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NNT’s drones flew in lightning-resistant cages and hope to, some day, tap and store the power of thunderclouds.
(Image credit: NTT Japan)
The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) boasts that it has designed the world’s firstlightning triggering and guidancesystem that leverages flying drones (via machine translation). After successful trials earlier this year it is hoped that networks of these drones can be installed in cities and key infrastructure as a preventative protection measure.
Lightning damage isn’t as rare as many an old adage might suggest, according to the stats shared by NTT. Its PR bulletin says that every year in Japan there is 100B to 200B Yen (up to $1.4B) worth of damage caused by lightning – and then there is the human cost to consider. Meanwhile, conventional lightning rods don’t provide as wide coverage as desirable, or might be tricky to install (e.g. wind turbines).
With the above in mind NTT set up an experiment to see ifdronescan be used to prevent lightning damage. The firm used ground monitoring equipment to judge the danger of lightning in an area. And basically, when thunderclouds approached and electric field fluctuations observed, a drone was sent up to intercept.
These are not kamikaze drones – they are equipped with a lightning-resistant cage. In a test flight on Dec 13, 2024, a drone attached to a ground wire was flown to 300m altitude to approach a suspected thundercloud. NTT says it then observed a massive electrical pulse and claims that it achieved “the world’s first successful lightning induction using a drone.”
When the lightning struck the drone, it could continue to fly thanks to the cage protection (though it part melted). It is key that the drone could remain airborne after being zapped, says NTT and before this live trial it had successfully tested them at up to bursts of 150,000 Amps.
NTT intends to continue refining its lightning triggering and guidance drones. To augment the above study and trials it is looking at improving lightning location prediction accuracy. Moreover, there are plans to research and development into storing the lightning energy that is safely diverted.
From cables to power supplies, it pays to know the intricacies of the USB-C spec if you want the fastest charging.
USB Type-C is the most flexible connection for notebooks and smartphones. The most important of its many capabilities is as a charging socket for battery-powered devices. USB-Cshouldfinally make everything simple: One socket, one cable, one power supply for all devices – from computers to smartphones and tablets to headphones and other peripherals.
So much for the theory, which always sounds simple with USB. The reality is much more confusing.
Not every USB-C power supply is suitable for every device. Not all Type-C ports can be used to charge devices quickly or at all. And not every Type-C cable ensures reliable power transmission.
This guide will give you an overview of the technical possibilities of Type-C charging and recommends suitable power supply units for all devices. If you’d like to avoid all the background and simply know which cords as worth your hard-earned money, be sure to check out our roundup ofthe best USB-C cables. We perform hands-on tests that go far deeper than most other sources on the web.
There are many symbols that identify a USB-C port on a laptop as a charging port. In practice, however, you will usually only find the Thunderbolt lightning bolt (at the bottom) on the housing.
Almost all mobile devices can now be charged via USB Type-C: For smartphones, Apple was the last major manufacturer to switch from the proprietary Lightning connector to USB-C last year with the iPhone 15.
Apart from that, there are only very cheap bargain smartphones that still rely on micro USB as a charging port. The situation is similar for tablets, where market leader Apple already favored USB-C over Lightning three years ago with the iPad 9. You will also hardly find any devices without USB-C for headphones, ebook, readers, and mobile speakers.
Only laptops still have numerous models that do not use Type-C to charge the battery: These are often older model series from the entry-level range. More frequently, however, USB-C is not themainconnection for charging.
Although powerful gaming and multimedia laptops have USB-C, they also have a dedicated power connection with a higher charging capacity that fits the power supply unit supplied. Business laptops with a USB-C port and power supply unit often still have the hollow plug connection so that companies can continue to use power supply units from decommissioned models.b
A Type-C connection on a laptop also does not always handle power delivery. The only way to find out whether a Type C socket is capable of power delivery is to look at the technical data. A Type-C port with Thunderbolt supports charging in any case.
The triumph of Type-C is easy to explain, as the connection offers numerous advantages for users and manufacturers:
Cables can be connected quickly and easily because the symmetrical plug is twist-proof.
The socket takes up little space so that devices can be made lighter and flatter.
And as Type-C can handle data and video transmission as well as charging, ideally a single cable is all that is needed between the computer and peripherals, which keeps the desk tidy.
Whether a mobile device supports USB-C Power Delivery is usually stated in the technical data for the connections. If so, you can use a suitable power adapter for charging.
