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The company was at NAB 2024 showing off its current and coming line of products. It currently has a number of interesting devices spanning multi-gigabit Ethernet and SFP+ (fiber) solutions, PCIe and TB expansion solutions, and a number of docks. One of those docks is its Echo 20 Thunderbolt 4 SuperDock. Not only does it contain a large number of ins and outs, but it also has a few unique tricks you don't normally find with other docks. Including RCA audio out jacks (L/R) for analog sound. The front (image above) contains a 3.5mm combo/TRRS jack (headphones, headset, microphone, etc), an SD (UHS-II) card slot, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type A) ports, and two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. All of which offer up to 10Gbps transfer speeds. Like most docks, it stops with just those few ports to keep things visually clean until you turn it around. The back side of the dock contains most everything else with a smorgasbord of options. Including the following: HDMI 2.1 port (capable of up to 8K@60) 3x Thunderbolt 4 ports (one being what you connect to the Thunderbolt port on your computer that offers up to 100W of PD charging power) 2.5Gb Ethernet port 2x USB (Type A) 3.2 Gen 2 ports (up to 10Gbps) 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (up to 10Gbps) RCA (L/R) analog ports 3.5mm Microphone jack So you get a bonus analog port on the back in case you have separate solutions for headphones and mic. That alone is something that most docks do not provide as you usually just get the one TRRS jack that you'd have to use a special splitter on if you have two seperate devices. Those RCA ports are one of the most unique features though that you don't see within docks. Normally for RCa, you'd have to get some kind of dedicated USB solution. So those looking to go analog out into a stereo or studio monitors while keeping headphone and mic jacks separate, this is your solution. It also has a DC connection on the back for its power cable, but it doesn't just stop with these ports. Turning it over to its bottom reveals a small hatch leading to an M.2 NVMe slot. Allowing you to install an NVMe SSD drive into the dock. Thus is also becomes an external drive on top of everything else. This is quite the dock throughout. It was clearly designed with creators in mind. Those working with either/both music and video. Its MRSP is just $299, which allows it to compete well with some of the other brands out there like OWC that usually give you less ports around that price point in a TB4 solution. It can be found at various certified retailers, including Amazon and B&H.

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Amazon Prime Video subscriptions have been allowing users to take advantage of the company's movie and TV service by paying monthly for it like any other. Its pricing has been somewhat similar to that of Netflix, Disney, Hulu, etc. Users who subscribe to Amazon Prime membership normally get access to Prime Video as a perk for being a full member. However, this model is changing now. Instead of using access to Prime Video as a perk for full Prime members, Amazon is now requiring users to be full Prime members to gain access to the service. New users will no longer be able to sign up for Prime Video by itself for the smaller rate. Users looking to subscribe are now being forwarded to the main Amazon Prime membership page. Thus if you want streaming, you have to buy into everything else as well. Making Amazon's streaming service a little more pricey if you don't frequently shop Amazon for everything else. For those already subscribed, nothing changes in their world. Those already subscribed to the video service alone seem to be unaffected for now. So it would be wise to squat it out for as long as they allow those to continue. But if the company ends up discontinuing those plans for active subscriptions, you will be forced into full membership or you'll be looking for a new alternative. I want to say that (hopefully) this won't happen, but given the streak of actions companies have been taking recently, it wouldn't surprise me. This is too bad as the price for just the video subscription was competitive and gave a reason to pull away from other services that keep upping their price. Likely, this has a lot to do with the new Fallout series that has been taking the world by storm and bringing a new layer of popularity toward the related games. In fact, Microsoft has seen a noticeable boost in Game Pass subscribers looking to gain access to multiple games they have within the Game Pass catalog. All thanks to the success of the new series. So Amazon is likely hoping to bank on it all as well.

