Quick Links Computer monitors with IPS screens offer the best color accuracy, wide viewing angles, high contrast rations, and these days fast refresh rates and response times—all at much saner prices than OLED technology. They sound great, until you experience that dreaded IPS glow. What Is IPS Glow? IPS glow happens when light from your monitor’s backlight reflects off the internal surfaces of your display panel and into your eyes. This can cause parts of your screen to look brighter than they should, especially in dark environments....

Games are often dismissed as distractions or vehicles for procrastination, but a growing sub-genre is flipping the script by making productivity the goal. By combining task management tools like timers and to-do lists with comforting visuals, chill music, and subtle gamification, these games help trick your brain into focusing and getting things done. 1Ithya: Magic Studies The story of how this particular productivity game came to life is an endearing one....

Summary The AI era has been ushered in. People are using AI chatbots for almost any purpose, from cooking up recipes to coming up with gym routines and so much more. If you’re out of the loop, when it comes to AI chatbot technology, the best chance to get up to speed is now. How AI Chatbots Work AI chatbots are, as the name suggests, chatbots that use AI to respond to your messages....

Summary TheAlienware x16 R2is a blisteringly fast, premium gaming laptop that packs a punch. Equipped with an impressive Intel Core i9 processor boasting 16 cores and the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series graphics, this laptop is a force to be reckoned with. But does it live up to its promise as a gaming desktop killer, or can it truly replace the power and performance of a traditional gaming desktop?...

If you’re looking for a rugged Bluetooth speaker that can jam your favorite playlists all day long, indoors or outdoors—look no further than theBose SoundLink Plus. While Bose didn’t break any new ground with this IP67 device, the speaker delivers great sound quality, a solid build, and several in-app customizations. Bose SoundLink Plus Plus up the energy of any group hang thanks to the SoundLink Plus Portable Speaker’s bold, resonant audio and booming bass....

Quick Links 3D printers are now affordable and more user-friendly than ever before, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some pitfalls still out there for people new to the hobby—or those who want to do serious business! There’s always something more to learn about 3D printing, and I’m learning (sometimes hard) lessons every day, but I think there are a few that should really be pushed to the top of your awareness if you’re planning on buying a 3D printer....

Summary While there have been ups and downs, for almost all of its existence Intel has been pretty bulletproof as a business. The company is a cornerstone of the entire computer industry, and crucial to the USA in multiple areas. However, I can’t shake the feeling that some of what’s happened at Intel feels eerily similar to the fall of Nokia in some ways. Nokia Was “Too Big to Fail” While Nokia is, of course, still around, it’s a much diminished company....

Microsoft Excel now has the Copilot AI, with the ability to clean data to reduce errors with formulas. Now, Excel automatically scours your spreadsheet for consistency issues, and instantly notifies you if you need to take action to make your data work more smoothly. Previously, you would manually tell Excel to clean your data by clicking the “Clean Data” button in the Data tab on the ribbon. Recognizing the usefulness of this feature, Microsoft has now introduced a pop-up banner that appears across the top of your Excel worksheet if it notices issues that need addressing....

Summary All ExpressVPN memberships now includeExpressVPN Keys, a straightforward password manager for desktop and mobile devices. While ExpressVPN Keys is still a bit green and lacks some important functionality, it’s a great money-saver. The basic functionality works as expected and AES 256-bit encryption ensures a highly secure experience. ExpressVPN Keys Though it’s still a bit bare-bones, ExpressVPN Keys is a competent password manager that’s included with every ExpressVPN membership. If you can tolerate the growing pains of a new password manager, it’s a no-brainer....

It’s official: iOS 26 will roll out later this year, along with its other operating system siblings. But why did Apple change the years-old naming convention? Is it because the current numerical monikers are confusing, an all-new Liquid Glass user interface that unifies the design across different platforms, or something else entirely? Let’s find out. Apple’s Current Naming Scheme Is Confusing at Best The current lineup of operating systems from Apple, namelyiOS 18,watchOS 12, andmacOS 15, all carry different version numbers, often making it difficult to determine the latest version from the older ones....

Quick Links Summary In general, you should use the cable provided with the phone. If one was not included, stick with cables made for your specific phone. you may use apps to measure the voltage to see if fast charging is working. Fast chargingis a relatively recent addition to smartphones that has become common. Some devices can be charged from 0-100 in less than an hour. It’s pretty awesome, but it doesn’t work with just any old USB-C cable....

Summary If you’re a new electric car owner or are strongly considering buying one, keeping the battery healthy is as important as changing the oil in a regular vehicle. WhileEVs require less maintenance, and the battery should last longer than you own the car, there are several steps you can take to prolong its life. Most electric vehicles have large lithium-ion battery packs similar to what’s inside your favorite smartphone, which gives endless power to the motors instead of gasoline....

Summary AI is the new buzzword that everyone seems to be talking about. Even phones are getting fully implemented AI applications, but there’s a lot more you could do with tools like ChatGPT, including coding a game. I’ve been developing games for almost a decade, and have even released a few projects and participated in a couple ofgame jams on Itch. When I discovered ChatGPT, the first thing I wanted to do was see if I could use it in game development....