Author: Eternity Lab

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As long as your router has not reached its end of life (EOL), the manufacturer will push firmware updates to it regularly. If you don’t update it, the network may begin to behave poorly over time. Issues you will notice include slower internet speeds, devices randomly disconnecting (or not connecting at all), reduced compatibility with devices using newer Wi-Fi standards, or the router starting to overheat. But probably the worst thing about not updating your router is that it becomes a sitting duck for hackers who know how to exploit vulnerabilities in old firmware.

For instance, in April 2026, the FBI issued a warning that a group of Russian military hackers called GRU (also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, and Forest Blizzard) had been taking over vulnerable routers, including EOL TP-Link routers, and changing their DNS and DHCP settings to allow them to steal sensitive information from individuals and organizations. In 2025, SecurityScorecard released a report about Operation WrtHug, a wide-scale hacking operation where over 50,000 EOL ASUS routers in the U.S., Taiwan, and Russia were used to spy on people and organizations worldwide.

The FBI advised that updating your router’s firmware is one of the best defenses against these hacks. On top of that, don’t use the router’s default username and password, and if your router has reached EOL status, you should upgrade it. The Bureau also advised that you disable the remote management interfaces on your router to prevent access from someone outside your home network.

The security risk of a router that never updates

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Hackers will always find new ways to bypass router security, which is why manufacturers are staying on top of it by pushing firmware updates to their routers on a regular basis. A common security vulnerability that is patched with firmware updates is remote code execution (RCE), where the hacker takes control of the router and runs malicious code on it. This code can often steal sensitive information, install malware, or add the router to a botnet. An example is CVE-2025-9377, which is a type of RCE that exploited a vulnerability in the Parental Control page of two EOL TP-Link routers: Archer C7 and TL-WR841N/D.

Another common one is an authentication bypass attack, which exploits a flaw in the router’s firmware to circumvent the need for login credentials. Netgear issued a warning in 2024 that some of its routers, such as RAX35, RAX38, and RAX40, were affected by this vulnerability. Users were at risk when a hacker obtained their Wi-Fi password or connected to a device on their network using an Ethernet cable.

These are just two examples, but in both instances, the manufacturer had to release a firmware update to address them. TP-Link was forced to do it even though they had stopped supporting the routers. They then advised their customers to upgrade to supported routers afterward. Generally, it’s good practice to upgrade your router every three to five years.

Should you turn on automatic updates or update your router manually?

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Modern routers usually come with automatic updates enabled. This works by downloading the update during the day and then installing it sometime during the night when you’re asleep, so you don’t experience any downtime. Perhaps the biggest advantage of automatic updates is that they ensure you don’t forget to update your router, meaning it will always have the latest firmware when it’s available. The biggest disadvantage is that you can experience bugs on day one if the manufacturer pushes a broken update. But if you’re a set-it-and-forget-it type of person, keep automatic updates on or enable them if they’re off.

Manual updates, on the other hand, ensure that you have full control over the firmware update process. You can effectively eliminate inconveniences caused by downtime (e.g., if you’re working or online gaming late at night, and the router decides to update). It also means that you have time to see how an update performs in the wild before you apply it to your router, avoiding frustrating bugs it may introduce. Manual updates are ideal if you’re a remote worker, gamer, or power user who can keep up with the updates by, for example, checking for notifications in the router’s app or admin panel and installing them when available. But you run the risk of forgetting or getting update fatigue, missing a critical update that patches a vulnerability in response to a new threat.

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Mini-LED TVs have become a common sight in the television market over the last few years. All major smart TV manufacturers offer mini-LED TVs as part of their product portfolio, and the technology has trickled down to some of the most affordable TVs. If we zoom out and look at the overarching display types like LCD, OLED, and QLED, mini-LED TVs are very similar to modern LCDs. However, instead of relying on regular LEDs for backlight, they use even smaller LEDs, which gives them better localized dimming control and boosts their overall brightness. Some of the best mini-LEDs offer serious competition to their OLED counterparts, which are known for their impressive picture quality.

Despite the several benefits offered by mini-LED technology, mini-LED TVs aren’t without notable disadvantages, such as narrower viewing angles and blooming, which can impact your overall visual experience. It’s important to understand these drawbacks if you’re shopping for a new smart TV and don’t want a rude surprise once you unbox your brand-new television.

