How-To Geek - News

The Dashlane Password Manager Is Getting Worse

Arol Wright — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:20:55 GMT

There are plenty of password managers out there, but you've probably heard of Dashlane at least a few times, especially since advertisements for the service are pretty common. We gave the service a high score in our Dashlane password manager review, thanks to its simple design and autofill options. However, Dashlane has now become much worse if you are a free user.

Hisense’s New Mini Projector Can Do 4K Dolby Vision

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 21:08:28 GMT

Available today, the new Hisense C1 Laser Mini Projector offers 4K Dolby Vision video with a maximum screen size of 300 inches. It's the only Hisense projector to support 300-inch screens, and while the $2,300 price tag is a bit eye-searing, customers may be swayed by the C1's cutting-edge features and relatively compact build. Oddly, retailers currently list the Hisense C1 at $1,998.

Microsoft Excel Can Now Stop Turning Everything Into a Date

Corbin Davenport — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 17:11:46 GMT

Microsoft Excel converting numbers into other formats has been a running joke for years, especially with date conversions, Microsoft rolled out a new setting last year that turns off data conversions like scientific notation and removing leading zeroes, and now an additional setting to turn off date conversion has arrived. Also, the options are available on Excel for Mac for the first time.

AMD's New Threadripper CPUs Have Up to 96 Cores

Arol Wright — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:51:36 GMT

Most modern desktop processors have several cores to split up tasks, and in newer hybrid CPUs, some of them are designed for different tasks. If you're on AMD, the top-end chips have up to 16 cores, while if you're on Intel, you can look up to a whopping 24 cores. AMD's Threadripper processors are designed to have far more cores than your typical desktop CPU, mostly for media production and servers, but we haven't seen non-workstation versions of those since 2019, when the Threadripper 3000-series was launched with up to 64 cores. Now, Threadripper is back and better than ever.

ChargePoint Will Add NACS to Its Electric Charging Stations

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:02:39 GMT

ChargePoint is retrofitting its electric vehicle charging stations with Tesla's NACS connector. It's also offering NACS conversion kits to customers who use a ChargePoint Home Flex system in their garage. These changes will benefit Tesla owners while also preparing ChargePoint for the industry-wide adoption of NACS.

Tesla Cybertruck Gets a New Delivery Date, Plus Some Bad News

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:53:21 GMT

After several years of delays, the first Tesla Cybertruck deliveries are now scheduled for November 30th. It's quite an achievement—the Cybertruck is unique from top to bottom, meaning that its components and manufacturing process had to be built largely from scratch. Unfortunately, the challenges of Cybertruck's development will continue to plague Tesla.

Netflix Prices Are Going Up Again

Arol Wright — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:21:46 GMT

Many streaming services have increased prices over the past few months, like Disney+ and Paramount+, and some of them have done it multiple times over the past two years. Netflix has been slowly increasing prices, and it also stopped offering its cheapest ad-free plan to new subscribers in the US and other countries. Now, Netflix's prices are going up once again.

BMW Will Adopt NACS and Join Tesla's Supercharger Network

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:08:21 GMT

Beginning in "early 2025," new electric vehicles sold by BMW, Rolls-Royce, and MINI will utilize the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in the U.S. and Canada. This will open the door to Tesla's Supercharger network, as NACS is Tesla's charging port design. Older BMW Group vehicles that utilize a CCS connector will also gain access to the Supercharger network in 2025, presumably through the use of adapters.

This Is the OnePlus Open, the First Folding Phone From OnePlus

Arol Wright — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:01:45 GMT

Samsung released the first mainstream folding phone in 2019 with the original Samsung Galaxy Fold. Since then, the company has remained a leader in this segment, but that doesn't mean that other companies haven't done it. Everyone from Motorola to Google has come out with their own foldable phones over the past few years. OnePlus has now joined the party with its very own OnePlus Open.

Alienware’s New Gaming Laptop Has a Huge 18-Inch Screen

Arol Wright — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 13:01:47 GMT

How big is too big for a laptop? You can find laptops in all kinds of sizes, with the smallest ones being about 11 inches and the biggest ones being much bigger than this. The bigger laptops can occasionally be considered too unwieldy to actually serve their purpose — to be portable — but they're still a pleasure to use. Case in point, Alienware just released one of its biggest laptops to date, the newest model in the m18 series.

Google Maps Gains Real-Time Weather Data on Android

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:27:01 GMT

The Google Maps app can now display real-time weather data on Android. When searching for a location in Google Maps, a small icon under your search bar will show the location's current temperature and air quality index. Tapping the weather icon reveals additional information, including a six-hour forecast and a "feels like" value.

Logitech's New Audio Mixer Software Enters Open Beta

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:17:53 GMT

Available today in open beta, Logitech's new MIXLINE software allows you to control multiple audio sources for livestreaming and monitoring. It utilizes a simple diagram-style interface, which some users may prefer over the traditional "mixing board" layout of other mixers or DAWs. Join the open beta to install MIXLINE for free on Windows.

Google Chrome’s Address Bar Is Getting an Upgrade

Corbin Davenport — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:01:34 GMT

Google already rolled out a redesign for the Chrome browser earlier this year, taking inspiration from the company's Material You design language and improving customization. The address bar received a few changes along with the redesign, and now Google is announcing a few additional features that are now rolling out for Chrome's address bar.

