All posts tagged: Plugin

I turned my Obsidian vault into an automatic project tracker with one free plugin

I turned my Obsidian vault into an automatic project tracker with one free plugin

Published by skeptic

Building a large library of notes inside Obsidian is easy, but finding specific information across thousands of files makes it genuinely difficult over time. While it is great when you are a beginner, once you start spending twenty minutes looking for a single note, you see the issue. The Dataview community plugin is exactly what you need to turn your local file system into a searchable database. Related 6 Reasons Why Obsidian Is My Go-To App for Deep Research Projects Deep research feels lighter with Obsidian on hand. Manage data in Obsidian vaults Huge vaults hide your notes unless you turn them into a database Jorge Aguilar / MakeUseOf Obsidian runs on local, plaintext Markdown files, which makes it great for fast writing and note-taking. Since writing is easy, no matter how many files you create, you can quickly build up hundreds or even thousands of notes. That’s also where the problem starts if you want a good vault. Finding specific information across a library that large gets genuinely difficult over time, and manual navigation …

Thinking about plug-in solar? It may be coming to your state soon

Thinking about plug-in solar? It may be coming to your state soon

Published by skeptic

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Plug-in solar systems are an alternative to large, professionally installed rooftop solar. The US regulatory system for utilities wasn’t built for plug-and-play solar setups, so it’s taking time for state laws to catch up. Thus far, only Utah has legalized plug-in solar in the US, allowing small systems of up to 1,200w to plug directly into a traditional outlet. Plug-in solar has risen in popularity among sustainability fans in recent years, but the practice isn’t yet legal in all of the United States. If you’ve been thinking about joining the plug-in solar bandwagon, here’s what you should know. What is plug-in solar? Plug-in solar systems, also known as balcony solar, are easy, plug-and-play solar panels that include an inverter and small battery. The system connects to a home’s standard 120-volt outlet and automatically flows the electricity from the battery to the nearest running appliance. These systems are small and portable, and aren’t meant to replace grid electricity or dependency on utility companies. …

Switch to plug-in solar? My advice after testing the DIY energy tech at home

Switch to plug-in solar? My advice after testing the DIY energy tech at home

Published by skeptic

The brains of plug-in solar is the microinverter. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Plug-in solar uses microinverters to feed power into a household system. So far, in the US, only Utah has passed legislation to allow such systems. These systems cost about $2,400 and will take years to pay off. Ever since handling my first tiny solar panel quite a few decades ago, I’ve been fascinated by them. The fact that a bit of glass had the ability to harvest power from a big nuclear orb 93 million miles away blew my mind back then, and continues to blow my mind now. Since then, solar panels have grown in size and efficiency and dropped in cost to the point where it’s becoming economically feasible for you and me to buy panels and generate our own electricity. But what do you do with that power? Also: I’ve tested dozens of power stations – here’s how I’m preparing for summer blackouts Up until now, you’ve had two options. You …

New research challenges belief new plug-in hybrids cost more to buy than EVs

New research challenges belief new plug-in hybrids cost more to buy than EVs

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get our weekly Drive Smart newsletter for motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get motoring news, reviews and advice from EV editor Steve Fowler Get our EV editor’s weekly Drive Smart newsletter New research has found that most new plug-in hybrid vehicles (Phevs) cost more to buy than their fully electric equivalents. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank said its analysis found the UK’s 10 best-selling new Phevs were, on average, £4,150 higher than an equivalent EV. Phevs, which combine an electric motor with a petrol or diesel engine, are often believed to be cheaper than pure electric vehicles because they utilise smaller batteries. However, this analysis suggests the opposite is true for the most sought-after models. They included: The VW Tiguan Phev being £5,780 more expensive than the VW ID.4 EV. The Ford Kuga Phev being £4,035 more expensive than the Ford Explorer EV. The MG HS Phev being £3,400 more expensive than the MG S5 EV. The ECIU said the fuel consumption of Phevs is nearly …

New Browser Plugin Adds Typos to Your AI-Generated Emails to Make Them Look Real

New Browser Plugin Adds Typos to Your AI-Generated Emails to Make Them Look Real

Published by José Betancourt

Sign up to see the future, today Can’t-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech The advent of large language model-based writing tools have given lazy or unconfident writers incredible new shortcuts that can spit out everything from glossy work emails to crispy school papers. The problem, of course, is that bosses and teachers around the world quickly got wise to the phenomenon — and as a result, any text that feels too tidy and polished has started to arouse suspicion. Now, in an effort to reintroduce some of the messiness of human writing — and hide our AI addiction — venture capitalist Ben Horwitz used Anthropic’s Claude AI to vibe code a browser plugin that does something that would have seemed preposterous just a few years ago: intentionally adding typos to emails. “I made the anti-Grammarly,” he bragged, referring to a popular, AI-powered spelling and grammar checker. “Mess up your emails with AI.” The cleverly named software, dubbed “Sinceerly,” promises to wreak some controlled havoc on overly coiffed emails, from undoing capitalization …

