When I started using Home Assistant, I ran way too many automations for the silliest of things. Over time, I pulled back and kept only those automations that felt genuinely useful without making any visually noticeable impact. That helped me avoid flashy but unwanted dashboards and notifications.

Every time I open Gemini, I have to type the same handful of prompts. If they’re too long, I grab them from Google Keep, but I still want to avoid that process. Even the short ones I retype every day get old fast. Gemini’s Scheduled Actions do just that. I can schedule the tasks that I keep putting off and just wait for Gemini to give them to me. That way, I can relax a little more, knowing that I’ll get everything I need because Gemini will remember for me.

For years, I’ve been moving and resizing windows by either reaching for the top or the sides. This was frustrating when I was in a hurry since the rush made me miss the exact spot I had to click. PowerToys Grab and Move finally fixed that for me by making resizing and moving windows around easier. I use my Samsung monitor and 14-inch ASUS laptop to drag windows around all day, and when I have to spend more than an instant looking at another window, the title bar pulls me out of whatever I’m focused on. Linux desktops have been doing this for years, and Windows users finally get to enjoy this feature.

There is a widespread assumption among homelab users that if the server is running and services are working as expected, then everything must be fine. Like most users, I also neglected the SSD's health. I hadn’t checked the SSD health in over a year, since there were no visible problems.

For all the problems millions of users all around the world have with Windows, the operating system does have its fair share of hidden gems. One such feature came out last year, and it has been nothing short of transformative. Windows Recall is a fundamental rethinking of how you interact with your own operating system and digital history, and yet, the adoption rate so far has been nothing to boast about.

Many years ago, when I'd get my hands on a new Windows PC, I did what a lot of people do. I opened the browser, signed in to a few accounts, changed my desktop wallpaper, and installed a few apps. It felt ready within minutes. Then I stopped to check the security settings and realized almost none of the important stuff had been left half configured. I don't do that anymore.

Valve's new Steam Controller sold out quickly when it went on sale on Monday, and the company is going to open a "reservations queue" on Friday at 1PM ET for anyone who missed that initial run.When the controller initially went on sale, many potential buyers experienced difficulties checking out before the controller went out of stock, and some sellers on eBay posted listings for the controllers that were considerably more expensive than Valve's $99 asking price. "While we were happy to see such a high level of interest, the experience for a lot of you trying to buy it was incredibly frustrating," Valve says. It's making changes to "improv …Read the full story at The Verge.

OpenAI is launching an optional safety feature for ChatGPT that allows adult users to assign an emergency contact for mental health and safety concerns. Friends, family members, or caregivers designated as a "Trusted Contact" will be notified if OpenAI detects that a person may have discussed topics like self-harm or suicide with the chatbot."Trusted Contact is designed around a simple, expert-validated premise: when someone may be in crisis, connecting with someone they know and trust can make a meaningful difference," OpenAI said in its announcement. "It offers another layer of support alongside the localized helplines already available …Read the full story at The Verge.

I used to think the hype around Obsidian was just another productivity ‘trend’ fuelled by over-engineered setups and aesthetic graph views. But after migrating my entire digital life into its local-first ecosystem, I have realized that I wasn’t just missing a better app; I was missing a better way to think.

Elon Musk's plans to get into the AI chip manufacturing business are going to be costly. As the New York Times and CNBC report, SpaceX is planning to invest at least $55 billion into its "Terafab" chip plant in Austin, Texas. That's according to the details of a public hearing notice filed in Grimes County, Texas, for a meeting to request tax breaks for the project.The company says that if additional phases are constructed, its investment could someday balloon to $119 billion total. When Musk initially announced the project in March, he shared ambitious plans for it to produce enough chips to support up to 200 gigawatts per year of computi …Read the full story at The Verge.

