ChatGPT is rapidly changing the world. The process is already happening, and it’s only going to accelerate as the technology improves, as more people gain access to it, and as more learn how to use it. What’s shocking is just how many tasks ChatGPT is already capable of managing for you. While the naysayers may still look down their noses at the potential of AI assistants, I’ve been using it to handle all kinds of menial tasks for me. Here are my favorite examples. Write your emails for you Dave Parrack / Foundry We’ve all been faced with the tricky task of writing an email—whether personal or professional—but not knowing quite how to word it. ChatGPT can do the heavy lifting for you, penning the (hopefully) perfect email based on whatever information you feed it. Let’s assume the email you need to write is of a professional nature, and wording it poorly could negatively affect your career. By directing ChatGPT to write the email with a particular structure, content, and tone of voice, you can give yourself a huge head start. A winning tip for this is to never accept ChatGPT’s first attempt. Always read through it and look for areas of improvement, then request tweaks to ensure you get the best possible email. You can (and should) also rewrite the email in your own voice. Learn more about how ChatGPT coached my colleague to write better emails. Generate itineraries and schedules Dave Parrack / Foundry If you’re going on a trip but you’re the type of person who hates planning trips, then you should utilize ChatGPT’s ability to generate trip itineraries. The results can be customized to the nth degree depending on how much detail and instruction you’re willing to provide. As someone who likes to get away at least once a year but also wants to make the most of every trip, leaning on ChatGPT for an itinerary is essential for me. I’ll provide the location and the kinds of things I want to see and do, then let it handle the rest. Instead of spending days researching everything myself, ChatGPT does 80 percent of it for me. As with all of these tasks, you don’t need to accept ChatGPT’s first effort. Use different prompts to force the AI chatbot to shape the itinerary closer to what you want. You’d be surprised at how many cool ideas you’ll encounter this way—simply nix the ones you don’t like. Break down difficult concepts Dave Parrack / Foundry One of the best tasks to assign to ChatGPT is the explanation of difficult concepts. Ask ChatGPT to explain any concept you can think of and it will deliver more often than not. You can tailor the level of explanation you need, and even have it include visual elements. Let’s say, for example, that a higher-up at work regularly lectures everyone about the importance of networking. But maybe they never go into detail about what they mean, just constantly pushing the why without explaining the what. Well, just ask ChatGPT to explain networking! Okay, most of us know what “networking” is and the concept isn’t very hard to grasp. But you can do this with anything. Ask ChatGPT to explain augmented reality, multi-threaded processing, blockchain, large language models, what have you. It will provide you with a clear and simple breakdown, maybe even with analogies and images. Analyze and make tough decisions Dave Parrack / Foundry We all face tough decisions every so often. The next time you find yourself wrestling with a particularly tough one—and you just can’t decide one way or the other—try asking ChatGPT for guidance and advice. It may sound strange to trust any kind of decision to artificial intelligence, let alone an important one that has you stumped, but doing so actually makes a lot of sense. While human judgment can be clouded by emotions, AI can set that aside and prioritize logic. It should go without saying: you don’t have to accept ChatGPT’s answers. Use the AI to weigh the pros and cons, to help you understand what’s most important to you, and to suggest a direction. Who knows? If you find yourself not liking the answer given, that in itself might clarify what you actually want—and the right answer for you. This is the kind of stuff ChatGPT can do to improve your life. Plan complex projects and strategies Dave Parrack / Foundry Most jobs come with some level of project planning and management. Even I, as a freelance writer, need to plan tasks to get projects completed on time. And that’s where ChatGPT can prove invaluable, breaking projects up into smaller, more manageable parts. ChatGPT