Blacks can appear gray

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An inherent drawback of the mini-LED TVs (or any TV with an LED-based backlight system) is that they rely on LED backlighting to illuminate the visuals you see on the screen. The lack of self-emissive pixels, such as those found in OLED TVs, forces them to leverage local dimming to turn off the backlighting in parts of the screen to try to approximate true black. However, because even the most expensive mini-LED TVs have significantly fewer dimming zones than the available pixels, they are unable to offer pixel-perfect light control to produce the inky blacks you get with OLED panels. As a result, parts of a scene, which should be dark or pitch black, can often have a grayish tint.

More importantly, the quality of this black performance can vary depending on the number of dimming zones and a manufacturer’s dimming algorithm. While the more expensive mini-LED TVs typically have thousands of dimming zones managed by superior algorithms, the budget models may only have a few dozen or a few hundred. Consequently, blacks will appear much deeper in more expensive mini-LED TVs than on their affordable counterparts. As the black performance is a primary driver of a TV’s contrast ratio, the visual “pop” and color depth you experience will depend heavily on the local dimming zones in the TV you pick.

Blooming and black crush are notable concerns

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Another mini-LED drawback that stems from the presence of a backlight is blooming. It’s basically a display artifact in which the backlight shining on the back of the isolated bright objects “bleeds” into the surrounding darker areas. The reason for this is simple: because mini-LED TVs have a finite number of local dimming zones, they aren’t able to precisely target light to an individual pixel without it spilling over to the darker surrounding areas. It’s most noticeable with small, bright highlights in a scene, and also appears around subtitles, as those are often bright white against a black background.

The severity of blooming can vary depending on the number of dimming zones, with a higher number of zones resulting in tighter light control and less light bleed. While too much blooming can be distracting, you won’t typically notice faint blooming when you are engrossed in a piece of content. By contrast, there is no blooming on OLED TVs, as they can precisely target illumination at a pixel level.

Moreover, some manufacturers, in an effort to curb blooming, sometimes aggressively turn off the backlight in some darker areas of a scene. While this reduces blooming and results in deeper blacks, it can cause some shadow details to become less visible as they don’t get sufficient backlighting. This is referred to as black crush, and results in the loss of subtle textures in dark environments.

Poor viewing angles

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Most mini-LED TVs have VA (vertical alignment) type LCD panels, which are favored for their relatively high native contrast ratio but are notorious for poor off-axis viewing. Essentially, if you aren’t looking at them head-on by sitting directly in front of the screen, colors can look washed out and contrast degrades. This makes mini-LED TVs with a VA panel less ideal for a group setting, as some members of the group or family seated at the ends of the sofa won’t get the best visual experience. While some mini-LED TVs come with an IPS (in-plane switching) type panel, which offers superior viewing angles, these are relatively rare, as IPS panels have a lower native contrast ratio than their VA counterparts.

To alleviate this problem, some manufacturers — like Samsung — include a specialized wide-angle layer in their mini-LED TVs to improve the viewing angles of VA panels. However, even with this enhancement layer, they still can’t match the impressive off-axis viewing of an OLED. If you are concerned about viewing angles because you often watch TV with friends or family and want the best experience, it’s better to invest in a TV that either has a wide viewing angle layer or, better yet, an OLED panel. Keep in mind, however, that OLED TVs have their own disadvantages. 

Slower response time while gaming

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Although mini-LED TVs are generally a good choice for gaming because of their high peak brightness and low input lag, they can suffer from slower response times compared to OLED TVs. Because the liquid crystals in an LCD panel take time to physically shift and the backlighting needs to sync with the on-screen action, the transitions aren’t always instantaneous. This can result in ghosting or smearing in extremely fast-paced games, like first-person shooters, racing titles, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games.

However, for most content, this is not a dealbreaker. In fact, this can actually be helpful and a hidden advantage while consuming certain types of content. Although the faster response time helps with the overall clarity of a scene, it can cause stutter in low-frame-rate content, such as movies, because each frame is so sharp and instant, the jump between them becomes noticeable and can be jarring for the viewer. In these cases, the blur caused by a mini-LED TV’s slower response time can actually make the action in 24 fps content look smoother and more natural.

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Google surprised Android users in late November 2025 by enabling Quick Share to work with Apple’s AirDrop feature on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Quick Share and AirDrop are both device-to-device wireless sharing features, but Apple’s implementation may have inspired Google’s Quick Share. Before last November, Quick Share and AirDrop were not compatible, which meant that quickly sharing photos and videos between Android phones and iPhones was impossible. Google’s latest updates didn’t immediately fix the problem, as the feature was limited to Pixel devices. Pixel 10 owners could use Quick Share to AirDrop functionality, and the feature expanded to Pixel 9, Pixel 10a, and Galaxy S26 devices in early 2026, but a recent Google announcement brings good news for more Android users.

