As technology transforms the war in Ukraine, soldiers are experiencing a new form of trauma: `Droneophobia`. Read...

The Ukraine war has seen remarkable innovations in drone technology but it’s rare to see them saving lives. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Petite, unobtrusive hardware Wi-Fi connectivity and interconnected features work well Very affordable Cons Doesn’t detect the presence of carbon monoxide No battery backup on the hub; any power outage means no push notifications We encountered a minor operational problem during testing Our Verdict This three-alarm smoke detection system offers seamless, long-range interconnectivity and Wi-Fi support, giving you extra layers of fire security. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm (model FS31) Retailer Price $109.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The trouble with smoke alarms is that one alone usually doesn’t provide enough protection, even in smaller homes. An alarm that goes off in one room might not be heard in the rest of the house, obviating the entire point of the technology. Interconnected smoke alarms offer a solution: If one goes off, they all go off. But the technology either means having dedicated wiring installed or standardizing on a wireless interconnectivity platform and hoping your mesh of alarms are all in range of one another. Specifications The new XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm smoke alarm system (X-Sense model number FS31) gives the wireless interconnect concept an upgrade by putting a base station in the middle of the mesh. That station doesn’t just coordinate the satellite smoke alarms (it should be noted that these alarms will not detect harmful accumulations of carbon monoxide), it also connects to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) and relays information to the X-Sense app on your smart phone. The X-Sense FS31 system worked exactly as promised, despite a wealth of interfering walls, floors, doors, electrical wiring, plumbing, and metal electronics between its three satellites. The satellites are modified versions the X-Sense XS01-WT smoke alarm I reviewed in the spring of 2021, bearing the model number XS01-M. They look identical to the standalone XS01-WT, with the only real difference being the addition of an internal 915MHz radio that’s used for inter-alarm communications. Three satellites come with the base station in the box (a 5-station model is also available for $140). A maximum of 24 satellites can be supported on one network, with add-on detectors priced at $30 each ($20 each at Amazon at press time). The unobtrusive hub of the X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm system.Christopher Null/Foundry The base station, smaller than you might think at just 3.5 inches square, is powered by a USB-C connection. Note that it doesn’t carry a battery backup, so if the power goes out, your mobile notifications will go dark; consider plugging the hub into an uninterruptible power supply just in case. Each satellite is powered by an included (and replaceable) 3V lithium cell. The preinstalled batteries promise a 5-year operating life, and the alarm itself boasts a 10-year operating life before it must be retired. Installation and setup Setup is a multi-step affair, and the process is not immediately obvious, as the X-Sense app instructs you to scan a QR code on the back of the manual to begin registration. But that didn’t work for me, and eventually I stumbled my way through the app to find a screen for adding the smoke alarms directly, based on their model number. Again, the app doesn’t indicate how to add the base station but attempting to add an alarm prompts you to first onboard the base station by scanning a QR code on its underside. Once the base station has been added to the app, you can proceed to add the alarms, one at a time, by activating their respective batteries and pressing a pairing button on the side of each device. I encountered no trouble with this part of the process. Performance You can add up to 21 additional X-Sense XS01-M smoke alarms to the FS31 system, but be aware these do not detect the presence of harmful levels of carbon monoxxide.Christopher Null/Foundry The X-Sense FS31’s big selling point is of course the alarms’ interconnectivity, so I tested the devices by placing them in the furthest corners of my house, and then using the X-Sense app’s test feature to trigger an alarm that should, in theory, cause all of them to sound off. Sure enough, the system worked exactly as promised, despite a wealth of interfering walls, floors, doors, electrical wiring, plumbing, and metal electronics between the three satellites. X-Sense claims a 500-meter (1,640 feet) maximum range in open air, and though my home is not nearly that large, the system appeared more than capable at blanketing my entire house with coverage. The sirens are very loud and piercing, and three different siren styles are available, so you can customize different alarms with different sounds if desired. The volume of the alarm on the base station can be set, but all siren alarms remain at maximum volume regardless. Each satellite alarm can also be configured to send a variety of different notifications to your phone, including when alarms are triggered or end; when a device is silenced, tested, or malfunctions; low battery notifications; and offline notifications. Push notifications were successfully sent to both my phone and my email inbox. The X-Sense app gives you an at-a-glance look at all your alarms’ status and displays push notifications if the system goes into an alarm state.Christopher Null/Foundry I also tested the alarms with simulated smoke and found they alerted quickly when exposed to the hazard and stopped sounding promptly when the smoke cleared, with push notifications (and an email) being pushed out in seconds. Finally, I also tested the alarms with the base station disconnected. When one alarm was exposed to smoke, each of the other alarms still activated, even without the central hub to coordinate them. The only difference being that push and email notifications were not sent (with the app showing all devices offline). The absence of battery backup on the hub seems like a missed opportunity. The X-Sense app gives you moderate flexibility in how the system works, including the option to silence an alarm by pressing a button on the base station. (With this option off, an alarm can only be silenced by the app or by disconnecting the power plug.) These options are all very straightforward and self-explanatory. I had no trouble with X-Sense’s system until at one point, one of the satellite alarms dropped offline without warning, disconnecting from the network. X-Sense offers no real troubleshooting options for this event—suggesting only that you should just move the alarm closer to the base station—but even when I put them a few feet apart, the alarm stayed offline, despite force-quitting the app and power-cycling both the alarm and the base station. The only fix I was ever able to find was deleting the troubled alarm from the app and re-adding it through the onboarding process. It has remained connected ever since. For the price of a subscription, you can connect the X-Sense system to a third-party professional monitoring service that will dispatch your local fire department should smoke be detected.Christopher Null/Foundry In the U.S., X-Sense offers a subscription service called the Protect+ Premium (that’s the company’s footnote marker at the end of “Protect”, although there’s no footnote on the page I’ve linked to). The service will automatically dispatch first responders if one of its alarms is triggered. The service, administered by the third-party monitoring company Noonlight, takes steps to avoid sending a fire truck based on a false alarm, starting with a written message. If there’s no response within 20 seconds, a phone call is initiated. If there’s no answer to that call within 60 seconds, a fire truck is dispatched. Protect+ Premium costs $5/month or $50/year. There’s also a $3/month, $30/year Protect+ Basic plan, which requires you to request a fire-engine dispatch by pressing a button in the app when one of the smoke alarms sounds off. Neither plan is something I’d invest in, but you might feel otherwise. Should you buy an X-Sense XS01-M Interconnected Smart Smoke Alarm Despite the lone operational hiccup, the X-Sense FS31 system worked well in my testing, the various hardware components are petite and unobtrusive, and the price—on sale at Amazon for just $70 as of this writing—is wholly reasonable. You’ll need some other means of warning residents of the presence of carbon monoxide in your home, but this interconnected smoke alarm system is a strong fire-safety tool. Read...

