Anker remains one of our preferred sources of power banks, USB-C hubs, and other PC and phone peripherals. But beware buying them from Anker itself. You might end up with a $9.99/mo “Plus subscription” that you’ll have to spot and actively cancel. Some of Anker’s slim Nano products ship automatically bundled with the recurring Anker Plus subscription, which promises an extra five percent off of all purchases and benefits like free next-day delivery. That might be acceptable if it were your choice, but it’s not. The subscription is added as a one-time “free” benefit. After that, Anker will charge $9.99 to your credit card per month. Take, for example, the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, USB-C Cable), which Anker sells on its website for $59.99. Anker promises a five percent discount for Plus members, but you have to log in to claim the benefits. There’s no way to decline the benefits before purchasing. Anker’s Plus Member Benefits also show up on the shopping cart page, where the Anker Nano Monthly Plus monthly subscription charge has been waived. But while the buyer is offered the option to remove the power bank by clicking the small garbage can icon, there’s no option to remove the subscription. Some of Anker’s latest “Nano” products include the Plus membership without a way to opt out before purchase.Mark Hachman / Foundry In a popup on Anker’s Anker Nano product page, the company describes the Anker Plus member benefits, which include free next-day and express shipping, an extra five percent off, additional Anker Credits for free rewards, and access to members-only products. Anker Plus is described as a $9.99/mo subscription, with the option to cancel anytime. And that’s true: Inc., which discovered Anker’s tactics, noted that they could instantly cancel the subscription as soon as the customer received their products. Still, there’s no guarantee that every consumer will, and Anker would benefit from a steady drip of $9.99 leaking out of a customer’s credit card on a monthly basis. Anker representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the power bank can be removed, Anker’s Pus subscription can not. Anker isn’t consistent in how it pushes the Anker Plus membership, however. With the $29.99 Anker Nano Power Bank (22.5W, USB-C connector), the company offers a trio of checkboxes. On my screen, the default was “Not a Plus Member,” noting that I would be “missing out on over $500 of savings,” with additional unfilled checkboxes allowing me to sign up for a monthly “Plus membership” for $9.99 per month or an annual membership for $99.99 per year. Neither of those checkboxes were filled, and I could bypass signing up for the membership if I wished to buy it. But an $89.99 Anker Nano Charging Station again pushed the bundled Plus membership, without giving the option to skip it. From what I can see, however, Anker’s dubious bundling practice isn’t replicated elsewhere. We recommended Anker’s USB-C power bank a week or so back, with a reference to Amazon. If you buy it there, Anker doesn’t (can’t?) bundle its subscription. Some of the benefits that Anker’s Plus subscription offers.Mark Hachman / Foundry Those aren’t all of the dubious benefits Anker offers. Anker also offers a “free” tumbler if you spend $89 on Anker Nano products. It has also offered “blind boxes” for several years. The Anker Nano Blind Box costs $65 and basically asks you to gamble on receiving products at different odds. For example, Anker says that you have a 16 percent “win rate” for a Anker Nano Power Bank and Anker Nano Charger (valued at $380.93) or a 33 percent “win rate” for an Anker Nano Charger, Anker Nano Travel Adapter, and USB-C cable worth a combined $103.96. Anker products have performed well in my tests of the best USB-C hubs and my recommended Thunderbolt docks. But if you do buy them, make sure you’re buying them from a third-party retailer, and not Anker itself. In my opinion, signing up for a recurring $9.99 monthly subscription isn’t the bonus that Anker makes it out to be. Anker’s “Blind Box” offers several products for varying “win rates.”Mark Hachman / Foundry Read...

Electric vehicles (EVs) are clearly the future, but what’s available today all feels very samey, and nothing is truly versatile. If you are struggling to get excited about EVs, the FX Super One from Faraday Future could be about to change your mind. More than just an EV, the FX Super One is innovation on wheels. Combining cutting-edge technology, versatility, and affordability, this is a luxury vehicle that completely redefines what an EV can be. If you’re balancing family life and business travel, the FX Super One is built for you. With all the features you need, designed to catch the eye and keep you comfortable, and offering multiple ways to stay connected on the road, this is the EV all busy, eco-conscious drivers have been waiting for. The FX Super One introduces Embodied AI Agent (EAI), a technology that transforms the way drivers interact with vehicles. It’s an integrated smart system that learns your preferences, predicts your needs, and offers real-time recommendations to ensure every drive is smooth, safe, and efficient. Be first to experience the Faraday Future EV revolutionView FX Super One Faraday Future What to expect from the Faraday Future FX Super One The FX Super One features dual-motor all-wheel drive, letting you pick between pure electric or AI Hybrid Extended Range. While the first is fantastic for daily drives and city trips, the latter is perfect for long journeys without the anxiety of how long the battery will last. A triple high-strength cage body structure and side curtain airbags provide 360-degree safety, no matter how far you travel. From voice commands to adaptive route planning, the FX Super One’s smart system ensures the vehicle constantly evolves to meet your expectations.   Faraday Future If the built-in AI didn’t already make the experience feel more personable, the literal face on the front of this EV will. To be more specific, the Super EAI Front AI Communication Ecosystem (F.A.C.E.) includes an LED screen that sits on the front fascia, making this EV one of a kind. You can create your own avatar to display here, which then lets the AI agent express emotions and foster a sense of personality and higher intelligence that is fully in sync with its driver. Inside, the cabin is gorgeous, spacious, and comfortable. It serves as a mobile lounge, with fully adjustable zero-gravity seats available for all FX Super One models. Every journey in this EV offers a space and time for your passengers to recharge, to relax, or even to work. There’s plenty of space here to set up your laptop on a fold-out table, be entertained with media playing on an immersive widescreen with Dolby Atmos surround sound, or even enjoy a refreshing beverage – hot or cold, thanks to a smart all-temperature onboard fridge. Faraday Future How to buy the Faraday Future FX Super One Final pricing has not been confirmed, but Faraday Future promises groundbreaking technology at an accessible price point. You can get early access to the first models off the assembly line when you pay a fully refundable pre-order deposit of $100. The FX Super One will come in six variants, with two powertrain options available with a choice of four-, six- or seven seats. There’s a perfect model for everyone, whether you’re a solo driver or planning family or business travel. The FX Super One isn’t just a vehicle, it’s an experience. Only here will you find a lifestyle upgrade, practicality, and cutting-edge technology, all in one package. Get early access to this smart, spacious MPV built for the future with a fully refundable $100 depositPre-order FX Super One Read...

