By: Jonathan Kwan
April 24, 2026

"One day you are young, the next day you are excited about a dishwasher," I messaged my friend, responding to her Instagram story about her new Bosch dishwasher. I also recently upgraded to a Bosch dishwasher, and my enthusiasm about my new dishwasher was no less than her. My Made in Germany model is truly a work of art; from the way it is built to the way it performs. I was not nearly this invested even when I got the new iPhone 17 a few months back, and for a good reason. iPhones have pretty much just been minor iterations of the last since the iPhone X in 2017, but having a new dishwasher that can clean dishes that look impossible is truly life changing. Another kitchen appliance that I get excited over is the fridge. Every time I see someone with a Miele, Sub Zero, or Thermador, I cannot help but give compliments. But what good is their food preservation technology if there is no power to run them? Well, BLUETTI has a solution. The maker of household power products like the Elite 200 V2 is back with their latest offering, the FridgePower. The FridgePower is a slim 2kWh LiFePO4 battery-based uninterruptible power supply with a rated 10ms response time that can fit neatly near or on your fridge in case the power goes out. If keeping your fridge running during a power failure is not the only thing you need, the company also allows you to daisy-chain up to three additional 2kWh LiFePO4 batteries in the form of the BlueCell 200 to keep your food fresh and your PC humming. A dedicated Display 1 Bluetooth wireless display will feed you all the vital information you need in addition to the phone app. All this sounds great, but how well will the FridgePower system work in the real world? We took all three components in to find out.

Our review units of the BLUETTI FridgePower, BlueCell 200, and Display 1 came from a logistics company called CTS Global Solutions located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. CTS Global Solutions appears to be a Chinese-based freight forwarding firm, formally called CTS International Logistics Corporation Limited & China Travel Service (HK) Group Corporation, so I think it is safe to assume the FridgePower, BlueCell 200, and Display 1 all originated from China, where they were manufactured, to the city in the Greater Toronto Area. The power products were then sent to us here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada via UPS Standard. I am sure the good people at UPS had a lot of fun moving them around, as the two large brown corrugated cardboard boxes weighed about 40 lbs each, but they all arrived in excellent condition for our review today nonetheless.

The BLUETTI FridgePower, BlueCell 200, and Display 1's retail boxes are as simple as it gets. The brown corrugated cardboard packaging features only white ink printing all around. What you will find, depending on the side you look at, are elements like BLUETTI's logo, company slogan, product name and description, and/or an outline of the product. I really appreciate the clean, minimalist design.

Before we move on, here are the specifications of the BLUETTI FridgePower, BlueCell 200, and Display 1, as obtained from the manufacturer's press kit:

FridgePower
Battery Capacity: 2,016 Wh
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Weight: About 19.7 kg/43.43 lbs
Dimensions (L × W × H)*: 580 × 350 × 75 mm*/ 22.83 × 13.78 × 2.95 in (*78 mm with foot pads)
Charging Temperature: 0°C to 40°C/32°F to 104°F
Discharging Temperature: -20°C to 40°C/-4°F to 104°F
AC Output (Discharging): 1,800 W continuous, 120 V, 60 Hz, 3,600 W surge.
AC Charging: 1,440 W Max., 120 V, 60 Hz
DC Charging (XT60): 1,000 W Max., 12 V to 60 V, 20 A Max
AC + DC Charging: 2,200 W Max.

BlueCell 200 - Optional
Battery Capacity: 2,016 Wh
Battery Type: LiFePO4
Net Weight: About 17.3 kg/37.9 lbs
Dimensions (L × W × H): 580 × 350 × 75 mm*/22.83 × 13.78 × 2.95 in
Charging Temperature: 0°C to 40°C/32°F to 104°F
Discharging Temperature: -20°C to 40°C/-4°F to 104°F
USB-C Port: 5 V/3 A, 9 V/2 A, 12 V/1.5 A
Charging Current: 75 A Max.
2 × Expansion Port: 19.2 V, 75 A Max.

