Marinel Sigue/BGR

If there’s one useful iPhone feature that you’re probably overlooking on a daily basis, it’s the Control Center. It’s the easiest and fastest way to access your most needed shortcuts from literally anywhere on your phone. But the one place it becomes especially relevant is on your Lock Screen. The Control Center here saves you so much time when you just want to switch on your iPhone flashlight or turn on cellular data without the hassle of unlocking your device.

Whenever you open the Control Center from the Lock Screen, though, you might have noticed a short horizontal line under the battery icon. It starts from under the cell signal and goes to the middle of the battery. This line is essentially the Control Center indicator and lets you know you can access the Control Center by pulling down from that spot. It can be an eyesore, yes, but there’s actually a way to turn it off.

How to disable the line under the battery icon on your Lock Screen

Marinel Sigue/BGR

If you want to remove the line under the battery icon on your iPhone Lock Screen, you’ll need to disable Lock Screen access in Control Center. This is the only way it will disappear from view. That might feel like a significant compromise, considering how often you use the Control Center while your phone is locked.

But this is actually one of the settings to secure your iPhone. If your iPhone ever gets stolen, the thief won’t be able to enable airplane mode. This increases your chances of recovering your device. While modern iPhones can still be tracked offline via Bluetooth using the broader Apple Find My network, completely cutting off the device’s cellular and Wi-Fi connection makes continuous, real-time tracking much more difficult.

To turn off Lock Screen access to your Control Center, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Tap on Face ID & Passcode.
3. When prompted, input your passcode.
4. Scroll down to the section “Allow Access When Locked.”
5. Toggle off Control Center.

Afterward, the line under the battery on your iPhone Lock Screen will no longer show up. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll still see this line if you have Face ID on and your face is in view. That means if you’re the one using the iPhone, the Control Center will still be accessible as normal. However, if your face isn’t in view or you don’t use Face ID to unlock your iPhone, the line won’t be seen.

Source

Dadan/Getty Images

In the digital age, it’s not uncommon to have multiple online accounts. Each one of these has multiple barriers designed to prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access and stealing your personal and financial information, then using that information to commit fraud and other cyber crimes. Of these barriers, passwords remain one of the most important protections, often serving as the primary defense. Even with how important passwords are, though, myths about them have become so prevalent that those who believe them are essentially sitting ducks for determined hackers.

For example, you may have heard someone say that you need to change your passwords regularly. Many online accounts, especially from financial services or work, even force you to do it every couple of months. Some think passwords are irrelevant these days, while others say that less important accounts can safely use the same credentials. You might have even been told that you need to keep passwords short and complex, and that you should never write down your passwords.

But what if we told you that all these are myths? The sooner you stop believing them, the better your online security will be, because a hacked account can lead to serious losses that you cannot recover from, at least not easily or quickly, including credibility and maybe even thousands of dollars.

Password complexity matters more than length

Tada Images/Shutterstock

When you’re creating a password on some websites or applications, you’ll be told to use a combination of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The minimum number of characters is usually eight, and many of us stick to the minimum, thinking that as long as the password is complex enough, the length doesn’t matter. But it does. With the sophisticated tools that hackers use, these passwords are easier to crack compared to longer, simpler ones.

A hacker can usually crack an eight-character password within minutes, especially if you use common words and phrases. That is because it takes about 200 billion guesses to crack a password of that length, something a modern computer can do in seconds. The math is simple. It would take a maximum of 26 guesses to crack a single-character password (since there are 26 letters in the alphabet), 676 (26 x 26) guesses when it’s two characters, 17,576 (26 x 26 x 26) when it’s three, and so on. Each character you add to the password’s length increases the number of guesses exponentially. And, of course, the number goes up if you also use characters other than letters, but that added heft won’t matter much to a decent cracking algorithm on a fast computer.

Bump that up to 16 characters, though, and it will take thousands of years for that same computer, making 100 billion guesses per second, to complete a brute-force attack (as long as you’re not using common words in your password). This is where the computer will try every possible combination until it finds the right one. This is not to say that complexity doesn’t matter, but you can see how length is powerful, even without mixing up the characters.

You should change your passwords regularly

Olekstock/Getty Images

The longer you use a password, the more you increase the likelihood that hackers will figure it out. To keep them guessing, you need to change it regularly (e.g., every 90 days). This myth sounds like sage advice, considering a brute-force attack can take months or even years to succeed if you have created a strong password. Also, if you’ve been hacked, eventually the password will become useless once you change it. But security experts advise against changing your password regularly, with the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advising against forced password changes, saying that users who find it inconvenient will just end up creating a password similar to the old one. That means hackers can easily figure it out, leading to more hacked accounts if the user has reused the password elsewhere.

Essentially, the more you reset your password, the weaker it tends to become as you seek something memorable (to you), which is why the NCSC and other security experts don’t recommend organizations force employees to change passwords regularly. What you can do instead is come up with a strong password. As mentioned earlier, length and complexity are key, so make it nice, long, and unique to each of your accounts. Yes, this sounds like a chore, but we have random password generators these days, and you can easily store all of them in a password manager instead of having to memorize them.

