Despite appearing intimidating at first glance, containerized services are pretty easy to deploy, especially with all the home lab tools at your disposal. Sure, running Docker/Podman commands via a terminal is the ideal way to go about building your container library, but they can seem a tad too difficult if you’re not even accustomed to CLI-heavy utilities, let alone server distros. Their desktop variants of Docker and Podman can help newcomers out quite a bit, but containerization platforms further simply the esoteric art of self-hosting by providing a neat UI to grab templates and deploy them inside containers – all with the press of a button.

Two of the biggest digital games stores have stopped selling thousands of titles following pressure from a coalition of anti-porn advocates and the world's biggest payment processing companies. It's happened before, will likely happen again, and is suppressing art, free expression, and marginalized creators.Last week, the indie gaming storefront itch.io sent out a sudden notice to the creators that use the site to sell their games, books, art, and other media; it had "deindexed" all content with the NSFW (not safe for work) tag, meaning works with that tag would no longer turn up in itch.io searches, effectively making it impossible to dis …Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft has used a variety of tricks to convince people to keep using the defaults of Bing and Microsoft Edge in Windows over the years, including modifying Chrome download sites and using malware-like popups. Now, Opera is fed up of what it calls Microsoft’s “manipulative design tactics” and filed a competition complaint in Brazil today, alleging that Microsoft is using anti-competitive practices to steer people toward using Edge.“Microsoft thwarts browser competition on Windows at every turn,” says Aaron McParlan, general counsel at Opera. “First, browsers like Opera are locked out of important preinstallation opportunities. And then Microsoft frustrates users’ ability to download and use alternative browsers.“Opera’s complaint alleges that Microsoft ignores a user’s default browser choice in a variety of ways, from opening PDF files or links in Outlook and Teams, to opening links through Windows features like Search or Widgets. Opera also notes that Microsoft uses “obtrusive banners and messages discouraging users from downloading alternative browsers at the very moment they are searching for those browsers on Edge.“Opera filed its complaint in Brazil because it’s one of the company’s main markets. “Opera is already a major success in Brazil: it is the third most popular browser in Brazil and has millions of loyal users in Brazil who actively choose it, despite Microsoft’s tactics,” McParlan says. “The complaint, which concerns practices implemented globally by Microsoft, presents an opportunity for Brazil to be a leader on this international issue.”If Opera is successful with its complaint, it wants remedies from Microsoft, like allowing PC manufacturers to preload alternative default browsers, a halt to blocking consumers from downloading other browsers, and an end to “dark patterns that push users towards Edge.” Opera also reveals that Microsoft requires OEMs to “deliver S mode devices as a condition for rebates on a Windows OS license,” which is another practice it wants to see outlawed.While the complaint will be handled by Brazil’s competition authority, it’s part of a broader effort from Opera to challenge Microsoft’s Edge practices around the world. Opera unsuccessfully challenged the EU’s decision not to designate Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under its Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules last year. Microsoft escaped the designation, but it still had to make changes to Windows in EU markets in response to the DMA. These changes have led it to stop bugging Windows users about Edge.“We believe that Microsoft’s conduct, including the changes that it has announced in Europe, are insufficient to attain effective compliance with the DMA,” McParlan says. “In this context, and as part of its global efforts to ensure free and effective consumer choice, Opera has appealed before the EU Courts the European Commission’s decision not to designate Edge as a ‘gatekeeper’ service under the DMA.”Not only has Microsoft used Windows to urge people into switching to Edge in the past, the company also created a spoofed Google UI to try and convince Bing users they were using Google earlier this year. The search results looked a lot like Google, complete with a custom search bar, a Google Doodle-like image, and some small text under the search bar just like Google Search. Microsoft quickly killed the plug on its spoofed Google UI once people started noticing it.Opera also has a history of complaints against Microsoft’s browser behavior in Windows. It originally filed an antitrust complaint with the EU in 2007, which eventually led to the browser ballot screen being created — allowing Windows users to pick one of the 12 most popular browsers rather than defaulting to Internet Explorer. Microsoft had to keep the browser choice screen in Windows for five years, but it was fined $730 million in 2013 for failing to include the ballot in Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

It's hard to believe Windows 10 is already ten years old, and set to reach the end of its life later this year. This version of Microsoft's operating system came at a near-perfect time. With my own laptop and off to college for the first time, I was completely engrossed in tech for the first time and just becoming a Windows enthusiast, not just on PCs, but also on phones. I was there since the first day of the Windows Insider Program, and feverishly followed every new build up to the official launch, and well past that.

