All posts tagged: heres

Your USB-C port might be running at USB 2.0 speeds — here’s how to check

Your USB-C port might be running at USB 2.0 speeds — here’s how to check

Published by skeptic

USB-C is fast. Well, that’s not entirely true. USB-C is an oval-shaped connector that we associate with much faster transfer speeds and charging for our devices. But that’s all USB-C is: a standard that defines the connector shape we all love. It replaced a generation of slower, uglier ports, and we all collectively decided it meant things got better. Except sometimes it didn’t. Sometimes your USB-C port is running at USB 2.0 speeds, and it never really lets you know unless you spend time figuring out the problem. Related How USB-C reversibility actually works Reversible doesn’t mean identical. Why your USB-C port isn’t as fast as it should be Capped, but you don’t know why Standard Defines Does NOT define USB-C Connector shape and pin layout Transfer speed, data protocol, or power delivery level USB 3.2 Transfer speed (up to 20Gbps) Connector shape — works with USB-A, USB-C, or internal USB 4 Transfer speed (up to 40Gbps) and protocol Connector shape — but requires USB-C Thunderbolt 4 Speed, protocol, and minimum port requirements Connector shape …

Here’s What Happened Inside Gas Stations When Gas Hit

Here’s What Happened Inside Gas Stations When Gas Hit $4

Published by Jenni Sidey

In Goldman’s first-quarter “Nicotine Nuggets” survey of retailers and wholesalers covering roughly 44,000 U.S. stores, or about 28% of all tobacco outlets nationwide, analysts observed that once the national average for regular 87-octane gasoline hit the politically sensitive $4-a-gallon level, the squeeze on consumers began to emerge. One of the clearest signs of stress was a downshift in purchases as budget-conscious consumers started pulling back on tobacco purchases or, in some cases, trading down.  “The outlook remains cautious but retailers & wholesalers generally see the environment as stable despite ongoing concerns on the consumer and recent pressure from higher gas prices,” Bonnie Herzog, managing director and senior consumer analyst at Goldman, wrote in a note on Friday morning.  According to the survey, 58% of respondents said consumer behavior had noticeably changed once 87-octane gasoline prices at the pump crossed the $4 threshold, while another 26% said they have not seen changes yet but expect them if prices remain elevated. The biggest changes cited were consumers downtrading in stores, buying less fuel, and purchasing less overall …

Your old iPad or Android tablet can be your new smart home panel – here’s how

Your old iPad or Android tablet can be your new smart home panel – here’s how

Published by skeptic

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. There are many ways to make the most of old devices we no longer use. For example, I have a couple of old Fire tablets that I turned into Echo Shows for my home use. However, one of the best uses for an old tablet is to become a smart home control panel. In fact, it’s one of the easiest and cheapest upgrades you can make in your home. Also: I tested every ‘allergy-friendly’ smart home gadget – these 6 actually keep the pollen out If you have a lot of smart lights, plugs, switches, and other devices, you’ll likely benefit from adding a control panel to manage them all from one spot. Setting up an old tablet as a central control center not only breathes new life into the device but also gives you a hub that anyone at home can access. How to use an old tablet as a smart home display Maria Diaz/ZDNET What you need: an old tablet, a charging cord, a wall …

T-Mobile will give you an iPad for when you sign up for a new line – here’s how

T-Mobile will give you an iPad for $99 when you sign up for a new line – here’s how

Published by skeptic

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. If you’re in the market for an iPad with cellular connection and want to find the best price, consider this deal from T-Mobile: Right now when you activate a qualifying Tablet Unlimited Plus plan, you’ll get the latest iPad for $99, down from the usual price of $499.  To take advantage of this offer, you’ll purchase a new iPad A16 on a monthly payment plan, and pay the sales tax on the pre-credit price when you purchase. You’ll also activate a new line of service on a qualifying Tablet Unlimited Plus plan, which starts at $60/month. You’ll get paid back the $400 in savings over 24 monthly bill credits.  Also: The 5 best iPads of 2026: We’ve tested every iPad available – these are the best ones If you cancel your account before the 24 months is up, you’ll need to pay the full price of the iPad. The bill credits also end if you pay it off early. You’ll also need qualifying credit and …

Chef Robotics escaped the robot cooking graveyard and says it’s thriving — here’s why

Chef Robotics escaped the robot cooking graveyard and says it’s thriving — here’s why

Published by skeptic

Chef Robotics CEO Rajat Bhageria likes to tell people — correctly — that his industry is a veritable startup graveyard. Whether you’re talking about Chowbotics, a salad-making startup that was acquired and later shut down by DoorDash, or Zume, a $400 million attempt to “disrupt” pizza delivery that collapsed in 2023, the effort to automate a process that has heretofore required opposable thumbs and a sentient brain has not always gone so smoothly. Bhageria thinks he’s figured out the workaround. The premise is simple, even if the execution isn’t: use AI-powered robot arms to take the labor out of large-scale food production. Originally, Chef sought to do that in fast casual restaurants, the kind that litter America’s cities. But the company pivoted early, finding success instead in food manufacturing, where it now serves enterprise customers like Amy’s Kitchen and Chef Bombay, and works with one of the largest school lunch providers in the country. Now, the company says that it has passed an important milestone: 100 million servings. What’s a “serving,” exactly? A company spokesperson …