needs to know the nature of the project, the end goal, any constraints you may have, and what you have done so far. With that information, it can then break the project up with a step-by-step plan, and break it down further into phases (if required). If ChatGPT doesn’t initially split your project up in a way that suits you, try again. Change up the prompts and make the AI chatbot tune in to exactly what you’re looking for. It takes a bit of back and forth, but it can shorten your planning time from hours to mere minutes. Compile research notes Dave Parrack / Foundry If you need to research a given topic of interest, ChatGPT can save you the hassle of compiling that research. For example, ahead of a trip to Croatia, I wanted to know more about the Croatian War of Independence, so I asked ChatGPT to provide me with a brief summary of the conflict with bullet points to help me understand how it happened. After absorbing all that information, I asked ChatGPT to add a timeline of the major events, further helping me to understand how the conflict played out. ChatGPT then offered to provide me with battle maps and/or summaries, plus profiles of the main players. You can go even deeper with ChatGPT’s Deep Research feature, which is now available to free users, up to 5 Deep Research tasks per month. With Deep Research, ChatGPT conducts multi-step research to generate comprehensive reports (with citations!) based on large amounts of information across the internet. A Deep Research task can take up to 30 minutes to complete, but it’ll save you hours or even days. Summarize articles, meetings, and more Dave Parrack / Foundry There are only so many hours in the day, yet so many new articles published on the web day in and day out. When you come across extra-long reads, it can be helpful to run them through ChatGPT for a quick summary. Then, if the summary is lacking in any way, you can go back and plow through the article proper. As an example, I ran one of my own PCWorld articles (where I compared Bluesky and Threads as alternatives to X) through ChatGPT, which provided a brief summary of my points and broke down the best X alternative based on my reasons given. Interestingly, it also pulled elements from other articles. (Hmph.) If you don’t want that, you can tell ChatGPT to limit its summary to the contents of the link. This is a great trick to use for other long-form, text-heavy content that you just don’t have the time to crunch through. Think transcripts for interviews, lectures, videos, and Zoom meetings. The only caveat is to never share private details with ChatGPT, like company-specific data that’s protected by NDAs and the like. Create Q&A flashcards for learning Dave Parrack / Foundry Flashcards can be extremely useful for drilling a lot of information into your brain, such as when studying for an exam, onboarding in a new role, prepping for an interview, etc. And with ChatGPT, you no longer have to painstakingly create those flashcards yourself. All you have to do is tell the AI the details of what you’re studying. You can specify the format (such as Q&A or multiple choice), as well as various other elements. You can also choose to keep things broad or target specific sub-topics or concepts you want to focus on. You can even upload your own notes for ChatGPT to reference. You can also use Google’s NotebookLM app in a similar way. Provide interview practice Dave Parrack / Foundry Whether you’re a first-time jobseeker or have plenty of experience under your belt, it’s always a good idea to practice for your interviews when making career moves. Years ago, you might’ve had to ask a friend or family member to act as your mock interviewer. These days, ChatGPT can do it for you—and do it more effectively. Inform ChatGPT of the job title, industry, and level of position you’re interviewing for, what kind of interview it’ll be (e.g., screener, technical assessment, group/panel, one-on-one with CEO), and anything else you want it to take into consideration. ChatGPT will then conduct a mock interview with you, providing feedback along the way. When I tried this out myself, I was shocked by how capable ChatGPT can be at pretending to be a human in this context. And the feedback it provides for each answer you give is invaluable for knocking off your rough edges and improving your chances of success when you’re interviewed by a real hiring manager. Further reading: 9 creative ways to use ChatGPT that you probably haven’t tried yet Read...