Welcome to The Full Nerd newsletter—your weekly dose of hardcore hardware talk from the enthusiasts at PCWorld. Missed the hot-burning topics our YouTube show or latest news across the web? You’re in the right place. Want this newsletter to come directly to your inbox? Sign up on our website! Recently, I chatted with Hyte about case design—not just the genesis of the company’s imminent X50 and X50 Air, but the drive behind what ultimately lands on our desks. And since that discussion, a provocative quote from Rob Teller, Hyte’s product director, has been on my mind: “When I look at computer cases, I really look at them as fashion, far more than I look at them as technology as this point.” Teller isn’t new to the industry. His history includes stints at NZXT and Alienware before his time at Hyte. He’s had a front-row seat to design shifts over the past 20 years. And for that reason, his words lodged in my brain as quiet but revolutionary. I’d never before considered a world where PCs don’t look like computers. Is that playing around with semantics? A little. But I’d argue we all collectively buy into the idea that a computer can be identified on sight—an attitude created with the first personal computers and carried through the decades since. Systems like the IBM PC, the first computer I ever used, had distinctive boxy styling. The PC that replaced that squat white-and-gray Intel 8088 machine was even bigger, a thick slab with double floppy drives, an Intel 286, and an intermittent whine I fixed with varying levels of percussive maintenance. I lost most of my desk space to each of those PCs, but I accepted their footprints. Their bulk represented progress. Wikipedia Today, boxiness and bulk still signal that you’re looking at a computer. Consider the landscape: Mid-tower ATX cases dominate. E-ATX implies a build aiming to absolutely rip in performance. Meanwhile, color and size options remain constrained. Designs that stray into unique territory are generally the work of modders. Even the living room gaming PC I’m building right now stands out as such. The case is a Jonsbo C6, a small black cube that I think is cute. But it’s not going to match anything of my friend’s decor. I wonder if The Full Nerd crew’s polarized reactions to the Hyte X50 stems from this embedded perception of a computer’s looks. Adam hated it—too bubbly, too round. I liked that it could blend in with a whole home’s vibe, even if you could immediately recognize it as a PC case. A clash perhaps between what we think the future should look like (currently clean lines and minimalist) versus realizing what it could look like. Don’t get me wrong, I loved messing around with that IBM PC, even if I never could program in BASIC to save my life. But I have no need to hang on to its aesthetic to believe in the future. That’s the job of the hardware inside. In this episode of The Full Nerd… Willis Lai / Foundry In this episode of The Full Nerd, Alaina Yee, Will Smith, and special guest Nathan Edwards of The Verge chat about malware sneaking into Steam games and what makes for an ideal custom keyboard. As was likely inevitable with a reunion of former Maximum PC editors, we end up zigzagging often during the conversation, with tangents galore. My favorite tangent of a tangent of a tangent: Nathan’s explanation of how to revive a PC from death, after being submersed in flood water for three days. Also useful, though not a tangent: Nathan’s top recommendations for mechanical keyboard kits under $150. Tangent. We even talked ergo keyboards during the show! (Pictured here: the Keychron Q11.)Alaina Yee / Foundry Missed our live show? Subscribe now to The Full Nerd YouTube channel, and activate notifications. We also answer viewer questions in real-time!  And if you need more hardware talk during the rest of the week, come join our Discord community—it’s full of cool, laid-back nerds. This week’s unusual nerd news Adam’s on vacation this week, which means I had no one to relay word to about more scented thermal paste. Who would have known other people agree with him about this need in our lives? Why a single-slot RTX 5090? Again, the perennial answer: Why not?Inno3D You can store data on a bird: Is Dan Brown still writing novels? Because this seems like the perfect opener for his kind of plots. PC Gamer says this controller shouldn’t exist: I’m not going to say the sentiment is wrong. But at the same time, if it were to exist, someone would immediately try to correct for its (glaring) flaws. I would want to see that. I might even put money toward that. A single-slot RTX 5090? Sure, why not: The whole point here is the excuse to flex on everyone with your custom cooling skill, yes? Yes. Microsoft Copilot now has a face: I said a lot of things aloud at my desk when I read this. I can’t repeat them here. Let’s just file this under, “Who asked for this?” I might be down for blossom-scented thermal paste: Don’t tell Adam I said this. Can you spot fake AI images? (The answer is no): As it turns out, we humans are not as good as we think at identifying fake content. Oh dear.Reddit Please science, save us all: I actually think periodically about our fresh water supplies, and what that could look like in the coming decades. So hearing even preliminary good news about transforming saltwater into drinkable water is comforting. I believe the answer is ‘no’: Okay, first—kudos to this Redditor for asking other people’s opinions. I fully commend that instinct. It’s a good one. That said, this picture of this GPU slotted into a machine gave me a mild nightmare. Literally. I read this post just before bedtime. Have threads, will rip: Steve Burke over at Gamers Nexus released the team’s review of one of AMD’s newest Threadripper chips, the 64-core 9980X. I bet myself how fast I’d find comments about watching the gaming benchmark results first. I both won and lost. Roblox’s CEO needs a reality check: No. Nobody wants Roblox to start a dating service within the game. Meanwhile, Valve’s president administers a reality check: Gabe Newell’s take on following your passion is surprisingly solid life advice. That’s so even before considering a massive gaming company’s head honcho doled out this advice while the games industry is painfully contracting. Catch you all next week—when I’ll likely be exhausted from fighting everyone during the return of the Hardware Hall of Fame. Don’t forget to submit your nominees for award contention! You can share them with us on our Discord server, via email at thefullnerd@pcworld.com, or giving me a holler over on Bluesky. Alaina This newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Gordon Mah Ung, founder and host of The Full Nerd, and executive editor of hardware at PCWorld. Read...

