The new Plex app for mobile arrived only a day ago, but user forums and the Plex subreddit are blowing up with complaints about buggy performance, missing features, and a cluttered, confusing interface.  Yes, all this sounds familiar, although it’s not yet clear if we’re seeing a typical rough landing for an app revamp or a Sonos-level dumpster fire. Plex does have a laundry list of issues it plans to address in the coming weeks (again, déjà vu), and the laggy, stuttering app performance will hopefully improve over time. We’ll be watching.  In the meantime, there are some Plex “new experience” issues we can tackle right now, starting with the Live TV, Discover, and On Demand tabs at the bottom of the screen. You can’t swap them out with other options, unfortunately, but you can make them go away.  Another “new experience” feature we can hide are the user reviews for movies and TV shows in your Plex library. If you love seeing what random folks thought about the content on your Plex media servers, then hey, leave ‘em be. Want to hide them? No problem.  Hide the Live TV tab  Personally, I’m a fan of the Live TV tab on the new Plex app because I use Plex as an over-the-air DVR, and the tab gives me quicker access to the live programming grid. But the Live TV tab also houses Plex’s various live streaming channels, and it will appear at the bottom of the screen even if you’re not a Plex DVR user.  Again, we can’t replace the Live TV tab with something else, but at least we can hide it. For this, you’ll need to access your server settings on the Plex web app.  Go to the Plex web interface, tap the Settings icon in the top-right cover of the screen (the one that looks like a wrench), and then click Online Media Sources in the left-hand column.  Under the Live TV heading, click the drop-down menu and select Disabled.  Relaunch the new Plex app on your mobile device. If you’re not a Plex DVR user, the Live TV tab should be completely gone. If you are using the Plex DVR, the tab will still be there, but you should only see your over-the-air channels.  To hide the Live TV tab from the new Plex app, select “Disabled” under “Live TV” in the Online Media Sources settings for your Plex server. Ben Patterson/Foundry Hide the On Demand tab  Plex Media Server users likely don’t have much need for Plex’s On Demand content, which includes ad-supported movies and TV shows as well as access to movie rentals. Luckily, you can hide the On Demand tab, just as you can with the Live TV tab.  Again, go back to the Plex settings screen on the web, then click Online Media Sources.  Under the Movies & Shows setting, click the drop-down and select Disabled.  Hide the Discover tab  The Discover tab on the new Plex app aggregates trending movies and TV shows amongst Plex users, as well as recommendations on any streaming services that you’ve previously selected. Don’t care what other Plex users are watching? Then hide the tab.  Once more, head for the Plex settings screen on the web, click Online Media Sources, then head over to the Discover section.  Under the Discover Source heading, click the drop-down, then select Disabled.  Hide user reviews (or all reviews)  I like seeing review snippets from critics on the title detail pages of my Plex library content, but reviews from random Plex users? Not so much. Fortunately, you can hide user reviews—or all reviews–from the Plex app.  This time, we’re going straight to the new Plex app. Fire it up, tap Settings, then tap Experience.  Tap the Ratings and Reviews From setting, then pick an option; the choices include Plex users & critics, Plex users only, Critics only, and No one.  The app will reload after picking a new option, and if you opted to hide some or all reviews, they should now be gone. Read...

Microsoft has finally made all Copilot+ PCs—not just the Snapdragon ones—eligible for all of its AI-powered Copilot+ features. Well, almost. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that the Windows world is badly fragmented. Not only are users split between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Windows 11 users aren’t even all on the same version. Now, over the past year, AI has added another wrinkle with Microsoft mainly developing its Copilot+ PC features for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform while neglecting AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 and Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series processors. Fortunately, that’s changing. On Monday, Microsoft wrote in a blog post that PCs powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Snapdragon X series processors are all eligible for “exclusive Copilot+ PC experiences like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator.” The word “like” offers some wiggle room, since other AI-powered experiences—such as the ability to resize photos—is only available in the Photos app on PCs running on a Snapdragon chip. Still, it’s a major step up for AMD and Intel. Microsoft and its partners launched Copilot+ PCs in May 2024, showing off all of its favored AI features on Snapdragon machines. Although Microsoft promised that it would soon bring those features to Copilot+ PCs powered by AMD and Intel, months passed… Microsoft then eventually released Windows Recall for Copilot+ Snapdragon PCs, then offered that feature to AMD and Intel-based Copilot+ PCs in December. There are still exceptions, however. Monday’s blog post also mentioned Voice Access, an easier way to talk to your PC “using more descriptive and flexible language.” But nope. That feature is only for Copilot+ PCs with a Snapdragon chip, not for AMD or Intel PCs (which will receive Voice Access capabilities later this year). “Some of these innovative experiences for Copilot+ PCs are available via the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update (which requires the November 2024 non-security preview update),” Microsoft wrote. “Over the next month, we will gradually roll out these features via the Windows controlled feature rollout (CFR) to consumers.” If you own a Copilot+ PC with a qualifying AMD or Intel chip, the best way to get the new updates is to go to Settings > Windows Update and turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.” Either check frequently for the new update or just let it be pushed to your PC. Read...