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Adobe has been working hard to integrate AI into its software. It has already achieved huge milestones with Photoshop with its capability to remove or replace objects, adjust backgrounds, remove backgrounds, and so many other fascinating techniques that help to enhance workflow and improve a user's overall experience. Now, similar features are coming to Premiere Pro that are going to greatly change how the software is used. The company is working on its Firefly model that will open new features that allow the user to interact with content within the footage being edited. Like Photoshop, you'll be able to add objects, remove objects, and interact with objects within the content. Change a person's shit color, remove a fire extinguisher from the wall or any kind of branding or logos, add or swap out things, or extend scenes. A demo video has been released showing it in action, where they did all of these things. Including adding a fortune of diamonds into a briefcase that wasn't actually there. They extended scenes by a number of seconds by adding artificial frames, and quickly added virtual skyscapes or driving scenes to complement what was happening in the clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6de4akFiNYM It seems to be incredibly powerful and could easily improve upon everything within a user's experience and even their skill limitations when using the video editing software. In fact, it looks to be so powerful, it could even be seen as a tad scary for some. Thankfully, it also provides content credentials into the metadata of the files showing that AI was used in the generation of the content and how much it was relied upon. Right now, everything is in testing so it won't be available just yet, but it is likely right around the corner as the company says it will be coming this year. So subscribers can look forward to these new features in coming updates.

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When it comes to operating multiple systems with a single keyboard and mouse, things used to be clunky and messy "back in the day". Plenty of wires running all over with some form of hub in the mix that switched between everything with a switchable button or dial. It worked, but it was a mess and it was expensive. Thankfully, this doesn't have to be the case any longer thanks to modern products and technologies that can get the job done with a fraction of the space. In fact, all you need is the keyboard and mouse (depending on what model you purchase). For the purposes of this tutorial, we have selected the ProtoArc XKM01 Foldable Keyboard and Mouse. It has the capability of controlling up to three devices wirelessly with no other wires or accessories needed (unless you need a Bluetooth dongle, which we will get to in a moment). So let's consider that you have three different devices that could make use of a keyboard and mouse. They could all be in the same room, or spread about your home or office. Now let's say that some of these devices are "set-and-forget", small servers, home-brew NAS solutions, and the sort. So you may not want to waste buying multiple keyboard/mouse sets for each one. Why not walk around with a single set? Another situation where this could be useful is where you have multiple devices plugged into the same monitor or TV. You have only one screen to switch between them all, so why not use the same keyboard and mouse as well? I could go into detail about setting up remote desktops using various third-party tools like RealVNC, but not everyone is ready to ingest that. Instead, we will focus on a simple solution that anyone could take advantage of. And that is where this keyboard and mouse combo comes into play. There are others out there as well, but we chose this one since it checked many useful boxes, like battery life, latency, mobility, and more. The benefit of this one is that it comes with a semi-hardshell case, allowing it to be easily carried around between locations or around a building or home. Making this one a versatile option for those who use it with devices spread about or at different locations. Like many of the other multi-device kits, it supports one connection via its USB dongle, and then one or two Bluetooth devices. So like any other wireless keyboard, one of your devices will be making use of a small dongle (stored away inside of the mouse when not in use). It is best used for devices/systems that don't support Bluetooth so you can reserve the two Bluetooth buttons for those devices that do. The bottom of the mouse has a button to switch between the three devices you have it paired to. So you press that until the right input is lit up and it will begin controlling that device. The keyboard has three buttons representing three inputs. Some models simply will label them one, two, and three. In this case, it is labeled by icons showing 2.4 GHz (dongle), and two for Bluetooth. You simply press the button for the device you want the keyboard to work with. So you have to switch both the mouse and keyboard separately each time, which is normal. They are sold as a set, but it is the same as buying them separately when it comes to connectivity. Also, both the keyboard and mouse have to be synced via Bluetooth for the two Bluetooth connections to work (for the same reason). In our case, we used the USB adapter with a mini PC (Azulle) with Windows 11 loaded, and for the two Bluetooth devices, we chose a mini PC (Geekom) with Ubuntu Linux and a Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pi OS loaded). All three of these small solutions support Bluetooth, so we could have ordered this however we wanted. So we have three solutions plugged into the back of a TV. The main focus (device one) is the Windows PC that is used as a terminal for various things. From time to time, we may want to switch inputs on the TV to one of the other two that are being used for various tasks from time to time (usually testing various software and services like Plex, Docker, Node-Red, and other applications used for tieing into other content we publish on). So the overall footprint is small since we have one TV, one mouse, and one keyboard. The three connected devices are hidden behind the TV. No wires or added accessories are needed, except for if one or both of your Bluetooth-connected devices do not support Bluetooth natively (as mentioned earlier). In this case, you may need to acquire a small Bluetooth dongle for them if they support that. You can use this kind of configuration with computers, gaming consoles, TVs (models that support keyboard input), streaming devices (ie, Roku, Fire TV Stick, etc), or anything else that supports a keyboard and mouse. It's a great way of making sure you aren't overspending while keeping the space around you neat. The only thing you have to watch out for is things like latency. At times, you may run into a model that suffers from a certain level of latency when it comes to Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth (usually) just isn't the best for gaming, but is great for workstations, navigating menus, and other similar needs. However, some models suffer from a level of latency that makes most activities difficult. Thankfully, brands like ProtoArc and Logitech typically provide a much better experience. In this case, we could barely detect any noticeable latency over Bluetooth. Nothing that would ever get in the way of normal productivity usage. The model/combo we used for this scenario is available in multiple colors, and can be found on Amazon, as well as via places like Newegg, Walmart, or even AliExpress. It can also be found on the company's website where they are running a discount if you use the code "PNW15". Additional Images (ProtoArc): [gallery link="file" columns="5" ids="89371,89372,89373,89375,89377,89378,89380,89381,89382"]

