companies like WeWork monitor their office environments

Uber investors exit

I have the inside story on Menlo Ventures early Uber stake and TechCrunch’s Connie Loizos goes deep with early Uber backer Bradley Tusk.

Extra Crunch!

This week, we offer TechCrunch Extra Crunch subscribers exclusive tips on building extraordinary teams. Plus, the final piece in TechCrunch’s Greg Kumparak’s series on Niantic, the fast-growing developer of Pokemon Go. If you recall, we’ve captured much of Niantic’s ongoing story in the first three parts of our EC-1, from its beginnings as an “entrepreneurial lab” within Google, to its spin-out as an independent company and the launch of Pokémon GO, to its ongoing focus on becoming a platform for others to build augmented reality products upon.

#Equitypod

If you enjoy this newsletter, be sure to check out TechCrunch’s venture-focused podcast, Equity. In this week’s episode, available here, Crunchbase News editor-in-chief Alex Wilhelm and TechCrunch’s Danny Crichton chat about updates at the Vision Fund, Cheddar’s big exit and more of this week’s headlines.

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Former YouTube star sentenced to ten years in prison for child porn

Former Youtube star Austin Jones has been sentenced to ten years in a US federal prison after pleading guilty to persuading underage girls to send him explicit videos of themselves.

Jones, who made a name for himself online singing covers of songs, was arrested and charged in 2017 with two counts of producing child pornography.

He later pled guilty to one charge of receiving child pornography — admitting in a plea agreement that in 2016 and 2017 he enticed six girls to to produce and send explicit videos to “prove” they were his “biggest fan”, per Buzzfeed.

“Production and receipt of child pornography are extraordinarily serious offenses that threaten the safety of our children and communities,” it quotes assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Neff Welsh writing in a sentencing memo. “Jones’s actions took something from his victims and their families that they will never be able to get back.”

At the height of his YouTube fame Jones had around 540,000 subscribers to his channel and more than 20M video views.

In a 2015 apology vlog, after reports emerged of Jones asking young fans to send him twerking videos, he claimed it never went further than that. “There were never any nudes, never any physical contact, it never happened,” he said then.

But in his plea agreement Jones admitted to attempting to persuade more than thirty underage fans to send him explicit photos or videos.

YouTube removed Jones’ channel after he pled guilty in February — saying it had violated its community guidelines. But the Google-owned company initially refused to shutter it, telling the BBC a few days earlier that while it does have a policy of removing content when a person is convicted of a crime “in some cases” it does so only if the content is closely related to the crime committed.

Describing her experience in a vlog also posted to YouTube, one former fan she had received messages from Jones asking her for twerking videos prior to his 2015 apology video when she was 14-years-old.

“I just don’t understand how these people can let the fame get to their heads that much that they think it’s alright to do something to people like this,” she said. “It’s so messed up. But the fact that his fanbase was these vulnerable, insecure young girls makes it so much worse than it already is… He knew that that was his fanbase and he took advantage of that.”

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5 Gmail Desktop and Laptop Tools to Power Up Your Email Inbox

Gmail is great on both laptops and phones. But if you primarily access Gmail on your computer, it can be a whole lot better if you club it with these awesome extensions and add-ons.

Google has killed its email app Inbox and incorporated some of its most powerful features in Gmail. This includes AI-based additions like smart replies, as well as long-awaited features like scheduling emails to be sent later.

1. Simplify Gmail (Chrome): Co-Creator of Inbox “Fixes” Gmail

After rolling out all the new changes, the end result of Gmail is a cluttered interface that can be overwhelming for some. Here’s a fix for that from the co-creator of Inbox itself.

Michael Leggett, the former lead designer of Google, released the Simplify Gmail extension for Chrome right after Inbox shut down. The extension primarily hides the left and right sidebars by default, which are usually cluttered with chats, labels, and apps. The search bar at the top is also hidden by default, but can be activated with a click. Most prominently, the big Google logo is gone.

None of the features of Gmail, or those introduced after Inbox, are missing in Simplify. The extension is akin to a skin that masks the cluttered mess of the new Gmail to make it just about you and your inbox.

Download: Simplify Gmail for Chrome (Free)

2. Darwin Mail (Web): Go Back to Inbox By Gmail

A lot of Inbox users are mad at Google for shutting down Inbox, which they preferred to Gmail. While there are some great Google Inbox alternatives, only Darwin Mail faithfully recreates the Inbox interface and incorporates its beloved features.