By now, you’ve heard of the U.S.’s decision to levy tariffs on imports—all goods made in China, as well as select materials worldwide, like steel and aluminum. At the time of this article’s publishing, taxes on products coming from Canada and Mexico also were likely to begin early April, with additional tariffs proposed for more materials and products worldwide. I covered the details about these tariffs in a FAQ, as well as a set of highlights for a shorter way to get up to speed on the situation. I also created a breakout of sample cost increases so you could better see what actual purchases could look like. But most news has focused on the immediate dollars-and-cents effect of these new taxes. What’s been talked about less are the other ways tariffs will impact the tech industry—consequences that could dampen or even drive back certain aspects that we currently take for granted. At best, we’ll see a temporary blow. At worst, we could feel this hit for years to come. Harder to obtain Technology has become more available to the masses over time. Long ago, personal computers were a rare luxury, found only in homes of enthusiasts or the well-to-do. But as popularity rose, devices and hardware became easier to get. People wanted to spend their money on fresh gear—and so supply became more plentiful. Remember when EVGA made graphics cards? Yeah, they don’t any longer, after looking at the cost of that part of their business. Let’s hope the tariffs don’t cause other companies to make similar moves within tech.Brad Chacos / Foundry But when prices go up, demand goes down. Companies already have an incentive to slow the rollout of new products due to the economic instability brought about by the tariffs. If you add on a weakened appetite from consumers for discretionary purchases, vendors have reason to pull back on the production. They may become slower to release successors to products or even a wider variety of products. In particular, smaller companies decide to pause or stop product lines.  Industry insiders expressed this very sentiment to me when discussing the tariffs and their effect. Without the ability to make accurate forecasts, businesses have to proceed with more caution. They’ll either produce less of their usual devices or hardware—or opt out of selling certain items altogether. After years of ever-growing options for consumers, shrinking down to fewer choices will be a sad step backward. Price stagnation (or even increases) Intel’s Kaby Lake Core i7-7700X launched just a couple of months before AMD’s first-generation Ryzen CPUs, sporting a 4-core, 8-thread processor. By fall, its Coffee Lake Core i7-8700K successor had added two more cores and four more threads. Competition makes a difference.Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry Innovation and competition help lower costs for technology. Manufacturing becomes more efficient, growing demand spreads production costs over a wider field, and/or the tech is succeeded by something even fresher. But if tech gear becomes less varied and harder to get, those factors won’t be as dependable as an influence on price. How much you’ll pay for a laptop, phone, or piece of hardware will likely stick where it is—or go up. As my colleague Gordon Mah Ung loved to point out, Intel sold consumers 4-core, 8-thread CPUs for years, always at similar MSRPs. And when Team Blue launched its first 10-core processor, the suggested price was a staggering $1,723. Fast forward a year, after AMD released its first generation of Ryzen chips, and Intel’s top consumer chip had inched up in core count, with the $359 Intel Core i7-8700K sporting 6 cores and 12 threads. Its closest rivals? The $329 Ryzen 7 1700 and $399 Ryzen 7 1700X, both of which sported 8 cores and 16 threads. This history lesson shows that consumers get less value when fewer options exist. Companies can charge whatever they want when faced with less pressure to keep pushing the envelope. Slower release of new products Should early adopters become more reluctant to try out new gadgets, companies could stop trying novel new form factors, like this tri-fold smartphone.Luke Baker If you’re a company facing economic uncertainty, how much would you want to invest in different products? Likewise, if you’re a consumer looking at devices with fewer or smaller upgrades that cost as much as the previous model, will you want to buy anything new? It’s a bit of a standoff, and one that the tariffs could spark. For example, let’s say you’re used to buying a replacement phone every two years. But if the features don’t change dramatically, and prices remain high (especially for flagship models), perhaps you’ll stick to what you’ve already got in your pocket. Companies might then not push novel form factors as hard, like tri-fold phones and other variants. Similarly, Nvidia and AMD could continue to delay their attention to budget gamers, instead choosing to focus on graphics cards that will bring in more cash. Sure, Intel is the lone holdout for the budget range, but its market share remains low, and its launches aren’t as regular. Budget gamers might then continue to hold out, biding their time with progressively lower graphics settings and frame rates. (But real talk, if your GTX 970 still does it for you, keep rocking that GPU until its well-deserved retirement.) So while engineers will continue to announce newer protocols and standards (think Wi-Fi 7 or PCIe 7.0), the time to an actual launch may be much further in the future than we’re used to. And that pace change could feel like a screeching halt compared to the boom of the past couple of decades, depending on how big a slowdown is. Unpredictable pricing A close up of a circuit board. Copper is often used in circuit board traces.Michael Schwarzenberger / Pixabay Until recent years, technology’s progress also often resulted in a predictable routine for prices, too. Current devices got cheaper, and the stuff that replaced them often stayed the same price or even lowered, thanks