KL Techs

If you’ve got a desk, you’d probably benefit from equipping it with a lamp—the lights from your computer screen can feel harsh in the dark, after all. But the best one for you to choose will depend on your specific needs and the features you’ll benefit most from, whether you need charging ports, mobility, or something with a small footprint. Here are several options to check out—all for less than $40. Desk lamps that help keep you organized I have this Jostic LED lamp ($27.02) and personally love it. It has a wireless charging pad for my phone, 10 brightness settings, five color modes, and a USB port, so I can make it bright and white to focus during work and dim and yellow to relax at night, all while it charges my phone and powers my desk fan through the USB port. A Gondsily LED lamp with a USB charging port and holders for your pens and pencils ($23.99) is a cost-effective way to keep all of your materials organized, especially if you do a lot of wo...

Cannabis is slowly becoming legal across the country , and might even be federally legal in the foreseeable future. It’s also being talked about candidly more than ever, even on widely viewed sitcoms like Abbott Elementary . Research on its benefits is also finally catching up, and increasingly, there are reasons to try cannabis for chronic pain , anxiety, or even, potentially, to get better sleep . Many people are affected by a wide range of physical and mental injuries and ailments, whether temporary or permanent, and folks dealing with them often need more sleep, pain, and mental health management tools and treatments—and cannabis can be one of them. (As popular as cannabis is becoming for wellness uses, before adding any substances or remedies to your treatment plan, talk to your doctor in case there are any situations where you shouldn’t consume it, like prescription medication interactions.) If you’re considering cannabis for the first time and want to t...

You can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium on sale for $59.99 right now (reg. $300). Named App of the Day in the US App Store four times and the Apple Editors’ Choice, Headway breaks down nonfiction books into small chunks you can watch, read, or listen to in around 10 to 15 minutes, and it comes with access to over 1,500 of popular titles like How to Talk to Anyone , The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , and  The 5AM Club . Summaries don’t replace actually reading a book, obviously, but they can offer useful insights in minutes, and up to 50 new summaries are added every month. Headway also offers daily insights, motivational widgets, personalized recommendations, and curated collections: It tailors your recommended content based on your goals and needs, so it becomes a more gamified learning experience that allows you to track your progress and collect achievements. This offer is only available to new users and can only be installed on one desktop o...

Did Google just preempt a big announcement from Apple? The Android developer just published an updated landing page for Google Messages , showing off key features ranging from customization, privacy and security, and, of course, AI. On this landing page, there are different sections for each feature set, including one for RCS. As spotted by 9to5Google , if you expand this list of RCS features and scroll to the bottom, you see a section on "Coming soon on iOS: Better messaging for all." That's no surprise: We've known Apple was adopting RCS since November . However, it's the next line that brings the news: "Apple has announced it will be adopting RCS in the fall of 2024." Has it? Sure, the company has committed to bringing RCS to iPhones, but the last time it discussed the topic, it only said support would be coming later this year. The company never specifically said when during the year we'd be getting RCS, so Google's announcement here, how...

Google has been upfront about its plans to inject its Gemini AI into just about everything it can, save for the base Pixel 8—which it says has some hardware limitations that keep it from sporting the latest Gemini version . One of the latest ways to get the Gemini treatment is through Google Messages. This rollout isn't surprising at all, as Google officially confirmed the addition of Gemini to Messages around a month ago. Now, though, it has finally started to become available to some Google Messages beta users, and here's what you can expect from the new integration. For starters, it's only available for beta testers that have RCS enabled, are at least 18 years old, and own a Pixel 6 or newer, Pixel Fold, Galaxy S22 or newer, Galaxy Z Flip, or Galaxy Z Fold. Any other devices aren't eligible for Gemini in Google Messages just yet. Google also says you'll need to have your phone's language set to English in places where Gemini in Messages is available , or F...

I was really impressed with the OnePlus 12 when I tested it out earlier this year, and it looks like OnePlus is continuing to improve upon the solid foundation it has built. The latest version of OxygenOS 14, OnePlus’ Android 14 update, has added the option to integrate the OnePlus Photos app with Google Photos. This allows photos to be more easily backed up to the cloud, though OnePlus hasn’t mentioned whether or not it will offer support for the ProXDR quality option available on higher-end OnePlus devices. OnePlus owners could already download the Google Photos app and complete a backup, but this will do it without requiring any additional apps to be downloaded. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there is any kind of two-way sync for albums, which would be nice. To enable the new setting on OnePlus devices, you’ll first need to update to OxygenOS 14. That operating system is available on OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 11 devices, as well as on the OnePlus 10T...

Google started rolling out its new Search Generative Experience (SGE) earlier this month, introducing AI-generated search results on some pages. Unfortunately, it seems the new feature has already hit a few hiccups, as reports indicate it may be promoting scam sites and sites pushing malware in its generated responses. This is, obviously, not a very good look for Google’s AI search results, especially since there has been a lot of question around just how viable Google’s AI is , including the fact that Google won’t put its latest models on the base Pixel 8 . Despite those concerns, though, Google continues to push forward with its AI endeavors, and it seems like the misses just won’t stop. As BleepingComputer reports, Google search results appear to be recommending spammy and malicious sites within its various responses. This makes it much easier for users to fall for scams, especially if Google pushes this to a broader audience with varying levels of familiar...