With vacation season upon us, it’s time to figure out what to pack for your trip. Limited tech time is great in theory, but you still need a few things to make your life easier, whether it’s gear for the car, accessories that help you connect to your entertainment, or gadgets for backing up all your pics. Here at PCWorld we’re always testing the latest gadgets to sort the good from the don’t-bother. In the process, we’ve come across a lot of tech gear that’s built for travel. Here we’ve curated a list of the gear that we believe is worthy of any packing list and sure to help prepare you for anything you may encounter on the road—or in the sky. Happy travels! Manage electrical needs with a voltage converter BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V Bestek, Mapambo When you’re traveling from the U.S. to Europe, for instance, you don’t just need a different type of plug for your chargers and gadgets, but also a voltage converter because Europe runs on different settings. The Bestek Universal Travel Adapter will convert 220V outlets to U.S.-standard 110V, thus ensuring that your devices don’t burn out. It’s not only affordable, but it has three AC outlets and four USB ports. Plus, the product comes with a couple of extra plug adapters. If a more compact version is all you need, then the Mapambo converter will work just fine with one AC plug, two type-C, and two type-A ports. The Baseus Enercore CG11 is also a fantastic pick, as it’s suitable for use anywhere in the world, with slide-out plugs for the USA, EU, and UK. There are also two ports — one USB-C and one USB-A — as well as a USB-C retractable cable. Buy the BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter at Amazon Buy the Mapambo 220V to 110V Voltage Converter at Amazon Buy the Baseus Enercore CG11 Take control of tangled cords Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Keychain Charger Cable Rolling Square If you’re like most travelers, you bring multiple electronics to make the most of your experience—we’re talking camera, phone, laptop, headphones, etc. But along with all of these items, you’ll need to carry all of their charging cables. That can take up space and lead to a tangled web of cords in your bag if you’re not careful. With the Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Charger Cable on Amazon, you have the option of USB-C or USB-A inputs and Micro USB or USB-C outputs all in a cable that is small enough for your keychain. Buy the Rolling Square Portable Charger Cable at Amazon Or get a retractable cable Baseus USB-C Retractable Cable Baseus If you’d rather have a simpler cable, then this one from Baseus will do the trick. The retractable design ensures it’s going to be safe in your luggage, preventing any type of tangling issues and considerably lowering the chances of your cable breaking. You can get this one in two length versions—3.3ft and 6.6ft— and you can pay as little as $10 on the shorter one if it’s on sale. Buy the Baseus retractable USB-C cable at Amazon Keep your devices charged with a portable power bank Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank with wall charger Anker Traveling is always fun, but ending up with a depleted phone battery in an unknown place can be terrifying. This Anker Prime power bank takes up two roles in one. On one hand, it can plug into a wall outlet and give you the recharge you need while you’re at your hotel, for instance, but it can also act as a power bank when you’re out and about exploring. 10,000mAh is enough to charge your phone twice over (or close to that). There are three ports on this Anker hybrid charger, two of which are type-C that can reach 65W charging. It’s available for $110, but you can often find it closer to $70 when on sale. Buy the Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 Charger at Amazon Make that hotel outlet actually useful Anker Prime 6-in-1 charging station Anker One of the main issues we all have when traveling is that it’s tough to find multiple outlets in your hotel room. You’ll get one by the bedside table and another that’s taken up by the TV. Well, this compact power strip from Anker makes good use of that outlet and turns it into six. You get two AC outlets, two USB-A and two USB-C ports and a maximum output of 140W via those type-C ports. That’s just about perfect for laptops, smartphones and whatever else you have on you. The cool part is that the power strip is flat and the power cord detaches, so it’s ideal for your tight-packed luggage. Buy the Anker Prime 6-in-1 power strip at Amazon Never lose your valuables again Apple AirTag, Tile Pro, Samsung SmartThings, Tile Slim Apple, Tile, Samsung We’ve all been there. You arrive at your destination and you’re waiting for your checked bag to show up on the carousel, but it never does. Baggage handling is at it again. With a Bluetooth tracker you can easily keep tabs on where your bag is and maybe even help TSA locate it, should it be lost. There are quite a few Bluetooth trackers on the market that you can get. Apple users should look into the AirTag, while Android users can choose Samsung’s SmartTag2. Anyone can go for the Tile Pro. If you’re more worried about your wallet, Tile’s Slim tracker will fit inside it neatly. These are all around $30 a piece, but you can quite often get them for less or in bundles, thus lowering the price even more. If you want an AirTag alternative, the Ugreen FineTrack is a fraction of the price and often on sale. Buy the Apple AirTag at Amazon Buy the Ugreen FineTrack Buy the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 at Amazon Buy the Tile Pro at Amazon Buy the TIle Slim at Amazon Enjoy an in-flight movie without annoying headphone cables Twelve South AirFly Pro or Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver Ugreen, Twelve South Twelve South’s AirFly Pro Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter for $54.99 on Amazon (although it’s frequently on sale) allows you to turn any audio jack