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Car manufacturers are ditching CarPlay in 2026: Here’s why
Several car manufacturers are pulling back from Apple CarPlay, the smartphone-mirroring system that has let drivers use familiar iPhone apps on their dashboard screens for over a decade. General Motors is leading the shift, having already removed CarPlay and Android Auto from new electric models such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV, with plans to drop…
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These useful accessories help extend your HDMI setup on a budget
Engadget offers advice for people struggling with HDMI signal degradation when running cables over long distances, such as between rooms, floors or across a home theatre setup. Because HDMI signals weaken over distance—a phenomenon called attenuation—cables run beyond around 25 feet commonly suffer flickering, pixelation or complete signal loss, and newer high-speed cable standards are…
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If your laptop trackpad is popping out, stop using it immediately
A trackpad that pops out or bulges on a laptop is often a warning sign of a swollen lithium-ion battery, a fault that can render the device unusable and, in rare cases, pose a fire risk. Since the battery typically sits directly beneath the trackpad in most modern laptops, including MacBooks and Surface devices, chemical…
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Are Apple’s wired EarPods still worth buying?
Apple still sells its wired EarPods more than a decade after they debuted, and despite the dominance of AirPods, they remain a sensible choice for certain users. While AirPods have evolved to include noise cancellation, health tracking and even live translation, EarPods remain a stripped-back option that some people prefer for their simplicity and reliability…
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Here’s what you can use instead of a docking station
The article explains that USB-C hubs are emerging as a cheaper, more portable alternative to traditional docking stations for laptop users who need extra ports. While docking stations remain the more robust option for permanently expanding a desk setup, hubs offer a lighter-weight solution better suited to travel and occasional use, though this convenience comes…
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Never use harsh cleaning products to clean your smartphone — do this instead
Smartphones pick up significant dirt and bacteria through daily use, with studies suggesting the average handset is around 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat, making regular cleaning important. However, harsh products such as Windex, compressed air, hydrogen peroxide or bleach should be avoided, as they can strip the oleophobic coating on the screen, permanently…
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External HDD vs. SSD: What are the pros and cons of each drive type?
This article compares external solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs), explaining that while SSDs are the more modern technology, they are not always the better choice for every user. The decision matters because storage and RAM prices are currently high, making it less feasible for many buyers to simply purchase one of each…
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Apple’s new phones are here
Apple has released the iPhone 18 Pro alongside a wave of other tech launches, as covered in The Verge’s Installer newsletter. The Pro series receives what’s described as a “refinement year” upgrade, including a variable-aperture main lens, a new chip, improved battery life and new colour options including black, though prices for both new and…
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‘Cheap iPhone deal’: warning over scam sites selling latest Apple mobiles
Apple’s launch of its new iPhone Duo foldable and iPhone 18 Pro models has been swiftly exploited by criminals setting up fake retail websites to defraud eager buyers. Security researchers have recorded a sharp spike in scam domains registered around the launch, using words like “Apple” and “iPhone” to lure people searching for cheaper deals,…
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Multiple router antennas support faster speeds and simultaneous device connections
Modern Wi-Fi routers often ship with multiple antennas, sometimes as many as eight, because a single antenna can no longer keep up with today’s faster internet speeds and the sheer number of connected devices in a typical household. While it might look like a marketing gimmick, the extra antennas serve genuine technical purposes when paired…