Fitbit Step Streaks Are Coming Back

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 14:02:59 GMT

The redesigned Fitbit app has elicited a surprising number of complaints from customers. But what's more surprising is Google's response to these complaints—the Fitbit app will be tweaked to address user feedback. Plus, step streaks are returning to iOS and finally coming to Android.

You Can Now Sign Into Amazon with Passkeys

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 17:54:11 GMT

Amazon is one of the first major retailers to offer passkey sign-in. You no longer need a password to log into the Amazon website, as you can save a passkey directly to your phone or computer instead. Sadly, Amazon's passkey implementation is a little clunky, and Amazon's apps still lack passkey support.

Samsung Now Offers Same-Day Repairs at Batteries Plus

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:35:33 GMT

Instead of mailing in your busted Samsung phone, try visiting a Batteries Plus location. This fall, 35 Batteries Plus stores will become Samsung Authorized Service Centers (ASC), meaning they can perform same-day in-warranty repairs on Samsung devices. This is in addition to the out-of-warranty repairs already offered by Batteries Plus.

The New USB-C Apple Pencil Is Pretty Confusing

Corbin Davenport — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 15:51:01 GMT

Apple's solution for drawing and handwritten notes on the iPad is the Apple Pencil, but might be one of the company's most confusing products. The first-generation model with a Lightning port has remained available alongside the second-generation Pencil with magnetic charging, and when the 10th Gen iPad arrived with a USB Type-C port and no second-gen Pencil support, Apple made a clunky adapter for the Pencil to work. Apple has now announced a Pencil built specifically for Type-C iPads, but it doesn't help simplify the Apple Pencil lineup.

Qualcomm is Making a RISC-V Chip for Smartwatches

Arol Wright — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 13:00:34 GMT

Most of our smartphones, smartwatches, and even some laptops are now powered by the ARM architecture. But there's been a new player slowly growing — RISC-V. There are many advantages to the completely-open design, and chip makers are slowly embracing it as an alternative to ARM chipsets. Qualcomm announced a partnership not too long ago to bolster RISC-V and make it grow exponentially, and now, it's doubling down on that commitment with its first RISC-V platform, which is coming soon for smartwatches.

Alienware's Aurora R16 Has 14th Gen Intel And RTX 4090 GPUs

Andrew Heinzman — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:45:30 GMT

It's been just two months since the launch of Alienware's compact Aurora R16 gaming desktop. Still, Alienware sees the need for a refresh. Upgraded configurations of the Aurora R16 go on sale October 17th and include the latest 14th Gen Intel CPUs, plus NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.

Netflix is Dropping Support For Some Older Devices

Arol Wright — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:04:20 GMT

One of the main selling points for Netflix is that it can be watched pretty much everywhere. You can fire up Netflix on your browser, on your phone, on your game console, or on your TV, and you'll have access to the platform's entire range of content across all those platforms. Since Netflix has been around for a long time — the company transitioned to streaming in 2007, 16 years ago — some older devices ought to be discontinued eventually. Now, the platform has stopped supporting a bunch of devices, ranging from older TVs to older consoles.

Google Wallet Now Supports Barcode and QR Code Passes

Andrew Heinzman — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:11:52 GMT

You can now add physical cards and passes to Google Wallet by scanning their QR codes or barcodes. This functionality was first announced in June and is currently rolling out to smartphones, starting with the Pixel 8. Additionally, Google Wallet now lets you disable its holiday-themed animations,

Chromebooks Are Dropping Support for Two Video Formats

Corbin Davenport — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:02:09 GMT

Chromebooks can open most common video and audio files without downloading an external player, such as VLC Media Player from the Google Play Store. However, Google is now planning to drop two video formats from the list, as the company now deems them "uncommon legacy media formats."

Intel's 14th Gen Processors Have Arrived

Corbin Davenport — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 13:01:37 GMT

Intel revealed its 13th generation desktop processors a little over a year ago, under the codename Raptor Lake, and the company has been working on updates to stay competitive with the latest offerings from Apple and AMD. We're still waiting on the more advanced Meteor Lake chips, which Intel said are coming in December, but in the meantime, Intel has revealed a series of updated Raptor Lake processors: the 14th gen Intel Core lineup.

Best Buy Will Stop Selling DVDs and Blu-Rays

Arol Wright — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:28:16 GMT

Streaming services have increasingly cut into DVD and Blu-ray purchases over the past decade, and other physical media is having its moment in the spotlight. Now, your options for buying physical movies are slimming, as Best Buy is set to end selling discs.

Google's Pixel 8 Has Some Camera Issues

Arol Wright — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 18:16:58 GMT

We've known for a long time that Google's strong suit in smartphones is the camera. Since the very first Google Pixel launched in 2016, the cameras have been (mostly) excellent compared to other smartphones, and while the other smartphone makers have attempted to catch up since, Pixels remain in a strong position. The Pixel 8 is no different, with notable camera improvements, but some issues related to camera processing are not sitting well with buyers.

Tor Browser 13.0 Finally Adds a Landscape Aspect Ratio

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:13:46 GMT

The Tor Browser 13.0 update introduces several long-awaited improvements, including a landscape aspect ratio, a fix for the "red screen of death," and several enhancements from Mozilla's Firefox ESR 115. Updated app icons and GUI elements are also part of the mix, though Tor Browser retains its basic look and feel.