Google held a livestream on May 12 to announce several new features coming to Android devices in anticipation of next week’s Google I/O 2026. In addition to unveiling new Android 17 features, including Gemini AI features, and a major redesign of Android emojis, Google also announced that more Android phones will be able to share content with iPhones via the new Quick Share-AirDrop feature. Not all Android phones currently in use are compatible with AirDrop, but Google did announce a workaround for devices that aren’t: a new Quick Share feature that lets users generate a QR code and share files with iPhone users via the cloud. WhatsApp for Android will also support sharing files via Quick Share in the future.

Which Android devices will support AirDrop?

In addition to Pixel devices, Google mentioned several partners that will support the Quick Share-AirDrop functionality, including Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor, indicating that select devices from these vendors already support the feature, or will get it this year. The Samsung Galaxy S26, Google Pixel 10, Pixel 9, and 8a,Oppo Find X9 and N6,and Vivo X300 Ultra already support the feature

What’s curious about the Pixel devices on the list is that the Pixel 8 series is absent, even though the Pixel 8a is included. As for the Pixel 9 series, the Pixel 9a won’t get AirDrop support, according to a previous Google announcement. It’s unclear whether the Pixel 8 series will support the feature, as the devices aren’t included in the “coming soon” list of devices, which consists of:

• Samsung: Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip 6, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Galaxy Z TriFold
• Oppo: Find X8 series
• OnePlus: OnePlus 15
• Honor: Magic V6, Magic 8 Pro

Why isn’t AirDrop support coming to all Android phones?

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Google’s announcement doesn’t say which limitations may be preventing a broader rollout of the interconnectivity feature. It’s likely that more Android devices will support AirDrop in the future, especially phones released in the coming months and years, but that’s just speculation. Max Weinbach and 9to5Google explained what may be preventing Google from bringing AirDrop support to the wider Android ecosystem.

Google reportedly uses Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) technology, which requires a “chiplet-level networking tweak,” according to Weinbach. Android devices will need a flagship chip to support the feature, so entry-level and mid-range Android phones are not expected to get it. 9to5Google further explained that Google’s solution needs to ensure that both Quick Share and AirDrop work on supported Android devices. An Android user who owns one of the devices above should be able to share files with both Android users (via Quick Share) and iPhone users (via the Quick Share-AirDrop feature) simultaneously.

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Apple Maps may seem like the natural navigation choice for iPhone users, given that it’s an Apple app, but it’s not the only option. Google Maps is another alternative, and one of the most widely used navigation apps in the world.

Like Apple Maps, Google Maps also works in CarPlay, extending the navigation experience to the vehicle’s display. But Google Maps is about to gain a useful new feature in CarPlay, according to recent discoveries in the code of the app’s iOS version made by MacRumors. Google will seemingly soon integrate Gemini support in Google Maps for iPhone, bringing a hands-free navigation experience to CarPlay. Talking to an AI assistant about your surroundings and asking it to handle navigation is a safer option than manually tapping the screen to search for places and set a route.

Google added Gemini support to the iPhone’s Google Maps app in early 2026, bringing an Ask Maps feature to the app. However, the Ask Maps rollout was limited to U.S. and India users. Separately, Apple added support for voice-based conversational apps to CarPlay via the iOS 26.4 update released earlier this year. The update means apps like ChatGPT can work in CarPlay, though they won’t replace Siri as the default voice assistant in CarPlay. Instead, users would have to open an app before being able to interact hands-free with a different AI. The same experience is now likely coming to Google Maps in CarPlay.

The Gemini experience in Google Maps for Apple CarPlay

Google hasn’t announced the new Gemini features in Google Maps for CarPlay, but Aaron Perris and MacRumors have reported similar code findings in the Google Maps for iPhone app. A screenshot shared by Perris appears to indicate that Gemini will be available in Google Maps after the user agrees to new terms of service. The code strings also suggest that users will be able to interact via voice with Gemini, issuing navigation-related commands to the AI. It’s unclear how the voice chat will start, but it may mimic the iPhone experience for Gemini in Google Maps.

After opening the Google Maps app on the iPhone, users can tap the Gemini icon to start a voice chat, or use a “Hey Google” command. Opening the app is a key action, as Google can’t offer system-wide support for Gemini on a platform that it doesn’t control. Still, this would be a useful addition to CarPlay, potentially offering Google Maps fans a richer navigation experience than the current version.

