Author: alex

How to buy a GPU — Quick guide One of the trickiest parts of any build is choosing the right GPU. Here’s a condensed, practical guide to help you pick the best video card for your needs in 2025. TL;DR Pick a GPU based on the games you play and the resolution/refresh rate you want. Prioritize VRAM and enough memory bandwidth; larger VRAM wins for longevity. Check physical card size and PSU requirements before buying. AMD and Intel currently offer better value in entry/mid tiers; NVIDIA still leads in ray tracing and DLSS. Key considerations It’s all about the games Competitive shooters often run fine on entry-level cards at 1080p with high frame rates. For modern single-player titles with ray tracing or high resolutions (1440p/4K), you’ll need a much more…

Best Labor Day Tech Deals 2025 — Top Picks & Where to Buy Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and a great time to snag tech deals — from laptops and tablets to robot vacuums and accessories. Below are Engadget’s top picks summarized and where to find them (affiliate Amazon search links included). Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) — $799 (approx.)Light, fast, great battery life. Buy on Amazon: MacBook Air (M4) on Amazon Apple iPad (11-inch, A16) — $299 (approx.)Solid performance and 128GB base. Buy on Amazon: iPad 11" (A16) on Amazon Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449 (approx.)More color-rich display and better speakers. Buy on Amazon: iPad Air (M3) on Amazon Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones — $38 (approx.)Affordable, long battery life. Buy on Amazon: Sony WH-CH520…

MacBook Air (M4) — Price Drops to €915 in Midnight Blue The latest MacBook Air with Apple M4 processor (introduced in March) has seen a notable price drop: the Midnight Blue model is now available from €915 — about 24% (≈€284) cheaper than Apple's listed price. Key details: Model: MacBook Air with M4 (released March) Current deal price (reported): €915 for Midnight Blue Discount: ~24% (≈€284) compared to buying directly from Apple Where to check: you can search for the model on Amazon (affiliate): MacBook Air (M4) on Amazon. For official specs, see Apple's MacBook Air page: https://www.apple.com/macbook-air/. Source: Deal spotted on ifun.de (no direct link included). Thinking of buying? Comment below with the specs and color you’d go for — it helps others decide! Note: Prices and availability can…

iPhone 17 likely eSIM-only in Germany — what to expect Apple appears set to remove the physical SIM tray from iPhone 17 models in additional countries, with Germany and many EU markets listed among those expected to switch to eSIM-only devices. This continues the trend Apple began in the U.S. with the iPhone 14. Key points Reports indicate Apple is preparing for broader eSIM adoption ahead of the iPhone 17 launch (reportedly Sept 9, 2025). Apple-authorized reseller staff across EU countries are said to be receiving eSIM training, signaling a coordinated rollout. The ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air model is likely to ship without a SIM tray; other 17-series models may also drop the tray in most countries except where regulations require a physical SIM (notably China). Benefits Apple cites: simpler…

MenuBarUSB — Small macOS menu-bar app to view connected USB devices MenuBarUSB is a lightweight, free macOS utility by Rafael Neuwirth Swierczynski that places a simple indicator in your menu bar showing how many USB devices are currently connected. It’s designed for users who want a quick overview of USB connections without opening System Information. Features Displays number of connected USB devices in the macOS menu bar Simple, minimal UI — quick at-a-glance info Open-source and free (source on GitHub) Where to get it Official source & downloads: https://github.com/rafaelSwi/MenuBarUSB Alternative download/overview: Softpedia — MenuBarUSB Install notes The GitHub repository contains source code and instructions. The app can be run from a compiled binary or built from source; some users install similar tools via Homebrew if taps are available. Alternatives &…

Mortal Kombat II delayed to May 15, 2026 — Karl Urban returns Warner Bros. and New Line have pushed Mortal Kombat II from its original October release to May 15, 2026. The studio says the move is about giving the tournament “a new time and place, worthy of its spectacle.” Quick summary New release date: May 15, 2026 Star: Karl Urban returns as Johnny Cage Reason: Avoid a crowded October box office and maximize the sequel’s potential in a spring debut Marketing buzz: Red-band trailer reportedly amassed 106 million views in 24 hours What we know The trailer focuses heavily on Johnny Cage joining the fight-to-the-death tournament to save Earthrealm. The strong trailer performance and positive research screenings are likely factors in the studio’s decision to reschedule the film for…

NordVPN: Up to 77% off two-year plans — Deal summary NordVPN is currently offering deep discounts on its two-year plans, including three extra months for free on the two-year commitment. Prices NordVPN Plus (2 years): $108 for the contract + 3 months free (~73% off). Includes Threat Protection Pro, password manager, ad & tracker blocker. NordVPN Prime (2 years): $189 for the contract + 3 months free (~77% off). Adds encrypted cloud storage or NordProtect identity-theft protection and dark-web monitoring. Key features Threat Protection Pro (anti-malware) Password manager Ad & tracker blocker Encrypted cloud storage (Prime) / NordProtect identity theft monitoring (Prime) Notes Independent reviews report strong download speeds, a large server network and useful security features; some users find the interface inconsistent across platforms. Threat Protection Pro is highlighted…

Escape from Tarkov to arrive on Steam — Steam page 'available soon' Summary: Battlestate Games head Nikita Buyanov confirmed on X that Escape from Tarkov's Steam page "will be available soon," and reiterated the game's 1.0 release date of November 15, 2025. The move out of perpetual beta and onto Steam has raised questions from longtime players about whether they'll need to rebuy the game and how the studio plans to tackle cheating. What was announced Nikita Buyanov confirmed the Steam page for Escape from Tarkov is coming soon. Earlier announcements set the game's 1.0 launch for Nov 15, 2025, and Battlestate has said it plans console ports after the full release. Edition controversy Recently Battlestate unveiled the Unheard Edition (priced at $250), which includes a new PvE mode. This…

Stardew Valley 1.7 Confirmed — Barone Reassures Haunted Chocolatier Won't Be Delayed Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) announced a new Stardew Valley update — version 1.7 — during the Symphony of Seasons concert in Seattle and later confirmed the news on X. No release date or content details have been shared yet, but Barone reassured fans that "this will not hinder Haunted Chocolatier development." What we know 1.7 was revealed live at the Symphony of Seasons concert and confirmed on Barone's X account. No release window or detailed content list has been provided. Barone stated that work on 1.7 "will not hinder Haunted Chocolatier" — his next standalone title. Given the numbered update, 1.7 is expected to be more than a small patch, possibly similar in scope to the previous 1.6 update…

Best Labor Day Tech Deals 2025 — Top Picks and Where to Buy Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also a great time to save on tech. Engadget’s roundup highlights notable discounts across laptops, tablets, headphones, robot vacuums and more. Below are our top picks with quick notes and direct Amazon search links (affiliate tag included). Top deals Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) — $799Thin, light and long battery life. Search on Amazon: MacBook Air M4 on Amazon Apple iPad (11-inch, A16) — $299Solid performance and 128GB base storage. Search on Amazon: iPad 11" A16 on Amazon Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) — $449More color-rich display and stronger performance. Search on Amazon: iPad Air 11" M3 on Amazon Sony WH-CH520 headphones — $38Good sound and…