You Should Change This Camera Setting on Your iPhone 15

Corbin Davenport — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:41:32 GMT

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have now been in the hands of buyers for a few weeks now, and in that time, an overheating bug was identified and fixed. The phones still have some other issues, though, including a camera setting that can cause distorted voices in video recordings. Thankfully, fixing it just takes a few taps in the Settings app.

The Original Pixel Watch's Charging Speed Just Got Downgraded

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:11:41 GMT

Shortly after the launch of Pixel Watch 2, Google quietly downgraded the original Pixel Watch's charging speed. Presumably, the reduced charging speed is meant to prevent overheating, which can physically harm users and may damage the Pixel Watch's battery or adhesive binding. This change was made during a routine firmware update and was not communicated to customers.

Get Ready for Real-Life Netflix Stores

Arol Wright — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 21:00:31 GMT

Netflix pioneered the current age of streaming services, which (at least partially) was responsible for the downfall of physical media stores like Blockbuster. However, Netflix is now trying its luck with physical store locations, as the company just confirmed in a Bloomberg report. The company should certainly have enough money for the effort after all those recent price increases.

New $299 Xbox Series S ”Starter Bundle” Includes Game Pass

Arol Wright — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 20:17:26 GMT

We're rapidly approaching the holiday season, where console manufacturers usually introduce new bundle deals to win over potential gift-givers. This time around, Microsoft is adding three months of Game Pass Ultimate to its $299 Xbox Series S console, while keeping the price the same. Meet the Xbox Starter Bundle.

Ubuntu Linux 23.10 “Mantic Minotaur” Is Now Available

Corbin Davenport — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:41:06 GMT

Ubuntu is one of most popular Linux distributions for desktop PCs and servers, and it serves as the foundation for countless other spinoff distributions. Today marks the release day for Ubuntu 23.10, nicknamed Mantic Minotaur, with many new features and updates ahead of next year's LTS release.

You Can Now Generate AI Images in Google Search

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 18:42:32 GMT

Google's Search Generative Experience (SGA) can now create AI images based on Google Search queries. This is very similar to Bing's image-generating functionality—simply enter a prompt like "draw a chicken in the style of Van Gogh" into Google Search, and you'll be met with four AI-generated images. To enjoy this feature, you must opt into SGA through Search Labs.

T-Mobile Is Pushing Customers to More Expensive Plans, but You Can Opt Out

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:45:44 GMT

On October 17th, T-Mobile will begin notifying longtime customers of a forced mobile plan upgrade. If you're on the Simple Choice, Select Choice, One, Magenta, or Magenta 55 Plus plan, you'll be migrated to a more expensive package during the November billing cycle. Affected customers can opt out of this automatic upgrade by calling T-Mobile’s Customer Care support line.

This New Acer Monitor Has Glasses-Free 3D

Arol Wright — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:42:12 GMT

Remember the late 2000s and early 2010s where it looked like the next big advancement, as far as TVs went, was 3D? A lot of TVs started coming out with 3D support, letting you have a sense of depth to what you saw on your screen. All TV manufacturers tried really hard to get 3D TVs to stick, but this effort was ultimately futile, as 3D all but faded away from TVs over the course of the next few years. Still, have you ever wanted to check out a 3D monitor that brings you to those days of old? Acer just launched one, and it looks really cool.

Dell's New Rugged Tablet Is a Peek Into Another World

Corbin Davenport — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:44:26 GMT

Many tablets you can buy today are fragile slabs of plastic and glass, prone to scratching or chipping with one wrong fall, usually with just one or two ports and no user-replaceable battery. Dell's new tablet seems almost alien by comparison, with all the connectivity and features of a typical PC crammed into a durable drop-resistant machine, complete with a hand strap.

SpaceX's Starlink Cellular Service Launches in 2024

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 16:08:21 GMT

SpaceX is using its Starlink satellites for more than just internet service. A new page on the Starlink website teases the company's "Direct to Cell" platform, which is now slated to launch in 2024. It's an interesting proposition—Starlink Direct to Cell is like having a "cellphone tower in space" and works with all existing LTE phones. Other satellite-based phone services require specialized hardware.

Google App on iPhone Is Now a Better Password Manager

Arol Wright — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:42:25 GMT

What first started as a small password manager component within Chrome has grown to become something bigger, as Google has sought to compete with the likes of 1Password and Bitwarden. Google's password manager is still not as feature-packed as some competitors, but it gets the job done, and if you're part of the Google ecosystem, it would be hard to not at least give it a shot. Now, Google is improving its password manager on the Google app on iPhone and iPad, letting you use the passwords you've stored there all around.

Movies Removed From Disney+ Have Returned, With a Catch

Arol Wright — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 14:45:55 GMT

Not too long ago, Disney started pulling some shows and movies from the Disney+ streaming service. The decision came off as confusing at best, since a lot of the content that was removed was specifically for the streaming service. It was also relatively recent stuff, too, with some of the shows and movies premiering on the platform just months before. It looks like a lot of that removed content is making its way to other platforms, with a catch.

Raspberry Pi OS Gets the Debian 12 "Bookworm" Upgrade

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:34:13 GMT

Based on Debian 12 "Bookworm," the latest Raspberry Pi OS is now available. It's the first operating system to officially support the new Raspberry Pi 5, though it's also available in 32- and 64-bit flavors for older Pi models. You can write this Pi OS release to an SD card using the Raspberry Pi Imager or by downloading the standalone image and flashing it yourself.