However, conversing with an AI chatbot about navigation needs and points of interest on the map involves sharing personal data with Gemini, including location information. That’s probably why the feature will require the user agreeing to a new set of terms of use. It’s too early to tell how the Gemini-related data in Google Maps will be handled, but it’s something CarPlay users should keep in mind. As a reminder, AI companies may use chatbot data for training future models.

The Gemini navigation experience in Android

The Google Maps code Perris and MacRumors mentioned doesn’t reveal the full functionality of Gemini in CarPlay. It’s too early to tell whether Google will be able to match the Android/Android Auto experience in CarPlay. Google released a major Google Maps update in November 2025, which brought several Gemini-powered features to the navigation app for Android. Google showed off the new hands-free driving experience in Google Maps with the help of a few videos, like the clip above.

The user can ask Gemini about points of interest along the chosen route, and the AI will respond. In the video, the user wants to know whether there’s a restaurant nearby with vegan options, and then asks the AI whether there’s parking available. Once the user decides to go there, the AI updates the navigation route to include the new location. Drivers can also use Gemini voice chats to report traffic incidents via conversational language.

The conversation goes deeper on Android, where Gemini can integrate with other apps. The driver in the video above asks the AI to add a Calendar event, which has nothing to do with navigation tasks. That sort of cross-app experience will likely not be available on the iPhone and CarPlay, where Gemini interactions will probably be limited to the Google Maps app. Gemini can also be used in Google Maps on Android to share ETA with friends, another feature that may not be available on iPhone.

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Whenever you install an app, it requests some permissions, such as access to the camera, microphone, accessibility features, contacts, messages, and network. Some of these permissions are critical to the app’s functioning, while others could be unrelated. If you are in the habit of allowing every permission the app requests, you could be risking your phone’s privacy and security.

Some Android app permissions are dangerous — potentially allowing malicious apps to monitor your activity, capture images, record audio, track your location, display fake login screens, read and delete stored data, and even install other third-party apps. It’s not that these permissions are difficult to manage or revoke. But many people simply ignore them, assuming Android will automatically handle the permissions.

Keep in mind that not every app requesting these permissions is malicious. Even safe ones require a certain set of permissions to run effectively on your smartphone. For instance, a scanner app needs access to the camera, and that’s something you will need to allow. But if a calculator requests the same, it’s a cause for concern, because that particular permission isn’t related to the app. It’s not about denying every permission, but about identifying the ones that are unrelated. At the same time, there are some permissions that need to be handled more cautiously, because with access to these, a malicious app can exploit data on your phone or potentially turn it into a tracking device.

Accessibility access

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Accessibility features on Android are designed to help people with disabilities interact with their smartphones. For instance, reading on-screen text aloud falls under this category, and it’s useful for a few apps. But for others, especially those with malicious intent, these permissions can prove dangerous. An untrusted app with accessibility access can monitor the on-screen activity, identify taps, read messages, and interact with other apps. This means it may allow the app to hack your passwords as you type, perform transactions on your behalf, make purchases, and even change device settings. Additionally, with such permissions, you are allowing malware to spread on your device without detection, as the untrusted app can approve changes without explicit user approval.

That said, it’s important to realize that some apps do need these permissions to streamline your Android experience, especially for people with hearing difficulty or low vision. But these permissions should never be granted to apps that don’t help you with accessibility needs, say a game, or any app that you don’t trust or recall installing. To check which apps have accessibility access, open your Android Settings, go to Accessibility, and tap Installed apps or Installed services. Check the list of apps and services, and if you find any that shouldn’t ideally have accessibility access, tap the app, and disable the toggle for it.

Overlay or Appear on top

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Another app permission you should be really cautious about is overlay access. Depending on your smartphone, it can be called “Appear on top,” “Display over other apps,” or “Draw over other apps,” but it’s all the same. The permission allows apps to place content over another active application. It isn’t inherently dangerous, but when handled carelessly and allowed for suspicious apps, it becomes a major risk.

For instance, a messenger app will use overlay access to show chat bubbles on top of active applications. Similarly, an Android music app for audiophiles may use the overlay functionality to place controls over other apps. All that’s fine. Problems begin when a harmful app gets access to the overlay functionality, as this allows it to place fake login screens on top of your banking or social media app. It could also place transparent overlays, tricking the user into downloading malware-ridden files, granting other critical permissions, or sharing sensitive data. So, it’s important that you don’t grant overlay access to untrusted apps.

To verify apps that currently have overlay permissions, open Settings, go to Apps, tap the ellipsis near the top right, choose Special access, and tap Appear on top (or as it’s called on your phone). Now, look through the list, identify any app you don’t trust, and disable overlay permissions for all such apps.