Display 1 - Optional
Mounting: Magnetic / Stand
Capacity: 2,000 mAh
Dimensions (L × W × H) 110 × 77 × 15 mm/4.33 × 3.03 × 0.59 in
Weight: 155 g

Everything is neatly organized inside the boxes. For the FridgePower and BlueCell 200, they are basically packaged in the same way. The main products are wrapped in a white plastic bag clipped between two Styrofoam brackets. Both products have a separate slim box inside that contains a metal wall mounting bracket and the required installation hardware. A set of four adjustable leveling feet, leatherette handle strap, product manual, and warranty card are included for each as well. Specific to the FridgePower is an AC power cable for charging, but none are included for the BlueCell 200, because the BlueCell 200 is designed to connect to the FridgePower using built-in cables. I feel like this is a very reasonable bundle from the factory.

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Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware
3. A Closer Look - Software
4. Test Results
5. Conclusion

By: Aaron Lai and Hai Wang
April 24, 2026

Another season is gone in the NHL, and it was another non-playoff year for the Calgary Flames. I do not think anyone expected them to be in the post-season, whether the press or any informed fan. Despite the result, there were encouraging signs for the Flames. For one, it was the first time more youth played consistently in the lineup. This included newcomers like Matvei Gridin, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Zayne Parekh. They had growing pains, but each game felt like they were progressing in the right direction. The Flames also saw the emergence of a solid goalie in Devin Cooley. Most of all, I was happy the team traded pieces like Nazem Kadri, Rasmus Andersson, and MacKenzie Weegar, because it showed a dedication to rebuilding the team rather than just applying quick fixes. This was especially true as both Kadri and Weegar had long-term contracts and not just expiring ones. Overall, I like this version, or color, of Flames that we are seeing with a commitment to the future. On the other hand, Noctua has often produced premium cooling, and unlike the Flames, they have always shown a commitment to their secondary colors with the chromax.black lineup. Whenever a new product comes out, most people will assume an all-black variant will appear after. Today, we have the Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 chromax.black series of fans. We saw and lauded the original Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 Series, so what does this version bring? Does it continue Noctua's commitment to the lineup? Let us read on to find out!

Today's review units of the Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 chromax.black fans arrived from Noctua's headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Traveling with UPS and their Saver service, this Noctua branded box arrived at our APH Networks location in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in good condition with only a few bumps or bruises on the edges. Thankfully, this folding envelope has a thicker surrounding frame and thus any damage here does not translate to internal issues. This time, Noctua sent us an NF-A14x25 G2 PWM chromax.black and a set of NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black fans. We will explore these differences in our review.

Like the vanilla version of these fans, the chromax.black edition of the Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 fans are similarly packaged, except in blacked-out retail boxes. The single PWM fan is in a smaller box with a picture of the fan on full display, while the Sx2-PP fans are shown in a pair. Both have the product name on the top-right corner. The tagline for the PWM fan is "Next-Gen 140mm Premium Fan", while the tagline for the Sx2-PP fans is "Push-Pull Set of Next-Gen 140mm Premium Fans". Both boxes emphasize the features of the Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer compound construction of their impellers, a highly optimized P/Q curve, and further optimizations that come with their second generation of fans. I like that Noctua has continued their "Chromax" branding we have seen across all their products, as it creates a sub-brand for those who want Noctua quality without their traditional colors.

Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your reading pleasure:

Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM chromax.black
Size (Form factor): 140 x 140 x 25 mm (square)
Speed range: 0 – 1500 rpm
Airflow (max.): 155.6 m³/h (91.58 CFM)
Acoustical noise (max.): 24.8 dB(A)
Static pressure (max.): 2.56 mm H₂O
Rated voltage: 12 V
Connector: 4-pin
Colour: Black
Warranty: 6 years
Scope of delivery:
- NA-RC16 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
- NA-YC1 chromax.black 4-pin PWM splitter cable
- NA-EC1 chromax.black 30cm extension cable
- 4x NA-AV2 chromax.black anti-vibration mounts
- NA-AVG2-LR chromax.black anti-vibration gasket
- 4x NA-AVP1-LR chromax.black load-relief anti-vibration pads
- Black fan screws

Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP chromax.black
Size (Form factor): 140 x 140 x 25 mm (square)
Speed range: 0 – 1500 rpm
Airflow (max.): 155.6 m³/h (91.58 CFM)
Acoustical noise (max.): 24.8 dB(A)
Static pressure (max.): 2.56 mm H₂O
Rated voltage: 12 V
Connector: 4-pin
Colour: Black
Warranty: 6 years
Scope of delivery:
- NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPA chromax.black
- NF-A14x25 G2 PWM PPB chromax.black
- 2x NA-RC16 Low-Noise Adaptor (L.N.A.)
- NA-YC1 chromax.black 4-pin PWM splitter cable
- 2x NA-EC1 chromax.black 30cm extension cable
- 8x NA-AV2 chromax.black anti-vibration mounts
- 2x NA-AVG2-LR chromax.black anti-vibration gasket for water cooling radiators
- 8x NA-AVP1-LR chromax.black load-relief anti-vibration pads
- Black fan screws

