Rarotonga is as popular as it has ever been. Read...

The Smart Bird Feeder from TT Nature is ideal whether you want to connect with nature or inspire a new hobby. It supports the backyard birdwatching experience with up-to-date technology, such as solar power, Wi-Fi-supported real-time notifications, and AI bird recognition that identifies over 10,000 species. Built to Last, Designed to Share Staring at an empty bird feeder, hoping for a bird visit? No need to wait, this smart bird feeder will notify you when a bird arrives. The HD camera provides clear footage, allowing you to marvel at the bright patterns on the wings of a cardinal or the delicate colors of a goldfinch. The AI bird recognition feature helps to accurately identify the bird that is visiting the feeder. The TT Nature bird feeder can serve as your personal bird identification guide, identifying species including cardinal, downy woodpecker, rare migratory birds, and more. Additionally, with Wi-Fi, it supports video recording and sharing. The bird feeder supports up to 20 users at once, making it ideal for large families or birdwatching communities. TT Nature Long battery life means you won’t miss a bird. This feeder is equipped with a solar panel for long operation time. The 1.5-liter capacity reduces the frequency of water refilling, making it suitable for people with a busy life. Setting it up is simple. It offers a video tutorial to guide you through each step. Even if you’re new to bird feeders, you can start using it right away with confidence. Birdwatching Brings Nature Closer Already thinking about gifts this Christmas, and looking for a meaningful gift for your bird-loving loved one? The TT Nature Smart Feeder is more than just a gadget, it’s a ticket to tranquility, curiosity, and link-building with mother nature. With a customer rating of 4.96 out of 5, this product has been recognized by the market. Feeding birds is more than just a hobby. As Paul Baicich, co-author of Feeding America’s Wild Birds, says: “It introduces people to nature — in their backyard. It’s the intermediate step between sitting around the house and actually going out to a national wildlife refuge,” according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Feeding both native and migratory birds has ecological benefits. Studies have found that populations of species like northern cardinals have expanded their range due to the support of reliable backyard feeders during harsh winters. TT Nature Be a Responsible Feeder Backyard bird feeding should be approached with care and responsibility, not just as a casual hobby. Experts warn that three main risks of irresponsible bird feeding are: disease, predation, and collision. Dirty feeders and unclean food can lead to the growth of bacteria. Moldy seeds and bird feces build the growing environment for salmonella and E. coli. Once a bird is infected, the droppings can eventually spread the disease to other local birds. It is best to clean feeders every two weeks. More frequent cleaning is also recommended during the rainy season. TT Nature That’s why maintenance matters. TT Nature recommends cleaning your feeder every few weeks, and always washing your hands after handling it. The feeder’s easy-to-clean design makes this part of bird-loving life just as seamless. How to Clean Your Bird Feeder A smart feeder can make birdwatching and recording easy. Keeping it clean ensures local birds stay healthy. Here are some simple cleaning tips to guide you on cleaning your bird feeder. You should completely disassemble your bird feeder before cleaning it. You can simply soak it in boiling water and hand wash it with soap when it cools down. For a deeper clean, you can also soak it in a diluted bleach solution for 10 minutes. After cleaning, rinse the bird feeder thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before assembling the feeder. Clean up trash and droppings around the bird feeder. The accumulation of bird droppings can attract rodents and even pose a threat to outdoor pets. If you wish to see your visitors more often, keeping the space clean and comfortable is the trick. TT Nature Birdwatching isn’t just about the birds. It’s about slowing down and reconnecting. For lifelong enthusiasts or just the newbies, the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder with Camera invites you to witness the wonders within your own backyard. TT Nature believes “Nature always has something to say if we are willing to listen.” Rather than just building bird feeders, TT Nature is blending modern tech with a scientific understanding of birding and building bridges between humans and the natural world. This holiday season, give a gift that takes your recipient back to mother nature: get this bird feeder with camera for just $129.99 on the TT Nature website. Read...