Devices can also be charged faster with USB-C: Power supply units for micro USB only deliver up to 10 watts, while chargers with a Type A connection usually deliver 15 to 18 watts. Type-C, on the other hand, supports the improved USB Power Delivery (PD) transmission protocol, which usually allows charging capacities of up to 100 watts and even up to 240 watts in the current version.
However, this does not apply to all Type-C connections, devices, and cables: Although everything fits together mechanically, not every combination has to provide the optimum charging power — for example, because different levels of the Power Delivery standard are supported or devices and power supply units do not implement the standard correctly.
USB-C and Power Delivery: How the charging technology works
The technical basis for charging via USB-C is the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) standard. It specifies voltage levels of 5 to 48 volts and currents of 3 or 5 amps in so-called “power profiles” or “power rules.” Depending on the power supply unit, power cable, and device, charging capacities of between 10 and 240 watts are possible.
A typical smartphone power supply unit with 30 watts, for example, offers power profiles for a charging capacity of 15, 27, and 30 watts, while a laptop power supply unit also offers power profiles for 45, 60, 65, or 100 watts.
Before transmission begins, the power supply unit (source) and consumer (sink) agree on the required voltage and current: The power supply unit first checks the cable to see whether it can transmit up to 3 or 5 amps and provides a basic voltage of 5 volts.
It then tells the consumer what other voltages it can supply. The consumer answers which one it needs so that both can agree on a suitable power profile.
Some multiple power supply units, such as this one from Ugreen, use the semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN): this allows them to be built very compactly despite their high charging power.
Ideally, any USB-C power supply will charge the device with a Type-C charging socket with optimum performance and as quickly as possible. Even if the power supply does not completely fulfil the requirements of the device, it should provide a minimum charging power, even if the charging process then takes longer.
Conversely, it does not speed up the charging process to use a power supply unit that offers a higher output than the device requires because the consumer cannot call it up.
Since version 3 of USB PD, the power supply unit and consumer can adjust the voltage and current more dynamically. To do this, both must support the optional standard extension PPS (Programmable Power Supply Protocol).
The device can then request voltage and current from the power supply unit that deviate minimally from the prescribed power profiles: This speeds up the charging process, but can also ensure that the battery is less stressed during charging or that a smartphone or notebook receives the appropriate charging power in real time depending on the current system load.
Labels such as Fast Charge or Super Fast Charge 2.0 on Samsung smartphones and power supply units, for example, indicate support for PPS.
How to find out whether a power adapter fits the device
The easiest way to do this is to use the power adapter recommended by the manufacturer for charging. This is common for laptops, as new devices are supplied with a suitable power supply unit.
Smartphones and tablets now often do not come with a power adapter in the sales box: You can buy the right charger from the device manufacturer.
USB-C should make this investment superfluous and put an end to the confusion of power adapters that only fit one device. A power supply unit that can charge all your devices without any problems is therefore ideal.
To do this, the power supply and device must have a USB-C connection and support USB Power Delivery: You should be able to find this information in the technical data, often as an abbreviation such as “PD” or “PPS.” If the power supply unit or device does not support USB PD despite Type-C, charging can start, but only at 15 watts.
So that you can charge all devices with one power supply unit, it should have sufficient charging power for the most powerful device and suitable power profiles for devices with lower energy requirements.
A laptop is usually the device that requires the highest charging power: Ultra-mobile laptops usually need a power supply unit with 45 watts, standard laptops require 60 watts, and particularly powerful laptops 100 watts.
For smartphones, tablets, and portable speakers or headphones, on the other hand, 30 watts or less is sufficient.
To ensure that a USB-C power supply for the laptop charges other mobile devices, it should support power profiles for 15 and 27 watts via USB-PD.
With third-party power supplies, you will often find a list of other devices that can be charged with it in the technical data of a laptop power supply. If tablets such as Apple iPad Pro and smartphones — for example Samsung Galaxy S24 — are listed, the power supply is also suitable for smaller mobile devices.
If you want to use the power adapter that came with your laptop, check the manufacturer’s website for information on its output power: If you find information such as “9 volts – 3 amps,” the power adapter is suitable for smartphones and tablets. These values are usually also printed on the power supply unit under “Output.”
Conversely, notebooks can also be charged with a smartphone power supply unit: This is helpful when travelling if you only want to take the lighter mobile phone charger with you. The power supply unit should offer at least 27 watts of charging power and a voltage of 9 volts. This is sufficient for small and light laptops.
It is best to switch off the notebook when charging, because if it consumes more power during operation than the mains adapter supplies, the battery will be drained even when the charger is connected. However, many notebooks require 15 volts and most require 20 volts as the charging voltage. If your smartphone power supply delivers this, the notebook can also be charged with it – but usually only slowly.