After opening the two boxes, you will notice Noctua has organized everything in a very neat and organized way, but I have taken everything out of their packaging for you to see. All the accessories and cables can be found in their own bags within a single box. Each fan comes with a respective set of NA-AVP1-LR chromax.black rubber paddings, NA-AV2 chromax.black rubber anti-vibration mounts, mounting screws, NA-RC16 low noise adapter, and 30cm NA-EC1 chromax.black extension cable. Each package comes with an NA-YC1 chromax.black 4-pin PWM splitter cable too. Each fan has a paper ring between the fan blade and the frame for protection while in transit, so be sure to remove this before you use the fan.

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Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Performance Tests
4. Conclusion

From PC Mag: AMD has launched its latest memory profile update, laying the groundwork for future Zen 6 releases and improving support for alternative memory suppliers amid the RAM crunch.

As VideoCardz reports, EXPO 1.2 offers tentative support for new CUDIMM memory standards, though full support will not be available until the next generation.

AMD's EXPO profiles provide a streamlined pathway to memory overclocking. You buy a kit with a pre-made memory speed and timings profile, enable it, and boom: You've got faster memory. However, with newer CUDIMM memory standards that use a Client Clock Driver to stabilize higher memory frequencies, AMD has only offered support for CUDIMM sticks in "Bypass mode," which disables the onboard clock-tuner and prevents them from running at higher speeds.

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From PC World: Although the supply of Intel CPUs is improving, demand is still outstripping supply, Intel executives told Wall Street analysts Tuesday afternoon. The company is also planning for PC demand to fall, driven by component shortages that are driving prices higher.

In January, Intel reported shortages of both PC and server processors and told investors then that it will be prioritizing silicon for higher-margin server products. That went hand in hand with reports of CPU shortages, period, including server makers.

On Tuesday, Intel executives said those shortages remain, but the company is beginning to ramp up its output and will continue to do so throughout the year.

“Supply will go up in the second quarter,” Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner told Wall Street analysts in its first quarter 2026 conference call. “It is going to go up every quarter now going forward. We were certainly at our lowest point in terms of supply in the first quarter relative to the rest of the year.”

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From CNET: Engagement is a big deal in the world of social media. On Wednesday, Meta announced Live Chats, a new feature for the Instagram-supported social app Threads. It adds a real-time conversation component, letting people connect during high-interest cultural events, such as playoff or championship games, or even the drop of a highly anticipated album.

Live Chats won't be limited to sports, but the feature is launching during the NBA Playoffs within the NBAThreads Community, and an assortment of personalities -- Malika Andrews, Rachel Nichols, Trysta Krick, David Rushing and Lexis Mickens -- will host Live Chats as the games unfold.

The group chat experience includes countdowns, polls, live scores and other real-time options designed to keep the conversation active.

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From Turtle Beach Press Release: Today, Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH) announced its expansion of PC peripherals with the launch of the all-new Turtle Beach Command Series of keyboards and mice. Designed across a range of price points, the Command Series products deliver a new standard of value, combining high-speed performance, precision, and versatility to power - gaming, content creation, and everyday productivity.

The initial rollout features six innovative devices:
• KB7 TKL Hall-Effect Wired Keyboard with Touchscreen
• KB5 Full-Size Mechanical Wired Keyboard with Touchscreen
• KP7 Wired Hall-Effect Keypad
• MC7 Wireless Mouse with touchscreen
• MC5 Wireless Gaming Mouse
• MC3 Wired Gaming Mouse

“The all-new Command Series marks a major moment for Turtle Beach - our most advanced lineup of keyboards and mice yet, built for the speed, precision, and flexibility that today’s gamers, creators, and multitaskers demand,” said Cris Keirn, Chief Executive Officer, Turtle Beach Corporation.