The term hard drive refers to the actual storage medium — either in the classic sense with rotating magnetic discs (HDD) or as a modern SSD with flash memory. The term drive refers to the electronics and technology that handle reading and writing on these storage devices. In practice, both are usually combined in one device. Even SSDs without mechanical parts are still referred to as “drives.” Partitions are logical subdivisions of a data carrier. They organize the memory, but are initially empty and unusable. Only when a partition is formatted and assigned a file system does it become a volume. This appears in the operating system as an independent drive with a letter such as “C:” or “D:.” A hard drive can contain multiple partitions and, therefore, multiple volumes. You’ll often encounter storage-related terms—like in Windows Disk Management, where you can view both drives and their partitions.IDG Virtual hard disks, such as those used in virtualization programs like VirtualBox or VMware, are files that behave like real data carriers. Virtual partitions are also possible, for example, when several physical areas are combined into one logical storage. This technology is often used in Linux. An image is a complete copy of a volume — including all data, file systems, and boot information. Images are used to back up or restore a system. To access an image, it must be mounted with special software. macOS uses so-called containers with the APFS file system. These containers hold multiple volumes that dynamically share storage space, offering more flexibility than classic partitions, whose sizes are fixed. Containers allow for more efficient use of available memory. In short: hard disks and drives refer to physical components, while partitions and volumes are logical units for organizing the storage. Images are used for backup, and containers enable flexible storage management. Making a clear distinction between the terms helps you work more precisely and protect data more effectively. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Powerful processor with AI functions Many USB ports Two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports Up to four 8K monitors can be connected Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Cons Revs up abruptly and gets loud Second SSD only possible as M.2-2230 Our Verdict The sleek metal Geekom A9 Max, powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with Zen 5, handles everyday tasks and Windows 11 AI features effortlessly, and with its multiple connections and four-monitor support, offers a compelling alternative to bulky desktop PCs. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Geekom A9 Max Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Desktop PCs have been under my desk for almost 30 years. Early last year, after issues with the Intel Core i9-14900KF, the CSL VenomBox was my first mini PC, and I haven’t regretted it. As I want to stay up-to-date with AI, I needed a suitable mini PC. I chose the Geekom A9 Max with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, which is a moderate performance upgrade over the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS in the CSL VenomBox, while also providing the necessary AI support and updated connectivity. Geekom A9 Max: Specs Dimensions: 135 × 132 × 46.9 mm (W × D × H) Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 GPU: AMD Radeon 890M Memory: 2 × 16 GB Wodposit Dual-Channel DDR5 5600MHz Internal storage: Lexar LNQ7A1X002T, M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 ×4 NVMe SSD SSD upgradeability: 1 × M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 ×4 NVMe, up to 4 TB Rear connections: 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt-Mode / PD-In, 1 × USB 4.0 Type-C DP-Alt-Mode, 2 × Ethernet RJ45 2.5 Gbit/s, 2 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 × DC-In Front connections: 3 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Always On, 1 × 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1 × SD card reader 4.0 Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11 24H2 (64-bit) Accessories: VESA mount (121.8 × 116.5 × 1.0 mm) The Geekom A9 Max is a good choice for users seeking AI functions and above-average performance. Geekom A9 Max: Design and features The A9 Max mini PC, which has only been available for a few weeks, was unveiled at CES earlier this year. Geekom packs the hardware into an attractively designed metal housing that’s supposed to withstand up to 200 kilograms of pressure. We haven’t tested this claim, but we can attest to the high stability of the housing. Christoph Hoffmann With dimensions of 135 x 132 x 46.9 millimeters, the A9 Max fits easily on any desk. It can also be attached to the back of a monitor using a VESA mount, which doesn’t make sense with my setup with three 27-inch monitors on a single rail. As is typical for a mini PC, there are connections available on the front and rear, although the computer’s orientation on the desk doesn’t really matter. The front is marked by the on/off switch. Geekom hasn’t been stingy with ports and leaves nothing to be desired: supporting up to four monitors with 8K, there are two USB4 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 each, plus two HDMI 2.1 ports. Christoph Hoffmann One highlight is the two 2.5 Gbit Ethernet ports, which become useful when paired with a compatible router or switch and a NAS, such as the Ugreen DX4800 Plus (more on this later). Christoph Hoffmann There are also additional USB ports, totaling eight in various versions–from USB 2.