The best cable for charging via USB-C
A good USB-C cable is crucial to ensure that the charging power from the power supply unit to the device is stable. The cables transmit a current of up to3 ampsas standard.
This is sufficient for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Notebooks can also be charged with up to 60 watts using such cables – this is sufficient for small and lightweight laptops. For larger and more powerful laptops, however, charging will take longer depending on the battery size and operating load.
To charge these laptops at optimum speed via USB-C, you need a cable that can transfer5 amps. The fast charging functions of some smartphones and tablets also require an appropriate cable – for example, Super Fast Charging from Samsung.
Many smartphones can be charged faster: However, you need the right power adapter and the right USB-C cable for this, both of which support the PPS standard or a higher current transfer of 5 amps.
These cables contain a chip, the so-called e-marker: It contains information about the capabilities of the cable, such as the maximum power supply capacity, voltage, and current values and supported charging protocols.
It outputs this information when the power supply unit and consumer negotiate the optimum charging power via USB-PD to ensure that the charger delivers the appropriate voltage and current values for the cable and the connected device.
Most manufacturers usually describe the corresponding cables as “100 watt cables.” You will also often find a reference to the e-marker chip in the technical data.
In addition to power transfer, USB-C also supports data and image transfer — if you want to use a cable for all applications, you must pay attention to this in its description: These multifunction cables are usually slightly more expensive than pure charging cables. Cables for Thunderbolt are guaranteed to support all USB-C transmission types.
You can‘t tell how well a charging cable transmits data: In theory, longer cables are more susceptible to voltage loss and limit the flow of current due to a higher resistance. Thicker cables are supposed to ensure more stable transmission.
In practice, however, you cannot use this as a rule of thumb: The quality of a cable depends on its internal workmanship.
A basic tip:Buy cables for higher charging capacities from well-known suppliers such as Anker, Belkin, or Ugreen. They are reliable and usually cheaper than the corresponding offerings from the laptop or smartphone manufacturer.
Chargers with multiple ports: One power supply for all devices
A single power supply unit is usually not enough for a large number of devices: You often want to charge different devices at the same time via USB-C. This is why there are power supply units with several USB-C and USB-A ports, which can be used to charge a notebook, smartphone, and headphones in parallel, for example. This is also useful when travelling if you only have one socket available on the train, for example.
When making your choice, you should first consider how many devices you want to charge at the same time and on which ports: Multiple power supply units are available with numerous connection combinations, so you should always be able to find a suitable model.
Devices with two USB-C ports cost from around $20, while prices with three Type-C ports start at around $40. In most cases, the power supply units also have a charging port with a Type A connection in addition to the USB-C outputs.
You also need to decide what maximum charging power the multi power supply should have: Up to 45 watts is sufficient for a smartphone and headphones. If you also want to charge a laptop, at least 60 watts is recommended.
USB power supply units with multiple connections:
Manufacturer
Manufacturer Product
Price (Euro)
max. charging power (watts)
Number of type C
Number of type A
Anker
Prime (GaN)
80
100
2
1
Armature
735 (Nano II)
35
65
2
1
Armature
735 Prime (GaN)
50
65
2
1
Armature
323
20
32
1
1
Belkin
Boost Charge Pro
40
65
2
–
Ugreen
Nexode Pro Mini (GaN)
100
160
3
1
Ugreen
Nexode (GaN)
30
65
2
1
Ugreen
Nexode (GaN)
55
100
3
1
Ugreen
Nexode Pro Mini (GaN)
45
65
2
1
It is important to know how the power is distributed over the individual ports: The maximum charging power specified by the manufacturer usually applies to all ports together, only for the combination of certain ports or only if only one port is occupied.
For example, if you choose a 65-watt power supply because you also want to charge your laptop, it will usually only deliver this charging power if a single USB-C port is occupied. If you charge another device on the second Type-C port, the power is then divided between 45 watts on one port and 20 watts on the other – the laptop will then charge more slowly.
If all the ports on a three-port power supply are occupied by consumers, the power on a single port can drop even further. In addition, not all type C connections on the power supply unit have to deliver the same charging power: for example, the laptop may only receive up to 65 watts at port 1. If you connect it to port 2, it will only receive up to 45 watts.
You should therefore look for the technical data for a model on the power supply provider’s website before buying: Well-known manufacturers such as Ankeror Belkin list the charging power that the individual ports offer with single or multiple connections.