to improved manufacturing or higher demand. Before the tariffs, that reliability in pricing trends started to waver due to factors like rising production costs. And now with these additional taxes dropped on top, we consumers may no longer be able to trust in steady pricing. First, as companies shift manufacturing locations, their logistical costs will increase. But how much is still to be determined, based on resources (e.g., new staff hiring, training, etc.) and the ability for a business to absorb current tariff costs. Some larger corporations may take a hit in an effort to keep their part of the industry more stable, for example. Additional tariffs could also cause sudden changes to MSRPs. Given how the current U.S. import tariffs were enacted, more could be announced very suddenly as well, with a notice of just a few days. Graphics cards enthusiasts (and just PC gamers in general) know how painful supply shortages can be, especially when it comes to street prices.EVGA The prospect of new tariffs looms large, too—in February, the U.S. executive branch proposed a 25 percent tariff on all semiconductors, with the intent to sharply raise the tax over time. More recently, a 25 percent tariff on copper was suggested. (You’ll find copper in circuit boards, wiring, and a lot more related to tech.) If these tariffs stack on top of the existing 20 percent on all Chinese-made goods, you could see a sharp rise in costs for products with multiple components affected by these additional taxes. Another wrinkle: When I last spoke with industry insiders, multiple sources told me they were still learning exactly how the tariffs would be applied. So they themselves are scrambling to adjust and adapt. Finally, if costs go up and availability decreases (as discussed above), you may have more trouble predicting actual retail prices. Street prices could go a bit wild, too. We can look at the GPU market for a glimpse into that chaotic, terrible universe: Few cards are available at the announced price, and any remaining stock is higher due to partner cards adding on extras. Any other cards are only available through resellers at huge markups. Before the pandemic, you could easily shop for devices and hardware, with the expectation of regular sales or discounts. Now surplus budgeting may be a requirement whenever you’re preparing for a new purchase. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard A wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Our Verdict The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a solid upgrade over the 2023, featuring a faster processor and a touchscreen display, with only minor drawbacks that hardly impact the overall performance. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a good buy, full stop. I know I’m starting strong out the gate, but with an updated processor and a display with touch capability, it’s a solid improvement over the 2023 model. While it does have a few drawbacks, they’re so small they’re practically microscopic, as they don’t take away from the overall experience. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Chromebooks for comparison. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Specs The new Chromebook Plus CX34 is a refreshed version of the 2023 model. This time Asus swapped out the Intel Core i3-1215U processor for an Intel Core i5-1335U, which offers notable improvements (we’ll get into that in the performance section). Other than upgrading the CPU and adding touch capability to the display, the design is the same as it was before. Asus fine-tuned the inside components, but left the fresh-looking design alone.  Model number: CX3402CVA-I5128 CPU: Intel Core i5-1335U GPU: Intel Iris Xe RAM: 8GB RAM Storage: 128GB (universal flash storage) Display 14-inch 1920×1080, touch enabled, 60Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio Networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E Dimensions: 0.74 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches Weight: 3.17 lbs Price: $499 Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Design, build quality IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is pretty much identical to the 2023 model. The snowy white shell is a feast for the eyes, and the plastic exterior has a nice sheen to it. As far as aesthetics go, it’s attractive and modern. Like I said of the previous iteration, it’s sophisticated enough for an office environment without drawing too much attention. While build quality is acceptable for a laptop in this price range, I worry it might show wear and tear over time.  I noticed the lid has a slight flex to it. When I laid the laptop flat on a table and pressed a finger down on the bezel, the lid gave way to the pressure. However, it’s not all bad. The keyboard deck feels more solid than the lid–I didn’t hear any creaking when I applied pressure to it. The 180 degree hinge also feels tight and secure, but not restricting and stiff. The build quality isn’t bad by any means, but I’d recommend handling it with a gentle hand.  The upgraded processor and touch enabled display make a big difference, adding great value compared to the 2023 model, which was missing those features. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Keyboard, touchpad IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The keyboard is comfortable to use for long periods of time, but the omission of a backlight had me scratching my head, as it was included in the older model. I prefer backlit keyboards because I like writing in a low-light environment–I like the ambiance of it! Bright lights also trigger migraines for me, which is another reason why I prefer a low-light environment. That said, in terms of using the keyboard, I managed 98 words per minute on Monkeytype–I’m a pretty fast typist when I’m locked in.  The touchpad is pleasant to use as well. It measures about five inches wide, which is a big enough size for someone with smaller hands (hi!). It’s smooth and responsive, and the slippery surface of the touchpad is great for multitouch gestures like two-finger scrolls and pinches and stretches. I didn’t notice any erratic cursor movement, either. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Display, webcam, speakers IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The 1080p display is fine for daily tasks, but it’s nothing remarkable. All Chromebook Plus models come with a 1080p display, which is the new standard now. While it may not be the brightest or most vibrant of screens, I’m pleased by the new touch function. The 2023 model didn’t have a touch display, so this is a great addition that adds more value overall. The matte finish also helps cut down the glare from direct sunlight. My only sticking point is with the 16:9 aspect ratio. I prefer displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, as that one extra inch of space makes a world of difference, especially when I’m editing a review or adding things to a spreadsheet. It’s not a huge deal breaker for me, as most laptop displays come with a 16:9 aspect ratio, but I like to see more of the screen. Oh, the display also folds flat for versatile viewing angles, though I didn’t use it this way as I don’t find it very practical. The 1080p webcam is suitable for work calls, but not much else. As with most built-in 1080p webcams, you need a good amount of lighting to look good. The webcam’s microphone also captures sound well enough and filters out a good amount of background noise. The built-in ChromeOS tools also allow you to blur your background or improve noise cancellation. Again, it’s fine for a work call, but if you want to look your absolute best, you should invest in an external webcam.   Generally speaking, laptop speakers don’t impress me much (I guess I’m channeling Shania Twain here). If you consider yourself an audiophile, you might as well plug in a pair of headphones or earbuds. The Chromebook Plus CX34’s speakers are just okay, but the speakers are downward firing, so it depends on the type of surface you’ve got the laptop on. I had to boost the volume and bring the laptop closer to me in order to hear my playlist.  Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Connectivity IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 really doesn’t skimp on ports, which is great for a laptop in this price range. It features two USB Type-A, two USB Type-C, one HDMI out, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. You can also easily hook up to an external monitor, as the USB Type-C ports support DisplayPort. Most Chromebooks in this bracket don’t include an Ethernet port or a micro SD, but the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 comes with a micro SD.  Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Performance I was impressed with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s day-to-day performance. Compared to the previous model, which came equipped with an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU inside our review unit delivers faster performance because of its higher core count (10 cores) and better clock speeds (up to 4.6GHz). While the Intel Core i3-1215U CPU still performs well, the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU better handles both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance.  This is evident in the Plus CX34’s Jetstream 2 score. Jetstream 2 assesses single-threaded and multi-threaded performance by measuring JavaScript execution speeds as well as the browser’s parallel processing execution speed. Compared to the 2023 model, which had a Jetstream 2 score of 250.141, the newest iteration is approximately 26 percent faster. The Plus CX34 also had a higher CrXPRT 2 performance score (170) than the recently reviewed Acer Chromebook Spin 312 (140). CrXPRT 2 measures overall performance by simulating real-world tasks like loading web pages, applying filters to images, playing HD videos, and so on. The higher the number, the smoother the performance. In addition to the higher CrXPRT 2 score, it also produced a great Kraken score.  Mozilla’s Kraken benchmark gauges how well a browser can handle JavaScript execution performance. It does this by analyzing sound data, running various decryption tasks, and so on. Unlike CrXPRT 2, a lower score is more desirable here. Essentially, Kraken measures the time in milliseconds it takes for the browser to complete a series of JavaScript tasks. The Plus CX34 beat the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 into the ground with a Kraken score of 397.4ms. That’s roughly 44 percent faster than the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, which had a Kraken score of 710.9ms. Impressive! CrXPRT 2: 170 Speedometer: 344 Basemark Web 3.0: 1,320 Kraken: 397.4ms Jetstream 2: 316.606 Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Battery life The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 lasted a little over 13 hours on a single charge during my battery test, though I kept the brightness low, which likely impacted the result. With the brightness turned up, real-world use is closer to seven or eight hours. That’s not a bad result by any means, but it’s not the most competitive result I’ve seen. If battery life is a priority of yours, consider the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, which lasted a little over 15 hours. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Conclusion Would I recommend buying the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34? Absolutely. The upgraded processor and touch-enabled display make a big difference, adding great value compared to the 2023 model, which was missing those features. The keyboard is also a joy to type on, the touchpad is responsive without being overly sensitive, and the connectivity options are plentiful. If you can accept the little quirks like the lack of keyboard backlighting and the 16:9 aspect ratio (more of a personal nitpick than a quirk), then this Chromebook is a solid choice. Read...

