Robinson Research Institute secures $71 million over seven years to boost New Zealand`s advanced magnetic technology and materials innovations. Read...

On World Technology Day, leaders from Axiado and Xpedeon underscore innovation`s role in fostering sustainable, secure, and resilient digital and construction futures. Read...

Since AI has diffused into every aspect of the technology sector, I’ve been more than a little tempted to try my hand at some of AI’s cooler applications. That growing temptation finally culminated in me building a desktop PC just for AI — to try my hand at vibe coding apps just for fun. My budget wasn’t that high, so for the build I landed on an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G CPU with a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, and an Nvidia RTX 3090 video card. That combination was validated by my fellow PC builders online as entirely suitable for AI, so I felt confident I was onto a good thing. And they weren’t wrong! My new PC worked well for my newest hobby, allowing me to dabble in making simple apps in DeepAgent. But with the gift of hindsight, I now realize that I made a big mistake with my build, and I deeply regret it. The issue was and still is that I had built a PC suitable for one use case only, and in doing so it has since become obsolete to my life. I arrived at my rig’s configuration by unknowingly breaking one of life’s less spoken-about rules: “Know thyself.” By that I mean two things: The first is that (with the exception of my work PCs that are just for work) in my life I have Buckley’s chance of compartmentalizing my personal devices for just one use — I’m just too busy. My phone is the classic example of that –- it’s my mobile calendar, my repository for holiday snaps, and my communication’s hub, all in one. Secondly, I had overlooked a personality trait that I sometimes exhibit, one that I share with the character Toad from the classic children’s story The Wind in the Willows, and that is the tendency to get all worked up over a new hobby that can last for several months but then I lose interest quickly and stop it abruptly. Of course, I should have known that AI was the most recent of these temporary hobbies, soon to be replaced by something else. These two oversights would have been no problem at all had I selected more versatile hardware for my AI PC. But I had chosen potato-like components, suitable for running LLMs but not much more. That aha! moment came after a lengthy coding session when I decided to give the neurons a rest and loaded up a game of CounterStrike: Go. My spiffy AI PC, which until then I had otherwise been chuffed about, at that very moment became an insubordinate nuisance. Yes, I had a decent graphics card, but my PC was severely bottlenecked at the CPU and no number of settings changes were going to improve that. Like most gamers, I have a minimum frame rate that I simply can’t bear to play beneath — that’s 60FPS. The best I could achieve on my AI PC, even in games with cartoony graphics, was a measly 40FPS — so it was of little use to me for any kind of serious gaming. Building a PC with limited capability was not a great idea.  Pixabay: Andreas160578 Sure, I could have just changed out the CPU for a more powerful one, but I had other bottlenecks too; Like the slow 8GB RAM onboard, and a PSU so underpowered it was only really suitable for running the lights in a chicken coop. If I had to find a moral in all of this, like in a family talk session at the end of a cheesy 1990s sitcom, it would be this: Don’t build a PC for just one application; reach higher with your hardware specs right from the get-go and build a more powerful and versatile rig capable of a whole bunch of stuff. If you do, you will save yourself a ton of hassle and possibly a ton of money too. And, no matter what your next hobby is (composing music? VR gaming? Heck, even snapping time lapse videos of your cat!) you will have a powerful enough rig to cover your needs! Further reading: I regret buying into the RGB hype for my gaming PC Read...

