All posts tagged: Pad

I replaced liquid metal with a thermal pad and my laptop finally stopped throttling

I replaced liquid metal with a thermal pad and my laptop finally stopped throttling

Published by skeptic

Laptop cooling, especially for gaming laptops, is crucial. You’re usually averaging around the high 80s to 90s at full throttle, so you’ll want all the help you can get. Thermal paste just isn’t good enough here, which is why many manufacturers have opted to switch over to liquid metal. As the name implies, it’s a high-performance alternative to standard thermal paste solutions and uses metal alloys that remain liquid at relatively modest temperatures. Liquid metal is incredibly conductive, though, and is a pain to apply correctly. Enter PTM7950, a promising “new” alternative that has all the advantages and none of the drawbacks. I recently bought a small pad of it myself, and the difference was quite stunning. Related I’ve been using laptop cooling pads for decades and … they’re useless Laptop cooling pads are one of the biggest cold myths in tech. Applying PTM7950 to the laptop and GPU A simple but very powerful upgrade I mostly work on a thin, light laptop, and in this case, the Asus Zenbook 14 UX3405 proved very capable …

Inside Jonah Hill’s jaw-dropping million Malibu pad with dreamy ocean views

Inside Jonah Hill’s jaw-dropping $13million Malibu pad with dreamy ocean views

Published by Daniella Wilson

Jonah Hill’s former Malibu retreat has officially hit the market, and it’s every bit the California dream home you would expect from one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. Nestled within the ultra-exclusive guard-gated Malibu Colony enclave, the newly redesigned property is listed for $13.25 million and offers a rare opportunity to own a slice of one of Southern California’s most coveted beachfront communities. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence spans approximately 3,653 square feet and has undergone a sophisticated transformation that blends laid-back coastal luxury with elevated contemporary design. While the home’s celebrity pedigree is enough to turn heads, it’s the breathtaking interiors, private outdoor oasis and enviable ocean access that truly steal the show. © Nate Williams A masterclass in California cool The residence has been newly staged and redesigned by Vesta Home, with designer Tiara Coughlan leaning into what she describes as the property’s “effortless California cool.” Rather than competing with the home’s architecture, the interiors have been carefully curated to enhance its strongest features, including soaring ceilings, dramatic black accent walls, oversized windows and …

The New OnePlus Pad 4 Is Thin and Fast, but Not Yet in the US

The New OnePlus Pad 4 Is Thin and Fast, but Not Yet in the US

Published by skeptic

OnePlus launched the Pad 4 on Thursday, the latest iteration of the company’s Pad series, a tablet with a good screen size, a big battery and a fast processor — all thinner than a pencil. The Pad 4 has a 13.2-inch screen, a 13,380-mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, the fastest available for Android systems. Snapdragon is a system-on-a-chip processor made by Qualcomm and is found in smartphones, tablets and laptops. CNET liked the OnePlus Pad 3, and early indications are its successor may build on its strengths. Our review called the Pad 3 the “best new high-performance Android tablet” among our best picks for 2026, and longtime CNET reviewer David Carnoy said it was “powerful and elegant,” if a bit pricey. The Pad 4 is available only in India for now, and the company did not say when the device would be coming to the US market. A representative for OnePlus did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Pad 4 is even more powerful than its predecessor. OnePlus said …

I turned my old gamepad into a macro pad and I’m more productive than ever

I turned my old gamepad into a macro pad and I’m more productive than ever

Published by skeptic

I was looking for ways to enhance my workflow by reducing some strenuous and repetitive actions when I came across the idea of a macro pad. These small, programmable input devices can be used to reduce multistep workflows to a single button press. I can launch apps in my writing stack, execute shortcuts, insert text, and even automate some tedious, repetitive tasks. But then I started thinking about whether I really needed a dedicated macro pad for this. In the end, all I needed was an input device with buttons that could connect to my computer. That’s when I remembered an old third-party controller (I don’t remember the brand) that I bought for my Nintendo Switch when my Joy-Cons started experiencing stick drift. I am using a Windows computer, so I also recalled that there is an easy-to-use scripting tool called AutoHotkey (AHK) that can detect the controller input and trigger actions. Using a controller as a macro pad was a productivity game-changer Breathing new life into my old controller So why did I resort …