Microsoft’s Ergonomic Keyboard Is Gone, but Logitech Has a Replacement

Arol Wright — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 17:18:48 GMT

Not too long ago, we learned the sad news that Microsoft was discontinuing its more affordable PC accessories, in favor of ~~higher-margin~~ more premium Surface-brand products. That included Microsoft's non-Surface ergonomic keyboards, which were popular for years. That doesn't mean that you don't have options, though. Logitech has now revealed its very own ergonomic keyboard: the Wave Keys.

Google Brings Back Multiple Speaker Groups for Nest and Chromecast

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:39:31 GMT

An ongoing patent dispute with Sonos has made the Google Home ecosystem significantly worse for music fans. Some of Google's best home audio features, including universal volume control and flexible speaker grouping, have been stripped away from Nest and Chromecast products. But Google is finally leaving the courtroom with good news: two of Sonos' patents are invalid.

Intel's Arc A580 Gives You 1080p Gaming For Just $180

Arol Wright — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:07:54 GMT

While the GPU market is still mostly a competition between Nvidia and AMD, there is still a third party trying to make a name for itself — Intel. The company is hugely popular with desktop processors, but with its recent GPU launches, it's trying to become popular in this segment as well. The company has launched yet another graphics card, the A580 — and it's really cheap.

System76 Has New Linux Desktop PCs for You

Arol Wright — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:31:33 GMT

There's something charming about System76's desktop PCs. In a world that's filled with gamer-y cases filled to the brim with RGB lights, System76's Thelio PCs manage to stand out with cases that look classy (something that even prompted the company to sell them stand-alone) but don't compromise on performance or Linux support. The company has now announced a design revision for its Thelio desktops, as well as an entirely new model aimed at people with less demanding performance needs and/or a tighter budget.

Qualcomm Has New ARM Laptop Chips on the Way

Arol Wright — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:20:56 GMT

It's increasingly looking like the future of computing lies on ARM processors. With Apple having transitioned to its own M-series silicon and increasingly more Windows laptops using ARM CPUs, that's certainly the direction we're heading in. Qualcomm has been developing chipsets for ARM-based Windows laptops for a while, most recently under the Snapdragon 8cx name, but they're lagging far behind Apple's chips and have confusing branding. Qualcomm is now going to fix at least one of those problems.

Moto Razr Is the Most Affordable Foldable in North America

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:57:26 GMT

Foldable phones are cool, but they can cost a fortune. Now, Motorola is flipping the script: the 2023 Moto Razr costs just $700. It launches in the United States and Canada on October 19th and will be the most "affordable" current-generation foldable on the market. Additionally, Motorola will offer a special $100 discount if you pre-order the Razr after October 12th.

Logitech Has a New Star Wars-Themed Mouse and Mousepad

Arol Wright — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:53:21 GMT

You might know the last entry in Star Wars' original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, just turned 40 years old this year. The movie was released in May 1983, and has since become a staple of pop culture. And what better way to commemorate the release of this movie than by buying PC accessories? Logitech has launched a couple of products that are reminiscent of the legendary space saga.

Corsair's K70 Core Keyboard Gets All The Basics Right

Arol Wright — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:26:16 GMT

The world of mechanical keyboards is vast, especially when it comes to gaming mechanical keyboards. There are many options out there, each with its own unique options. Corsair happens to be one of the top brands for mechanical keyboards, offering decent quality at not-so-crazy prices. Now, the company has just launched the K70 Core, its latest keyboard, and there is a lot of stuff to highlight here.

Sony’s New Playstation 5 Has Some Great Changes

Arol Wright — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:21:07 GMT

It might not look like it, but the most recent generation of consoles is already half through its lifespan. The PlayStation 5, Sony's latest console, first arrived three years ago in 2020. A good chunk of that time was marked by limited availability due to the chip shortage, but nonetheless, the console has been out for a long time, and players have started wondering whether Sony was planning to release new models at all. Now, that has finally happened. A slimmer version of the PlayStation 5 is finally here.

Gmail is Getting Emoji Reactions

Arol Wright — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:50:23 GMT

Emoji reactions are a staple social media feature these days, appearing on everything from Facebook to Telegram to Discord. They allow you to quickly react to posts and messages without necessarily having to reply to them. Now, emoji reactions are also coming to a rather unlikely place: Gmail. Yes, you read that right.

Google Accounts Now Use Passkeys by Default

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 16:02:53 GMT

Passkeys are now the default sign-in option for all personal Google accounts. This should greatly increase user security, as passkeys can't be brute-forced and are resistant to phishing or leaks. But the primary benefit is improved convenience—you can log into Google without memorizing a password or going through a two-step verification process. Google will ask you to create a passkey the next time you log into your account, though you can continue using traditional passwords if that's what you'd prefer.

23andMe Just Had a Data Breach

Arol Wright — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:51:23 GMT

Data breaches have happened over and over this past year, and they show no sign of slowing down. Maybe it's not your password (or maybe it was), but you never know when something important about you, such as your phone number or your social security number, makes its way into a data dump. But have you thought of the prospect of your DNA getting into a data dump? Well, that's not a remote prospect anymore.

TP-Link's New Wire-Free Security Camera Has 2K Video

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:40:35 GMT

Battery-powered security cameras are convenient, but they're also full of compromises. Now, TP-Link is setting a new standard with its Tapo Wire-Free Security Camera, a device that combines an ultra-convenient design with a built-in spotlight, 2K video resolution, free AI face detection, and a wealth of other useful features. The Tapo Wire-Free Security Camera is available today for $120, or just $300 if you purchase a three-pack.