Two-factor authentication is useless if you have a strong password

Mapo/Getty Images

A strong password might be resilient against brute-force attacks, but it can still be tricked out of you using social engineering techniques like phishing. You still need two-factor authentication (2FA) to effectively prevent unauthorized access to your account when your password is stolen. Two-factor authentication is a strong barrier because it requires you to complete two steps for successful authentication. The first one uses information you know, with a password being the most common form. It’s the second factor, something you own, that trips hackers up because it could be a phone or other device where you receive a login code or push notification, or a security key you need to insert into your computer or phone.

Two-factor authentication is not foolproof, though. A hacker can still get the code sent to your phone through advanced social engineering techniques or SIM swapping. For push notifications, they can carry out a push attack, which overwhelms you with tons of notifications in the hope that you will accidentally approve one. A security key is much harder because it requires the hacker to physically get hold of it.

However, it’s better to have 2FA than not. Also, when you get requests to authenticate access when you didn’t trigger them, it can be a useful alert. This will give you a chance to change your password on that affected account and any other place you’ve used it (this is why security experts advise that you use a unique password for each account).

You should never write down your password

Ktstock/Getty Images

Password managers have removed the need to remember every single one of your passwords, but you’re not always going to have access to them. We all know this to a certain degree and end up using weak, simple, and easy-to-remember passwords for convenience. This can be even riskier than simply writing down the password in a book and storing it somewhere secure, which most experts agree can be acceptable for some people in some situations. That’s the biggest caveat of a physical password book — where you keep it. You obviously shouldn’t be carrying it around with you, so good locations include a locked drawer, a safe, or somewhere that is less obvious.

What you shouldn’t do is write the passwords down on your computer (e.g., on Sticky Notes or in Microsoft Excel). Also, try to only write down the passwords of less important accounts. For the more critical ones, try to memorize them, even if they’re 16 characters long. There are several tricks available for creating strong passwords that you can easily remember. For example, you could take an idea from What3Words, which is a mapping system that creates a unique three-word address that corresponds to a three-by-three-meter square somewhere in the world. You might get something like “camps.sling.hiker” for a national park. Those three words are called an ordered triple, and you could either use the generated phrase in your password, or come up with your own ordered triple to use as a password — just make the words meaningful to you and remember their order.

Reusing passwords isn’t a big deal if the account isn’t important

M-Production/Shutterstock

You might have heard that it’s okay to reuse passwords if the account is less important, since your more important accounts are protected by strong, unique passwords. But if hackers get into the less important accounts, they can use those credentials to hack the other accounts you’ve reused them on. According to Cloudflare, password reuse is rampant, with 41% of logins it blocked between September and November 2024 coming from credentials identified in data breaches. That means reusing passwords is quite common and dangerous. Of those blocked login attempts, 91% came from bots, indicating a cyber attack known as credential stuffing. This is when credentials stolen from a data breach on one site are tried on various other unrelated sites.

Those less critical accounts also might contain information like emails, phone numbers, and addresses. Hackers can use these, for instance, in a phishing attack to obtain the credentials of your more critical accounts. So a strong, unique password is essential for social media, retail, news, gaming, and other sites that people deem of low importance. Thinking up passwords and remembering them is hard, but as we have shown while debunking the other myths, there are many tools at your disposal that can help, including random password generators, password managers, and even notebooks.

Source

Alina Mosinyan/Shutterstock

Smartwatches have evolved quickly over the years. Upon their initial release, some might have dismissed a smartwatch as a niche or novelty item. However, it’s now clear that these devices offer many practical benefits. Along with helping users track their health, smartwatches can potentially reduce smartphone dependency by letting users receive notifications without having to check their phones. That said, before making an investment in a smartwatch, it’s worth considering some of the potential overlooked costs this purchase may involve in the long run.

In general, it’s also wise to consider your options when buying this type of device. For instance, if you’re not sure you can justify the cost of an Apple Watch, or if you simply don’t use Apple devices, you may be interested in less expensive Android-based smartwatches. You can also check the rankings of affordable smartwatch brands to find a budget-friendly option that will serve your needs. Just be sure to account for all long-term costs (not all of which may be monetary) associated with your purchase to ensure buyer’s remorse doesn’t creep in.

Some smartwatches require separate data plans

Simpson33/Getty Images

Some types of smartwatches (specifically LTE, or Long Term Evolution, models) allow you to make calls and send texts or messages independent of a phone. Although a smartwatch generally relies on your phone’s data plan to serve these functions, there are instances when this isn’t the case. For example, a smartwatch typically needs to be within a certain distance of your phone to use its data plan. Even beyond LTEs, it’s possible your smartwatch will require its own, separate data plan, depending on factors like your country and your current provider.

Research this factor when looking into smartwatches you’re thinking of buying. Although a separate data plan for a smartwatch usually isn’t particularly expensive, it nevertheless represents a potential additional cost you should know about before spending your cash. In many cases, a separate data plan is unnecessary, but again, numerous factors (including how you plan on using your device) can influence whether this is an expense you need to be prepared for. It’s also worth noting that smartwatches that allow for the type of functionality that would require a separate data plan tend to be more expensive than other models in the first place.

