One of the more frustrating parts of the upcoming Switch 2 launch is the use of “game-key cards;” physical cartridges that do not contain full games. Thankfully, Nintendo confirms that these carts will not be locked to your account or console. They’re shareable and can be resold. Nintendo is the last bastion of true physical game releases. If you stick aMario Kart 8cartridge into your Switch, you can play the game immediately, no downloads required (barring firmware updates, which you can skip)....

Summary Ever wanted to search the web without leaving your Linux terminal? The ddgr program lets you do just that using the DuckDuckGo search engine. What Is ddgr? ddgr is a command-line tool that lets you searchDuckDuckGo, the privacy-respecting alternative to Google. DuckDuckGo sources its data from Bing and other sources, to provide excellent results. Once you run a search in ddgr, you’ll see a list of results with the most important information in each:URL, title, and description....

Summary Tired of manually copying files between operating systems or relying on cloud storage? Here’s how I use Syncthing to seamlessly sync files between my Windows and Linux machines without compromising privacy or dealing with storage limits. Why I Picked Syncthing for File Syncing If you’re like me and regularly work across different operating systems, you know the pain ofkeeping files in sync. After trying various solutions, I settled onSyncthing—a free and open-source continuous file synchronization tool that creates a direct peer-to-peer connection between your devices....

Quick Links Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn’t—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they’re usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we’ve got you covered. What Is Connections? Connections is a game from the New York Times. The objective is simple: sort 16 words into groups of 4....

If you’re looking for a deal on your next gadget or a new TV for the Super Bowl, we have you covered. This week, we’ve found big discounts on the latest tablets, accessories, home goods, TVs, and other gear. While people everywhere are dealing with a cold winter freeze, we’re searching for hot deals. Get some touchscreen-friendly winter gloves, the latest Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, smart lights, or Samsung’s massive 49-inch G9 curved gaming monitor....

Summary TheUgreen 5,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bankis nicer on paper than it is in action. While all of its features worked as promised, and the size is certainly convenient, the temperature the power bank reaches during wireless charging made me feel uneasy. Approach at your own risk. Ugreen 5,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank It can fit just about anywhere, but considering its tendency to run on the warm side, I’d be careful when using the Ugreen 5,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank....

Quick Links Summary Windows 11’s Network Discovery feature makes your PC visible to other devices on your network. I’ll explain to you what this feature does in more detail and how you can turn it on (or off) on your PC. What Is Network Discovery? Network Discovery, as the name implies, is a Windows feature that allows your PC to discover other devices connected to your network and let other devices detect your PC....

Read update Quick Links Watching live sports through streaming services is a bit of a mess. Certain sports and networks are exclusive to certain packages, and everyone is left confused about where to watch the game. Venu Sports is a new streaming service that aims to fix that—and it has some big money behind it. On August 16th, the District Judgegranted a temporary injunction against Venu, pausing its launch. There’s no word on how long this will last, and the long-term effects for Venu....

Summary Most computers these days don’t have optical drives, but not too long ago optical discs were the cheapest and easiest way store and share media and data. That meant lots of writing with markers, until Lightscribe came on the scene. How the Tech Works LightScribe discs have a thin dye coating on the label side of the disc. By using the same laser that can alter the state of the dye layer on the data side of a regular disc, LightScribe drives can “print” any grayscale design you may think of....

Summary I have used Wi-Fi cameras with cloud subscriptions for far too long, and it’s time to change that. Storing footage locally is not only cheaper but more secure (and comes with more features). Here’s how I’m ditching the cloud and switching to local storage for my security cameras. Why Use Local Storage for Your Cameras? In the modern age, almost everything is stored in the cloud. Consequentially, that means we own very little of what we think we do....

Summary Think about the last time you struggled to find the perfect volume on your phone using the volume buttons. While buttons have their place, there’s something undeniably satisfying about rotating wheels to adjust the volume. But why are smartphones missing them? So Many Devices Have Volume Wheels Volume wheels and knobs are becoming more and more common on hardware, regardless of their relation to audio. From computer keyboards and headsets to smart home devices, many devices are adopting knobs....

Summary Most of us have a piece of tech that’s laughably outdated, but we still refuse to let it go for one reason or another. For me, it’s an old 40-inch Sony Bravia TV I bought used back in 2018. I just can’t bring myself to let it go. Here’s why. The TV Works and Fits My Current Needs The TV in question is the Sony Bravia KDL-40R470A, a 40-inch Full HD TV that was built in November 2013, according to the label on the back....

I discoveredOneDriveunder some pretty harrowing circumstances. Despite this fact, however, when I found out that not only was my data more secure on the cloud but also had version control and could be called up on another device, I felt that this peace of mind was worth the dollars a month it cost. In this article, I will provide the story behind what led me to start using OneDrive, a general overview of the application, use-cases that make it stand out, and my overall impressions....