Since AI has diffused into every aspect of the technology sector, I’ve been more than a little tempted to try my hand at some of AI’s cooler applications. That growing temptation finally culminated in me building a desktop PC just for AI — to try my hand at vibe coding apps just for fun. My budget wasn’t that high, so for the build I landed on an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G CPU with a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, and an Nvidia RTX 3090 video card. That combination was validated by my fellow PC builders online as entirely suitable for AI, so I felt confident I was onto a good thing. And they weren’t wrong! My new PC worked well for my newest hobby, allowing me to dabble in making simple apps in DeepAgent. But with the gift of hindsight, I now realize that I made a big mistake with my build, and I deeply regret it. The issue was and still is that I had built a PC suitable for one use case only, and in doing so it has since become obsolete to my life. I arrived at my rig’s configuration by unknowingly breaking one of life’s less spoken-about rules: “Know thyself.” By that I mean two things: The first is that in my life I have Buckley’s chance of compartmentalizing my devices for just one use — I’m just too busy and inevitably end up using them for everything. My phone is the classic example of that –- it’s my mobile notetaker, my repository for holiday snaps, and my communication’s hub, all in one. Secondly, I had overlooked a personality trait that I sometimes exhibit, one that I share with the character Toad from the classic children’s story The Wind in the Willows, and that is the tendency to get all worked up over a new hobby that can last for several months but then I lose interest quickly and stop it abruptly. Of course, I should have known that AI was the most recent of these temporary hobbies, soon to be replaced by something else. These two oversights would have been no problem at all had I selected more versatile hardware for my AI PC. But I had chosen potato-like components, suitable for running LLMs but not much more. That aha! moment came after a lengthy coding session when I decided to give the neurons a rest and loaded up a game of CounterStrike: Go. My spiffy AI PC, which until then I had otherwise been chuffed about, at that very moment became an insubordinate nuisance. Yes, I had a decent graphics card, but my PC was severely bottlenecked at the CPU and no number of settings changes were going to improve that. Like most gamers, I have a minimum frame rate that I simply can’t bear to play beneath — that’s 60FPS. The best I could achieve on my AI PC, even in games with cartoony graphics, was a measly 40FPS — so it was of little use to me for any kind of serious gaming. Building a PC with limited capability was not a great idea.  Pixabay: Andreas160578 Sure, I could have just changed out the CPU for a more powerful one, but I had other bottlenecks too; Like the slow 8GB RAM onboard, and a PSU so underpowered it was only really suitable for running the lights in a chicken coop. If I had to find a moral in all of this, like in a family talk session at the end of a cheesy 1990s sitcom, it would be this: Don’t build a PC for just one application; reach higher with your hardware specs right from the get-go and build a more powerful and versatile rig capable of a whole bunch of stuff. If you do, you will save yourself a ton of hassle and possibly a ton of money too. And, no matter what your next hobby is (composing music? VR gaming? Heck, even snapping time lapse videos of your cat!) you will have a powerful enough rig to cover your needs! Further reading: 8 truly useful AI tools that make your life and work easier Read...

Intel said Wednesday that the company is adding its XeSS 2 technology to even more games, including top-tier titles like Diablo IV and Assassin’s Creed Shadows — pushing them into the “definitely playable” category by increasing framerates up to a whopping four times higher. As part of the announcement, Intel also revealed that some sort of XeSS support now exists in over 200 PC games. XeSS 2 was added in conjunction with the $250 Intel Arc B580 (“Battlemage”) architecture at the end of 2024, a “budget” graphics card that certainly helped alleviate some of the sticker shock that accompanied cards from AMD and especially Nvidia. It combines upscaling, frame generation, and latency in reduction, and doesn’t necessarily require an Intel GPU, either. The most important thing about XeSS is that it applies additional frames where it’s really needed — at the low end. Increasing a game’s frame rate from 260 fps to 360 fps looks great on paper, but where XeSS shines is pushing a game’s framreate up from below 60 fps, for example, to 90 fps and above. That swaps what could be a bumpy, frustrating experience into something that’s truly fun. Now, Intel says XeSS 2 has been added to 10 more games for a total of 19, following Intel’s decision to release the XeSS 2 SDK. Today, Intel is releasing estimated gaming performance on games like Marvel Rivals, where XeSS accelerates frame rates from 43 fps (native) to 138 fps using XeSS 2. That’s an enormous bump! Ditto for Rise of the Ronin: pushing frame rates up from 37 fps to 100 fps means an enjoyable, playable game. Those numbers are for the discrete Arc B580 card, of course. But Intel’s XeSS 2 is equally important in its latest Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processors, too. In my “Arrow Lake-H” review of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo (B2HMG), the problem I discovered is that at the time of the review only two games supported XeSS 2 (F1 2024 and Marvel Rivals) limiting the chip’s appeal as a gaming option. Now, with more games supporting XeSS 2, and hundreds supporting XeSS, you’re seeing a number of games suddenly become playable on the Intel Core Ultra 200 H-series platform. Intel is also saying that with the XeLL (low latency) technology built into the XeSS 2 technology, display latencies in supported games can drop by about half, improving the overall smoothness of the the game itself. In all, what you should expect with XeSS and its increased support overall is just a better gaming experience. One of Intel’s strengths has always been in engaging and influencing software developers, so it’s likely that this trend will continue. Combine that with the $250 Arc B580 — which my colleague Brad Chacos considers the best GPU under $400 — and Intel’s progress in notebook CPUs, even low-end hardware is gaining the ability to play today’s top-tier games. Read...