A smartwatch may pose privacy issues

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

As alluded to earlier, not all of the hidden costs of a smartwatch are necessarily financial costs. Some of them may also involve privacy concerns. For example, in a study published in the academic journal npj Digital Medicine, researchers found that many companies manufacturing and selling smartwatches and other such wearable technology don’t provide the kind of robust and transparent privacy policies that offer consumers peace of mind.

The researchers specifically discovered that multiple companies involved in the study don’t clearly report how they do or do not share user data with governments and third parties. When these companies do share user data, they might fail to provide thorough reports explaining their reasons for doing so. In addition, the research shows that these companies often lack clear and effective processes for notifying users of data and security breaches.

These issues might be significant enough to scare some consumers off from the idea of buying a smartwatch at all. If you have privacy concerns, but you’re otherwise committed to the idea of equipping yourself with a wearable, be sure to carefully check all relevant privacy policies before buying a device.

Smartwatches may require subscriptions

Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

Again, you may be looking into smartwatches for a range of reasons. Perhaps you’re looking for a device that can help you track your health and fitness. If so, you should be aware that, to use all of a device’s fitness-tracking capabilities, you might have to subscribe to a service or app like Fitbit. Even if you can access some of the features at no extra cost, a subscription is often necessary to fully take advantage of what the device can do.

Account for the specific reasons you’re thinking about buying a smartwatch before placing an order. Research how your planned usage of the device may affect how much you spend on additional services in the long run. While these added expenses might be worth it to you to maximize your enjoyment of a smartwatch, you don’t want them to take you by surprise.

None of this is meant to discourage anyone from buying a smartwatch. As noted at the outset, these devices can be quite useful. You should simply know what you’re getting into when investing in any piece of tech. That involves learning about potential hidden costs. In the meantime, if your next smartwatch won’t be your first, it could also be helpful to look into ways to use or repurpose an old smartwatch instead of letting it collect dust.

Source

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Now retired, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) were a pair of planes designed to transport orbiters from their landing sites back to Kennedy Space Center throughout the Space Shuttle Program, one of the most expensive space missions of all time. The two planes were Boeing 747s modified to carry massive spacecraft through the air.

While the space shuttle may look like an airplane, it doesn’t fly the same way. They lack the turbofan engines typical of commercial planes, and are literally shuttles for people and cargo that use rocket engines to launch and simply glide when it’s time to land. So, the 747 stepped in as the space shuttle’s transportation between landing and launching sites.

In choosing an aircraft for this job, NASA narrowed its options to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and the Boeing 747. It ultimately chose the 747 for two main reasons. First, the design of its wings were better suited for carrying an orbiter. Second, the C-5 Galaxy is a military plane, so NASA would have had to borrow it from the Air Force. Instead, the agency could simply purchase 747s and have complete ownership, an option that became cheaper due to an economic downturn in the 1970s.

How a Boeing 747 was modified to carry a space shuttle

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Once NASA had the planes, it needed to make them capable of flying with a space shuttle mounted on top. The Shuttle Carrier Aircrafts are different from typical Boeing 747s — the rare airplane that still uses floppy disks — in several key ways. The interior was stripped of seats and other furnishings, with only the first-class cabin remaining for the crew. In its place was equipment that would allow the crew to monitor electrical loads before, during, and after flights. 

Three struts were installed on top of the plane’s fuselage to hold the orbiter, as well as two additional rear stabilizers on either side of the existing horizontal element, to keep the aircraft steady during flight. Before the first shuttle mission could take off, the SCA were used for tests that took place throughout 1977, four years prior to the first launch. These included free flights, where the modified 747 would release the orbiter at high altitude — by detonating explosive bolts — so the shuttle crew could check the spacecraft’s systems and practice landing.

What happened to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft?

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft were retired following the final space shuttle mission in July 2011. One of the aircraft, NASA 911 , took its final flight in February 2012, a brief trip from what is now called the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark in Palmdale, California. It has remained there since then, as a loan from NASA and on display for visitors.

The NASA 905 aircraft was used to ferry the four retired orbiters to museums across the U.S. before ending up in one itself. Its final flight was from Edwards Air Force Base to Space Center Houston, where you can find it displayed with a replica space shuttle on top. Though Boeing stopped producing the 747 in 2023, these planes remain in use (even serving as America’s doomsday plane despite the 1980s tech), and will always hold an important place in the history of space exploration. 

Source

relesio/Shutterstock

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When you shop for a new mouse, wired or wireless, you’ll notice a couple of specifications listed, like DPI and hertz (Hz). DPI stands for dots per inch and denotes the mouse sensitivity, which is usually adjustable in varying increments. The Hz, or hertz, is the polling rate, which details the number of times the mouse reports its position per second. So, 125 Hz would mean the mouse reports 125 times per second, while 2,000 Hz would translate to 2,000 times per second. Both DPI and hertz numbers matter, as they tell you more about the performance and capabilities of the mouse, especially while playing games. However, the polling rate is an important metric that too many people overlook when choosing a new mouse.

