Can I Take My iPhone Swimming? What Those IP68, IPX8 Waterproof Ratings Really Mean
Ingress Protection (IP) ratings classify how well devices resist dust and water, with the first digit covering solids and the second covering liquids. An IP68 rating, the most common for premium smartphones, guarantees at least 1 meter of water immersion for 30 minutes, but manufacturers set the exact depth beyond that. Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro advertises protection up to 6 meters, while Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is rated for 1.5 meters, illustrating that identical IP codes can hide significant performance gaps. Real‑world factors such as water pressure, chemicals, and seal wear further limit practical water‑resistance.
How to Use Google Maps and Gemini to Plan a Stress-Free Vacation
Google Maps has transformed from a basic navigation tool into a comprehensive travel assistant, now featuring AI‑driven itinerary suggestions via Gemini. The app’s Directory tab streamlines navigation through airports and train stations, while the busyness indicator helps travelers avoid crowds....
Get Fitter With the Best Smart Home Gyms, as Tested and Recommended by a Fitness Expert
Smart home gym equipment is gaining traction as busy consumers seek convenient, technology‑driven workouts. Leading models for 2026 include the NordicTrack X24 treadmill with 40% incline and iFIT integration, Peloton’s Cross Training Bike Plus featuring a 360° screen and AI‑powered...
Prime Video's 13 Best Sci-Fi Movies You Should Stream Right Now
Prime Video has compiled a curated list of thirteen science‑fiction movies, all available at no extra cost to Prime members. The collection ranges from classic cult hits like Donnie Darko and Battle Royale to newer releases such as Mickey 17 and...
Artemis II Is Slingshotting Around the Moon in Fortnite, and You Can Join In on the Fun
Epic Games and the European Space Agency have updated the Lunar Horizons map in Fortnite to feature a live recreation of NASA’s Artemis II lunar flyby. Players can log into the free‑to‑play title, enter the island code 3207‑0960‑6428, and watch the...
2025 Income Tax Returns Are Due Next Week. Get All the Details on Tax Deadlines
The IRS began accepting 2025 tax returns on Jan. 26, with the federal filing deadline set for April 15. Taxpayers can obtain a six‑month extension by filing Form 4868 by that date, moving the final filing date to Oct. 15 while still needing to...
Amazon's Big Summer Prime Day Sale Might Be Moving This Year. Here's What to Expect and How to Get Ready
Amazon is reportedly shifting its 2026 Prime Day from its traditional July slot to June, according to Bloomberg. The move could accelerate deal availability but gives shoppers less time to budget and forces rivals to rethink promotional calendars. Historically, Prime...
McAfee Review 2026: Solid Protection, Mediocre Performance
McAfee’s 2026 review awards the suite an 8.1‑out of‑10 rating, highlighting strong real‑time protection and a robust identity‑theft insurance offering. The standout feature is unlimited‑device coverage on Plus plans, priced between $50 and $200 for the first year. However, the...
When Your Phone Pings, It Hijacks Your Brain for 7 Seconds, Study Finds
A new study published in *Computers in Human Behavior* shows that smartphone notifications interrupt concentration for roughly seven seconds, regardless of content. Participants who believed the alerts were personal experienced even longer delays. The research, involving 180 university students performing...
Vibration Plates Are Popular Among Wellness Influencers. Here’s What Experts Say About the Trend
Whole‑body vibration plates, popularized by wellness influencers, are exercise platforms that deliver 25‑50 vibrations per second, forcing rapid muscle contractions. Experts say they can modestly improve muscle tone, bone density, circulation, and balance, but only when paired with regular strength...
All the iPhone Lock Screen Changes You Might Have Missed in iOS 26
Apple’s iOS 26, released in September, adds several lock‑screen customization options beyond the earlier iOS 18 controls. Users can now enlarge the clock to cover up to a third of the display, reposition the widget dock to the bottom, and apply a...
A Historic Heat Dome Is Creeping Across the US. Here's How to Prepare
A massive heat dome is sweeping across the United States, pushing temperatures to a record 112 °F in Arizona, California and Texas and breaking heat records in 14 states. The high‑pressure system traps hot air, and the National Weather Service expects...
