Discord Delays Age Verification Measures as It Admits What It Got 'Wrong'
Discord announced it will postpone the global rollout of its "teen‑by‑default" age verification system until the second half of 2026, after user backlash and privacy concerns. The company will still enforce verification in jurisdictions with legal mandates such as Australia, Brazil, and the UK. Discord plans to broaden verification options, including credit‑card checks, and to improve vendor transparency and on‑device facial‑age estimation. Additional features like a dedicated spoiler channel and detailed transparency reporting are also slated before the full launch.
Exclusive: Talking to New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty — "This Team Has Brought It Back Before,...
Microsoft announced Asha Sharma as Xbox's new CEO on February 23, 2026, alongside Chief Commercial Officer Matt Booty. Sharma pledged a "return to Xbox," emphasizing renewed focus on the console platform and the long‑standing fan community. She also signaled a...
GPS Vs. Real-Life Experience: Do Navigation Apps Really Know the Fastest Route?
Modern GPS can locate a vehicle within a few feet, enabling navigation apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze to calculate routes in real time. These apps combine historical traffic patterns, road characteristics, weather conditions, and crowdsourced pings...
4 Unexpected Uses For Your Old Nintendo Wii Remotes
The article outlines four DIY ways to repurpose old Nintendo Wii Remotes: as a PC/TV air mouse, a PowerPoint clicker, a retro light‑gun controller, and a Home Assistant smart‑home interface. Each project relies on Bluetooth connectivity and software such as...
Everyone Says You Need a NAS for Plex—You Don't
The article debunks the common belief that a NAS is required for Plex, showing that any computer running Windows, macOS or Linux can host the media server. It cites real‑world tests on an old MacBook and a low‑end Core i3 mini‑PC...
1Password’s Annual Subscription Plans Are Getting a Price Hike Next Month
1Password announced a price increase for its annual plans effective March 27 2026. Individual subscriptions will rise to $47.88 per month and family plans to $71.88 per month, representing a $12 yearly bump. The company attributes the hike to added value and...
Microsoft Just Released an Actually Good Windows 11 Update — with System Performance Improvements, Better Wake From Sleep, and More
Microsoft released the February optional Windows 11 update (KB5077241), delivering a suite of quality‑of‑life enhancements without any AI overlay. The patch introduces a built‑in network speed test, native WebP wallpaper support, and integrated Sysmon for deeper threat monitoring. Performance tweaks improve...
NV Re-Enter ARM PC Market in Q1-2026?
Nvidia is reportedly preparing to re‑enter the ARM‑based PC market with a launch slated for the first quarter of 2026. Leaked specifications suggest a high‑end SoC featuring up to 20 CPU cores, a 48‑stream‑multiprocessor GPU delivering around 4 TFLOPs, and LPDDR6...
A 'Striking' Red Honor Magic V6 Is so Thin and Tough that It's Rewriting What Device Strength Means
Honor unveiled a striking red edition of its upcoming Magic V6 foldable, emphasizing a thin profile paired with unprecedented durability. The device boasts both IP68 and IP69 dust‑water resistance, a 2800 MPa Super Steel hinge, and Advanced Display Protection with a...
This Hidden Windows Setting Is Slowing Down Your SSD — Here’s the Fix
Windows defaults to the “Quick removal” policy, which disables aggressive SSD write caching and can slow down small, frequent write operations. Changing the policy to “Better performance” enables write caching, allowing the drive to acknowledge writes once data reaches the...
Google Messages More Widely Rolling Out Circular Read Receipts Redesign
Google Messages is now broadly rolling out a circular redesign for read receipts to beta testers, following an August 2024 test. The new UI places a single circular indicator in the bottom‑right of each bubble, showing four states: sending, sent,...
AMD Rembrandt/Zen 3+ APU Speculation and Discussion
AMD’s upcoming Rembrandt APU is rumored to migrate to TSMC’s 6nm N6 process and adopt RDNA 2 graphics with a 12‑compute‑unit iGPU. The chip is expected to support DDR5/LPDDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 and possibly a shared L3 or infinity cache that could...