When was the last time you used a USB flash drive? I had to think for a moment myself — and to be honest, I can’t remember exactly. For years, the USB stick was the device of choice when it came to fast and uncomplicated data transfer. Why do these practical storage aids hardly play a role today, and are they possibly even on the verge of extinction? A look at current developments sheds some light on this. Why USB flash drives are no longer popular? As compact and handy as they are, USB sticks have lost much of their relevance in recent years. One of the main reasons is their comparatively low storage capacity. Many commercially available models end at 256GB or 512GB, which means that large amounts of data such as 4K videos, complete photo archives, or system backups can only be transported to a limited extent. Although there are also some high-end sticks with up to 2 terabytes of memory, such as the Seagate Ultra Compact SSD, many people prefer to use an SSD for such capacities. The reason: SSDs generally use more powerful flash chips, which ensure higher data transfer rates and a longer service life. Another problem: The classic USB-A connection is hardly suitable for modern devices. Most laptops and tablets rely on USB-C, as do smartphones. mentioned in this article Seagate Ultra Compact SSD Read our review Best Prices Today: $79.99 at B & H Photo Although there are now USB sticks with Type C connectors, such as the aforementioned Seagate Ultra Compact. There are also so-called dual sticks with USB-A and USB-C connections, but in practice this is often a compromise. Many of these models rely on simple controllers and cheaper flash memory, which results in significantly slower transfer rates — especially when writing large files. Modern alternatives to USB flash drives External hard drives: lots of storage for little money External hard drives, such as SSDs, are robust and powerful — with significantly more storage space than the average USB stick. External hard drives — whether classic HDDs or fast SSDs — are among the most popular alternatives to USB sticks. They offer significantly more storage (up to 4TB and more), and SSDs in particular impress with their high transfer speed via USB-C or Thunderbolt. While HDDs offer a lot of space at a favorable price, SSDs are the better choice for large amounts of data, as they are faster, more robust, and hardly more expensive in higher storage classes than comparable USB sticks. Advantages: Significantly more storage space than USB sticks Shock-resistant and durable, higher-quality flash chips Ideal for backups or large amounts of data Disadvantages: Larger and heavier than a USB stick Sometimes more expensive, especially for SSD models Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB (portable NVMe SSD) External drive with SSD technology 2.5 inch, USB-C, up to 2,000 MB/s read and write, NVMe SSD, IP65, 5-year warranty Buy it on amazon Crucial X10 Pro 1TB Portable SSD External drive with SSD technology, USB-C, up to 2,100MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write, IP55 Buy it on Amazon SSK 2TB portable, external NVME SSD External drive with SSD technology, NVMe SSD, 2.7 inch, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write speed Buy it on Amazon Further reading: The best external drives we’ve tested SD cards: Small, fast – but not universal SD memory cards can be used to expand mobile phone memory, for example.SanDisk SD cards (or microSDs with an adapter) are also a compact alternative to USB sticks. They are standard, especially for cameras, drones, and mobile devices, as well as some laptops. In combination with a USB-C card reader, SD cards can even be used as mini storage drives for notebooks. Further reading: SD cards, demystified: How to decipher the confusing jumble of specs The advantage over classic USB sticks: SD cards can be used more flexibly in many areas, are often cheaper per gigabyte and — depending on the class and model — also achieve high transfer speeds. They are also easy to replace or permanently integrate into devices, such as cameras or laptops with card readers. So if you work with memory cards anyway, you can easily use them as a mobile drive (and save yourself the extra stick). Advantages: Extremely small and light Good speeds with modern UHS-II cards Can be used directly in many devices Disadvantages: Susceptible to loss or damage A card reader is usually required for use on a PC Amazon Basics microSDXC 128GB SD memory card with 128GB and SD adapter, 100MB/s maximum read speed Buy it on Amazon Sandisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I memory card 512GB Sandisk UHS-I memory card, 512 GB, V30, transfer speed 200 MB/s, U3, 4K UHD videos, Sandisk QuickFlow technology Buy it on Amazon Cloud services: Storage space always with you The cloud is probably the most modern alternative to USB sticks. Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, or OneDrive offer storage space on the internet that you can access from any device — without a physical drive. Advantages: Access from anywhere with an internet connection Ideal for collaboration and shared files Automatic synchronization possible Disadvantages: Dependent on a stable internet connection Limited free storage, followed by a paid subscription Data protection and encryption are important issues Conclusion: USB drive only for special cases? The humble USB flash drive has not yet completely lost its place — it is quite common and ideal for simple data transfers, firmware updates, or as a boot stick. But as an everyday solution, it is long outdated. The combination of limited memory, decreasing compatibility, and growing requirements makes it a discontinued model. Modern alternatives such as SSDs, SD cards, or cloud services offer better performance, more flexibility and, in many cases, a better price-performance ratio. Further reading: 6 genuinely helpful uses for the USB port on your router Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive and functional design Google TV OS is great for streaming Includes a remote control Bright, sharp image Cons Mediocre color gamut and performance HDR is supported, but not good Ethernet port doesn’t extend connectivity to connected PC Our Verdict It’s not for everyone, but the MSI Modern MD272UPSW is a solid smart monitor powered by Google TV OS—and it’s less expensive than many alternatives. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: MSI Modern MD272UPSW Retailer Price MSI $349.99 View Deal $356.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Smart monitors are very much a thing in 2025. These monitors bundle a smart TV operating system (usually Google TV OS) to provide most of the benefits of a television in a computer monitor. This flexibility makes the Modern MD272UPSW appealing if you often find yourself using a monitor like a television, though the monitor’s image quality is just so-so. MSI’s aggressive price also improves the monitor’s appeal. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Modern MD272UPSW specs and features The MSI Modern MD272UPSW’s basic specifications are typical for an inexpensive 4K monitor. It has a 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio screen with, of course, 3840×2160 resolution. The refresh rate is just 60Hz and the panel uses IPS LCD technology without a fancy Mini-LED backlight. Display size: 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: IPS LCD 8-bit + FRC Refresh rate: 60Hz Adaptive sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync HDR: HDR 10 Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x USB Type-C with 65 watts of Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio-out jack Additional features: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, Remote control, Google TV OS Audio: 2x 3-watt speakers Warranty: 3-year warranty Price: $349.99 MSRP However, there’s something in the box that immediately sets the monitor apart: a TV-style remote control. This is used to control Google TV OS, which is pre-installed on the monitor. The remote can also adjust monitor features including the monitor’s profile preset and brightness. Also, because the monitor is meant to be used as an internet-connected smart TV, it includes both an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 5. Matthew Smith / Foundry Modern MD272UPSW design The MSI Modern MD272UPSW makes a good first impression. It provides a sleek, crisp white colorway that will fit in with most living room and home office setups, and the plastics used across the rear of the panel, as well as the stand, feel sturdy. MSI ships the monitor with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. This is the typical range of adjustment for a modern monitor, but it’s also good to see. The stand is not large and has a flat base, which minimizes the space that it takes up on a desk. The Modern MD272UPSW also has a 75x75mm VESA mount for use with a third-party monitor stand or arm. Matthew Smith / Foundry Modern MD272UPSW connectivity Although inexpensive, the Modern MD272UPSW has a good range of connectivity, some of which is required to use the monitor’s smart TV features. The monitor’s video inputs include one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB Type-C with DisplayPort alternate mode. The USB-C port also provides 65 watts of USB Power Delivery. A pair of USB-A ports offer additional USB connectivity, which can be accessed through the USB-C port. However, the USB-A ports are only rated at the USB 2.0 specifications, so they’ll prove rather slow for data transfers. A 3.5mm headphone-out jack is included, too. The monitor’s smart TV features require an internet connection, so it has an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 5, plus Bluetooth. However, the Ethernet port doesn’t extend connectivity to a connected laptop. That’s a bummer. On a final but important note, shoppers should keep in mind that the MSI Modern MD272UPSW doesn’t have a TV tuner. That means it can’t accept a coaxial TV signal and won’t work with most cable set-top boxes, and certainly not with over-the-air TV signals. It’s all about TV delivered over the internet. Modern MD272UPSW menus and features Because the MSI Modern MD272UPSW has Google TV OS, setting it up is a bit different from a typical monitor. Turning it on will direct you to Google TV’s setup process. Users need to turn on and pair the remote and connect a Google account. If all goes well, this should take about 5 minutes; I ran into a few issues with proper detection of the monitor but, after a few tries, it eventually worked. Once set up, you’ll be greeted by a Google TV OS interface that looks much like any other display that uses the operating system. Google TV OS offers a clean, modern user interface with quick access to common streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube. Technically, this means you don’t need an input device at all. You can