All posts tagged: gadgets

These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost

These New Smart Glasses From Ex-OnePlus Engineers Have a Hidden Cost

Published by skeptic

Lots of smart glasses have AI bots inside them now. The one in L’Atitude 52°N’s glasses is called Goya, named after Francisco Goya, the famous Spanish artist who painted renowned masterpieces of romanticism. CEO and founder Gary Chen, who has worked on wearable devices for companies like Oppo, OnePlus, and HTC, says his company’s glasses are focused on travelers, with AI features that act like a tour guide and talk about all the paintings in famous museums. “Basically, you can say, ‘Hey, Goya, what is the story about Mona Lisa?’” Chen says. “You can ask anything and, with your permission, they will take a photo to analyze what’s in front of you.” I ask if you could quiz it about perhaps the most famous Goya painting, the terrifying, Gothic horror-esque image of Saturn devouring his own son. “Yes, yes,” Chen says, “It can also give you some recommendations about restaurants.” Berlin-based L’Atitude 52°N is a new player in the smart glasses space, selling its first pairs on Kickstarter in September 2025, where the campaign surpassed …

The best juicers in the UK for blitzing fruit and veg – tested | Gadgets

The best juicers in the UK for blitzing fruit and veg – tested | Gadgets

Published by Sam Flores

Long before we became a nation of smoothie lovers, with blenders gracing our worktops, the health-conscious kitchen was always home to a juicer. Those early models could be tricky to keep clean, or require herculean effort to produce a mere dribble – but modern juicers are more efficient, easier to maintain, and can often produce more than just fruit juice. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. There are some solid reasons to buy. Homemade juice is the original health drink: squeezed straight from fruit and vegetables, it has none of the preservatives sometimes found in shop-bought blends, nor is it treated to make it last longer or stay the right colour. Juicers can, however, leave behind some of the important fibre found in fruits’ skin and flesh. Another argument in favour of fresh is the taste. If you haven’t savoured it recently, you may not appreciate how delicious a glass of homemade juice can be: it’s like tasting it for the first …

The Best Automatic Litter Box of 2026: Petkit and Litter-Robot

The Best Automatic Litter Box of 2026: Petkit and Litter-Robot

Published by skeptic

Compare Our Picks Others We Tested Photograph: Kat Merck Litter-Robot 5 for $799: While on a recent trip, I received an urgent message from my house sitter. “I think I broke the cat turd tilt-a-wheel,” it read. I knew he hadn’t broken the Litter-Robot, but I also knew it was doing what it always does, even when I’m at home: throwing arbitrary error codes. Laser Board Fault, Extended Scale Activity, Overloaded Globe … I never know why these codes are triggered, only that they are frequent and almost always incorrect. They also stop the machine’s operation until someone can physically go troubleshoot on the LR’s LCD screen, since these errors aren’t resolvable in the app. But aside from this issue, the base model Litter-Robot 5 does offer some improvements and design tweaks over the base Litter-Robot 4: easier assembly and waste removal; the aforementioned LCD screen; and, if you have a Whisker+ subscription, a new WasteID feature, which is supposed to distinguish between feces and urine. Unfortunately, this has only worked intermittently in my four …

Don’t plug these 7 common household gadgets into an extension cord – according to an electrician

Don’t plug these 7 common household gadgets into an extension cord – according to an electrician

Published by skeptic

Nina Raemont/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Heavy-duty appliances overload cords, leading to dangerous overheating and fire risks. Appliances over 1,800 watts need a dedicated wall outlet for safety. Daisy-chaining extension cords is a major fire hazard and should be avoided. While extension cords are a standard fix for reaching distant wall outlets, they aren’t a universal solution for everything that plugs in. There is a critical distinction between low-power “electronics” and high-draw “appliances.” Although items like refrigerators and toaster ovens are technically electronic, they operate on a different level in terms of amperage requirements. Because these appliances pull significantly more power to function, standard extension cords can quickly become a safety hazard rather than a simple convenience. Why you shouldn’t plug everything into an extension cord Extension cords are manufactured with a maximum current-carrying capacity, determined by the wire gauge used in the cord. For instance, a 16-gauge extension cord can handle up to 13 amps, while a 14-gauge cord can handle up to 15 amps (or 1,800 …

Why fixing your gadgets often costs more than replacing them

Why fixing your gadgets often costs more than replacing them

Published by Jenni Sidey

A cold wind was whipping down the street when I pulled up to the concrete apartment block in Cambrils, Spain. I parked, pulled out my phone, and texted the repairman that I had arrived. I had only been in Spain for a few weeks when the hinge supporting my laptop screen gave out, causing it to flop around like a broken limb. I had already made the trek from the village where I was staying to the nearest repair shop once before, but the repairman’s first fix (epoxy that reinforced the hinge) only lasted a few days. I dropped it off again, but there was a catch for the pickup this time — Spain being Spain, the shop had closed early for the weekend, so the repairman offered to meet me at his house.  That’s how I found myself idling on a random side street, half-expecting the repairman to emerge from the shadows with my laptop tucked under his trench coat. The reality was far less noir: He showed up, handed over my computer, and …

