All posts tagged: manufacturer

Your TV’s manufacturer doesn’t want you to open this app store

Your TV’s manufacturer doesn’t want you to open this app store

Published by skeptic

The Play Store on your Android TV or Google TV may look like the whole story. It isn’t. You don’t have to limit your TV experience to what Google has approved for your model and region. You can try almost every app made for Android TV, including those that aren’t available officially. And no, I’m not talking about sideloading apps one by one. You can grab an alternative app store like F-Droid and unlock hundreds of more apps at once. F-Droid is an open-source app store that doesn’t require an account, is community driven, and only lists apps that don’t have trackers or ads. Related Why Android TV Is the Best Smart TV Platform on the Market There are so many smart TV options, but Android TV tops the list. The Play Store isn’t your TV’s only app store It’s time break free photo by Callum Cyrus Play Store is a great place for grabbing the best apps for your Android TV, but there’s a big catch. It’s Google who decides what apps are available …

Manufacturer bloatware is finally becoming optional — and this app is proof it never needed to exist

Manufacturer bloatware is finally becoming optional — and this app is proof it never needed to exist

Published by skeptic

Whether you’re buying a new mouse, keyboard, headphones, or an entire computer, it comes with a specific kind of frustration. You unbox your latest purchase, plug it in, and before you can use a single feature, you get a prompt to download a 200 MB app — that is, if the manufacturer didn’t already install it on your computer. It doesn’t stop at simply downloading the app either. You’re also required to create an account and agree to a privacy policy as complicated as your mortgage contract. All for buying a simple mouse with a few extra programmable buttons. For years, we’ve been led to believe that manufacturer bloat is necessary. This app is proof that it’s not. Related This open-source app nukes Windows bloat and the performance boost is significant Give your Windows installation the sparkle it deserves. Nobody asked for another device ecosystem How manufacturers turned simple peripherals into software platforms It’s never just one app, either. A typical setup in 2026 might have Logitech Options+ or G Hub for a mouse, Corsair …

Your SSD’s manufacturer gave you a free tool that’s better than anything Microsoft offers

Your SSD’s manufacturer gave you a free tool that’s better than anything Microsoft offers

Published by skeptic

Most people install an SSD, let Windows handle the basics, and call it a day. While Windows’s built-in monitoring tools might seem adequate, your SSD’s manufacturer already has a free, purpose-built program that can run circles around anything Windows has to offer. These vendor utilities aren’t bloatware either. They’re often the only way to unlock firmware features, performance modes, and secure data removal options that generic Windows tools simply can’t. Buying a 4TB SSD may be the best investment you ever make, but unless you can monitor it and make sure it performs at its best, you’re wasting money. Samsung Magician is secretly a power user’s dream Firmware updates, benchmarking, and tuning—all in one clean tool Samsung’s Magician utility is probably the best-known example of what a mature SSD utility looks like. It lets you manage both Samsung’s internal and external SSDs via a simple dashboard that surfaces health, performance, and compatibility at a glance. Once inside, you can benchmark the drive, run diagnostic scans, optimize performance, configure over-provisioning, and apply firmware updates with a …

UK battery manufacturer set to collapse | UK | News

UK battery manufacturer set to collapse | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A UK battery manufacturer is set to collapse after a multi-million pound deal fell through. AMTE Power, which was founded in 2013 with offices in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, primarily developed lithium-ion and sodium-ion cells used in high-performance electric vehicle batteries and long-duration energy storage. The firm admitted it was struggling to cover the costs of a planned 200-job gigafactory in Dundee, Scotland, in June 2023, but later struck a £2.5 million investment deal with private equity firm Pinnacle. Pinnacle then collapsed, forcing AMTE Power into administration; the assets were eventually sold to Dutch firm LionVolt, saving around 20 jobs. But the company, including its domain name, trademarks and patents, now appears to have fully folded, with a notice of movement from administration to dissolution filed earlier this year. A statement from the administrators in January said: “Despite our efforts, no proceedable offers were realised for the above and these assets were not realisable.” AMTE Power was the only battery cell manufacturer of its kind founded in Britain, and pleas were made to the Government for financial …

Desperate for skilled workers, a manufacturer looks to apprenticeships : NPR

Desperate for skilled workers, a manufacturer looks to apprenticeships : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Left: Apprentice Caleb Moss starts his day at Virco Manufacturing in Conway, Ark., at 4:30 a.m. Right: Virco’s best-selling product, the 9000 Series chair. Joshua Danquah Asante for NPR hide caption toggle caption Joshua Danquah Asante for NPR CONWAY, Ark. – Caleb Moss’s workday starts early on Tuesdays and Thursdays, before the sun comes up. At 4:30 a.m., he reports to his post in tool and die at Virco Manufacturing. Under the guidance of a mentor, he turns steel into high-precision tools and molds used throughout the plant. At 9:00 a.m., Moss leaves the plant and heads to Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock, Ark., for a full day of instruction, beginning with math class and moving on to hands-on training on machines similar to those Moss uses on the job. He finishes his day at 4:30 p.m. and will be paid for the hours spent in both locations. Moss is one of two employees that Virco, a school-furniture maker known for its colorful plastic classroom chairs, plucked from other departments for three-year apprenticeships …

Trump threatens airplane tariffs against Canada after country decertifies US jet manufacturer

Trump threatens airplane tariffs against Canada after country decertifies US jet manufacturer

Published by Sam Flores

President Trump threatened to levy tariffs on “any and all Aircraft” from Canada after the country stripped certification from a U.S. jet manufacturer.  In a Truth Social post Thursday, Trump said his administration would tax all Canadian aircraft sold to the U.S. until the country recertifies several products made by American manufacturing company Gulfstream Aerospace. … Source link