Almost everything you loved about Inbox is still in Darwin Mail. It looks and feels like Inbox, with the same color schemes and even a “show important mails” toggle.

You can snooze incoming emails so that they pop back into your inbox later. You can even set reminders as part of a to-do list of items. There are email templates to go through, and a Dark Mode for focussed productivity.

Darwin Mail asks for access to your Gmail, but doesn’t seem to have all of Gmail’s features yet. Smart Replies, for instance, did not work in Darwin Mail in our tests.

The good news is that Darwin Mail doesn’t need you to download or install anything. Go to the app, click the “Get Free Access” button, and you can try out this service in a few seconds.

3. Replies.CC and Mail2Sheet (Web): Convert Replies Into Spreadsheet

An email thread between many people can get overwhelming to track. For example, if you’re conducting a poll and want to collect the yes or no, or sending an invitation and want to collect the RSVPs. Replies.CC and Mail2Sheet are separate apps that convert an email thread’s replies into a spreadsheet.

For both apps, you need to add a custom CC to the email you are sending, and remind people to click “Reply All” or at least to both you and the custom email. If the reply doesn’t include the app’s email address, it won’t work.

Replies.CC is a little smarter among the two. It parses through the reply to see if the recipient said Yes or No to present just that word in a separate field, along with the sentiment (positive or negative). It also adds each recipient’s signature as a field, separate from the full text of the reply. In a single glance, you’ll be able to tell who said yes or no, and plan accordingly.

Mail2Sheet is much simpler. Create a custom email address, add it to the CC, and it will collect each and every reply you get. There is no parsing of sentiments or anything else, it is pure data, collected in a spreadsheet, and you can do whatever you want with it.

Both apps are free, but Mail2Sheet lets you use the same custom email address again for a second round of emails, which can be great for continued data gathering in the same spreadsheet.

4. Snov.io Unlimited Email Tracker (Chrome): Free and Unlimited Mail Tracking App

Almost every email tracking app has some hidden limitations. Some will cap the number of emails you can track, others will cap the number of times a single message is tracked, a few will ask you to add their signature, and to skip all this, you have to pay a price. Well, not with Snov.io Unlimited Email Tracker.

This is among the few email tracking apps for Gmail that is completely free and means it. The recipient won’t know that you’re tracking if they have opened and read the email, or how many clicks it has got.

There are other features in the extension too, like scheduling emails to send them later, as well as setting reminders to follow-up to emails. Whether you’re looking for them or not, these are handy to have.

So why is it free? Snov.io is hoping you will use the extension long enough to want to try out one of their marketing campaigns, but there is no obligation to do that. The email tracker is essentially Snov.io’s form of advertising itself.

Download: Snov.io Unlimited Email Tracker for Chrome (Free)

5. Drag 2.0 (Chrome): Shared Gmail Trello Boards for Teams

Sortd and Drag are two extensions that bring the concept of kanban boards (or Trello-like boards) to Gmail. They are among the best Gmail productivity tools. The new Drag v2.0 is a cool upgrade for teams who work in Gmail.

Add your team members to a Drag board, and you can drag-and-drop messages between different columns as if they were cards. You can assign a card to a team member, set reminders and deadlines, write comments, and do all the basic things you would expect a productivity board to let you do.

These features are available in the paid version of Drag, not the free version. You can try the free version to try it out as an individual, but Drag is best used as a team tool, for which you’ll need to pay $10 per user per month.

Download: Drag for Chrome (Free, Premium for $10/user/mo)

Other Awesome Gmail Extensions

This list is just the tip of the iceberg. The Chrome Store has a wide variety of extensions and tools to tweak Gmail to your liking. To begin with, here are our picks for the best Chrome extensions to super-power your Gmail experience.

Read the full article: 5 Gmail Desktop and Laptop Tools to Power Up Your Email Inbox

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The 5 Best Blog Sites Other Than WordPress and Blogger

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably decided that WordPress isn’t for you. If it’s because you tried WordPress and didn’t like the overall structure and design of the platform, then that’s fine. Totally valid.

But if it’s because you couldn’t get WordPress set up properly, or if it was too much work to maintain and administrate, we recommend reconsidering.

Try using a managed WordPress host like WP Engine, which handles the hassle of WordPress sites for you and allows you to focus entirely on your content. (What is managed WordPress hosting?)

If you still want to use something other than WordPress and Blogger, then here are some of the best alternative blogging platforms for your content. In this day and age, we’re all spoiled for choice.