“Across every price point, we’re delivering a new level of performance and versatility for the category. With integrated Command Touch Displays on the KB7 and KB5 keyboards and the MC7 mouse, we’re putting faster control and deeper customization directly at your fingertips. I’m incredibly proud of the team for continuing to push what peripherals can be and redefining what it means to play, create, and thrive at the intersection of gaming and everyday life.”

The full Command Series lineup is now available for pre-order at turtlebeach.com. Keyboards will be available globally starting in May, with mice following in July 2026. Additional details, pricing, and on-sale dates are listed below under each category.

Keyboards and Keypad

The Command Series KB7 TKL Hall-Effect Wired Keyboard features a 4.3” Command Touch Display with built-in OBS and Streamlabs integration, giving you instant control over your stream without leaving the action. Switch profiles, trigger macros, monitor system stats, adjust audio, and launch apps all directly from the display.
Titan low-profile Hall-Effect switches, rated for 100 million keystrokes, deliver fast, precise input with adjustable actuation. Premium double-shot PBT keycaps provide a clean, tactile feel, with textured WASD keys for added grip and control. A slim, aluminum-reinforced chassis and detachable wrist rest ensure lasting comfort and durability.
With true 8K polling, an integrated Action Bar, and per-key RGB lighting with illuminated palm rest, the KB7 is built for performance. Dual modular rails allow for expanded functionality with Command Series accessories like the KP7 keypad, making it the centerpiece of the ecosystem. Compatible with Windows® 10/11 PCs. Available for pre-order now at $199.99/€209.99/£189.99, with global launch on May 21, 2026.

The Command Series KB5 Full-Size Wired Mechanical Keyboard puts total control at your fingertips. Its 2.4” Command Touch Display with OBS and Streamlabs integration lets you manage your stream, switch profiles, trigger macros, and monitor system stats, all without breaking focus.

Titan low-profile mechanical switches actuate at just 1.2mm for fast, precise input, paired with premium double-shot PBT keycaps and additional textured WASD keys for enhanced grip and feel. Pre-lubed switches, tuned stabilizers, and true 8K polling deliver smooth, ultra-responsive performance, while five dedicated macro keys and a clickable volume barrel provide quick, intuitive control. A low-profile, aluminum-reinforced chassis with a detachable palm rest ensures lasting comfort and durability. Compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs. Available for pre-order now at $149.99/€159.99/£139.99, with global launch on May 21, 2026.

The Command Series KP7 Modular Keypad is engineered for speed, precision, and adaptability across gaming, creation, and productivity workflows. Use it as a dedicated gaming keypad, macro pad, or numpad, with seamless docking to the KB7 Keyboard via dual modular rails, or as a standalone device. Titan low-profile Hall-Effect switches rated for 100 million clicks deliver fast, precise input with adjustable actuation and Rapid Trigger. True 8K wired performance ensures 0.125ms latency. A low profile chassis with kickstands, detachable wrist rest, programmable scroll wheel, extendable thumb bar when mounted to the right side of the KB7 or as a standalone, and per-key RGB lighting with illuminated palm rest completes a premium experience. It is compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and it starts on pre-order today with a MSRP of $99.99/€109.99/£89.99 MSRP and launches globally May 21, 2026.

Gaming Mice

Command Series MC7 Wireless Gaming Mouse delivers seamless control for gaming, streaming, and productivity. The Command Touch Display provides intuitive fingertip control without layered software or excess buttons. Quickly adjust DPI, switch profiles, trigger macros, or control apps without breaking focus. For streamers and creators, it becomes a powerful command hub for OBS control, mic muting, and app launches without interruption. With tri-mode connectivity, seamlessly switch between 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth®, and wired. True 8K polling delivers ultra-low 0.125ms latency, paired with an Owl Eye™ 30K DPI optical sensor and Titan Optical Switches for flawless tracking and long-term durability. Enjoy zero downtime with dual 1000 mAh hot-swappable batteries (the same batteries used in Stealth Pro II) and the included charging dock. Each battery delivers up to 10 hours at full power, or up to 15 hours at 8K with the LED and LCD lighting turned off. Designed for stability and precision, the MC7’s ergonomic right-handed shape supports confident, controlled play with comfortable palm and claw grip support. Paired with an adaptive 4D scroll wheel, customizable RGB lighting, 33 programmable functions using Easy-Shift™, and onboard profiles, The MC7 is a core component of the Command Series ecosystem. It is compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and it starts on pre-order today with a MSRP of $159.99/€159.99/£139.99 MSRP and launches globally July 19, 2026.