The desired power supply should definitely support USB-C Power Delivery and preferably also PPS!
Many manufacturers advertise more expensive models with the abbreviation “GaN”: This stands for the semiconductor material gallium nitride, from which, for example, the voltage converters in corresponding power supplies are made: They work very efficiently without overheating, which enables small power supply units with a high charging capacity.
After months of teasers, previews, and select rollouts, Microsoft’sCopilot Visionis now available to try for all Edge users in the U.S. The flashy new AI tool is designed to watch your screen as you browse so you can ask it various questions about what you’re doing and get useful context-appropriate responses. The main catch, however, is that it currently only works with nine websites.
For the most part, these nine websites seem like pretty random choices, too. We have Amazon, which makes sense, but also Geoguessr? I’m pretty sure the point of that site is to try and guess where you are on the mapwithout any help. Anyway, the full site list is as follows:
Wikipedia
Tripadvisor
Williams Sonoma
Amazon
Target
Wayfair
Food & Wine
OpenTable
Geoguessr
CEO of Microsoft AI Mustafa Suleyman announced the release on Bluesky yesterday and shared a few of his favorite use cases.
Usually, when you want to ask Copilot a question, you have to write out the paragraphs of context yourself, and aside from being slow and annoying, this can also be pretty difficult if you’re trying to ask about something you don’t know much about.
With Copilot Vision, instead of trying to describe what you’re looking at or what you’re talking about, the AI model can see itright on your screen.
So, according to Suleyman’s examples, you can search for “breathable sheets” on Amazon and ask Copilot if any of the results are made from appropriate fabrics. Copilot can point the right ones out to you or give you examples of breathable fabric to search for.
On the Food & Wine recipe website, Copilot can help you go hands-free while you cook by answering your questions and reading out parts of the recipe to you. This works because the whole experience is designed to work through voice — you speak directly to the AI and the AI speaks back.
According to one of the videos on theCopilot Vision page, however, it looks like you can type out questions too and receive written responses.
Microsoft is taking things very slowly and carefully with this feature, almost certainly because it wants to avoid triggeringanother backlashlike it did with Recall. The limited number of compatible sites is connected to copyright issues, and the company makes sure to stress that the feature is “opt-in,” doesn’t record your screen, is only on when you turn it on, and deletes the data as soon as you end a session.
If you thought ads were intrusive before, you haven’t seen anything yet.
LGhas recently signed a multi-year agreement with a company called Zenapse with an aim to leverage “emotional intelligence to deliver more meaningful and measurable brand experiences across 200 million LG Smart TVs globally.”
To make ads more meaningful, Zenapse uses a CTV (Connected TV) platform called “ZenVision” that watches along with the content being played on the screen to better understand the emotional state the viewer might be in.
LG can then use this information to group users into specific subsets and target them ads based on their emotional intelligence. This information becomes psychographic data. Unlike demographic data, which is simpler concepts like age, location, etc, psychographic data gets more personal, diving deep into your psyche and psychological mindset.
Using this data, ZenVision can better “optimize predictions” and thus target you ads that might satisfy your needs a whole lot more. Not only that, but Zenapse and LG can then sell that information to third parties.
As reported byStreamTV Insiderand onZenVision’s own website, data groups include abstract personality definers like “social connectors,” “wellness seekers,” “goal-driven achievers,” “digital adopters,” and many more.
Zenapse’s AI goes a step further and specifies the user’s general proclivities, lumps those users together and pushes ads based on these key factors. It’s notjustyour emotions being targeted, but your goals, principles, political affiliations, and more all wrapped up into one generalized market segment.
How does it work? The AI uses a combination of facets to better derive this data, including its own sophisticated algorithms, existing information on the particular on-screen content (like the script or genre), and even ACR (automatic content recognition) data collated by LG sets on their own.
LG Ad Solutions made theannouncement on Tuesday, however there’s very little details about the longevity of the agreement, which TVs might suffer from the agreement, or how much LG spent to leverage Zenapse’s tech.
Based on what we know about it so far, though, Zenapse’s ZenVision sets a terrifying new precedent in on-screen advertising and gets so much more dystopian the deeper you dive into the rabbit hole.
Google is already well-acquainted with Zenapse, with Google Ads, Google for Startups, and Google Cloud all having strategic deals with the AI firm.
While LG might just be the first to implement it,Googleis already well-acquainted with Zenapse, with Google Ads, Google for Startups, and Google Cloud all having strategic deals with the AI firm.
