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 of August when I'm drafting this introduction, and a tracker on the LMMarketCap website claims that 29 models were added this past month alone, from more than a dozen different providers.

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 had done was turn off Location Services while poking at something else, and in the background, macOS had decided that I was now in Germany, and as a result, that country's rules now applied to me.

I analyze the various aspects of PC hardware for a living, so I like to assume that I'm at least somewhat shielded from products that provide no value besides aesthetics. So it feels unnatural to confess that the Instagram algorithm successfully proved otherwise. A few weeks ago, it served me Lian Li's 8.8-inch Universal Screen, which, after a cursory glance, I ended up buying.

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.

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 limited time, you can grab this monitor for just $108. That's a pretty solid 28% discount from Amazon, which drops it to its lowest price.

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 on-task. Most of them work, at least to some degree, but I haven't found one that I can stick with for more than a month or two at a time before I go off the rails. That's part of why Finch stands out; it's a mobile app focused on self-care, encouraging users to brush their teeth, take breaks to stretch, etc.

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.

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 it all. I used Ollama to run the model and Open WebUI as the chat interface. I then connected the model to Home Assistant through its MCP server and used self-hosted n8n workflows to handle actions involving Docker, storage, and other machines.

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.

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 where I needed extra adapter cards after my motherboard’s I/O ports proved to be inadequate for my tinkering misadventures.

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 on the job, and just weeks after Elon Musk's combined SpaceX / X / xAI companies went public. He says that "almost every aspect of X" has been rebuilt while he was head of product, including its timeline, Android app, chat, and notifications. Going forward, the "next leaders" mentioned are Benji Taylor leading design with iOS lead Jonah Katz and Mridul Singhai leading the pr …Read the full story at The Verge.

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 is down to $199 ($50 off) at Amazon and Best Buy, while the Battery Doorbell Plus is on sale for $119.99 ($60 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. Both deals are the second-best prices we’ve seen, just $20 shy of their Prime Day lows.Ring Wired Doorbell ProWhere to Buy: $249.99 $199.99 at Amazon $249.99 $199.99 at Best Buy $249.99 $199.99 at RingRing Battery Doorbell Plus (second-gen)Where to Buy: $179.99 $119.99 at Amazon (includes Indoor Cam Plus) $179.99 $119.99 at Best Buy $179.99 $119.99 at RingAside from how they’re powered, the main difference between the two comes down to video quality. The Wired Doorbell Pro records sharper 4K video, and it can automatically respond to visitors with prerecorded messages. The Battery Doorbell Plus has fewer features and can capture video in slightly less sharp 2K resolution. Beyond that, the two doorbells share many of the same core features. Both can provide a head-to-toe view of your doorstep and support motion detection, two-way talk, and support for color night vision. If you’re willing to pay $4.99 for a monthly subscription, you also get more specific alerts for people, packages, and vehicles. Upgrading to the $19.99 Ring Pro plan, meanwhile, grants access to extra AI features like facial recognition and text-based activity summaries, all of which are free for the first month. Both also work well with Amazon Alexa, allowing you to view a live feed on a compatible Echo Show smart display and receive audible announcements when someone rings your doorbell.