Quick Links It seems like the best reason to own a smart coffee mug is so you can be one of those old-fashioned driving test instructors who says something like, “If that coffee spills, you fail.” You could make that threat all day with the same cup of hot coffee, but people are apparently buying these for other reasons. Much of the marketing copy around self-heating mugs tends to involve some version of the phrase “We’ve all been there,” and goes on to regale us with woeful tales of abandoned coffee that got cold....

Modern devices are powered by a few different CPU architectures, all of which have advantages and drawbacks. We have the x86 architecture, which mostly powers Windows computers, consoles, and other devices, and we have theARM architecture, which powers most phones, tablets, smart TVs, and more recently,Mac computers. There is a third option that’s still in its infancy, yet wants to become much bigger: RISC-V. Now, Qualcomm and a consortium of other chipmakers are dumping a lot of money into RISC-V....

A 5-inch-wide computer with a cutting-edge M4 processor, 16GB of RAM, and oodles of Thunderbolt ports. That’s the new, redesigned Mac Mini, a masterpiece of a machine that carries the same $600 price tag as its predecessor. It’s hard to overstate the importance of Apple’s newM4 Mac Mini. Previous models of Mac Mini were already a steal—this one is just an outrageous bargain. The M4 processor and minimum 16GB of RAM provide a substantial leap in performance over the M2 Mac Mini (there was never an M3 version), and twice the power of the four-year-old M1 Mac Mini....

Summary For a few years now, there’s one thing that I’ve immediately bought when I get a new Android phone:a MagSafe-compatible case. Every time a new Pixel has been announced, I’ve been hoping for that satisfying magnetic snap to be built in. And every time, I’ve been disappointed. It seems that streak is finally ending with the Pixel 10 series. Leaked images and information have piled up over the last couple of months, and the latest makes it seem inevitable thatQi2 magnetic chargingis finally coming to the Pixel series....

Summary The HTPC orHome Theater Personal Computerwas an idea before its time. Something only well-heeled and tech-savvy tinkering media geeks could even achieve, and then, more often than not, the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. Yet, we have the HTPC to thank for our myriad modern media options. So let’s look back at the HTPC, and give it the respect it deserves. At it’s core, an HTPC is the combination of a PC and a TV, or at least some sort of AV (Audio-Visual) technology....

If you’re looking to stream horror,Shudderis one of the best services to satisfy that hunger. Everything a horror fan could want is here, whether you love supernatural frights or gruesome slashers. Even old folks like me can get all nostalgic with TV horror host Joe Bob Briggs returning for live-streaming events. Even though Shudder is far cheaper than other streaming services, you’ll still want to get bang for your buck by watching the best it offers....

With this weekend being all about deals, Valve’s discount on certain Steam Deck LCD models is very underwhelming. Black Fridayis chock-full of sales on everything and anything under the sun—but that doesn’t mean every deal is worthwhile. As Valve does every year, theSteam Autumn Salehas gone live, offering deep discounts on a huge variety of games. But there’s more than software on sale, as Valve is also running a deal onselect Steam Deck models....

Summary Spending all day tapping those arrow keys in the terminal looking for previous commands? We’ve all been there, but your experience can be better if you use this handy utility. What’s Wrong With the history Command? The history command keeps a record of other commands that you run in a shell. It can display a list of the commands you’ve previously run, and lets you manage that list. Linux provides other commands and shortcuts to use this list....

While you might be waiting for Memorial Day sales, we’re seeing significant discounts on several popular tech items this week. Get yourself the excellent Google Pixel 9, a new Mac Mini, headphones, or other accessories, and save hundreds. Below, you’ll find our top tech deals for the week. Google Pixel 9 for $599 ($200 Off) Google Pixel 9 The Google Pixel 9 features a sleek design with a powerful Tensor G4 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and a vibrant 6....

Summary Any small multi-device charger is tempting to use for travel, but I found theUgreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Foldable Charging Stationto be an ideal desk companion at home with its small footprint and extra USB-C port. Ugreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Foldable Charging Station This 2-in-1 charger stand is expertly designed for tech enthusiasts, offering a speedy 15W for your smartphone and a gentle 5W for wireless earbuds, ensuring both your go-to gadgets charge swiftly together....

Quick Links If you’ve ever been around kids, you know how limitless their imaginations can be. A simple cardboard box is an endless world of possibilities. What if we let that imagination run wild with DALL-E and Stable Diffusion? That’s the amazing thing aboutthe many AI image generators that are available now. Obviously, there are limits to what the AI can do, but you are basically free to enter anything and see what happens....

If you’ve researched gaming on Linux lately, a weird name has probably come up now and then: Bazzite. This Linux distribution is growing in popularity with gamers, and if you look at it you might think you were looking at SteamOS. Here’s what you need to know about Bazzite. 2023 64GB storage, 4GB RAM, 2GHz quad-core processor (64-bit) Supported Desktop Environment(s) KDE Plasma, GNOME Bazziteis a free and open source operating system designed as an alternative to SteamOS, the operating system developed by Valve and that you get on a Steam Deck and some other handheld PCs....

Summary Notion This customizable workspace simplifies and combines the processes of note-taking, task creation, and date planning to create an all-in-one productivity workspace. How I Use Note-Taking Applications Note-taking applications are popular because they let you capture thoughts and ideas quickly and easily, and they sync across your different devices. I do very little actual note-taking in the traditional sense. I don’t attend lectures or anything like that, but I do some real-time note-taking during business meetings....