Pitch Seara/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Cheap headphones aren’t necessarily as reliable and often don’t offer much in the way of audio fidelity. Maybe that’s the problem, because you can technically compare a pair of affordable “ears” to cheap shoes. Both get the job done but won’t impress you, and both will fall apart pretty quickly…but they won’t cost you much. However, once you’ve shelled out a few hundred dollars (or more) for one of the best major headphone brands, like Sennheiser, it’s a…
Author: Amelia Scott
Creative Family/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The screen is one of the most delicate parts of a smartphone and official replacements can be expensive. Therefore, many phone buyers opt for a screen protector to protect their screen. Although a screen protector isn’t much use in a serious drop, it can protect the screen from bumps, impacts, and scratches. There’s no shortage of screen protector brands on the market, from well-known mobile accessory companies to cheap alphabet soup brands from China. You can also…
Mamun_Sheikh/Shutterstock Knowing when an app is trying to tell you something isn’t always easy. Technology companies often rely on icons to alert users to certain information (for example, the half-moon symbol on an iPhone), but this information is not conveyed correctly if the user does not know what the symbol means. On Google Maps, users may see a “Z” symbol when navigating. It appears in a small circle next to the journey time when a route is open and meets an ecological objective. If you see a small Z symbol…
AI has infested virtually every corner of modern society. If it’s not people claiming that AI is essential to your job security, it’s AI that is actively replacing you in your job. And then there’s all the damage caused by AI data centers. The funny thing is that a movie from the 60s predicted it. Type of. “2001: A Space Odyssey” is widely considered must-watch for all movie fans, whether they are fans of science fiction or not. It’s considered a visual masterpiece that still holds up today, but even the visuals pale in…
There are a number of features built into this package, but of course the main feature is BeyondCry, which was co-developed with Zoundream and uses AI to interpret baby cries and sort them into broad categories. He’s not going to hear a scream and translate it into something like, “I want to play with my teddy bear.” Instead, it will tell you if the cries indicate hunger, discomfort, or drowsiness. However, to actually use this feature, you will need to create a separate account with Zooundream and agree to its dedicated privacy policy. I reviewed the features using the included…
Photomet/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. If you’ve ever been on a video call where your laptop’s built-in camera leaves you looking washed out, grainy, or pixelated, you’re probably not alone. Most budget and mid-range laptops you can buy today offer webcams with resolutions between 720p and 1080p, and they generally don’t offer much beyond the standard video and audio that would suffice on most video calling platforms. Laptop webcams must fit into thin bezels on most laptop screens, and with such a small…
Couture/Shutterstock The audio brand known as Sennheiser has been around since 1945 and created its first microphone on a small farm in Germany around 80 years ago. Since then, the company has become known for its high-quality audio products. In particular, many of their headphones over the years have received consistent praise from the audiophile community. Given that Sennheiser was founded in Germany all those years ago, one would expect its name to have some sort of meaning in its native German language. But Sennheiser does not actually translate, or…
Oleksandra Vinogradova/Getty Images Buying a used laptop or other tech gadget is an easy way to save money. You can find good deals on the manufacturer’s website, third-party marketplaces, or from an individual selling their laptop. In an era where RAM and SSD prices are rising, buying a used laptop may seem like a smart move. But the idea has its drawbacks, and these can be deal-breakers even if the laptop itself is heavily discounted from the original price. The biggest problem when buying a used laptop is that you…
Shisheng Ling/Getty Images We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. There are several scenarios in which a power bank offering more than just recharges comes in handy. For example, if you are traveling to another country, you might consider a power bank that connects to the internet via an eSIM and helps you with communication, navigation, translation, and posting on social media. Another scenario is where you’re a coffee lover who usually goes for a morning run, but sometimes has to leave your drink behind for a…
Dallas Thomas/BGR Although both are owned by Google, Waze and Google Maps are different in many ways. One of the most obvious differences (and one of the main reasons why Waze is better than Google Maps) is the fun icons and emojis that Waze has been featuring for years now. As soon as you launch the app, you’ll immediately be greeted by a group of small cars driving alongside you. Some look cool in sunglasses; others sport a cheerful dog costume instead. Then, as you drive to your destination, other…