Circuit City, the once-dominant electronics retailer, really struggled to keep up with the rapid changes in the industry. From its humble beginnings in the 1950s to its eventual bankruptcy in the late 2000s, this is the story of Circuit City’s decline and fall.
The truth behind airplane mode (no, it’s not a myth)
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You know the drill. You find your seat, wrestle your carry-on into the overhead bin like it’s a CrossFit challenge, and then, ding! The flight attendant reminds you to switch to airplane mode.
So … what happens if you don’t? Are you going to crash the plane? Trigger the emergency slide midair?
🛑 Da plane, da plane!
Let’s start with the obvious: Your phone isn’t powerful enough to take down a jetliner. Planes are built tough, with shielding and redundant systems to prevent any one gadget from causing a disaster. Your phone? Not that powerful. Sorry, Apple.
But if you and everyone else leave your phones on full blast, the radio noise from all those signals can interfere with the pilots’ communications.
It’s not dramatic. It’s just obnoxious. Think low-level buzzing and static in the pilot’s headset when they’re trying to talk to air traffic control.
It won’t crash the plane. It might make the pilot say, “Can you repeat that?” to air traffic control, which, y’know, isn’t ideal when they’re, oh, coordinating more than a few 900,000-pound hunks of metal going 500 mph across an invisible highway in the sky.
🛩️ It’s not the paint job
This interference is more likely on planes with older electronics, typically ones built before 2005. Some older aircraft have had systems upgraded though. It’s not about the plane’s birthday, it’s about what’s under the hood.
That’s why the rule is still around: It’s easier to just have everyone use airplane mode than risk messing with cockpit comms on the one plane with vintage wiring.
📶 No bars anyway
At 35,000 feet, your phone is desperately pinging towers it flew past five minutes ago. It won’t connect. All it does is kill your battery and waste your time.
Amazon-made cheaper versions of all these popular products
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You can buy anything on Amazon, from kitchen supplies and electronics to clothes and even tiny homes. Just make sure you never buy these items from Amazon. One way to spend less online shopping is to buy Amazon versions of popular products.
Stop your electronics from exploding
Your phone or e-bike could catch fire if the battery gets too hot. Here’s how to keep it safe.
📱Electronics got a break: From the tariffs. President Trump said smartphones, computer monitors and various electronic parts are among the exempted products. “Phew,” said every tech leader in the country.
🗑️ No paper manual? No worries. ManualsLib has over 8.7 million for electronics, appliances and more. You can download PDFs right to your computer or device. Score. Next step: figuring out what half these buttons actually do.
5 things you should STOP paying for in 2023
© Dave Cooil | Dreamstime.com
Money is tight, especially considering all you have to pay for.
You don’t get to opt out of rent, food and other bills, but you can save some money with a few clever tricks. Here are proven ways to lower your internet, streaming and cable bills.
Where to put your router for better speeds
If you sink a ton of money into a high-performing router, you probably expect it to function perfectly. Though, just buying a good router isn’t enough. You need to put it in the ideal spot to maximize efficiency.
Regarding routers, it’s all about location, location, location. By that, we mean you need to think about anything that could obstruct its signals.
What happens when you overload a capacitor?
Capacitors are essential components that help regulate energy inside most complex electronics. But since they’re only able to handle a certain amount of electricity, what happens when they overload?
Electronics to buy before tariffs hit
A lot of your tech is made outside of the U.S. If you’re planning to get a new phone or laptop, don’t wait.
🚂 Thieves’ loco motives: I never thought of this crime. Gangs hitting railroads jumped 40%, costing over $100 million. Around $4 million of that comes from the BNSF railroad in California. They’re using bolt cutters to break into shipping containers to steal electronics, sneakers and toys.
CES is no longer relevant
Is the next best thing really at the Consumer Electronics Show? I’ll tell you why it’s more fluff than not.
My final thoughts on CES 2023
This year’s Consumer Electronics Show is over. Listen to this one-minute podcast for a recap of the good, the bad and the silly.
These laptops have an expiration date
When you think of “expiration date,” electronics don’t come to mind. In this 1-minute podcast, what to look for so you don’t buy a computer near the end of life.
Best surge protectors and outlet extenders to give you more places to plug in
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Most of us have thousands of dollars in expensive computers, phones, tablets, and other personal electronics. All it takes is one surge to ruin all of that. Tap or click to keep your electronics clean and organized.
You could be at work when a storm begins, lightning strikes a transformer, and a surge hits your corner of the power grid. A surge protector is the only way to know that your electronics are safe.
Electronic kits under $25 – Start making your own electronics today
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We’re surrounded by dozens of gadgets daily, yet many of us don’t know their inner workings. These mini electronics kits show you how to direct electricity, power your inventions and understand how electricity works in a practical setting. Beyond being a great learning experience and educational for kids (with proper supervision), they’re really fun to use. These are our favorites.
Battery backup: 5 of the best UPS backups for your electronics
We’ve all fallen victim to unexpected power outages. Just like that, hours of work disappears in the blink of an eye. It’s frustrating and stressful — but it’s also preventable.
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, keeps your computer and other electronics up and running, even when there’s a blackout in your neighborhood. The backup battery allows you to finish your projects, save progress and close down programs safely.
The best TV ever is here
Would you want a 97-inch TV in your home? Listen now to find out how one TV is making a splash at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
Is CES relevant anymore?
The Consumer Electronics Show calls itself the world’s most influential tech event — but is that even true? Listen now for my take.
CES starts this week ... kind of
Are you ready for this year’s huge consumer electronics show in Las Vegas? Listen now to know what to expect.