'Marshals' Actor Mo Brings Plenty Breaks Down the Native Stories in the 'Yellowstone' Spin-Off
Marshals, the first network TV spin‑off of Yellowstone, premieres on CBS Sundays and streams on Paramount Plus. The series follows Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) as he joins the U.S. Marshals while confronting personal demons. Native talent Gil Birmingham, Mo Brings Plenty and Brecken Merrill anchor...
Best VPN for Apple TV in 2026: Unlock a World of Streaming With Our Top Picks
The article ranks ExpressVPN as the top VPN for Apple TV in 2026 after extensive testing. It highlights ExpressVPN’s easy‑to‑use app, over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, Lightway protocol, and strong privacy features, while noting its higher price. Close runners‑up...
HBO Max: The 26 Absolute Best Movies to Watch
HBO Max’s latest editorial highlights the 26 must‑watch films spanning drama, musical, action, thriller, comedy, superhero, and documentary categories, including new March releases like *Fackham Hall* and *From the World of John Wick: Ballerina*. The list showcases Oscar‑winning titles such...
Stay on Top of Your Workouts and Health With the Best Fitness Trackers of 2026
CNET’s latest roundup identifies the Fitbit Charge 6 as the top overall fitness tracker for 2026, thanks to its comprehensive health metrics, built‑in GPS, and week‑long battery life. Apple’s Watch Series 11 claims the crown for heart‑rate accuracy, earning a CNET Lab...
GIGABYTE's X870E AUROS Elite X3D Is Built to Be the Ultimate AMD Gaming Foundation
GIGABYTE has unveiled the X870E AORUS ELITE X3D motherboard, a high‑end AMD platform that bundles Radeon RX 9070 graphics, AI‑driven X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, and Zenith Memory Performance for DDR5. The board features an 8‑layer server‑grade PCB, full‑metal thermal architecture and Smart Fan 6...
Getting a New iPhone Soon? Turn Off This Setting on Your Old Device First
Apple recommends disabling the Find My feature on an iPhone before transferring it to a new owner. Turning off Find My removes the Activation Lock, which otherwise prevents the device from being set up by anyone else. If Stolen Device...
Death by Tariffs: Volvo Discontinuing Entry-Level EX30 EV in the US
Volvo announced it will cease U.S. sales of its entry‑level EX30 and EX30 Cross Country after the 2026 model year, citing rising tariffs and weak demand. The compact SUV’s price jumped from an anticipated sub‑$35,000 to over $40,000, contributing to...
Canva May Have Just Cracked One of the Biggest Issues With AI Images
Canva has launched Magic Layers, a new AI feature that deconstructs any AI‑generated image into editable layers within the Canva editor. Users can upload images from external generators, and the tool identifies backgrounds, text, characters and other elements in under...
Samsung Galaxy S26 Review: Fun AI Tricks for a Steeper Price
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launches at $900, a $100 premium over the S25, and leans heavily on AI‑driven software rather than major hardware upgrades. The phone ships with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12 GB RAM, a 4,300 mAh battery and a 6.3‑inch AMOLED display, but retains...
How to Reduce AI Features on Your Pixel Phone
Google’s Pixel phones embed AI across the operating system, with Gemini powering features from the Journal app to the search bar. The article outlines step‑by‑step methods to disable or uninstall AI‑driven apps such as Journal, Screenshots, Google Photos, Messages, and...
Best iPad of 2026: How to Choose, and Should You Wait?
Apple’s 2026 iPad Air, upgraded with the M4 chip, emerges as the best performance‑to‑value tablet in the current lineup, outpacing the older entry‑level iPad and rivaling the premium iPad Pro. The Air’s faster Wi‑Fi, 5G, and graphics capability position it...
Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers for 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup identifies the Netgear Orbi 870 as the top overall mesh Wi‑Fi system, delivering industry‑leading throughput, jitter and packet‑loss scores while supporting the new 6 GHz band. The Orbi 970 earns the fastest‑mesh accolade but carries a seven‑figure‑plus price tag, targeting...