Being a versatile tool for note-taking, project management, and knowledge organization, Notion has long been a go-to solution for productivity seekers. However, the market for productivity tools is constantly evolving, and a new challenger has emerged: AFFiNE. It promises a blend of familiar features with innovative twists.

Day One has long held the crown as one of the most beloved and feature-rich journaling apps on Mac. While Day One has been exclusive to Apple devices for a while, the company recently launched a native app on Android and expanded its footprint on Windows as well. Eager to see if this cross-platform leap lives up to the hype, I put the Windows version through its paces. Let’s see if it truly brings the magic of Day One to a new operating system.

Remember the Game Boy camera? It was a device Nintendo made at the height of the Game Boy hype; it let you take a photo of something and save it as a pixellated mess. Well, if you saw those photos and thought "man, I wish this image were squashed down into even thicker pixels," then you're in luck: someone found a way to do just that with a recovered Atari 2600.

Applying fresh thermal paste to an aging graphics card is a fantastic way to lower its operating temperature, but that might not necessarily fix overheating and thermal throttling issues. The thermal paste is responsible for transferring heat from the GPU die to the heatsink, but several other factors could also significantly impact your graphics card's temperature.

Vivaldi and Proton have teamed up to make it easier for Vivaldi browser users to privately explore the web without downloading a virtual private network (VPN). Starting today, the free version of Proton VPN is now integrated directly into Vivaldi’s browser, and can be accessed by logging into a Vivaldi account.The feature is currently only available on the desktop version of the Vivaldi browser. The free version of Proton VPN allows users to connect to servers in five randomly selected countries and provides “medium VPN speed.” Vivaldi browser users can also upgrade to a paid version of Proton VPN starting from $10 per month, which provides faster VPN speeds, the ability to choose which servers to connect to across more than 110 countries, and other additional features.It isn’t unique for web browsers to have VPN features baked in — Microsoft bolstered its Edge browser with the Edge Secure Network VPN, for example. Proton VPN can also be readily embedded into other web browsers like Chrome and Firefox via downloadable browser extensions. That hurdle, however small, is removed for Vivaldi browsers users, which may make the VPN more accessible to a wider audience.Vivaldi also said its partnership with Proton was founded in shared “values,” citing that both European companies are “proudly outside the orbit of Silicon Valley’s extractive playbook or China’s state-driven oversight.”“As governments and users alike reassess their relationship with tech, especially in light of escalating geopolitical tensions, there has been a huge increase in demand for independent, non-aligned, and values-driven solutions,” said Vivaldi CEO Jon Von Tetzchner. “Europe needs European alternatives. In fact, everybody deserves European alternatives. And with Vivaldi and Proton, you’re getting exactly that.”While Tetzchner says that both Vivaldi and Proton are “politically neutral,” the statement feels like an obvious nod to the fractures appearing between the US and Europe’s relationship since President Donald Trump took office and surrounded himself with leaders of market-dominating Tech Giants. Bundling Vivaldi with privacy-focused freebies could be a viable lure to attract new customers who are already looking to switch to a non-US browser.

Are you having a good Amazon Big Spring Sale? If you haven't tucked into the deals and want something to grab before the event goes away, why not use this opportunity to get into the wonderful world of 3D printing?

Microsoft has introduced several useful features to Windows 11 since the OS first launched in 2021. However, the software giant faced severe criticism for removing a number of capabilities from the OS. The removal led to users expressing frustration on several online platforms, requesting Microsoft to bring them back to Windows 11. While the company did listen to users and re-introduce some of those removed features, like the never combine taskbar button, back to Windows, being able to move the taskbar is still unavailable.

Vivaldi is gaining yet another useful feature today, just about a week after its latest major update. The productivity-focused browser has partnered with Proton to include a built-in VPN, allowing users to mask their identity while browsing the web and access geo-restricted content.