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Anker remains one of our preferred sources of power banks, USB-C hubs, and other PC and phone peripherals. But beware buying them from Anker itself. You might end up with a $9.99/mo “Plus subscription” that you’ll have to spot and actively cancel. Some of Anker’s slim Nano products ship automatically bundled with the recurring Anker Plus subscription, which promises an extra five percent off of all purchases and benefits like free next-day delivery. That might be acceptable if it were your choice, but it’s not. The subscription is added as a one-time “free” benefit. After that, Anker will charge $9.99 to your credit card per month. Take, for example, the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, USB-C Cable), which Anker sells on its website for $59.99. Anker promises a five percent discount for Plus members, but you have to log in to claim the benefits. There’s no way to decline the benefits before purchasing. Anker’s Plus Member Benefits also show up on the shopping cart page, where the Anker Nano Monthly Plus monthly subscription charge has been waived. But while the buyer is offered the option to remove the power bank by clicking the small garbage can icon, there’s no option to remove the subscription. Some of Anker’s latest “Nano” products include the Plus membership without a way to opt out before purchase.Mark Hachman / Foundry In a popup on Anker’s Anker Nano product page, the company describes the Anker Plus member benefits, which include free next-day and express shipping, an extra five percent off, additional Anker Credits for free rewards, and access to members-only products. Anker Plus is described as a $9.99/mo subscription, with the option to cancel anytime. And that’s true: Inc., which discovered Anker’s tactics, noted that they could instantly cancel the subscription as soon as the customer received their products. Still, there’s no guarantee that every consumer will, and Anker would benefit from a steady drip of $9.99 leaking out of a customer’s credit card on a monthly basis. Anker representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While the power bank can be removed, Anker’s Pus subscription can not. Anker isn’t consistent in how it pushes the Anker Plus membership, however. With the $29.99 Anker Nano Power Bank (22.5W, USB-C connector), the company offers a trio of checkboxes. On my screen, the default was “Not a Plus Member,” noting that I would be “missing out on over $500 of savings,” with additional unfilled checkboxes allowing me to sign up for a monthly “Plus membership” for $9.99 per month or an annual membership for $99.99 per year. Neither of those checkboxes were filled, and I could bypass signing up for the membership if I wished to buy it. But an $89.99 Anker Nano Charging Station again pushed the bundled Plus membership, without giving the option to skip it. From what I can see, however, Anker’s dubious bundling practice isn’t replicated elsewhere. We recommended Anker’s USB-C power bank a week or so back, with a reference to Amazon. If you buy it there, Anker doesn’t (can’t?) bundle its subscription. Some of the benefits that Anker’s Plus subscription offers.Mark Hachman / Foundry Those aren’t all of the dubious benefits Anker offers. Anker also offers a “free” tumbler if you spend $89 on Anker Nano products. It has also offered “blind boxes” for several years. The Anker Nano Blind Box costs $65 and basically asks you to gamble on receiving products at different odds. For example, Anker says that you have a 16 percent “win rate” for a Anker Nano Power Bank and Anker Nano Charger (valued at $380.93) or a 33 percent “win rate” for an Anker Nano Charger, Anker Nano Travel Adapter, and USB-C cable worth a combined $103.96. Anker products have performed well in my tests of the best USB-C hubs and my recommended Thunderbolt docks. But if you do buy them, make sure you’re buying them from a third-party retailer, and not Anker itself. In my opinion, signing up for a recurring $9.99 monthly subscription isn’t the bonus that Anker makes it out to be. Anker’s “Blind Box” offers several products for varying “win rates.”Mark Hachman / Foundry Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Good build quality Fine gaming performance Lots of ports (including Ethernet) Cons Too expensive for the specs Dim display No biometrics for Windows Hello No NPU for AI features Our Verdict The Alienware 16 Aurora is the lowest-end model in Alienware’s laptop lineup. With a lower-end display and a slower CPU, the price just feels too high for this experience. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Alienware 16 Aurora Retailer Price $1,329.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Alienware 16 Aurora is a budget-focused 16-inch gaming laptop. At $1,499, however, the price is just too high: This machine makes many compromises, from the CPU to the display and the surprising lack of any NPU at all. This price is creeping towards the mid-range mark, and you can spend less to get better hardware from a competitor. It’s unfortunate: I reviewed this machine alongside the Alienware 16X Aurora, and that particular mid-range laptop is a great value for the hardware. If you’re looking at this Alienware laptop, I recommend looking at the 16X Aurora instead. Alienware 16 Aurora: Specs The Alienware 16 Aurora is a 16-inch laptop with an Intel Core 7 240H CPU — or an Intel Core 9 270H chip if you spring for the top-end model. However, our review unit had the Core 7 chip. Somewhat confusingly, while these are Intel Core (Series 2) processors, they’re