‘The Pitt’ Season Three Is Coming. Here’s Everything We Know—and Everything We Don’t

‘The Pitt’ Season Three Is Coming. Here’s Everything We Know—and Everything We Don’t

Published by Jenni Sidey

This story contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale of The Pitt, “9:00 PM.” In the final moments of The Pitt’s second season, Dr. Michael Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) contemplates his mortality while holding onto dear life—literally. The day team at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center has clocked out after an exhausting (and dispiriting) Fourth of July, the night shift has scrubbed into action, and Robby is left to sort out his inner demons with Baby Jane Doe in his arms. It’s lights out in the pediatrics room, but is it lights out for everyone’s favorite helmetless motorcyclist and emotionally-unstable attending doctor? After weeks of fan speculation and increasingly impractical theories, that semi-cliffhanger may not be the most definitive (or satisfying) end to Robby’s sabbatical getaway day, but it is a particularly moving juxtaposition. For the first time since entering the ER that morning, Robby spends a few minutes in relative quiet, reflecting on a day (and a career) that has pushed him to the brink—as well as a spirit quest that everyone can see is a …

AT&T Revamped Its Unlimited Phone Plans. Here’s How They Compare

AT&T Revamped Its Unlimited Phone Plans. Here’s How They Compare

Published by skeptic

AT&T switched out its unlimited data phone plans with new 2.0 versions that end up including more features and costing less than the old plans when you add in a recent price hike on retired plans. But that wasn’t enough, apparently, because the 150-year-old company also just added a brand-new tier for customers who don’t mind paying extra. If you’re an AT&T customer suddenly bombarded by notifications about upgrading, or you’re looking to switch from another carrier, here’s a breakdown of the new offerings. These plans replace the AT&T Value Plus VL, Unlimited Extra EL and Unlimited Premium PL plans. The carrier also removed its Unlimited Starter SL plan, which served as the entry-level plan (you had to know where to look to find the limited, but cheaper, Value Plus VL plan). Keep in mind that AT&T plans let each person on an account have their own plan. So you might set up a package where one person has the Premium 2.0 plan for unthrottled 5G speeds and another, such as a child, is set …

Apple Quietly Tweaked the iOS App Store App – Here’s What’s Changed

Apple Quietly Tweaked the iOS App Store App – Here’s What’s Changed

Published by skeptic

No, you aren’t going crazy – Apple has quietly made a backend change to the App Store app in iOS that switches the location of the Updates tab and renames it to make it more prominent. In the App Store app, you can see the change by tapping your profile picture in the top-right corner. The “Apps & Purchase History” tab used to be at the top the list, but it has switched places with “Updates,” which is now called “App Updates.” The change was made by Apple without issuing a software update and is evident on both iOS 26.4.1 and the iOS 26.5 beta. There’s actually a faster way to access the App Updates page in iOS 26.4 that was recently highlighted by Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber: Simply long-press on the App Store app on your Home Screen and you can jump straight to it from the contextual menu. Popular Stories 10 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 18 Pro Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is …

Your suffering is a compass. Here’s how to read it.

Your suffering is a compass. Here’s how to read it.

Published by Jenni Sidey

MARK MANSON: My name is Mark Manson. I am the author of the subtle art of not giving a fuck, as well as some other works. I’m a YouTuber, podcaster, and my work focuses primarily on the importance of values. This is Big Think, and today I’m going to be talking about how to grow into an emotionally mature adult. How to develop a healthy sense of hope. How to improve your life by changing your values. And how to find success through failure. Chapter 1. Becoming an emotionally healthy adult. One of my spicier arguments is that I think happiness is greatly overrated in today’s age. I think people focus on it way too much. I think they’re focused on it backfires pretty consistently. But worst of all, I think people have started confusing comforts and highs for the same thing as happiness. It’s interesting if you look at the ancient world, Aristotle actually argued that there are two versions of happiness. There’s hedonia, which is kind of pleasure, comforts, short-term satisfactions, and then there’s …

AI-powered website builders have come a long way – here’s your best option in 2026

AI-powered website builders have come a long way – here’s your best option in 2026

Published by skeptic

Slim3D/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Generative AI and web development seem tailor-made for each other. Web design combines coding, creative text, graphics, and overall design. These are all tasks that AI performs quite well. This article is a 2026 update of an article first published in 2025. A lot has changed. Last year, when I set out to find the best AI-based website builders, I expected to see all of these capabilities wrapped around hosting dashboards. What I found was nothing close. Those that did include AI features barely worked. One vendor, Hostinger, had a chatbot interface that showed real promise, but it failed almost every test. Not this year. This year, it’s our top recommendation. Once again, I built test sites using each service. To ensure each site faced an equal challenge, I decided to model them on a business called “Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective.” Also: The best web hosting services: Expert tested and reviewed There were design notes drawn from …