I always recommend using drives designed for network-attached storage (NAS) inside such an enclosure to ensure you have the performance and reliability required for continuous operation. That said, I did want to test using desktop-class drives inside a NAS, specifically SSDs, since these are less likely to cause issues if all you require is somewhere to stash files and maybe perform some reads here and there with a few running services. Equipped with a LincPlus LincStation N1 and a few mismatched SSDs, I assembled a compact, yet fairly capable NAS, and the test began.

Home Assistant is hands-down the best management hub for smart devices and IoT paraphernalia, and there are plenty of tools that can extend its usefulness even further. From add-ons and integrations for obscure smart home gadgets to HACS packages that let you bring in Proxmox dashboards, presence simulation, and other wacky features to your Home Assistant server, there are tons of services you can combine with your HASS instance.

While Docker is often touted as a great platform for software developers to test out and deploy their apps, it's also perfect for self-hosting open-source software. When I started testing out self-hosting software, I decided to use Docker Desktop as my means to do so.

Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum Friday afternoon directing the Department of Energy to “consider using all lawful authority to rescind” or weaken regulations for water and energy efficiency for dishwashers and washing machines. The action also includes water use standards for showers, faucets, toilets, and urinals.It closes out a week of attacks on policies meant to save Americans money by incentivizing manufacturers to make products that save water and energy. Earlier in the week, CNN and E&E News reported that the Trump administration would shutter the Energy Star program as part of a “reorganization” planned at the Environmental Protection Agency.Energy Star certifies products for energy efficiency, allowing consumers to choose the most energy-efficient home appliances by spotting the recognizable blue Energy Star label. The rules President Trump is targeting now are actually consumer protections, meant to ensure that any customer can purchase something that meets reasonable efficiency standards.“Congress enacted these laws, the president can’t just decide that they’re going to go away.”A White House fact sheet says the Secretary of Energy should work with the Office of Legislative Affairs to make recommendations to Congress on any water pressure “or related energy efficiency laws” that ought to change or be repealed altogether.It also says the Secretary of Energy should pause enforcement of the rules mentioned in the memorandum until they’re rescinded or revised. “The Federal Government should not impose or enforce regulations that make taxpayers’ lives worse,” the presidential memorandum says.“It’ll only raise costs for consumers to get rid of these standards, if they get rid of these standards,” says Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “Congress enacted these laws, the president can’t just decide that they’re going to go away.”Trump also signed four bills approved through the Congressional Review Act undoing Biden-era efficiency standards for water heaters, refrigerators, walk-in coolers, and more. In April, the president signed an executive order to purportedly make “America’s showers great again” by rescinding an Obama-era definition of showerheads that raised efficiency standards.  

Google is set to pay $1.375 billion to settle claims of data privacy violations brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a press release.Texas filed two lawsuits in 2022 against Google for “unlawfully tracking and collecting users’ private data regarding geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric data,” the release says. Before now, no single state has “attained a settlement against Google for similar data-privacy violations greater than $93 million.”“This settles a raft of old claims, many of which have already been resolved elsewhere, concerning product policies we have long since changed,” Google spokesperson José Castañeda tells The Verge. “We are pleased to put them behind us, and we will continue to build robust privacy controls into our services.”In 2022, Google agreed to pay $391.5 million to 40 states over allegations of location tracking without user consent. Last year, Meta agreed to a $1.4 billion settlement with Texas over facial recognition and photo tags.

You either know exactly what kind of VRMs your motherboard has, or you've never given it a second thought. If it's the latter, this article will be a quick refresher on why VRMs are important for the stability of your PC, and how you can check your motherboard's VRM solution. In a nutshell, the VRM, or voltage regulator module, is responsible for providing clean and stable power to your CPU, GPU, RAM, chipset, and other integrated components. Both regular users and overclockers should keep VRM quality in mind before choosing a motherboard.

While there are plenty of note-taking apps available that are designed to help you supercharge productivity, the vast majority of them come at a cost. Although there are a few that are completely free, you begin to notice with time that they lack features here and there. So, unless you're willing to settle for basic note-taking features, you're often left with no choice but to spend a few more bucks on a note-taking app subscription.

Apple is known for prioritizing privacy and security, but there are additional measures you can turn to if you feel you need them. iPhones, iPads, and Macs have what's known as a Lockdown Mode that takes protecting your data to a whole new level.It's clear that this isn't for everyone: Apple describes it as being for those who feel they might be attacked by "the most sophisticated threats." Think journalists working in dangerous regions, activists under threat from surveillance or censorship, or politicians with access to top secret information.Anyone can turn it on and off as needed - you don't need any special status or any particular kind of Apple account. It only takes a few taps or clicks, and you'll have the highest level of security protection that Apple offers.How Lockdown Mode protects youIt's worth bearing in mind that there are some tradeoffs when using Lockdown Mode. The software you use will be limited in some of its functionality to give would-be hackers fewer ways to get at you and your data.You'll find most attachments in Messages blocked, while FaceTime calls are only permitted with people you've had contact with in the last month. In Photos, you can't c …Read the full story at The Verge.

Although mini PCs are often thought of as space-spacing replacements for full-size desktops, they can actually be used for a lot more, making them the perfect option for most projects. Sure, you can use a desktop PC as well, but if you want something that's compact, low power and affordable, you can't beat a modern mini PC.

For a kid with an obsession, it's impossible to think about anything else. When I was really into skateboarding, every piece of architecture was filled with a potential for tricks that I could never actually pull off. When I was on a quest to complete Super Mario Bros. 3 on my own, any piece of paper became a sketch of a new level.For eight-year-old Julián in the new game Despelote, that obsession is soccer, and it becomes the backdrop for a sweet, and short, slice-of-life drama about passion and memory.Despelote is set in Quito in 2001, just as Ecuador is on the verge of qualifying for the men's World Cup for the first time in its history. The story follows Julián through the qualifying stages, as he goes about his life - or tries to, at least. There's a lot going on at the time, as the country is still dealing with the effects of an economic crisis. Soccer becomes something of a relief valve, a hopeful story to follow during difficult times.The game plays out from a first-person perspective and takes place across several days, during each of which Ecuador has an important match. The scenes are small but surprisingly open, often forcing young Julián - and also the player - …Read the full story at The Verge.

It’s hard to be a gamer and not hold some affection for the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Whether you lean toward the older, classic stealth-focused entries or the newer RPG-lites since the 2017 pivot, AC has remained a key part of gaming culture since 2007.

Adidas’ Climacool sneaker. | <em>Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge</em>A shoe engineered to be made entirely from additive manufacturing will be polarizing in the first quarter of the 21st century. That's certainly been my experience wearing Adidas' new 3D-printed Climacool sneakers on the beach, trail, or in the city. I felt more eyes on my footwear than normal, with a determined flick upward to see who was brave enough, dumb enough, or fantastic enough to wear such a shoe.I've been a fan of Adidas' 3D-printed kicks ever since I purchased a pair of its 4D running shoes a few years ago. But those are traditional multi-material sneakers with 3D printing limited to the midsoles. Adidas is taking things to the next level with Climacool - a single-piece shoe that's 100 percent 3D printed. They were teased late last year with a limited drop, but now anyone can buy them.The rubbery lattice structure varies in density from the sole (where it's high) to the upper (low) to provide the right balance of cushion and flex. Adidas calls the shoe lightweight, but at 416 grams, it's heavier and more rigid than I expected from the photos and marketing pitch. It can be folded in half, toe to heel, but these are not the shoes I'd pack for recovery after a long hike o …Read the full story at The Verge.