Blogging Platforms: Making an Informed Decision

When mulling over your options, it’s a good idea to consider which features and components of a blog hosting site you’ll need:

1. What kind of design tools do they offer? Some platforms have hundreds of free templates, others require significant coding experience. Be sure to pick a platform that is at the right level of complexity (and quality) for your needs.
2. What hosting options are available? Some platforms offer free web hosting as part of their package. While this is convenient and cheap, it also means that they retain some rights to your content and, technically, have the option of deleting it at any time. In addition, there may be significant limits on your site’s bandwidth and performance.
3. How much does it cost? If you’re writing a hobby blog, chances are your budget won’t stretch very far. On the other hand, for blogs that are part of a larger business strategy, or blogs that are businesses themselves, it may be worth spending money on a premium blogging platform.
4. Who can you reach? Blog posts published on some platforms remain largely within that user base, whereas others are more likely to reach the internet at large. Depending on the purpose of your blog, you may prefer one or the other.

1. Medium

Medium is a platform dedicated to the essence of blogging: the craft of writing. Bloggers can post text-heavy posts with a few videos or images on their Medium account (accessible through a unique username-based URL). You can create posts using the web tool or through Medium’s dedicated mobile apps (iOS, Android).

Design Tools: The uniform appearance of all Medium posts puts all the emphasis on your writing. You can accompany posts with audio, video, or images, but all posts will look the same and you cannot customize your profile page.

Hosting Options: All profiles are hosted on Medium.

Cost: Completely free.

Reach: Medium has a strong community of writers sharing information on numerous topics. Through hashtags, highlights, and responses you can communicate with other authors and reach new audiences.

Ideal Choice For: If you’re just looking to get your words out on paper, and you don’t care about how they look or about building an independent site, Medium may be the best choice for you. You can join a strong, existing community for free, and will spend virtually no time working on anything other than writing. Those looking for customization, a stand-alone URL, or a multi-purpose blog should look elsewhere.

2. Tumblr

Tumblr, done right, is an effective microblogging platform. You can post videos, images, audio clips, text, GIFs, and links to your blog, which can be accessed by other Tumblr users and the Internet at large. You can share unique content or re-blog other users’ content using either the web platform or the Tumblr mobile apps (iOS, Android).

Design Tools: You can create custom themes for your Tumblr blog using basic HTML, or choose from a wide selection of free and paid existing blog templates. It’s important to note that while these themes will allow you to customize your blog’s homepage, it will not affect how your posts are seen on other users’ Tumblr feeds.

Hosting Options: Blogs are automatically hosted on Tumblr, but you can choose to use an external URL for your blog from a different host.

Cost: Tumblr’s basic functions are free, but external hosting or upgraded themes cost extra.

Reach: If you get in with the right community, Tumblr can have incredible reach. On the other hand, it’s also easy for your blog to fade into obscurity if your blog’s content doesn’t mesh well with Tumblr’s culture. Hashtags and cross-promotion on other forms of social media are key for attracting followers. Unfortunately, Tumblr’s default analytics are significantly lacking compared to other platforms—you may need to add Google Analytics to your blog’s theme using some HTML.

Ideal Choice For: Casual bloggers who are willing to spend a small amount of time making minor changes to a pre-existing theme and who regularly use mobile devices for posting. As well, bloggers interested in niche topics with an active Tumblr community are likely to find success. Those looking for a platform with significant customizability and analytics should likely choose a different platform.

3. Wix

Okay, so you don’t want to join a new social media platform—you want a stand-alone and customizable blog that’s easy to create (and maybe with some e-commerce compatibility). In this case, Wix may be the perfect fit for you.

Design Tools: Wix prides itself on being a visually appealing platform. You’ll find a fantastic drag-and-drop design process with some limited HTML customization. To remove Wix branding from your site, you need to purchase a premium plan.

Hosting Options: By default, sites are hosted on Wix. But, custom domains are available with a premium plan.

Cost: Free to create. Premium plans begin at $18/mo.

Reach: Wix doesn’t have a built-in community, but does have the benefit of being a stand-alone site with good opportunities for content promotion and SEO.

Ideal Choice For: Beginner bloggers who want to focus more on their writing than blog design, but who want some room to grow in the future. More advanced bloggers looking for significant customizability, security, and numerous plug-ins may prefer other options.

Learn more about creating a website with Wix.

4. Joomla

Joomla is a powerful open-source, multi-purpose blogging platform. However, with great power comes great responsibility: if you don’t know what you’re doing, you may find yourself out of your depth!