The Microsoft Store Has a New Website, and It Looks Great

Arol Wright — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 19:38:04 GMT

Installing apps and programs on Windows a few years ago, pretty much, just involved downloading the apps from third-party websites and running the installers on your PC. While that method is still very much used today, Microsoft made things a bit more smartphone-like starting in 2012 with the launch of the Microsoft Store, which lets you download apps and games through a centralized app store. The Microsoft Store also happens to have a web version, and now it's getting a much-needed update.

Google's Magnifier Android App Now Works on More Phones

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:01:17 GMT

After a refreshingly short wait, Google's new Magnifier app is now available on the Pixel 5 and later. This app, which makes it easier to read small print or faraway signage, was previously exclusive to the Pixel 8 smartphone. Some people will say, "I can just use my camera for that," but I suggest that you download Magnifier from the Play Store and give it a shot. It has some special features that are definitely worth your time.

Drivers' Licenses And State IDs Are Coming to Samsung Wallet

Corbin Davenport — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 19:19:07 GMT

Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass were combined into a single app last year: Samsung Wallet. The plan was for Wallet to support everything from credit cards to digital keys to government IDs, though some of those integrations are taking longer to set up than others. Samsung is now rolling out support for drivers' licenses and state IDs in the Wallet app in the United States, but just like Apple's implementation in the iPhone Wallet app, you can't use it in all states.

Samsung's SmartTag 2 Tracker Still Has a Big Catch

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 19:00:22 GMT

We're still reeling from the Google Pixel 8 launch event. But Samsung must not be too impressed. It announced a ton of new Galaxy FE products on the same day as Google's event. And, one day later, it revealed the long-awaited SmartTag 2 tracker. This thing is a serious upgrade from the original SmartTag—it offers both Bluetooth LE and UWB connectivity, improved IP67 durability, and a maximum 700-day battery life. At $30, the SmartTag 2 really seems like a no-brainer, although it requires a Samsung smartphone.

Amazon's Satellite Internet Service Enters Its "Protoflight" Stage

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:33:02 GMT

Amazon hopes that its Project Kuiper satellite internet service will rival SpaceX's Starlink. But Amazon is still a few years behind SpaceX—it doesn't have a full satellite array, and in fact, there isn't a single Kuiper satellite in orbit. That's set to change on October 6th, when a pair of "Protoflight" Kuiper satellites will travel to space on a ULA Atlas V rocket. The "Protoflight" mission is for research purposes only, though it will provide real-world data on Amazon's launch, orbit, and deorbit systems. It'll also give Amazon a first look at Project Kuiper satellite internet performance.

Windows 11 Setup Now Includes a Fun Surfing Game

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:55:10 GMT

Microsoft's frustratingly slow Windows 11 setup process now includes a fun distraction: the "Let's Surf" game. Modeled after 1991's "SkiFree," "Let's Surf" is a fast-paced obstacle avoidance game where you navigate an endless course and endure attacks from a kraken. Windows 11 will ask if you want to play "Let's Surf" while setting up a new PC, though you can play it at any time by entering edge://surf in the Microsoft Edge address bar.

Wear OS 4 Is Coming to More Smartwatches

Corbin Davenport — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:43:50 GMT

Wear OS is the software platform that powers the Samsung Galaxy Watch series, Google Pixel Watch lineup, and many smartwatches from Fossil, Mobvoi, and other brands. The latest version debuted on the Galaxy Watch 6 series, but now it will ship with the Pixel Watch 2, and Google says it's coming to other watches soon.

Google Chrome Will Snitch On RAM-Hungry Tabs

Corbin Davenport — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:34:45 GMT

Google Chrome has been criticized over the years for taking up too much RAM, which is mostly due to sandboxing each tab and extension, on top of the ever-increasing demands for modern websites and web apps. Google has been improving RAM usage with the Memory Saver feature, and now the company is working on another change that will make it clearer which tabs are eating up your memory.

Samsung Reveals $599 Galaxy S23 FE, More Budget Devices

Corbin Davenport — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 18:17:41 GMT

Google revealed the Pixel 8 series and Pixel Watch 2 today, but that's not the only news today in the world of Android devices. Samsung just surprised us with four new budget-friendly devices under its "Fan Edition" label: the Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9+ FE, and Galaxy Buds FE.

Google Assistant Now Uses AI to "See" and "Hear"

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 17:13:17 GMT

Google Assistant is finally gaining true integration with the Bard AI. Over the coming months, Assistant will tap into the Bard AI when you ask it to compose a text message, create a travel itinerary, answer a complicated question, or perform other tasks. This functionality will extend to smartphones, where Assistant can also summarize web pages, generate captions for images on social media, and streamline your work in Gmail or Docs. These new capabilities were showcased at the Made by Google 2023 event, where Google also revealed the Pixel 8 smartphone and Pixel Watch 2 wearable.

The Pixel Watch 2 Arrives with New Sensors and Safety Features

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:32:20 GMT

The Made by Google 2023 event may be remembered as a Pixel 8 launch party. But Google also took some time to reveal the Pixel Watch 2, an upgraded version of the smartwatch it debuted last year. Pixel Watch 2 adds a handful of new and notable features, including an improved heart rate sensor, Fitbit stress tracking technology, and a safety-oriented location sharing system.