The pro-style controller can elevate your gaming experience with several customization features. If you spend a lot of time gaming on the PlayStation 5, you may want a controller that can offer more customization than the standard DualSense. The pro-style DualSense Edge is worth considering, especially now since it’s currently down to $170 ($29.99 off) on the PlayStation website with the code EVO2025 through August 4th. The same code can be used on a variety of PS5 accessories, including the Pulse Elite wireless headphones.Sony DualSense EdgeSony’s pro-style controller, the DualSense Edge, might suffer from shorter battery life than the standard DualSense model, but it features great software integration with the PlayStation 5 and plenty of customizable components. Where to Buy: $199.99 $170 at PlayStation (with code EVO2025)While the DualSense Edge looks and feels similar to the DualSense controller, it offers a number of notable upgrades. For starters, its deep software integration with the PS5 allows you to create up to four profiles, each offering customization for button mapping, stick sensitivity, and assigning commands to the rear buttons. You can swap between these profiles on the fly without having to leave your game. Sony makes it just as easy to swap out stick modules, too, in case one ever stops working.Additionally, the DualSense Edge features toggle switches that give you the option to shorten the pull distance of either trigger. This is great if you prefer a hair-trigger feel for shooters and other fast-paced competitive games. These features can, if you’ll excuse the pun, give you an edge when playing your favorite titles. However, the controller isn’t without its faults, some of which are easier to forgive considering this temporary price drop.Despite its high price, the DualSense Edge has worse battery life compared to the standard DualSense controller. In his review, The Verge’s Cameron Faulkner confirmed that its battery life lasts only about eight hours on a full charge. It’s a small consolation that Sony includes a lengthy USB charging cable, which also has a handy locking mechanism so it doesn’t accidentally come unplugged (very handy during tournaments when disconnecting is unacceptable). With games like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Silent Hill f, and Ghost of Yōtei all on the horizon, there will be no shortage of games to use this controller with this year. And, thanks to the $30 discount,  it’s a good excuse to start getting used to the controller’s features.

You've built your PC, and now it's time to make it your own. PC modding is intimidating considering how much money is wrapped up in your components, but a few simple mods go a long way in making your PC more practical and performant. And contrary to what you might think, they actually aren't too difficult.

Lovense, the maker of internet-connected sex toys, left user emails exposed for months — even after it became aware of the vulnerability. In a blog post spotted by TechCrunch and Bleeping Computer, security researcher BobDaHacker found that they could “turn any username into their email address,” which they could then use to take over someone’s account.Though BobDaHacker initially disclosed this vulnerability to Lovense in March, the researcher claims Lovense waited months before fixing it, and still hasn’t fully addressed the issue. Lovense is behind a range of sex toys that users can connect to the internet and remotely control via its app, which came under fire for a “minor bug” in 2017 that recorded users’ sex sessions.As outlined in BobDaHacker’s post, the security researcher noticed something strange in the app’s API response when muting someone: it presented their email address. BobDaHacker then figured out that they could take advantage of this vulnerability by sending a modified request to Lovense’s servers, tricking it into returning the target user’s email address. BobDaHacker even developed a script that they say can convert someone’s username into an email address in less than a second. “This is especially bad for cam models who share their usernames publicly but obviously don’t want their personal emails exposed,” BobDaHacker writes. To make matters worse, BobDaHacker later discovered that they could take over a user’s account with their email address and an authentication token generated by Lovense. BobDaHacker initially reported these vulnerabilities in partnership with the Internet of Dongs, a group that aims to make internet-connected sex toys more secure. However, the security researcher says Lovense didn’t immediately fix the issue. Instead, Lovense claimed that the account takeover bug was fixed in April, even though BobDaHacker said it wasn’t, and that a fix for the email leak issue would take 14 months to roll out.“We also evaluated a faster, one-month fix. However, it would require forcing all users to upgrade immediately, which would disrupt support for legacy versions,” Lovense said, according to BobDaHacker. As noted by BobDaHacker, security researchers reported the same account takeover bug to Lovense in 2023, but the company appears to have closed the bug without actually fixing it.In a statement to Bleeping Computer, Lovense says it has submitted an app update “addressing the latest vulnerabilities” to app stores. “The full update is expected to be pushed to all users within the next week,” Lovense says. “Once all users have updated to the new version and we disable older versions, this issue will be completely resolved.” Lovense didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment. 

OpenAI is adding a new study mode for ChatGPT that “helps you work through problems step by step instead of just getting an answer,” according to an OpenAI blog post. It will be available today for ChatGPT Free, Plus, Pro, and Team users and for ChatGPT Edu users “in the next few weeks.”When you ask a question with study mode turned on, ChatGPT can give you interactive prompts that combine “Socratic questioning, hints, and self-reflection prompts” to help you learn about your question. OpenAI also says that study mode responses will be organized “into easy-to-follow sections that highlight the key connections between topics” and that lessons will be tailored to users based on “questions that assess skill level and memory from previous chats.” Study mode can give quizzes, too.As ChatGPT becomes a go-to tool for students, we’re committed to ensuring it fosters deeper understanding and learning.Introducing study mode in ChatGPT — a learning experience that helps you work through problems step-by-step instead of just getting an answer. pic.twitter.com/B8VbRYJH6r— OpenAI (@OpenAI) July 29, 2025AI companies are increasingly competing for the attention of college students, with OpenAI rival Anthropic introducing its own “Learning mode” feature for Claude in April. Tools like study mode could encourage students to use ChatGPT for learning instead of easy answers. But since users are able to turn off study mode at their own discretion, they’ll have to motivate themselves to actually use the feature instead of relying on ChatGPT to spit out a response or using the AI chatbot to cheat. (At the moment, OpenAI doesn’t have tools for parents or administrators to force students to stay in study mode, VP of education Leah Belsky told TechCrunch.)OpenAI says that study mode is powered by “custom system instructions” the company wrote with teachers, scientists, and pedagogy experts. OpenAI picked custom instructions because it lets the company “quickly learn from real student feedback and improve the experience — even if it results in some inconsistent behavior and mistakes across conversations.” Down the line, OpenAI says it plans to add clearer visualizations, goal setting across conversations, and “deeper personalization.”Google also announced new features for some of its AI tools today that could be useful for students. AI Mode in Search is getting a new canvas mode that can help you make things like study guides, while NotebookLM’s new Video Overviews feature uses AI to create slideshows with narration.