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 to USB 4.0 Type-C. This setup also allows storage devices to be connected at high speed. Geekom A9 Max: Processor, GPU, RAM, and SSD At the heart of the Geekom A9 Max is the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a high-end processor from the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, developed for both laptops and desktops. It has 12 cores (4 × Zen 5 and 8 × Zen 5c) and supports up to 24 threads thanks to SMT. AMD’s Radeon 890M graphics and an integrated AI engine deliver up to 80 TOPS in total, 50 TOPS of which come via the NPU, meaning the CPU is specifically designed for AI applications and acceleration. The system in includes 32 GB of DDR5 RAM (5,600 MT/s) in two 16 GB modules. A single 32 GB module would have been more favorable for a future upgrade to 64 GB, since both modules would otherwise need to be replaced. The manufacturer is Wodposit Technology from Shenzhen, China–little is known about the company itself, but it has been a hardware partner of Geekom for some time. Christoph Hoffmann The NVMe SSD installed in our A9 Max has a 2 TB capacity and comes from Lexar, labeled LNQ7A1X002T. It’s also possible that SSDs from other manufacturers are used in other A9 units. Christoph Hoffmann There is a short M.2 interface (M.2-2230) for an additional SSD, though the choice of compatible drives is limited. For our upgrade, we opted for the Crucial P310 SSD 2 TB M.2. Geekom A9 Max: Windows 11 version 24H2 comes pre-installed The A9 Max comes with a hardware-bound license for Windows 11. When booting the mini PC for the first time, the Windows installation begins, the Windows installation begins and takes around 50 minutes. Updates are loaded during the set-up, but Windows offers further updates later on. In our test setup, a 27-inch Dell monitor is connected to the A9 Max, along with a wired Cherry keyboard and a Microsoft mouse with dongle. The mini PC is connected to the network via an Ethernet cable to the 2.5 Gbit/s BrosTrend 8X switch. We won’t go into further detail about Windows, but we observed that many of the operating system’s AI features are supported. Geekom A9 Max: Performance Given the strong hardware for a mini PC in this price range, we were eager to see the performance test results. We used the PCMark 10 benchmark test to evaluate actual performance, which provides realistic values by running everyday tasks sequentially. Scoring 7,976, the A9 easily lands in the top shirt. For comparison, the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED with its Ryzen 7 7730U processor scores a total of 6,722 points. This shows just how the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 stacks up against Qualcomm and Intel CPUs. Christoph Hoffmann The Geekom A9 Max scores 3,279 points in 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light benchmark, placing it in the “good” range and slightly above average. It also performs solidly in the Time Spy benchmark, with 3,701 points. Christoph Hoffmann The M.2 NVMe SSD from Lexar delivers a read speed of 6,242 MB/s and a write speed of 5,423 MB/s in the Crystal Disk Mark benchmark. This is an above average value for a PCIe 4.0 SSD. By comparison, the retrofitted Crucial P310 SSD 2 TB achieves even higher speeds, with 7,000 read and 4,614 MB/s write. Christoph Hoffmann Another point of interest is the dual Ethernet setup with 2 x 2.5 Gbit/s ports. In short, there’s no speed boost form using a single LAN port; the main advantage is the ability to connect to two wired networks in parallel. Regarding speed, we connected the A9 Max to the network using two category eight network cables and used Windows File Explorer to copy a video file of nearly 5.8 GB to and from the Ugreen NAS DX4800 Plus, which also has two 2.5 Gbit/s ports. The average bandwidth was 278 MB/s, whether one or both Ethernet ports were connected. The NAS Performance Tester produced similar results, recording average speeds of 276.04 MB/s for reading and 289.09 MB/s for writing. Christoph Hoffmann Geekom A9 Max: Conclusion The Geekom A9 Max is a good choice for users seeking AI functions and above-average performance. With its comprehensive features and multi-monitor support, the mini PC is well-suited for office use and also appeals to developers and graphic designers. Geekom’s pricing policy, however, is somewhat unfortunate. In the U.S., the A9 Max is currently goes for $999, which is down from its original $1,199. That’s not a bad discount right there, but you may see the price fluctuate due to the occasional promotion on Geekom’s website. Read...