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SanDisk (a Western Digital brand) has been one of the most reputable companies out there when it comes to storage media for all of your mobile devices, travel drives, and more. As with any year, it always has something new to announce that takes things one step further. The company has a new 4TB SD card it announced at NAB 2024 in Las Vegas, centered around professionals looking to get as much onto a single card as possible, as fast as possible. The upcoming SDUC UHS-I memory card will offer blazing speeds for professionals who demand high capacity for things like 8K+ recording with as little compression as possible (usually limited to the speed of the card and interface). Allowing plenty of content to be stored before having to swap out to another card. The SDUC standard (Secure Digital Ultra Capacity) is capable of supporting up to 128TB of capacity that it can eventually grow into over time. Proving that there are exciting products within the company's timeline that will help propel our devices forward as processing power and resolutions continue to climb. No price has been announced just yet, nor do we know exactly when in 2025 this new card will be dropping, but you can expect that it will come with a hefty price tag. It likely won't be less than $299 and could be possibly as high as $450 depending on how the prices of the cards below it fluctuate (if at all).

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We've recently covered a few booster products from Waveform that focus on delivering a stronger 5G signal to your T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Router. A valuable tool for those who don't quite get the signal they need for a more fulfilled experience, delivering a more usable connection so they can actually enjoy their service. But how about general cellular service as well? The company provides several products that focus on boosting cellular signal and it isn't just limited to 5G home internet. Waveform also focuses on general cellular activity as well. Including its CEL-FI products. One of which, we have been testing for a little time now to see how well it improves signal to mobile devices. It is the latest Waveform CEL-FI GO G41 Smart Signal Booster. It currently focuses on boosting 3G and 4G signals (5G coming soon) from a nearby cell tower using a complete kit of parts that are pretty straightforward when it comes to installing everything thanks to user-friendly instructions. As long as you have at least one natural bar of signal, to begin with. It includes a number of parts that start with grabbing a signal from the cell tower, amplifying it, and then rebroadcasting it throughout your home or office using one of two different antenna configurations (it comes with both to help guarantee suitability for any home/office environment). Starting with the first part, it comes with a directional antenna that should be installed on the outside of your home (preferably). It should be aimed directly at the nearest compatible cell tower to your residence This information can easily be found online by using online cell tower map services like CellMapper (to name one). The company provides a pipe mount solution so that it can easily be mounted and aimed in the direction it needs to. Everything comes together easily and without any guesswork. [gallery type="rectangular" size="medium" columns="2" link="file" ids="89297,89298"] Cables are provided to take the captured signal from this antenna and route it down to the booster. Including a small surge protector that is installed in-line along the way to help protect against lightning strikes (it is used to create a proper ground). The various cables and adapters help everything to make its way to the amplifier (above image) that contains all of the brains that make everything possible. This is where the signal is processed (including which bands, and for which service, it is looking to amplify). Everything is controlled by connecting to it via Bluetooth and configuring everything using the Wave app (supporting Android or iOS devices). [gallery type="rectangular" columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="89304,89300"] From the amplifier, the cable continues toward the antenna that rebroadcasts everything into your home. Providing up to 100 dB system gain, covering space up to 15,000 sq ft depending on the configuration of your environment and home. This antenna (or antennas, depending on which kit you get), should be installed a certain distance away from the main antenna that is pointed toward the nearest tower. There has to be a certain level of separation and it will let you know if you haven't provided enough (within the app). As mentioned, two different types of antennas are included in the kit to make sure you have the best for the job. One is more of a directional antenna (left image) while the other dome antenna provides more of a bubble (for multiple-floor situations). The latter focuses mostly downward while providing a little signal upward as well. So choosing the best location to install one of these is vital. Making sure you get the most coverage possible within your installed space. If neither antenna is going to cover enough space, the company provides kits with multiple antennas using a splitter to get the job done. The price point starts around $1,699.99 and works its way up to $2,049.99 depending on if you need to upgrade to a high-gain antenna or multiple antennas for inside. A full manual breaks everything down and helps to explain how the whole process works. It focuses on compatibilities (both now and to come), discusses signal quality and strength, the various frequency bands, and setting everything up in various conditions. All while including detailed images and diagrams to make the process easy to understand. There is a heavy focus on contact information and making it easy to reach out for help if needed. The company seems to be very hands-on and wants to make sure customers fully understand the product and how it works. The App [gallery link="file" columns="6" ids="89313,89314,89315,89316,89317,89318"] The app is just as easy to understand and set up. As mentioned, it connects via Bluetooth and doesn't require any account registration (user login, etc). You just access it via Bluetooth, it syncs everything to the app when it comes to current settings, and you start adjusting from there. There is a strong chance that you will have to select your network of choice from the settings. For example, we chose T-Mobile (and eventually switched over to AT&T to test that as well). This requires the phone to download updates that are sent over to the unit, updating it to fully support the given network. It will install the updates and reboot. It will break down your current configuration to let you know how your signal quality and strength, as