into a wireless Bluetooth transmitter. Simply plug in the device to the headphone jack on the back of the airplane seat and connect your wireless headphones. Then sit back and relax while you enjoy the in-flight entertainment on your sweet noise-canceling headphones. Alternatively, you can also go for the more affordable Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver, which is $36.99 but often drops below $30. Either will allow you to connect up to two earbuds or headphones. Buy the Twelve South AirFly Pro at Amazon Buy the Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver at Amazon Drown out noise with noise-canceling earbuds AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 Apple, Bose Flying on an airplane is loud. Engines roar, babies cry, passengers snore. That’s why you need noise-canceling headphones, which have become essential tools in making your flight as easy as possible. And because you’re traveling and bag space is a premium, your headphones need to be small. Not just for iPhone users, but for anyone who needs good headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 for $225.00 on Amazon continue to be the best choice due to their convenient size and noise-canceling capability. If you’re an Android user, you may want to look into the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which deliver something our buddies at TechAdvisor have called “astonishing noise cancellation” on top of superb sound quality and a secure fit. Get the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) at Amazon Buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 at Amazon Or get some noise-canceling headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max Apple, Sony If earbuds aren’t for you, then perhaps a pair of proper headphones will do the trick. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are easily some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there (as our friends at TechAdvisor attested with a 5-star review), delivering phenomenal audio and a comfortable build. Apple fans may want to look into the AirPods Max that are also known for what our friends at MacWorld call “industry leading active noise canceling”. Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 at Amazon Buy the Apple AirPods Max at Amazon Capture and print your favorite memories Fuji Instax Mini 12 instant camera Fujifilm Sure, you could bring a giant SLR camera with multiple lenses and an extra special carry-on bag to store everything. Or for those who aren’t professionals, you can opt for a small, retro instant camera such as the Fuji Instax Mini 12 for $143.95 on Amazon. Just like an old-school Polaroid, you can take a picture and instantly print it out to capture the moment. Just be aware that you’ll need to purchase and carry the film separately. Buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 at Amazon Keep your wires from getting crossed Bellroy Tech Kit Bellroy Bellroy is known for making great tech cases and kits, and the Bellroy Tech Kit for $59 on Amazon is our favorite. This well-designed, travel-friendly bag allows you to keep all of your cables and small peripherals stored and organized with ease. The folio style means that you can open the entire kit out flat for easy access to everything stored inside. Plus, the fabric is waterproof so you shouldn’t have to worry about a little liquid spilling on your precious gear. Buy the Bellroy Tech Kit at Amazon Game in-route to your destination Steam Deck, Switch OLED, or Backbone One Backbone, Nintendo, Valve The Steam Deck for $399 on the Steam store is a great handheld gaming system that allows you to play your favorite PC games on the go. It wasn’t so long ago that the Steam Deck was sold out everywhere and people were clamoring to get one. Thankfully, Valve has increased its supply and it’s easier than ever to get your hands on this excellent gaming portable. Play games from your Steam library on the go or load up on new titles for your next vacation. Gaming makes those long-haul flights a breeze. If you’d rather go for a different platform, the Switch OLED is an absolutely fantastic gaming console. And yes, we know the Switch 2 is en route, but good luck getting your hands on one of those anytime soon. If you’d rather just play on your phone, but have an upgraded experience, the Backbone One will mold to your phone, whether that’s an Android or iPhone model, and will help you play anything you want, including titles in your Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam libraries. Buy the Steam Deck at Steam Store Buy the Nintedo Switch OLED at Amazon Buy the Backbone One at Amazon Keep your hands and wrists happy while typing Logitech MX Keys Mini Logitech Laptop keyboards are cramped and can lead to some serious wrist pain if you type on them for long enough. Save yourself the carpal tunnel and grab a wireless keyboard like the Logitech MX Keys Mini. This compact keyboard is not only easy to travel with, but offers convenient features such as a semi-customizable layout, multi-device switching, and more. And the most important part is that it offers a great typing experience with comfortable and quiet keys that won’t bother your fellow travelers. The MX Keys Mini is currently $99.99 on Amazon. Buy the Logitech MX Keys Mini at Amazon Carry a library everywhere you go Kindle Paperwhite Amazon Books are a great thing to have around on vacation, but they’re heavy and they take up precious space in your luggage. Instead opt for an e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite for $159.99 on Amazon and bring an entire library worth of books in this lightweight tablet. Plus the Paperwhite version comes with an anti-glare screen and adjustable brightness settings, making it perfect for a bright beach or dark airplane. Not sure which Kindle to buy? Check out our handy Kindle buying guide to help you make the right choice. Buy the Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon Grab a mobile hotspot to stay in range of Wi-Fi range Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot Solis Those who travel a lot know that Wi-Fi is essential. From being able to work online while on the road or just looking up restaurant recommendations in another country, it’s an invaluable tool to get the most out of your travel experience. There are quite a few services nowadays