20+ pocket-sized tech gadgets packed with purpose (and they’re on sale)

20+ pocket-sized tech gadgets packed with purpose (and they’re on sale)

Published by skeptic

This gadget isn’t for your pockets, but it is pocket-sized. The She’s Birdie is a personal safety alarm with a wildly loud siren built-in. I’ve carried this on my keychain for almost 7 years, and it’s a great investment for college students, parents with small children, older adults, and more, but for less than $30, I recommend everyone scoop one up.  When the top pin of the Birdie is pulled out, a 130db siren sounds and a strobe light flashes for up to 40 minutes. To put that in perspective, a 130db sound is equivalent to a jackhammer and nearly equal to the sound of a jet engine in the distance, according to the Hearing Health Foundation.  Also: My favorite personal safety alarm is as loud as a jackhammer Source link

Psst. Our Readers Are Looking at These Gadgets Before Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Even Starts

Psst. Our Readers Are Looking at These Gadgets Before Amazon’s Big Spring Sale Even Starts

Published by skeptic

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is days away. From March 25 to 31, the online retailer will offer discounts on loads of items, making it a good time to upgrade or replace home and personal tech.  It’s the first big sale of the year, making it tempting to get good deals on older generations of tech you’ve had your eye on, especially ahead of new releases expected this spring and fall. CNET readers are already taking a peek at what’ll be on sale, and what they’re shopping for may surprise you.  If you’re curious about what other people are adding to their carts, this roundup gives you a look at the crowd favorites. We rely only on anonymous click and purchase trends from our Data and Commerce teams to highlight the most popular picks of the moment — no personal data involved. Here’s what they’re eyeing ahead of Wednesday’s launch to help you start your shopping list.  TECH DEALS OF THE WEEK Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to …

Why I trust these USB-C connectors to power my most expensive tech gadgets

Why I trust these $5 USB-C connectors to power my most expensive tech gadgets

Published by skeptic

USB-C breakaway connector pros and cons Pros Excellent range of swiveling and rotating. Smooth action with just the right amount of magnetic force holding the connector together. Can carry 240W of power. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. The other day, a friend of a friend brought over their car for me to check out. It had a broken USB-C port on the dashboard. There’s always a tale of woe that comes with a damaged vehicle, especially when the owner feels even slightly responsible. This story was no exception.  Apparently, a smartphone was plugged into the port when some kittens (yes, kittens!) darted into the road. Cue sudden braking, the phone flying across the car, and the cable yanking out of the port, breaking it in the process. But the story doesn’t end there.  Also: It’s time to admit your router’s built-in firewall isn’t enough – here’s what is The owner took the car to the dealership, where they were charged more than $100 in diagnostic fees to confirm the port was broken. The …

Up to 54% Off Space-Saving Organizers and Gadgets

Up to 54% Off Space-Saving Organizers and Gadgets

Published by Sam Flores

If your version of spring cleaning involves decluttering, you’ll want to pay attention to what’s on sale at Walmart right now. The retailer’s sale section has tons of space-saving organizers and gadgets for up to 54 percent off. To help you shop, I gathered some of the best deals currently available. The best deals on space-saving organizers and gadgets at Walmart These 23-gallon storage bags can be used to store a number of things — like winter clothes, holiday decorations, extra bedding and more. The bags are made from a durable, water-resistant material and can hold up to 60 pounds. You get four bags in a set and each bag has two handles that can be used to carry it as a tote or worn as a backpack. This rectangular ottoman has a hollow center that can be used for storage. Place it at the end of your bed as a place to put on your shoes — and store extra sheets and pillows. Or use it to rest your legs when you’re on the …

10 cheap and easy gadgets that seriously upgraded my smart home (and some are on sale)

10 cheap and easy gadgets that seriously upgraded my smart home (and some are on sale)

Published by skeptic

The Flic Duo is a smart remote control with two buttons, designed to trigger actions in your smart home. Instead of having to ask a voice assistant or open an app on your phone to complete an action, you can program each button to control individual or groups of lights, entire rooms, or run an automation. The Flic Duo uses Bluetooth to connect to your devices or a hub, which then communicates with the smart devices. It’s a completely wireless remote that you can either mount on a wall or carry around if you’re on the go — upstairs, downstairs, or wherever you are around the house. The biggest difference between a traditional light switch and the Flic Duo is that, instead of just running a single light plug, the Flic Duo allows a single press of the button to control multiple devices or automations. You can program one of the buttons to run your nighttime routine, and every time you press it, your smart outdoor lights, home office lights, living room lights, kitchen lights, …