well as the quality of your antenna separation (as previously mentioned). If it reports anything as fair or less than fair, you'll want to see what you can adjust to compensate for a better result. Registration [gallery link="file" ids="89323,89324,89325"] Now I had just mentioned that no user registration was required to use the app, so you might wonder why I led right into talking about registration. In this case, no user account is needed to log in and out of the unit. However, you have to register the "device" itself with some simple information about the user (name, address, etc) to appease regulatory agencies like the FCC. This only takes a few moments to fill out. So what does this mean? The first time connecting to it and setting it up via the app over BT will result in a registration required error. The information in the app claims that you will be asked to fill out a simple form (in the app) the first time connecting but this isn't the case. You want to wait until you get this error. Then completely close out of the app and then reopen and reconnect. It will then ask you to fill said form out. A little odd, but it doesn't cause any headaches. Once you have submitted the form, you don't have to fill anything out again. Performance So the installation and setup process is pretty simple. At least, as long as you have an easy way of getting cables routed to where they need to go. This includes having to have crawl space access so that you can properly run everything and install the indoor antennas on the ceiling or wall (depending on which one you use). Making sure you are pointing it directly at the nearest tower may take a few tries if you can't physically "see" the tower with your own eyes. However, the app gives you the ability to test various angles to see what yields the best results. The app is easy to use and it doesn't take long to choose your network and wait for it to update and reboot. It then looks for a signal and starts to broadcast the various bands it finds. Everything is broken down so the user knows exactly what is working strongly and what could use improvement (if possible). The only other step is to break out your mobile device(s) and check to see if you are getting an improved signal. Now, in its current form, it is only able to amplify certain 3G and 4G bands. The product is described as 5G "ready". This is because they are sitting on their hands at the moment when it comes to this progress since the FCC hasn't approved third-party amplification of 5G signals just yet. So 5G will be coming in the future via a firmware update once they can make use of this function. This could be happening this summer, but the results all rest within any decisions the FCC makes and will be limited to the bands they approve. So the product is "capable" and has what is required to support a number of 5G bands. It just can't make use of any of this until it is legal to do so. For now, what this means for you depends on your device. If you have just enough 5G signal naturally to have slow speeds without the system, you may not notice anything unless your device loses 5G connectivity completely. Allowing it to step down into 4G LTE. If your device is older and doesn't support 5G, then you should immediately see an improved 4G signal. The same would apply to 3G (it depends on your device's support for the older network and how often or when it makes use of it). In our situation, around 3-4 years ago, we got rid of any mobile device that wasn't 5G and had just enough signal that each device kept trying to connect or remain connected to 5G and wouldn't step down to 4G to see anything coming from this system. We had to get our hands on someone who had an older Samsung Galaxy S8 phone and was able to connect over 4G. After unplugging the system, the phone immediately lost signal and wasn't able to acquire anything until we plugged it back in. We weren't getting the best speeds possible, but we also installed everything in what is possibly the hardest situation since there seems to be a level of interference within the area that limits all cellular connectivity (something that none of the providers want to investigate, strangely enough). That and 4G was never really impressive when compared to 5G. What matters is that we had a connection where we didn't without this and were able to make and take calls. Our Conclusion It is unfortunate that 5G isn't obtainable just yet, but this isn't an issue created by the company or its product. We are simply at the mercy of the FCC at this point, waiting for it to allow access to 5G amplification using third-party (products not supplied by your cellular provider directly). In the meantime, it is a focus on 3G and 4G until a firmware update can roll out to gain access to the 5G bands this system has access to. The overall install process and setup using the app are painless outside of figuring out where to install and route everything (which will depend on each home or building). in our case, we did a temporary setup using a tripod to get the height we needed and eventually placed it outside on a deck that gets the directional antenna where it can face the direction of the nearest tower with minimal obstacles. We then ran the cables down and into the home. Allowing us to fully emulate what we would be able to see if we permanently installed it on the outside of the home. The instructions are fantastic and are a normal experience with this company. This makes it easy to follow along without losing any interest, while also learning more about how everything works and what to expect to see in the future. It will be interesting to see how it improves modern connectivity once 5G is usable. When this happens, we will have to come back to update. As it is a product that should only get better over time (assuming the regulators allow for it). Buy from Waveform | Buy from Amazon Our Rating rating Average Price* $1,699.99+ *Average price is based on the time this article was published Additional Images: [gallery link="file" columns="4" ids="89297,89298,89299,89300,89301,89302,89303,89304,89305,89306,89307,89308,89309,89310,89311,89312"] Specifications: Frequency Bands: 2/4/5/12/13/25 Relay Channel Bandwidths (MHz): 5/10/15/20 Networks: 4G/5G* (5G Ready) Network Protocols: LTE/DSS/NR Network Selection: Automatically best available (WAVE App for manual setting) Duplex Modes: FDD # of Relay Bands (MHz max.): 2 Relay Bandwidth (MHz max.): 20 + 20 Output Downlink Power (All Bands) (dBm max.): 16 Output Uplink Power (Bands 2/4/25) (dBm max.): 22 Output Uplink Power (Bands 5/12/13) (dBm max.): 20 System Gain (dBm max.): 100 Enterprise-Grade Echo Cancellation (dB min.): 30 Return Loss (dB typ.): -8 Impedance: 50 Are you a manufacturer or distributor that would like us to test something out for review? Contact us and we can let you know where to send the product and we will try it out.