use the MSI Modern MD272UPSW as stand-alone smart TV. Matthew Smith / Foundry I expect most users will want to connect to a PC, however. Smart monitors can be finicky about detecting and switching to new devices, but this wasn’t a problem I had with the Modern MD272UPSW. My desktop and laptop were detected within seconds and the monitor switched to these new input sources without manual adjustment. In addition, the Modern MD272UPSW’s pricing gives it a strong competitive advantage against other smart monitors. As I’ll discuss in a moment, the monitor’s image quality is mediocre. But if Google TV OS is a key feature you want in a monitor, the Modern MD272UPSW is an affordable way to get it—and it works as well here as it does on more expensive alternatives, like the Asus ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC. It’s not all sunshine and roses, however. While input devices worked well, navigating Google TV OS to change monitor settings can feel cumbersome. If you want to adjust brightness, for example, you’ll need to navigate through a couple of settings sub-menus to do so. Google TV OS can also feel slow when flipping through menu options. It’s a minor hesitation—just a fraction of a second in most cases—but noticeable.   What about audio? The Modern MD272UPSW includes built-in speakers with decent audio quality. They’re not that loud at maximum volume and have trouble with more demanding content, like music. However, they’re fine for YouTube and many streaming shows. Due to their moderate volume, the speakers are best suited to smaller rooms. The MSI Modern MD272UPSW doesn’t have a TV tuner….It’s all about TV delivered over the internet. Modern MD272UPSW image quality The MSI Modern MD272UPSW is a tried-and-true IPS LCD display with an edge-lit LED backlight. This type of panel technology remains the most common, and affordable, option for computer monitors, and no doubt contributes to the Modern MD272UPSW’s low price. However, it delivers so-so image quality. Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is brightness which, it turns out, is among the Modern MD272UPSW’s best traits. It reached a sustained SDR brightness of 440 nits, which is quite a lot for a computer monitor. It’s beaten only by the Asus ZenScreen Smart Monitor MS27UC. A brightness of 440 nits is, in truth, far more than required for typical use in a home office or PC den. However, a monitor like the MD272UPSW might be roped into use as a smart TV for a guest room, vacation home, or even a kitchen. The monitor’s brightness adds some flexibility in where the monitor is used. Matthew Smith / Foundry Next up is contrast, and here things get a bit dicey for the MSI Modern MD272UPSW. It achieved a contrast ratio of 1170:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness. That’s not bad, but it’s a firmly mid-pack result for a monitor in this category. As common for IPS-LCD monitors, contrast is limited by the monitor’s inability to reach deep, convincing black levels in dark scenes. This can be a problem when the monitor is used to play games or watch TV, especially in a dark room. You may notice the dreaded “IPS glow,” which can cause darker scenes to look hazy and gray. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Modern MD272UPSW’s color gamut is also a bit limited. It can achieve up to 99 percent of sRGB, 75 percent of DCI-P3, and 76 percent of AdobeRGB. These results would’ve looked great a few years ago, but they’re mid-pack in 2025. Still, the MD272UPSW’s color gamut is okay for the price and feature set. Movies, games, and other content won’t look as vivid as on some similarly priced monitors, like the Gigabyte M27QA ICE. But it’s good enough to satisfy less critical viewers. If you want to handle content creation, I’d take a pass on the MD272UPSW. The monitor’s limited color gamut can become an obstacle when creating or editing digital images and video, as it can’t display as many colors as some competitive monitors. Matthew Smith / Foundry Next up is color accuracy, which turns out to be among the Modern MD272UPSW’s less impressive results. The monitor’s color error average was near 2.0, and some colors were well over that mark. Subjectively, the monitor’s image still looks realistic, but critical viewers may notice that greens and cyan seem a bit faded and push towards blue more than is ideal. While the monitor’s color accuracy wasn’t a strong point, the monitor did well in gamma and color temperature. It achieved a default gamma curve of 2.2, which is our target and means that content will generally look as bright as it should. Also, the monitor had a spot-on color temperature of 6500K at 50 percent of maximum brightness, which means the image doesn’t look too cool or too warm. Sharpness is a perk, of course. The monitor’s 3840×2160 resolution results in a pixel density of about 163 pixels per inch across the 27-inch panel. That’s an excellent pixel density for a monitor. Small fonts are relatively readable and 4K video looks crisp. The MSI Modern MD272UPSW’s SDR image quality won’t knock your socks off, but it covers the basics and looks good enough for watching a show on Netflix or YouTube. Shoppers who want better image quality on a budget could consider a monitor like the Gigabyte M27Q ICE. It’s not a smart monitor, however, so you’ll need to connect a media streaming device if you want access to streaming apps. Modern MD272UPSW HDR image quality HDR is available on the MSI Modern