The Command Series MC5 Wireless Gaming Mouse is built for players who demand absolute precision, speed, and customization. Whether you’re locking down an FPS battlefield, grinding through an RPG campaign, or boosting productivity, the MC5 puts total control at your fingertips. With up to 29 programmable functions using Easy-Shift, side scroll barrel with click functionality and a versatile 4D scroll wheel, you can build advanced profiles and react faster across any game or task. Experience next level responsiveness with true 8K low latency wireless performance. With an 8K polling rate and ultra low 0.125ms latency, the MC5 is up to eight times faster than standard gaming mice and you can enjoy up to 35 hours of continuous 8K playtime. Powered by the Owl Eye 30K DPI Optical Sensor, and Titan Optical Switch technology, the MC5 adapts to your playstyle and delivers total control every session. It is compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and it starts on pre-order today with a MSRP of $119.99/€119.99/£109.99 MSRP and launches globally July 19, 2026.

The Command Series MC3 Wired Gaming Mouse delivers precision and reliability with zero latency USB performance. Featuring up to 29 programmable inputs when using Easy-Shift, a 4D scroll wheel, Owl Eye 30K DPI optical sensor with 1K polling, Titan Optical switches, customizable RGB lighting, and onboard profiles, MC3 gives you a powerful wired gaming mouse built without compromise. It is compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs and it starts on pre-order today with a MSRP of $79.99/€79.99/£69.99 MSRP and launches globally July 19, 2026.

For more information on the latest Turtle Beach® and Victrix® peripherals and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and www.victrixpro.com. Be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

From PC Mag: If you’re looking to buy a Mac mini, good luck finding a configuration of your choice. After higher-memory variants went out of stock last week, the base $599 M4 Mac mini has now been marked as “currently unavailable” on Apple’s online store.

Apple currently offers Mac minis with both M4 and M4 Pro chips. As of publishing, its US online store shows that all M4 variants, regardless of storage or memory, are currently unavailable. The M4 Pro variants, on the other hand, have long wait times, ranging from 5-6 weeks to 10-12 weeks for available configurations.

When Apple products go out of stock, it generally means the company is preparing to release an update. We haven’t heard strong rumors about an M5 Mac mini, but there is an outside chance, given that the device was last updated in 2024.

However, as 9to5Mac reports, the dire situation could also be due to a global shortage of memory and components. AI companies have been absorbing a lot of the supply to build data centers, forcing hardware companies to raise prices and delay shipments.

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From PC World: With Firefox’s latest version 150 update for Windows, macOS, and Linux, Mozilla has introduced few genuinely new features but some noteworthy improvements. The split view is easier to use, the built-in PDF viewer is increasingly evolving into a PDF editor, and the developers have once again fixed a host of vulnerabilities.

Mozilla plans to release Firefox 151 in four weeks on May 19th, 2026.

The split-screen feature introduced in Firefox 149 has been improved. You can now right-click on any link and select “Open link in split view,” and you can also swap the two halves of a split window.

The built-in PDF viewer/editor can now also reorder PDF documents and copy, paste, delete, or export pages. You can also copy and save images contained within PDFs. The ability to merge multiple PDF documents into a single file is expected to follow soon.

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From CNET: If you're an Android user with a trip coming up, there's a new feature worth checking out. Google just unveiled Live Updates, which could make your journey easier. As reported by 9to5Google, a new widget included in the Android 16 update provides real-time updates for your trip -- whether you're traveling by plane, train or car.

Google Wallet has offered similar functionality for some time. For instance, you can already load your boarding pass directly into Google Wallet, which will notify you of any changes to your boarding time and help streamline the travel experience.

Now, Google Wallet is integrating Live Updates into its framework, similar to Live Activities on iOS. Pertinent details appear directly on your lock screen, including departure and destination airports, a real-time flight progress bar, estimated arrival time and even step-by-step driving directions to major events -- like concerts or sports games.

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From PC Mag: OpenAI rolled out an update to ChatGPT’s image generation model on Tuesday that can reference web information, create multiple outputs at once, and deliver images containing non-Latin text. Images 2.0 is also ChatGPT’s first image model with "thinking" capabilities.