AMD Readies Ryzen AI 400 Gorgon Point for AM5 Desktops in Q2
AMD is preparing to launch its Ryzen AI 400 “Gorgon Point” processors for AM5 desktop platforms in the second quarter of 2026. The chips, derived from the Strix Point and Krackan Point families, will bring the company’s AI‑focused NPU and...
So Concrete Gaming Keyboards Are Now a Thing, and I Think I Need One in My Life
Keychron has launched the K2 HE Special Edition in two premium materials – translucent black resin and a novel concrete frame. The Concrete Edition features a brutalist aesthetic, a 75% layout, wireless connectivity, and Hall‑Effect magnetic switches with 40 g linear...
SanDisk Refreshes Portable SSD Lineup, Extreme PRO Claims up to 4GB/S
SanDisk is set to launch a refreshed portable SSD portfolio in the second half of the year, introducing three performance tiers. The flagship Extreme PRO Portable SSD claims up to 4 GB/s sequential reads and 3.8 GB/s writes, with capacities of 2 TB, 4 TB,...
Best Buy Just Quietly Carved $400 OFF One of My Favorite Garmin Watches — Now It's over $600 Cheaper than...
Best Buy has slashed the Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar from $899.99 to $499.99, a $400 discount that makes it over $600 cheaper than the newer Fenix 8 Pro. The 7X remains a rugged, solar‑charged smartwatch with 37‑day battery life and a full suite...
Oppo Teases the Find N6’s Crease-Less Display Ahead of Rumored March Launch
Oppo has unveiled a teaser for its upcoming Find N6 foldable, highlighting a crease‑less interior display. The device retains an 8.12‑inch main screen and a 6.62‑inch outer panel, with a larger battery hinted at. Launch is slated for China in...
NotebookLM Reportedly Testing Custom Banners Beyond Limited Emoji Labels
NotebookLM, Google’s AI‑driven note‑taking tool, is testing a new custom banner image feature that appears as a “customize” button with an image‑generation icon. The functionality may let users upload personal graphics or generate AI‑based visuals tied to notebook content. This...
Fanatical's Play on the Go Elite Collection Bundle for Feb 2026 Has some Gems in It
Fanatical has refreshed its Play on the Go Elite Collection bundle for February 2026, offering a pick‑and‑mix of 18 Steam‑Deck‑Verified games. Prices tier from £7.50 per title for two or more games down to £7.00 each when buying five or more....
This Braun Electric Shaver Is the Best We’ve Ever Tried – and It’s Now £260 Cheaper
The Braun Series 9 Pro+ electric shaver, T3’s top‑rated grooming tool, is now priced at £239.99 after a £260 discount at Boots. Originally £499.99, the deal includes a charging stand, travel case and cleaning brush. The shaver boasts Ultra Thin Precision Blades,...
Your Watch Will One Day Track Blood Pressure
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin demonstrated a non‑contact method for measuring blood pressure by reflecting near‑field radio waves off the wrist. They built a wearable prototype using a patch antenna, circulator and a custom 2.4 GHz integrated circuit...
Here's How You Can Get a Meta Quest 3 for Just $1 with This Shooting Star of a Bundle
Meta’s latest standalone headset, the Quest 3, ships with a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, 2064 × 2208 per‑eye resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, positioning it as the market’s most capable consumer VR device. The headset supports a growing library of exclusives such as...
Oura Thinks Its New AI Can Do What ChatGPT Can’t for Women’s Health
Oura announced its first proprietary large language model, a clinician‑vetted AI built specifically for women’s health, embedded in the Oura Advisor feature. The model draws on users' sleep, activity, stress and menstrual cycle data to deliver personalized guidance, moving beyond...
Smartphone Prices to Increase in South Africa
South African retailers expect a noticeable uptick in smartphone and laptop prices over the coming months. The increase is driven by a depreciating rand, higher import duties, and global supply‑chain constraints that raise component costs. Analysts warn that both consumers...
Sapphire PURE X870E WIFI 7 Review
Sapphire has unveiled its first X870‑class AM5 motherboard, the PURE X870A WIFI 7, targeting high‑end enthusiasts with a clean white‑and‑silver design. The board features a 16+2+1 VRM delivering 55 A per phase, PCIe 5.0 GPU and M.2 slots, and support for DDR5‑8400 memory. Integrated Wi‑Fi 7,...