Though only speculation, it probably won’t take long before ZenVision finds its way onto Google TV — if it hasn’t already. Google TV commands nearly 270M TVs and it’s leveraged by everything from thebest budget TVsbyHisenseandTCLto some of thebest OLED TVsout of Sony.
As stated, Zenapse is ushering in a whole new era of TV advertising and if you thought things couldn’t get worse, think again.
…And maybeturn off ACR on your TVwhile you still have the chance.
Officially announced at CES 2025, HDMI 2.2 is the next-generationHDMI standardthat promises to double available bandwidth for higher resolution and refresh rate support, and will require a new cable to support these new standards. It will also bring with it advanced features for improved audio and video syncing between devices.
But the new cable isn’t coming until later this year, and there are no signs of TVs supporting the new standard yet. Here’s everything you need to know about HDMI 2.2.
The standout feature of HDMI 2.2 is that is allows for up to double the bandwidth of existing Ultra High Speed HDMI cables using theHDMI 2.1 protocol. HDMI 2.2 is rated for up to 96 Gbps, opening up support for native 16K resolution support without compression, or native 4K 240Hz without compression. Throw DSC on and it should support monitors up to 4K 480Hz or 8K in excess of 120Hz.
While there aren’t any consumer TVs or monitors that support such resolutions and refresh rates at this time, it could be that the protocol finds use in future augmented and virtual reality headsets.
HDMI 2.2 will also support Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), which will help make sure audio is synchronized with video, especially in configurations that include an external A/V system.
To support the new resolutions and refresh rates, you’ll need to use a new HDMI 2.2 certified Ultra96 cable design. The new cables will be backwards compatible with all previous HDMI versions, but will only run at the maximum supported speed of the lowest link in the chain. So an HDMI 2.2 cable plugged into a port that is only compatible with HDMI 2.0 speeds will not be able to use the full bandwidth of the cable.
HDMI 2.1 was a major innovation for the HDMI standard when it was ratified in 2017, but it was only in 2020 and 2021 when we started seeing real products using the design. It almost tripled the bandwidth over HDMI 2.0, and finally made HDMI capable of true 4K 120Hz support which was super important for this latest generation of games consoles.
HDMI 2.1 also introduced a range of new features. These included:
Dynamic HDR support.
Display Stream Compression 1.2 support.
Enhanced audio return channel (eARC) support.
Variable refresh rates.
Quick media switching.
Quick frame transport.
Auto low latency mode.
HDMI 2.2 is much lighter on features, merely introducing the new LIP protocol, but that will still have its uses. Like HDMI 2.1, though, HDMI 2.2’s bandwidth uplift is dramatic, and indeed by gigabits per second, the largest in the standard’s history. Doubling HDMI 2.1 from 48 Gbps to 96 Gbps makes HDMI 2.2 the most capable video and audio transmission standard, even eclipsing DisplayPort 2.1 and USB4, both of which can only reach 80 Gbps.
It is however, still weaker than thenew standard out of China known as GPMI.
When is HDMI 2.2 available?
HDMI 2.2 was officially unveiled in January 2025, and will officially launch in the first half of the year. The HDMI Forum who manages its ongoing development has suggested the new Ultra96 cables will be released before the end of the year, but we may not see devices that support HDMI 2.2 until sometime in 2026.
That’s the optimistic take, too. HDMI 2.1 was ratified and launched in 2017, but it wasn’t until 2020/2021 where we started seeing displays making full use of it.HDMI 2.2 could in theory take even longer.
At the time of writing there isn’t a great call for more advanced cable standards in the living room. While PC gaming does have a possible use for higher bandwidth cables to enable higher resolution and refresh rate gaming, most high-end PCs aren’t managing 200+ FPS at 4K — and they have DisplayPort 2.1 support, anyhow. Indeed, most still play at lower resolutions. While in the living room, 4K at 120Hz is the standard for the major games consoles. Without a new generation of Xbox or PlayStation to drive up to TV refresh rates, there isn’t much point in supporting more.
HDMI 2.1 cables can have labels like UHD, or 8K on them, but otherwise look the same as any other HDMI cables.Cable Matters
There are 8K TVs which could conceivably offer 120Hz or higher refresh rates, but games consoles and TVs can’t manage that anyhow, so again, little benefit. There are also no plans for 8K Blu-rays which could use the additional bandwidth for higher bit-rate video or greater HDR metadata.
HDMI 2.2 is likely to be the future of connecting all sorts of devices and has the bandwidth and features to compete with the best alternatives elsewhere, but it’s likely not going to become mainstream for some time to come.