Android 14 is Finally Out, Coming to a Pixel Phone Near You

Arol Wright — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:30:33 GMT

We're entering the final months of 2023, which means it's time for your smartphone operating systems to update. Apple has already done its thing with the release of iOS 17, which is now making its way into iPhones both new and old. And in case you've been living under a rock, the next version of Android, Android 14, has also been coming for some time. Now, with the release of the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro, the company has now finally released the final, consumer-ready version of Android 14.

This Is the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

Arol Wright — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:30:33 GMT

Many people think of Google Pixel phones as the "iPhones" of Android. They're made by the maker of Android, Google, and they are usually first in line for new Android updates. They also feature, every year, more and more proprietary hardware, with new Pixel phones coming with Google-designed Tensor chips, since the Pixel 6 in 2021. Now, the newest flagship entries in the Pixel series are here, in the form of the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro.

Roku OS 12.5 Adds Better Organization & Google Photos Support

Corbin Davenport — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:01:35 GMT

Roku regularly updates the operating system on its TVs and streaming devices, adding new features and improving the underlying platform. The Roku OS 12 update arrived in March, with improvements to local TV channels and an overhauled Roku mobile app. The company is now rolling out Roku OS 12.5, which will make the ever-increasing amount of streaming content easier to find and add new integrations with Google Photos.

Samsung’s New T9 Portable SSD Can Reach 2GB/s

Arol Wright — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:38:00 GMT

There are a lot of external solid state drives to choose from, ranging from more durable drives for travel to slimmer models intended to fit in any bag or pocket. Samsung sells many of the best drives in this category, and now the company is adding another option to that list: the portable T9 SSD, available in capacities of up to 4TB.

Dall-E 3 Image Generation Now Available in Bing (For Free)

Corbin Davenport — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 20:25:34 GMT

OpenAI released the next major version of its DALL-E image generator last month. The DALL-E 3 update has improved prompt recognition, more safety filters, and overall better visual quality for created images. Now, the same upgrades are heating to Bing Chat and the Bing Image Creator.

The F-150 Lightning Flash Brings Premium Tech to a Lower Price

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:37:18 GMT

There are already four different trim options for the Ford F-150 Lightning, ignoring the Extended Range variants. Still, Ford is preparing to include a fifth trim option, the F-150 Lightning "Flash," in its 2024 model year. The Flash trim will appeal to customers who want a more impressive technological experience without a massive increase in price. Its interior is comparable to Ford's Lariat and Platinum trims, it's expected to offer a 320-mile EPA-estimated range, and it includes BlueCruise 1.2 hands-free driving technology.

Windows Defender Accidentally Flags Tor Browser as a Trojan

Andrew Heinzman — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:46:47 GMT

On September 30th, Microsoft Defender began deleting instances of Tor Browser from users' PCs. The antivirus tool falsely identified Tor Browser as a “Win32/Malgent!MTB” trojan. Microsoft confirms that this was a false-positive and has removed Tor Browser from the latest Defender signature database (version 1.397.1910.0). You may now update Microsoft Defender and reinstall Tor Browser (or restore it from quarantine).

Samsung Just Released an Ultra-Fast 4TB SSD

Arol Wright — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:56:24 GMT

NVMe SSDs are awesome. While these SSDs might not have the same amount of space as spinning hard drives (unless you're willing to splurge a lot of money), they do have amazing read and write speeds, making them great choices for boot drives, storing games, and, well, pretty much everything. If you have a lot of money to spend on a drive, however, the bigger options might look enticing. Samsung has just launched a 4TB flavor of one of its best SSD lineups, and it's looking great.

Is Your iPhone 15 Pro Overheating? Apple Is Working on a Fix

Arol Wright — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:55:30 GMT

It's safe to say by this point that the launch of the iPhone 15, especially its Pro variant, has been among the most eventful in recent memory. While it's not a bad phone by any means, reviewers and early buyers have raised some concerns, especially with the durability of the titanium coating. More recently, reports about the phone overheating have popped up, and Apple is now working on a fix for heat problems.

Microsoft Lists Task Manager Is Now Available for Everyone

Andrew Heinzman — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 17:37:33 GMT

After a long wait, Microsoft Lists is now available for free. Microsoft Lists is a flexible task management tool that allows you to track household or professional work, create itineraries, save recipes, and more. It's an interesting option for individuals and families, though it offers advanced collaborative and calendar features for businesses, clubs, and other groups. Previously, Microsoft Lists was exclusive to business and enterprise users, though Microsoft opened a limited preview for 200,000 people last year.

Some Google Pixel Phones Still Can't Dial 911

Andrew Heinzman — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:01:38 GMT

Some Google Pixel owners are still unable to dial 911. This is a years-long problem that began in 2021 when a Reddit user struggled to contact emergency services from their Pixel 3 smartphone. The reasons for this problem are currently unknown. If you own a Pixel phone, you can contact your local non-emergency number to schedule a 911 test call — detailed instructions for scheduling a 911 test call are listed on the 911.gov website.

Get Ready for ”Chromebook Plus” Laptops

Corbin Davenport — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:00:32 GMT

It can be difficult to tell at glance which laptops are low-end and which ones are more premium, especially when you're dealing with different storage solutions, screen technologies, and confusing Intel CPU names. Chromebooks have that problem too, and Google has been quietly working on a solution: the best Chromebooks will now be branded as "Chromebook Plus" laptops.

