Google Home is making big changes to how people share access to their smart home devices and settings. The newest version of Google Home gives users more control over who can do what in their smart home by introducing a new “Member” role that can be adjusted by the admin user. The Member role lets the main user set different levels of access for household members and guests. These changes help solve the common problems people face when sharing control of their smart homes....

A strange Google Wallet bug, which affects smartphones running Android 5.0 and up, may expose your credit card details under a very specific set of circumstances. Google is aware of this vulnerability (CVE-2023-35671), and a fix is included in the September 2023 security update for devices running Android 11 and later. At the time of writing, the September 2023 security update is only available on select smartphones (excluding Pixel phones, oddly enough), though you’re able to avoid the Google Wallet exploit by disabling or avoiding a certain Android feature: Screen Pinning....

Quick Links Summary Upgrading to a new CPU is equally exciting and frustrating. You have to check the specs and benchmarks of the CPUs you’re interested in to see how they perform. I’m here to help you with the latter by teaching you how to read CPU benchmarks like a pro. Synthetic vs. Real-World Benchmarks Synthetic benchmarks are standardized performance testing tools that push a CPU to the maximum in a controlled environment....

Summary We already know electric cars getless range during cold weather, but what about the scorching hot summer months? Heat affects all vehicles, not just EVs, and during extremely hot weather, you may see the range decrease on an electric vehicle. Here’s what to expect and how to help your EV during the heat. You probably have several questions if you are considering a new electric car or just bought one....

The Android 15 beta started in February for Google and late May for select OnePlus phones, delivering exciting changes. Later this year, it’ll begin rolling out for multiple OnePlus phones. With the OnePlus Android 15 (OxygenOS 15) beta well underway, here’s what you need to know. Google delayed the initial Android 15 update from August to mid-October. Now that it’sfinally here, expect it to start arriving for many phones in the coming months....

Quick Links Summary You should upgrade your router every 3-5 years to ensure access to new Wi-Fi technology, improved hardware, and consistent security updates. Nobody likes wasting money, and it’s easy to ignore your home’s Wi-Fi router right up until it dies of old age. But there are many good reasons you should upgrade your router before then. Let’s look at them and how often you should be upgrading. Here’s Why You Should Upgrade Your Wi-Fi Router Before discussing router replacement timetables, let’s first talk about whyupgrading the humble Wi-Fi routeris worthwhile....

Quick Links Summary Do you hate the awkward silence between songs in your Apple Music playlist? you’re able to fix that with the crossfade feature, which smoothly blends one song into the next for a continuous listening experience, and it’s available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, and Windows. How to Enable the Crossfade Feature in Apple Music on Your iPhone or iPad To enable crossfade on an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Music > Crossfade....

Quick Links Windows 11’s hibernation feature saves your current work state and lets you resume anytime you want without keeping your machine turned on. I’ll explain how this feature works, when you should use it, and how to enable it on your computer. What Is Hibernation? Hibernation is a Windows feature that offloads all the data in theRAMand stores that data in a local file on your hard drive orSSD. This saves your PC’s current state, like any open files, running apps, open windows, and so on....

Quick Links Summary To resolve DNS issues on Windows, try opening your site in a different web browser, restarting your router, disabling your VPN, or running the “Internet Connections” troubleshooter. Other options include deleting your DNS cache, trying another device on the same network or another DNS server, updating your network adapter drivers, turning off your antivirus or IPv6, deactivating other network adapters, and booting your PC in safe mode....

Summary Your digital life is vulnerable while you’re traveling. Here are the ways you should protect yourself from fraud, theft, and data loss so that you can enjoy your trip assured that your devices and private data are secure. Use a Trustworthy VPN Avirtual private network(VPN) is a service that secures your internet connection by re-routing and encrypting the information transmitted through it. This increases your security and privacy in two ways: your IP address and location is hidden from third parties, and the data you send and receive over the internet is much harder to intercept....

Quick Links Summary Want to use a Linux desktop but don’t want to lose Windows 10’s familiar look and vibe? Most desktop environments come with unique layouts and themes by default, but with a bit of effort, you’re able to convert it to a spitting image of the Windows 10 desktop. Method 1: Get a Windows 10 GTK Theme The method that works on many desktop environments is to simply download a Windows 10 theme pack and icon pack designed for GTK desktops and drop them into the proper folders....

Summary Streaming your PlayStation 5 gameplay to Discord is a fun way to spice up game night with friends. You can chat while sharing whatever you’re doing for a more social experience. There are two methods you can use to do this so let’s take a look at how they both work. How to Stream PS5 to Discord Using Remote Play Remote Play lets you play on your PS5 without being in front of the primary TV, but it’s also useful for streaming too....

The Steam Deck is my favorite way to play emulated games. I’ve probably spent as much time playing retro titles on Valve’s handheld as I have playing regular Steam games, and it’s wonderful. I finally got around to adding my Dreamcast collection, after putting it off for so long. This has been a game-changer since it has allowed me to experience many of my childhood favorites all over again. The Dreamcast Was the Best Despite being a commercial failure and leading to SEGA’s exit from the hardware market, the Dreamcast was a fantastic bit of kit....