based on the older Raptor Lake architecture. It doesn’t have an NPU, so you won’t get Copilot+ PC features on this machine. Our review unit was a $1,499 model that came with an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, but this machine is also available with RTX 3050, 4050, and 5070 graphics. The RTX 5070 option in particular doesn’t make much sense, as it makes the machine nearly as expensive as Dell’s higher-end Alienware 16X Aurora, which offers an all-around better experience. Our review unit also had 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is the most RAM this machine is available with — Alienware also offers variants with less RAM. The base model starts at $1,149 on Dell’s website at the time of the review, but it includes an older RTX 4050 GPU and only 16 GB of RAM. Model number: AC16250 CPU: Intel Core 7 240H Memory: 32 GB DDR5 RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 NPU: None Display: 2560×1600 IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 720p camera Connectivity: 2x USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), 2x USB Type-A (USB 3.1 Gen 2), 1x HDMI 2.1 out, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x combo audio jack, 1x power in Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: None Battery capacity: 94 Watt-hours Dimensions: 14.05 x 10.45 x 0.89 inches Weight: 5.49 pounds MSRP: $1,499 as tested Naturally, the Alienware 16 Aurora delivered reasonable performance at moderate settings in these games. Alienware 16 Aurora: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Aurora looks like a black laptop from some angles, but the dark blue of its “Interstellar Indigo” color is visible from certain angles. This laptop has a reflective Alienware logo on its lid, but aside from that it could just be a professional workstation laptop. Alienware hasn’t emphasized the traditional gamer aesthetic in this design. This machine has an anodized aluminum lid, but the rest of the body is plastic — for more metal, you’ll have to spend extra on a higher-end gaming laptop. But plastic is fine, and the laptop looks good and feels solid, although it is a little prone to picking up fingerprints. The hinge is easy to open with a single hand and feels solid, and it doesn’t move around as you type or game on the laptop. It’s a well-put-together machine. Alienware 16 Aurora: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Aurora has a full-size chiclet-style keyboard complete with a number pad at the right. The 1.4mm of key travel results in a nice typing experience. It’s reasonably snappy and not mushy as it is on many lower-end laptops. This is a solid keyboard. Dell included a backlight on the keyboard, but it doesn’t have customizable colors — you can use white light, but that’s it. The trackpad here works fine. It’s a reasonably sized trackpad — many laptops have much larger ones, but the size is fine with me. The click-down action feels fine. A nice glass trackpad feels smoother — this is clearly a plastic surface — but it’s still smooth and responsive. Alienware 16 Aurora: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Aurora has a 16-inch 2560×1600 resolution IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 300 nits of brightness. It’s a fine display with a solid resolution and a decent refresh rate, but I wish it was brighter. Whenever I use a gaming laptop with a display that caps out at 300 nits, I always want more brightness. It doesn’t wow, though — the colors aren’t nearly as impressive they can be on a higher-end display in more expensive gaming laptops. It’s reasonable for a budget laptop, but it feels low-end for a $1,499 laptop. This isn’t a touch screen, and it’s not an OLED display either — it has an anti-glare coating that works well, so it’s not a glossy, reflective display. Higher brightness settings are often necessary to overpower glare on glossy displays, but that isn’t the case here. I test every laptop’s speakers by playing Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. The sound quality during Aja was decent, although a little flat — there wasn’t the kind of crisp instrument separation you hear on high-end speakers. Daft Punk’s Get Lucky had a fun sound, even though there wasn’t a ton of underlying bass. Alienware 16 Aurora: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Alienware 16 Aurora has a 720p webcam. The image is pretty grainy and washed out, and that’s no surprise — 720p webcams are low end, and Dell is cutting a corner here to keep the laptop’s price down. It will work if you need to have a video meeting and don’t need a high-resolution image, but that’s about it. And, because there’s no NPU in this machine, you don’t have access to Windows Studio Effects webcam effects on this machine. The dual-array microphone in this machine produces rather muffled audio — this machine wasn’t built with video conferencing in mind, although it offers the basics if you need them. The Alienware 16 Aurora doesn’t have any biometric hardware, so you can’t sign into Windows with your face or a fingerprint. A $1,499 laptop should have biometric support, whether that’s a fingerprint reader or facial recognition. That’s too big a corner to cut at this price point. Alienware 16 Aurora: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Aurora has a great selection of connectivity — it even has an Ethernet port! On the left, you’ll find a USB Type-A port, a combo audio jack, and an Ethernet (RJ-45) jack. On the back, this machine has a second USB Type-A port, two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a power-in port. It’s a