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Though the NotebookLM team is constantly adding new features and updates, the tool is far from perfect. Some tasks still take longer than they should, which isn’t surprising for a fairly new, niche tool compared with AI giants like ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.

Fortunately, some of the gaps can be easily filled with a few free browser extensions that make NotebookLM far more powerful and efficient. Given that NotebookLM is a massive part of my workflow, I’m always looking for new browser extensions to try and tools to pair it with. In fact, there’s one free browser extension I can’t use NotebookLM without anymore, and it’s completely changed how I work with the tool.

The WebSync Chrome extension fixes one of NotebookLM’s biggest pain points

Why wait for Google to address this when you don’t have to?

I’ve been using NotebookLM since before Google even launched it widely, when it was just an experimental idea tucked away in Google Labs. One complaint I’ve had since then is how much time you need to spend manually adding sources. And given that everything in NotebookLM depends on the sources you feed it, this isn’t just a minor inconvenience and can seriously slow down your research workflow.

Google is slowly trying to fix this and added the ability to bulk add URLs just a few days ago. But you still need to head to NotebookLM, open your desired notebook (or create a new one), and then go to the Sources tab to copy-paste each URL manually, one by one. The WebSync Chrome extension is designed to solve this problem. Instead of manually pasting URLs or YouTube video links, WebSync lets you import webpages and even entire websites into NotebookLM notebooks with just two clicks.

Once you’ve downloaded the extension, all you need to do is click the WebSync extension icon at the top-right corner, expand the Select your notebook dropdown, choose your desired notebook, and hit Import current page. That’s it. Within seconds, the page (or even an entire website) is added to your NotebookLM notebook. During this entire process, you don’t even need to bother opening NotebookLM itself.

The extension even lets you import ChatGPT conversations directly into your notebooks

No more copy-pasting ChatGPT responses

I’ve talked about pairing NotebookLM with different productivity and AI tools a lot before. Though the tool is immensely powerful on its own, combining it with other tools has made massive changes to my workflow. A couple of weeks ago, I paired NotebookLM with ChatGPT, and I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the combination. In the detailed article I wrote about pairing the two tools, I noted that you can’t add a ChatGPT conversation as a source to a NotebookLM notebook. Even if you generate a publicly shareable ChatGPT link and add that as a source, NotebookLM can’t parse it.

For the longest time, I’d simply hit CMD + A and copy the entire conversation and then paste it as a source. With WebSync, you don’t need to go through the hassle of doing all of that. All you need to do is click the extension icon, select the notebook you’d like to add the ChatGPT conversation to (or create a new one), and then click the Import ChatGPT conversation button.

In just seconds, the entire conversation is imported into your selected notebook or a brand new one. Whether you’re pairing NotebookLM with ChatGPT alone or adding more tools like Perplexity into the mix, WebSync makes it effortless to bring your ChatGPT conversations into NotebookLM as sources and helps you save a bunch of time in the long run.

With WebSync, you can create a new NotebookLM notebook in seconds

Start a fresh notebook without opening NotebookLM

Sometimes, I stumble on an article or YouTube video that I just want as an Audio Overview instead of spending time reading or watching it. That way, I can listen while on a walk, doing chores, or even working. For the longest time, I had to head to NotebookLM’s website, create a fresh notebook, add the source, and then generate an Audio Overview. With WebSync, I only need to do the last step. A lot of extensions I tried would only let me add sources to existing notebooks.

While that is helpful, I don’t always want to clutter my notebooks with completely unrelated content. I often need to create separate notebooks for different topics or projects. And WebSync thankfully lets you do that too. When you click the extension icon, you’ll find a + Create New Notebook button that lets you create a new notebook right from the extension. You can then add as many sources as you want directly from the app, only needing to head to NotebookLM when it’s time to generate the Audio Overview.

You’re missing out if you haven’t tried this

If you’re looking to try out some NotebookLM Chrome extensions, WebSync is an absolute must-have. Honestly, once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

An APK teardown of the Google Play Services app, version 26.32.31 beta reveals some interesting details about phone backups. It hints at a new feature that Google will likely implement in the near future that would let you choose more folders to back up.

Everyone who is using automatic online backup knows that not all data is backed up. You do get your photos and videos up in the cloud along with settings and some user data, but not everything. For instance, some apps have encrypted data and can’t be backed up.