Audio is not supported in your browser When Google released Gemini, a new chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, it quickly faced a backlash — and unleashed a fierce debate about whether A.I. should be guided by social values, and if so, whose values they should be. Kevin Roose, a technology columnist for The Times and co-host of the podcast “Hard Fork,” explains. Guest: Kevin Roose , a technology columnist for The New York Times and co-host of the podcast “Hard Fork.” Background reading:  Hard Fork: Gemini’s culture wars , and more. From Opinion: Should we fear the woke A.I.? For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Author: thedaily@nytimes.com (The New York Times) * This article was originally published here

Audio is not supported in your browser For years, a mysterious company has been buying farmland on the outskirts of Silicon Valley, eventually putting together a plot twice the size of San Francisco. At every step, those behind the company kept their plans for the land shrouded in secrecy. Conor Dougherty, an economics reporter at The Times, figured out what they were up to. Guest: Conor Dougherty , an economics reporter for The New York Times. Background reading:  Tech industry investors spent roughly $900 million buying land to build a dream city in a rural part of the Bay Area. In Solano County, Calif., a who’s who of tech money is trying to build a city from the ground up. But some of the locals whose families have been there for generations don’t want to sell the land . For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Author: thedaily@nytimes.com (The New York Times) * This article ...

Audio is not supported in your browser Warning: this episode contains a discussion about domestic abuse . As cars become ever more sophisticated pieces of technology, they’ve begun sharing information about their drivers, sometimes with unnerving consequences. Kashmir Hill, a features writer for The Times, explains what information cars can log and what that can mean for their owners. Guest: Kashmir Hill , a features writer on the business desk at The New York Times. Background reading:  Automakers are sharing consumers’ driving behavior with insurance companies. If your car is tracking you, abusive partners may be, too . For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Author: thedaily@nytimes.com (The New York Times) * This article was originally published here

Attention, coffee (and tea) drinkers: Whether you love the simple pleasure of picking up your java on the way to work or you take brewing at home very seriously, you should pay attention to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale . There’s quite a bit of discounted stuff for you there. Here are some of the best deals for casual sippers and connoisseurs alike that I've found so far. Best Big Spring Sale deals on at-home coffee goods If it’s time to upgrade your brew setup or drinkware, give these a shot.  If you like to grind your own beans, the Shardor electric burr grinder is marked down to $33.99 (originally $39.99). A bit of advice: Before you pick one of these up, make sure you’re familiar with how to clean it so your coffee doesn’t start to taste bad.  Shardor Electric Burr Coffee Grinder 2.0 ...

You can get this Mobile Pixels Glance portable 16" monitor on sale for $179.97 right now (reg. $250) with free shipping through March 24. The Mobile Pixels Glance portable monitor has a stunning 16" LCD display, 1080p full HD resolution, and weighs just under 3 pounds, making the Glance a perfect travel companion. It has dual speakers and high-quality sound, and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect with external speakers. It's compatible with MacOS, DeX, Nintendo Switch, and Windows.  You can get the Mobile Pixels Glance portable 16" monitor with 1080p FHD display on sale for $179.97 right now (reg. $249) with free shipping through March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices can change at any time. Author: StackCommerce * This article was originally published here

You can get this 7-inch car display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone mirroring capabilities on sale for $78.97 right now (reg. $140) through March 31. It comes with a mounting disk for your car’s dashboard, or you can use the included suction cup bracket on your inner windshield. Then you just plug it into your car’s lighter for power and connect it to your car’s speakers with an AUX cord or wirelessly with the FM transmitter. The display also has built-in speakers. You can then connect your iPhone or Android via bluetooth to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and use your phone’s virtual assistant for hands-free calling, texting, navigation, and music controls. You can get this 7-inch car car display on sale for $78.97 right (reg. $140) through March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices can change at any time. Author: StackCommerce * This article was originally published here

You know that song. You know the chorus, the beat, that solo, even that cool drum fill. You know that song, but you have no idea what it’s called. It happens all the time: Whether it’s a track you heard on the radio, or one a friend introduced you to years ago, there is music stuck in your head that you cannot identify. Modern tech has solutions—but usually only if you have the actual song on hand. As it turns out, Google is your new musical best friend. The company has a song identifier built into the Google app, YouTube for Android, and soon YouTube Music . Sure, you can use this feature as you do with Shazam or the like: You can hold your phone up to a song in your area, and the app will analyze and identify it. But Google's apps goes one step further—when you activate the song search, it’ll listen for any type of music, including your own voice. That means, whether you know all the words, or just a vague melody, you can sing or hum to the app to try...