great selection of ports, and the only thing missing might be an SD card reader, if you’re looking for that. Aside from that, it’s well laid out — especially with most of the ports being in the back, where it’s easy to plug the power cable and other accessories in so they stay out of your way. This machine has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 hardware, so it’s as future proof as can be with the latest standards. Alienware 16 Aurora: Performance The Alienware 16 Aurora’s cooling system works well. Playing the latest big games like Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 and Doom: The Dark Ages, the fans stayed on the quiet side for a 16-inch gaming laptop — especially a more budget-focused laptop, as quieter fans tend to be reserved for higher-end gaming laptops and less-expensive laptops often go for the “jet engine” sound profile. This laptop blows most of the hot air out of the back, and the keyboard only gets mildly warm. Some hot air comes out of the sides — in a perfect build, it would all go out of the back and away from your mouse hand — but it’s not too bad. Naturally, the Alienware 16 Aurora delivered reasonable performance at moderate settings in these games. As always, though we ran this machine through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs in more detail. IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. With a PCMark 10 overall score of 7,068, this machine comes in noticeably behind the pricier Alienware 16X Aurora. The Intel Core 7 Meteor Lake CPU here can’t keep pace with the higher-end Intel Core Ultra 9 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 chips in the higher-end laptops we’re comparing it to. It’s a lower-end gaming CPU. IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. With a Cinebench R20 multi-threaded score of 6,284, this machine once again comes in behind other laptops. That’s in large part because the Intel Core 7 240H CPU here has 10 cores, while the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX has 24 cores. Most applications don’t benefit from multithreading this much, however, so this isn’t representative of the difference in real-world gaming performance. IDG / Chris Hoffman We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load. The Alienware 16 Aurora took 900 seconds on average to complete the encode. That’s 15 minutes, and it’s significantly slower than other laptops — again, this CPU just doesn’t have as many cores as I’d like to see. IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance, on all the laptops we review. With a 3Dmark Time Spy score of 10,263, the Alienware 16 Aurora came in behind other laptops once again — that’s due to the Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU here. This chart helps illustrate how important the choice of GPU is and how much faster higher-end GPUs can be. After that, we run the benchmarks built into some games. First, we use the benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider to test all the gaming laptops we review. It’s an older game, but it’s a great way to compare GPU performance across different PCs. IDG / Chris Hoffman With an average FPS of 132, the Alienware 16 Aurora delivered fine performance. It was behind other laptops with faster GPUs, but not by much. This older game is seeing diminishing returns from higher-end GPUs. Finally, we run the benchmark in Metro Exodus. This is a more demanding game, and we set the benchmark to 1080p resolution at the Extreme detail setting. IDG / Chris Hoffman With an average FPS of 43 in this high-end Metro Exodus benchmark, the Alienware 16 Aurora offered reasonably playable performance even at these brutal graphical settings. It’s a good example of the solid performance you can get without splurging on a top-tier CPU or GPU these days. Of course, it comes in behind more expensive laptops with higher-end GPUs. Overall, the Alienware 16 Aurora delivered playable performance, but it’s held back by the components compared to higher-end, more expensive gaming laptops. Alienware 16 Aurora: Battery life The Alienware 16 Aurora we received had a large 94 Watt-hour battery, although Dell’s spec sheet said it had a 60 Watt-hour battery — expect that smaller battery on lower-end variants and this larger battery on higher-end ones. It delivered surprisingly good battery life away from an outlet for a gaming laptop, likely thanks to its lower-end CPU. IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode activated and the keyboard backlight turned off until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. The Alienware 16 Aurora lasted 603 minutes on average — that’s just over 10 hours. For a gaming laptop that isn’t particularly focused on battery life, this is quite good! Alienware 16 Aurora: Conclusion The Alienware 16 Aurora doesn’t impress, which is a shame because I reviewed it alongside the Alienware 16X Aurora, and that laptop did impress with the value it delivered. The core problem here is the price — $1,499 is just too high for an experience like this one. It’s a budget experience at a mid-tier price. If this machine had a faster CPU or a more impressive display — ideally both — it would be easy to recommend. For now, you’re probably better off looking somewhere else for a budget gaming laptop — unless Dell is having a big sale on this model. I would recommend you look at the Alienware 16X Aurora if you’re looking for an Alienware laptop, however — that’s much better value for money. Or, if you’re looking for a budget gaming laptop, check out PCWorld’s best gaming laptops list for better values. Read...

