Summary Starting with models from the early 90s, I have owned numerous laptops in my life, and for almost all that time battery life has been the biggest concern of all. For the past few years, I never spared a thought for how much battery life is left on my laptop—so should we stop adding more? Laptops Last up to 24 Hours Now The Apple MacBook Pro M4 base model laptop has a claimed battery life of “up to” 24 hours, and it seems, for normal, day-to-day type work, you can get pretty close to that figure....

Quick Links You might think that only the streaming apps, like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, are tracking what you watch. Sadly, your smart TV is capable of seeing much more than that, even from devices like gaming consoles and Blu-ray players. How does this work, and is it possible to disable? We’ve got you covered. ACR Is Built Into Nearly Every Smart TV Most smart TVs nowadays come with a built-in technology called “Automatic Content Recognition” (ACR), and that’s where this story starts....

Quick Links Summary Plex is a media server solution that runs in one location and is accessed using client apps, a web interface, or DLNA. By comparison, Kodi is designed to run on your primary media center computer or device but also includes emulators, games, and a richer suite of add-ons. If you’re looking for a way to stream or watch movies and TV shows, there’s a good choice you’re trying to pick between Kodi and Plex....

Quick Links Google has announced the latest Android features and Pixel Feature Drop. From scam detection in Messages to new and improved live location sharing, some goodies are coming to an Android device near you. AI-Powered Scam Detection As you would expect, Google gives AI the top billing in the list of features, and I might agree this time. AI-powered scam detection is coming to Google Messages. This tool uses AI to identify suspicious text patterns that might indicate a scam....

Quick Links Summary Man pages are the ultimate source of help on Linux commands, but they’re very dense and not at all beginner-friendly. Enter tldr, a command which makes it much easier to use the command line. What Is tldr and Why Is It Better Than man? Tldr works likeman, the default way of getting helpon Linux commands. Its name referencesthe common internet initialism TL;DR, short for “Too Long; Didn’t Read....

Microsoft is doubling down on Windows 11’s requirement for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip in PCs. The company says it’s “non-negotiable” and “a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11.” Many PC owners running Windows 10 may need to buy a new computer, because their existing machine likely won’t be eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade.TPM 2.0 technologyis present on virtually all modern PCs, preventing Windows 11 installations on CPUs manufactured before 2018....

Summary The humble game controller is probably the most popular way to play these days, but not every game plays best with a pad and there are so many alternatives that can really make games play better and immersive you more than a controller ever could. Controllers Are Universal (but Compromised) Modern controller are incredibly versatile. They’re even used in the military (viaWired) either in custom or standard format. However, this jack-of-all-trades design means that with some specific games, controllers are less than optimal....

Summary In theory, jamming health-tracking features into earbuds should simplify the number of devices you need to wear while working out. In practice, I didn’t care for the way theSennheiser Momentum Sportearbuds worked or felt. Sennheiser Momentum Sport From workouts to running, MOMENTUM Sport is your ideal training partner. Its semi-open design minimizes noise caused by your body’s movements and allows some external sound for natural awareness. Price and Availability The Momentum Sport earbuds are available now and retail for $329....

Quick Links You’ve probably never picked a streaming music service based on how well its listening queue works. Yet loading up songs to play later is a critical part of the listening experience. Each service does it a bit differently, but Spotify’s queue system might be the best. How do they work? How a Play Queue Works in General It’s trivial, but to be specific, the “queue” (music or otherwise) is the temporary list of items lined up to play after each other....

Twin Peaksis possibly my favorite TV show of all time. It still breaks my heart that the original series was canceled in 1991 after just two seasons, with a shocking cliffhanger that wouldn’t be resolved until the return of the show in 2017. Sadly, the cancellation of excellent shows midway through their stories is still all too common. Netflix, in particular, has a reputation for pulling the plug on brilliant shows before they reach their conclusion....

Get the most out of your vinyl collection by choosing a high-quality turntable to showcase your favorite music. Audio-Technica AT-LP60X-BK What to Look for in a Turntable in 2024 Whether you’re an audiophile or a more casual listener, there are a few things you’ll want to look for when choosing which turntable to buy. Chief among these is the overall sound quality. A turntable’s key components, such as the stylus, phono-preamp, platter, and cartridge, can all affect its performance and audio quality....

Summary Yakuzais a long-running franchise celebrated for its unique blend of intense drama, whimsical humor, and everything in between. The latest entry,Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, continues the tradition by unapologetically embracing its identity as an entertaining and self-aware video game. The Premise Is Absurd (Which Is Why It Works) At the risk of sounding like an old gamer yelling at clouds,modern video gamestake themselves too seriously. From the emotional storytelling ofThe Last of Usto the action-packedquick-time eventsofMarvel’s Spider-Man,AAA gamesare now more reminiscent of quality Hollywood productions than video games, which, at the end of the day, are meant to be fun....

Quick Links AI is prevalent in some circles, but the general population doesn’t know or care about these tools. Several of the largest AI companies have changed tactics to get more users on board. Let’s check out which formerly paywalled AI tools are now usable for free. AI Isn’t All That Popular Among Regular People When you’re paying attention to news about a particular thing, it sometimes feels like everyone’s talking about it....