YouTube is being overrun with AI slop. And it probably doesn’t help that YouTube itself, and owner Google, is where a lot of it is coming from. The latest questionable decision from the operator of the web’s de facto home for video? Using AI-powered tools to “enhance” videos, without telling anyone—including the creators who made said videos. YouTube viewers and video producers like Rhett Shull have noticed a certain sheen and smoothness to some videos that wasn’t intentionally done by the original uploaders. This sort of filtering isn’t new—in fact, you’ve probably seen it over-applied to old movie clips uploaded to TikTok and YouTube shorts, giving them an unnaturally smooth motion and overly glossy look for things like human skin. But the subtle application of these filters is part of a test rolled out by YouTube itself, confirmed by Rene Ritchie, the platform’s head of editorial. “We’re running an experiment on select YouTube Shorts that uses traditional machine learning technology to unblur, denoise, and improve clarity in videos during processing (similar to what a modern smartphone does when you record a video),” Ritchie said, replying to a question on social media. He started the post with “No GenAI, no upscaling,” perhaps in hopes of deflecting some of the backlash. Calling the tool “traditional machine learning” (what?) was probably meant to soften the blow as well. As Ars Technica notes, this is indeed simply a wider application of similar filter tools that have been available for a while. The misapplication of the term “AI” to machine learning—and the intentional overselling of products while large language models become more prevalent in the public consciousness—is one of my personal bugaboos with Google and other marketers of this new technology. But here’s the other shoe dropping: Google has no one to blame but itself if users instantly recoil at the thought of applying “AI” to videos, even if it’s little more than a new kind of filter. Users are increasingly wary of harder-to-spot generative AI slipping into text, images, music, and video, and Google/YouTube itself is one of the biggest vendors of this technology. Applying machine learning tech (again, possibly intentionally confused with “AI” tools) to videos suddenly becomes a point of contention for users who might not have had any problem with it a few years ago. Not to mention the problem of applying these visual filters to videos without even informing the creators of those videos. Smoothing motion and evening out textures, particularly skin and other fine details, is a touchy subject at the best of times. Doing it without explicitly telling people it’s being done is a great way to lose the trust of the people making the content that YouTube relies upon. Read...

As the back-to-school season approaches in 2025, teachers aren’t just buying markers or restocking textbooks—they’re reinventing what it means to educate in a hybrid, high-tech learning space. With students clamoring for more engaging, interactive lessons and administrators seeking technologies that bridge physical and digital classrooms, smart boards are no longer optional but imperative. Among the growing list of interactive screens, HKMLC 55? Smart Board stands out—not for dazzling stunts, but for its capacity to deliver what today’s classrooms actually need: clarity, connectivity, collaboration, and affordability. Here’s how HKMLC smart board can be put to use in a variety of teaching scenarios for the 2025 school year. Plug In, Power Up, Teach Smarter One of the first things you’ll notice when you glance at the HKMLC Smart Board is how quickly it comes online. Designed for educators—whatever their status, IT professionals or not—the unit provides plug-and-play with a built-in Android 11 OS. No more fiddling around with projectors, external computers, and calibration processes. Mount the board, turn it on, and you’re ready to rock. The Android interface is smooth and responsive, allowing them to easily transition between applications, browsers, video, and digital whiteboard functionality. And with support for multi-window multitasking, teachers are able to use a lesson while they consult their lesson plan or student feedback simultaneously. A Visual and Interactive Upgrade The 4K UHD resolution of the HKMLC board is not merely a spec-sheet boast—quite literally, it makes a big difference in classroom legibility, even in larger or light-filled classrooms. Students are able to read fine text easily, observe complex diagrams, and interact with multimedia materials without eye strain or glare. But where the board truly excels is in its touch performance. Able to handle up to 10 touch points simultaneously, students can work together—complex issues, moving things around on the screen, or co-editing in real time. The board comes with two styluses providing smooth digital ink and palm rejection, resulting in a writing experience very much like the old whiteboards—without the mess. HKMLC Built for Hybrid Learning and Device Integration Back to school in 2025 is more likely than not a mix of in-person, remote, and hybrid teaching. HKMLC knows. The board includes Eshare Pro, allowing wire-free screen casting from as many as 9 devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. When