This is the company’s third image model, following the launch of Images last March and Images 1.5 in December. OpenAI says the new Images 2.0 is “a step change” over its predecessor in terms of instruction following, object placement, text rendering, and handling aspect ratios.

Images 2.0 is now open to all ChatGPT and Codex users. However, advanced thinking outputs are restricted to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Business users. I gave the new model a quick try, and the results didn’t disappoint.

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From PC World: Microsoft has released new preview versions of Windows 11 for Insiders. These new Insider preview versions are available now on the Beta, Dev, and Canary channels, and they give cause for optimism. With these updates, Microsoft is focusing on improving stability and performance, the first steps towards optimizing its bloated operating system.

According to Windows Latest, the improvements in these updates affect File Explorer, Clipboard History, Settings, Windows Hello, the taskbar, and more.

The next Windows 11 update will place overall emphasis on better reliability and consistency. If all goes according to plan, the stability and performance improvements will be made available to the general Windows public as early as May 2026.

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From CNET: Google is going all-in on agentic AI. At Google's Cloud Next conference on Wednesday, the tech giant announced a slew of updates aimed at helping its enterprise customers automate their business processes with AI agents.

Google Cloud reports that 75% of its customers use AI in their businesses, but given how inescapable AI has become in Google products like Docs, Sheets and Gmail, that high figure isn't surprising. But Google is still doubling down, writing in a blog post that it's chasing the idea of the "agentic enterprise."

Agentic AI is the tech that runs agents, or bots, that can autonomously complete tasks, with little human babysitting needed. It's transforming AI, particularly for coding and workplace tasks. Tech companies have embraced agents this year, placing big bets that tools like OpenClaw, Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex will fulfill AI's promise of automating big swaths of tasks. Now, Google is giving its business tech the same agentic makeover.

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From PC Mag: Meta has begun testing a subscription plan for WhatsApp, just weeks after it began testing a similar tier for Instagram. The test was first spotted by WABetaInfo and later confirmed by a Meta spokesperson to TechCrunch.

“WhatsApp is testing a new, optional subscription called WhatsApp Plus, designed for users who want more ways to organize and personalize their experience,” a company spokesperson tells TechCrunch.

Features included with the subscription include the ability to send premium stickers, set new app themes, add a custom app icon, pin up to 20 chats instead of the usual three, set premium ringtones, and options to upgrade your chat lists.

According to WABetaInfo, the last feature allows you to perform the same action on a set of chat threads at once. For example, you can create a chat list and apply the same theme to all conversations included in that list. For app icons, WhatsApp Plus lets you choose from 14 color variants, and for ringtones, it lets you pick from 10 premium options.

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From PC World: Virtually every Windows user wonders at one point or another: Do I need a third-party antivirus app in addition to Windows 11’s built-in Microsoft Defender? Do I need any antivirus protection at all?

In a blog post from earlier this month, Microsoft goes on the record and claims that Microsoft Defender is enough for most users and no additional antivirus software is needed for Windows 11.

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft states that Windows 11 is “the most secure Windows yet,” and part of that is owing to the “built‑in antivirus software that’s active by default, deeply integrated into the OS, and updated continuously.” Namely, Microsoft Defender.

According to the blog post, Defender offers sufficient protection for most users: “For many Windows 11 users, Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risk without requiring additional software. The choice to add third‑party antivirus depends on how you use your PC and which features you value.”

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From CNET: After nearly 15 years as Apple CEO, Tim Cook is stepping down. He will continue to operate in the role until Sept. 1, when he will be replaced by John Ternus, the company's senior vice president of hardware engineering.

Cook won't disappear from Apple. He will transition to Apple's board of directors as executive chairman, the company announced Monday. But the shift represents the end of an era for the company.

Cook became CEO on Aug. 24, 2011, taking over from Apple co-founder and face of the company Steve Jobs, who passed away two months later. Known for improving the company's supply chain, Cook oversaw a period of record growth. During his 15-year tenure, it refined its smartphone line from the iPhone 5 onward, debuted new products like the Apple Watch and HomePod, and launched services such as Apple Music, Apple TV Plus and Apple Fitness Plus.

With Cook at the helm, Apple became a trillion-dollar company in 2018 -- the first US company to do so -- and surpassed $3 trillion in market cap in 2022.

"I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching the lives of our customers and creating the best products and services in the world," Cook said.

