Own a pair of AirPods Max? In April, Apple’s fancy over-the-ear headphones are getting full lossless audio support. They’re also adding ultra-low latency to smooth out audio. It’ll be in the iOS 18.4 update. Btw, Apple announced WWDC 2025 will kick off June 9. That’s when they’ll announce iOS 19 and all its features.
5 cool tricks for your router
You never hear anyone say, “This router is amazing. It changed my life!” It’s sad because that little guy controls your entire home’s internet. If yours has a USB port (check the back!), you can unlock some surprisingly useful features. You’re gonna love this.
Set up central storage
Want extra space for photos, music or important files? Plug in a USB flash drive or an external hard drive, and boom, you’ve got network-wide storage. Anyone on your Wi-Fi can access the files, making it super handy for sharing family photos or documents.
- Not all routers support this, so check your model’s specs.
- A simple WD 2TB Elements USB drive ($75) is a great option.
Power a device
A lot of smart home gadgets, like security cameras and night-lights, can run off USB power. Instead of hogging an outlet, plug them into your router’s USB port.
- A USB night-light makes it easier to see when you have to reset the router at 2 a.m. (been there).
Have a backup
Hard drive crashes happen. If you plug an external USB drive into your router, you can automatically back up your computer’s files.
- Windows users: Search for Windows Backup in the taskbar.
- Mac users: Open Time Machine under General > System Settings.
Charge your devices
Need an extra charging spot? Your router’s USB port can charge your phone, tablet or even some laptops. It won’t be super fast, but it’ll free up a valuable outlet.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The future of laptops
My job is to keep you ahead of the curve, so you know what’s worth your hard-earned money and what’s just hype. One reader recently asked me: Where are laptops going next? Let’s break it down.
As AI gets better, imagine a bot that automates boring laptop tasks like booking flights, ordering groceries or organizing your files. Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs promise to do just that.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
26 terabytes
The size of Western Digital’s new $569.99 hard drive designed for Network-Attached Storage systems, letting multiple people store and share massive amounts of data. The first hard drive, the IBM 305 RAMAC, was introduced in 1956 and cost around $50,000 (over $500,000 today adjusted for inflation). It had a whopping 5MB of storage! 😲
What really happens when you delete a text?
© Dmitry Dikushin | Dreamstime.com
We’ve all had those texts we want to delete — from bad jokes and typos, to (gulp) sending something sensitive to the wrong contact. Can you really ever remove a text from your life? Is a deleted text really deleted for good? It’s complicated.
Good news if you have an Aura frame: It’ll keep auto-syncing with Google Photos after all. ICYMI, the feature was supposed to shut off this month, but Aura’s working with Google to keep it going. They make great gifts for grandparents. You can remotely share new pics.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🚨 Red alert for Androids: Be careful what you download. Hackers are using a tool called .NET MAUI to create what look like legit banking, dating and social media apps. They spread through texts and shady links instead of the Google Play Store. Always stick to the official app store, and keep your OS updated. Mahalo!
📷 Not just for tracking steps: The Apple Watch looks like it will get a camera to “see” the world using AI-enabled visual intelligence (paywall link). That means you could scan a flyer to add an event to your calendar or look up a restaurant on the spot. ETA? 2027.
Apple’s shiny new modem: The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own C1 modem, marking a move away from Qualcomm. So how’s it doing? Depends on your carrier. On AT&T and Verizon, the 16e had better download and upload speeds than the regular iPhone 16. But on T-Mobile, the iPhone 16 still had slightly better upload speeds.
SpellRing can translate sign language: This is something. Researchers developed a ring for your thumb, and as you sign, it sends out sound waves. A microphone picks them up, AI analyzes them and gestures become letters on a screen. It’s already 82% to 92% accurate.
This is Siri-ous: Apple said Siri’s new AI features were just “taking longer than expected.” Turns out, it’s much worse. In a leaked Apple meeting, a senior director admitted they’re only aiming to get some of those features into iOS 19 this year but even that’s not guaranteed. Yikes.
🔒 It’s about time: Apple is finally going to encrypt messages between iPhones and Androids. That means any RCS messages sent between the two will be secure, with only the sender and receiver able to read them. Not Apple, not Google and not your phone carrier. As for how to enable it? Sit tight. It’ll update automatically.
🌍 Heading overseas? Don’t get slammed with outrageous roaming fees! Stay connected affordably in 200+ destinations with the eSIM I trust. Just download the Saily app, choose a plan and connect instantly — no physical SIM needed. It’s fast, secure and hassle-free. Grab yours now and save 10%!
iRobot is launching eight new vacuums: For the first time, they’re adding lidar tech for smart mapping to entry-level models. That means room-specific cleaning and keep-out zones right from the app. FYI: Amazon almost bought iRobot for over $1 billion, and recently, iRobot said they’re not sure they will survive. Damn, that sucks.
🎸 Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire! Metallica’s new concert just dropped on the Apple TV app. It was filmed with immersive 180-degree video and 3D sound, making you feel like you’re there. Apple’s thinking this is a great way to get you to try their Vision Pro. Book a free demo at the Apple Store to watch a preview.
Update your iPhone and iPad ASAP! Apple found a serious security bug that could let hackers bypass protections if you load malicious web content. Affected devices include the iPhone XS and later, iPad Air 3rd gen and later, multiple iPad Pros, plus plenty of others. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
First foldable iPhone will be over $2,000! Apple is going with a book-style design that’s “AI-driven” for multitasking. It’ll have a 7.8-inch crease-free inner display and a 5.5-inch outer display. Leaks also say Face ID is out this time, replaced by a Touch ID side button. As for the release? Most likely late 2026 or early 2027.
Got an old Apple Watch? You might get paid. If you had an original Apple Watch or a Series 1, 2 or 3, you could be entitled to a cut of the $20 million Apple Watch settlement. Act fast: Payouts range from $20 to $50, and the deadline is April 10. File your claim here.
6 Google Pixels
Inspected the New York City subway system. They were placed on subway cars from September to January to check for things like broken rails and signals. Using AI, they collected 335 million vibration and sound readings and found 92% of issues human inspectors spotted later. Neat.