Datadobi has unveiled StorageMAP 7.2, enhancing its unstructured data management platform with advanced insights and reporting features for I&O leaders. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros 3 individually controlled smart outlets (+3 dumb outlets) 3 fast-charging USB outlets Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and IFTTT Cons Gives no warning when it can no longer provide surge protection Surge protection limited to 205 joules Our Verdict Don’t buy this multi-outlet for its surge protection feature, as it won’t warn you when it can no longer deliver it. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender (model P306) Retailer Price $34.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender has some great features, as well as one critical shortcoming that prevents us from recommending it. Tapo doesn’t make big promises for this product in terms of its surge protection, but it does list a key feature on the box: the ability to warn you when it can no longer provide surge protection. If you’re considering buying Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender for that feature, don’t. Here’s why. The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender isn’t all bad news—provided you’re not buying it for surge protection. Most surge protectors use sacrificial MOVs (metal oxide varistors) to absorb excess voltage from power surges, and this one is no exception. The thing is, MOVs wear out over time, losing some of their ability to absorb that excess voltage with each power surge until they can no longer offer any protection at all. Since the number and severity of power surges will vary based on a wide range of factors, starting with the quality of power coming from your utility, it’s impossible to predict when a given surge protector’s MOV (or MOVs, as the case may be) will wear out. The outlets on the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender are spaced 1.56 inches apart, so wall warts and oversized plugs don’t block adjacent outlets.Michael Brown/Foundry Some surge protectors will simply stop sending power to their outlets when this happens, and that’s the best approach in my opinion. Others will trigger a red or green “protection” indicator—typically an LED—to stop glowing when they can no longer offer protection. The latter approach is far more common, and you should periodically check yours to make sure it’s still lit. The problem with the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender is that it doesn’t do either of these things. Its MOV will eventually wear out and cease offering surge protection, but you’ll have no way of knowing when that has happened. I verified this fact with TP-Link, and the manufacturer replied that the absence of a protection indicator is due to the product’s “structural limitations,” but that it recognizes this “as a potential area for improvement in future product iterations.” I’d say that’s an understatement. It would have been better to not include surge protection at all than to have users gamble as to when this one will stop offering protection without any warning. Specifications The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender isn’t all bad news—provided you’re not buying it for surge protection. But before we leave that topic, allow me to report a few details you find won’t find on TP-Link’s website. Three USB charging ports–1 USB-C and 2 USB-A–deliver up to 18 watts of power. Michael Brown/Foundry This product’s surge protector element can handle only a maximum of 205 joules, but it offers 1,200 volts of clamping voltage, based on a 6,000-volt surge on the line-to-neutral leg of the circuit it’s connected to. Thumbs up for that: Protection for the line-to-neutral leg is what’s needed most in a properly grounded home. Compare that to the Philips 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, a “dumb” surge protector that offers up to 720 joules of protection, but only 500V of protection across the line-to-neutral leg of the circuit. The Philips product also lacks USB-charging ports, but it costs less than half as much as the Tapo product. I should also note, however, that the Philips product doesn’t have any LED indicators either. The key difference is that the Philips product will cease to provide power to its outlets when its MOV wears out and can no longer provide surge protection. An LED would be superfluous in that product. OK, let’s turn our attention to the rest of the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender’s considerable specifications and features. It occupies the top half of a duplex outlet, but necessarily also covers the bottom half. If you have an old-school outlet with a middle screw hole for the cover plate, you can remove the cover, insert a provided screw into the center of the Outlet Extender, and fasten it to that hole. You can also screw a provided post into the back of the extender and plug that into the second outlet’s ground hole for added stability when plugging and unplugging devices. Each of the three smart outlets can also be controlled with a button on the side. The post below the electrical prongs plugs into the second grounded outlet to provide additional stability. Michael Brown/Foundry The Outlet Extender can handle up to a maximum of 1,875 watts, and each of its six outlets puts out a maximum of 15 amps. It’s equipped with one USB-C charging port and two USB-A charging ports on its right-hand side. These deliver a maximum output of 5 volts and 3 amps, providing up to 18 watts of fast charging. More specifically, single-port outputs are 5V/3A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A. You can rest your smartphone on top of the outlet extender while it’s charging, and a lip on its front edge will prevent the device from sliding forward and off. There are six grounded AC outlets in front, three on each side and spaced 1.57-inches apart to accommodate at least smaller wall warts or oversized plugs without blocking adjacent outlets. Only the three outlets on the left-hand side are smart plugs, and each one has an on/off switch and an LED indicator that glows when it’s on. The three outlets on the right-hand side are always-on “dumb” plugs and don’t have buttons or LEDs. An ambient light