Author: alex

Curve Mini arrives in Germany: Twelve South’s portable tablet stand for ergonomic video calls Twelve South has expanded its German lineup with the Curve Mini, a foldable, portable tablet and e‑reader stand designed to improve ergonomics in a variety of settings. The stand lifts devices up to about 14 cm, creating a more upright viewing angle that’s useful for video conferences, long reading sessions and hands‑free browsing. The Curve Mini is intended for people who move between workspaces — from the home office to a café or a coworking spot — and need a compact stand that packs away easily. Its foldable design makes it simple to stow in a bag, and the elevated angle helps reduce neck strain during extended use. Key features Foldable and portable — easy to carry…

Plex ends free remote streaming of private media servers — Roku first, others follow Plex is rolling out a significant change: free remote streaming from personal media servers will no longer be available. Users who want to access their Plex libraries outside their home network will now need to pay for that capability. The switch begins with the Roku app this week, and Plex says other platforms — including Apple TV, Fire TV and Android TV — will follow in early 2026. The decision affects anyone who hosts a Plex Media Server and streams movies, shows or music to devices while away from their home network. Previously, Plex allowed remote access for free, relying on the convenience of connecting a server to Plex’s infrastructure. Now, that capability is being gated…

iCloudBridge: Open‑source macOS tool to sync iCloud with Nextcloud, Bitwarden and more A new open‑source macOS project called iCloudBridge aims to let users mirror and sync content from Apple iCloud to third‑party services. The app reportedly supports Notes, Reminders, Photos and Passwords, targeting users who want to integrate iCloud data with platforms like Nextcloud or self‑hosted password managers such as Bitwarden and Vaultwarden. iCloudBridge is designed for users who prefer self‑hosting or need cross‑platform access to their Apple data. Instead of manual exports, the tool can automate syncs so content remains available on both Apple devices and alternative services. Supported data types (reported) Notes & Reminders: Sync textual notes and task lists to compatible services. Photos: Mirror or copy photo libraries to other cloud stores. Passwords: Export or sync Keychain…

Ooni Karu 2 Black Friday: 12-inch multi-fuel pizza oven discounted to $359 Ooni’s Black Friday sale includes the Karu 2 pizza oven at $359 — a 20% discount off the usual $449 price. The Karu 2 is a compact 12-inch multi-fuel oven that runs on wood or gas, reaches temperatures up to ~950°F, and can cook Neapolitan‑style pizzas in roughly one minute. Key features: 12-inch cooking surface; portable at ~33 lbs Multi-fuel: wood and gas compatible High max temperature (~950°F) for quick cooking Outdoor use; optional cover and accessories available Note: Ooni’s indoor Volt 2 oven isn’t discounted as part of this sale. Black Friday offers run through December 2; check retailer pages for stock and shipping timelines to ensure delivery before holiday gatherings. Where to buy: Find deals on…

Proton VPN Black Friday: 2 years of VPN Plus for $59.76 (about $2.49/month) and other top VPN deals Proton VPN is running a strong Black Friday promotion: two years of the Proton VPN Plus tier for $59.76 (about $2.49/month), a roughly 75% discount versus the normal monthly price. The Plus tier unlocks the full server network, streaming/unblocking features and simultaneous protection for multiple devices. Key Proton VPN Plus highlights: Price: 24 months for $59.76 (75% off). Servers & coverage: Access to ~15,000 servers across 120+ countries. Device support: Protect up to 15 devices simultaneously. Privacy: No‑logs policy and full‑disk encryption on servers. Performance: Small impact in our tests (~12% download drop, ~4% upload drop on average). Other notable Black Friday VPN deals Surfshark One — 24 months + 3 free…

Netflix outage briefly disrupts viewers during Stranger Things Season 5 premiere Thousands of Netflix users reported playback problems minutes after the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 went live. Downdetector saw a spike in outage reports just before the scheduled 8:00 PM ET release, with many viewers encountering account‑connection errors that prevented streaming. The most commonly reported fault was the NSEZ‑403 error — an account‑connection issue — along with generic “Something went wrong” or “we're having trouble with your request” messages. Netflix told Engadget that some members briefly experienced trouble streaming on TVs, but the issue was restored for all affected accounts within about five minutes. What happened and when Timing: Reports surged shortly before and around the 8:00 PM ET drop of Stranger Things S5 episodes 1–4.…

22 Best Gifts for Remote Workers — Practical ideas to upgrade any home office Engadget has gathered 22 gift ideas tailored for remote workers — items that boost comfort, productivity and enjoyment during the workday. Whether you’re shopping for a freelancer, hybrid employee or someone who’s fully remote, these picks cover a range of budgets and use cases. Below are curated categories and representative recommendations to help you choose the right present quickly. Ergonomics & furniture Ergonomic office chair or lumbar support cushion — helps long work sessions feel less tiring. Adjustable standing desk or desktop converter — allows sit/stand flexibility for better posture. Footrest or monitor riser — small upgrades that improve comfort and screen alignment. Audio & video Noise‑cancelling headphones or quality earbuds — ideal for focus and…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Holiday shopping can be stressful, especially when you’re balancing thoughtful choices with a budget. Engadget has collected its best holiday gift guides in one place — covering white elephant picks, Secret Santa ideas and gift suggestions across price bands to help you find the right presents faster. The hub groups recommendations by recipient and price, from stocking stuffers under $25 to premium laptops and gaming bundles. It’s useful whether you’re shopping for a picky techie, a home cook, a gamer or someone who already has everything. Featured categories Under $25: Cables, compact power banks, smart plugs and other affordable stocking stuffers. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, smart home gadgets and accessories with strong value. Gaming & Nintendo:…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. This curated tech gift hub collects tested recommendations across price ranges and interests to help you find thoughtful, useful presents without the last-minute panic. Whether you need a Secret Santa under $25, a gaming bundle, or a premium laptop for a student, the guide groups ideas by category so you can shop faster and smarter. Top categories Under $25: Stocking stuffers — cables, compact power banks, smart plugs and small gadgets that feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, smart home accessories and kitchen basics with solid value. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, Switch 2 accessories, controller upgrades and curated game picks. Home chef & coffee lovers: Air fryers, coffee…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Finding thoughtful gifts on a budget can be stressful — especially during the holiday rush. This curated tech gift hub collects tested recommendations across price ranges and interests to help you pick useful, memorable presents without the panic. Whether you need a Secret Santa under $25, a gaming bundle for a friend, or a premium laptop for a student, use these category suggestions to narrow choices quickly and avoid deal fatigue. Featured categories Under $25: Practical stocking stuffers like charging cables, smart plugs, or compact gadgets that still feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, and home gadgets that deliver solid value and everyday utility. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, popular Switch 2 accessories and curated game…