Google has finally revealed a date for its biggest conference of the year, Google I/O 2024. The tech giant revealed the news this week, sharing that Google I/O will kick off on May 14, 2024.  I'm expecting quite a bit from Google during this year's I/O presentation. This is usually when Google touts its newest achievements, and the past couple of years have focused heavily on showing off the company’s various AI developments, as well as touting the much acclaimed Pixel 8 Pro . This year, though, I'm hoping that the rumors are correct and we learn more about Google’s next budget device, the Pixel 8a, which will hopefully open the door for more users to pick up a Pixel device that can run Google’s latest hardware. I'm particularly intrigued to see what Google does with the 8a, especially after revealing its latest AI features won’t even be coming to the cheaper flagship Pixel 8 . Google I/O is also when the company shares new features coming to its various ...

As someone who makes a lot of Apple Music playlists, both the handcrafted and "smart" varieties , accidental deletion is my biggest fear. About a year ago, that fear came true when I accidentally wiped out a playlist I had made for a half marathon. I had to make the whole playlist again, but it wasn't the same. The songs weren't in the same order as before and I couldn't quite remember all the songs I had added previously. That's why I was quite excited when I came across Hezel , an app that backs up your Apple Music library. Hezel is easy to use. You open the app, allow it access to your Apple Music library, and tap the backup button. It takes a short while to back up everything. I have about 10,000 songs in my library and it took Hezel about 2-3 minutes to back it up. Once you've done this, you can be sure that all the songs, playlists, and music videos are safely stored in the app. If you accidentally delete a song from a playlist, or even if you del...

When it comes to cancelling the noise around you, no other headphone does it better than the Bose's QuietComfort Ultra lineup. They top the list of the best active noise cancelling (ANC) earbuds as well as headphones . While the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are discounted to their lowest price of $249 (originally $299), it's the QuietComfort Ultra headphones that are seeing an impressive new record low price of $249.99 (originally $429.99) from Verizon. After looking at price-checking tools , I can say these headphones have never been under $300 before. QuietComfort Ultra headphones $249.99 (originally $429.99) QuietComfort Ultra earbuds $249 (originally $299) The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones came out in the fall of 2023 with a lot of praise for their quality but some grievances over their steep price. When it comes to ANC, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have been comfortably sitting at the top, but then again, not many ANC headphones go for $429. For the...

With so many bad actors out there, staying safe on the internet has become its own struggle. For a while, Google has used its Safe Browsing features to help make Chrome a safer browser for users. Now, though, it’s taking that protection one step further. Google shared the news that it would be bringing real-time protection to Safe Browsing today. According to Google, over five billion devices worldwide already rely on Safe Browsing to protect their online activity. The company says that previously, the list of potentially dangerous sites or files it checks for was updated every 30 to 60 minutes. However, Google says that most malicious sites only exist for 10 minutes or less. To combat this, Google has upgraded how quickly the list of potentially dangerous files and sites updates when using the standard settings in Safe Browsing. This real-time protection is made possible thanks to a Google-side server that contains a constantly updating list of potentially dangerous sites and ...

The Apple Watch has a built-in sleep tracker, but it can be hard to find. Here’s how to access it, how to set it up so that it properly records how much sleep you’re getting, and how to understand the results.  Does my Apple Watch support sleep tracking?  Sleep tracking was introduced with WatchOS version 7 (released in 2020). That version of WatchOS works on watches from Series 3 and newer, paired with an iPhone 6S or newer, with iOS 14 and newer.  In other words: The oldest devices that will work are a 2015 phone, a 2017 watch, and 2020 releases of the software that run on them. As long as your Apple Watch isn’t truly ancient, it should support this. Behold as I demonstrate with a Series 4 watch… Where to find the Apple Watch Sleep app You’ll need to navigate to four different places to access all of the sleep-related features of your Watch and iPhone. (Three of them are on the phone.) On the Apple Watch ...

It isn't every day Apple releases a security patch for a specific app. Usually, the company releases patches as part of a large update, such as with iOS 17.4 and macOS Sonoma 14.4 . However, the company unexpectedly dropped an update for GarageBand Tuesday , which included a security patch for the audio program alone. On the App Store, Apple says GarageBand 10.4.11 is an update that includes "stability updates and bug fixes." However, according to Apple's security notes , the company specifies this update is for GarageBand apps on macOS Sonoma and macOS Ventura, and addresses an issue where processing a malicious file could lead to app termination or arbitrary code execution. It appears that the issue stems from a use-after-free vulnerability : This is a flaw caused when the memory management system clears data from memory, but doesn't clear the pointer that leads to that available memory. In this case, malicious users could substitute their own code in this av...

Though relatively new on the Hollywood scene (its first original film was released in 2019), Apple's deep pockets have been enough to ensure that the Apple TV+ streaming service's slate of original films has included not just charming indies, but award-winning prestige pictures. CODA was Oscar's best picture just a couple of years ago (the first film from a streaming service to claim the honor), and the streamer's movies earned it 13 nominations this year , even if neither Killers of the Flower Moon nor Napoleon actually took anything home. Given the complexities of film financing today, you might be excused for believing that many of these movies were typical theatrical releases rather than Apple originals—but, strictly speaking, these are all Apple TV+ originals. Sometimes they're only available through the app, but other times they have small (or significant) theatrical releases built in to their distribution model, if only to ensure they're eligible for...