Peak Design’s Everyday Backpack Zip features a unique wraparound zipper that provides quick access to your belongings. | Image: Peak Design To celebrate founder Peter Dering’s birthday, Peak Design is taking up to 50 percent off a host of bags and accessories through May 8. The sale includes steep discounts on many of the company’s most popular backpacks and bags, as well as a couple of other items, including camera accessories.Many Verge staffers are fans of Peak Design, in part because the company is known for making durable, weatherproof products that can house a range of gadgets. Most of its bags are built to carry a lot of gear without feeling bulky or disorganized, thanks to thoughtful extras like expandable storage, quick-access openings, and customizable dividers, which make them great for daily commutes and summer travel alike. Plus, most Peak Design gear is backed by a lifetime warranty, so if something breaks or stops working during normal use, the company will repair or replace it.Below, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite deals from Peak Design’s ongoing sale, including backpacks, carry-on roller bags, camera organizers, and more.Peak Design Everyday Backpack ZipThe Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip features an all-around zipper that makes it easy to quickly access your items from the top or sides. Its weatherproof canvas shell protects valuables, while flexible internal dividers help keep cameras and other tech organized rather than piling at the bottom. It also features dedicated sleeves for a 14-inch laptop or tablet, expandable pockets for water bottles and carry straps, slip pockets for smaller items, and a built-in key tether. Where to Buy: $199.95 $159.99 at Best Buy (15-liter) $199.95 $139.96 at Peak Design (15-liter) $229.95 $160.96 at Peak Design (20-liter)Peak Design Field Pouch V2The weather-resistant Peak Design Field Pouch V2 works as a small sling or crossbody bag with an adjustable strap, a belt pouch, or an organizer you can stash inside a larger backpack. Its roll-top design lets the pouch expand to hold more gear or compress down to save space, while internal stretch and zip pockets help you better organize accessories like cords and lenses. Where to Buy: $49.95 $34.96 at Peak Design $49.95 $34.97 at B&H PhotoPeak Everyday SlingThe Peak Design Everyday Sling is a small, weatherproof crossbody bag that comes in multiple sizes, depending on how much gear you carry, whether that’s a single lens, a DSLR camera, or even a 13-inch laptop. It features adjustable internal dividers to keep gear organized and protected, along with and adjustable strap and expandable internal pockets for stashing smaller accessories.Where to Buy: $99.95 $69.96 at Peak Design (3-liter) $129.95 $90.96 at Peak Design (6-liter) $169.95 $118.96 at Peak Design (10-liter)Peak Design Roller ProPeak Design’s four-wheeled Roller Pro is easy to carry yet maximizes packing space. Its front opening lets you unpack in tight spaces, while exterior pockets keep essentials like passports easily accessible. It also has both internal and external straps to help secure or carry extra gear, as well as a magnetically sealed laptop sleeve for stowing a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Read our review.Where to Buy: $599.95 $479.96 at Best Buy $599.95 $479.96 at Peak Design $599.95 $479.96 at B&H PhotoPeak Design Everyday BackpackPeak Design’s Everyday Backpack is a weatherproof camera and everyday bag with a magnetic top clasp and side zippers for quick access to your gear. It features three adjustable internal dividers for organization, an Anchor Link key tether, expandable side pockets for water bottles or tripods, and space for a 16-inch laptop. Adjustable shoulder straps, a removable chest strap, and external carry straps also make it comfortable to carry a wide range of gear. Read our review.Where to Buy: $279.95 $195.96 at Peak Design (20-liter) $299.95 $209.96 at Peak Design (30-liter)Peak Design Outdoor Backpack (25-liter)Peak Design’s lightweight Outdoor Backpack features a roll-top design that expands from 20 to 25 liters for extra storage. A large zip panel makes organizing gear easier, while oversized external pockets provide quick access to items like water bottles or jackets. It also includes external carry cords, a built-in key tether, attachment points for Peak Design’s Capture Clip system, and compatibility with Peak Design’s Camera Cubes. Read our review.Where to Buy: $249.95 $174.96 at Peak Design $249.95 $174.96 at B&H Photo $250 $187 at HuckberryPeak Design Motorcycle Mirror Phone MountPeak Design’s Motorcycle Mirror Phone Mount securely attaches your phone to your motorcycle or scooter, keeping it visible while you ride. It’s easy to snap off with a press of a button, even with gloves on, and it’s fully adjustable for better viewing angles. The weather-resistant mount is also available with optional support for Qi2 wireless charging, so you can charge your phone while you’re out and about.Where to Buy: $99.95 $79.96 at Peak Design (non-charging) $169.95 $135.96 at Peak Design (charging)Peak Design Camera Cube (refurbished)Peak Design’s Camera Cubes are padded, weatherproof organizers that allow you to safely store camera, video, or drone gear in a backpack or travel bag. They come with customizable internal dividers to help you organize different kinds of gear, and each cube features weather-resistant zippers and wide zip openings for easier access.Where to Buy: $49.95 $44.96 at Peak Design (extra small) $59.95 $53.96 at Peak Design (small) $99.95 $89.96 at Peak Design (medium)Peak Design Leash (refurbished)The Peak Design Leash is a lightweight, minimalist camera strap designed for photographers. It can be worn as a sling, neck strap, or safety tether, and it’s relatively easy to remove. Dual quick-adjusters also make it easy to tighten or loosen the strap with one hand, while its slim design makes it easy to stash it in a pocket or camera bag when not in use.Where to Buy: $49.95 $40.46 at Peak Design (gray) $49.95 $40.46 at Peak Design (blue) $49.95 $44.96 at Peak Design (black)Peak Design Anchor Links (refurbished)Peak Design’s Anchor Links are small clips that make it faster and easier to attach or remove straps from cameras, binoculars, or other gear. Instead of repeatedly threading straps through tiny loops every time you want to remove them, you leave the small “Anchor” loops attached to your device, letting you click compatible straps on and off in seconds. Where to Buy: $29.95 $26.96 at Peak Design

AirPods Pro 3 | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Apple's rumored AirPods with cameras are nearing a stage where the company will test early mass production, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Currently, Apple testers are "actively using" prototypes that are in the design validation test stage, which is one step before the production validation test stage.The AirPods' cameras "aren't designed" to snap photos or video but instead can take in "visual information in low resolution" that users can query Siri about, like asking the AI assistant what they should cook with the ingredients they have in front of them, according to Gurman. They may also use the cameras to help with things like turn-b …Read the full story at The Verge.