offering pocket Wi-Fi for travelers, but Solis is one of the best with reliable global coverage across 135 countries. Plus, it has flexible plans depending upon your needs. You’ll need to purchase the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot for $159.99 on Amazon before registering for a Wi-Fi plan, but it’s only a one-time fee and you can then use it on all of your future trips. Buy the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot at Amazon Safe surfing NordVPN  Pexels: Stefan Coders If you’re going to travel anywhere, connecting to shady Wi-Fi networks, you absolutely need to have a VPN on your device. We’ve tested what feels like a million of them and recommend you go for NordVPN, which we found to be the best overall. There are tons of configuration options if you want to deep-dive, but you can also just take the easy route and press a single button every time. It even comes with a built-in antivirus and password manager, so you have a three 3-in-1 solution. Get NordVPN Never worry about safe tap water again Philips Water GoZero self-cleaning water bottle Philips No matter if you’re traveling to a new city or going camping, making sure that you have access to clean and potable water is a necessity. The Philips Water GoZero bottles bring in some smart technology to ensure the water is safe to drink. Available for $73.89 at Amazon (or lower when on sale), the bottle uses UV technology to eliminate up to 99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.9 percent of viruses in just a few minutes. Even when empty, the cap can disinfect your bottle and remove odors. Made out of stainless steel and double-walled, the bottle won’t just purify your water, it will also keep your drinks hot for up to 12 hours or cold for 24 hours. Buy the Philips Water GoZero water bottle at Amazon Mount your smartphone on anything Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount Perilogics This Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount for $13.97 on Amazon allows you to easily clip your phone onto an airplane seat for hands-free convenience. Maybe you loaded up that latest season of your favorite show or have a game to occupy that long-haul flight. Either way, holding your phone with a craned neck for hours and hours is bound to give you a strain. Just hook this bad boy up to the back of the seat in front of you on the airplane then sit back, relax, and enjoy. Buy the Universal in flight phone holder at Amazon Travel with an ultraportable laptop Asus ZenBook S 14 Thomas Rau If you’re going to get a super-light laptop, the Zenbook S 14 is a fantastic pick because it weighs just 2.65 pounds, which makes sit lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air. We gave this one a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating the fantastic battery life and lovely large OLED screen. Plus, the laptop has an Ultra 7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You can also check out our other best ultraportables or our best laptop roundup for even more options. Buy the Asus ZenBook S 14 at Best Buy Or opt for a 2-in-1 for even more versatility HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 IDG / Josh Hendrickson If you want a more versatile laptop, then a 2-in-1 model will do, like our very favorite HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. The 360-degree hinge will make it easy for you to turn this laptop into a tablet and into a Netflix-watching tent in a blink. The 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch display is absolutely gorgeous and the 500 nits make it perfect to use everywhere you go. Buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 at Amazon Increase your screen real-estate with a travel monitor Azorpa A1 Gamut Matt Smith Sometimes you just need a second monitor, even when you’re traveling. The extra screen really helps productivity for business travelers and it makes for a great way to play your portable games on a larger screen while on the road. We really like the Azorpa A1 Gamut which delivers good image quality for an extremely budget friendly price—the A1 Gamut is usually about $70 on Amazon. It also comes with useful connectivity options and a solid build quality that will stand up to the rigors of travel.  Buy the Arzopa A1 at Amazon Grab some extra storage Crucial X9 Pro IDG If you plan on taking about a million pictures and videos and you want to have a safe way to back them up without relying on random hotel Wi-Fi, then you can also grab a portable SSD. The Crucial X9 Pro is the best external SSD for most folks because it’s not only affordable but also super fast. We gave the X9 Pro a near-perfect score and our Editors’ Choice award, utterly impressed with the 10Gbps performance and the small form factor. Buy the Crucial X9 Pro at Amazon Back up your pics Ugreen USB-C Ugreen This absolutely tiny USB-C card reader is the perfect way to back up some of those pics you took on vacation without relying on hotel Wi-Fi or your limited data. If your phone doesn’t have a microSD card, a card combined with this tiny reader makes a great external storage option. Or, if you’re using a camera with a microSD card, you can back up the pics to your laptop to free up space. It doesn’t hurt that it’s super affordable. Buy the Ugreen USB-C microSD at Amazon Stream content in your hotel room Amazon Fire TV Stick HD Amazon If you’re going to travel, you may as well keep up with your shows. The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD makes it super easy to bring all your favorite shows with you anywhere you go. You’ll just need to pop this thing in the TV, connect it to the hotel’s Wi-Fi (or the hotspot you set up), and just have fun. It’s also super affordable, available for $35 (although it’s frequently on sale for $20 or less). Buy now at Amazon Upgrade your car’s entertainment system Carlinkit 5.0 Carlinkit If your car’s entertainment system still requires you plug in your phone, then we have a nifty solution for you. This Carlinkit 5.0 dongle plugs into your car and allows you to wirelessly connect to it whenever you get in your car. In this way, you’re saving time and it’s so much more convenient. The Carlinkit 5.0 works with both CarPlay and Android Auto, so it doesn’t matter what type of phone you use. Buy the Carlinkit Android Auto & Carplay adapter at Amazon Read...

