Browsing: Tech Reviews

Verizon will waive late fees and offer flexible payment arrangements for workers affected by the partial government shutdown. The carrier has made similar offers in the past, like during the COVID-19 pandemic when it gave customers extra mobile data at no additional cost.The Department of Homeland Security has been hit the hardest by the partial shutdown, but Verizon’s offer covers any federal worker who’s able to offer employment verification. Verizon says employees can call 1-800-Verizon (1-800-922-0204) to get their late fees waived and set up a payment plan.The partial government shutdown started in February after Congress failed to pass a…

As an ardent, perhaps obsessive, Harry Potter fan, I can’t say I was thrilled when I learned HBO was rebooting the beloved film franchise as a TV show. Like millions of other Harry Potter enthusiasts, the books and movies have been a key part of both my adolescence and adulthood, offering a magical refuge from a not-so-dazzling Muggle world. Theme parks, Broadway shows, mega stores and audiobooks have kept the spellbinding story alive not just for my generation, but for younger Potterheads as well. But I never thought we’d get an on-screen retelling just a decade and a half after the films…

If you’re looking for a pair of the best earbuds with innovative technology such as head-gesture operation, an intelligent ambient mode, and fantastic ANC, then the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro for £169 (was £219) are worth a look. Just use the code ‘BUDS50’ at checkout to apply the discount.We rated the buds 4.5 out of five stars, and even though they work with any Bluetooth-enabled phone, it is Samsung users who will benefit from the complete set of features. So, if you own one of the latest Galaxy S26 handsets — or an older model — and want some…

Ubiquiti’s UniFi Dream Router 5G Max (model UDR-5G-Max), first announced in late 2025 and now available for purchase, is a unique UniFi Cloud Gateway (a.k.a. “router”). It’s the first among its peers to feature a built-in 5G cellular modem, and for those who’ve used the AmpliFi Alien, it evokes a heavy dose of nostalgia and possible sadness. Here’s the bottom line: The Dream Router 5G Max is practically the combo of the UniFi Dream Router 7 (UDR7) and the UniFi 5G Max add-on cellular modem. If you’re looking for a powerful UniFi Network console with built-in 5G as a backup…

Google is adding a pair of new features to Gemini aimed at making it easier to switch to the AI chatbot. Personal history and past context are big components to how a chatbot provides customized answers to each user. Gemini now supports importing history from other AI platforms. Both free and paid consumer accounts can use these options.With the first option, Gemini can create a prompt asking a competitor’s AI chatbot to summarize what it has learned about you. The result might include details such as your typical written communication style, your family members’ names or your key preferences. The…

Hasbro/CNETIf you enjoy family game nights, don’t miss this Big Spring Sale deal at Amazon on a Clue Escape game. These are mystery-solving games, almost styled like an escape room. Up to six of you work together to solve the mystery as a team, and there are minigames that help you along the way. Play typically lasts between 90 minutes and two hours. I played a different version with some of my nieces and nephews, and we all had a blast. They wanted to do another one immediately, so now I’m picking up this variant while it’s down to $12. I…

Our security writer Ben believes this is the antivirus deal to go for in the Big Spring Sale – aNorton 360 Premium 2026 one-year pre-paid subscription is now $30 (was $100) at Amazon. It’s a massive price cut for multi-device protection that protects nearly every aspect of your digital life for the whole year.This package secures up to 10 devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets, which is ideal as most households have a mix of hardware these days.Built-in AI-powered scam protection helps flag suspicious messages and links, while the Genie assistant offers speedy guidance when something doesn’t feel right.…

The head says it. Earlier this week, in an unexpected move, the  Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it would ban all new consumer-grade routers manufactured abroad for national security reasons. In a way, this new development is a surprising end to the years-long saga in which the US government mulled banning TP-Link routers for the same reasons. All existing consumer-grade Wi-Fi 7 routers are made abroad, and none are affected by the latest FCC router ban. Related stories on home network security and privacy FCC router bans: The specifics Routers are essential and ubiquitous equipment—each home or office network needs one. Generally,…

Google is dramatically shortening its readiness deadline for the arrival of Q Day, the point at which existing quantum computers can break public-key cryptography algorithms that secure decades’ worth of secrets belonging to militaries, banks, governments, and nearly every individual on earth. In a post published on Wednesday, Google said it is giving itself until 2029 to prepare for this event. The post went on to warn that the rest of the world needs to follow suit by adopting PQC—short for post-quantum cryptography—algorithms to augment or replace elliptic curves and RSA, both of which will be broken. The end is…

After leaning into some questionable AI antics at CES 2026, Razer is making some altogether more practical updates to its 16-inch laptop by giving it newer chips and faster RAM. The new Razer Blade 16 features Intel’s new Core Ultra chips and speedy LPDDR5X-9600 MHz RAM, and is available to order today for $3,500.The Razer Blade 16 is designed to split the difference between the portable Razer Blade 14 and the monstrous Razer Blade 18, mostly by being thin but offering improved performance. Razer says the 2026 Blade 16 is 0.59 inches (14.9mm) at its thinnest point, which matches the…