All posts tagged: alternatives

Toyota’s EV sales surge 139% as drivers seek gas alternatives

Toyota’s EV sales surge 139% as drivers seek gas alternatives

Published by skeptic

As drivers look for alternatives amid rising gas prices, Toyota has been an unexpected winner, with EV sales more than doubling in March. Toyota EV sales surge as drivers switch from gas cars Toyota, the most outspoken automaker in not going all-in on electric vehicles, has benefited from surging gas and oil prices due to the US-Iran war. The Japanese automaker reported on Monday that global battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales reached 35,525 in March, an increase of 139% from the same period last year. March was Toyota’s best EV sales month to date as interest in electric vehicles continues rising amid higher gas and oil prices. Advertisement – scroll for more content Toyota saw the highest growth in its home market of Japan, with close to 3,500 EVs sold, an increase of 4,117% from March 2025. The company sold another 32,000 purely electric vehicles overseas, more than double the previous year’s figure. In Europe, Toyota’s battery electric vehicle sales rose 85% in the first quarter to 25,640 units, led by the updated bZ4X. The …

The best Zoom alternatives in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

The best Zoom alternatives in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

Published by skeptic

Video calls are exhausting. You’re juggling screen sharing, managing participants, and dealing with spotty connections. The last thing you need is headache-inducing software. Zoom became very popular during the pandemic, but it’s not your only option for video conferencing. Google Meet integrates seamlessly with your calendar. Microsoft Teams works better for enterprises. Platforms like Whereby require zero downloads. I’ve tested these platforms many times over my career, reviewing B2B software, watching them evolve with each major update. Some got better, others stayed stagnant, and a few surprised me with features that genuinely improved my workday. Get more in-depth ZDNET tech coverage: Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome and Chromium browsers. What is the best Zoom alternative right now? Google Meet takes the top spot for most teams. The platform supports up to 100 participants free and works directly in your browser. I particularly appreciate how it automatically pulls meeting details from Gmail and Calendar. No more copying links between apps. Also: The best business messaging apps The best Zoom alternatives of 2026 Show less …

The Pentagon is developing alternatives to Anthropic, report says

The Pentagon is developing alternatives to Anthropic, report says

Published by skeptic

After their dramatic falling-out, it doesn’t seem as though Anthropic and the Pentagon are getting back together. Instead, the Pentagon is building tools to replace Anthropic’s AI, according to a Bloomberg conversation with Cameron Stanley, the chief digital and AI officer at the Pentagon. “The Department is actively pursuing multiple LLMs into the appropriate government-owned environments,” he said. “Engineering work has begun on these LLMs, and we expect to have them available for operational use very soon.” Anthropic’s $200 million contract with the Department of Defense (DOD) broke down over the last several weeks after the two parties failed to come to an agreement over the degree to which the military could obtain unrestricted access to Anthropic’s AI. While Anthropic sought to include a contractual clause that prohibits the Pentagon from using its AI for mass surveillance of Americans or to deploy weapons that can fire without human intervention, the Pentagon didn’t budge. Instead, OpenAI swooped in and made its own agreement with the Pentagon. The Department of Defense — known under the Trump administration as the …

Can’t do a plank? A Pilates instructor shares three beginner-friendly alternatives that still build core strength

Can’t do a plank? A Pilates instructor shares three beginner-friendly alternatives that still build core strength

Published by Jenni Sidey

Planks are often seen as the gold standard for building core strength, but they’re not the only way to do it. Jenny White, Pilates instructor and founder of The Kai Life, says there are other options that still train stability and control. “There are many reasons why someone can’t do a plank, including being a beginner and not having built up the core strength yet, being postpartum, or having limitations like an upper-body injury or sensitivity in the lower back,” she says. You may like Give the moves below a try. Practiced consistently, they can help you build core strength just as effectively as a plank. 1. Dead bug Reps: 10-15 Lie on your back, with your knees raised and bent to 90°. Extend your arms up over your chest. Engage your core to gently press your lower back into the floor. Slowly extend one leg forward, keeping it just above the floor, and lower the opposite arm behind your head. If your lower back rises off the floor, stop lowering your leg just before …

5 natural alternatives to artificial sweeteners – and some are ‘antioxidant’ powerhouses

5 natural alternatives to artificial sweeteners – and some are ‘antioxidant’ powerhouses

Published by Daniella Wilson

For decades, artificial and low-calorie sweeteners were positioned as a smarter alternative to sugar as a way to add sweetness to food and drink without the calories or blood sugar spikes. Products like aspartame and sucralose have found their way into everything from diet fizzy drinks to yoghurts, but over time their health credentials have been called into question.  Emerging research has raised questions about the long-term effects of regular sweetener consumption, including potential impacts on gut health, appetite regulation, and metabolic function. Meanwhile, a wider shift away from ultra-processed foods towards whole, minimally processed foods has led many people to reconsider what they’re actually putting in their bodies. The result is a renewed interest in alternatives to sweeteners that offer natural sweetness along with some added nutritional benefits that synthetically-derived sweeteners lack.  I’m a health and nutrition coach and author of How to Understand and Balance Your Hormones, and these are five natural alternatives to sweeteners I would recommend trying if you want to steer clear of artificial products. These should still be consumed …

