Your smart plug is seriously underutilized: 7 ways I've programmed mine to automate my home

Also: Unplugging these 7 common household devices greatly reduced my electricity bill. There are many ways to use smart plugs to automate your home, including turning dumb devices ...

Windows 11 Home vs. Windows 11 Pro: I compared both versions, and here's my upgrade advice

Windows 11 Pro gives you greater control over settings, but is it worth the extra cost? I break down the differences between the two systems.

HDR10 vs. HDR 10+ vs. Dolby Vision: Which format works best for your TV?

The difference comes down to how each format uses metadata to control brightness and color. HDR10 uses static metadata, applying one set of instructions to an entire movie or show ...

How to easily add a backup carrier to your phone - for free or cheap

Stranded during the Verizon outage? Set up a backup carrier on your iPhone or Android to avoid losing service again.

I used Microsoft's free Windows 11 battery health tool to diagnose my PC - and got helpful results

Windows 11 has a built-in report that provides insight into your laptop's battery status, including whether a replacement is actually needed.

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google all have new AI healthcare tools - here's how they work

On January 7, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Health, a feature within the chatbot that enables users to upload health records from apps like Apple Health and Function, and receive personalized medical ...

I replaced my Meta Ray-Bans with smart glasses that truly lasted all day - but there's a catch

The Solos AirGo A5 smart glasses sacrifice camera support and rich audio for more battery life compared to their competitors. Was it worth it?

I switched to a solid-state portable battery for a week - now lithium-ion feels outdated

The BMX SolidSafe 5K wireless power bank ditches lithium-ion batteries for solid-state batteries, and it's good to know why.

Do these cheap car de-icing gadgets actually work? My verdict after testing one in the winter cold

The most recent scammy gadget that came across my workbench was an "advanced electromagnetic antifreeze snow removal device." A relative of a friend of mine bought the device, wondered why it didn't ...

How to reset your Roku TV (and why I do it even if my system is working properly)

Let's say your screen is blank, the remote does not respond, and you cannot reach the factory reset software menu at all. A hardware reset using the hardware button may be the only solution. Many Roku ...
ZDNet

Is X down for you? Outage reports spike for Cloudflare and AWS too - here's the latest

X is experiencing a widespread outage Friday morning. Problems started shortly before 10:30 a.m. ET. DownDetector showed problems all across the United States. If you're having problems with X today, ...

Spotify is raising prices again - but I found a cheaper way to pay for it (and other alternatives)

Besides qualifying for a cheaper Student, Duo, or Family plan, individuals can still purchase an annual gift card for $99. That calculates to roughly $8.25 per month, which is much less than Spotify's ...