Install unknown apps

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One of the things you should never do on your Android phone is install apps from unknown sources, unless you know where you downloaded the APK file from. It’s a major security risk, according to CISA. That’s why the functionality is disabled by default. But Android includes a permission that allows apps this privilege and lets them install unknown applications. When enabled, the app can install applications from sources other than the Google Play Store. This could threaten your smartphone’s security and privacy and compromise stored data.

Even if it’s not malicious, letting apps install other applications from unknown sources isn’t the smartest idea. First, it may add apps you don’t even need, taking up a significant share of storage and system resources on the smartphone. Additionally, when an app is installed via this route, it can often be challenging to wipe all traces of it later on. So, it’s best that you avoid that, at least for apps and sources you don’t trust. To check these permissions, go to Apps under Settings, tap the ellipsis, select Special access, and then choose Install unknown apps. If any app has access to this functionality, revoke its permissions.

Usage data access

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Usage data access is another risky app permission you should pay attention to. When an app has this permission, it can identify your service provider and language settings. Additionally, it can monitor your activity, including the other apps you use, how frequently you use them, and how much time you spend on each. While this may not sound alarming at first, the permission lets apps build a profile of you, revealing your habits and daily routine.

For instance, the application will know when you open banking apps, which parts of the day you spend on social media platforms, and when you typically use e-commerce services, along with how much time you spend on each. This information can then be sold to advertisers and data collection companies to deliver targeted ads.

To check which applications have usage data access, open Settings, then Apps, select Special access from the ellipsis menu, and tap on Usage data access. Look through the list for apps that shouldn’t ideally be collecting such data, and disable the functionality for them.

Contacts and SMS access

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Allowing apps access to contacts and SMS can lead to serious privacy risks. Let’s start with contacts. These are not merely phone numbers but also names, email addresses, and relationships. It’s sensitive information that shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. When you let apps access contacts, they can harvest that data and sell it to third parties. Many loan apps also use this information to harass and extort money from victims.

SMS also contains sensitive data that shouldn’t be shared with random apps, say a photo editing application. SMS messages contain everything from personal conversations to banking OTPs, which can be misused by apps. For instance, a harmful app can intercept OTPs from your bank to process unauthorized transactions. Also, if a malicious app somehow becomes the default messaging app, it’s all the more dangerous. So, you have to be extra careful with app permissions on Android.

To check which apps have access to contacts and SMS, open Apps under Settings, tap the ellipsis, select Permission manager, then go through the Contacts and SMS sections, and disable any untrusted apps on the list. Lastly, remember that not all permissions are inherently dangerous. It always comes down to the individual app that’s requesting the permission or already has it. The same permission that’s perfectly alright for one app can be a major risk when granted to another. So, make it a habit to only grant permissions that match the app’s core functionality. Everything else is best avoided.

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One of the top questions M4 Mac mini users have is why its power button is located on the bottom of the computer. While Apple itself justifies this design change by saying users shouldn’t need to worry about turning off their Macs every time they finish a session, the company also addressed the issue with their latest macOS 26.5 update.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple published a new support document to help users turn on a Mac mini, Mac Studio, or iMac without pressing its power button. While with MacBooks, users just need to open the display, this doesn’t work with the other Mac offerings. This is why the company is now adding a quick solution for “when you don’t have easy access to the computer’s power button,” which means, when you don’t want to lift up your M4 Mac mini or put your hand below the Mac Studio or iMac.

However, Apple imposes a few requirements before allowing users to seamlessly power on their Mac without pressing the power button. Besides updating to macOS Tahoe 26.5 or later, users should have a 2024 Mac mini or iMac, or a Mac Studio introduced in 2025 or later to take advantage of this functionality. If users meet these requirements, they can get access to this feature.

Here’s how to turn on your Mac mini without pressing the power button

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If you have macOS Tahoe 26.5 or later installed and a M4 Mac mini or newer device, you need to open the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Settings. On the Energy option in the sidebar, you can tap “Start up when power is connected” and choose Always.

Once you choose this option, the Mac can turn on automatically whenever it’s connected to power. Apple says it’s possible to choose between plugging the Mac into a power outlet or using an external power switch to restore power. If there’s a power outage in your home, the Mac will also turn back on once the power comes back. With that in mind, Apple also offers another important tip about connecting and disconnecting Macs from power.

For example, if your Mac has been connected to power since it was shut down, the company recommends a 30-second delay between disconnecting and reconnecting the computer to power, as it gives the Mac power supply enough time to discharge, and then understand the command it should be turned on again. While one could expect that Apple might tweak the design of the M5 Mac mini or future Macs to improve the power button location, this is the solution available at this moment.