What is aperture in photography? Here’s what you need to know – and how it affects your images
Learning photography often feels like a never-ending list, but one of the first and easiest concepts that I picked up when I first started is called aperture. But what is aperture in photography? Aperture is a setting that controls how much or how little light comes into the lens. By controlling the aperture, photographers can make a photo brighter or darker, like opening or closing a curtain to let more sunshine into a dark room.
But while aperture is one of three camera settings that influenceexposure, or how light or dark a photograph is, light isn’t the only thing that aperture controls. When I first learned what aperture was, I assumed that I could just keep the aperture wide open all the time to let in the most light. However, I quickly learned that that assumption led to photos that were never quite sharp enough.
Google is testing even more new features in its Messages beta app
These include an expanded 14-line message view and new RCS message labels
While these are still in beta testing, they could start rolling out to users this month
Over the past couple of months,Googlehas been doubling down on eradicating all traces of Google Assistant to makeGeminiits flagship voice assistant, but amidst the organized Gemini chaos, Google has been paying a lot of attention to improving its Messages app, giving it some much-needed TLC.
It’s safe to say that the new revisions to the Google Messages app have significantly improved its UI. Itsnew snooze function for group chats alsocomes to mind, but Google is still in its beta testing era. For a while, Google was experimenting with aneasier way to join group chats,followingWhatsApp’s footsteps. Now, it’s testing five more features that could make up the next wave of Google Messages upgrades this month.
Although these features are in beta, there’s been no comment on whether they’ll be officially rolling out to users. With that said, we’ll be keeping an eye out for any further updates.
Just a few weeks ago, we reported on a new upgrade found in Google Messages beta indicating thatGoogle would get better at handling lengthy text messages.
For a while, Google Messages users have been restricted to a four-line view limit when sending texts, meaning that you would need to scroll to review your entire message before sending. This is particularly frustrating when sending long URL links.
But that could soon be a thing of the past, as9to5Googlehas picked up a new beta code that reveals an expanded message composition field on thePixel 9athat now reaches up to 14 lines.
Recently, Google has been testing new in-app labels that could distinguish whether you’re sending an SMS or RCS message.
Thanks to an APK teardown fromAndroid Authority, the labels found in beta suggest that soon you’ll be able to see which of your contacts are using RCS in Messages, adding a new RCS label to the right side of a contact’s name or number.
Unsubscribe from automated texts
This is a feature we’re quite excited to see, and we’re hoping for a wider rollout this month. A few weeks ago, anunsubscribe buttonwas spotted at the bottom of some messages, which could give users an easier way of unsubscribing to automated texts and even the option to report spam.
When you tap this, a list of options will appear asking you for your reasons for unsubscribing, which include ‘not signed up’, ‘too many messages’, and ‘no longer interested’ as well as an option for ‘spam’. If you select one of the first three, a message reading ‘STOP’ will be sent automatically, and you’ll be successfully unsubscribed.
Read receipts gets a new look
(Image credit: 9to5Google)
Google could introduce another revamp of how you can view read receipts in the Messages app. In November 2024, Google tested a redesign of its read receipts that placed the checkmark symbols inside the message bubbles, which used to appear underneath sent messages.
In January, Google tested another small redesign introducing a new white background, which could roll out soon, and while this isn’t a major redesign, it’s effective enough to make read receipts stand out more.
Camera and gallery redesign, and sending ‘original quality’ media
We first noticed that Google Messages was prepping anew photo and video quality upgrade. In March, more users started to notice a wider availability, but it’s still not yet fully rolled out, meaning it could be one of the next new updates in the coming weeks.
Essentially, Google could be rolling out a new option that allows you to send media, such as photos and videos, in their original quality. This will give you the choice of the following two options:
‘Optimize for chat’– sends photos and videos at a faster speed, compromising quality.
‘Original quality’– sends photos and videos as they appear in your phone’s built-in storage.
Everything from .ae to .zw will now redirect to google.com.
REUTERS / Reuters
Googleannouncedtoday that it will no longer be using country code top level domains for searches. Instead, all search services will happen on the google.com URL and local results will be delivered automatically. For example, that means users in the UK will no longer see google.co.uk in their browser’s address bar. Google URLs with those country-specific domain endings will now redirect to the main google.com address.
Google started using location information to automatically provide search results based on geographyin 2017. With that change, it didn’t matter whether you entered a query into a local country code URL or into google.com; you’d always see the results version for the place you were physically located. Today’s announcement seems to take that initial action to its conclusion by sunsetting those ccTLDs.