Sharge’s retractable wall charger gets more useful with a built-in rechargeable battery. | Image: Sharge Sharge has demonstrated again and again that the chargers and power banks you use to keep your devices running don’t need to look like boring gray bricks. The company has updated its transparent Retractable 65 wall charger, released earlier this year, with a 10,000mAh battery so it’s no longer completely dependent on an outlet. The only tradeoff is that its power output has dropped from 65W to just 30W, making it mostly useful for charging smartphones and tablets.The Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank is now available through Sharge’s online store for $49.99, but is currently discounted to $44.99. That’s the same price as Anker’s $45 10,000mAh power bank and charger that includes a built-in USB-C cable, but Anker’s power cord doesn’t retract and is relatively short. Sharge’s is over 27 inches long, and according to the company, has been tested to survive over 30,000 cycles of being retracted and extended. The retraction mechanism will potentially long outlive the battery’s ability to hold a charge.Although the Retractable 65 delivers enough power to charge laptops and handheld gaming devices like the Switch 2 which requires at least 54W, the output of Sharge’s new 3-in-1 falls well below that, even while plugged into an outlet. That limits its usefulness, but it does include an additional USB-C port so you can charge two smaller devices simultaneously.The power bank’s design is an homage to Braun’s iconic Audio 300 stereo, designed by Dieter Rams. On one side the 300 featured a record player, represented by the power bank’s retractable cable mechanism, while the other side featured a radio and various tubing knobs. Sharge’s device skips those features but includes a bright white LED dot matrix display on the front showing the battery’s remaining charge level. It also features a matching wrist strap, but unlike Anker has done, it doesn’t double as an additional USB-C charging cable which feels like a missed opportunity to cram a bit more functionality in.

The StanbyMe 2 becomes the SitbyMe 2 once you detach it from the rolling stand. | Image: LG LG’s StanbyMe 2 has all the ingredients of a good follow-up gadget: the 27-inch display is 1440p instead of 1080p, and instead of being trapped on its rollable stand, the screen is detachable for you to use wherever and however you want. It can hang on the wall if you buy a compatible strap, or you can rest it on its included folio cover, much like you would a tablet. It also has more ports beyond the one HDMI port and one USB-A port in the original model. You’ll get USB-C for connecting laptops, too. Its built-in battery can power the screen for up to four hours, and you can recharge it with a power bank so long as it can provide at least 65W charging speeds.We knew earlier this month that the StanbyMe 2 would be coming soon, but LG waited until it was available to share that it costs $1,299.99 — $300 more than its predecessor did at launch. Just as with the original StanbyMe, I have to take a moment to resist the urge to call this a terrible value, since OLED TVs and brilliant monitors are readily available well under $1,000. But for those who were, at least, mildly enthused about a major manufacturer putting a screen on wheels, perhaps the added versatility in the StanbyMe 2 makes it worth actually considering for your home.As if one rolling screen wasn’t enough for 2025, LG’s Smart Monitor Switch is another option, although it only works while connected to a power outlet. Similarly, it costs $1,299.99, but it has a bigger 31.5-inch 4K IPS touchscreen display, as well as a stand that offers more points of articulation. It’s more flush with ports, offering three USB-C ports with 65W Power Delivery, and two HDMI 2.0 ports.

Docker Swarm is a crafty method that creates and controls a cluster of PCs. I have a single Pi running multiple containers, but the hardware tends to budge under heavy load. I considered leveraging cluster computing by bundling many systems, including a spare laptop. The idea was to learn and experience cluster management firsthand and deploy resilient containers. Even if one node goes down, I can access the service without any issue.

Monitoring your home lab and keeping tabs on your log files can be draining, but there are multiple automated solutions aimed at making it easier and to help you visualize what's going on. These tools include Grafana Alloy, the successor to Promtail, and Prometheus, a system monitoring tool. Armed with Grafana, Alloy, and Loki, along with Prometheus for collecting my server system data, I built the ultimate system monitor that can keep tabs on all of my machines.