Let’s explore the best alternatives to Discord

Let’s explore the best alternatives to Discord

Published by skeptic

Social community platform Discord is preparing to require users to verify their age by the second half of 2026, and users are concerned about the privacy of uploading a government ID or face scan to the network. While users can still access most features without verification, many remain uneasy giving more information to a company that suffered a breach last year that exposed the IDs of around 70,000 users.  For some users, this is motivation enough to seek out alternative platforms that prioritize security, privacy, or simply offer a different experience. Here’s a look at the most promising Discord alternatives, from open-source and secure options to voice-first platforms built for hardcore gamers.  Stoat Image Credits:Stoat Stoat (formerly Revolt) stands out as the closest Discord alternative in both design and usability. As an open-source project, it gives users more control over their data and appeals to those who value privacy and transparency. Overall, the platform is fairly easy for Discord users to pick up, offering similar text and voice channels as well as community servers.  However, …

3 Discord alternatives that don’t require you to hand your life over

3 Discord alternatives that don’t require you to hand your life over

Published by skeptic

Discord has been making the rounds lately, and it’s not for good reason. Starting in March 2026, Discord is going to require users to upload their photo ID or a face scan if they want to have an unrestricted account on its platform. The platform will still be usable for most folks if they don’t decide to upload a scan of their face or their photo ID, to be fair. But seeing as I would prefer not to have my data taken and stored by yet another company, I’m likely going to be jumping ship to one of the many alternatives. If you’re looking to do the same, but don’t know where to go, I’ve got your back. There are plenty of free alternatives to Discord that eager users can try, especially if they’re worried about uploading their private information. TeamSpeak is an excellent alternative to Discord It looks and functions nearly identically to its biggest rival If you’re hoping to jump into a Discord alternative that has the most minimal learning curve possible, TeamSpeak …

Developing safe, sustainable alternatives to hazardous substances

Developing safe, sustainable alternatives to hazardous substances

Published by skeptic

DESIDERATA accelerates the transition to safer chemistry by developing sustainable alternatives to hazardous substances used in lubricants, coatings, and chemical building blocks. DESIDERATA brings together 16 partners from 13 European countries under Horizon Europe (CORDIS) to translate the EU’s Safe and Sustainable by Design framework into real-world chemical innovation. The project focuses on developing safer alternatives to hazardous flame retardants, plasticisers, and surfactants, working across industrial environments to drive systemic change. The challenge: Diverse substances of concern in industrial sectors and their replacement Harmful properties: Medium/long-chain chlorinated paraffins, halogenated flame retardants and PFAS pose significant health and environmental risks. Crucial functions: These substances play a vital role in enhancing the performance and safety of numerous products by serving as flame retardants, plasticiser, and surfactants. Need for alternatives: The EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability calls for safer and sustainable alternatives to support environmental protection and supply chain resilience. Our mission: Advancing chemical innovation The project contributes to the transformation in industrial value chains such as metalworking, construction, injection moulding, and 3D printing by developing novel substitutes …

Best Alternatives to Google’s Android Operating System (2026), Tested and Reviewed

Best Alternatives to Google’s Android Operating System (2026), Tested and Reviewed

Published by skeptic

Want Google out of your life? It’s pretty easy to find alternative search, email, and photo storage providers, but it’s much harder to come up with a mobile operating system that’s free of Google. The obvious answer is an iPhone, but if you want Google out of your life, you probably don’t want to immediately replace it with Apple. While a little better from a privacy standpoint, Apple is still not great. Fear not, privacy-conscious WIRED reader, there are alternatives to Android. Technically speaking, most alternative mobile operating systems are based on Android, not alternatives to it, but these various projects all remove Google and Google-related services (to varying degrees) from the system. Typically that means all the Google services are stripped out and replaced with some alternative code (usually the micro g project), which is then sandboxed in some way to isolate it and restrict what it has access to. The result is a phone that is less dependent on Google, pries less into your privacy, and sometimes might offer a more secure experience. …

Facelift Alternatives for Red-Carpet-Worthy Skin

Facelift Alternatives for Red-Carpet-Worthy Skin

Published by Daniella Wilson

While deep plane facelifts sweep Hollywood, there’s also a boom in non- and minimally-invasive treatments promising tighter, younger looking skin, sharper contours and a revitalized appearance, without the downtime required after going under the knife. Think noticeable results minus knives, scars or weeks of recovery — ideal as a highly tolerable refresh, especially during award season.  Thermal Energy Many treatments utilize thermal energy, delivering controlled heat via radiofrequency, infrared or lasers to stimulate collagen production, tighten skin and contour the body without surgery. “These delivery systems support reorganizing of the structural framework of the dermis, resulting in tighter, more toned and firmer skin overall,” says dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. “They provide a more gradual tightening and toning as existing collagen contracts and new collagen and elastin are produced.” Cutting out the scalpel, these therapies work best to tighten the neck, create a sharper jawline, improve crepey skin around the eyes and create a subtle but lifted appearance that still looks natural, Shamban explains. Patients Must Be Patient Don’t expect one-and-done; allowing time for results is …