Wear OS Can Now Send Life-Saving Earthquake Alerts without Your Phone
Google is rolling out Play Services v26.07, enabling Wear OS smartwatches to receive earthquake alerts without a paired phone. The update works server‑side and activates on cellular or Wi‑Fi‑connected watches, leveraging built‑in gyroscopes and accelerometers to detect seismic activity. By removing...
We Pride Ourselves on Efficiency Aonghus O’Donovan Co-Founder MyCelsius
Irish startup MyCelsius announced the upcoming Irish launch of its cooling bracelet, following a successful UK debut. Co‑founder and CTO Aonghus O’Donovan highlighted the device’s ultra‑compact, high‑power cooling technology designed to alleviate hot flushes and heat stress, especially for women....
Xiaomi Pad 8 5G Launch Date for India
Xiaomi announced that its Pad 8 5G tablet will launch in India on February 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM. The device is expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, an 11.2‑inch 3.2K display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a 9200 mAh battery supporting 45 W...
OTT Messaging Apps to Exceed 5.2 Bn Users by 2028 as Smartphone Adoption and Enterprise Messaging Surge
Juniper Research projects global OTT messaging users will climb from 4.4 billion in 2025 to over 5.2 billion by 2028, a 16% increase. The surge is fueled by rising smartphone penetration—forecast to reach 91% of connections by 2030—and expanding mobile broadband. Enterprises...
Galaxy S26 Ultra's 'Privacy Display' Is so Cool, Rumors Say Other Brands Could Give It a Try
Samsung has officially teased a new "Privacy Display" feature for the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, which darkens the screen when viewed from side angles to block prying eyes. A Chinese tipster reported that several overseas OEMs are testing similar hardware‑level...
Don't Wait Two Years Like Me, You Need Bazzite on Your Asus ROG Ally Right Now
The author installed Bazzite, a Linux‑based SteamOS fork, on an Asus ROG Ally Z1E, replacing the default Windows environment. By dual‑booting, half of the 2 TB SSD runs Bazzite while the other half remains Windows for work and anti‑cheat compatibility. Bazzite’s...
Nearly Half of Shoppers Used Mobile for Their Latest Retail Purchase
The 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions, found that 48% of shoppers used a mobile device for their most recent retail purchase, with usage exceeding 60% in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Mobile browsing frequency is...
Tewke Secures £1.5M to Scale AI-Powered Home Energy Platform
London‑based Tewke closed a £1.5 million second‑stage round, backed by JamJar, Cur8, Energy Mix Ventures, Project Ventures and Revolut CTO Vlad Yatsenko. The company’s Tap device, engineered in the UK, retrofits without a neutral wire and can be installed in minutes,...
Telkom Launches Plug’d, a Youth‑first Platform Connecting Data, Deals and Real Opportunities
Telkom has launched Plug’d by Telkom, a mobile‑first platform aimed at South Africans aged 18‑24. The service bundles affordable data, curated digital content and access to real‑world opportunities such as jobs and internships within a single always‑on ecosystem. Plug’d is...
Cheil India Creates “Many Me’s in Me” Campaign for Samsung Galaxy Book5
Cheil India unveiled a brand film for Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 titled “Many Me’s in Me,” portraying a Gen Z protagonist navigating multiple creative identities. The ad positions the laptop’s AI capabilities—AI Select, Photo Remaster, and Copilot—as seamless enablers rather than technical...
China’s Xiaomi Starts In-House Appliance Production in Push for Quality
Xiaomi has launched an in‑house home‑appliance production line at a new Wuhan plant, investing roughly RMB 2.5 billion ($350 million) and achieving a capacity of up to 7 million units annually. The company plans to manufacture about 20% of its air‑conditioners and other key...
The Sideload 023: Cable TV, Now with More Hoops
The Sideload episode 23, hosted by 9to5Google’s Will Sattelberg, features Brady Snyder discussing recent shifts in streaming media. They examine YouTube TV’s newly introduced channel packages, noting higher prices and added complexity for subscribers. The conversation then pivots to Apple Music’s Android app,...
