USB-C docks had their heyday at the start of the USB-C generation, though the need for a dock to add extra USB-C ports has fallen off sharply in the last several years. It's common to find multiple USB Type-C ports on any desktop or laptop these days, so you don't need a dock to use all your new peripherals.

They say once a coder, always a coder. After switching to tech blogging, I don't code full-time now, but there's always a coder in me who finds fun in automating stuff with scripting. Nowadays, major productivity apps seem to demand a monthly payment. This "subscription creep" is annoying, but there’s a better way. I realized that many of these paid features are simple automation tasks in disguise. I built a few custom Python scripts that perfectly handle everything I need.

Meta is on the cusp of launching third-party integration with WhatsApp in Europe — something that’s required by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It’s rolling out “over the coming months” with WhatsApp’s level of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) maintained.Meta says that BirdyChat and Haiket will be the first third-party services to implement messaging interoperability with WhatsApp. No, we haven’t heard of them either, but that’s what leveling the playing field looks like.WhatsApp users in Europe will eventually see a notification in the settings tab that will explain how to opt-in to third party messaging. It will work in WhatsApp for iOS and Android, but not on desktops, web, or tablets. Meta says that “third-party messaging apps must use the same level of E2EE as WhatsApp,” and Meta can’t see encrypted messages in transit. Content can include text, photos, videos, voice messages, and documents. It will also only work for users with a WhatsApp account registered to phone numbers in regions covered by the DMA, according to the FAQ. In September, Meta previewed what third-party integration with WhatsApp and Messenger will look like. Notably, users will be presented with the choice of receiving third-party messages in a separate folder or combined inbox. Meta also said it would remind users “each time a new third-party messaging app becomes available.”Meta warns that third-party apps “might handle your data differently” than it would — is that a bad thing?

Looking for a new motherboard is tricky business, with a ton of specifications and compatibilities to compare and decide upon. Some of these are non-negotiable, like enough headers for your peripherals and fans, plenty of high-speed USB ports, and robust VRMs to handle the power requirements of the CPU and RAM. But most motherboards nowadays are up to the task —so what makes the difference between an okay model and a great one?

You know, there are a few games on Steam that have reached drinking age yet still receive a healthy player base to this day. One of those titles is Garry's Mod, a Source sandbox game that has enjoyed almost two whole decades of updates and content to make it one of the best titles on Steam.

I never really believed self-driving cars would make it to the UK, so you can imagine my surprise when I found myself clambering into one of Wayve's autonomous vehicles for a journey around north London a few weeks ago. In June, the company announced plans with Uber to begin trialing Level 4 fully autonomous robotaxis in the capital as soon as 2026, part of a government plan to fast-track self-driving pilots ahead of a potential wider rollout in late 2027. Alphabet-owned Waymo, now a staple fixture of US cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, also has its eyes on London, announcing plans for its own fully driverless robotaxi …Read the full story at The Verge.

The gaming scene is in a very strange place right now. While Microsoft has abandoned the idea of console exclusives and began to embrace its competition, we're seeing Valve re-enter the console market with its Steam Machine after its initial run didn't do so hot in the mid-2010s.

The problem with answering the question, "What hardware do you need to run a Minecraft server?" is that it's like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" There are a ton of elements at play, such as the number of people who will play at the same time, what version of Minecraft you're running, and how many mods you plan to stuff into the system until the game is nigh-unrecognisable.

For the longest time, Dropbox has been my go-to for syncing files and sharing across documents. It's easy, reliable, and available pretty much everywhere. Moreover, it's a familiar tool for almost everyone. But that convenience comes at a cost. It requires you to give up too much control for something as simple as sharing a few files. Between storage limits, prompts urging you to upgrade to higher tiers, and the obvious dependence on a third-party external cloud service, I was ready to look for alternatives. Sharing a simple file really shouldn't require so much work.

We've seen some pretty steep discounts over the past year on our favorite tech products, but as we approach Black Friday, the discounts are somehow getting even better. While we wouldn't recommend grabbing a cheap laptop, sometimes there's just no choice, since you just need something that works for a good price.

Given that NotebookLM is still a relatively new tool, the team has been constantly rolling out updates and features to improve the overall experience and iron out any quirks based on user feedback. If you've been following XDA's NotebookLM coverage (or any other outlet's, really), you’ve probably seen the major updates get plenty of attention, like Video Overviews, Flashcards and Quizzes being introduced, and even Gemini's Deep Research feature being spotted in testing.

Everyone knows that if you want a lightweight operating system, you go with Linux. But just how low can you go with the system specs? Could you, for instance, take Linux and run it on a Pentium 1? And not just any build of Linux, mind you; we're talking about a modern-day one.