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You might already be one of the millions around the world using ChatGPT to help out with mundane tasks and automate menial chores. But ChatGPT is capable of much more than just answers and automations. Indeed, ChatGPT can actually be fun! With some creative prompting, you can use ChatGPT for all kinds of out-of-the-box stuff—social experiments, hypothetical scenarios, product inventions, even simulated chats with fictional characters. If you’re new to ChatGPT, here are some interesting and unusual things to try that might just blow your mind. Disclaimer: ChatGPT is just a predictive language generator and doesn’t actually “think” for itself. It doesn’t “know” what it’s saying and is therefore prone to hallucinations, falsehoods, and nonsense. Always approach ChatGPT’s responses with a degree of skepticism! Run experiments on a fictional town Dave Parrack / Foundry One of the most fascinating things I’ve done with ChatGPT is create a virtual town to conduct experiments on—and you can easily try this out yourself! Just ask ChatGPT to create a fictional town and the AI chatbot will do the rest. You can base it on a real town, specify the population count and/or demographics, and provide as much detail as you want. Once your fictional town exists, you can then run experiments on its population and infrastructure—and it’s up to you how malevolent or benevolent you want to be. Either way, ChatGPT will detail the effects of your experimental actions and you can laugh maniacally at what you’ve inflicted on the (thankfully) non-existent population. Simulate potential outcomes of scenarios Dave Parrack / Foundry Have you ever wondered what the most likely outcome would be if a certain scenario came to pass? Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore. You can simply ask ChatGPT to see what would happen—and it works with real-world scenarios or imaginary ones, with scenarios ranging from serious to silly to morbid to outlandish. For example, I’ve asked ChatGPT things like what would happen if North and South Korea were to reunify and what would happen if (in a plot stolen directly from The Avengers) half of the world’s population were to disappear in an instant. Both responses made for fascinating—though slightly scary—reading. Your imagination is the limit here! Explore historical what-ifs Dave Parrack / Foundry In a similar vein to the above, you can ask ChatGPT to explain what would have likely happened if history played out differently. What if dragons were real creatures in medieval Europe? What if the Roman empire had never collapsed? What if Genghis Khan was never born? One obvious example that I just had to explore was what would life be like now if the Axis powers had beaten the Allies in World War II. Turns out, ChatGPT’s interpretation of what the last 80 years might’ve been like makes for grim reading. Thankfully, more light-hearted scenarios are also on the table, such as what would have happened had Will Smith never slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022. Have some fun with it! Chat with fictional characters Dave Parrack / Foundry Have you ever wanted to have a casual chat with Superman? Or ask Mickey Mouse what it’s like to be such an iconic pop culture character? Well, now you can! Just inform ChatGPT that you want to have a chat with a given fictional character and it will do the rest. You can even specify the type of chat you want and/or what you want to discuss. For example, I had great fun asking Clark Kent about his relationship with Lois Lane and how he copes with leading a double life. I had just as much fun asking Mickey Mouse about his relationship with Walt Disney and what it’s like to have been famous for a century. My colleague Jon Martindale does something similar by using ChatGPT as a kind of virtual counselor, treating it as if it were a person and “talking things out” with the AI chatbot! Play an interactive text adventure Dave Parrack / Foundry I grew up playing text adventures, first in the form of choose-your-own-adventure paperback books where every decision took you to a specific page, and later in the form of computer games. I have a nostalgic itch for these games that I occasionally like to scratch. ChatGPT has made that a lot easier, as it can create a playable text adventure all within the chatbot itself. Simply ask ChatGPT to create one, giving it as much or as little detail as you want. In this example, I didn’t direct ChatGPT at all as far as what the story should be—and I ended up exploring a forest seeking a lost memory. The whole thing was cleverly constructed and left me pondering the nature of identity and how costly it can be to seek knowledge. Generate characters for stories or DnD Dave Parrack / Foundry If you’re ever stumped when creating a character for any kind of medium—whether a short story, a D&D campaign, or freeform roleplaying—then ChatGPT can help. Provide some barebones details about what sort of character you want and what the intended medium is. While ChatGPT is great for one-line prompts, character generation is an area where the more information you provide, the better. You’ll get best results if you define the genre, basic plot, any specific quirks or ideas you might have yourself, plus other factors. After all, you don’t want ChatGPT creating a sci-fi alien raider when you need a love story hunk.When it comes to D&D character generation, you probably have something in mind already, so direct ChatGPT as much as you can. One neat trick here is to provide a fictional character (such as Iron Man) to use as the basis for your new D&D character. Debate two sides of an argument Dave Parrack / Foundry ChatGPT is quite capable at considering both sides of an argument in a logical way, which makes it the perfect tool when you need a third party to mediate an argument—whether that argument is between you and someone else, or just one you’re debating in your own head. As an example, I asked ChatGPT to help me look at both sides of the debate around investing more money in space travel. Some people see humanity reaching out to the stars as the best way forward, while others see it as a waste of money. ChatGPT looked at the pros and cons of each side and ended with a sensible set of conclusions. However, it did end up sitting on the fence a bit, so you may need to push it harder if you want a strong answer one way or the other. Maybe you lean one way and you want ChatGPT to persuade you! Just make sure you don’t threaten ChatGPT because that doesn’t work anymore. Invent new products from text descriptions Dave Parrack / Foundry ChatGPT can serve as a dummy for bouncing ideas off of, which comes in handy when you’re in a creative rut—or when you just want to have some fun. For example, if you’re looking at a product you use on the regular and wondering how it could be improved, just ask ChatGPT to provide some next-gen ideas for it. Going one step further, if you already have an idea for an invention in your head but no idea whether it would work or how to bring it to fruition, ChatGPT can help with that. Just describe the invention you have in your head and it’ll explore the potential of the idea, create a mock visual of it, and even suggest ways to improve upon it. Ask ChatGPT to analyze itself Dave Parrack / Foundry Last but not least, I present the most meta of these creative ways to use ChatGPT—and it’s potentially the most fascinating of the lot. It involves you asking ChatGPT to analyze itself. Who (or what) is it? What does it do and why? Is it likely to be a force for good or bad? Etc. You can ask ChatGPT to delve as deeply as you’re comfortable doing, pushing it to consider philosophical questions about its existence, ethical questions about its capabilities, the long-term sociental impact it could have, and more. The responses might surprise you. Just remember the disclaimer from the start of this article: ChatGPT is a language model and isn’t “sentient” or “self-aware” to any degree. Don’t be fooled into “believing” anything it says about itself. This is just a fun and silly exercise, not a real self-analysis with weight. Further reading: Awesomely practical ways to use ChatGPT Read...