Should you actually turn off your Mac computer?

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Apple’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Greg Joswiak said in an interview that he can’t recall the last time he shut down his Mac. He talked about that when questioned about the weird placement of the M4 Mac mini power button. However, more than PR language, this is actually an indicator of how power efficient the Mac is, and also that the computer can go through days turned on without making it slow down. With that in mind, Mac users in general can follow Joswiak’s routine and also never turn off their Mac.

The golden rule most people have been applying, and it’s one I’ve been using myself, is that I only turn off my MacBook if I’m staying more than a day away from my computer. Otherwise, if I have to work the following day, or if I’m just going away for a few hours, then I’ll leave my Mac in sleep mode, because it’s easier to just log back into work then having to turn the MacBook on and authenticate with a password instead of Face ID.

That said, the next time you face a dilemma on whether or not you should turn off your Mac, don’t stress about it. And, if you do, now there’s an easier way to quickly power it on without needing to look for the power button of your Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Studio.

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Some customers are throwing their Oura smart rings on the scrap heap as concerns mount regarding the company’s military partnerships. The trend, which spread across social media like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit, stems from an August 2025 press release in which the smart wearable maker touted its deepening relationship with the U.S. military, citing an upcoming factory in Fort Worth, Texas, and its deployment of programs created by controversial big-data broker Palantir Technologies. The Finnish company’s connection to Palantir, whose technology has been tied to the Trump administration’s controversial surveillance and mass deportation efforts, has sparked outrage and privacy concerns.

Oura has unequivocally denied selling its users’ data. According to a video posted by the company, its partnership with Palantir is completely separate from its consumer-facing business. Instead, Oura’s Enterprise Platform uses Palantir’s FedStart hosting environment, a popular software-as-a-service system that allows private companies to meet strict federal government security mandates without undergoing the onerous security clearance accreditation process. Oura uses Palantir’s cloud environment to host its processing of consenting military personnel’s biometric data. According to the company, customers sporting its new Oura 4 smart rings are not affected.

Some customers remain unconvinced by the company’s explanations. For one thing, Anthropic’s fallout with the Pentagon and Silicon Valley’s subsequent acquiescence testifies to both the administration’s willingness to pressure private partners and the potential fragility of its liberal resistance. While Oura currently refuses to sell its clients’ data, no legal rules guarantee these protections. Despite assurances, some customers argue the importance of boycotting companies tied to an increasingly pervasive American surveillance state and the administration orchestrating it. Ultimately, the saga points to broader concerns regarding users’ biometric data.

A mission-ready product

In the wake of the revelations, social media swirled with accusations about Oura and its contracts. Conspiracy theories accused the Finnish firm of secretly selling customers’ biometric data to the U.S. military. Meanwhile, videos showcased angry customers throwing their smart rings into the garbage. The reality of Oura’s contract with Palantir is more benign.

In an era in which cloud security is at a premium, Palantir’s FedStart has become an essential tool for private companies looking to participate in government contracts. Companies like Anthropic and Google depend on FedStart to provide services that meet federal security requirements. For Oura, such a partnership is essential to servicing its largest enterprise customer, the U.S. Department of Defense. Cloud security is critical in executing these types of contracts. In 2017, for instance, data from smart wearable Strava revealed the locations of secretive military outposts and intelligence stations. Oura’s partnership with Palantir looks to make this sensitive data more secure.

The Pentagon has deployed Oura’s multi-functional smart rings since 2019, following a series of deadly U.S. Naval collisions linked to sailor sleep deprivation. Since then, the company has partnered with the Navy to study crew fatigue and worked with the Army to track soldier biometrics during field exercises. According to press releases, Oura is also collaborating with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Naval Health Research Center to develop “mission-ready” products. The Pentagon even hands out the devices to select personnel as an employee benefit. However, the relationship between Oura and the Pentagon isn’t infallible. In 2025, for instance, the Pentagon nixed a $96 million contract with the company, following a series of protests by customers and competitors alike. Despite the setback, Oura continues to strengthen its ties with the U.S. government.

Ring around the Roe v. Wade

This is not all to say that advocates’ concerns are without merit. For one thing, wearables aren’t covered under HIPAA, meaning that customers must depend on company rules rather than medical privacy laws to protect their biometric data. To Oura’s credit, its privacy policy explicitly states that it does not sell customer data. However, the company remains bound by the U.S. Data Privacy Framework, and it can be compelled to provide customer data under court order. And while Oura has stated it will push back against surveillance and prosecutorial requests, critics argue that such lines-in-the-sand are at the company’s discretion.