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Another docking station has landed, seeking to provide users with as many ports as possible while only consuming a single physical port on your laptop or desktop setup. This one is a normal USB-C dock (no Thunderbolt or USB4 this round) coming from Baseus, offering 11 ports packed away into a tower design. The new Baseus 11-in-1 Spacemate USB-C Docking Station may not support TB or USB4 speeds, but it can still operate on computers via these ports thanks to backward compatibility. As long as the port is USB-C and supports DisplayPort over that USB-C connection, you should be able to make use of this one. [caption id="attachment_89349" align="alignnone" width="773"] Image Credit: Baseus[/caption] It features triple-monitor support via either "2x HDMI + 1x DP" or "2x DP + 1x HDMI", giving the user options when it comes to monitor configuration. Offering a total of four ports (two HDMI and two DP) that can reach up to 4K@60Hz each depending on your processor's capabilities. You get two USB-A ports and one USB-C port that are all capable of up to 10Gbps, while also getting an additional USB-A port (480Mbps) for general accessories. There is an additional USB-C port that is used for PD (power delivery) with up to 100W passthrough. Allowing it to charge laptops or other devices plugged into it. There is an audio TRRS port that can be used to send or receive audio (line-in, mic, headphones, headset, or stereo speaker solution) and a gigabit Ethernet port for network connectivity. Finally, there is a button located at the very top that is used to instantly sign you out of your OS. It supports both macOS (double-press) and Windows (single-press) operating systems. Activating this will take the OS to the login screen in case you need to quickly sign out and walk away (or to protect sensitive information on your screen). That last one is a new one as you don't typically find this built into docks. It's a nice feature to have, although you can also just use the shortcuts on your keyboard (ie, Win+L, etc). MSRP is $199, although it is currently on sale for $119.99, which feels quite fitting for what it is and the fact that it isn't coming from one of the larger brands. It is currently available from Amazon.