a teacher wants to display a student’s work or a student wants to display research, the process is fast and lag-free. We were also glad to find screen capture and recording features, which allow lessons to be saved, shared, or reviewed—ideal for absent students or flipped-classroom classrooms. Teachers can work within split-screen environments, comment on current web pages or YouTube videos, and even launch third-party education software from the Android desktop. Designed for Engagement, Not Just Display Not only does HKMLC Smart Board replicate traditional teaching behaviors online—it enhances them. Its interactive whiteboard feature comes with built-in templates like mind maps, grids, and diagrams, which enable instructors to organize material in a rush while it takes students along the way. Lesson material can be saved as image files or PDFs so students can view material outside of class, or instructors can keep digital records. Regardless of whether you’re creating a science diagram, a set of math problems, or a brainstorming list, it can be saved and shared in one tap. Practical Hardware, Future-Ready Build Physically, the board is modern, thin, and lightweight to be mounted or placed on a roll-around cart. It’s ideal for space-constrained classrooms or schools with several locations where they can utilize the same board. Ports are logically located, with multiple HDMI, USB, and LAN alternatives, and front facing for convenient use of USB stick input during instruction. Integrated speakers are adequate for most standard classrooms, and the general audio-visual setup supports a wide range of multimedia codecs. The build is heavy-duty and very durable—a requirement for school use where equipment must withstand intense usage. A Competitive Price Point for Tight Budgets Priced at around $1487 (on Amazon), the HKMLC Smart Board significantly undershoots many expensive alternatives without sacrificing critical functionality. For educational institutions wanting to meet performance with value, it is an attractive solution for classroom, training room, or small conference room equipment. While some smart boards are available with additional subscription-based software included in the package, HKMLC’s open Android platform gives schools the freedom to use their preferred software, avoiding long-term costs and vendor lock-in. HKMLC Clever, Accessible, and Ready for the Future of Education The HKMLC Smart Board is not trying to reinvent the wheel—but that is precisely why it wins. It’s focused on the things most important to educators: visual clarity, interactive input, hybrid compatibility, and simplicity. It’s the kind of board that steps back and lets teachers teach—and that is exactly what makes it so effective. As schools plan ahead for a new school year, expenditure on the right technology is no longer about catching up—it’s about empowering students, facilitating teachers, and making smarter classrooms. The HKMLC Smart Board earns a resounding A+ across the board. Read...

Almost all contact centres now use AI, but success hinges on blending technology with human skills to tackle complex, emotional customer needs effectively. Read...

Amber Technology debuts Philips NeoPix 150 and 450 Smart projectors in Australia and NZ, offering full HD, portability, and smart streaming from AUD $449. Read...

Dolby Atmos in your living room isn’t as easy as it sounds. Whether you’re dealing with a component A/V system or a soundbar, your speakers must be carefully positioned and calibrated to create that immersive Atmos experience—and if your furniture is in the way, you’ll just need to move it.  But with its new FlexConnect technology, Dolby is looking to make its Atmos audio technology more home decor-friendly, and it’s teaming up with TCL for the hardware.  First announced earlier this year and on sale starting today, the TCL Z100 is a smart and “panoramic” wireless speaker that can pair with a Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled QD-Mini LED TV—specifically, TCL’s QM8K, QM7K, or QM6K series TVs.  Unlike the speakers used in other Dolby Atmos systems, TCL’s cylindrical Z100 speaker can be placed anywhere in the room, while Dolby’s FlexConnect technology will “intelligently optimize” the sound depending on the position of the speaker, TCL says. You can use anywhere from one to four of the Z100 speakers with a single TCL TV, and the system can scale itself up as you add more speakers to your living room setup. Just to be clear, though, the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect tech employed in TCL’s Z100 speakers requires the use of one of those three TCL QD-Mini LED TV models (which come in sizes ranging from 55- to 115-inches) mentioned above. Dolby originally unveiled FlexConnect back in 2023, but while it announced TCL as a partner and gave some ears-on demonstrations at IFA 2023 in Berlin, this marks the first TCL has released details about the TCL Z100, along with a price: $399.99 per speaker. Nope, that’s not cheap, but it’s roughly in line with the cost of a mid-range home theater speaker. Besides being sold in single-speaker configurations, the Z100 is also available in bundles, including one with two speakers and a subwoofer ($1,299.97) and three speakers