sensor at the top of the extender’s face triggers a dimmable white, down-facing LED nightlight to glow. This feature is highly customizable in the Tapo app, based on the level of ambient light that will activate it, a time-and-date schedule, or even a countdown timer. An LED beneath the ambient light sensors reports the overall status of the device (solid white when connected to the cloud, blinking orange when disconnected from Wi-Fi, and so on). Smart features The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender connects to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, with up to WPA3 security. Although it’s not Matter certified, it is compatible with all three major smart home ecosystems: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home. It’s also compatible with Samsung SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts, and IFTTT. You’ll use the Tapo smart home app to program and control the device. This software is also used to control everything from security cameras to smart plugs, smart bulbs, robot vacuums, and other smart home products carrying TP-Link’s Tapo or Kasa Smart brands. But you can organize the app by assigning everything to “rooms” and designating “favorites” to make it easier to manage everything.   You can control every Tapo smart home device with the Tapo app, which can also control any of TP-Link’s Kasa Smart products.  Michael Brown/Foundry Widgets are provided for each of the Outlet Extender’s three smart plugs, but there’s just one widget for all three of its USB ports. The widgets have power buttons for toggling them on and off, or you can tap anywhere else on the widget to open a new full-screen window for more granular information and control, including scheduling. You can set “away modes” that will randomly turn the assigned smart outlets on and off between defined days and times. Plug a lamp into one, two, or all three smart outlets, and it will make your home look occupied while you’re away from home. Separate countdown timers will turn any or all the assigned smart outlet on or off after a given number of hours and minutes has elapsed. The smart plugs don’t track energy consumption, but they will report the number of hours they’ve been energized for the current day, the past seven days, and the past 30 days. If you have other TP-Link or Tapo products, you can create routines that will cause those devices to trigger each other—and without needing a smart home hub. For example, you can have a TP-Link or Tapo security camera trigger a light plugged into the Outlet Extender when it detects motion after sunset, and then automatically turn off after a programmed amount of time. Or you can create a shortcut button that dims your Tapo or TP-Link smart bulb when you’re ready for bed and turns off any of the company’s smart plugs, including this Outlet Extender. The more compatible gadgets you have, the more you can do with this feature. If you’re an IFTTT subscriber, of course, you don’t necessarily need Tapo or TP-Link products to accomplish similar goals. TP-Link’s Tapo and Kasa Smart devices can operate together in the same smart home environment. Michael Brown/Foundry Further reading: This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart plugs. Should you buy a Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender? In terms of a multi-plug, the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender is a fine product. It expands any duplex outlet into three smart outlets and provides three more “dumb” outlets. You also get three fast-charging smart USB plugs. So far, so good. As a surge protector, on the other hand, it almost utterly fails. Not knowing when a surge protector can no longer protect attached devices from power surges is worse than not having surge protection in the first place. Whether smart or dumb, if Tapo’s Outlet Extender didn’t offer surge protection, you could at least plug a single-outlet surge protector into one of its outlets to power a sensitive device—a computer, for example—that you want to protect. That said, you should never daisy-chain surge protectors–i.e., plug one surge protector into another surge protector–as that has the potential to overload the electrical circuit to which they’re connected. An overloaded electrical circuit is a fire risk. Read...

Nearly six months after first announcing its “new experience,” Plex is rolling out the promised top-to-bottom revamp of its mobile app to all users, and yes, big changes are in store.  I’ve already covered most of the big cosmetic changes, including the replacement of the “hamburger” navigation in the top corner of the app with a row of five tabs at the bottom of the screen, including dedicated tabs for Libraries and Live TV.  The title details screens for movies and TV shows have also been spruced up, including the use of title graphics from the content providers “where available.” I’ve been cruising through the shows and movies in my own personal Plex library, and I’ve noticed that all but the most obscure items now boast title graphics. That’s a nice change from the text titles in the old Plex app.  But while Plex’s “new experience” for Android and iOS users (Apple TV and other platforms are coming later) certainly looks more polished and offers dozens of improvements, there are also some rough edges that will bother longtime Plex users, along with a few features that have been unceremoniously dropped.  Plex’s “new experience” revamp is serving as a backdrop to another big change, with Plex about to move remote personal media streaming behind its Plex Pass paywall. That new policy is set to take effect on April 29, the same date when a steep Plex Pass price hike takes effect. It’s worth noting that the so-called “new” Plex experience is now the only Plex experience, at least for mobile. A Plex rep has confirmed to me that once you update the Plex mobile app to the new version, there’s no going back. Here are just a few things you should know before updating the Plex app to the “new experience,” starting with…  AirPlay casting is restricted to screen mirroring for now  If you’re an iOS user who’s accustomed to casting your Plex shows to an Apple TV or another AirPlay-compatible device, bad news: for now, the updated Plex mobile app offers system-level screen mirroring, not native AirPlay casting.  