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Western Digital (WD) has a new portable high-capacity NVMe SSD that will turn heads as it goes by. Not exactly due to the massive amount of space it has, but the size it comes in. This isn't just any normal SSD. This one is so complex, the SSD by itself, is its own server. It is a portable NAS server solution for actual servers. At least, if by portable, you expect to carry it around on wheels. It is the Ultrastar Transporter and it comes with 368TB of SSD storage inside. Overall, it takes on the size of a rack-mountable server that has a built-in handle, allowing you to pick it up and carry it around. It also comes with a case that has built-in wheels as the company knows that no one is going to once to drag it around by hand. Designed around data capture, retention, and mobility--the idea is that you can capture and transport a LOT of information from one location to another without having to wait forever to transfer all of that information over the internet. Not to mention, physical transport between locations guarantees a secure journey vs using the internet (assuming it gets there safely). It offers dual-port 200GbE ethernet ports for getting data to and from the device and to your connected servers or terminal that will (obviously) have to support the same. The company is targeting use scenarios like military, remote research, seismic exploration, and more. Of course, with something like this, WD doesn't list this with an exact price. You'll have to visit WD's website and request a quote to determine how much something like this will run you. But you can assume it will be in the many thousands. There isn't an official release date that has been announced by the company either, but it's likely at the cusp of release if not already shipping.

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Nothing is invulnerable when it comes to security, including the TV hanging on your wall. Anything that is capable of connecting to your network is prone to breach and should always be kept updated. This is exactly the case when it comes to thousands of LG smart TVs with webOS. All of which need to be updated to patch newly found vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity companies like Bitdefender are constantly on the hunt for weaknesses within products, software, and overall ecosystems. When vulnerabilities are found, these companies publish their findings, usually waiting until after the affected products have been updated in order to prevent a mad rush of people trying to take advantage of the issues reported. While also providing a public bulletin for those who need to make sure their devices are patched. In this case, Bitdefender has found that thousands of LG smart TVs with webOS suffer from 4 vulnerabilities that could potentially allow an attacker to gain as much as root access to the TVs. Allowing them to cause plenty of trouble. Thankfully, it is easy to fix the issue. All you have to do is trigger the update process of your smart TV if it hasn't already asked you to update. Make sure you have the most updated version of webOS installed and you'll be fine (in theory, and until the next vulnerability is found, which is always a possibility).

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Logitech has a new keyboard designed around gamers hitting shelves next week. It is the new PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Keyboard and it is already available to pre-order to stake your claim before they are even being shipped. The new keyboard features some of the most highly requested specs that one would expect to find within a mechanical gaming keyboard. Along with several adjustments and improvements that have been made by listening to what the company says are hundreds of professional esports gamers. One of the focuses was minimizing the overall footprint of the keyboard. No frame running around the keys taking up space, no number pad, and no rows of bonus custom keys to get in the way. Giving the user more space for their mouse and/or other accessories. Overall, Logitech refers to it as 60% of the normal keyboard footprint. Of course, it is fully customizable using Logitech's software and it makes use of GX optical switches. So every single key can be adjusted as needed, as well as the RGB LEDs running throughout. It can connect via USB (adapter) or Bluetooth and offers up to 65 hours worth of battery life before having to be recharged. You can find additional specs below. Again, it is already available for pre-order and will be shipping on or around April 16th (next week). Its MSRP is $179.99 and will be available in black, white, or pink color options (pink may not be available everywhere). Available for pre-order via the following retailers: Logitech | Amazon | Best Buy Release Date April 16th, 2024 MSRP Price* $179.99 *MSRP price is based on the time this article was published

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Microsoft is constantly looking for ways to monetize its operating system and has found yet another way of sneaking in a soft form of advertising. This time it will be within the Windows 11 start menu, where (in the near future) it will begin showing "promoted" apps. It will appear under the "recommended" section of the start menu. Allowing the company to charge others to promote their apps within that space. It will be a lot like you'd expect to find within an app store. Only built directly into one of your operating system's most commonly used features/sections. At first, it may not seem like a big deal. However, others who have had to pay for the operating system/license are complaining that they don't want to be so advertised to within something they paid for (which makes sense). If the company continued down the route of providing Windows 11 for free, it wouldn't be such a big deal. However, Microsoft has explained that it would be moving away from the strategy and back toward charging for the licenses. Unless there is a severe backlash from the community, Microsoft will continue to find ways (both subtle and large) to squeeze advertising into the operating system to maximize its revenue flow coming from Windows products. Not to mention Microsoft Office or anything else it can squeeze it into. For now, it doesn't seem to have gotten too bad and most users have come to accept various subtle ads injected throughout the operating system and other products. As long as the company doesn't completely spam users through everything they click on.

