Gadgets Archives - Page 19 of 33

Jul 21

Time to update all your Apple gadgets ASAP

Yesterday, Apple released a bumper pack of updates, with everything from iPhones and iPads to Apple Watches and even the Apple TV and the now defunct iPod Touch needing to be updated.

On the iPhone and iPad front, we get iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6. From the release notes, these might seem like minor updates that could be avoided.

After all, the release notes for iOS outline four patches:

TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward
Fixes an issue where Settings may continue to display that device storage is full even if it is available
Fixes an issue that may cause braille devices to slow down or stop responding when navigating text in Mail
Fixes an issue in Safari where a tab may revert back to a previous page

Dig into the security notes, though, and it’s a different story. Here we see over three dozen patches, making this pretty huge and important update.

Even the Apple Watch, which gets updated to WatchOS 8.7, gets “improvements,” as well as bug fixes and over two dozen important security updates.

For you Apple TV users, you get TVOS 15.6, which, along with over two dozen security updates, also comes with “general performance and stability improvements.”

There are also slew of updates for MacOS too. Monterey is up to 12.5, Big Sur gets a bump up to 11.6.8, and there’s a security update for Catalina users.

Oh, and there’s also a Safari update that contains a whole raft of bug fixes.

Given the volume of security fixes here, it’s highly recommended that you update your devices as soon as possible.

Don’t know how? It’s easy! Check out our instructions for updating all of your Apple devices here.

Jul 21

Russia Replaces Disappearing Western Gadgets With Chinese Brands

Chinese smartphones and home appliances are Replacing major Western brands that have exited Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday.

January-June 2022 results analyzed by the Marvel Distribution IT supplier showed at least seven Chinese smartphone brands leading sales in Russia, according to Kommersant.

Tecno, Infinix, Realme and Xiaomi showed more than 100% year-on-year growth.

Realmi alone doubled sales from under half a million units in January-June 2021 to more than 1 million at the same time this year.

Electronic retailers reported that sales of individual Chinese smartphone brands including Tecno saw up to twentyfold increases in recent months.

Meanwhile, the share of Apple and Samsung smartphone sales in Russia declined by 14% and 15%, respectively.

Overall smartphone sales in Russia declined by nearly a quarter and totaled 10 million units in the first half of 2022, according to Kommersant.

President Vladimir Putin, who ordered troops to attack Ukraine in February, signed legislation last week legalizing so-called “parallel imports” into the country to maintain supplies of Western goods despite Western sanctions and brand exits.

The scheme removes penalties for importing cars, clothes, raw materials and other foreign products on a government-approved list without permission from trademark owners.

Analysts interviewed by Kommersant said they expect well-known Chinese brands to cement their leadership in the Russian market.

“Chinese tech brands will occupy up to 90% of the entire market in Russia,” Alexander Surkov, head of Russia’s GS Group advanced device designer and manufacturer, told the outlet.

“Afterward, they’ll start creating their own ecosystem, which will ultimately further strengthen their position,” he said.

Jul 20

These Gadgets Banish Mosquitos

Mosquitos on skin. — nechaevkon/Shutterstock.com

Summer is great, but there’s something tiny that can be a big nuisance this time of year: Mosquitos. Lathering on the bug spray is not your only defense against these bloodsuckers. A clever gadget is all you need.

The market for mosquito repellants and killers is vast. Not only are they extremely annoying—both with the buzzing sound and itchy welts–but they can also carry disease. It’s in your best interest to have some sort of line of defense.

A lot of people are only familiar with the classics—bug sprays with DEET, citronella candles, and Tiki torches. However, we can do better than that thanks to a nifty line of mosquito repellant devices from Thermacell.

Notes: This is not a sponsored article. We have been using Thermacell products for several years and just like them a lot. At the time of writing in June 2022, Thermacell is the only company that sells mosquito repellant devices like this.

What Is a Thermacell?

Thermacell is the name of a company that produces mosquito-repellant devices. The company offers a range of devices that all essentially serve the same purpose. The idea is you turn on the device and it creates an invisible zone of protection around you.

There are a number of different devices from Thermacell for different use-cases. The company offers rechargeable battery-powered models, fuel-powered models, and a wired-in whole backyard system. All of these different models work essentially the same way.

How Does It Work?

You might be thinking that sounds too good to be true, so let’s talk about how it works. Thermacells use either a saturated mat or liquid-filled cartridge that contains allethrin, a component found in plants that are toxic to mosquitoes and other insects.

Whether powered by fuel or a battery, the liquid is heated up and dispersed into the air. It’s colorless, odorless, and otherwise undetectable by humans. The zone of protection depends on the Thermacell model, but it’s usually around 15 to 20 feet.

It’s worth noting that it takes some time for the heating element to get going. You should expect to wait around 15 minutes before the full zone of protection is established.

Is Thermacell Safe to Use?

Many bug repellants—including the notorious DEET—come with safety concerns for humans and other animals. If used correctly, they’re fine, but what about Thermacell devices?