AI insights were inevitable. | Image: GarminIt was only a matter of time. Garmin announced today it’s launching Garmin Connect Plus, a premium tier to its app that adds AI-powered insights and a few other expanded features. Existing and new Garmin users will be able to opt in to a free 30-day trial and then choose between a $6.99 monthly or $69.99 annual subscription. All existing health data and features, however, will remain free.“Developing a premium tier enables us to extend our investment in the Garmin Connect platform, both in terms of features that carry additional cost to provide and also in scaling out our engineering teams to build and maintain these features,” says Garmin spokesperson Natalie Miller.AI is the big addition to Connect Plus. The feature, dubbed Active Intelligence, will roll out as a beta and purportedly delivers “personalized insights and suggestions” based on your health and activity data. Over time, the insights and goals are supposed to become more personalized to the individual user. That’s about all the information Garmin has provided thus far about the AI-powered side of things, but it’s on trend for fitness apps and wearable makers lately. Whoop was first to add an AI training coach in late 2023, while Strava also rolled out AI summaries for activities last year. Among bigger tech companies, Samsung added AI-powered insights while Google added AI-generated running workouts to its smartwatches last year. Oura also has added an AI wellness chatbot to its popular smart ring, as have several smaller wearable makers in the past two years. Garmin and Apple have thus far been the two major holdouts for wearable AI features, and with today’s announcement, that leaves just Apple.Connect Plus also adds a new performance dashboard that lets users compare custom charts and graphs over a period of time to visualize progress. Subscribers will also be able to view live activity metrics on a smartphone for workouts that were started on a watch. LiveTrack will also be expanded so you can notify selected contacts when an activity starts and a personalized profile page for followers. People using Garmin Coach plans for running and cycling will also receive additional guidance from Garmin coaches. Lastly, there will be exclusive badges and frames for user’s app profiles.Whether this is enough value to tempt loyal Garmin users is another question — especially since Garmin has been vocal in the past about not paywalling features. Back in 2022, I asked Phil McClendon, Garmin’s project lead for the Venu 2 Plus, about the company’s philosophy regarding subscriptions. At the time, McClendon told The Verge, “We’re not charging you the ability to access your data, and that’s something we will continue to do and that we feel very strongly about.” McClendon is no longer at Garmin, and technically this is still true since all existing features and data will remain free. However, in the years since that conversation, Garmin has occasionally softened its messaging regarding paywalls. At a 2023 press briefing for the Venu 3, Garmin leadership noted that the company had robust subscriptions outside its fitness tracker business but declined to say that there would never be a subscription.Among fans, the lack of a subscription (outside of mapping features or LTE connectivity) has always been touted as a plus. Especially since Garmin watches are, on average, more expensive than the competition. It’s hard to say how fans will react given that so much will remain free, but generally speaking, introducing subscriptions is a dicey proposition. Oura, for instance, experienced massive backlash when it introduced a subscription with its Gen 3 ring. Either way, Garmin has faced increased competition these past years. Both Apple and Samsung launched rugged outdoors smartwatches of their own, while Coros has emerged as another popular brand among athletes with long battery life and advanced GPS. At the same time, Garmin’s wearables division isn’t exactly suffering. It recently surpassed expectations for its Q4 earnings, reporting a large 31 percent increase in fitness tracker sales and its stock hitting record highs.

Let me start with a small confession: I generally haven't been much of a note taker. I have the dangerous mindset of "I'll remember that later", so I try to take as few notes as possible. That being said, I've tried a few different note-taking apps, most notably OneNote for longer notes and Apple Notes for shorter notes on my Mac.