Choosing a thicker mouse pad can significantly improve ergonomics and ease wrist pressure. In contrast, thinner pads often become uncomfortable during long workdays or gaming sessions, as they leave the wrist resting more or less directly on the hard tabletop. A padded base provides soft cushioning that reduces pressure. Large models in particular, which serve as desk mats, increase comfort and often make a separate wrist rest superfluous. A thick mouse pad offers many advantages over the thinner variety–from protecting the wrist to cushioning the keystroke. IDG One more benefit is improved stability. Thinner mouse pad models tend to shift or lift off at the corners, which is particularly annoying during fast mouse movements. Thicker versions, with a non-slip underside, ensure a secure hold and level out any unevenness in the table surface. This enables even and precise tracking, which is particularly advantageous for gaming mice with a low lift-off distance. Razer Gigantus V2 thick mousepad for $9.99 on Amazon In addition, a thick mouse pad extends the service life of the work surface. The additional layer of material slows down wear on the underside of the mat. It therefore lasts longer than thin versions. High-quality models can often withstand thousands of hours of use without noticeable wear and tear. Thinner underlays lose stability over time or can become cracked. The keyboard can sit on an oversized mouse mat (like this Corsair one) alongside the mouse, helping absorb unwanted background noise.”Corsair Another benefit is the sound insulation: thick pads absorb shocks and keyboard vibrations, which reduces the noise of keystrokes. This promotes a quieter working environment, especially in open-plan offices or for users who prefer a low-noise setup. Felt pads in particular help to further dampen ambient noise and improve working comfort. Anyone who has ever felt the difference in the material thickness of mouse pads is unlikely to want to switch back to a thinner alternative. Read...

Plans for the 11-storey building were previously rejected by the Environment Court. Read...

Hunters are targeting thousands of wild goats in a nationwide competition in efforts to protect farmland and the environment. Read...

The council`s Environment and Infrastructure Committee will meet next month to discuss installing edge protection on parts of the Kumutoto and Queens Wharf precincts. Read...

Applicants pledge to comply with consent conditions and ensure the development complements the area`s existing character and environment. Read...

Scientists warn the damage to the environment after the 2021 X-Press Pearl disaster could be much more enduring. Read...

The PSA says the “squeezing” of funding at DOC puts New Zealand’s environment at risk. Read...

Microsoft has released update KB5062660 for Windows 11 24H2, and that means the iconic “Blue Screen of Death” has officially been replaced by the long-awaited “Black Screen of Death” (which coincidentally shared the same BSOD acronym). We previously reported on this when Microsoft began testing the new black screen in a preview version of Windows. With this optional cumulative update, the change is now available to all Windows users. How to get update KB5062660 Update KB5062660 is an optional update for Windows 11 24H2, which means the OS won’t automatically download it even if it’s available. You have to install it manually using Windows Update. Alternatively, you can also download and install update KB5062660 directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The full name of the update is 2025-07 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 24H2, and it’s available for both x64 and arm64 systems. After installing update KB5062660, Windows 11 will be brought up to Build 26100.4770 and will gain a preview of all the new features Microsoft plans to release on Patch Tuesday in August 2025. That future update will be auto-installed on all compatible computers. The new Black Screen of Death The most obvious new feature of update KB5062660, which you hopefully won’t see any time soon, is the Black Screen of Death that replaces the former Blue Screen of Death. The only difference between the two BSODs is visual, as nothing changes from a technical standpoint. Not only does the new BSOD have a black background, but it also no longer shows the sad emoticon or the QR code in addition to explanatory text. Instead, the new BSOD only informs you that a problem has occurred and that Windows needs to be restarted. The problem with the new BSOD is that it’s usually only displayed for about two seconds before it disappears, so a Windows user who isn’t expecting a BSOD might not even recognize that Windows has run into a problem before it restarts, especially if you’re preoccupied with something else (e.g., on your phone or talking with someone). Other new features in the update According to Windows Latest, update KB5062660 will bring many improvements for so-called AI PCs, and many of these new features will be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. In addition, the controversial Recall feature is to be introduced to EU users, though you’ll be able to block access to Recall for certain applications and websites. Recall will only work locally on your PC, and you’ll be able to disable Recall completely in Windows settings. Another improvement brings faster recovery for Windows computers that run into widespread issues. The new Quick Machine Recovery feature automatically detects and fixes widespread issues via Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), attempting to restore the PC by downloading a patch from Windows Update. This new feature is designed to help repair computers that can no longer boot up. Further reading: Microsoft explains how the new wireless PC-to-PC migration feature works Read...