I dug into who makes Amazon Basics batteries, and here’s when they beat name brands

As I sit and inventory my tech and other electronic equipment around my home, I’m surprised by how many of my devices still require batteries to run. I’m not talking about devices with internal batteries like phones, modern remotes, or flashlights that you can plug in and charge. I am looking at products that need AA, AAA, or 9V batteries. Those types of devices are less common but still around enough that having a decent supply is important, even though the cost adds up. Luckily, Amazon has a solution with its Basics brand.

Noureddine Spies
Netherlands

This 24.5-inch 240Hz gaming monitor is steal at just $108

This Sceptre 24.5-inch gaming monitor is just what you need if you're on a tight budget. You get a crisp 1080p panel with a 1500R curve, along with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. The specifications are good, but the price makes it even better. For a...

Sophia Wilson
Atlanta

Your VPN isn’t hiding what country you’re in — your devices have other ways of knowing, and none of them touch your IP

My Mac randomly decided that it was in Germany, despite the fact that it was clearly sitting in front of me on my desk. Which is in Ireland. It didn't magically teleport anywhere and come back, and I hadn't done anything to it to make it think that. All I...

Elvira Almonte
Mexico

I ditched my to-do list for a virtual pet app, and my productivity actually improved

I am not an organized person, and much of the software I use is an attempt to remedy that. Whether it's Obsidian, apps like Super Productivity, or a slew of different to-do list apps, I've spent a lot of time trying to find a way to keep myself focused and...

Emily Brown
Houston

A Windows 11 service you never asked for is making your laptop run warmer and die sooner

Have you ever wondered why your laptop is running warmer than you'd like? You might think it is just the hardware struggling to run the apps you are using. But it is also Windows itself that is causing it — even on high-performance systems.

Olivia Miller
Seattle

I gave a local LLM control of my entire homelab, and nothing ever touched the cloud

I run several services across my homelab, including Docker containers, Home Assistant, network storage, and automated backups. I manage them using different dashboards or by connecting to individual machines whenever I need to check logs. I wanted to see whether a local LLM could provide a single interface for managing...

John Doe
New York

I bought a tiny USB screen to watch my PC’s temperatures, but it ended up running my Windows taskbar

I analyze the various aspects of PC hardware for a living, so I like to assume that I'm at least somewhat shielded from products that provide no value besides aesthetics. So it feels unnatural to confess that the Instagram algorithm successfully proved otherwise. A few weeks ago, it served me...

Jane Smith
Los Angeles

Claude Code gives me very few models to work with, and that’s exactly why I keep going back to it

The AI game right now is very different from how it was two years ago. Actually, scratch that. The current reality is very different from how it was just two weeks ago. LLMs launch faster than you can realistically keep track of and put to the test. It's the 4th...

Sophia Wilson
Atlanta

Changing this one simple setting solved all of my Android Auto disconnection issues

Android Auto is essential to my driving experience. I enjoy setting off on a road trip every few months, and it's indispensable for keeping me on track.

John Doe
New York

The empty PCIe slots in your PC can do more than hold a graphics card

When I built my first PC, I figured the PCIe slot was useless outside of plugging a graphics card, and I went my merry way after tossing my pixel-pushing companion into the rig. Unfortunately, this trend continued for longer than I’d like to admit, until I ran into a situation...

Gonca Taşçı
Turkey

X product chief Nikita Bier is leaving after one year

X head of product Nikita Bier is stepping down and says he will move into a role as an advisor, writing that "it's time to pass the torch and demote myself to my natural state: a poster." He shared the update just over a month after celebrating his one-year anniversary...

Olivia Miller
Seattle

Two of Ring’s latest video doorbells are a lot cheaper than usual

Both the battery-powered and wired models are over $50 off. | Image: Ring Ring’s Wired Doorbell Pro and Battery Doorbell Plus are two of the brand’s most well-rounded video doorbells, whether you’re looking for a hardwired model or one that runs on a battery. Right now, its Wired Doorbell Pro...