OpenAI debuts GPT-Rosalind, a new limited access model for life sciences, and broader Codex plugin on Github

OpenAI debuts GPT-Rosalind, a new limited access model for life sciences, and broader Codex plugin on Github

Published by skeptic

The journey from a laboratory hypothesis to a pharmacy shelf is one of the most grueling marathons in modern industry, typically spanning 10 to 15 years and billions of dollars in investment. Progress is often stymied not just by the inherent mysteries of biology, but by the “fragmented and difficult to scale” workflows that force researchers to manually pivot between the actual experimental design equipment, software, and databases. But OpenAI is releasing a new specialized model GPT-Rosalind specifically to speed up this process and make it more efficient, easier, and ideally, more productive. Named after the pioneering chemist Rosalind Franklin, whose work was vital to the discovery of DNA’s structure (and was often overlooked for her male colleagues James Watson and Francis Crick), this new frontier reasoning model is purpose-built to act as a specialized intelligence layer for life sciences research. By shifting AI’s role from a general-purpose assistant to a domain-specific “reasoning” partner, OpenAI is signaling a long-term commitment to biological and chemical discovery. What GPT-Rosalind offers GPT-Rosalind isn’t just about faster text generation; …

Plug-in solar is coming – how dangerous is it and is it worth it?

Plug-in solar is coming – how dangerous is it and is it worth it?

Published by skeptic

Plug-in solar panels can easily be installed on balconies imageBROKER.com / Alamy Stock Photo The global surge in solar power is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the last 15 years, the cost of installing a solar system has dropped by 90 per cent and it now accounts for over 80 per cent of the world’s new electricity capacity each year. So when oil and gas prices soared as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, solar was the obvious place to look for relief for many countries.  But in the UK, it wasn’t just a case of advocating for more of the same – the UK government has said that it will legalise a currently illegal form of solar. So-called plug-in kits will be available “within months” from high-street shops and supermarkets.   These kits are DIY in nature, you simply bring home some panels, place them in a sunny spot and plug them in. There’s no cost of installation and you can start using the sun’s energy to power your home immediately. If you move, just pack up your panels and bring them with you. Solar energy seemingly made even …

Aston Martin Valhalla (2026) Review: A Million Plug-In Hybrid

Aston Martin Valhalla (2026) Review: A $1 Million Plug-In Hybrid

Published by skeptic

Yes, it’s a supercar, but it’s also sold very much as a track and road car, one that accommodates a passenger, all of which means road trips and weekend-away stays are very much possible. Well, they would be if there were anywhere at all to store luggage. Lamborghini managed to find some luggage space in its Revuelto design, so there’s no excuse here, really. The design department otherwise has had a field day. Top-mounted exhausts, dihedral doors, and even an F1-style roof snorkel to accompany that air-braking rear wing deliver an exterior that is nothing short of arresting. Somehow, none of this looks garish or out of place on the Valhalla in person. Everything has a purpose, and nothing seems to scream as flexing or showing off. There’s a cohesion to the Valhalla aesthetic that others might not manage. Inside, it is much more comfortable than you would imagine. The one-piece carbon-fiber seats look like they are going to be tricky, but on my two-hour road drive, they were supportive and, yes, comfortable. Visibility is …

Plug-in solar panels set to accelerate UK homegrown energy

Plug-in solar panels set to accelerate UK homegrown energy

Published by skeptic

Plug-in solar panels will be rolled out in UK shops over the coming months, accelerating the government’s drive for clean, homegrown energy in light of the war in Iran. Plug-in solar will also enable more UK households to save money on their energy bills. The current conflict highlights that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean, homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear. The government has already taken significant steps to accelerate the transition to clean energy in response to the conflict. Last week, the government’s annual renewables auction was brought forward to July. The most recent auction was the biggest ever, and together with the previous auction, it has confirmed enough clean energy to power 23 million homes. How do plug-in solar panels work? Plug-in solar panels are widely used across Europe, with Germany installing around half a million every year. The free solar power can be used via a mains socket with no …

Utilities are raising concerns about plug-in solar panels : NPR

Utilities are raising concerns about plug-in solar panels : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Bhavin Misra and his son, Rumi, attach a solar panel while assembling a plug-in solar kit at their home in Houston. David J. Phillip/AP hide caption toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP Easy-to-install solar panels that plug into a regular outlet are getting attention just as Americans are worried about rising energy costs. That’s because these plug-in or balcony solar panels start shaving off part of a homeowner’s or renter’s utility bill right away. “A year ago, nobody was talking about this,” says Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, a California nonprofit group that advocates for plug-in solar. The panels are already popular in Germany, where more than 1.2 million of the small plug-in systems are registered with the German government. For the panels to become more widely available in the U.S., state lawmakers are proposing bills that eliminate complicated utility connection agreements, which are required for larger rooftop solar installations and, most utilities say, should apply to plug-in solar too. Those agreements, along with permitting and other installation costs, can double the price of solar …