5 drawbacks to productivity apps no one talks about

With the prevalence of hustle culture and a crowded online arena constantly vying for our attention, it’s no wonder that many people rely on productivity apps to keep organized. But as I explore more apps to improve my focus and task management, I’ve found that I encounter more problems than solutions.

Cathy Kelley
Ireland

A Windows 11 service you never asked for is making your laptop run warmer and die sooner

Have you ever wondered why your laptop is running warmer than you'd like? You might think it is just the hardware struggling to run the apps you are using. But it is also Windows itself that is causing it — even on high-performance systems.

Jane Smith
Los Angeles

Your VPN isn’t hiding what country you’re in — your devices have other ways of knowing, and none of them touch your IP

My Mac randomly decided that it was in Germany, despite the fact that it was clearly sitting in front of me on my desk. Which is in Ireland. It didn't magically teleport anywhere and come back, and I hadn't done anything to it to make it think that. All I...

Daniel Martinez
Dallas

Changing this one simple setting solved all of my Android Auto disconnection issues

Android Auto is essential to my driving experience. I enjoy setting off on a road trip every few months, and it's indispensable for keeping me on track.

William Garcia
Boston

The empty PCIe slots in your PC can do more than hold a graphics card

When I built my first PC, I figured the PCIe slot was useless outside of plugging a graphics card, and I went my merry way after tossing my pixel-pushing companion into the rig. Unfortunately, this trend continued for longer than I’d like to admit, until I ran into a situation...

Saritha Reuvers
Netherlands

This 24.5-inch 240Hz gaming monitor is steal at just $108

This Sceptre 24.5-inch gaming monitor is just what you need if you're on a tight budget. You get a crisp 1080p panel with a 1500R curve, along with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. The specifications are good, but the price makes it even better. For a...

Vlatka Vujčić
Serbia

I use this open-source tool to easily cast any video to my smart TV

Modern media consumption is entirely streaming-driven. It's convenient enough as long as you're trying to play a video from a streaming service.

Helmine Solbakken
Norway

Claude Code gives me very few models to work with, and that’s exactly why I keep going back to it

The AI game right now is very different from how it was two years ago. Actually, scratch that. The current reality is very different from how it was just two weeks ago. LLMs launch faster than you can realistically keep track of and put to the test. It's the 4th...

Ceylan Çevik
Turkey

I ditched my to-do list for a virtual pet app, and my productivity actually improved

I am not an organized person, and much of the software I use is an attempt to remedy that. Whether it's Obsidian, apps like Super Productivity, or a slew of different to-do list apps, I've spent a lot of time trying to find a way to keep myself focused and...

Sophia Wilson
Atlanta

I gave a local LLM control of my entire homelab, and nothing ever touched the cloud

I run several services across my homelab, including Docker containers, Home Assistant, network storage, and automated backups. I manage them using different dashboards or by connecting to individual machines whenever I need to check logs. I wanted to see whether a local LLM could provide a single interface for managing...

Edelbert Hellmann
Germany

X product chief Nikita Bier is leaving after one year

X head of product Nikita Bier is stepping down and says he will move into a role as an advisor, writing that "it's time to pass the torch and demote myself to my natural state: a poster." He shared the update just over a month after celebrating his one-year anniversary...

Olivia Miller
Seattle

Two of Ring’s latest video doorbells are a lot cheaper than usual

Both the battery-powered and wired models are over $50 off. | Image: Ring Ring’s Wired Doorbell Pro and Battery Doorbell Plus are two of the brand’s most well-rounded video doorbells, whether you’re looking for a hardwired model or one that runs on a battery. Right now, its Wired Doorbell Pro...