Swiss technology company Proton—known for its privacy-centered software solutions and services—just launched Proton Authenticator, a new open-source two-factor authentication (2FA) app. Proton Authenticator is very much like the other 2FA apps you’ve probably used in the past, including Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, and third-party options like Authy. Proton’s version stands out for being open-source and offering best-in-class security and encryption, plus zero ads or tracking. Proton Authenticator is launching with apps for all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. (That desktop availability is also a unique selling point, as not even Microsoft nor Google offer desktop versions of their 2FA apps.) And if you have a free Proton Account, you can stay synced between all platforms. This is great news for privacy-conscious users who want to move away from megacorporations like Microsoft and Google, and it’s also great news for anyone who wants a desktop 2FA app. Proton offers a range of other privacy-focused solutions, including Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. Further reading: How to lock down your accounts with 2FA properly Read...

Death and taxes, folks. Even the best technology can’t last forever, and plenty of people consider Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 10 series—specifically the 1080 Ti—to be the best it’s ever made. But the company just confirmed that the October Game Ready driver release for the Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta series of GPUs will be the last one. The Maxwell architecture technically goes all the way back to several later members of the GTX 700 series, starting with the low-end 745, 750, and 750 Ti released in early 2014. The latest consumer cards affected by this change will be the bombastic TITAN series, on the other end of the price and power spectrum, with the Titan V CEO Edition released in 2018. All GTX 900 and 10 series cards are included in these families. After the 580 drivers are finished off in October, which is perhaps not coincidentally the same time that Windows 10 was slated to be killed, these cards will be switched to a quarterly security update schedule. But they won’t be getting the more deliberate performance and compatibility updates, which Nvidia gamers rely upon to make sure the latest games run smoothly on their gaming desktops and laptops. The change was heralded by a drop in support for Unix on the same chips. While they’re getting harder to find, some of the 10-series cards are still popular, especially on the mid-range and budget side of things. The June 2025 Steam Hardware Survey still lists the GTX 1060 as the 12th-most popular card on the market, and the 1050 Ti isn’t too far behind. But more expensive cards are far lower, which makes sense as those with more means have probably upgraded. The GTX 1070 is used by only 0.85 percent of Steam participants. It’s important to note that the 10 series doesn’t include some newer mid-range and budget GTX cards, including the 1630, 1650, 1650 Super, 1660, and 1660 Ti. Those are Turing-based cards, a different architecture that began in 2019 and are still supported with new drivers. Read...

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: Ten gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $15 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices. Read...

I’ve wanted a Steam Deck from the first moment I saw one. But I haven’t bought one yet. Initially, it was because I couldn’t really justify the purchase, at least if the amount of time I’ve used my original Nintendo Switch in portable mode is anything to go by. But lately I have a new reason: I’m scared.  See, I could definitely convince myself that getting one makes sense. I work for PCWorld, it’s not as if buying a portable gaming PC would piss off my (imaginary) accountant. But since I’m looking at a $500 purchase, probably closer to $1,000 if I get an OLED model and a couple of upgrades, it’s way outside of impulse buy territory. So I want to make sure it’s a good purchase, if not necessarily a wise one.  The Steam Deck is getting older And here’s the thing: The Steam Deck is three and a half years old. And the OLED model, while gently revising the internal bits, isn’t any more powerful. While the Steam Deck’s AMD Zen 2-based APU is fine for the vast majority of PC games, especially combined with the efficiency of SteamOS and the Proton compatibility layer, it’s definitely looking a bit long in the tooth for the latest 3D titles.  So I have purchase paralysis. I don’t want to sink the better part of a grand into a game machine if a new one is right around the corner. Granted, that’s always an issue with almost any kind of technology, from graphics cards to Grand Cherokees. But even if Valve is tight-lipped about any kind of new model or revision — and more reticent than most companies to release a new one and potentially fracture the userbase in terms of capability — I can’t help but fear that a better alternative is right around the corner. If not from Valve, then from a competitor. Willis Lai/Foundry Since the Steam Deck blew up the previously teeny-tiny portable gaming PC market, dozens of alternatives have popped up mimicking its form factor and capabilities. Most of these are also using AMD’s excellent APU designs, and most are more powerful than the Steam Deck’s, if only nominally so. And now that these can also run SteamOS instead of clunky Windows, either officially or via a secondary download, they’ve become far more appealing.  …but the alternatives aren’t getting better fast enough The Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS Edition (that will never not be a horrible name) is prominent among these, and offers a direct comparison to illustrate my point. Even using the Ryzen Z2 Go configuration, far less powerful than the older Z1 Extreme, it handily beats the Steam Deck running the same games, resolution, and OS. Absent of all other considerations, if you want a Steam-powered handheld and you’re looking for power, you already need to look beyond the Steam Deck.  There are also some notable weaknesses in the Steam Deck’s design. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still probably the best in the admittedly small field. But it could use a bigger screen for its build, and a more ergonomic design, too — the thumbsticks and touchpads split the difference in terms of being able to reach them. Those sticks could stand to be hall effect (lookin’ at you, Nintendo!), and a little extra work on the internals might give the Steam Deck a bigger battery and room for full-length 80mm SSDs, which are much easier to find and cheaper besides.  