With vacation season upon us, it’s time to figure out what to pack for your trip. Limited tech time is great in theory, but you still need a few things to make your life easier, whether it’s gear for the car, accessories that help you connect to your entertainment, or gadgets for backing up all your pics. Here at PCWorld we’re always testing the latest gadgets to sort the good from the don’t-bother. In the process, we’ve come across a lot of tech gear that’s built for travel. Here we’ve curated a list of the gear that we believe is worthy of any packing list and sure to help prepare you for anything you may encounter on the road—or in the sky. Happy travels! Manage electrical needs with a voltage converter BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V Bestek, Mapambo When you’re traveling from the U.S. to Europe, for instance, you don’t just need a different type of plug for your chargers and gadgets, but also a voltage converter because Europe runs on different settings. The Bestek Universal Travel Adapter will convert 220V outlets to U.S.-standard 110V, thus ensuring that your devices don’t burn out. It’s not only affordable, but it has three AC outlets and four USB ports. Plus, the product comes with a couple of extra plug adapters. If a more compact version is all you need, then the Mapambo converter will work just fine with one AC plug, two type-C, and two type-A ports. The Baseus Enercore CG11 is also a fantastic pick, as it’s suitable for use anywhere in the world, with slide-out plugs for the USA, EU, and UK. There are also two ports — one USB-C and one USB-A — as well as a USB-C retractable cable. Buy the BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter at Amazon Buy the Mapambo 220V to 110V Voltage Converter at Amazon Buy the Baseus Enercore CG11 Take control of tangled cords Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Keychain Charger Cable Rolling Square If you’re like most travelers, you bring multiple electronics to make the most of your experience—we’re talking camera, phone, laptop, headphones, etc. But along with all of these items, you’ll need to carry all of their charging cables. That can take up space and lead to a tangled web of cords in your bag if you’re not careful. With the Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Charger Cable on Amazon, you have the option of USB-C or USB-A inputs and Micro USB or USB-C outputs all in a cable that is small enough for your keychain. Buy the Rolling Square Portable Charger Cable at Amazon Or get a retractable cable Baseus USB-C Retractable Cable Baseus If you’d rather have a simpler cable, then this one from Baseus will do the trick. The retractable design ensures it’s going to be safe in your luggage, preventing any type of tangling issues and considerably lowering the chances of your cable breaking. You can get this one in two length versions—3.3ft and 6.6ft— and you can pay as little as $10 on the shorter one if it’s on sale. Buy the Baseus retractable USB-C cable at Amazon Keep your devices charged with a portable power bank Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank with wall charger Anker Traveling is always fun, but ending up with a depleted phone battery in an unknown place can be terrifying. This Anker Prime power bank takes up two roles in one. On one hand, it can plug into a wall outlet and give you the recharge you need while you’re at your hotel, for instance, but it can also act as a power bank when you’re out and about exploring. 10,000mAh is enough to charge your phone twice over (or close to that). There are three ports on this Anker hybrid charger, two of which are type-C that can reach 65W charging. It’s available for $110, but you can often find it closer to $70 when on sale. Buy the Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 Charger at Amazon Make that hotel outlet actually useful Anker Prime 6-in-1 charging station Anker One of the main issues we all have when traveling is that it’s tough to find multiple outlets in your hotel room. You’ll get one by the bedside table and another that’s taken up by the TV. Well, this compact power strip from Anker makes good use of that outlet and turns it into six. You get two AC outlets, two USB-A and two USB-C ports and a maximum output of 140W via those type-C ports. That’s just about perfect for laptops, smartphones and whatever else you have on you. The cool part is that the power strip is flat and the power cord detaches, so it’s ideal for your tight-packed luggage. Buy the Anker Prime 6-in-1 power strip at Amazon Never lose your valuables again Apple AirTag, Tile Pro, Samsung SmartThings, Tile Slim Apple, Tile, Samsung We’ve all been there. You arrive at your destination and you’re waiting for your checked bag to show up on the carousel, but it never does. Baggage handling is at it again. With a Bluetooth tracker you can easily keep tabs on where your bag is and maybe even help TSA locate it, should it be lost. There are quite a few Bluetooth trackers on the market that you can get. Apple users should look into the AirTag, while Android users can choose Samsung’s SmartTag2. Anyone can go for the Tile Pro. If you’re more worried about your wallet, Tile’s Slim tracker will fit inside it neatly. These are all around $30 a piece, but you can quite often get them for less or in bundles, thus lowering the price even more. If you want an AirTag alternative, the Ugreen FineTrack is a fraction of the price and often on sale. Buy the Apple AirTag at Amazon Buy the Ugreen FineTrack Buy the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 at Amazon Buy the Tile Pro at Amazon Buy the TIle Slim at Amazon Enjoy an in-flight movie without annoying headphone cables Twelve South AirFly Pro or Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver Ugreen, Twelve South Twelve South’s AirFly Pro Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter for $54.99 on Amazon (although it’s frequently on sale) allows you to turn any audio jack into a wireless Bluetooth transmitter. Simply plug in the device to the headphone jack on the back of the airplane seat and connect your wireless headphones. Then sit back and relax while you enjoy the in-flight entertainment on your sweet noise-canceling headphones. Alternatively, you