All posts tagged: Pad

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 …

Artemis 2: Next steps for NASA’s moon rocket after historic roll to pad

Artemis 2: Next steps for NASA’s moon rocket after historic roll to pad

Published by skeptic

NASA will soon run a high‑stakes fueling test on its Artemis II rocket, a practice run that must succeed before four astronauts can fly around the moon. The U.S. space agency inched the 11 million-pound Space Launch System and mobile launcher to a Cape Canaveral, Florida, launchpad on Saturday, Jan. 17. The slow procession of the 322-foot rocket, topped with the Orion spaceship, took 12 hours on the aging crawler-transporter to complete.  That four-mile trek could mark the first leg of Artemis II, a 10-day journey around the moon and back that will put the spaceship through its paces. The lunar mission will be NASA’s first with astronauts —Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen — in 53 years since Apollo 17.  The so-called “wet dress rehearsal” will load the mega moon rocket with 700,000 gallons of ultra‑cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants and take the countdown all the way to 29 seconds before liftoff. How this test goes will shape the flight timeline and determine whether launch opportunities in February …

I dismissed wireless charging for years, but this leather pad proved me wrong

I dismissed wireless charging for years, but this leather pad proved me wrong

Published by skeptic

ZDNET’s key takeaways Twelve South’s Valet is available now for $179. It’s made of genuine leather, with a Qi2 wireless charging puck and space for safekeeping your essentials. It’s not cheap, and only designed to charge one or two devices. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Twelve South, maker of premium mobile accessories, just released a first for the brand: a desktop valet with a wireless charging puck and organizing space, constructed of genuine Nappa leather. The valet is expressly premium, with a solid build and rubberized stoppers that keep it stationary on any surface. It features a weighted zinc alloy base, making it quite heavy, weighing a total of 2.3 pounds. The base measures 9.75 inches by 7.5 inches, occupying a considerable amount of space on a dresser, console, or nightstand. Also: This 2-in-1 wireless charger simplified my workspace (and freed me from the cables) That’s a good thing, as it’s an attractive piece with a classic aesthetic, designed to house essentials, including jewelry, a wallet, and a watch, with a raised …