Design Tools: Armed with HTML, your design options for a Joomla site are basically endless. Or you can choose to use one of the 100+ templates available.

Hosting Options: You must find an external host for websites using the Joomla platform.

Cost: While creating your site with Joomla is free for 90 days, the price will go up (sometimes significantly) after this based on your blog’s performance. You also need to pay for the external hosting fees.

Reach: While some Joomla themes are mobile-friendly, this is not true for all of them. The platform has e-commerce support, built-in analytics, and SEO plug-ins.

Ideal Choice For: If your blog is part of a larger website or business, upgrading to a full content management system like Joomla may make sense. The platform is secure, with significant customer support and room to grow your blog in any direction. However, the cost and learning curve may make it less than ideal for beginner bloggers.

Note: This is specifically about Launch Joomla, which is a hosted version of Joomla. As with WordPress, you can always download Joomla for free and host it on your own web server.

5. Ghost

Ghost is an open-source platform focused on providing blogging functionality with a simple and intuitive interface. It’s ideal for those who value beautiful content but who aren’t quite ready for the intensity of a full-blown content management system.

Design Tools: Ghost features a live preview tool, which allows you to immediately notice any spelling or coding errors. Ghost users have access to over 100 design templates and HTML customization.

Hosting Options: Custom domains are available with a premium plan, otherwise Ghost hosts your blog for free.

Cost: Free to create. Premium plans start at $19/mo.

Reach: Ghost has SEO optimization tools, as well as built-in analytics and ad integration tools.

Ideal Choice For: Bloggers with some experience who want more design freedom than a free platform, but who also value ease-of-use. Ghost is not ideal for individuals who require e-commerce functionality or who rely heavily on plug-ins.

Which Blogging Platform Is Right for You?

If you want to move away from WordPress and Blogger, then one of these alternative blogging platforms may be exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t like them? There are plenty more sites out there, including Weebly, TypePad, and Squarespace. (The differences between Squarespace and WordPress!)

Having tried all of these alternatives, if you decide that WordPress is the right blogging platform for you after all, consider using a managed WordPress host like WP Engine. We use it to run our sister sites and we couldn’t be happier.

Image Credit: Julia Tim/Shutterstock

Read the full article: The 5 Best Blog Sites Other Than WordPress and Blogger

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5 Apps and Sites for Awesome Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts

Have you planned something special for Mother’s Day? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some fantastic apps and sites that double up as cool gifts.

These aren’t limited to gifts you can give your mom alone. These are for any mother you know, so you can surprise your wife, your daughter, or even your grandma.

1. Automatic Mother’s Day Movie With Google Photos

If you aren’t using it already, then get Google Photos to back up all your pictures. It’s the best service out there, since you get unlimited image backups at a decent resolution.

Google Photos is fantastic to backup all pictures, and it also includes some smart AI features. The AI can create special videos out of your photos, such as a Mother’s Day movie maker. It’s completely automatic.

The movie-maker shows an array of people, and asks you to choose the mother as well as her children. This can also include fur children. That’s all you need to do. With its face recognition technology, Google Photos will identify and pick appropriate images from your collection and make a neat movie.

It works well, and the end product is something you’ll love to share with your mom. And yes, you can download and share the video anywhere, your mom doesn’t need to have Google Photos.

2. Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Mom?

The greatest gift you can give your mom on this day is a chance to get to know you better. And in turn, find out a little bit more about her.

StoryWorth made a Mother’s Day quiz to find out how well you know your mom, and vice versa. As the child, tap “How well do you know your mom?” to get started, and answer the multiple-choice questions.

The questions are quite entertaining. For example, what’s her dream vacation, or which type of cat would she be, or which celebrity would be her best friend. Finish the quiz, save your answers, and send it to your mother. She’ll take the same quiz and then you can match your answers.

It’s a fun and insightful personality quiz that can reveal more about your mom than you already know. Once you’re done, encourage your mom to take the “How well do you know your child?” quiz and send it to you.

3. Peanut: Mom-to-Mom Friend-Finding App

There’s a new social network on the block. Peanut is made for mothers to find other mothers nearby. Think of it as Tinder, but for moms to find nearby moms who they share a lot in common with.

Peanut connects to your Facebook account and pulls data from it, as well as photos (but you can edit these). Add information about how many children you have, what age they are, and so on.

Customize your profile (single mama, neighborhood newbie, geek chic, spiritual gangster, fashion killa, etc.) so that you can find like-minded mothers living near you. This can lead to quick meetups for a glass of wine, playdates, last-minute babysitting help, and so much more.