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Shure recently announced a new dynamic mic for the podcasting industry that focuses on connectivity and functionality when it comes to the various scenarios it can be worked into. It is another hybrid solution that allows users to connect it via either XLR (analog) or USB-C (digital). Allowing it to make its way into any board configuration or directly plugged into a computer (or mobile device that supports USB-C microphones). The company is promising broadcast-level sound for not just podcasting, but for anyone in studio or streaming looking for a full range experience. Taking advantage of what the company refers to as "Voice Isolation Technology" (every company has its spin on things when it comes to naming these things), the microphone offers environmental noise canceling, allowing it to focus on the voice of the person in front of it while isolating everything else out. It also features several tricks built into its DSP, including "Auto Level Mode," and "Digital Popper Stopper" for implosives (I love their name choice for that last one), and others. Of course, these are accessible via the app (MOTIV Mix Desktop app) when connected using USB (via XLR, you are left to your own devices). There is a multi-colored (full RGB) LED touch panel for the input level that also functions as a mute when you simply tap it. Because everything needs RGB now, especially when it comes to streamers. It is available in both black and white variations for an MSRP of $279 (although the white one comes later this summer for whatever reasons). It is available via select retailers, such as Amazon, Best Buy, and more. Specifications: Polar Pattern: Cardioid Output(s): 3.5mm audio, XLR, USB Type C Microphone Type: Dynamic Minimum Frequency Response: 50 hertz Maximum Frequency Response: 16 kilohertz Product Height: 4.34 inches Product Length: 12.3 inches Product Width: 4.93 inches Product Weight: 2.3 pounds

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When we pick up our phones to call someone, the call can be made to anyone regardless of what type of phone you (or they) have. The same thing can apply to normal text messages. This is because these means of communication are a universal standard that is shared between devices and operating systems. A phone call is a phone call and a (SMS) text message is a text message. So why couldn't the same apply to video conferencing? This is a question being asked by Senator Ron Wyden in Oregon. The Senator proposed a bill (Secure and Interoperable Government Collaboration Technology Act) that would do just that, with the idea that any app or solution that our federal government makes use of, should be able to communicate between platforms regardless of who made what. Not only should they offer a more universal compatibility between apps, but there should be strict end-to-end encryption as well for obvious security purposes. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would be tasked with creating the required standards for these apps. It's a fascinating idea that could allow all users to benefit from it as long as it is an application available to the general public (ie, Teams, Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, etc). This isn't just limited to video conferencing applications, but also to various applications used for communication such as messaging platforms. Something like this might not be as easy for certain solutions such are shared document services. Proprietary security and techniques implemented by each company could get in the way. Forcing companies to completely rebuild from the ground up or sacrifice their own strict innovations in order to comply with what is considered to be "standard". Then again, it does get a little chaotic when you spend a lot of time conferencing with others online but everyone has their own service they prefer to make use of. For example, any machine in our office here that is used for conferencing online with others, has just about every application you can think of installed so that they are covered, regardless of what the other party prefers to use .

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NASA continues to look forward to the future of Moon exploration as part of its Artemis campaign. Future Artemis missions will place astronauts on the moon where they will explore the lunar surface. In doing so, they will need wheels to get them from point to point and these companies are set to design exactly that. The agency has selected three companies that will be tasked with designing a lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) that will serve as the main transport of people, gear, samples, or anything else that needs transport. These three companies include Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab. You can see one of the concept designs from Lunar Outpost in the above header image. The companies have all been submitting conceptual images of what they believe could be the next chosen vehicle. Some of them look like typical dune buggies while other look like something out of a modern Lost in Space. NASA will not be designing its own vehicle and will rely on these companies where it will acquire them from as a service. So these companies will begin the next phase of research and development to bring NASA's strict needs and requirements into fruition. Requirements that span multiple categories, including safety, power management, autonomous capabilities, communications, and more. The winning contractor will see its design on the Moon someday. When NASA is not making use of the vehicle during missions, the winning company will also be able to take advantage of the vehicles for unrelated commercial activities year round.

