Virtual reality is finally taking off, and modern technology is allowing users to skip the ultra-expensive visual contraptions in favor of a simple mechanism to utilize the screen on your smartphone!

The Virtual Reality Box Headset builds on Google’s ‘Cardboard’ technology to deliver a headset made from high quality ABS plastic, and 42mm spherical resin lenses to bring you gorgeous 3D effects. For a limited time, it’s just $18.99 on TNW Deals .

Simply insert your phone into the sliding tray, with compatible models running up to and including iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note series.

The one-size-fits-all design allows you to adjust lens distance and focus for an optimal fit, even while wearing your glasses (if you have them). The app will render a set of stereoscopic images that your eyes will then interpret as a single three-dimensional image.

There is already a wide range of apps in both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store that give you a deep-dive experience in the world of VR. With the sleek and stylish Stormtrooper design on your Virtual Reality Box Headset, you’ll be able to take advantage of it all with an optimal visual experience.

Play VR games in an entirely new setting, watch movies in a virtual cinema, or explore dedicated VR demo apps with the wide range of accessibility.

Your Virtual Reality Box Headset ships internationally, and is offered at an impressive 36 percent off for a limited time!

Pebble is getting Amazon Echo’s voice technology, but not on its smartwatch (yet)

Pebble just announced its new devices last week, and its already adding features to them. The wearable maker is adding Amazon’s Alexa voice service to its Core clip-on device – which doesn’t even ship until 2017.

If you need a recap, the Core is basically like an Internet of Things version of the iPod Shuffle. It’s a small square with two buttons. By default, one is for controlling music, and another programmable to do anything of your choosing. It also has a GPS for tracking your runs and 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity so it doesn’t have to be paired with your phone or watch.

Alexa integration opens up a whole new world of things the Core can do. Just a few options Pebble already lists:

Play songs, artists, and playlists from Amazon Prime Music, iHeartRadio, and more.

Brief you with news headlines from USA Today , The Washington Post , or The Huffington Post .

Review your Pebble Health summary for the day, like heart rate, step count, and calories burned.

Order pizzas for the gang on game day.

Shop for gifts and necessities on Amazon.

Get weather and traffic updates.

Set a timer for a set of side planks.

Control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, locks, and more.

Tell you a joke.

Answer almost any question you can think of—from the nutritional information of certain foods to movie facts on IMDB.

Moreover, Amazon has been rapidly improving its voice service, constantly adding features. If only it could actually get search right .

It’s somewhat surprising Pebble isn’t bringing the feature to its actual smartwatches, where it’s arguably more useful. Pebble clearly has high hopes for its clip on device, but its core users (see what I did there) will almost certainly still be the smartwatch crew.

Given the lack of a voice assistant is arguably the Pebble Time’s biggest caveat, it’s an unfortunate oversight. Google search is the main reason I’d rather use Android Wear over a Pebble watch, and though Pebble says on it’s exploring the idea of Google or Siri integration in its support documents , there’s been no concrete evidence it’s coming.

Who knows though, maybe the Alexa is just an update away from your wrist. We’ve contacted Pebble for more information and will update this post if we hear back.

Why your next desktop upgrade should be a mechanical keyboard

I’ve spent more waking hours at a computer each day than at any other activity for the past 20 years, which means I’ve typed millions of words on keyboards by now.

However, it was only sometime last year that I was reminded about mechanical keyboards and how they’re better for typing than your standard issue desktop or laptop keyboards. I wondered why I was still using low-quality gear for the work that I do every single day.

So last Christmas, when our CEO generously offered the team a new Chromecast or some gadget of similar value, I decided to get a mechanical keyboard, seeing as how I already had the older version of Google’s streaming dongle plugged into my TV. Half a year later, I’m so glad I chose the keyboard.

I found an entry-level keyboard by a local brand here in India – a TVS Gold keyboard for under $30 (about Rs. 2,500) that was within my budget. If you care to spend more, you can spring for fancier ones that feature more ergonomic design and wireless connectivity or get custom keys to personalize your keyboard.

What’s so great about mechanical keyboards?

My TVS keyboard is as basic as they come – there are no multimedia keys, a spare USB port or even a palm rest. It’s just a plain ol’ hunk of plastic with 104 keys.

But spend a minute typing on it and you’ll start to see why I enjoy using this so much and don’t mind the lack of features.

All mechanical keyboards have switches beneath the keycaps, which offer significantly better tactile feedback than the membranes commonly used in most modern keyboards. The clicky sound and feel assure you that you’ve actually hit a key when you intended to.

Plus, it just feels a lot more comfortable and satisfying to type on. That’s important when you’re banging out a couple thousand words a day, every day. In contrast, my laptop’s keys offer very little travel, so I can’t always be sure if I’ve pressed a key or if my finger simply glided over it.

There are various types of switches available to suit your preference in feedback. For instance, my TVS keyboard has Cherry MX Blue switches , which are loud and offer moderate resistance; you can alternatively opt for ones that are silent or which are more resistant.

In addition to offering a better typing experience, I’ve also found that my accuracy has improved over the past few months. I make fewer mistakes while typing and playing games than before, which is certainly a plus.

Another benefit of these keyboards is that the switches are more durable than membranes, which means you won’t have to ditch yours in a couple of years. Plus, it’s easy to replace a broken switch or keycap on a mechanical keyboard.

If you’re looking to upgrade your workstation, I highly recommend trying out a mechanical keyboard. They might be a bit more expensive than your typical keyboard, but the improved experience is most certainly worth it.

Alright, I’m convinced. Which mechanical keyboard should I get?

If you’re wondering what different switches feel like and which one’s right for you, consider picking up this $10 tester which offers four of Cherry’s most common switches (the company is one of the largest switch suppliers to hardware manufacturers) for you to try out.

I’ve only tried a handful of keyboards in India, of which the TVS Gold is the most easily available and reasonably priced. If you’re in North America or Europe, you could look for Lifehacker’s top pick , the $140 Das Keyboard Model S . If you’re on a budget, you could check out these options from Monoprice , which start at $50.

Do you use a mechanical keyboard? Let us know which one and what you like (or hate) about it in the comments.