Thermacell says its repellant has been “independently tested” and it has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, there are still some things to keep in mind. The liquid in the mats and cartridges should not be consumed by humans or animals. You should also avoid breathing in the vapors directly from the devices.

The most important thing to understand is the ingredients in Thermacell devices are not technically “repellants,” despite the marketing and packaging using the term repeatedly. Allethrin works by scrambling nerve signals in insects, causing them to fall and eventually die.

Warnings: Yes, the allethrin kills all kinds of insects in the “zone of

Jul 19

Brain Game: If you could have one useful gadget from a fictional world, what would it be? (Round 7) – YP

Read through the responses to this week’s Brain Game prompt, and choose which answer you like most. Based on a combination of your votes and YP Editors’ picks, we will eliminate one contestant from the competition.

The Japanese cartoon character Doraemon is a robot cat from the future that has many amazing gadgets. Among them, I have always longed to have the Anywhere Door, which will take you to any place you want to go. You just need to think of the destination before opening the door, and you will be there in a flash.

Having an Anywhere Door would save a lot of time and money because I would not need to take public transport. It would be very convenient, too. I would not have to wake up so early before school any more. After I finish breakfast and change into my uniform, I would be at school instantly.

I would also share the Anywhere Door with my family and friends, so they wouldn’t be late for school or work.

In addition, I would use the device to travel around the world. In the morning, I could enjoy the sunrise at the top of Mount Fuji. At noon, I could have French cuisine facing the Eiffel Tower. And at night, I could watch the Northern Lights at the North Pole.

However, what I want most right now is to travel the world and visit all my friends who have left Hong Kong. I miss them so much. I believe they miss Hong Kong, too.

What’s on your summer bucket list?

Contestant 2

The powerful ring of Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, would definitely be on top of my list. The ring can do almost anything, and flying would no longer be a dream. I could fly from home to school or anywhere else, which means I could use the time I save to do something I enjoy, for example, reading or watching films.

I could also use the ring to deal with my enemies. When they hit me, I could dodge them by flying away. I would be invincible, and nobody would be able to hurt me.

What’s more, the ring would allow me to travel through wormholes in space, helping to explore areas in the universe that we know very little about. Maybe I could even collect information about different planets which would help scientists to decide the ideal place where humans can move to.

I would make good use of the ring to protect myself and others against all sorts of difficulties and help humans make progress in all aspects of life.

What would you do if you could stop time for one hour?

Contestant 3

According to newspaper reports, a 10th of the world’s population is facing hunger because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine war. This problem can be solved if the food replicator from the Star Trek TV series actually exists.

The replicator was originally used to provide food and water on starships,

Jul 19

Space-saving entertainment gadgets you’ll love

Looking for home theater tech that doesn’t overcrowd your living area? From a portable projector to a speaker that lies on any side, these gadgets save space.

Live in a studio apartment or student housing? You can still set up a decent theater despite the small area. And these are the space-saving entertainment gadgets that can help. Get them to enjoy your content without overcrowding your space.

Related: These smart mirrors can help you live a smarter life

For instance, the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 works as both a monitor and a smart TV. That way, you need to buy only one gadget to fulfill both uses.

Then, dorm dwellers will appreciate the Razer Kishi V2. Much smaller than a full PC gaming rig, it lets you relax with handheld games after class or on the weekends.

Stay entertained, no matter your space, with the compact gadgets below.

1. The Amazon All-new Fire 7 tablet has a faster quad-core processor, displaying content with more responsive playback and gameplay.

Watch, read, play, and listen on the Amazon All-new Fire 7 tablet. Its quad-core processor is 30% faster. You also get a 10-hour battery life, up to 1 TB of expandable storage, and microSD connectivity.

Get it for $59.99 on Amazon.

2. The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 works as both a monitor and a smart TV, helping you get more out of one entertainment gadget.

These tech gadgets can entertain you without taking up much space — Samsung Smart Monitor M8 in a kitchen

Save space at home with the Samsung Smart Monitor M8. It’s just 11.4 mm thick and has a sleek flat back. It also works as a smart TV and a hub for Samsung SmartThings devices.

Get it for $729.99 on the official website.

3. The Sonos Roam SL portable speaker sits on any side, letting you optimize the audio depending on your environment’s shape and size.

Regardless of your room’s shape or size, you can enjoy great audio from the Sonos Roam SL portable speaker. That’s because you can lay it both vertically and horizontally. Moreover, it delivers clear audio and up to 10 hours of battery life, making it one of our favorite space-saving entertainment gadgets.

Get it for $159 on the official website.

4. The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX soundbar system magnifies your sound but is just 15″ long, saving you space under the TV.

Who says a soundbar has to span the length of your entertainment center? The Polk Audio MagniFi Mini AX soundbar system doesn’t. At just 15″ long, it’s quite compact. But it’s still immersive with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Polk SDA 3D Audio technology.

Get it for $499 on the official website.

5. The Positive Grid Spark MINI portable smart amp is great for guitarists living in small apartments. The Smart Jam tech is a cool feature, too.

Positive Grid Spark MINI YouTube video

Take multidimensional sound to any gig or