So Steam Deck alternatives with more power are now available, even if you want one that isn’t using Windows (and I do). And there are enough improvements to be made on the original model that a revision, or an alternative, should be a serious consideration. Of course, these will require a little extra elbow grease to get SteamOS running on them. And even erring on the optimistic side, I think it’s safe to assume that they won’t get the same excellent software support as the Steam Deck, and won’t have anywhere near as many accessories available. I’m still going to wait it out That leads me to think that, absent a smash-hit alternative in the near future, I should still wait for an upgraded version of the Steam Deck. Unfortunately I don’t think that’s likely to happen anytime soon. At the moment Valve appears to be outselling all the alternatives, even using slightly outdated hardware, and so has no real reason to fast-track an upgrade. The company has said as much. And with tariffs, the AI chip capacity crunch, and other uncertainties making more expensive hardware unappetizing to Valve and gamers alike, there’s no great rush to get rid of the original (and still fairly affordable) Steam Deck. Willis Lai/Foundry And yet, I can’t bring myself to pull the trigger. With more and more newer games being just beyond the Steam Deck’s efficient capabilities, the problems with the current hardware aren’t going away. And I really want to see what Valve changes in a second-gen device, after learning what improvements are important from years of manufacturing and millions of users. So I’m stuck, yearning for what is and excited (and afraid) of what might be. Once again, that’s a basic dilemma for almost any kind of technology. And I’d be negligent if I didn’t admit a certain amount of first-world privilege in even considering this a conundrum. But I’ll close out with a point in favor of patience for any tech purchase: When the new one arrives, the old one will be even cheaper, giving you more and better options automatically. Maybe I can wait a bit longer after all. Further reading: Master your Steam Deck with these 22 tips and tricks Read...

One of the phenomena triggered by the AI boom in recent years is deepfakes. The term is made up of the words deep learning and fake. Deep learning refers to machine learning methods, while a fake is a forgery, an imitation or a hoax. A deepfake is therefore a forgery created with the help of AI processes. These can be fake computer-generated photos of known people, images, or videos in which faces have been replaced with others, or even voice recordings or messages in which a known voice says phrases that it has never actually uttered. Such forgeries of images, videos, and sound recordings have always existed. However, thanks to AI technology, these fakes are now near perfect and difficult to distinguish from authentic recordings. What’s more, the required software is available to everyone and is often even offered as a web service meaning anyone can create deepfakes nowadays. High potential for misuse AI applications for creating deepfakes are often advertised as software that can be used to play tricks on other people. But in fact, such programs are often misused by criminals. They utilize the possibilities of AI for these scams. For example: They use AI to perfect the grandchild trick. To do this, they call their victims using the AI-generated voices of relatives, describe an emergency such as an accident and ask for immediate financial support. In a video, they put a phrase into the mouth of a politician that they have never said, in an attempt to influence public opinion. You have a celebrity advertise a product without their knowledge or consent. Customers who then order this product are either ripped off with an inflated price or never receive the goods. Recognizing deepfake images When the deepfake scams began, consumers could only protect themselves from being ripped off by criminals by looking or listening carefully. This is because the AI often works inaccurately and many details are misrepresented or unrealistic. However, other AI applications soon appeared on the web that examined images and videos precisely for these errors and also included color patterns and textures in their analyses. A whole range of such programs are now available. Many of them are free of charge. The user uploads an image or video to a website and the AI analyses it and tells the user whether it’s a deepfake or not. The University at Buffalo’s Deepfake-o-Meter recognizes deepfakes in images, videos and audio files using 16 programs from the open source scene. In the test, however, the performance of the tools was not convincing.IDG Probably the most comprehensive deepfake detection tool on the web comes from the University at Buffalo in the US state of New York. The Deepfake-o-Meter project, developed there by a team at the Media Forensic Laboratory, brings together 16 AI recognition programs from the open source scene and feeds them with images, videos, and audio files uploaded by users. After a few seconds, the tools present their results and state the probability that an uploaded medium is an AI-generated deepfake. To gain access to the Deepfake-o-Meter, all you need to do is register for free with your e-mail address. This gives the user 30 credits for using the service; a single query costs one credit. For a small test, we first uploaded what is probably the most famous deepfake image in the world, the photo of the late Pope Francis in a white down jacket created with Midjourney. However, only two services from the Deepfake-o-Meter repertoire gave a probability of more than 50 per cent that the photo was fake. None of the recognition programs used by Deepfake-o-Meter identified the image of Pope Francis in a white down coat as a reliable deepfake. Other AI images were also not reliably recognized.IDG In a second test, we had the Canva.com portrait generator generate the image of a woman. This time, seven of the sixteen AI tools recognised the deepfake. This image of a woman generated with Canva.com was also only recognized as AI-generated by some of the detectors of the Deepfake-o-Meter.IDG The AI recognition of the French company Sightengine works much faster than the Deepfake-o-Meter tools. In the test, it recognized the photo almost immediately after it was uploaded. For the portrait of a woman created with Canva.com, it gave a probability of 99 per cent that it was an AI-generated image. However, this program also produced inconclusive results when it came to the picture of the Pope—according to Sightengine, the probability of a deepfake was 53 percent. In the case of the image of the Pope in a white down jacket, Sightengine’s AI is not sure whether it is a