As several high-profile tech firms cozy up to the administration, it is reasonable to question whether any company’s commitment to user privacy will remain steadfast. This is particularly true given Oura’s increasing overtures to the administration as it lobbies to circumvent onerous regulations. Furthermore, a slate of patent-infringement lawsuits filed to bully competitors out of the market add fuel to the speculative fire. And while neither of these factors mean that Oura is poised to change its privacy stance, Silicon Valley’s recent history of trading safety for regulatory favor isn’t encouraging.

One concern cited by users that abandoned their smart rings was Oura’s tracking of menstrual data. Previously a selling point, advocates now worry that it could be used to limit abortion access and prosecute women seeking to exercise their reproductive rights in a post-Roe v. Wade landscape. More broadly, the discussion highlights growing tensions around consumer privacy. As it stands, companies like Oura ask customers to depend on the moral fortitude of their executives to guarantee their right to privacy. Increasingly, it’s a bargain customers are unwilling to make.

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Drone warfare has become a central component of the ongoing war in Ukraine for both sides. After depleting resources via sustained conflict, Russian forces are maximizing their current inventory’s utility by repurposing or revamping drones rather than reserving them as one-off tools.

For example, there’s the Molniya drone, often made out of super lightweight materials like plywood to save battery while flying. As a result, the Molniya is being modified, with engineers removing the warhead to create the weight capacity for bigger batteries and advanced cameras. Since December 2025, these modified versions are called the Molniya-2R and house some surprisingly sophisticated components optimizing their reconnaissance.

According to the worldwide equipment guide provided by OE Data Integration Network (ODIN), these drones are now packing entire mini PCs onboard to control them. More specifically, a Chinese Mini PC F8 running Windows 11 and Raspberry Pi 5 are being connected to the drone, making it one of the weirder Raspberry Pi projects out there. A 10x zoom optical camera with three-axis stabilization replaces the warhead. ODIN also details that these drones are using Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, to send video back to base. There’s still a version of the Molniya 2 that uses the warhead, which is aimed at tanks, trenches, and fortified positions.

Russia and Ukraine innovate for war

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Russia’s evolution of the Molniya drone is a direct response to low-cost drones from both sides, largely defining the long-standing conflict. Ukraine’s air-to-air Sting interceptor, for instance, reportedly took down an entire Russian drone armed with an air-to-air missile. With so many methods preventing Russia from launching effective strikes, Putin’s people have had to increase the volume of drones per strike. Compared with 2025, Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure have increased more than 10-fold, Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, reports.

Defenses have evolved quickly, and Russia has been testing other types of drones in recent weeks. A report out of Metro TV on YouTube shows a new handheld drone interceptor. Shot like a pistol, the $500 Yolka fires an interceptor drone at rapid speeds, but much of its underlying tech hasn’t been disclosed. 

In comparison, Ukraine is developing unmanned ground robots and a points-based system that rewards drones for confirmed battlefield actions. Verified battlefield strikes with drones or destroying targets will net points that can be spent on additional gear. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has reported that in 2025, the points system was associated with over 800,000 Russian targets being hit.

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Although 3D printing equipment is widely available to consumers now, you could be forgiven if you assume 3D printing is nevertheless a niche hobby. What you might not realize is that exploring this technology can serve many practical benefits. With a 3D printer, you can generate various items that solve everyday problems.

Yes, the initial cost of a 3D printer may require an investment. However, in the long run, being able to 3D print certain useful items could eventually save you a lot of money. The more you experiment with different types of creations, the more comfortable you’ll feel with the process, perhaps reaching a stage where you feel ready to flex some creative muscle by generating more customized and unique designs. In the meantime, using a 3D printer to create basic household items is a smart way to get started with this technology.

Be aware that you can download designs for these types of items via sites and platforms like Printables. You don’t need any initial design skills or experience to get started. Of course, once you’ve had more practice, coming up with your own designs could level up your 3D printing game.

A 3D printer allows you to create many different types of cable organizers

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In our tech-heavy age, odds are good you’ve got more than a few unruly cables and connections running through corners of your home. Finding a way to keep them organized will reduce clutter and make the space more aesthetically appealing. While there are several gadgets you can buy to solve the problem of cable clutter, with a 3D printer, you can also find no shortage of designs for cable organizers that you can 3D print yourself.