can also go for the more affordable Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver, which is $36.99 but often drops below $30. Either will allow you to connect up to two earbuds or headphones. Buy the Twelve South AirFly Pro at Amazon Buy the Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver at Amazon Drown out noise with noise-canceling earbuds AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 Apple, Bose Flying on an airplane is loud. Engines roar, babies cry, passengers snore. That’s why you need noise-canceling headphones, which have become essential tools in making your flight as easy as possible. And because you’re traveling and bag space is a premium, your headphones need to be small. Not just for iPhone users, but for anyone who needs good headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 for $225.00 on Amazon continue to be the best choice due to their convenient size and noise-canceling capability. If you’re an Android user, you may want to look into the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which deliver something our buddies at TechAdvisor have called “astonishing noise cancellation” on top of superb sound quality and a secure fit. Get the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) at Amazon Buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 at Amazon Or get some noise-canceling headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max Apple, Sony If earbuds aren’t for you, then perhaps a pair of proper headphones will do the trick. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are easily some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there (as our friends at TechAdvisor attested with a 5-star review), delivering phenomenal audio and a comfortable build. Apple fans may want to look into the AirPods Max that are also known for what our friends at MacWorld call “industry leading active noise canceling”. Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 at Amazon Buy the Apple AirPods Max at Amazon Capture and print your favorite memories Fuji Instax Mini 12 instant camera Fujifilm Sure, you could bring a giant SLR camera with multiple lenses and an extra special carry-on bag to store everything. Or for those who aren’t professionals, you can opt for a small, retro instant camera such as the Fuji Instax Mini 12 for $143.95 on Amazon. Just like an old-school Polaroid, you can take a picture and instantly print it out to capture the moment. Just be aware that you’ll need to purchase and carry the film separately. Buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 at Amazon Keep your wires from getting crossed Bellroy Tech Kit Bellroy Bellroy is known for making great tech cases and kits, and the Bellroy Tech Kit for $59 on Amazon is our favorite. This well-designed, travel-friendly bag allows you to keep all of your cables and small peripherals stored and organized with ease. The folio style means that you can open the entire kit out flat for easy access to everything stored inside. Plus, the fabric is waterproof so you shouldn’t have to worry about a little liquid spilling on your precious gear. Buy the Bellroy Tech Kit at Amazon Game in-route to your destination Steam Deck, Switch OLED, or Backbone One Backbone, Nintendo, Valve The Steam Deck for $399 on the Steam store is a great handheld gaming system that allows you to play your favorite PC games on the go. It wasn’t so long ago that the Steam Deck was sold out everywhere and people were clamoring to get one. Thankfully, Valve has increased its supply and it’s easier than ever to get your hands on this excellent gaming portable. Play games from your Steam library on the go or load up on new titles for your next vacation. Gaming makes those long-haul flights a breeze. If you’d rather go for a different platform, the Switch OLED is an absolutely fantastic gaming console. And yes, we know the Switch 2 is en route, but good luck getting your hands on one of those anytime soon. If you’d rather just play on your phone, but have an upgraded experience, the Backbone One will mold to your phone, whether that’s an Android or iPhone model, and will help you play anything you want, including titles in your Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam libraries. Buy the Steam Deck at Steam Store Buy the Nintedo Switch OLED at Amazon Buy the Backbone One at Amazon Keep your hands and wrists happy while typing Logitech MX Keys Mini Logitech Laptop keyboards are cramped and can lead to some serious wrist pain if you type on them for long enough. Save yourself the carpal tunnel and grab a wireless keyboard like the Logitech MX Keys Mini. This compact keyboard is not only easy to travel with, but offers convenient features such as a semi-customizable layout, multi-device switching, and more. And the most important part is that it offers a great typing experience with comfortable and quiet keys that won’t bother your fellow travelers. The MX Keys Mini is currently $99.99 on Amazon. Buy the Logitech MX Keys Mini at Amazon Carry a library everywhere you go Kindle Paperwhite Amazon Books are a great thing to have around on vacation, but they’re heavy and they take up precious space in your luggage. Instead opt for an e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite for $159.99 on Amazon and bring an entire library worth of books in this lightweight tablet. Plus the Paperwhite version comes with an anti-glare screen and adjustable brightness settings, making it perfect for a bright beach or dark airplane. Not sure which Kindle to buy? Check out our handy Kindle buying guide to help you make the right choice. Buy the Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon Grab a mobile hotspot to stay in range of Wi-Fi range Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot Solis Those who travel a lot know that Wi-Fi is essential. From being able to work online while on the road or just looking up restaurant recommendations in another country, it’s an invaluable tool to get the most out of your travel experience. There are quite a few services nowadays offering pocket Wi-Fi for travelers, but Solis is one of the best with reliable global coverage across 135 countries. Plus, it has flexible plans depending upon your