Polling rate basically tells you how fast and how often the mouse is communicating with your computer. A higher number means more updates, more responsive movement, and better control, the latter of which improves precision for certain activities. In a game like Counter-Strike 2, where speed and precision can make all the difference, even by just a few milliseconds, higher polling rates enhance the user experience. For graphic design or digital illustration applications, it can mean smoother line movements and reduced lag during adjustments — latency can introduce complications when scrolling the mouse.

Ultimately, that’s why you’ll see mice — like keyboards — relegated to certain use cases or activities, such as a gaming-specific mouse. If you’re simply browsing the web or doing basic tasks, like updating some spreadsheets or documents, a high polling rate is not necessary at all. But if you’re gaming competitively, something like the Logitech Pro X2 Superstrike Lightspeed gaming mouse, with an 8 kHz (8,000 Hz) polling rate, could give you quite the edge.

Polling rate is important for all peripherals and controllers

Ekkaphan Chimpalee/Getty Images

Believe it or not, the polling rate is also important for other computer peripherals and devices, including game controllers. Even with consoles, which are like computers, the wireless or wired devices update their movements at various intervals. This is how sometimes a wired device may feel more responsive or slightly faster than a wireless device, since wired peripherals often have higher polling rates with less interference or latency. Controller manufacturers don’t always list the polling rate or response times, but it is something you see often with pro-grade or competitive controllers.

Back to the computer mouse, or a gaming mouse in this case, where the same principle applies. A higher polling rate leads to less interference or delay, less latency, and better precision when you’re making incredibly minor or quick adjustments. That’s why an upgraded gaming mouse is one of the cheapest ways to upgrade your gaming station, alongside some other quick swaps. It’s not necessarily a specialized use case, though, in the sense that it’s exclusively needed, since you can play games fine with any mouse, and a high polling rate or high precision mouse isn’t always going to be a game-changer depending on what you’re doing. 

If you’re gaming, working on graphic design or digital illustration tasks, or anything that requires accurate cursor movements, though, it will help. It may also make a small difference if you’re using a high refresh rate monitor above 120 Hz. A lower polling rate can make the mouse seem sluggish or delayed on high refresh rate displays.

What are some mouse options with high polling rates?

Pissanu Prempree/Getty Images

Polling rates vary, with high-performance options starting at 1,000 Hz and spanning up to 8kHz (8,000 Hz) or beyond. The standard Razer Basilisk V3 has a maximum polling rate of 1,000 Hz. There are also upgraded versions with higher rates. Meanwhile, the Logitech already mentioned (G Pro X2 Superstrike), Razer Viper V3 Pro, Corsair Sabre V2 Pro, and Mchose L7 Ultra all have 8K polling rates. Those are all excellent choices if you’re looking for gaming mouse candidates, as well. The Razer, Corsair, and Logitech models are great all-around, and Mchose is viable for a mid-grade option. If you prefer wired, you might consider the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 with an 8K (8,000 Hz) polling rate. Alternatively, Asus ROG, Keychron, and Redragon make some solid options with high polling rates.

Among that list, you’ll find models across a wide price range, all of them offering high polling rates. A few are also among the best gaming mice overall, and, more importantly, span a range of capabilities and prices, giving everyone a chance to find something that matches their preferences and needs.

There are other options that prioritize unique mouse designs, which may or may not improve your experience during other tasks. For instance, Amazon users call one $50 Logitech ergonomic mouse a game-changer for wrist pain. In general, ergonomic mouse designs can actually help reduce pain if you spend a lot of time at your desk or computer. It presents another reason why you might want to break from the norm of your average mouse, polling rates notwithstanding.

Source

Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock

Tablets are one of the more versatile computing options on the market, as they offer the portability of a mobile device and performance that can compete with Chromebooks and laptops. They can be used for everything from note-taking to mobile photography, and from browsing social media to professional video editing. In fact, there’s enough crossover between what a tablet can do and what smartphones and laptops can do that it can create confusion around which device a user truly needs.

Adding to the complexity is the wide range of tablet options on the market. Top brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google make flagship tablet offerings that dominate headlines, but names like TCL, Amazon, and Lenovo make budget-friendly tablets that stay close on their heels. In all, there are a lot of mistakes that can be made when purchasing a tablet. If you don’t know your needs going into the process, it can be easy to end up with a model or build that doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

In addition to understanding your own tablet needs, it can be helpful to understand some common mistakes people make when buying a new tablet. Often overlooked are things like screen size, connection options, and even whether an Android tablet or an iPad best suits a user better. Being aware of such mistakes can be the difference between a tablet that’s put to use regularly and one that mostly gets forgotten in a backpack sleeve or a desk drawer, so let’s explore some common mistakes tablet shoppers make.

Skimping on internal storage

Abalcazar/Getty Images

Storage capacity can seem like just another spec on the side of a box, but it can be easy to underestimate how much digital storage you need in a tablet. Base model tablets are equipped with modest storage options, and if you’re shopping on a budget, it can be easy to talk yourself out of what may seem like an unnecessary expense.

Apps and their accompanying media need to be installed directly to the tablet’s internal storage, and tethering your tablet to an external drive would limit your mobility while it’s in use anyhow. This is why it’s important to identify exactly how you plan to use a tablet. Apps, photos, videos, music, and downloaded offline content will add up quickly. One way to determine how much storage you’ll need is to look at your current devices. Check how much space you’re utilizing and weigh it against how you plan to use a tablet.

