The bright spotlight’s focused beam improves the quality of video captured at night while scaring off unwanted visitors. | Image: Baseus Baseus announced a new addition to its lineup of AI-assisted security cameras that's more proactive about discouraging unwanted visitors instead of just recording and alerting you to their presence. The Baseus Security PrimeSentinel U2 Pro Outdoor 3K Dual Camera introduces a motorized spotlight that shines directly on a moving target, even as they're running across your property, so they know they've been detected. The targeted light also improves the quality of video captured in the dark to increase the chances of a subject being identified, and it can assist your family with after-hours activities like taking the dog out.The Baseus U2 Pr …Read the full story at The Verge.

The problem with set-and-forget devices is that you can, well, set them and then forget about them. It's good in terms of keeping it out of mind, but people can sometimes forget that their device still needs regular updates to stay secure. That's what's happening with Plex, as hackers are distributing Plex2Shell to devices that haven't been updated since August.

One of my favorite aspects of the self-hosting ecosystem is that there are dozens of ways to deploy FOSS tools. I started my journey down this rabbit hole with a Raspberry Pi ages ago, but combining Docker with an old PC is even more effective for newcomers. Or, you could pivot into old servers and arm them with Proxmox, provided you’re willing to contend with their abnormally high energy consumption.

As storage costs rise, buying a new drive or two and adding them to a server is less convenient than it used to be. I've learned that over the years, as my media collection grows, this has become more of a problem. I've been in a storage pinch and even revived an old server with OpenMediaVault to add media storage for Jellyfin.

Wireless headphones and soundbars have come a long way, but audiophiles still swear by wired speakers. You're probably familiar with your motherboard's pink, green, and blue (possibly others) audio jacks even if you've never plugged in a wired speaker. These jacks have been color-coded the same way on most motherboards for almost three decades, all because of a design guide dating back to 1999.

Google says a fix is rolling out that should solve the issue. | Photo: Jennifer Patison Tuohy / The Verge Some Google Home Speaker owners are currently experiencing an issue in which hundreds of gigabytes of data are being continuously downloaded to their device in the background. The bug, reported by 9to5Google and several Reddit users over the last week, may be caused by the speakers failing to correctly download and install a firmware update, with one Redditor finding that his device was consuming more than 200GB per day.Thankfully, Google is aware of the issue. In a statement to 9to5Google, the company said that "a fix is already rolling out that should address this for users." Most of the reports are tied specifically to the new Google Ho …Read the full story at The Verge.

Whenever you run into problems with Windows 11, it's usually time to start diving into all the possible causes. One of the ways to do that, and one we've recommended quite often here at XDA, is to use Event Viewer to find possible errors that led to a crash or blue screen.

I'm deep into the smart home rabbit hole and have spent a lot of time building dashboards and even a wall-mounted control center. When it came time to get a similar setup for my desktop, I had a couple of options. I could pick up a Google Nest Hub or even a tablet and just plonk it on my desk, but that doesn't really serve the purpose. I wanted a convenient way to control my smart home without constantly shuffling through apps, nor did I want a full-fledged streaming app. The goal was to reduce friction, not add another point to the mix. So, I took the unconventional approach.

President Donald Trump announced this afternoon that Elon Musk's SpaceX shares for children will be given through Trump Accounts. Musk said earlier today that he would give one of his SpaceX shares to "every kid in America" sometime next year. Musk had thanked Trump Account booster Brad Gerstner for "helping enable this," and Trump appeared to confirm the plan in a post on Truth Social.Given the value of SpaceX's stock on Friday, 72 million shares would be worth approximately $10.5 billion, according to CNBC. "This will be the first of many," Musk said.Michael and Susan Dell, Ray and Barbara Dalio, Gerstner, and SpaceX president Gwynne …Read the full story at The Verge.

The ASUS L410 laptop isn't going to be for everyone. However, if you need something super simple that's just for the basics, this laptop might be what you're looking for. It has a retail price of $250, but can now be had for just $100 when you buy it directly from ASUS. We don't know about you, but with that kind of discount, it's worth taking a look.

Spotify is enabling podcast creators to earn more money through the platform by providing their fans with a way to pay to access exclusive content. First announced in May, the new Memberships subscription feature is starting to roll out in 34 regions today, allowing podcasters to offer perks including additional content, early access, bonus episodes, and reduced ads behind a paywall.Users can find Memberships on a podcast's Spotify page, with the ability to subscribe, pay, and access the exclusive benefits "in just a few taps," according to Spotify. Podcast creators can set their pricing options and bundle benefits across multiple subscrip …Read the full story at The Verge.

How long has it been since you used your Xbox Series X? If it's been a while, Microsoft would really like it if you'd sell it to Best Buy. The company has been sending out emails to people who haven't booted up their console in a while, asking them if they'd like to trade it in at their local Best Buy for up to $375 in gift cards.