Summary We’ve all seen those stunning space photos in their vibrant glory, but did you know that’s not how they look straight out of the telescope? What telescopes see is a lot of invisible light and weird cosmic noise that has to be edited and translated into those iconic images we all recognize. How Cameras Turn Light Into Images When we take a picture with a phone or a digital camera, it just pops out instantly....

Quick Links Summary Condenser microphones are typically much more sensitive than other microphones like dynamic microphones. They’re good for capturing detail across the entire range of frequencies but make it much easier to pick up unwanted sounds in the background. For recording instruments, condenser mics are generally more detailed. Whether you’re a content creator, musician, or producer, a quality microphone can go a long way. People often recommend condenser microphones for accurate recordings, but what are they?...

Quick Links Summary Plex allows you to build a personal streaming service using your own content. Most people buy dedicated hardware for Plex, but you can test it using your desktop or laptop without spending a dime. The days of cheap streaming are long gone. Services like Netflix areprohibitively expensiveand offer much smaller libraries than they did just a few years ago. A personal collection ofDVDs and Blu-Ray discscan alleviate this problem, but if you want to stream the media you own, you need a service like Plex....

Quick Links Summary Tesla dog mode is a climate control setting that lets you set a comfortable temperature for your pets while you leave the car for a short period of time. It also displays a message assuring passersby of your pet’s comfort and your return. You’ve almost certainly heard of Tesla’s “self-driving” feature by now, but what about its pet mode? A little while back, the car companyintroduced a featurethat claims to let your pet travel with you on a hot day....

Summary YouTube is the largest source of steaming video on the web, but with that quantity comes a lack of image quality. YouTube videos are often criticized for poor visuals and nasty compression, but withYouTube Enhanced Bitratethings clear up. What Is Enhanced Bitrate? YouTube Enhanced Bitrateis a special quality tier for (as of this writing)1080pvideos offered as a premium paid feature.Thebitrateof a videois (as the name suggests) the number of bits that are available per second to store the frames that make up a moving image....

Quick Links I developed a love for graphic novels around ten years ago. Back then, I lined a bookshelf with volumes. Now my comics are digital, and I’m enjoying them even more. Modern Displays Look More Vivid Than Ink Back then, there was a larger gap between a digital comic and a physical one due primarily to the LCD screens that most of us had. Our phones didn’t have the pixel density that they do now, and our tablets had even less....

Quick Links Summary Formatted drives can appear to have less space than advertised because of differing byte sizes, hidden partitions, SSD overprovisioning, and pre-installed bloatware. A gallon of milk is a gallon of milk, but a terabyte of hard drive space may not be what it says on the box! The difference between advertised and reported drive capacities is easy to explain. The Most Common Reason: Different Counting Methods! Drive manufacturers use a different way of calculating storage capacity than some operating systems....

Quick Links I grew up using Windows and laptops. Now, both of those feel like things of the past. While I can’t say for sure that I’m done with laptops, if I do get another one someday, I know it won’t come with Windows. Windows Feels Like Stepping Back In Time Until I was 18, Windows was practically the only operating system I knew. I had encountered Linux, but that was isolated to a live CD and an old PC to play around with....

If you want to fill out your Switch game library without spending a dime, there are some brilliant free demos to download from the eStore. None of them offer a complete gaming experience, but you can still bag dozens of hours of excellent gameplay for free. You’ll find all of these available for download in the Nintendo eShop, though be aware that since some are so large they can take up almost as much room as a full game....

Quick Links If you’re a keyboard enthusiast or simply looking to enhance your typing experience, there are plenty of DIY mods you can try. These upgrades are a surefire way to improve the feel and look of your keyboard, while also giving you the chance to tailor it to your preferences. Some of these mods require disassembly. Keep in mind that not all keyboards are designed for easy disassembly, and attempting to do so may result in permanent damage....

Quick Links While many retro gamers are trying to snap up a good CRT TV before they’re all gone (or at least gone up in price) there are some of you that are trying to offload your tubular paperweights, but can’t seem to get rid of them. If no one seems interested in your old CRT TV, consider these tips. 8Should You Really Sell It? Before you proceed to sell your CRT TV, think about whether you really want to get rid of it....

While June isn’t typically a month that PC gamers associate with high-profile game releases, this year’s lineup holds a few big arrivals across different genres: action-adventures, MMORPGs, soccer, horror, and more. The expansive sci-fi world ofDune: Awakeningleads the charge, with its high-budget survival open-world gameplay. Other titles include an action-adventure from an ex-Rockstar team, an exciting newFive Nights at Freddy’sgame, and aControlspin-off—this month’s releases are packed with content for every gamer’s taste....

Summary Portable power stations are a dime a dozen, with new brands appearing all the time. That’s because they’re great for outdoor adventures, off-grid living, or emergencies. Anker is a popular name in the space, and its latestSOLIX C1000delivers 1,800 watts of power, recharges in under an hour, and can even be controlled from your phone. Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station The new Anker SOLIX C1000 is a compact yet powerful 1800W portable power station....