Honda Just Revealed its First All-Electric SUV

Arol Wright — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:27:04 GMT

The move towards electric vehicles is not a matter of if, but rather, when. It's the direction basically all car makers are moving towards, and as they keep maturing and getting better, they will likely eventually take over from regular cars. We're still a long way from that point, mind you, but it's something that's slowly happening. Honda is making a lot of moves as far as EVs go, and now, it's launching its very first mass-market EV, the Prologue.

Does the iPhone 15 Pro Have an Overheating Problem?

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:22:21 GMT

The iPhone 15 Pro is a hot commodity, but is it too hot? Some of the earliest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users say that their phone overheats while using apps or charging. These reports are completely anecdotal, of course, but they're common enough to be worth your attention.

Microsoft Ends Free Windows 10 & 11 Upgrades for Windows 7 & 8

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:06:19 GMT

Microsoft just closed its free upgrade path for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. This may seem like an insignificant change, but it will affect two very large groups of people. Enthusiasts can no longer use their old Windows 7 and 8 product keys to activate Windows 10 or 11 on a new PC or in a virtual machine. And stubborn gamers who refused to install Windows 10 will soon be forced to make an upgrade, as Steam will stop working on Windows 7 and 8 in 2024. If you need to make the Windows 10 upgrade, do it fast, as the upgrade path appears to still be open for some users.

More Ultra-Affordable Xumo TVs Are Coming to Best Buy

Andrew Heinzman — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:27:00 GMT

This might sound crazy, but the oft-forgotten Xumo streaming platform might power your next smart TV. A selection of affordable Pioneer-branded Xumo smart TVs will go on sale at Best Buy in November. These TVs start at just $270, yet they boast 4K video resolution, Dolby Vision HDR, Apple AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth audio streaming.

Photoshop Web App Now Widely Available, With AI Generation

Arol Wright — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:42:55 GMT

Photoshop has been a paid app for years. It is a tremendously useful resource for designers and gets more and more useful every year since Creative Cloud was introduced. But also, you can only really use it if you have it downloaded. The prospect of a web version of Photoshop when it was first announced was exciting for some people, and now it's coming out of preview with some differences compared to when it was previously announced.

Windows Paint Is Adding AI Image Generation From Dall-E

Arol Wright — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:47:05 GMT

One of the biggest surprises reserved for upcoming versions of Windows is the fact that Paint is trying to be more Photoshop-like than ever. After decades being a bog-standard basic image editor, it's now surprising people with new features such as layers, transparency, and a neat option to automatically remove the background of pictures. Now, being a Microsoft product, it can't ship without some AI features, and for Paint, it won't be any different.

Meta AI Is Invading Your Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp Chats

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:49:36 GMT

You can now request early access to Meta AI, a large language model that inhabits Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The AI uses Llama 2 technology to answer questions and can tap into the Emu model to generate images. Additionally, Meta is offering a host of AI characters that fulfill specific roles. These characters are represented by a selection of 28 celebrities — Snoop Dogg plays an on-demand dungeon master, Roy Choi's character offers culinary tips, and Naomi Osaka is the face of an anime-obsessed AI.

Fitbit Charge 6 Arrives With Built-in Google Maps and YouTube Music

Andrew Heinzman — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:00:32 GMT

Available today, the Fitbit Charge 6 is an unexpected upgrade that adds several smartwatch-like features, including on-wrist Google Maps, YouTube Music controls, and Google Wallet functionality. It also makes several improvements to the health and fitness-tracking technologies that we enjoyed in the Fitbit Charge 5. You can order the Fitbit Charge 6 today for $160 at the Fitbit website.

Disney+ Will Soon Start Blocking Password Sharing

Arol Wright — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:43:21 GMT

It seems like streaming services are about to start blindly following the Netflix model, and the worst thing to happen to streaming in years is about to become more popular: the removal of password sharing. We learned just last month that Disney+ was exploring the possibility of not allowing users to share passwords with someone that doesn't live with them. Now, though, it looks like Disney is ready to get started with that crackdown, as it has rolled out new account policies to subscribers in Canada.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is Finally Here

Arol Wright — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:36:34 GMT

The Raspberry Pi 4, the top model in the Raspberry Pi lineup for the past four years, is a great single-board computer now that availability has finally improved. However, it's still budget 2019 hardware, which is starting to show its age for more demanding tasks. Raspberry Pi has launched other types of tiny computers since then, but none of them were designed to replace the Raspberry Pi 4. That is, at least, until now. The Raspberry Pi 5 is finally here to take the flagship Pi spot.

Vivaldi Browser Is Now on iPhone & iPad

Arol Wright — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:00:33 GMT

There are a lot of third-party browsers on iOS. Mostly, people get them because of extra features they might not find in Safari — all browsers in iOS are based on Safari's engine, even giants such as Google Chrome, so they have to stand out in other ways. Vivaldi is an option many have been awaiting ever since the development of an iOS version of the browser was announced. Now, though, you can actually use it.

Your GPU Might Have a New Security Vulnerability

Arol Wright — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 21:26:19 GMT

Security breaches and vulnerabilities are a daily part of our lives now. After all, there's always going to be someone poking around in software and hardware to see how they can get in. It's especially bad when those vulnerabilities affect hardware, and more importantly, your hardware. A newly-surfaced vulnerability seems to affect basically every popular GPU model out there.