“It’s important to note that while this update will change what people see in their browser address bar, it won’t affect the way Search works, nor will it change how we handle obligations under national laws,” Google noted in its announcement.
When it comes to HDMI vs DVI cables, which should you get? Our guide reveals all.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Although the term DVI isn’t probably one that you’ve heard for a while, it’s important to know the difference between HDMI and DVI cables when you’re looking at the best system for video editing, gaming or productivity. Many of thebest monitors for video editing, graphic design and photography, for example, still offer multiple connectivity options, including DVI. With several peripherals littering our desks, all of which need to be hooked up somehow, it’s important to know how this should it be done to achieve optimum results. Often, that comes down to a simple question: do you need an HDMI or DVI cable?
To the untrained eye, it can be a minefield of resolutions, data rates and supported features. Thebest laptops for graphic design, for example, often don’t offer DVI connectivity anymore as frankly it’s an outmoded option, but if you have one of thebest monitors for graphic designor creativity, you’re able to plug in a DVI cable with a simple adaptor. We’ll look at the topic in a bit more detail in this article, and assess whether DVI, as an industry standard connectivity option in the 1990s and 2000s, is still an option you need to have in your arsenal.
The answer depends on more than just the ports on yourbest laptop for video editing. But fear not, our no-nonsense guide lays out exactly why you might need each cable, and which is the best option for creatives right now.
Comparing HDMI and DVI plugs shows the large difference in size between them(Image credit: Rankie)
There’s a large difference in size between HDMI and DVI.
Being the older standard, it’s perhaps unsurprising that DVI is the larger of the two. A typical DVI plug is rectangular in shape, with 24 pins three rows deep making up the bulk of its front side. To the right of this matrix is a square consisting of four more pins. The whole arrangement is flanked on either side by screws that fix it in place. The number of pins, combined with the screws, make DVI a relatively large plug and unlike HDMI, DVI cables can be quite easy to damage. If you bend the pins, plugging them in can be quite a challenge – definitely up there with one of the more frustrating elements of outdated computer hardware.
HDMI is much smaller than DVI and throughout the course of the mid 2000s became the standard for audio and video connectivity. The plug is a slim rectangle with a sloped lip below it and in the middle is a thin gap surrounded by 19 pins. Despite having close to the same number of pins as DVI, HDMI plugs are much more compact, and much easier to plug in largely thanks to the pins being protected and the lack of securing screws, which can get annoying if the rear of your system is hidden against the wall or an obstacle.
To put a spanner in the works, it is possible to get Mini and Micro versions of both DVI and HDMI plugs, and these are generally found on olderApplecomputers such as the originalMacBook Airand 2009 Mac mini. Mini-HDMI and Micro-HDMI can be found on a wider variety of devices, including some tablets and phones, but are still uncommon compared to standard HDMI plugs.
Need to connect HDMI and DVI devices together? Adapters are simple and won’t break the bank(Image credit: Rankie)
There’s a simple solution you can purchase if you need to connect HDMI and DVI devices together. Adaptors generally work well and are very affordable to get hold of.
One of the most important questions when it comes to deciding between HDMI and DVI is what each standard works with and whether it’ll work with your devices. Check the ports on your hardware as many pieces of hardware, including some olderNvidiaand AMD graphics cards, have ports for both but your TV or monitor may only support one or the other. If your monitor is an older model, it will have both options, and any screen from the early to mid 2000s may only feature a DVI, so it’s worth checking what hardware you already have and its requirements if you’re on an older setup but would like to upgrade.
HDMI is much more common than DVI and that’s been the case for the best part of the last two decades, so it’s unlikely you own a screen that doesn’t support it. When it comes to laptops, HDMI’s smaller connector is much more likely to make an appearance due to its space-saving design. You’re also likely to find it on larger computers, TVs, monitors, games consoles and a variety of other hardware types. It’s worth saying however that we’re entering a new generation of connectivity now – where HDMI replaced DVI, we’re now seeing DisplayPort and USB-C eating into HDMI’s market share. Luckily, no matter what hardware you have, adaptors are relatively easy to come by.
Quality
HDMI plugs are far more compact than their DVI equivalents, allowing them to be used in smaller devices(Image credit: Rankie)
HDMI plugs are far more compact than their DVI equivalents, allowing them to be used in smaller devices, but both DVI and HDMI have certain limitations on what they can display both in terms of an output device’s resolution and its refresh rate. Given that HDMI is newer than DVI, it’s unsurprising that it works with better specifications in both cases.
