Author: alex

Valve’s Steam Machine could change PC gaming — if Linux anti‑cheat gets fixed Valve recently unveiled its new Steam Machine, a console‑style PC designed to bring SteamOS and the Steam experience to a broader audience. While the hardware and SteamOS usability improvements are promising, a persistent problem could limit adoption: anti‑cheat support on Linux. Many competitive multiplayer titles rely on kernel‑level anti‑cheat solutions that are difficult to port to or verify on Linux distributions. As a result, several popular games — including Fortnite, Valorant and PUBG — remain unavailable on SteamOS, and some studios have blocked Linux clients entirely to reduce cheating vectors. The technical and industry challenge Linux distributions allow deeper kernel manipulation, which makes it easier to build purpose‑built cheat environments and harder for anti‑cheat systems to attest…

Best travel gifts for 2025 — practical tech and gadgets for explorers Travel gift season is here, and this year’s picks focus on usefulness, portability and durability. From power solutions and compact noise‑canceling headphones to smart luggage and handy packing tools, there are options for every kind of traveler and budget. We highlight items that reduce stress on the road — reliable chargers, lightweight adapters, protective cases and comfort‑focused accessories. Below are categories and specific features to consider when choosing a present for someone who loves to explore. Top travel gift categories Portable power: High‑capacity power banks and compact solar panels to keep devices charged on long trips. Audio & comfort: Noise‑canceling headphones or earbuds, travel pillows and lightweight eye masks for better rest in transit. Smart luggage & organizers:…

EcoFlow Black Friday sale: Delta Pro 3 slashed to $2,299 — massive discounts on portable power EcoFlow’s Black Friday event is offering steep discounts across its portable power lineup, with the Delta Pro 3 currently 37% off at $2,299 (matched by Amazon). The Delta Pro 3 is a high-capacity portable power station with a 4,096Wh battery that can keep a typical 500W refrigerator running for over 24 hours under continuous use. Aside from the Delta Pro 3, EcoFlow has other notable reductions: the Delta Pro Ultra (aimed at whole-home backup) is down to $3,999, and the Delta 2 Max is marked to $899 — all significant savings compared to regular pricing. Key specs & highlights Capacity: 4,096Wh (Delta Pro 3) Outlets: Four 120V AC outlets plus one 240V outlet Charging:…

Daily AI Brief — GPT‑5.1, NVIDIA Blackwell, Baidu multimodal & more (Nov 16, 2025) Here are the top AI developments from the last 24 hours, summarized so you can scan the landscape quickly. Sources include recent reporting and research summaries; follow the links for full articles. 1. OpenAI launches GPT‑5.1 (Instant & Thinking) OpenAI released a new GPT‑5.1 family including a fast “Instant” model and a higher‑reasoning “Thinking” variant. The updates reportedly improve instruction following and reasoning while increasing "intelligence per dollar" efficiency for many workloads. 2. NVIDIA’s Blackwell dominates MLPerf NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture reportedly swept the latest MLPerf Training benchmarks, demonstrating leading training speeds across a range of workloads — a reminder that hardware is a key competitive axis as models scale. 3. Baidu unveils a new multimodal model…

Apple may sideline the Mac Pro as M5 Ultra shifts to Mac Studio Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says Apple has dropped work on an M4 Ultra chip and is instead focusing its high‑end efforts on the M5 Ultra — but only for the Mac Studio. That shift suggests a refreshed Mac Pro is unlikely to appear in 2026, leaving the Mac Pro's future uncertain. The Mac Pro has long been Apple’s flagship desktop for professionals, but demand and Apple’s product priorities have changed. Recent Apple silicon Mac Studio models (and the M4 Ultra roadmap) appear to be absorbing the high‑end desktop role, which may push the Mac Pro into product purgatory or a longer lifecycle between updates. What Gurman reports Apple reportedly stopped development on an M4 Ultra intended for…

GoPro Hero 13 Black on sale: $310 for the camera, $349 bundle with extra batteries One of the top Black Friday action‑cam deals is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, now ringing in at $310 — a notable discount on a camera we ranked among the best action cameras. If you want more battery life and accessories, a bundle that includes a 64GB microSD card, three Enduro batteries, a dual battery charger and a case is currently about $349. The Hero 13 Black is GoPro’s most versatile Hero yet: it records up to 5.3K, supports 2× optical zoom with the new modular lens options, and benefits from a larger battery that delivers roughly 90 minutes of continuous 4K/30fps recording. The camera has a vivid full‑color front display, is waterproof to 10…

AirPods 4 drop to a record low: $85 — Black Friday deal primer Apple’s AirPods 4 have fallen to a new record-low price of $85 in early Black Friday sales, making them an attractive budget option for Apple users who want modern features without the premium cost. These buds include Apple’s H2 audio chip and deliver Personalized Spatial Audio, but the entry-level variant does not include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). The AirPods 4 offer a redesigned shape for a more secure fit and a USB-C charging case that provides up to 30 hours of total listening time. On a single charge, the buds last about 5 hours. Controls are handled via a force sensor on the stem, and Siri access is available with a press-and-hold gesture. Key specs and features…

Save 50% on Monarch Money: one year for $50 with code MONARCHVIP Monarch Money is offering a Black Friday promo: use code MONARCHVIP at checkout on the web to get 50% off an annual plan. That drops the price from about $100 to $50 for 12 months. The offer is for new users only and can’t be combined with other discounts. Why consider Monarch? It’s one of our favorite budgeting apps thanks to deep customization, a clear net-worth dashboard and useful reporting (including a month‑in‑review). Monarch connects to banks and services like Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings to pull transactions, detect recurring payments and keep your financial snapshot up to date. What the deal includes and caveats Price: One year for $50 with code MONARCHVIP (web checkout only). Eligibility:…

Skinsight: a wearable patch that analyzes skin aging in real time Researchers at MIT and Korean beauty firm Amorepacific have developed Skinsight, a Bluetooth‑enabled sensor patch that sticks to the skin and monitors factors linked to skin aging. The patch measures skin tightness, UV exposure, temperature and moisture, sending data to a companion AI app that estimates how those factors contribute to aging and recommends tailored skincare products. Skinsight was named a CES 2026 Innovation Award Honoree and is designed to be breathable and sweat‑resistant so it can remain on the skin for extended periods. The research team says the AI app will combine multiple sensor readings to personalize advice — for example, suggesting UV protection or hydration‑focused products when appropriate. How it works Sensors: Measures skin tightness, UV exposure,…

Apple reportedly preparing to replace Tim Cook as early as next year Apple is reportedly preparing for a leadership transition that could see CEO Tim Cook step down as early as next year. According to the latest reporting, the company’s board and senior executives have stepped up succession planning, and John Ternus — Apple’s senior vice president of engineering — is widely viewed inside the company as the likely successor. Cook has led Apple since 2011, overseeing major product and services launches and helping grow the company’s market value into the trillions. If the timeline holds, Apple would aim to announce a change after its January earnings report to give the incoming leader time to transition into the role ahead of the company’s annual product events. Who is John Ternus?…