If I had a nickel for every time I've reported on a cute aquarium app designed to run entirely off an ESP32 CYD, I'd have two nickels. It's not a lot, but unlike how the meme goes, I don't think it's weird that it happened twice; in fact, I love it.

Whenever someone starts dabbling in vibe-coding and vibe-designing, they'll most likely come across big names like Replit, Lovable, Figma Make, and probably also Claude Design lately. These tools are more than fine, this is not about dragging them, but when you end up settling for something just because it's popular, you might be missing out on a world of options. Naturally, I went digging for some underrated tools in the vibe-designing space, and actually found a bunch that probably never would have crossed my radar otherwise. And a couple of them are actually on the same level as the big players, if not better.

Over the past year, I've fallen in love with Linux and everything it has to offer. The immense variety of options in distros, desktops, and software make Linux a very fun space where you never run out of things to talk about. But as fun as it is, the future of Linux may depend on something far more boring: immutability.

Backups are one of those home lab chores that can quietly turn into decoration. You set them up, watch the first job complete, and then slowly stop thinking about whether they still work. The Proxmox dashboard may show a task as completed, but that doesn’t always mean the backup is useful, recent, complete, or easy to recover from. That gap is where my trust started to fray.

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.

As operating systems move forward as a whole, the system requirements for running them only get bigger and bigger. Windows 11's NPU 2.0 requirement caused quite a stir when it first came to light, and even Ubuntu is asking for better hardware these days.

I don't think I remember the last time I used a walkie-talkie, and with the introduction of smartphones, I'm not sure when I'll ever need one. However, that doesn't make them useless by any means. If you want to make your own pair of walkie-talkies using an ESP32, this project may just be what you're looking for, and best of all, it manages to avoid the need for radio licensing using a smart trick.

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere, follow Thomas Ricker. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.How it startedLithium-ion batteries are everywhere as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, and that's a problem. From exploding e-bikes in stairwells to lithium-ion power banks combusting midflight, the volatile nature of traditional liquid electrolytes has become an undeniable public safety hazard. In 2025, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) i …Read the full story at The Verge.

Modern PC builders spend countless hours researching CPUs, GPUs, SSDs, and memory kits, but many overlook one of the most important performance settings hidden inside their motherboard's BIOS. I used to assume that if my hardware was physically installed correctly, it would automatically run at its maximum speed. After all, PCIe standards are designed to negotiate the fastest supported connection between devices and the motherboard.

AI coding tools have become one of the biggest topics in software development. Every week, there's a new demo showing how AI can generate features, automate workflows, and dramatically boost developer productivity. Cursor is often part of that conversation, and for good reason; it's a powerful tool with some genuinely impressive capabilities.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the export control directive that led to Anthropic cutting off access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 was triggered in part by cybersecurity research from Amazon and conversations between CEO Andy Jassy and the White House. According to the report, the paper from Amazon claims that, through a series of prompts, it was able to get Fable 5 to serve up information that could be used in cyberattacks. Amazon has yet to respond to a request for comment.Shortly after Jassy shared the company's findings with the government, it made the call to block its use by foreign nationals. Complicating this issue is that many of …Read the full story at The Verge.

Over the last couple of months, I’ve started looking into ways I can repurpose old hardware. PC rigs are the easiest to revitalize, as Proxmox is all they need to turn into functioning LXC (and sometimes, even VM) hosting workstations. Meanwhile, individual components like graphics cards, RAM sticks, and storage drives serve as decent additions to my existing home lab nodes.