The Best Laptop Cooling Pad and Why You Should Buy One

The Best Laptop Cooling Pad and Why You Should Buy One

Published by skeptic

The idea of using a laptop cooling pad feels antiquated. These days, laptop chips have become extremely efficient. The fans on MacBooks (if they even have them) are barely used, and both Intel and Qualcomm are pushing efficiency on the Windows front. But people keep buying laptop cooling pads, so surely there is a use case in 2026 that actually makes sense, right? I tried out a couple cooling pads paired with a couple of different gaming laptops, and walked away surprised at how effective they could be. Do Cooling Pads Actually Work? Photograph: Luke Larsen Laptop cooling pads have been around for decades, and the idea has always been simple: provide extra air to blow through a laptop that’s otherwise restricted by its own cooling system. In theory, more air means lower temperatures—and, ultimately, better performance. This is the whole idea of the power modes that exist in Windows, which ramp up the RPMs (rotations per minute) of the fans to add more air to both improve performance. More than that, less heat also …

Wacom MovinkPad 11 Tablet Review: A Portable Sketch Pad

Wacom MovinkPad 11 Tablet Review: A Portable Sketch Pad

Published by skeptic

Wacom’s new MovinkPad 11 is a compelling alternative to the iPad for serious digital artists looking for a portable sketching tool. It’s not as powerful as a full workstation or even an iPad, but the battery life is good, the drawing experience is best in class, and you can take it with you. Whether you’re a confirmed digital fan or, like me, still prefer paper and pens or pencils but want to dabble in digital art, the MovinkPad is a compelling alternative to the iPad. An iPad is more likely to suck you into the internet or disrupt you with messages from friends. You can put such distractions on the MovinkPad (don’t!), but out of the box it’s a more focused device designed to get out of your way and let you get to drawing. A Digital Sketch Pad Your standard digital art setup is a computer, ideally a powerful desktop with a nice monitor, a drawing tablet, and some sort of desktop software. Alternatively, many people use an iPad, but in my experience you …

Best Walking Pad Deals: Save 0 and More (2026)

Best Walking Pad Deals: Save $150 and More (2026)

Published by skeptic

These days, everyone and their mother owns a walking pad. Unlike a full-size treadmill, a walking pad is affordably priced and compact. You can tuck it under your standing desk and accumulate your 10,000 steps as you work, or you can place anywhere in your home to stay active while watching TV. It’s ideal for the current freezing weather, when everything’s iced over, and you can’t go outside for a walk. Not to mention sitting at your desk all day isn’t great for your posture, so this little habit can make a meaningful difference for your overall health. If that’s not enough to sell you on a walking pad, the trusty Egofit Walker Pro M1 is $150 off right now. It’s perfect for beginners who want something simple and compact enough for small spaces; plus, it’s easy to transport to the office if you’d like to keep it at work. If the Egofit isn’t calling your name, though, I’ve rounded up more deals on some of our tested favorites. Photograph: Brenda Stolyar The Egofit Walker …

Menstrual pad could give women insights into their changing fertility

Menstrual pad could give women insights into their changing fertility

Published by skeptic

Menstrual pads can non-invasively collect information on a woman’s fertility Shutterstock/Connect world An at-home test built into a menstrual pad could help women track their fertility using their period blood, offering a non-invasive way to monitor changes over time, without the need for repeated blood tests or clinic visits. For many women, their fertility remains a mystery until they try to conceive. If they encounter difficulties, clinical tests can offer insights. These tests can measure levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a common marker of “ovarian reserve” – a rough indication of the number of eggs remaining. In adults, AMH levels decline with age, so high levels indicate a plentiful egg supply. A below-average level can signal a diminished egg reserve or early menopause. Traditionally, AMH is measured using a blood test in the clinic or via a finger-prick test at home. In both cases, the sample must be sent to a lab for processing before results are returned. Now, Lucas Dosnon at ETH Zurich in Switzerland and his colleagues have developed an easy-to-use test that …

How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups

How Nissan improved the wireless charging pad for faster phone juice-ups

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. In-car wireless chargers are notoriously finicky. Your phone can slide off the slippery charging pad at a sudden stop,  or overheat and stop charging; the case can also prevent your phone from connecting. Often, it’s a pain in the neck, not to mention an added distraction while you’re behind the wheel. Different manufacturers have tried various solutions, like Ram’s grippy upright charger, which features an anti-slip mat and an LED indicator that makes it clear when the phone is charging. However, online Ram forums and Reddit show that users still find their phones overheat, fail to charge, or require removing protective cases to work. No car manufacturer has really solved this most modern problem—yet. Automaker Nissan is staking its claim on wireless charging with its 2026 Pathfinder and Murano vehicles, both of which feature newly designed, built-in wireless chargers that keep your gadgets cool and in place while you’re on the move. Plus, Nissan says it’s the first automaker …