I Stopped Using My Smart Plugs as Glorified Switches and Everything Changed
Smart plugs become powerful when linked to voice‑assistant ecosystems like Google Home, Alexa, or Apple HomeKit, turning simple outlets into automated home controls. The article shows how routines, sunrise/sunset triggers, away‑mode simulations, and energy‑monitoring features unlock convenience, security, and cost savings. It also advises buyers to choose plugs with explicit platform support and start with a single routine to realize the benefits.
6 Docker Containers/Packages I Install on Every Server Before Anything Else
Afam Onyimadu outlines six essential Docker containers to install on any fresh server: Watchtower, Caddy, Netdata, Dozzle, Vaultwarden, and Portainer CE. He recommends deploying them in a specific order to ensure automated updates, secure HTTPS, baseline monitoring, log visibility, password...
My PC Had Annoying Frame Drops I Couldn't Explain — Until I Found This Hidden CPU BIOS Setting
A hidden BIOS option—CPU C‑States—can cause subtle frame‑stutters by putting cores into deep sleep during gameplay. Disabling the C‑State setting forces the processor to stay in full‑active C0, eliminating the wake‑up latency that disrupts frame pacing. The fix works for...
This Free Windows Launcher Makes the Start Menu Completely Irrelevant
Executor is a free, keyboard‑driven Windows launcher that lets users replace the Start menu with custom keyword shortcuts. Version 2.3.7 adds auto‑calculations, Input Assist, a clipboard manager, and an extras pack for system commands. While the tool is fast and highly...
I Tried to Do Everything on the TCL NXTPAPER 14, and It Turns Out It's Really Just for Readers
TCL’s NXTPAPER 14 is a 14.3‑inch Android tablet built around a matte IPS LCD that claims to reduce blue‑light exposure by 61 % and eliminate glare. Priced at $369.99, it ships with a T‑PEN stylus, flip case and 256 GB of storage, but...
I Disabled Windows Prefetch to Save RAM — I Was Actually Making My PC Slower
The author discovered that disabling Windows Prefetch to “free up” RAM actually slowed his PC. Windows uses idle memory for caching, preloading frequently accessed files to accelerate app launches. By focusing on the wrong Task Manager metrics—In Use and Cached—he missed the...
I Gave up My Smartwatch Screen and My Sleep and Health Data Immediately Improved
Tech journalist Brady Snyder abandoned his Apple Watch Ultra 3 for the $99 Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness tracker that promises a week of battery life and a 12‑gram lightweight design. The Air eliminates constant notifications, offers comprehensive health metrics through...
Obsession and Backrooms Could Change How Movies Get Made (and It’s Happened Before)
The traditional blockbuster model is losing steam as low‑budget internet creators deliver hits. Markiplier’s horror film “The Iron Lung” grossed $51 million on a $3 million budget, while titles like “Obsession” and “Backrooms” climb the box‑office charts. Studios are now courting YouTube...
The June Android Security Update Is One of the Biggest This Year and Most Users Haven't Installed It Yet
Google’s June 2026 Android security bulletin addresses 124 vulnerabilities, including 18 critical flaws. The most urgent is CVE‑2025‑48595, a high‑severity integer overflow that Google says is already being weaponised against targeted users. Pixel devices received the full patch on release day,...
Stop Using Your TV's Built-In Speakers if You Actually Care About Movies
The article argues that relying on a TV’s built‑in speakers undermines the cinematic experience, especially as modern panels become thinner and acoustically compromised. The author showcases a high‑end home‑theater setup built around a 77‑inch LG G3 OLED paired with a Sonos...
These Gemini Commands Made Android Auto Much Better in My Car
Google has rolled out Gemini, its next‑gen AI chat model, as the default voice assistant in Android Auto, supplanting Google Assistant. The new system understands natural‑language commands for navigation, such as avoiding tolls or highways, and can pull real‑time business...
I Was Using DLSS Wrong — Switching This One Option Made My Games Run Far Better
The article explains Nvidia's Deep Learning Anti‑Aliasing (DLAA) and compares it to the DLSS Quality preset. While DLAA delivers the sharpest image quality, it imposes a steep performance penalty on all but the most powerful GPUs, such as the RTX 5090....
Windows 11 Has the Settings Microsoft Won’t Give You, but This App Does
Windows 11 omits several useful UI controls, such as vertical taskbars and selective system‑tray icon hiding, leaving power users frustrated. The free, open‑source tool Windhawk lets users install lightweight “mods” that restore these hidden settings, with the most popular being...
I Turned on Google Home's Camera Automation and Ditched My Motion Sensors
Google Home’s latest automation update lets wired cameras act as presence detectors, replacing traditional battery‑powered motion sensors. Users can create triggers—called Starters—through a visual editor or AI‑driven “Help Me Create” interface, linking camera‑detected motion to lights, plugs, and other smart...
I Finally Figured Out How to Make Gemini Actually Useful on Android
Google promoted Gemini as a smarter, on‑device replacement for Google Assistant, but early users found it struggled with basic phone‑control tasks. A hidden "Utilities" toggle, when enabled, grants Gemini direct access to Android hardware, turning it into a functional voice‑first...