MD272UPSW, but it’s unremarkable. The monitor isn’t VESA DisplayHDR certified and is advertised as simply “HDR Ready.” That means it can accept an HDR signal but doesn’t make any specific claims about HDR performance. HDR content can be viewed, but it won’t look much better than SDR. While that’s disappointing, it’s also typical for a monitor in this price bracket. You’ll need at least $500 to snag a monitor with decent HDR performance. Right now, older OLED monitors sold at a discount are your best bet if you want good HDR on a budget—but none of them have smart TV connectivity. Modern MD272UPSW motion performance The MSI Modern MD272UPSW isn’t sold as a gaming monitor and doesn’t promise great motion performance. It has a 60Hz refresh rate and a minimum gray-to-gray pixel response time of four milliseconds, which is typical for a monitor in this category. Fast-moving objects will show noticeable blur and scrolling text can be hard to read. However, the monitor does at least support Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing in PC games. MSI doesn’t quote official AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync support, but my desktop PC (with an AMD Radeon 7800 XT) detected it as a FreeSync compatible monitor. Should you buy a Modern MD272UPSW? The MSI Modern MD272UPSW is a modest budget 4K monitor with one big advantage. It supports Google TV OS. While that won’t make it appealing to people who need a monitor for a home office or PC gaming den, the Modern MD272UPSW is less expensive than most 4K smart monitors. The lower price doesn’t lead to any major trade-offs, either. While the Modern MD272UPSW’s image quality is just so-so, it’s on par with the alternatives. If you just want a monitor, you’ll be better served by more traditional computer monitors like the Dell S2722QC or Gigabyte M27Q ICE. Ultimately, I think the Modern MD272UPSW is best understood as a 27-inch smart television disguised as a computer monitor. It’s a good choice if you want a smart TV for a studio apartment, guest room, kitchen, or any other situation where you might use a display as both a monitor and a television. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent 4K video quality, day and night Built-in solar panels keep cameras’ batteries charged 16GB of local storage expandable to 16TB Eufy HomeBase 3 supports up to 16 cameras Cons Opting for HomeKit integration limits video resolution to 1080p External solar panels must be purchased separately if needed Our Verdict The EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit delivers sharp, reliable, and fully independent home security without locking you into ongoing fees. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: EufyCam S3 Pro 2-camera Kit Retailer Price $549.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Cloud subscriptions that lock your security camera footage behind a monthly fee are a frustrating reality for homeowners. The EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit offers a way out. With 4K video resolution, smart AI detection, and solar panels integrated into the two cameras, it delivers top-shelf performance without roping you into a payment plan. Eufy does offer cloud storage as an option, but the cameras in this offering store their recordings locally on Eufy’s HomeBase 3 hub—a NAS box (network-attached storage), essentially—enhancing your privacy while saving you money on subscription fees. EufyCam S3 Pro cameras with a HomeBase 3 base station are a compelling video-based home-security package. Design and features The EufyCam S3 Pro cameras have a bullet-style body with a white finish and a black face. Each camera has a solar panel on top, neatly integrated into the design rather than bolted on as an afterthought. It’s a clean, functional look that fits whether you’re mounting them on brick, siding, wood, or stucco. The cameras are strongly protected from the elements, boasting a rating of IP67. Our IP code guide tells that means the cameras can not only withstand a blast from a pressure washer (from a reasonable distance), but they can even withstand being submersed in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. The Eufy S3 Pro cameras have integrated solar panels that allow them to run all day and night with just an hour of direct sunlight.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The S3 Pro system is packed with serious hardware. Each camera captures video in 4K Ultra HD resolution (that’s 3840 x 2160 pixels), delivering crisp detail that makes it easy to spot faces, license plates, and other important features. A 135-degree field of view provides wide coverage without the heavy barrel distortion you sometimes get from wide-angle lenses. At night, Eufy’s MaxColor Vision technology kicks in, delivering full-color night vision without needing bright, battery-draining spotlights. Instead, the cameras rely on a larger sensor and wider f/1.0 aperture to pull in enough light naturally. Powering the system is Eufy’s SolarPlus 2.0 technology. The cameras use a 13,000mAh battery that Eufy says will keep them running for up to a year on a single charge with just an hour of direct sunlight a day. To give homeowners even more flexibility when it comes to mounting the cameras, Eufy offers external solar panels for $29.99 each. You can add one and position it for the best sun exposure even if your ideal camera placement is in permanent shade. For motion detection, the S3 Pro pairs radar sensing with conventional passive infrared (PIR) to better separate real threats from moving branches or passing cars. AI-powered recognition also sorts motion events into categories—people, vehicles, pets, and faces—so you’re not constantly bombarded with unnecessary notifications. You can also create privacy zones to block out parts of the frame you don’t want recorded, which is handy if your cameras overlook a neighbor’s property. The Eufy Security app provides control over the camera and its live feed as well as the HomeBase 3 hub. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The audio features are just as strong. Two-way audio lets you hear and speak through the cameras, with built-in AI noise reduction that helps voices come through clearly even from 20 to 25 feet away. If you need to scare someone off, each camera also comes equipped with a 100dB siren and customizable voice warnings. Footage is stored locally on the included Eufy HomeBase 3, which has 16GB of built-in storage. That’s not a lot, but it can be easily expanded up to 16TB by plugging in an internal 2.5-inch SATA hard drive or SSD. A single HomeBase 3 can host up to 16 Eufy cameras, including most Eufy video doorbells and floodlight cameras. And while Eufy doesn’t yet have a robust home security platform beyond its cameras, its NAS box can also monitor Eufy’s motion and door/window sensors. Local storage means no cloud fees, no mandatory subscriptions, and no dependence on third-party servers for your data. The HomeBase 3 has dual USB-A ports in back that you can use to charge the cameras and to back up its internal storage. If you want another layer of backup protection, you can sign up for an optional cloud backup service: Eufy’s cloud plans, which start at $0.99 for the first month and $3.99/month after that for a single device. A $13.99/month Plus Plan covers all devices and stores videos for 30 days. The S3 Pro works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, including HomeKit Secure Video. There is a small tradeoff to using HomeKit, however; video resolution gets capped at 1080p instead of 4K. It’s a limitation that won’t matter to everyone, but it’s worth knowing up front. Setup and performance Getting the EufyCam S3 Pro system up and running is about as easy as it gets. The cameras come with everything you need, including sturdy wall mounts and clear instructions that walk you through each step. Simply plug the HomeBase 3 into your router, scan a QR code on the bottom with the Eufy Security app, and follow the prompts to complete the connection. You then press the sync button on each camera to pair it to the HomeBase. Once paired, the HomeBase manages video storage, powers the AI features, and acts as the brains behind the whole setup. The Eufy HomeBase 3 network-attached storage device (shown here next to a Ring Alarm Pro with dual battery packs) comes with 16GB of storage for video recordings, but an internal SATA bay can host up to a 16TB hard drive or SSD.Michael Brown/Foundry In daylight, the S3 Pro’s video quality stands out. Footage is sharp and vibrant, with colors that look natural instead of overly boosted. Details like faces, clothing, and license plates stay clear even when you zoom in. Motion detection also works well right out of the box (although you can adjust sensitivity to tailor detection to your liking). The combination of radar and infrared sensing does a good job of catching real activity while ignoring typical false alarms like tree branches or passing shadows. Image quality holds up impressively after dark. Footage stays in color even when streetlights or porch lights are scarce, making it much easier to pick out details like clothing color, car models, or faces that would blur together in a standard black-and-white feed. You don’t need to squint at muddy images or guess what you’re seeing—what’s recorded at night looks almost as sharp and recognizable as daytime footage. Dual USB-A ports on the back of the Eufy HomeBase 3 can be used to make back-up copies of the video recordings stored on the device and to charge the batteries on the cameras if their solar panels don’t get enough sunlight to do the job.Michael Brown/Foundry Using the Eufy Security app is smooth and intuitive. Live feeds, recordings, and settings are easy to find, and you can jump between cameras quickly. Notifications arrive promptly and include short AI-powered summaries, so you can tell at a glance whether it’s a person at your door or just your neighbor’s cat wandering by. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Battery life and solar charging are also strong points. Once installed, the cameras hold their charge steadily, with the built-in panels easily topping off the battery. Placement still matters—put the cameras where they’ll get good light exposure—but if you can’t, the external solar panel is worth considering. Should you buy the EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit? At $549.99, the eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit offers a compelling package for those seeking high-quality home security without recurring fees. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality home security solution that puts you in control of your data and costs, the EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit is an easy recommendation. It’s one of the best options out there for buyers who want premium features without getting locked into monthly fees. Read...