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It has always been easy to find an affordable way of registering a new domain name and renewing it over the years. However, there are always companies out there that are looking to charge much more for the same service. So knowing how to do your own research is vital in making the right choice and not just using the first website you come across. Thanks to various acquisitions that have been taking place, the more affordable options have been slowly vanishing. For example, Web.com just bought MyDomain. As part of its consumption of MyDomain accounts to its own system, it immediatly increased everyone's costs from MyDomain's pricing to its own. In some cases, doubling the cost of everyone's domain costs overnight ($19.99/year average suddenly turned into $37.99). Making for a huge increase out of nowhere and a questionable move between two companies that usually send emails to customers saying "nothing will change on your end" and "you'll enjoy the same great services". So what do you do if you are a part of one of these acquisitions and don't like these sudden price changes? You start shopping around all over again and consider making a move to a new registrar. You are able to transfer your domain to ano registrar you want and the process isn't too painful. Typically, you have to "unlock" your domain (locking it prevents it from transfer) and request an authorization code for transfer. Register an account with the new company/website and look for the option to transfer a domain into that account. It will ask for that code and you would provide it. This will trigger the transfer process. Sometimes the new registrar you choose will have a support team that can help with the process. If you feel like you are suddenly spending too much for your domain name, you likely are. It shouldn't cost that much to register a domain name. So it would be wise to look for alternatives like Namecheap or GoDaddy that can allow you to continue on without breaking the bank. Especially, if you own a handful of domain names. Thankfully, there still are options out there to take advantage of.

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Roku really is trying everything it can to push the limits to see how far customers will allow it to push limits on them, take things away, or invade them with ads. The last option is something that seems to be a new one coming from the company when it comes to the video games you play. Consider you are in the middle of your favorite game and you get a phone call. As long as the game can pause, you typically do so and answer the phone. Now imagine as it is paused, pop-up ads start to play out on the screen. These ads are coming from your game, or the console you are playing it on. Instead, they are coming from the TV you have everything connected to. This is exactly what Roku is hoping to do with its smart TVs. Not only that, but it would apply to anything plugged into the HDMI. As long as it goes idle (or whatever Roku defines as idle), it could display ads of their choice on the screen thinking you have paused or walked away. So video games, streaming devices, and more. The company has filed a patent, clearly in hopes of possibly integrating this into future models or even current ones if it is possible to do over a simple firmware/software update. Of course, it may not go so well with users. Not only that, but it could take away from ad space from the other connected devices. This could potentially create a battle between Roku and other companies. It will be interesting to see how the general public and other companies respond to this. It's a clever idea but also a bold one as no party other than Roku will benefit from it. Personally, if I was inundated with ads every time I passed my game, I may be tempted to look for a new TV. What about devices that I pay monthly for ad-free service? Also, if I were a company that depended on advertisements for profit and Roku displayed theirs over them, I would respond badly as well (and likely with a legal team). What do you think? Should your TV advertise to you every time you pause your game or movie? Feel free to use the comments below to share your own thoughts on the matter.

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It is never a pleasure to talk about there being (yet) another entity that has suffered through a major data breach. But there is an additional amount of weight that comes with it being a cancer research center. Showing how long some of these groups can be when it comes to selecting targets. In this case, it was the City of Hope (cancer research center). The company reported that "on or about October 13, 2023" it had detected suspicious activity on its network leading to it having to take action and bring in law enforcement for assistance. Attackers had accessed sensitive information and obtained copies of related files. Leading to over 800,000 records (assumedly all patients) being leaked in the incident. City of Hope stated in a letter that the information involved in this breach may have included "contact information (e.g., email address, phone number), date of birth, social security number, driver’s license or other government identification, financial details (e.g., bank account number and/or credit card details), health insurance information, medical records and information about medical history and/or associated conditions, and/or unique identifiers to associate individuals with City of Hope (e.g., medical record number)." Hence this might have been another noticeable blow to the medical industry by hackers. Which affects hundreds of thousands of individuals who have suffered enough as it is. Now they will have to worry themselves with whatever data may have been leaked and take action on their end to help minimize any potential damages. Those affected will be given access to identity monitoring services for two years at no cost, which is a default maneuver by companies in these situations.