These designs come in a range of options. Some consist of basic clips that hold cables together so your cable runs can be more streamlined. Others serve to help you keep USB cords and other small cables compact and portable for easy travel. The various designs available also tend to be geared to cables of specific sizes, so it’s important to explore your options to find which design is right for you. If you’re tired of looking at a mess of cables bundled up around your electronics, a 3D printer can effectively solve the problem.

With a 3D printer, you can save money on spare parts and repair services

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Obviously, there are some types of items you shouldn’t create with a 3D printer unless you’re experienced enough to genuinely know that what you’re creating is safe and reliable. If a car part is failing, you shouldn’t try to save money on repair bills by printing a replacement yourself. That said, there are many types of spare parts for common items that you could reasonably create with a 3D printer. And yes, in plenty of cases, you could avoid spending money on unnecessary repairs thanks to 3D printing solutions.

The types of spare parts and related items you might generate with a 3D printer can depend on your needs. For example, it’s easy to find plenty of downloadable 3D printer designs for screws, bolts, and door hinges, as well as holders for different sizes of drill bits, gears for mechanical tools, and much more. Along with saving you money, these types of 3D printer projects let you generate items efficiently in your own home, instead of requiring you to go to a store or buy them online. This can help you save time as well as money.

You’ll never lose small items with the right 3D printer projects

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There are quite a few household items you might be prone to misplacing due to their size and portability. Perhaps you can never remember where you put your keys. Maybe you struggle to find the remote control from time to time. The same could be said for your eyeglasses, wallet, phone, and any other such items.

A 3D printer can solve this problem too. Again, all you have to do is perform a relevant search on a 3D printer design platform, and you can find designs for key hooks, remote control holders, phone and wallet organizers, and other designs meant to help you stay organized.

Just remember that, if you’re in the market for a 3D printer, not all 3D printing equipment is created equal. You should do your research to make sure you’re buying a 3D printer that’s reliable. It’s also worth noting that, while many projects can offer genuine value, there are some 3D printer projects that are a waste of time. Look into what is and isn’t worth 3D printing to avoid spending time and resources on projects that don’t truly serve your needs.

Remember, 3D printing is both an art and a science. It takes practice to create complex, multi-part projects with this technology. However, as the ideas here indicate, if you’re willing to try some basic projects first, you’ll quickly learn how 3D printing can make your life much easier.

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If you’re still rocking an older AMD graphics card, the company is bringing an update that may breathe some new life into it. Considering 2026 is becoming an incredibly expensive year for tech, some users may be holding onto graphics for far longer than they care to admit. However, AMD is bringing AI-backed features to older components that have been available in the company’s most recent GPUs and cards.

Announced in a tweet on X by Senior Vice President and General Manager Jack Huynh, FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) will be arriving for the RDNA 3 architectures in the summer, and RDNA 2 users can expect the feature to arrive in early 2027. Though a certain leak may have spoiled the surprise, this can still be rather exciting news for those with older tech, as FSR 4 was originally only available on the RDNA 4 architecture. Additionally, FSR also recently received its own performance improvements.

FSR 4 is a machine learning algorithm that upscales images in real time. Essentially, it helps deliver smoother gameplay and more refined visuals. The first update for FSR came back in March 2026, though it was only available for RX 9000 graphics cards at the time. FSR 4.1 improves upon FSR 4 by offering better distance retention, improved particle effects, and clearer, less smeared images. With this update, certain AMD GPUs may no longer be something you need to consider replacing in 2026.

AMD brings AI upscaling to older cards

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If you’re running an AMD RX 7000-series graphics card, expect an FSR update sometime in July 2026. For those using cards in the RX 6000 series, expect to see FSR sometime in “early 2027.” For Radeon 7000 users, over 300 games will be supported at launch, including titles like “Forza Horizon 6” and “Cyberpunk 2077.” While this is likely good news for many, some may already know it’s been a long time coming from AMD.

Interestingly, this new update may have been accelerated by the gaming community, which gained access to the FSR 4 source code through a leak in August 2025. Users discovered that the company had actually been building code that allowed the AI upscaler to work with older cards. Thanks to the leak, users were able to run FSR 4 on older cards, which may have prompted AMD to act. What likely made bringing FSR 4 to other devices so difficult is that the upscaler relies on tech available specifically within the RDNA 4’s AI accelerators.

This is also great news for Steam Deck owners, as the device will gain FSR 4.1 when the RDNA 2 update is released. While users running cards in the RX 6000 range will have to wait until the summer, it’s still great to see a company go back and update older hardware for players. However, if you’re looking to speed up an aging graphics card, we know just the app for it.

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