Microsoft Quietly Changed How BitLocker Works — and It Could Lock You Out of Your Own PC
Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 update now activates BitLocker automatically during the out‑of‑box experience when a Microsoft account, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot are present. The encryption starts silently, using the same engine as the Pro‑only BitLocker but without visible controls on Home devices. Because...
This One Feature Helped Me Turn My Meta AI Glasses Into a Garmin for Video Workouts
Meta’s AI glasses can now overlay fitness data from Strava onto recorded workout videos, thanks to a new app integration. Users must launch the workout from the Strava app, preferably on a Wear OS watch, to capture heart‑rate and other metrics....
Sony Has Big PS5 Deals on PlayStation Direct and PlayStation Store
Sony Interactive Entertainment is offering deep discounts across its PlayStation ecosystem, targeting both physical and digital PS5 games, accessories, and the PSVR2 headset. Prices on flagship titles such as God of War Ragnarök and Marvel’s Spider‑Man 2 have dropped to $19.99‑$29.99, while...
Animal Crossing Watches Capsule Toys Appear in Japan
Takara Tomy announced a new Animal Crossing: New Horizons watch capsule toy set, rolling out in Japanese gashapon machines this week. Each pull costs 400 yen (≈$2.60) and yields one of five digital watches themed after iconic NPCs. The watches feature...
Most Heated Steering Wheels Have A Strange Quirk That Annoys Some Drivers
Heated steering wheels are a popular comfort feature in modern vehicles. Recent observations reveal a temperature imbalance in the 2023‑2026 Toyota Tundra, where one side of the wheel stays cold while the opposite side heats above 114 °F. Thermal‑imaging evidence shared...
Your Home Assistant Notifications Aren't as Private as You Think
Home Assistant’s mobile app sends push notifications through Google’s Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), meaning the message payload is unencrypted while on Google’s servers. This applies to both Android and iOS devices, as Home Assistant cannot directly access Apple’s push service....
Google Messages Preps Find Hub Location Sharing Integration
Google is testing real‑time location sharing in its Messages app, leveraging the Find Hub service. The upcoming feature will let users share live coordinates directly within a chat, with preset durations of one hour, today, or until manually stopped. Strings...
5 of the Most Lightweight Operating Systems, Ranked by Download Size
The article ranks five ultra‑lightweight operating systems by download size, from KolibriOS at roughly 1.44 MB up to Slax at under 300 MB. Each OS delivers a functional desktop environment despite its tiny footprint, with KolibriOS fitting on a floppy disk and...
Gemini App Adds Video Templates to Quick Start Generation
Google’s Gemini app now includes a library of fifteen video‑generation templates, letting users start clips with predefined styles such as Cyberpunk, Cosmos or Action Hero. The update adds an "Ingredients to Video" option where a personal photo can become the...
I Freed up 14GB on My SSD Using This Quick Linux Clean Up
An author of a MakeUseOf article discovered that their Debian‑based Linux system’s Downloads folder had accumulated 14 GB of obsolete files, including old ISOs, duplicate PDFs, and lingering .deb packages. By manually auditing the directory with basic commands and applying a...
You Need a Separate Network to Protect Yourself From Your Smart Devices
Smart devices and IoT gadgets are rarely patched, leaving them vulnerable to malware such as Mirai. These products, from smart TVs to internet‑connected cameras, routinely harvest user data and can be hijacked to spy or launch attacks. Security experts recommend...
Panasonic TVs Are About to Change Forever – and Its 2026 Lineup Is Already Shocking
Panasonic announced a strategic partnership with Shenzhen‑based Skyworth to manufacture its televisions for the EU and US markets, marking a significant shift in its supply chain. The company also re‑absorbed its Entertainment division, ensuring continued production of 4K Blu‑ray players....
Portable USB DVD Writer with 2.5-inch SATA and SD Card Dock Slashed by 30% to $21 — Optical Drive Can...
Amazon has slashed the price of Alronly’s portable USB‑C/USB 3.0 CD‑DVD writer by 30%, dropping it from $29.99 to $20.98. The device reads and writes CDs at up to 24× and DVDs at up to 8×, while also offering a 2.5‑inch...