The latest version of HDMI (2.1b) can support a maximum data rate of 48 Gbit/sec and video resolutions up to 10K, which is far more than most people will need. In terms of refresh rate, HDMI can support up to 4K at 144 Hz natively, or a mind-boggling 8K at 60 Hz natively or 120Hz if using Display Stream Compression. It also works with HDR video output (although its maximum resolutions and refresh rates take a slight hit given the increased bandwidth used by HDR video).
DVI only has a maximum data rate of 9.9 Gbit/sec, so taking that into account, the maximum resolution and refresh rate it can support is 3840×2400 at 30 Hz, or 2560×1600 at 60 Hz. It’s likely that if you own an DVI compatible monitor, you’re running on HD at 1920×1080 or less due to the available technology at the time, and with DVI, you’re also likely suffer from a difference in colour rendition as DVI only supports 8-bit RGB colours, whereas you’ll get 12-bit performance in HDMI, so more colours can be rendered natively.
As well as its visual advantages, HDMI can also transfer audio signals, something DVI is unable to do. That means streaming a video from one device to another only requires one cable with HDMI; with DVI, you also need to account for audio cables and associated sockets.
Price
Regardless of whether you need an HDMI or DVI cable, neither is likely to set you back very much. For example, you can pick up anHDMI cableon Amazon for around $5/£5, orDVI cablefor around $7/£7. There are also plenty of adaptors on offer for around the same amount of money that can convert your video signal from DVI to HDMI and vice-versa, meaning outdated monitors can still be used no matter your setup.
It’s worth noting that you may sometimes see expensive versions of each cable doing the rounds, with fancy-sounding features and eye-watering price tags. Even the cheapest HDMI or DVI cable will get your signal to its destination just as fast as the most expensive one, without leaving a galling dent in your finances.
Which should you buy?
Of course this will very much depend on the system and the screens you are using in your setup, but one simple fact can’t be escaped: DVI is an entirely outmoded connectivity option these days and you’ll achieve better results overall from upgrading your setup to factor in more options like HDMI and USB-C.
If you’re looking at motherboards and must choose between one that supports HDMI and one that supports DVI, we’d advise HDMI every time. HDMI is a more modern standard and supports much higher resolutions and refresh rates, and will also work with a wider variety of peripheral devices. To future-proof your setup, we’d recommend a motherboard that hosts the option for USB-C as well as HDMI.
If you have a DVI device that you need to hook up to another device, you can always use anHDMI to DVI cableoran adapter; neither is likely to cost you much more than a fiver. Given that HDMI cables are more modern, more common and often cheaper than their DVI equivalents, there’s no real reason to stick to DVI unless your equipment dictates, but even then we’d recommend looking at some of our guides to help you upgrade to a more modern system.
This is good news for the tech sector as tariff impacts continue.
Amidst the flurry of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration over the last few weeks, we finally have some exemptions that should significantly impact the tech sector. While the initial reciprocal tariffs will remain for imports, U.S. Customs and Border Protection shared some new exemptions on tech-related goods.
The update was announced yesterday evening and follows various tariff increases, particularly on Chinese imports. The exemptions include many products we’re excited to see get some relief. The complete list is available in theofficial bulletin,but it includes computers, smartphones, semiconductor chips, and other tech goods like flat panel TVs, solar cells, and flash drives.
The most recent tariff increase from Trump was 145% on Chinese goods. This sent waves across the tech industry, as many realized the significant impact it would have on many tech products that we rely on, including laptops, desktops, CPUs, semiconductor chips, and any PC component. Large companies like Apple, HP, Dell, and more preemptively imported extra stock before the tariff announcement to skirt some of the impact.
These exemptions should benefit industry leaders and consumers alike, who have been anticipating serious price hikes on imported products. This should offset the price increases for customers and manufacturers who rely on imports for construction materials.
The United States imports around66% ofits tech goodsfrom China, which caused significant concern when tariffs were first announced and subsequently raised on Chinese imports. We recently reported expectations that consoles, monitors, and laptops would be among the most impacted.
Many tariffs initially imposed on April 5th will be reduced for 90 days, but tariffs on China havecontinued to increase. This exemption list is the first we’ve seen concerning the tariff situation with China. That said, tariffs will remain in place for all other imports not included in the exemption list.
The situation is subject to change, but we’ll report any significant updates on the tariff situation as things progress, so be sure to check back regularly for more information.
Some multiple power supply units, such as this one from Ugreen, use the semiconductor material gallium nitride (GaN): this allows them to be built very compactly despite their high charging power.
(Image credit: 9to5Google)