While some tablets offer expandable storage by way of a microSD card, for most purchasers the storage capacity chosen at checkout is what you’ll have to work with. Budget-friendly tablets can come with just 64GB of storage space. This can make sense for those who plan to do little more than browse social media and check in on emails and other communications. But a tablet’s operating software takes up a large chunk of that space, so moving up to at least 128GB is often worth the expense.

Choosing the wrong OS

Koshiro K/Shutterstock

While there are only a handful of operating systems available for tablets, choosing the right OS for one’s needs is often made without a thought. But the software you plan to use, as well as the hardware you’re already using, should have some say in your new tablet. iPhone and Mac users will find features and benefits in the iPad lineup that allow it to integrate seamlessly with those devices. iPadOS also comes with access to the Apple software ecosystem.

And while the Apple iPad is the best tablet you can buy according to Amazon users, Android tablets are known for being more versatile. Brands like Google, Samsung, and Lenovo all utilize Android on their tablets, and budget options include brands like Onn, TCL, and Xiaomi. Those on a budget also don’t want to make the mistake of spending too much based solely on an OS. The Amazon Fire tablet lineup relies on Fire OS, which is based on Android, with refurbished Fire tablets starting as low as $50.

A tablet OS is also important for ensuring you have access to the tools you need, as missing out on that software is another mistake to be wary of. Productivity-minded tablet users, for example, may want to consider something out of the Microsoft Surface lineup. It runs on the Windows operating system, and in the same way that iPad users can expect native integrations of Apple software, so too can Surface tablet users with Microsoft software.

Purchasing a Wi-Fi-only model

Demaerre/Getty Images

Knowing where you’re going to use it is just as important as knowing how you’re going to use it. While most users are likely to choose a Wi-Fi-only tablet when they’re configuring it, many should consider going with a model that can connect to cellular networks. With only Wi-Fi connectivity on board, users can only connect to the internet when in range of a Wi-Fi connection. For those who only plan to use a new tablet around the house, that won’t be much of an issue. But for those who do a lot of work on the go, leaving yourself dependent upon public Wi-Fi may leave you hurting for speedy internet when it’s needed most.

Opting for cellular connectivity with a tablet certainly can be expensive. The base model iPad jumps from $349 for the Wi-Fi-only model to $499 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, for example. Pricing will also increase across the board for Android tablets with 5G connectivity, and that doesn’t even include the cost of a monthly carrier plan. But anybody who needs to move around while working may be making a major mistake by avoiding the additional expense. A tablet with some kind of cellular data plan opens up the door for maximizing the device’s capabilities from just about anywhere.

Buying more tablet than necessary

tinhkhuong/Shutterstock

There’s no shortage of flagship tablets on the market, with Google, Samsung, and Apple all making models that rival laptops in terms of performance. Tablets are even rivaling laptops in terms of screen size, with models like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra featuring a 14.6-inch display. Apple also includes a 13-inch option among its iPad Pro models. But for the majority of users, the day-to-day reality of owning a tablet won’t require the performance of a tablet like the Apple iPad Pro M5, the screen real estate of expensive Samsung tablets, or the flagship features available from other top brands.

Even mid-range tablets can be more than some users need, and the mistake of over-purchasing can eat up a lot of budget that could otherwise go to app purchases, a Bluetooth keyboard, a stylus, or other accessories that can improve the tablet experience. This is another mistake that can be avoided simply by being honest with yourself about how you plan to put a tablet to use. Those who want some quiet evenings with an e-book won’t need the same level of processing power that a video editor will need. Similarly, those who work remotely may want to put more emphasis on ensuring a tablet has a quality front-facing camera than on purchasing enough storage space to house a suite of creative apps.

Not budgeting for accessories

Ridofranz/Getty Images

A tablet is one piece of tech that can be vastly improved with the right accessories. There are plenty of cool USB-C gadgets for the iPad available, and an accessory like a stylus can make creative work a lot more effective on any kind of tablet. As well, because many tablets are blurring the line with laptops in terms of performance and screen sizes, pairing the right accessories can be a cheap way to turn your tablet into a laptop replacement entirely. For those who have big ambitions for the work they plan to do on a new tablet, not budgeting for the right accessories is a major mistake.

In fact, most tablet shoppers should allot a certain amount of money to accessories, as things like cases, covers, and screen protectors can go a long way toward making the tablet last longer. It can be a bit of a reckoning to go through the checkout process only to get the new tablet in your hands and realize it needs more in order to truly be an everyday device. Before purchasing a new tablet, ensure you’ve got it spec’d generously enough that it will meet your expectations as a computing device while at the same time leaving yourself enough budget to accessorize it as needed.

Source

MAYA LAB/Shutterstock

Any gamer knows the tech that fuels their hobby is constantly evolving and developing. As such, a graphics card (or GPU) that may have once served your needs might no longer be ideal. That’s not to say it’s always obvious when it’s time to replace this critical element of a gaming setup. Instead, you need to be on the lookout for signs indicating now’s the time to replace your graphics card.