Redbox Offers Free Rentals to Former Netflix DVD Customers

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:55:33 GMT

The longstanding and oft-forgotten Netflix DVD service shuts down on September 29th. Any remaining Netflix DVD customers are free to keep their rentals, but they won't receive any other gifts for their years of patronage. That said, Redbox hopes to capitalize on the situation with a quick promotional offer. From September 29th to October 1st, former Netflix DVD customers who share a photo of their last rental on Twitter may receive "a free movie night" courtesy of Redbox. These photos must be included in response to a tweet that Redbox will make on September 29th.

MSI Just Released a Tiny Tenkeyless Keyboard

Arol Wright — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 20:30:36 GMT

Smaller keyboards are as popular as ever, as they can take up less space on your desk and remove features that not everyone needs (like number pads). Tenkeyless keyboards are one of the most common options for a more compact keyboard, and MSI has just revealed a new one in that category: the VIGOR GK50 Elite TKL keyboard.

Meta Quest 3 Is Like the Apple Vision Pro, but 1/7th the Price

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:15:57 GMT

With pre-orders starting at $500, the Meta Quest 3 headset boasts full-color video passthrough, a 2064 x 2208 per-eye video resolution, and a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset for increased graphical capabilities. It's a clear and compelling upgrade from the Quest 2, especially for those who want to see their real-world surroundings while inhabiting a virtual world. This release may also put a damper on Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset, which will cost $3,500 and boasts video passthrough as a flagship feature.

New Outlook for Windows Will Get Offline Support, ICS Imports, and More

Corbin Davenport — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:33:35 GMT

Following over a year of public testing, Microsoft released the new Outlook for Windows last week as a replacement for the Windows 10-era Mail and Calendar apps. It's supposed to eventually replace the regular Outlook client (from Microsoft Office/365), but there are a lot of features still missing before that can happen. Microsoft has now provided information on the features coming to the new Outlook over the next few months.

Google Nest’s Original Alexa Integration Is Going Away

Andrew Heinzman — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:10:15 GMT

Are you an Alexa user with a Nest Doorbell, Thermostat, or other Google-made smart home products? As of September 29th, Google will no longer support the original Nest Skills for Alexa system. This change will prevent Alexa from communicating with Nest hardware in older smart homes. Thankfully, the solution is pretty straightforward—migrate your Nest account to a Google account, delete the old Nest Alexa skill, remove all of your Nest products from the Alexa app, and install the new Google Nest Alexa skill from the Google Home app.

Google Podcasts Is Shutting Down in 2024

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:16:52 GMT

The Google Podcasts app will be discontinued in early 2024. It's being replaced by YouTube Music, which began offering podcasts to U.S. users earlier this year. To prepare for this transition, Google will offer a migration tool that copies your Google Podcasts account over to YouTube Music. You'll also have the option to download an OPML file of your Google Podcast subscriptions that can be uploaded to any podcast app with OPML importing functionality.

Firefox Now Works Better With Google Apps, Including Meet

Arol Wright — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 21:13:48 GMT

Most browsers nowadays are just using the same Chromium engine found in Google Chrome. That means most sites work the same in all Chromium-based browsers, since those sites are tested in the most in Chrome, but they might run into issues on Firefox or Safari. Google's web apps have been far from perfect on Firefox over the past few years, but now many of them are working better than ever in Mozilla's web browser, even Google Meet.

Update LibreOffice Now to Fix a Security Flaw

Corbin Davenport — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:52:52 GMT

Earlier this month, a security vulnerability in the popular libwebp software library was discovered, affecting everything from web browsers to email clients. The Document Foundation, the developers behind the free and open-source LibreOffice suite, has now released an emergency update for LibreOffice that includes the fix. You should update as soon as possible if you have LibreOffice installed.

macOS Sonoma is Finally Available for Everyone

Arol Wright — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:34:18 GMT

Every year, we get new versions of Apple operating systems. We already saw the release of iOS 17, Apple's newest mobile operating system, which released with the iPhone 15 series and is now rolling out to older phones as well. But Apple's computers are about to get the same treatment. macOS Sonoma, the latest version of macOS, is now officially rolling out to everyone.

Google Bard AI Conversations Are Showing Up in Google Search

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:56:16 GMT

Did you know that you can share Google Bard conversations with friends, family, and coworkers? Well, if you're lucky, this is your first time hearing of Bard's sharing feature. It seems that Google Search is unintentionally indexing shared Bard conversations, including conversations that are clearly supposed to be private. We've reached out to Google for a comment on this situation, and we've asked if indexed conversations are an intentional "feature."

The iPhone 15 Pro Max Fails to Impress in This iFixit Teardown

Andrew Heinzman — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:44:07 GMT

In recent years, Apple has made a push for both device reparability and environmentalism. It launched a Self Service Repair program, lectured customers about carbon neutrality, and discontinued its popular leather phone cases. But these commitments have no tangible impact on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In a new teardown video, iFixit discovers that Apple is still an opponent to reparability—its parts pairing system discourages device repair and encourages wastefulness.

New $50 Roku Express 4K Bundle Includes a Voice Remote Pro

Arol Wright — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:57:19 GMT

Roku sells some of the best streaming devices around (and now TVs too), but the budget devices ship with a simplified remote without features like a built-in headphone jack. That's now changing, as Roku is introducing an Amazon-exclusive bundle with the Roku Express 4K and Voice Remote Pro, giving you the company's cheapest 4K streaming box with its best and most feature-packed remote.