Quick Links A common complaint among tech enthusiasts is that modern phones all look the same and companies don’t innovate anymore. While companies are partly to blame, we often fail to notice our role in the way things are. Let me take you on a journey to how we got here. Enter the Golden Era of Smartphones Nearly 50 years ago, in 1973, Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made a historic phone call from the streets of New York using an early prototype of the world’s first commercially available mobile cell phone, the DynaTAC 8000X....

Summary If you enjoy a great sound system, the debate between soundbars and surround sound systems is a popular topic in home entertainment. If you’re wondering which one is best for your home theater, we hope to help you decide. What Is the Difference Between a Soundbar and a Surround Sound System? A soundbar is a slim, all-in-one speaker that can sit right under your TV or be mounted to the wall....

Microsoft has revealed Intel-powered versions of the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, intended for businesses that aren’t quite ready for the new ARM era, or anyone else who would just prefer an x86 version. They will be available starting in February. First up is theSurface Pro 11th Edition for Business. It’s similar to theconsumer-focused Surface Prothat arrived last year, with a 13-inch 2880x1920 3:2 touch screen, a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, two USB-C ports with USB4/Thunderbolt 4 support, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5....

Summary TheSwitchBot Mini K10+robot vacuum is no slacker when it comes to features, but its defining quality is its petite size. Autonomous cleaners are supposed to be round and about 13 inches wide—or so it looked to be determined. The Mini K10+ comes in at 9.7 inches. Changing a vacuum’s size addresses some concerns, but unfortunately, it doesn’t fix all the inherent problems with these devices. SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ Full of Features in a Small Package The thought process here seems to be that shrinking down a robot vacuum’s size so that it can slide through chair legs more freely will allow it to pick up more dirt....

If you’ve checked out someone’s profile on Reddit, you’ve probably seen that they have a collection of achievements and trophies on the right side of the screen. Some are cooler than others, so let’s go over a few that are sure to impress fellow Redditors. 1Well-Rounded The well-rounded trophy has a fun little graphic of Reddit mascot Snoo in a blue outline reminiscent of the golden ratio. It’s rather complicated to get, but it’s not impossible....

Read update Virtual private networks(VPNs) are great tools to keep safe online and access sites you otherwise can’t, but most come with a price tag. However, there are a number of trustworthy VPN services that offer free VPN plans you can take advantage of. UPDATE: 27-05-2025 We’ve reviewed our recommendations and these are still the best free VPNs services to try out. PrivadoVPN What to Look For in a Free VPN in 2025 Thankfully, this isn’t the case for every free VPN....

Following a purchase of the premium-priced Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, protecting its cutting-edge display is vital. From tempered glass to blue light-blocking options, the screen protectors present innovative solutions to keep this deluxe device safe and looking good. Spigen GLAS.tR EZ Fit 2-Pack The Spigen GLAS.tR EZ Fit 2-Pack earns its place as the best overall screen protector for the S25 Ultra, thanks to its innovative auto-alignment kit, 9H tempered glass, and fingerprint-resistant coating....

Summary Mac gaming is on the rise. With great, capable hardware and increasing developer support with help from Apple, those who choose to go with Cupertino instead of Redmond now have more opportunities to play in between work sessions. However, one of the biggest titles that has been promised for macOS still isn’t out, and there’s been a worrying degree of silence by the developers and Apple. Cyberpunk 2077 Was Promised in Early 2025 At the end of October 2025, CD Project RED made an announcement thatCyberpunk 2077would becoming to macOS....

Summary Learn all about modern CSS layouts and polish up your core CSS skills with these interactive games. With layout techniques like CSS grid, a speedrun challenge, and a fundamental selector test, there’s something for all abilities. 1Flexbox Froggy Teaching designers about flexible box layout for nearly a decade,Flexbox Froggyis probably the most well-known CSS game. For good reason, too. Not only is flexbox one of the trickier CSS concepts to nail down, but this gamified tutorial wins big on ease of use and cuteness....

Summary Tor Browser is designed to bypass internet censorship on the network or internet service provider (ISP) level, but some of its workarounds can be complicated. The Connection Assist feature was intended to fix that, and Tor Browser 14.5 is rolling out with an updated version and the feature’s introduction on Android. Tor Browsersends all its network traffic through the Tor network, which requires connecting to at least one Tor node....

Quick Links Summary New car buyers always pay for shipping, even if you pick it up from the dealership. Purchasing a new vehicle or electric car is always exciting, but then you see the window sticker with a long list of added fees, and your heart stops. Buyers probably have a lot of questions, including wondering, “what is the destination fee?” With each newelectric vehicle announcedlately, you’ve probably seen mentions of a destination fee or destination charge alongside the price tag and talks offederal EV incentives....

Quick Links Summary Whether you’re shopping for a modem to avoid ISP fees or just curious about the modem your ISP gave you, here’s what you need to know about DOCSIS and its impact on your internet speed and performance. What Is DOCSIS? Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is a telecommunications standard developed in the 1990s by the non-profit cable research consortium CableLabs to facilitate high-speed data transfer over existing coaxial cable infrastructure (CATV)....

Summary Some things look great on paper but never really live up to all the hype. That sums up the story of curved TVs. Once hailed as the future of TV, they’ve quickly fallen out of favor, and for good reason. The Immersion Promise Never Materialized When curved TVs first hit the market, manufacturers and marketing folks touted them as animmersive viewing experiencethat would rival the cinema. The idea was that the curve would surround your field of vision, drawing you into action like never before....