needs. You’ll need to purchase the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot for $159.99 on Amazon before registering for a Wi-Fi plan, but it’s only a one-time fee and you can then use it on all of your future trips. Buy the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot at Amazon Safe surfing NordVPN  Pexels: Stefan Coders If you’re going to travel anywhere, connecting to shady Wi-Fi networks, you absolutely need to have a VPN on your device. We’ve tested what feels like a million of them and recommend you go for NordVPN, which we found to be the best overall. There are tons of configuration options if you want to deep-dive, but you can also just take the easy route and press a single button every time. It even comes with a built-in antivirus and password manager, so you have a three 3-in-1 solution. Get NordVPN Never worry about safe tap water again Philips Water GoZero self-cleaning water bottle Philips No matter if you’re traveling to a new city or going camping, making sure that you have access to clean and potable water is a necessity. The Philips Water GoZero bottles bring in some smart technology to ensure the water is safe to drink. Available for $73.89 at Amazon (or lower when on sale), the bottle uses UV technology to eliminate up to 99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.9 percent of viruses in just a few minutes. Even when empty, the cap can disinfect your bottle and remove odors. Made out of stainless steel and double-walled, the bottle won’t just purify your water, it will also keep your drinks hot for up to 12 hours or cold for 24 hours. Buy the Philips Water GoZero water bottle at Amazon Mount your smartphone on anything Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount Perilogics This Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount for $13.97 on Amazon allows you to easily clip your phone onto an airplane seat for hands-free convenience. Maybe you loaded up that latest season of your favorite show or have a game to occupy that long-haul flight. Either way, holding your phone with a craned neck for hours and hours is bound to give you a strain. Just hook this bad boy up to the back of the seat in front of you on the airplane then sit back, relax, and enjoy. Buy the Universal in flight phone holder at Amazon Travel with an ultraportable laptop Asus ZenBook S 14 Thomas Rau If you’re going to get a super-light laptop, the Zenbook S 14 is a fantastic pick because it weighs just 2.65 pounds, which makes sit lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air. We gave this one a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating the fantastic battery life and lovely large OLED screen. Plus, the laptop has an Ultra 7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You can also check out our other best ultraportables or our best laptop roundup for even more options. Buy the Asus ZenBook S 14 at Best Buy Or opt for a 2-in-1 for even more versatility HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 IDG / Josh Hendrickson If you want a more versatile laptop, then a 2-in-1 model will do, like our very favorite HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. The 360-degree hinge will make it easy for you to turn this laptop into a tablet and into a Netflix-watching tent in a blink. The 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch display is absolutely gorgeous and the 500 nits make it perfect to use everywhere you go. Buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 at Amazon Increase your screen real-estate with a travel monitor Azorpa A1 Gamut Matt Smith Sometimes you just need a second monitor, even when you’re traveling. The extra screen really helps productivity for business travelers and it makes for a great way to play your portable games on a larger screen while on the road. We really like the Azorpa A1 Gamut which delivers good image quality for an extremely budget friendly price—the A1 Gamut is usually about $70 on Amazon. It also comes with useful connectivity options and a solid build quality that will stand up to the rigors of travel.  Buy the Arzopa A1 at Amazon Grab some extra storage Crucial X9 Pro IDG If you plan on taking about a million pictures and videos and you want to have a safe way to back them up without relying on random hotel Wi-Fi, then you can also grab a portable SSD. The Crucial X9 Pro is the best external SSD for most folks because it’s not only affordable but also super fast. We gave the X9 Pro a near-perfect score and our Editors’ Choice award, utterly impressed with the 10Gbps performance and the small form factor. Buy the Crucial X9 Pro at Amazon Back up your pics Ugreen USB-C Ugreen This absolutely tiny USB-C card reader is the perfect way to back up some of those pics you took on vacation without relying on hotel Wi-Fi or your limited data. If your phone doesn’t have a microSD card, a card combined with this tiny reader makes a great external storage option. Or, if you’re using a camera with a microSD card, you can back up the pics to your laptop to free up space. It doesn’t hurt that it’s super affordable. Buy the Ugreen USB-C microSD at Amazon Stream content in your hotel room Amazon Fire TV Stick HD Amazon If you’re going to travel, you may as well keep up with your shows. The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD makes it super easy to bring all your favorite shows with you anywhere you go. You’ll just need to pop this thing in the TV, connect it to the hotel’s Wi-Fi (or the hotspot you set up), and just have fun. It’s also super affordable, available for $35 (although it’s frequently on sale for $20 or less). Buy now at Amazon Upgrade your car’s entertainment system Carlinkit 5.0 Carlinkit If your car’s entertainment system still requires you plug in your phone, then we have a nifty solution for you. This Carlinkit 5.0 dongle plugs into your car and allows you to wirelessly connect to it whenever you get in your car. In this way, you’re saving time and it’s so much more convenient. The Carlinkit 5.0 works with both CarPlay and Android Auto, so it doesn’t matter what type of phone you use. Buy the Carlinkit Android Auto & Carplay adapter at Amazon Read...

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