Should Apple Smart Home Users Insist on HomeKit-Compatible Devices?

Summary If you own an iPhone, does that mean you should ensure all your smart home devices are HomeKit-compatible? There are strong arguments in favor, but it shouldn’t always be a deal-breaker. What Is HomeKit, and What Are the Benefits? HomeKit is Apple’s smart home platform, suitable only for those who use iPhones and other Apple devices. Most HomeKit-compatible devices are not made by Apple, but rather by third-party companies who choose to support the platform....

June 9, 2025 · 6 min · 1188 words · Tina Rodriguez

Should You Use GitHub Actions, or a Self-Hosted Build Server?

Quick Links GitHub Actions is a CI/CD platform that enables developers to automatically build, test, and deploy applications all on GitHub, without using any external tools. With how easy it is to use, do you even need an external build server? GitHub Actions CI/CD is the process of automatically building and deploying applications, typically through an automated “build pipeline” that takes your code, runs the build script, and deploys it where it needs to go....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 990 words · Vincent Wheeler

Skyrim Was the Last Physical PC Game I Bought (and That's OK)

Summary It seems like yesterday that big-box PC games were in every store, but the day finally came when I would buy my last physical PC game ever, and that game,Skyrim, would definitively put the nail in my physical PC gaming history. I Queued for Skyrim If you’re on the younger side, you may not remember a time before people bought games digitally, or simply ordered them online. When a new game launched, and you really wanted to play it, you’d have to physically go to a store and hope there were enough copies of the game....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 856 words · Raymond Ramirez

There Will Never Be Another Windows XP

Quick Links Summary There has never been an operating system as iconic as Windows XP. Many of us associate Windows XP with our childhoods or early office work, as it’s practically synonymous with the era of desktop computers. Let’s explore what made this operating system so special. Windows XP Was in the Right Place at the Right Time Before we talk about the little things that made Windows XP special, let’s briefly go over the reason why Windows XP was so commercially successful....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 880 words · Emily Ali

Top Tech Deals: Garmin Smartwatch, $20 Fire TV Stick, Power Banks, and More!

The next big Amazon Prime Day sale is happening again in early October, but if you’re looking for a discount on your next gadget, gift, or back-to-school item right now, we have you covered. Here are some of the best tech deals you’ll find this week, including $100 off one of Garmin’s best smartwatches, a discounted Fire TV Stick Lite, portable speakers, or nearly$500 off a Sony FE 84mm GM camera lens....

June 9, 2025 · 3 min · 606 words · Julia Ibarra

Torrenting on a VPN? Don't Connect to US Servers

Quick Links Summary U.S.-based servers have been the target of legal action by copyright watchdogs and the movie studios they represent. Though it’s not clear how likely new threats are, staying away from servers based in the United States is a smart bet. You probably know youneed a VPN for torrentingor run the risk of being fined into oblivion. However, just because you’re usinga VPNdoesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe, especially if you’re using servers based in the United States....

June 9, 2025 · 4 min · 850 words · Shannon Reeves

Victrola Hi-Res Onyx Review: A Solid Record Player With Bluetooth

Summary Turntables aren’t supposed to be known for their wireless connectivity, but more often than not, in 2023, the inclusion of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi isn’t a niche feature of a record player. Victrola already ventured into this space with its Sonos-compatible models, but now it has a more universal Bluetooth option with itsHi-Res Onyx. Victrola Hi-Res Onyx Hi-Res Onyx expands Victrola’s premium turntable offerings with high-fidelity wired and wireless vinyl experiences, including Bluetooth 5....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 1044 words · Robert Johnson

Video Apps and News Sites Have Games Now, But Why?

Quick Links Did you know The New York Times has become one of the most popular game publishers? They’re not alone–everyone’s baking games into their services now. You can play games on YouTube, Netflix, and even LinkedIn. We go to these sites for news and videos. Why are they serving up games? There was once a time when you could make a profitable website by selling banner ads directly to companies, like in the days of physical newspapers....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 1024 words · William Cochran

What Is a Proxy Server and Should You Use One?

Quick Links You should always be conscious of your privacy and security on the internet, but not all privacy tools are created equal or do the same thing. Here are the things you should know about proxy servers, their limitations, and when you might want to use one. What Does a Proxy Server Do? Under normal circumstances, your internet traffic will flow between you and whatever service you are connected to through a series of servers....

June 9, 2025 · 4 min · 833 words · Jason Newman

What Is an "AI Whisperer" And Is It The Job For You?

Quick Links Summary AI Whisperers, or prompt engineers, utilize their understanding of generative AI to yield desired outputs by inputting specific prompts. This role, an intersection of technology, psychology, and art, is gaining relevance as the adoption of AI technologies like LLMs grows. Despite the evolution of AI, human touchpoints in managing and directing AI will remain valuable. New jobs are being invented all the time, and thanks to the explosion of generative AI, we now have yet another potential new job title on the market: the AI whisperer....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 992 words · Eric Hopkins

What Is Linux Mint, and Why Would You Use It?

Summary If you’ve been thinking of switching to Linux, one of the options you may have come across is Linux Mint. What is Linux Mint, though, and should you use it? What Is Linux Mint? Linux Mint is an operating system (OS) that you can use to replace Windows on your machine, though you could also use it alongside it. It has much the same “feel” as Windows, though it’s a lot more intuitive and also allows you to tweak many more settings to your taste....

June 9, 2025 · 5 min · 964 words · Victoria Boyer

What's a Good GPU Temperature Range?

Quick Links So you just installed a graphics card and don’t want your purchase to go up in flames. What does the average temperature reading on yourGPUactually mean? How hot is too hot? What’s a normal temperature range while gaming or performing other tasks? Let’s dive in. How Hot Is Too Hot for a GPU? Every GPU has a maximum temperature that the manufacturer considers safe. The exact number varies by model, but right up to that temperature,the GPU will work as promised....

June 9, 2025 · 6 min · 1112 words · James Patterson

What's the Difference Between Video Game Remasters and Ports?

Summary Plenty of iconic games have been re-released on modern consoles, but not all of these new versions are made the same way. Some re-releases can be considered “ports” while others are known as “remasters.” Both are used frequently, but there’s an important distinction between them. Remasters Apply a Shiny New Coat to Classic Games Remasters are updated re-releases that improve the graphics and performance of old games. Along with making older titles available on modern consoles, remasters also serve as an official means of playing classic games at higher resolutions andbetter frame rates....

June 9, 2025 · 6 min · 1220 words · Robert Jones