The app functions like most dating apps. Swipe to accept or send a request, swipe to reject someone’s “wave” at you. Once you match, you can send messages to set up a meeting.

Download: Peanut for iOS | Android (Free)

4. Visit /r/MothersDay on Reddit for Ideas

You aren’t the only person on the internet who waited too late for Mother’s Day gifts. Join countless others at Reddit’s r/MothersDay community for a bank of gift ideas, trivia, and last-minute suggestions to make this day special for a mom in your life.

There are discussions about easy-to-hack gifts that you can put together in a jiffy, or if you are visiting early enough, thoughtful suggestions that take some time to make. You’ll even find other Redditors ready to sell their skills for a small price, like someone who will write a custom poem for your mom.

Once you get an idea, head to your city’s local subreddit to find other suggestions and local crafts-makers, who can perhaps build and ship a custom gift in much less time than an online order.

5. Create a Website for Your Mom

If she isn’t too tech-savvy, this might be the coolest tech gift you can give mom. It’s easier than ever to create a personalized website, so make one for your mother.

Our recommendation, as always, is to use About.Me. It’s the easiest to set up, even if you don’t know anything about creating a website. Plus, the free option gives you a simple web address, like “about.me/momsname”. And for $80 per year, you can customize the web address to whatever you want.

Spend Time With Mom

The best gift any mom could ask for on Mother’s Day is to have her children spend time with her. A phone call is great, but meeting together is even better.

One of the coolest ideas we’ve come across is to watch a Netflix movie with mom. And if you can’t make it in person, send her a Mother’s Day special Spotify playlist that tells her you’re thinking of her.

Read the full article: 5 Apps and Sites for Awesome Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts

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10 Netflix Movies to Watch With Mom on Mother’s Day

Most moms love to spend time with their families, and this is especially true on Mother’s Day. So, after you all go out for that big meal, why not gather around the TV and relax with a movie.

Netflix boasts some great movies to watch with mom on Mother’s Day and beyond. The streaming service has movies to make you chuckle, shed a tear, and enjoy the holiday with those you love.

In this article, we have the best Netflix movies to watch with mom on Mother’s Day.

Netflix Movies to Watch With Mom

You may have a grown child who is starting their own life or a baby who is just beginning theirs. Either way, these films will have you and your mom dancing, smiling, and laughing together this Mother’s Day.

1. Hairspray

Some movies are just fun to watch with mom and Hairspray is one of them. Follow a plump teenage girl, played by Nikki Blonsky, land a spot on a television dance show in 1962. What she does to fit in and how she does it, creates this upbeat musical that neither of you will forget.

A remake of the original 1988 film, this version of Hairspray will have you and your mom putting on your dance shoes and dancing along with the movie.

2. Chocolat

What mom doesn’t enjoy a bit of chocolate now and then? Or in this case, the movie Chocolat. Follow a mom and her daughter as they head to France and open a very unique chocolate shop in a quiet, old-fashioned village.

With delicious treats that bring more than a satisfied sweet tooth, the townspeople begin to experience more happiness than they’ve known. The film stars Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, and Johnny Depp for a tasty mix of talent.

3. Monster-in-Law

When a single woman about to give up on love meets Mr. Right who has a mother on a mission to keep them apart, a Monster-in-Law is created. This hysterical film starring Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, and Michael Vartan is an entertaining way to spend Mother’s Day with your mom or your mother-in-law.

How far will a mother go to keep her successful, handsome son all to herself? Sit back, relax, and prepare to laugh as you find out with Monster-in-Law.

Netflix Movies to Watch With the Family

Sometimes a funny film that the entire family can enjoy is the perfect way to spend time together. These family-friendly Netflix movies will definitely put smiles on faces.

4. Harry and the Hendersons

Harry and the Hendersons is a cute movie that starts with a family led by John Lithgow traveling home through the woods. They have a slight accident when they hit something with their car and then discover it’s a sasquatch! Thinking the poor creature didn’t make it, they bring it home with them. But then the creature awakens, and the real fun begins.

Not judging a book by its cover is just one moral of this story. The scary sasquatch turns out to be the opposite to what you’d think, making this heartwarming tale a great one to share with the kids. And along with many others, this film is on our list of Netflix movies to watch on Father’s Day too.

5. Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves

This amusing follow-up to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is one of those movies your children or grandchildren will love. In this sequel, rather than shrinking the kids, the silly scientist shrinks himself, and inadvertently a few other people. The best part is that his children have no idea and think they are simply home alone.