Ternus, who will replace Cook in September, has spent almost his entire career at Apple. An engineer by trade, he joined the company in 2001, becoming vice president of hardware engineering in 2013 and SVP in 2021. He was "instrumental in the introduction" of the iPad and AirPods, according to Apple's post, and oversaw the company's product lines all the way up to the recent MacBook Neo.

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From PC Mag: The next Fitbit is coming soon, with the brand teasing a new screenless device. Now, a leak has shared more details, including the wearable's name.

In March, four-time NBA champion and Google performance advisor Steph Curry began sharing sponsored Instagram videos of an upcoming device as part of his partnership with Google's fitness tech.

It shows the screenless device on his wrist, though research from Droid Life confirms Curry has been wearing it in public as far back as January. Curry didn’t share any specs or details about the device, aside from the design.

Now, 9to5Google has spoken to anonymous sources who say it will be called the Google Fitbit Air. This would mark the first time it has combined its Fitbit and Google branding in this way.

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From CNET: OpenAI's latest AI model is built to do far more than offer cooking advice or create a spreadsheet. GPT-Rosalind, the company's first model specifically built for life science, is meant to help scientists with drug discovery, biology and translational medicine.

The model is named after Rosalind Franklin, whose research revealed the structure of DNA and formed the foundations for modern molecular biology. Scientific research relies heavily on data, and GPT-Rosalind is designed to help sort through it, while also helping reduce the time it takes to develop and get new drugs approved and out on the market.

It can take 10 to 15 years for a new drug to be developed and approved in the US, OpenAI said in a blog post Thursday. GPT-Rosalind is intended to improve the selection of research targets and create stronger hypotheses for higher-quality experiments.

The model has been tested on topics such as its understanding of organic chemistry, proteins and genetics. Researchers can use it to find relevant scientific literature for their work or design experiments.

This isn't the first time an AI model has been developed with medical

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From PC World: “Everyday productivity.” “Value-orientated computing.” “Right-sized performance.” All of these are terms Intel is using to describe the Intel Core Series 3, Intel’s response to budget CPUs that are appearing in laptops like the Apple MacBook Neo.

Intel unexpectedly launched the Core Series 3, based on its excellent “Panther Lake” (Core Ultra Series 3) architecture and 18A manufacturing, for devices for home consumers and small business on Thursday. Intel announced that a number of partners will launch laptops based upon the chip, including Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, and others. Although those laptops will be available beginning today, a number of them will begin shipping later this year, the partners said.

All of it — from the specifications down to the messaging — feels extremely aimed at trimming the fat and delivering to users just what they’ll want. Intel’s new Core Series 3 family just includes two “Cougar Cove” performance cores and four low-power efficiency “Darkmont” cores, with two Xe graphics cores on top of it. Intel isn’t really worrying about AI, with an NPU capable of just 17 TOPS, though the company claims the CPU, NPU, and GPU combined reach 40 TOPS of performance. Yes, laptops will use pricey DDR5 memory, but at the lower end: just DDR5-6400 speeds. Support for three external displays will be included, though, maximizing multiple screens for maximum productivity. Intel used the term “all day battery life” without elaboration.

Still, minimizing core count does not set up a favorable comparison against its own processors, so Intel is trying a tried-and-true strategy: compare them to older PCs. Intel Core Series 3 delivers up to 47 percent better single-thread performance, up to 41 percent better multi thread performance, and up to 2.8x better GPU AI performance, Intel said. Compared against Intel’s older Core 7 150U, Intel is saying that the new chip will outperform it by 2.1 times in content-creation and 2.7 times the AI performance.

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By: Aaron Lai
April 17, 2026

One thing I have learned over my life is that if there are still many things I do not understand, As such, when an area of ignorance is brought up in conversation, I like to do some research while also listening to others who are well-versed. I may not always agree with their perspectives, but I hope to build a well-rounded understanding before forming my own conclusions. However, there are some people that like to state and stick to their own opinions, even when they are shown opposing evidence. I do not have an issue with people who make their voice heard, but my problem comes when they are clearly wrong or misunderstanding, yet they keep digging their heels in to make their point. If this conversation is in a larger group setting, I try to balance correcting them with a bit of grace, so it does not come across as an attack but rather a discussion. Unfortunately, I am not great at doing this because there are times, especially when my patience is being tested, that I want to say "no" and move on. This is something that we reviewers also must keep in mind when we look at new products, especially as our critiques are in a public setting. There is a balance to setting the record straight while not just dismissing a product because it has areas to improve upon. Today, we have the Epomaker HE108. This company has been producing keyboards for a while, but how does this full-sized Hall effect keyboard perform? Is it a strong product, or will it test my patience? Let us read on to find out!