“Computer, do this.” It’s been one future that sci-fi has promised since Star Trek. Microsoft now says that that future is arriving, at least within a small corner of Windows 11. Microsoft is promising that you’ll be able to use natural language to change aspects of your Windows 11 Settings menu, and Windows will go out and make those changes for you using “agents,” or small bits of AI that will work on your behalf — at least if you own a Copilot+ PC with an AI-accelerating NPU onboard. Microsoft has begun to use its Surface devices as a showcase for its latest software, and the new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are no exception. They’ll serve as launch vehicles for Windows Recall, semantic search, and Click-to-Do, but also brand new features like agentic AI and relighting features for Photos, object editing and sticker generation for Paint, and more. Agentic AI comes to Windows The unexpected addition to Microsoft’s AI stable is an AI “agent” that will manage individual settings within Windows, Microsoft said. This is something Microsoft originally promised Copilot would offer, but the technology never progressed past simple tasks like turning on dark mode. Microsoft then pulled the feature back, with the feature providing guides in how to do what you wanted, rather than actually performing the task for you. The agentic search capability feels more what people may have hoped for when they heard of the concept of AI within Windows. Now, you’ll be able to tell Windows 11’s Settings what to do with natural language, according to Microsoft, and Settings will either tell you what to do — or, with your permission — actually perform the action for you. In the examples Microsoft is showing, “fixing it” might require one or more actions. Notice how the term “Fix It” is being used here. Microsoft It won’t just be a few things, either. Microsoft is promising that you’ll be able to manage “thousands” of individual settings using this agentic AI. “Today marks the next chapter in our AI journey, unlocking even more experiences that take your productivity, creativity and connection to the next level,” said Navjot Virk, corporate vice president of Windows Experiences. “We believe that technology should work alongside you, enabling you to do more.” Microsoft is showing off an agent, where a user complains about a problem and the AI fixes it.Microsoft AI upgrades to Paint, Photos, and Snipping Tool The new Relight AI feature within Photos is a bit on the subtle side. If you’re an average photographer, you know that lighting can make or break a photo; a backlit shot, for example, may cast the subject into shadow. Now, Photos will allow you to create multiple AI-generated lighting sources, and place them in your photo, controlling their brightness and color. Don’t think of these as floating spheres of light. Instead, this feature will simulate what would happen if you used various types of actual lights, placing them around the room (and out of frame) to light your photo’s subject. I still don’t know why Microsoft continues to divide specific functions inside Paint and Photos into separate tools, but it is. In Paint, Microsoft is adding Object Select. This feels a bit more like the Magic Eraser object editing features that Google has added, or that you can specify within Photoshop. In any case, Object Select promises to allow you to add generative add, erase, and fill capabilities to a specific object, rather than part of the scene. It’s the difference between trying to manually “brush out” a tractor from a countryside scene, and allowing AI to identify and then remove the tractor in one fell swoop. An example of the new AI-powered lighting app within Photos.Microsoft It feels like that same technology is being adapted to the Windows Snipping Tool, too. Microsoft is saying that this updated Snipping Tool can “interpret the intent of what you’re trying to capture,” possibly minimizing the time it might take for you to grab the perfect snip. Microsoft is also adding a sticker generator to Paint, which feels a lot like the memoji found within iOS, but without the ability to animate. You’ll be able to cut and paste these new stickers into various chats and other apps, Microsoft promises. (That almost certainly implies that a dedicated sticker creator is coming to Teams, eventually.) The new sticker generator for Paint.Microsoft Microsoft also appears to be committing to the upgraded Start menu that includes the Phone Link sidebar. Microsoft first previewed this feature last June, but began showing it off in the context of both Android and iPhones this January. Essentially, this “sidebar” serves as a dashboard for the phone you have in your pocket: how many messages and unanswered calls you have waiting, and (in the case of Android) a quick shortcut to photos you may have snapped with your phone, too. Microsoft executives also alluded to new features which are coming, too, which will include updates to the Microsoft Store, “AI actions within File Explorer,” and Microsoft Edge Game Assist, which can serve as a help guide while you game. Microsoft’s updated Start menu for Windows 11 includes a small dashbar for your phone, too.Microsoft How real is all this? At this point it’s hard to say how near these features are to becoming reality. Microsoft tends to test new features slowly, and tends to roll them out first for Copilot+ PCs running on Qualcomm’s Arm processor. That’s a thin slice of the available PC market. Microsoft has steadily announced the progression of Recall, the improved search, and Click-to-Do, from their announcement a year ago to trials on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip, to an expansion to Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel chips inside. Microsoft hasn’t said anything about how the additional, brand-new features will deploy, but they’ll probably be on a conservative timeline, too. It’s also worth noting that Microsoft announced another intriguing AI feature, Copilot Vision, about a month ago. I have yet to be able to make it work in a usable form. Any new AI features should probably move forward at a similarly slow pace. Smaller features, though, like Relight, tend to deploy more quickly. It’s important to note that Microsoft hasn’t announced any timelines for these features, but I’d expect Microsoft to deploy its smaller tweaks to Paint and Photos before the more significant updates to Settings debut. Read...

Hyland appoints Tim McIntire as CTO to steer global engineering and enhance AI, cloud, and automation across its product suite. Read...