When you do seek a replacement, be sure to do your research first. For example, you may check the rankings of major graphics card brands to see which are most reliable. Once you find a suitable replacement, you can also look into ways to repurpose your old graphics card. Just keep in mind that, even if your current GPU still seems good enough, making an upgrade once you become aware of any of these key red flags can make a major difference in how enjoyable your gaming experience is.

Your current graphics card is three years old

RSplaneta/Shutterstock

Not all of the signs that a graphics card needs to be replaced consist of obvious performance or quality issues. Sometimes, you simply need to account for the age of a GPU to determine if replacing it now is your best bet. Technically, a graphics card may last about a decade before it fails completely. However, the rule of thumb is that a graphics card will typically only remain current and capable of playing modern games for about five years.

That’s not to say you should wait until your graphics card is five years old before replacing it. If it’s over three years old, now may be the right time to start exploring replacement options. Naturally, this gives you more time to look into what’s currently available, as well as what is likely to be available in the near future.

It also addresses the common iteration rhythm of many graphics card brands, in which a new version every two years is the norm. Replacing a graphics card after three years is thus a smart way to ensure you can accommodate the technological and hardware demands of the most recent games on the market. 

The fans are making excessive noise

Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock

You should expect your graphics card’s fans to make some noise when gaming. However, it’s best to pay attention to any changes in the amount of noise they make. You may need to start looking into a replacement graphics card if the sound from the fans is getting significantly louder than you’re used to hearing.

First, you need to confirm that the graphics card’s fans are what’s generating the noise in the first place. Start by checking inside to confirm all the fans are running properly. If they are, unplug the graphics card and clean off any dust that may be affecting the performance. Then, try running the PC without using the graphics card to see if you still notice the noise. If so, you may have another issue that needs to be addressed. On the other hand, if you only notice the excessive noise when the GPU is in operation, that’s usually a sign that you’re due for a replacement.

Various display issues are becoming more common

Andreypopov/Getty Images

As you may have guessed, given the function and purpose of a graphics card, signs that it’s time for a new GPU often involve display problems. These can take a range of forms, including strange or unexpected color dynamics, pixelation issues, relatively frequent blue-screen or back-screen errors, screen flashing or flickering, and, of course, the inability to reliably maintain a high frame rate.

Keep in mind that these issues aren’t merely annoying. During gaming, they can genuinely detract from your own performance. That’s frustrating during a single-player game, but if you’re competing with others, inconsistent visuals due to an old or failing GPU can mean the difference between pwning noobs or being pwned. Again, this example highlights just one of the ways making an upgrade when your graphics card no longer supports your gaming can make the overall hobby much more fun. No one likes losing because their hardware is a little outdated.

The PC crashes during gaming or GPU-intensive tasks

Thidarat Kwangten/Shutterstock

Has your PC started to crash more often in the middle of gaming sessions? Or, does it crash when you’re using it for other tasks that might theoretically be graphics-intensive? This could indicate the burden placed on your graphics card is too great for it to handle. Replacing it may be key to avoiding these types of crashes going forward.

It’s also worth noting that certain popular Nvidia GPUs should now be upgraded even if they’re otherwise performing reliably. The company has made updates that will render these cards obsolete in the coming years. It’s best to get ahead of these shifts and make an upgrade sooner rather than later.

Yes, a new GPU requires making an investment, but just remember the benefits of replacing a GPU that’s no longer serving its purpose. If you’re a dedicated gamer, your GPU plays a vital role in your sessions. Paying attention to these signs can help you clearly identify when you should swap yours out for a new one.

Source

Isvyatkovsky/Getty Images

Advertisements are constantly popping up in our faces, and are increasingly present on smart TVs. Companies that own and sell smart TVs, more specifically the operating systems they run on, are relying on ads as a tactic to increase profits. They’re making money not just from other businesses that pay for ad space, but also from the people using the televisions. The increased access and versatility of streaming on TVs, devices, and apps have raised the need for advertising. The reason your smart TV contains so many ads is because of multiple subscription services blended with more affordable entertainment selections.

Smart TVs allow access to multiple streaming services, and they’re available for a relatively low price –- like these smart TVs for less than $100 on Amazon. Most TV owners use their smart TV to watch multiple streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Yet before even selecting the application in question, users are bombarded with ads on the TV home screen. Nielsen reported that in the first quarter of 2015, around 72.4% of American viewers watched TV on ad-supported devices such as smart TVs, cable, or broadcast, while streaming services accounted for 42.2% of total viewership. Advertisers want those numbers to go up with reports that they are spending more on over-the-top ads.

Why do you get targeted ads on your smart TV?

Rui Xu/Getty Images

In the United States, viewers are consuming a large majority of TV through streaming platforms. When it comes to total viewing time, Americans are spending about 10% more time watching streaming services over cable. While you’re watching your smart TV, the content you pick can be tracked. Connected TV (CTV) advertising is one example where a TV tracks what viewers are watching and what device they’re watching on. As viewers stream their new favorite show or movie, their data can be monitored and sent back to the streaming platform.