Currently, you can’t back up other folders, like your “Downloads” folder. But the beta version source code for Google Play Services suggests Google is working on a solution. It will likely give you the option to back up your Downloads folder, and why not other folders as well. Of course, all your data will be uploaded to your Google Drive.

Additionally, there’s a string that refers to “documents”, which may suggest Google will allow backups of only certain types of files and not everything.

Either way, we can only guess for now, but it seems that Google is already working on the new backup options so that we will know for sure soon enough.

Source

After a strenuous day of running or hiking, there’s nothing quite like slipping your aching feet out of muddy shoes and into a breezy pair of sandals. From Nike and Adidas slides to Chacos and Birkenstocks, I’ve churned through many styles and brands. But now I think I’ve finally found a pair that’ll last me a lifetime – the Xero Genesis.

With an unprecedented 5,000-mile guarantee, these barefoot sandals are built for the long haul. I’ve been wearing a pair of Genesis for two years now, taking them on trips around the globe and racking up thousands of miles. Despite their light weight and minimalist design, they’ve held up remarkably well. And at just $45, they’re a shockingly affordable investment for anyone seeking a durable, travel-friendly pair of sandals that aren’t destined for the trash in a few years.

Better than Birkenstocks

I’ve been known to blow through a pair of sandals in less than a year, so Xero’s 5,000-mile warranty piqued my interest. I loved my old Birkenstocks, but wearing them in water isn’t recommended, and the weather (and beaches) of Charleston, South Carolina, eventually got the best of them. My Chacos were a bit more versatile, but the straps quickly began to fray and the soles began to crack – allowing water to seep inside and greet me with a lovely squeak as I walked.

_{$44.99 at Nordstrom (men’s)
$44.99 at Nordstrom (women’s)}

The Xero Genesis have no such caveats. Whether hiking around Boulder, Colorado, exploring the Sonoran desert near Tucson, or wading into alpine lakes in the Rocky Mountains, my Genesis sandals have never disappointed me. After all those miles, the polyester cord shows no signs of fraying, and the rubber sole has no chips, rips, or tears. While there’s (finally) a bit of wear on the tread, they’re still perfectly grippy and capable of handling terrain from trails to beaches. For a $45 pair of sandals, I’m mighty impressed.

More is less

Unlike a chunky Birkenstock, the Genesis is a “barefoot” sandal. That means they offer no cushioning, putting your foot as close to the earth as possible. Personally, I love the fit, which is a welcome relief after hours of running or hiking in ultra-supportive shoes. They also help develop different muscles in your feet – though this entails a bit of acclimation. And while I use them for serious hiking, something with more cushioning would be a better choice if you’ll be trekking across rough terrain – the limited underfoot padding isn’t ideal for jagged rocks.

Here’s the fine print on the 5,000-mile warranty: Xero will give you a 60% discount on replacements if you manage to grind the soles down to less than 1mm. Mine still measure about 3mm at the absolute thinnest. On top of that, Xero layers on a 24-month manufacturer’s warranty, offering a full replacement if you experience a manufacturing defect within that timeframe. After two years of flogging mine, I can’t imagine many people will make use of either.

Staying out of a landfill for 5,000 miles is one way Xero reduces its environmental footprint, but they also carefully source material, and use less of it. Xero’s Restricted Substances Test Protocol outlines testing and limits for the use of everything from Pfas “forever chemicals” to lead, and Genesis’s minimalist design means there’s no need for materials like foam midsoles. Less shoe, less waste. Other Xero models also make use of sustainable materials like hemp, coffee carbon fiber and recycled polyethylene.

The Xero Genesis are probably the best pair of sandals I’ve owned, and a staple of my year-round wardrobe. For all but the rockiest of conditions, the lightweight barefoot sandals are a wonderful fit for anything life throws your way.

Specifications

Type: Huaraches
Weight: 4.6oz per sandal (size 9)
Colors: Stone, sand, black, raspberry, lake blue, sea moss
Materials: Rubber sole, polyester cord

• Jon Bitner is a writer covering travel, outdoors and technology for outlets including GameSpot, Digital Trends and Islands. He is an avid hiker and loves exploring the Rocky Mountains from his home in Boulder, Colorado.

• This piece is a part of Guardian US’s Buy it for life series, highlighting durable products built for the long haul. If you’d like to suggest a product that has stood the test of time in your own life, please contact us at thefilter.us@theguardian.com