plus the sub ($1,699.96). As for the Z100 itself, the 170W, 5.62-pound speaker measures 5.42 x 11.87 x 5.22 inches (WxHxD) and boasts four separate drivers that combine to deliver 1.1.1-channel Dolby Atmos audio. The first “1” in the “1.1.1” is for the main audio channel, the second “1” is for low-frequency sound, and the final “1” refers to the height channel that bounces off your ceiling. Meanwhile, the nearly 10-pound, 130-watt Z100-SW subwoofer measures 9.61 x 13.15 x 8.87 inches (WxHxD) and arrives with a 5.25-inch woofer. The Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer connect wirelessly to your supported TCL TV, and you can also stream music to the speakers from your phone via Bluetooth. TCL is promising “effortless” setup, including a “smart calibration” process that detects the position of the speakers and adjusts the audio to match the contours of the room. Sounds good, but what about performance? And how do Dolby’s FlexConnect speakers actually sound? I don’t think anyone expects Dolby’s FlexConnect tech to compete with, say, a precisely positioned, calibrated, and loftily priced 7.2.2 system with ceiling-mounted Atmos height speakers. But for average users who want enveloping Atmos audio in their living rooms without drilling holes or completely redoing their living room decor, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect may wind up being an affordable and effective solution. Personally, I’m eager for an in-person demo. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. It’s been updated with pricing as well as new details about the speakers themselves. Read...

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 11 gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $15 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? External DVD Drive Amicool If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, then this little gadget will come in handy for you. This Amicool external DVD drive uses a USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and give yout he optical drive you sometimes need. It can read and burn DVDs and CDs with ease, allowing you to install software, copy files, back up data, play games, and so on. You won’t even need to install drives as this thing is plug and play. While this thing’s usually $29, you can often get it for around $20, which is an absolute bargain. Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices. Read...

There’s a common misconception about PCIe 5.0 SSDs that since they’re the latest-generation SSD storage and boast faster speed and bandwidth compared to PCIe 4.0 SSD, anyone who gets one is going to experience a big uptick in PC performance. That’s certainly not the case as we’ve shown by analyzing things like gaming performance. But there are a few exceptions to that rule. In fact, if any of the below statements are true for you, you may well have a justifiable reason for splurging out on a costly PCIe 5.0 SSD upgrade. Am I working with large datasets? Scientists and other professionals work with very large amounts of data — often terabytes but sometimes even petabytes in size. PCIe 5.0 SSD doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 SSD delivering theoretical speeds of 14,000MB/s for reads and 12,000MB/s for writes to disk. These faster transfer speeds can help prevent one of the biggest problems data scientists have to deal with nowadays — that is, the bottlenecks that occur on their PCs loading and preprocessing data from storage. Tada Images / Shutterstock.com For data scientists, especially those working with datasets in Large Language Models (LLMs), tasks like running complex queries on a database, accessing files while training models, or saving large model checkpoints should be much snappier with a PCIe 5.0 SSD, therefore reducing the time workers are idle and likely therefore also boosting productivity. Am I a video editor, 3D animator, or designer working with very large files? If your job title is 3D animator, designer, or video editor and, again, you’re working with large files, then a PCIe 5.0 SSD is likely to make your workflow much quicker. That’s especially the case if you work with 4K or even 8K video files, where the speed and bandwidth increases will likely translate to smoother timeline scrubbing and faster rendering. Do I want to future-proof my hardware for gaming? Right now, there’s not much of an advantage gaming with a PCIe 5.0 SSD over a PCIe 4.0 SSD, but as hardware and software applications continue to evolve, it’s likely they will better take advantage of the speed and bandwidth benefits of PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming. That looks to be the case with the emerging technology of DirectStorage that reduces load times and improves asset streaming in games, especially data-heavy open-world RPGs. DirectStorage allows games to load data directly from the SSD to the GPU, thereby bypassing the CPU. While the technology works on PCIe 4.0 SSDs, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are better suited to utilize the DirectStorage technology when it becomes more widespread. Related content Best SSDs Best PCIe 4.0 SSDs What happened to DirectStorage? Why don’t more PC games use it? 5 useful upgrades for your PC’s unused PCIe slots Read...