Brands that seek to advertise a certain product can use this data to place targeted ads for individual users alongside the content they’re watching. For example, if you have an Amazon Fire TV connected to your Amazon account, you could see ads prompting you to add a specific item to your cart. You can prevent your smart TV from spying on your activities, but it may require some hunting in your device’s settings. But, you can be shown ads even before you reach the top streaming platform you’re looking for. The home screen of your smart TV can be littered with advertisements showing you a future movie to stream, an upcoming show, and even products to buy.

How to protect your privacy and cut down ads on your smart TV

Vladans/Getty Images

Smart TVs provide a seamless way to watch your favorite shows without having to pay for cable or broadcast. The fact is, though, that no matter which option you choose, you’re going to see ads. But you can better control them on a smart TV. Through what is called Automatic Content Recognition, a smart TV can track what you watch, including networks, channels, ads, and programs. Depending on which TV you own, settings like these can be turned off.

Many smart TVs also come equipped with an advertising ID that can be used to present more personalized ads to you. The shows and movies you watch on a smart TV can be used to show customized ads for you. You won’t be able to delete or turn off this feature, but in some cases, you can reset it. This will make ads less personalized, at least for some time — you may have to reset this feature every few months.

There’s really no getting rid of advertisements entirely on a smart TV. You may be able to go into settings and reduce the amount of ads shown, but they won’t truly go away. Whether it’s YouTube ads that impact your TV-watching experience or advertisements that take up too much of the screen, unfortunately they’re not going anywhere.

Source

Habanero Pixel/Shutterstock

The Apple iPod is an iconic portable music player that helped to revolutionize the music industry, much like the CD player did before it. Apple discontinued the iPod line back in 2022, but over the past several years, the platform has seen a resurgence as Gen Z has started flocking to iPods.

In a world of digital streaming via apps like Spotify, with its uncomfortable truths around artist treatment and content ownership, the iPod is rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Many look at iPods as a sign of resistance against not owning albums anymore, being fed music by an algorithm, and the erosion of a distraction-free listening experience. But with so many iPod models having been released over the years, it’s hard to know which ones are best if you are thinking about buying one in 2026.

Some iPods are better than others for a number of reasons. You need to ask yourself what you want from your iPod before picking one up. You might want a color screen, you may need touch capabilities, the ability to play games, and an OS that is easy to work with in 2026. Most of all, you probably don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars just to get back into the iPod world.

1st Generation iPod Shuffle

Distinctive Shots/Shutterstock

This one might be a little controversial, but it certainly captures the essence of a simpler time in digital music. That’s because the iPod Shuffle line is unique in that it doesn’t feature a screen at all. Instead, you navigate with only physical buttons, which helps to make the iPod Shuffle incredibly small and compact.

The iPod Shuffle was a great portable music player for those with an active lifestyle, and it remains so even today. You can easily take this iPod with you to the gym or on your next run. It’s super light and fits almost anywhere, whether you use a clip, strap, pocket, or simply slide it into a sweatband. It’s also extremely affordable — as of this writing, it’s easy to find a unit online for around $20.

While 512 MB isn’t a lot to work with (it’s probably only good for a single playlist), it’s enough to get you through a workout. And a 1 GB version also exists for those who needed more music — just remember that it lacks a screen, so searching can be a pain. The built-in USB plug, the only iPod to ever feature this, also makes it a true all-in-one music device.

4th Generation iPod Nano

Ana Belen Garcia Sanchez/Shutterstock

The iPod Nano was a popular version of the iPod that was incredibly small, slim, and featured a color screen. This allowed the Nano to not only play music, but also serve as a video player. The 4th Generation iPod Nano is a fan-favorite since it brought back the tall, slim design after Apple briefly experimented with a squat Nano, and because it still retains the classic Click Wheel.

What makes it a lot of fun, outside of the up to 16 GB of storage, is the curved vertical screen that can rotate to activate Apple’s Cover Flow mode. It also features an accelerometer that can be used for shaking the device to trigger the shuffle feature. Voice recording is also possible if you have an Apple-compatible microphone.

The only thing this model lacks is the camera that the 5th Generation iPod Nano has, but that’s probably not something you’re interested in if you’re primarily here for the music player. And considering the price gap between used 4th and 5th Generation iPod Nano models, sticking to the 4th Generation that sells for around $20 to $40 is a solid choice if looking to get back into the platform.

5th Generation iPod Touch

By the time the iPod Touch came around, Apple knew the writing was on the wall for the iPod brand. The Touch line was essentially an iPhone with all of the phone parts removed from the device. The iPhone was so popular that this move made a lot of sense at the time, as both a cost-cutting measure and a way to draw more people into the Apple ecosystem.

The 5th Generation iPod Touch was slimmer than previous models and featured a 4-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It was also high-definition, helping to blend the world of music and video together. If you are looking for an iPod but want the ability to enjoy video content, the 5th Generation iPod Touch is a great iPod to pick up. It also supports Bluetooth, meaning modern headphones will work with this iPod.

Considering that the 5th Generation iPod Touch uses iOS, it’s far more functional than a typical iPod and uses the more common Lightning plug. Prices for the 5th Generation iPod Touch vary, but you can pick one up from around $30 to $60. This is a pretty reasonable price for an iPod with tons of modern features.