That means if you want to cast Plex videos to another device without simply sharing your screen, you’ll have to do so via Chromecast.  Plex says it will “continue bringing in more casting functionality” over the “coming months.”  You can’t cast live TV yet Even if you are casting on Plex using Chromecast, you won’t be able to cast live TV from your Plex Media Server using the “new experience” mobile app.  Luckily, this sounds like just a temporary restriction, with Plex noting that it’s “actively working on casting improvements, including resolving this issue.”  You can’t schedule DVR recordings yet If you’re using Plex as a DVR, you can still watch recorded shows and record in-progress shows from the updated Plex mobile app, but you can’t schedule future DVR recordings—not yet, anyway. (You can, of course, still schedule DVR recordings using the Plex web client.) Again, Plex says it’s working on it: “Scheduling is intended to be part of the mobile experience and we are working as you read this on making sure this will be available soon.”  “Watch Together” functionality is gone  Plex had previously announced that its “Watch Together” feature, which allows Plex users to join watch parties with friends, would be going away with the “new experience” update, but it’s worth repeating here.  If you really want to stream Plex videos with friends, you can still do so using the Plex web app, and Plex has also said that it doesn’t “preclude the possibility of offering similar functionality again in the future, using new tooling.”  You can’t share individual Plex items anymore  With the arrival of its new mobile experience, Plex is dropping the ability for personal server users to share individual titles and video playlists with others.  Plex Media Server users will still be able to share entire libraries with friends and family (don’t forget, remote streaming of your personal Plex library is about to become a paid feature), and any individual items you’ve previously shared will remain so, Plex said. However, you won’t be able to share any new individual files or playlists.  You can’t pin libraries to the sidebar, but there’s a workaround With the new Plex experience for mobile doing away with the left-hand sidebar on the old app comes an obvious side effect: You can no longer pin specific libraries to the now-missing sidebar.  That said, the revamped Plex app offers a handy workaround: Just long-press the Libraries tab at the bottom of the screen. When you do, you’ll get a pop-up that displays your favorite media libraries. Tap one of them, and you’re good to go. Read...

I’ve searched high and low for an enterprise-grade laptop that’s portable, has the tools I need to keep my work secure, but that’s also powerful enough to run graphically demanding 3D models, design software, and games. But up until now the closest thing I’ve come across is a creator laptop that can’t compete in the portability stakes. Plus it looks too industrial for the office — yuk! HP’s new 14-inch HP ZBook Ultra G1a, however, just won’t toe the line on that paradigm. In fact, it destroys it completely, combining an extremely lightweight, thin, and attractive chassis, a powerful AI-capable chipset, and most importantly – the one thing that has me so in awe – graphics power that can rival a gaming laptop. What?! How much graphics power am I talking about? As an example, at HP’s launch event for the ZBook Ultra G1a the HP team had it running an F1 Simulator and outputting to multiple displays at 2.2K resolution, and it still managed to average an impressive100 frames per second! Are you catching on why this laptop has my attention now? But as impressive as that is, the HP ZBook Ultra G1a shouldn’t be confused for a gaming laptop. No, this laptop is an enterprise laptop through and through, with all the hallmarks of a modern workstation. It has a compact 14-inch chassis that’s both robust and strong. Its 2.8K OLED display is color rich, but it’s also easy on the eyes thanks to its Eyesafe certification. I mentioned before that it’s light and thin, but in fact it’s impressively so! It weighs no more than 3.3 pounds and measures just 0.73 inches at the front — so you won’t have any problem packing it into a satchel for meetings on the fly. The port selection is very good, too, for a small laptop. You get 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a USB-A port, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port and a 3.5mm Kensington lock. This pocket rocket also supports up to 4TB storage, so there’s plenty of space to store large files and programs. For video calls it has a 5MP IR camera. HP ZBook Ultra G1a also has the kind of security that differentiates work laptops from other types. It comes with HP’s Wolf Security and a fingerprint reader for utilizing the Windows Hello secure login. HP demonstrated the HP SureView onlooker protection feature on the Ultra G1a which blurs your screen when you walk away from it. No doubt that will come in handy when strangers try to peek at your game… ahem…work! The HP ZBook has a spacious backlit, spill-resistant keyboard and large trackpad. Shown here: The keyboard backlighting is switched off. Dominic Bayley / Foundry The key behind the ZBook Ultra G1a’s power and portability can be put down to one thing: Its AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro chip which I’ve been wanting to see in action ever since I heard about it at CES 2025. This impressive piece of silicon is based on AMD’s new Strix Halo architecture. It combines CPU, GPU, and NPU processing all on a single chip. Indeed, the Ultra G1a can be configured with any one of nine AMD Strix Halo processors, ranging from the AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 386 up to the zippiest AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395. The latter puts 16 cores of glorious desktop-grade CPU power in your hands with an impressive 5.1GHz maximum clock speed, so more than enough to keep even the most demanding apps ticking along smoothly. The graphics power comes courtesy of 40 integrated RDNA 3.5 cores. The HP ZBook G1a is adept at running design programs that render images in 3D.  