The Poco F7 Ultra is yellow. Very yellow.Poco is releasing its first phone with “Ultra” branding, and on paper it lives up to the name. The F7 Ultra runs on the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and combines it with a triple rear camera setup, 120W wired charging, and IP68 protection from dust and water. Despite those specs, it’s going on sale in the UK for £649 (around $835), making it one of the cheapest phones to use Qualcomm’s top tier chip.Xiaomi sub-brand Poco has always prioritized inexpensive handsets, but its F-series has been where it gets a little closer to the flagship space. The Snapdragon chip here is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, so performance should be excellent. Only the Redmagic 10 Pro offers the 8 Elite for less right now, but its gamer aesthetic is less likely to have broad appeal. Xiaomi’s software experience is substantially smoother too, and its promise of four Android updates compares pretty favorably to Redmagic’s commitment to… one.The F7 Ultra’s rear camera array includes a 50 megapixel main camera at a fast aperture of f/1.6, a 50MP 2.5x telephoto camera, and a 32MP ultrawide — plus another 32MP camera for selfies. I haven’t pushed the camera hard, but the few shots I have taken aren’t bad at all. There’s a little noise — worse if you push past the telephoto’s optical zoom into digital territory — but there’s detail, decent dynamic range, and true-to-life colors. The 6.67-inch OLED display has a 1440p resolution and max refresh rate of 120Hz, and the sizable 5,300mAh battery is supported by both 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. An IP68 rating means it should be durable too, though the panel is protected by Poco’s own Shield Glass, rather than the better known Corning Gorilla Glass. True to form for Poco, the handset comes in a rather eye-catching yellow finish, though there is a black model if you’d prefer something subtler. Both versions feature glossy detailing around the camera, which I’m unexpectedly fond of. The end result is a phone that looks and feels slick for a Poco, especially since it’s slim at 8.39mm, though you can tell it isn’t one of the (admittedly more expensive) flagships it’s emulating.The F7 Ultra is joined by a £499 (around $645) F7 Pro. This looks pretty similar, but uses the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. One upside is a bigger 6,000mAh battery, but it has slower 90W charging, and no wireless option at all. It also gets a serious camera downgrade: the main shooter is the same, but it’s only accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide and a 20MP selfie camera, with no telephoto at all. Both models are available now in the UK and Europe.

Uber’s shuttle to JFK runs every 30 minutes.Uber is expanding its airport shuttle service to include one of the busiest hubs in the world, New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. For a limited time, customers can grab a ride from specific stops in Manhattan or Brooklyn to JFK for just $10. After April 30th, the fare increases to $25, including taxes.Airport runs are a crucial part of Uber’s business, and customers have expressed frustration at the rising cost of booking a car to the airport. JFK, in particular, is one of the most expensive airports for travelers, with Uber and Lyft trips costing $80 or more, depending on the pickup location. By bundling riders together in a shuttle, Uber hopes to introduce a more affordable option to budget-conscious customers.For JFK trips, customers can use the Uber app to book up to four seats in a shuttle. Rides can be booked up to seven days ahead of time or simply on the day you need it. Riders will get their pricing upfront before booking and won’t be subject to surge pricing.When the shuttle arrives, riders will validate their reservation with the driver via QR code and a unique PIN. At launch, vehicles will be limited to just 14 passengers. Each rider is allowed one personal item, like a purse or backpack, and one piece of luggage (carry-on or checked) weighing up to 50 pounds. Riders can rate and tip drivers in the app, just like a normal Uber trip.Uber says it will operate four routes to JFK, with pickup locations at Port Authority, Grand Central Terminal, Chinatown, and Atlantic Center in Brooklyn. The service will run every 30 minutes from 5AM to 10:45PM, seven days a week. For its shuttle business, Uber is partnering with fleet providers who manage commercially licensed drivers. In New York, the company is using ETS, an airport shuttle operator since 1996.Uber has been experimenting with shuttle service for airports and concerts, including $15 rides to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert in Miami last year. The company also launched an $18 shuttle to LaGuardia Airport last year. (That price is now $20.) For airport trips, the company needs to negotiate terms with airport operators before a new service can be launched. Uber said it’s currently in talks with Boston’s Logan International Airport about bringing its shuttle service there.