Click Wheel iPod

petersemler-photography/Shutterstock

Released in 2004, the Click Wheel iPod was the first major step forward in the iPod line. It used the 30-pin Apple dock connector and supported USB for charging and data transfer, a cable type that Apple would rely on up until 2012 when it moved to the Lightning connector. It also featured the new Click Wheel control that was introduced on the iPod Mini.

When looking back at the iPod’s heyday, the Click Wheel model is the one that is probably best remembered in the cultural zeitgeist. It retains the classic design of the original, while still looking modern and fairly sleek in 2026. It removes the extra command buttons to rely solely on the Click Wheel, a now iconic interface that would continue on the iPod until the Touch line.

One benefit of the popularity of the 4th Generation iPod is that it’s still affordable today on the secondhand market. You can find a unit for around $50 to $90 on sites like eBay, but you may need to replace the battery due to its age. Thankfully, even in 2026 it’s easy to purchase a new battery on sites like Amazon.

Methodology

Ryanmatthewsmith/Getty Images

When selecting the iPod models for this feature we placed a strong focus on affordability. There are a number of iPods that regularly sell on the secondhand market for hundreds of dollars, but don’t offer many features that make them better than more affordable ones. So to help ensure you get the best bang for your buck, we highlighted iPod models that are not only excellent music players, but are also incredibly affordable. 

We looked to experts and the recommendations of iPod users to see what their favorite models were and which ones they are still using in 2026. Another consideration was the ease of finding replacement parts for various iPod models, as older devices will often need some level of servicing. Finally, we also relied on the experience and expertise of the writer of this article, who still actively uses several iPod models in their daily life.

Source

RSplaneta/Shutterstock

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Thermal paste, the unsung hero of every PC on the planet. Without it, CPUs would burn up. Since its introduction into the PC market, there have been advances in thermal paste tech to ensure that components stay cool, whether that’s conductivity or even more recent experiments, like adding in ceramic powder to boost the cooling abilities of the grey sludge. Relatively new on the scene are thermal pads, but tests by experts have found that thermal paste still cools more effectively than pads, thanks to its ability to spread into areas the pad can’t.

However, these tests still found that pads were only a few degrees hotter than paste, making the margin of difference thinner than ever. In the last few years, as arguments over how much thermal paste needs to be used raged across the web, thermal pads have entered the scene. In the desktop scene, manufacturer Honeywell’s option, PTM7950, has become a recommendation for prospective upgraders and builders.

So much so, major PC YouTube channel, Linus Tech Tips, now sells its own variation on it. Pitched by Honeywell (link will download PDF to your device) as best for “high performance IT/Enterprise computing”, PC gaming enthusiasts have started to recommend it as well. Some have found that thermal pads offer an easier method of application on complex hardware like graphics cards. 

What are thermal paste and thermal pads?

Damian Pawlos/Shutterstock

As PC parts, especially powerful desktop CPUs, get hotter, it has become more necessary for thermal paste to take center stage in PC discussions when deciding on a build. Adding paste has been a thing since the 90s, with some forum goers claiming they began using it on Intel’s 386 processor. In some cases, like embedded or industrial PCs, thermal paste will be used to dissipate the heat via the case itself, like a giant heat sink. You can even replace the thermal paste on your laptop.

A thermal pad is a slightly thick material made up of silicone or paraffin wax, used in the same way that paste is, to dissipate heat. While thermal paste has to be added by the user, pads are often already included on some shipping products. For instance, AMD and Intel have now begun to include pads on their products, as it’s far easier for beginner PC builders to apply, as well as cleaner.

Thermal pads can be cut and shaped, as well as reused. Pads might become misshapen over time, but the entire thing doesn’t need to be scrubbed away to be reused. Since their introduction, companies providing parts and components for single-board computers or embedded systems have offered thermal pads for the much smaller hardware.

Thermal pads vs paste? It’s up to you

9Robot/Shutterstock

Ultimately, the thermal paste versus pads is a long conversation that thankfully others have already waded through. Even as advances to the tech are made, thermal paste has the upper hand of being just that, a mushy paste, reaching into spots a thermal pad could never reach — like microscopic gaps.  This isn’t to say that thermal pads should be outright ignored.

In real-world testing across the web on gaming PCs, temperatures have been kept solidly below the threshold, despite the drawbacks. In 2024, CyberCPU Tech found that three different brands managed to keep temperatures on the CPU below 65 degrees Celsius (149 Fahrenheit). However, Gamers Nexus, in a 2020 test, found that Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut paste managed to beat out the IC Diamond Graphite Pad by a few degrees across benchmarks. At the 270 Watt range, the thermal paste hit 28.03 degrees Celsius (82.45 degrees Fahrenheit), and the thermal pad reached 32.84 degrees Celsius (91.11 degrees Fahrenheit).

Further tests done over the years have all found similar results, with temperatures not rising out of control, but a definitive gap between the performance of the two materials. In most cases, it becomes an affordability decision. Arctic MX-4 thermal paste will cost at most $8.99, whereas the PTM7950 thermal pad can run you between $10 and $25.

Source