Today's review unit of the Epomaker HE108 came to us from Epomaker's offices in Shenzhen, China. Traveling with eMile Express, this brown corrugated cardboard box is sealed in orange packing tape and arrived at our APH Networks location in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Along with the HE108, we received other Epomaker keyboards, including the TH80 V2, TH80 V2 Pro, RT100 Pro, and Luma100. Otherwise, the box has a few bumps and bruises, but it is nothing to be concerned about.

From the photo above, you can see Epomaker has made all their retail packaging consistent in design, as we indeed have a standardized appearance. For our HE108, the box is light blue. The product name is on the bottom left corner with an outline of the keyboard on the right side. A tagline of "Dual 8K Full Size Hall Effect Tri-mode Hot-swappable RGB Analog Keyboard". Also, there are several primary features highlighted, including Hall effect magnetic switches, a full-size layout, 8000Hz polling rate, 0.005mm switch accuracy, and PBT shine-through keycaps. We will explore all these features as we continue our inspections. Around the back, there are more features and specifications for the Epomaker HE108.

Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your reading pleasure:

Technical Specifications
Brand: EPOMAKER
Model: HE108
Layout: Full Sized Gaming Keyboard, 100% Layout, US QWERTY ANSI Layout
Number of Keys: 108 Keys
Battery: 10000mAh Rechargeable Battery
Battery Life: 32 hours (RGB On), 500 hours (RGB Off), 1000 hours (stand by)
Connectivity: Tri-Mode 2.4Ghz/BT/Wired
Compatibility: Mac/WIN/Android
Mac Modifier Print: Yes
Front Height: 1.8cm
Back Height: 3.2cm
Typing Angle: 6, 8 and 10.5 degrees.
Case Material: Thick ABS Plastic
Plate Material: PC Plastic
Flex-Cut: Yes, the HE108 has a flex-cut plate in PC and a flex-cut PCB board in FR4.
Stabilizers: The EPOMAKER HE108 has finely tuned plate-mounted stabilizers and is not compatible with PCB or screw-in stabilizers.
Mounting Structure: Gasket-Mounted
Sound Dampening: 5 Layers of sound dampening, including PORON sandwich foam, IXPE switch pad, Sound-Enhancement PET, PORON and latex switch socket foam, and bottom silicone.
Keycaps Profile: Cherry Profile
Keycaps Material: PBT Plastic
Keycaps Manufacturing Technique: Double-Shot
Switch: Factory Lubed Magnetic Linear Switch
Hall Effect Accuracy: 0.005mm
Rapid Triggering: Yes
Snap Key (SOCD): Yes
DKS: Yes
Hall Effect Switch Deadzone: 0-0.3mm
Hot-Swappable: Yes, the HE108 magnetic keyboard has a hot-swappable PCB and is compatible with same mainstream hall effect switches.
RGB: South-Facing, Per-Key LEDs
Polling Rate: 8000hz in USB and 2.4Ghz mode, and 125hz in BT mode.
Scan Rate: 16,000hz (full board), 128,000 (per key)
Latency: 0.2ms (USB), 0.4ms (2.4Ghz Wireless), 8ms (BT)
Anti-Ghosting: Yes, the HE108 hall effect keyboard supports N-key rollover and is anti-ghosting.
Custom Software: Yes, the HE108 is compatible with EPOMAKER Driver 3.0 (Epomaker driver v4) for key map, macro recording, rgb settings and special settings of hall effect switch such as DKS, SOCD, MT, rapid trigging and deadzone.
Keyboard Package Dimensions: 44.5*14.1*4.8cm
Keyboard Package Weight: 1.67kg
Keyboard Weight: about 1.2kg

Out of the box, the Epomaker HE108 is in a translucent plastic bag and protected with a hard transparent plastic shell. The HE108 comes with some accessories, including a combination keycap and switch puller, two extra Hall effect switches, and a braided USB Type-C to Type-A cable. A multilingual manual is also included to help users get oriented with the HE108.

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Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look - Hardware and Software
3. A Closer Look - Disassembly and Internals
4. Conclusion