deepfake or not.IDG Recognize deepfake images by these details Deepfake detectors such as Sightengine are important tools for identifying fake photos. In many cases, however, it’s also possible to recognize with the naked eye that an image doesn’t reflect reality—the devil is often in the details. One of the biggest problems for AI is the representation of human fingers. The programs are shown millions of photos during training, many of which show hands and fingers. However, the hands are often incomplete. In a photo of a handshake, for example, only three fingers are visible in most cases. In other pictures, some fingers are in a pocket or are completely or partially covered by objects. This deepfake of Donald Trump was shared by a fan on Facebook during the election campaign. The depiction of the fingers is incorrect – a common problem. And the writing on the cap is illegible. IDG As the AI does not know how many fingers a person has, it deduces from these photos that the number and length can vary. Accordingly, it provides some hands with more or fewer fingers or gives them fingers of different lengths and sizes. The AI programs also struggle with arms and legs. The limbs are often not in the right place or cannot be assigned to a person. Hair often looks artificial. The strands fall at the wrong angle or cannot be assigned to a person. The programs also often have difficulties with clothing details. Shirts and coats have different buttons, necklaces do not form a closed ring or spectacle frames are deformed. Fonts appear as spidery, illegible characters. There are often incorrect shadows in the background, or there are inconsistencies in the proportions. In the image of the Pope, the shadow does not match the frame of the spectacles, and the crucifix is hanging on a chain only on one side.Reddit Recognizing deepfake videos with AI software The creation of deepfake videos took a huge leap forward last year with the introduction of the Sora video generator from Open AI. The films look so real that they can hardly be distinguished from real videos. You can find large quantities of amazingly realistic-looking films on YouTube made with this new technology. Free AI video detectors are Deepware.ai and the AI detector from Hive. Both are designed as web applications. Deepware.ai is completely free, while the basic version of Hive only accepts videos up to 20 seconds in length. We uploaded some Sora videos to both websites to see how they performed. The result with Deepware was disappointing: the program did not recognize the deepfakes in any of our examples. The Hive detector’s results on the other hand were quite different: it indicated a deepfake probability of 99 per cent for all Sora films. The Hive detector was able to clearly classify the films created with the Sora video generator from ChatGPT manufacturer Open AI as AI-generated. IDG Recognizing AI-generated texts At first glance, texts generated with chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini cannot be distinguished from those written by human authors. Grammar and spelling are perfect, and factual errors are rarely found in fictional texts. However, the style gives it away. Chatbots tend to formulate their sentences in a consistent length and structure. Humans, on the other hand, are concerned with variation and variety in their texts so as not to create a monotonous and boring reading rhythm. In addition, AI texts often do not provide examples of the facts they present. They also do not provide specific details and do not include nuances and considerations. You can now find AI detectors on the Internet that analyze input text for the aforementioned characteristics of AI texts. Scribbr is a free AI detector that understands French, Spanish, Dutch and German, as well as English. Isgen.ai can handle several dozen more languages, but is only free in the basic version. With the freemium offer, you can have up to 12,000 words per month analyzed in a maximum of 50 queries after registering. The AI detector Scribbr can analyze English texts on request to see whether they were formulated by an artificial intelligence. However, the program’s results are not error-free.Sam Singleton Recognize deepfake videos by all of the fine details Deepfake videos often have the same errors as AI-generated photos: texts are illegible, details are illogical or impossible in reality. For example, the shadows are often incorrect and hair does not appear to have a fixed connection to a head. The design of the background does not match the rest of the film either. Finally, it’s noticeable in many cases that the people in the film are shown with a higher resolution than their surroundings. There are also some typical details that only occur in moving images. For example, the people in the videos often move unnaturally slowly and appear to be in a kind of trance. In addition, their faces often show no facial expressions and they do not blink. To recognize this, however, you sometimes have to reduce the playback speed of the film. Recognizing deepfake audio with tools and details With software such as Real Time Voice Cloning, it’s now possible to create a deepfake voice from a recording that is only a few seconds long. This can read out any text in the voice of another person. However, the technology is not yet perfect. In various studies, the test subjects were able to distinguish the artificial voice from the real voice in two thirds of all cases. However, the quality is already so good that criminals have been able to successfully scam people with emergency calls using fake voices. For now, products that promise to unmask fake voices are mainly from English-speaking countries. The security company McAfee, for example, has introduced the Deepfake Detector, which detects artificially generated voices in videos and audio files. It’s available on all PCs with Intel Core Ultra 200V processors. Companies such as Resemble.ai and AI Voice Detector have already developed applications for companies. The Hiya AI Voice Detector is another option that is currently free of charge. It’s designed as a Chrome extension and analyzes voice recordings on websites. It actually worked surprisingly well in the test. SMS analysis with Bitdefender Scamio Criminal gangs are increasingly trying to lure users to websites where they are supposed to enter their personal data with emergency calls and offers via SMS. Security manufacturer Bitdefender has developed Scamio, a service that uses AI tools to analyze suspicious emails, links and text messages for phishing attempts and other criminal intentions. Bitdefender Scamio accepts texts of all kinds and uses AI to analyze them for signs that they are spam or phishing attempts.Sam Singleton Read...