For a wacky bit of entertainment, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves is a fun family film.

6. The Flintstones

Based on the widely popular cartoon, The Flintstones movie from 1994 is hilarious. With a winning cast of John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell, Elizabeth Perkins, and other great actors, this film is worth a watch.

Take your family on a fun-filled trip to Bedrock with Fred, Barney, and the rest of the clan to see what happens with Fred lands the job of his dreams. You’ll be glad you did.

7. Are We There Yet?

When a ladies’ man, played by Ice Cube, tries to win over a beautiful divorced woman, he decides to take her children on a road trip to help her out. Unfortunately, he has no idea what lies ahead on this trip for him as these kids are aren’t exactly up for a new man in their mom’s life.

With tons of laughs, watch the hilarious extremes these children will go through to protect their mom from the dating game. The whole family is sure to enjoy this comedy on Mother’s Day.

Classic Movies for Everyone to Enjoy on Netflix

Whether an older movie you miss, or a classic story brought up to date for modern sensibilities, the movies are for everyone to enjoy together. And if you really love these classics, check out our guide to FilmStruck for even more options.

8. Benji

Lassie wasn’t the only dog capable of being a savior. As in 1974 Benji came to the big screen. This adorable pup saves two children who have been kidnapped. And the journey that he goes on is an unforgettable one.

Follow Benji in this classic film that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with that furry little guy. Dog moms everywhere will appreciate the original.

9. Little Women

For another wonderful classic tale, this version of Little Women is a 1994 remake of the 1933 film and adaptation of the 1868 novel. Starring Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, and Kirsten Dunst, prepare to go back in time to the post-Civil War era in America.

The story takes you on a journey with a mother and her daughters as they learn to live and grow after the man of the house leaves to help the cause. Little Women is a sentimental film that will make you laugh and cry together.

10. Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast may not be considered a classic in the true sense of the word. But the story is one that mothers have read to their daughters for generations. This 2017 adaptation of the storybook stars Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast.

When the two fall in love, it is a wonderful reminder and important lesson for all that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Pick a Movie and Prepare for Mother’s Day

Hopefully one or more of these Netflix movies will make its way into your plans for Mother’s Day. And as you’re on a mission to make mom feel special on her big day, how about adding a gift?

If you need help in that department then check out these sites for Mother’s Day gifts and this list of gift ideas for geeky moms for inspiration.

Image Credit: AndreyPopov/Depositphotos

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Spotify’s leanback instant listening app Stations hits iOS

Spotify has launched its instant listening app Stations on iOS, but only in Australia for the time being. The release comes nearly a year and a half after the Stations app first arrived on the market, initially for Android users in Australia. Dubbed an “experiment,” the app allows users to jump right into streaming instead of having to curate their own playlists or stations, or save favorite music to their library.

Unlike Spotify’s flagship application, the Stations app presents users with a minimalist interface where available playlists are displayed with an oversized font. You can scroll up and down between the playlists to select one, instead of typing in a search box or searching through voice commands.

When launching Stations, music begins playing automatically — a feature that had some calling it a “Pandora copycat” at the time of launch, given that instant music playback is something that Spotify’s rival Pandora already supports.

Stations was largely designed for those who want a more radio-like experience that involves less manual input. Free users will hear ads, be able to thumbs up and down songs, but can’t skip tracks. Premium users who download Stations get unlimited skips and ad-free listening.

The Stations app today features a range of playlists by genre, decade, activity and more, but also becomes personalized to the end-user over time. You can also opt to create your own stations by selecting from favorite artists in an experience that’s reminiscent of the customization offered today by YouTube Music — right down to the rounded artist profile photos you tap on.

As you listen to music on Stations, you can thumbs up and down songs in order to have it create custom stations personalized to you — including a Discover Weekly playlist, Release Radar, and a Favorites playlist.

Not much had been heard about Stations since its January 2018 debut. And its limited release — it never hit the U.S., for example — could have indicated it was an experiment that didn’t quite pan out.

But it now seems that’s not the case, given the new expansion to iOS.

By offering the app to more users, Spotify has the chance to learn and collect data from a larger and more representative group of people. Whether or not it takes any ideas from Stations to its main app remains to be seen.

The company declined to comment on its plans, when asked.

“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” a spokesperson said. “Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We aren’t going to comment on specific tests at this time,” they added.

Stations is live now on iOS in Australia. More information on the app is on the (newly updated) Help site here.

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