Dominic Bayley / Foundry If the APU is impressive, so is the memory it feeds. It consists of a unified architecture that features up to 128GB DDR5 RAM running at 8,533 MT/s. A whopping 96GB of that RAM can be allocated to the GPU for when you need the ZBook Ultra G1a to run the most graphically demanding programs. The other benefit of the APU and unified memory is multitasking, which I saw in action at the HP launch event as well. HP said the Ultra G1a can easily handle complex 3D sets interactively, and large AI models locally — the latter of which is going to redefine what workers can achieve on the edge without the need of the cloud. So, this laptop has workflow as well as rendering down pat. One demonstration had the HP ZBook Ultra G1a running the application Amuse simultaneously alongside the programs Navisworks and LM Studio, again outputting to different displays. Despite loading up the chip with this level of work, the performance remained very smooth. If there was any lag, I didn’t see it. The HP ZBook Ultra G1a had no problem running multiple applications simultaneously.Dominic Bayley / Foundry HP said the Ultra G1a would suit a range of different professionals, from engineers to creative professionals. I have no doubt about that. Suffice it to say, this laptop has the kind of power and portability that could make their lives a lot easier — not to mention boost productivity. One productivity model presented by AMD at the launch showed a productivity boost of 39 percent — but anything just shy of that would still be useful. To that end the ZBook Ultra G1a is very well equipped with AI power — which is expected to be one of the biggest boosters of productivity in the future. The NPU supports 50 TOPS processing power to a total 125 TOPS total power for the whole chip. That’s enough for a seamless experience with AI apps like Microsoft Copilot or HP’s own AI Companion. Me, I’m not sure I’ll push the AI power to the limits. I’m just excited to see how far I can push the graphics power when I get a review model to test. Judging by what I’ve seen so far, I think I’ve got a lot more eyebrow raising to look forward to. Read...

Firstly, you need your signature in digital form, preferably using a tablet PC with pen input. If you don’t have such a device to hand, sign on a white sheet of paper and take a photo of your signature using a scanner app. Microsoft’s OneDrive app, which not only provides access to the manufacturer’s cloud storage, but also has a good scanner function integrated, is an uncomplicated help here. Start the OneDrive app on your smartphone and tap the camera icon under “Start” in the bottom right-hand corner. A camera app will open in which you can select “Document” at the bottom before taking a photo. This will automatically lighten shadows on the white paper. After taking the photo, you can use “Crop” to remove unnecessary edges and “Done” to save the file to OneDrive. If the quality of the photo is not yet satisfactory, you can improve it in any image-editing program using “Contrast” and “Brightness.” Use a scanner app to take a photo of your signature and insert it as an electronic signature in Word, for example. You can do this with the free OneDrive app from Microsoft, for example.IDG In Word, insert the photo of your signature into the document at the desired location using Insert > Picture > This device. After inserting, the image can be reduced in size using the frame corners. To speed things up in future, create a “quick block.” In Word, select the inserted signature and any additional text such as “Yours sincerely.” Press the Alt-F3 key combination or select Insert > Quick blocks > Save selection in quick block catalog. Enter a short description under “Name.” You can insert the quick block by entering the name in Word and then pressing the F3 key. There must be no space between the name and the cursor when you press F3. A “quick block” can be created from your inserted signature and the surrounding text, which can then be inserted using the F3 key. IDG Important: An electronic signature is actually “only” a photo of your signature that you insert into a digital document. It therefore does not have the same legal effect as a digital signature. A legally valid digital signature is an asymmetric encryption system that has been regulated by the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act in 2000. This distinguishes between simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures. Information on digital signatures can be found here. Reading tip: Microsoft Word: 9 tricks and hidden features This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Read...

I bet you there’s something you need on your desk that you probably didn’t realize you needed. I’m talking about this 6-in-1 Baseus Blade charging station that’s compact, practical, and only $59.49 on Amazon with this Prime deal plus the extra 15% off promo code on the product page. (Be sure to apply code JF8DVF7C at checkout, and grab a free 30-day Prime trial if you aren’t a member!) The Baseus Blade charging station features two AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The whole thing is about the size and shape of a typical smartphone, so it can easily slip inside any bag, making it great for travel. (The detachable 5-feet cord is a lovely bonus.) But it’s also perfect as a home office desk accessory for keeping all your things charged. Since it uses modern GaN technology, the Baseus Blade is not only smaller in size but also more power efficient, allowing it to charge faster and give off less heat. And with its 7-point safety system, your devices are protected against over-voltage, over-current, and short circuits. This charging station delivers a maximum of 140W through the right-most USB-C port, with power throughput being split when multiple ports are in use. You can see exactly how much power each port is delivering by checking out the on-device LCD display. Don’t miss this awesome price! Get this Baseus Blade 6-in-1 charging station for $59.49 on Amazon while you can. Make sure to redeem promo code JF8DVF7C at checkout, and sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime for this deal and extra perks if you aren’t Prime yet. Save 41% on this multi-device AC and USB charging stationBuy now at Amazon Read...