Technologies
How to Make a Pinhole Projector to View Today’s Solar Eclipse
It’s easier than trying to find eclipse glasses at this point. And better for your eyes than staring directly at the sun.
Eclipse day has arrived. If you’ve waited this long to buy a pair of eclipse glasses in order to view the big event, you’ve probably waited too long, even for a last-minute dash for solar eclipse eyewear that lets you safely stare directly at the sun. But fear not, you’ve got plenty of time to make a pinhole projector to view the total solar eclipse.
What you’ll need
- Cardboard box
- Sheet of white paper
- Aluminum foil
- Tape
- Scissors
- Pen or pencil
- Pin or thumbtack

How to make the pinhole projector
- Take your box — I used a cereal box — and trace its bottom on your sheet of paper.
- Cut out the rectangle you just traced and tape it to the bottom of the inside of your box. This will be your projection screen.
- Close the top of the box and cut two holes along the right and left edges of the top panel.
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil to cover one of the holes and tape it in place.
- Poke a hole in the middle of the piece of foil.
How to use your projector
Take your pinhole projector outside and face away from the sun so that its light shines into the pinhole. Look through the hole you did not cover and you will see the sun projected on the white piece of paper inside the box. The longer the box, the larger the image will be.

Easy, boxless alternative
Easier and better for group viewing is skipping the box and punching a pinhole into a sheet of paper and then simply projecting the sunlight through that pinhole onto another sheet of white paper on the ground. The image of the sun won’t be as vivid as it is projected inside a dark box, but it should work just fine if you have clear skies and bright sunshine.
Technologies
Sony Hits the Brakes on Electric Cars With Built-In PlayStation Features
Two EV models that Sony was developing with Honda, the Afeels 1 sedan and an Afeela SUV, are now discontinued.
Technologies
Samsung’s New Budget Galaxy A37 and A57: Improved Designs and AI Features
Technologies
My 3 Favorite Bose Headphones Deals on Amazon Aren’t Actually From Bose
Baseus’ Inspire XH1, XP1 and XC1 headphones with Sound by Bose are up to 23% off during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. A bonus item makes the deal even harder to ignore.
I gave CNET Editors’ Choice awards to Baseus’ Bose-infused Baseus Inspire XH1 headphones and Inspire XP1 earbuds because they’re well designed and sound decent consider their prices. I also liked Baseus’ Inspire XC1 clip-on earbuds, which have dual drivers. They even earned a spot on CNET’s best clip-on earbuds list and are probably the best clip-on buds at their price right now.
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale just kicked off, and it’ll be around through March 31. Right now, all three models are discounted to $100 to $123, bringing them near their all-time low prices.
That’s a deal I’d highlight on its own, but if you click through to any of those models’ Amazon product pages and look closely, you’ll see that each is eligible for «one free item» with purchase.
Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2026
You must click the how to claim link first. Then click a button on the left side of the screen (above the stars for average ratings) to switch the view from «qualifying items» to «benefit items» and see the freebie. The items tend to be Baseus’ entry-level headphones or earbuds, but if you don’t like the free item option with a $120 purchase, you can try the options at lower prices.
You can read my full reviews of the Inspire XH1 headphones here and the Inspire XP1 earbuds here. And here’s my quick take on the Inspire XC1 earbuds:
Like Baseus’ noise-isolating Inspire XP1 earbuds, which I rated highly, the Inspire XC1 have Sound by Bose and a more premium design than earlier Baseus earbuds. The XC1 don’t sound as good as the XP1, they’re decent open earbuds and are equipped with dual drivers (one is a Knowles balanced-armature driver that helps improve treble performance). While they don’t produce as much bass as noise-isolating earbuds like the Inspire XP1, their bass performance is better than I expected. The buds’ sound is pretty full, especially in quieter environments, though they do better with less bass-heavy material. I did notice a bit of distortion at higher volumes with certain tracks that feature harder-driving bass.
While I slightly prefer the design and fit of Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds, as well as the design of their case, and think the Bose buds sound more natural and a tad better overall, the much more affordable Inspire XC1 fit comfortably and offer top-tier sound for clip-on open earbuds, as well as decent voice-calling performance with good background noise reduction. And they play louder than the Bose, too.
You can grab the Inspire XH1 for $123, the XP1 for $100 and the XC1 for $110, saving you up to 23%. Just remember to claim your free item with your purchase.
Read more: Best Headphones We’ve Tested
HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK
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$248 (save $152)
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$170 (save $181)
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$398 (save $62)
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$200 (save $250)
For other audio deals happening now, our CNET shopping experts have rounded up headphones, speakers and earbuds deals across a variety of brands and budgets.
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