An “Aiwit” doorbell camera. There are many like it. | Image via Amazon Does your video doorbell look anything like the one in the picture? Perhaps you bought it for cheap at Amazon, Temu, Shein, Sears, or Walmart? Does it use the Aiwit app? Consumer Reports is reporting the security on these cameras is so incredibly lax, anybody could walk up to your house, take over your doorbell, and permanently get access to the still images it captures — even if you take control back. The cameras are sold by a Chinese company called Eken under at least ten different brands, including Aiwit, Andoe, Eken, Fishbot, Gemee, Luckwolf, Rakeblue and Tuck. Consumer Reports says online marketplaces like Amazon sell thousands of them each month. Some of them have even carried the Amazon’s Choice badge, its dubious seal of... Continue reading…

A smartwatch is an extension of your smartphone. You get all the benefits of the best fitness trackers as well as access to your personal life, such as text messages, emails, calendars, and notifications. But when it comes to the best smartwatches, the choices are nothing short of abundant. Apple alone has several generations, all of which you can score discounts through ever-changing Apple watch deals.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Microsoft has outlined a new Windows API designed to offer a seamless way for game developers to integrate super resolution AI-upscaling features from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. In a new blog post, program manager Joshua Tucker describes Microsoft’s new DirectSR API as the “missing link” between games and super resolution technologies, and says it should provide “a smoother, more efficient experience that scales across hardware.”“This API enables multi-vendor SR [super resolution] through a common set of inputs and outputs, allowing a single code path to activate a variety of solutions including Nvidia DLSS Super Resolution, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, and Intel XeSS,” the post reads. The pitch seems to be that developers will be able... Continue reading…

Thermal paste aids heat transference between the processor and cooling solution, whether a water block or heatsink for an air cooler. Air is not a great conductor of heat, which hampers the ability of the processor to cool down under load. Thermal paste helps alleviate this by filling out any gaps caused by manufacturing defects. It's usually already applied to the base of a CPU cooler allowing it to be installed immediately, but it's possible to install aftermarket thermal paste with better performance or when reseating the cooler.

Image: The Verge Just a couple of weeks after the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) surged with enough support to position it to clear the Senate, the path to new child protections on the internet suddenly looks more complex. Seeing the momentum, other lawmakers and outside groups sense it might be time to promote their own favored solutions, which could snarl KOSA’s Senate passage.Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), for example, sees this as an opportune moment for his own Protecting Kids on Social Media Act, which would only allow teens under 18 to use social media with their parents’ consent. “I imagine there’s only going to be one moment for all of the tech bills,” Schatz told The Washington Post in a story published Thursday. “I imagine that all of these efforts... Continue reading…

Image: Microsoft Microsoft is starting to roll out a new update to Windows 11 that includes a whole host of improvements and new built-in features. Copilot in Windows 11 is getting more options to control your PC as part of this update, alongside a new Generative Erase option in Photos, Voice Shortcuts for accessibility, improved Snap layouts, changes to the Widgets system, and more.While the Windows 11 update is available starting today, Microsoft says not all features will be enabled straight away. Copilot’s new options will start rolling out in late March, enabling new skills like being able to ask the AI chatbot to enable the battery saver mode or to launch accessibility features like Narrator or Magnifier. Copilot will also be able to show... Continue reading…

Image: Square Enix Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of ‘wonder and excitement’ to embrace as well. Continue reading…

Whether you’re an overclocking enthusiast who laughs in the face of unstable OCs or you’re someone who frequently runs into thermal throttling issues, liquid cooling your PC is one of the best ways to improve its temps. While installing an AIO liquid cooler on your processor is fairly straightforward, setting up custom loops for GPUs is a venture only the most daring PC veterans would undertake.

Image: Square Enix In Rebirth, our heroes get to explore beyond the confines of Midgar. Continue reading…

Sora was recently unveiled by OpenAI as a true text-to-video generation model, and with it came a number of questions regarding the societal impact such a tool may have. The ability to generate authentic-looking videos with ease raises questions regarding the integrity of video as a form of proof, while also raising questions about where OpenAI trained its model in the first place.

Unofficial renders of what the Z Flip 6 could look like. | Image: OnLeaks / SmartPrix Yesterday was the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, now it’s the Z Flip 6’s turn to have its alleged design leak in a series of unofficial renders from OnLeaks and SmartPrix ahead of its rumored July unveiling. While the overall form-factor of the device is similar to last year’s Z Flip 5, including a 6.7-inch inner folding display and 3.4-inch cover screen, SmartPrix reports that its thickness could increase from 6.9mm to 7.4mm, prompting speculation about what the extra internal space could be used for. The front-running theory comes from a GalaxyClub report from last year, which said the Z Flip 6’s battery capacity could increase from 3,700mAh to 4,000mAh. It’s a move that could (hopefully) address the so-so battery life we experienced on the... Continue reading…

Windows 11 is getting a bunch of new features starting today. Microsoft has announced that the latest set of features for Windows 11 — also known as the Moment 5 update — is now rolling out to users as an optional update, with it becoming widely available over the next couple of months.