The HoverBar Duo is a sturdy, jointed stand, a kind of robot-arm that holds almost any iPad or iPhone. Its spring jaw is strong, and the base is reassuringly heavy. It’s not as simple to use as some iPad stands, but that’s its nature—a little complexity brings a lot of flexibility. How Much? If you prefer a cheaper stand, then get something simpler. I’ve used the AboveTech/Viozon iPad Pro stand for years....

As the streaming war wages on heading into the new year, Discovery Plus made its debut on Jan. 4 offering a new home for a variety of shows that focus on real life. Programs from networks like HGTV, The Food Network, TLC, Animal Planet, and A&E can all be found on the new platform. With Disney Plus, Hulu, Netflix, and HBO Max already established, Discovery Plus will need to offer viewers something new and different....

Sometimes, Apple’s own case design is so bad that someone has to come along and show them how it’s done. But however absurd or smart the case, it’s a dash to get it designed and in stores, because usually the case makers are just as in the dark about Apple’s plans as we are. “Yes, we are always scrambling to be the ‘first’ to get Apple products, just like everyone else,” Gary Waterfield, owner of San Francisco-based case and bag company WaterField Designs, told Lifewire via email....

If you are thinking about using a battery saver and performance booster app to solve this problem, it may not work. So what can you do? How Facebook Uses Your CPU and Battery The battery drain and performance penalty occur while using the apps and when the apps are idle and supposed to be dormant. Facebook acknowledged this problem and partly fixed it. However, the solution doesn’t seem to be satisfactory....

Speaker Power Handling Specs Speaker power handling specifications are usually meaningless. Typically, you just see a “maximum power” rating with no explanation as to how the spec was derived. Is it the maximum continuous level? Average level? Peak level? And for how long does it sustain, and with what type of material? These are also important questions. Different authorities released several, conflicting standards for measuring speaker power handling, published by the Audio Engineering Society, the Electronics Industries Association, and the International Electrotechnical Commission....

A new lens technology could mean brighter photos and better zooming, all while taking up less space. Scope Photonics is working on lossless zoom that it says could make images sharp no matter how much you zoom in. It’s one of a growing number of tweaks to digital cameras. “I would like to see advancements made in digital cameras and photography to either better implement manual control that works well with digital film production or to program better tools for things like focus,” Rex Freiberger, the CEO of Gadget Review, in an email interview....

If you’ve tried to buy collectibles or new technology from an Internet retailer in the last year, you’ve seen the bots in action. Run by scalpers, they can scoop up a store’s entire inventory of new tech or collectibles in seconds. Bots have been an issue in any field with short supply but high demand for years, according to Peter Klimek, director of technology at the cyber-security company Imperva. “The most prominent examples are the sneaker bots, which were going after exclusive Nike sneakers,” Klimek said in a Zoom interview with Lifewire....

Snapchat launched its latest venture, a TikTok copycat called Spotlight, in the hope of increasing its share of entertainment-based content. The new feature will allow users to submit Snaps to be shared with the company’s 249 million daily users (though, as of Dec. 3, it had rolled out in only 11 countries). These Snaps will include custom content much like TikTok and Instagram Reels, complete with sounds, silly dances and shareable memes....

What Is the Point of Steam Trading Cards? Steam Trading Cards have two main purposes. You can sell them for Steam Wallet cash, which you can then use to buy various in-game items on the Steam Community Marketplace and games on the regular Steam Store. If you obtain a full set of cards for any given game, you can receive additional rewards. How to Get Steam Trading Cards There are a few ways to get Steam Cards, but the only way to obtain them for free is by playing games on Steam....

How to Charge Your Nintendo Switch and Joy-Cons in Console Mode Charging the Nintendo Switch in console mode is easy, though the Joy-Cons can be a challenge. Here’s how to charge the Switch and its controllers and check battery life. When the Switch Console is Connected to the Dock, it’s Charging The best way to ensure that it is properly charging is to verify that you can see the Switch’s display on the TV, so if you are docking after playing in portable mode, double-check that it shows up on the TV before leaving the room....

How to Set Up Digital Wellbeing on Android Android’s Digital Wellbeing feature tracks your daily screen time, notifications, and phone unlocks. The Digital Wellbeing feature is accessible through your device’s settings. You need to enable it as it’s not on by default. Here’s how to set it up. Keep Your Screen Time in Check The Digital Wellbeing app has two types of tools to help you reduce screen time and distractions: Ways to disconnect and Reduce interruptions....

Decide What Type of Cable to Use While the Xbox 360 S and the original Xbox 360 can use either A/V cables or HDMI to connect to a TV, the Xbox 360 E relies on composite A/V cables or HDMI. Check to see what your TV or monitor supports to determine which cable you need. If you want to connect an Xbox 360 to an older TV that doesn’t have an HDMI port, use the Xbox 360 VGA HD AV cable....

Connect Two Computers Directly With a Cable The conventional way to network two computers involves making a dedicated link by plugging one cable into the two systems. You may need an Ethernet crossover cable, a null modem serial cable or parallel peripheral cable, or special-purpose USB cables. Ethernet Connections The Ethernet method is the preferred choice because it supports a reliable, high-speed connection with minimal configuration required. Also, Ethernet technology offers the most general-purpose solution, allowing networks with more than two computers to be built later....

How to Connect Your Phone to Your TV With USB If you’ve ever hooked up a game console or streaming box to your TV, connecting your phone as a signal source for your TV should feel familar. Before you do anything, read your TV’s manual, if you have it. It should have a lot of useful information about the port, its location, and how to use it. Here’s how to connect a phone to your TV with a USB cable....

How to Create a Professional Facebook Page Facebook is well known for helping users find old friends, play games, and connect with people. Facebook Pages offer ways to leverage the site’s networking potential. To create a business page, you must have a personal Facebook profile. Still, your Facebook Page will be distinct from your personal page and can be managed independently. Here’s how it works: Add a Profile Picture One of the first things you’ll want to do after creating your page is to add a profile and cover photo....

How to Create a Bootable Windows 10 USB If you want a copy of Windows 10 on a USB flash drive that you can plug into any compatible computer, boot it up, and bypass the natively installed operating system, you’ll need the following: An internet connection Windows 10 PC USB flash drive The Windows Media Creation Tool A tool that allows you to burn ISO files to USB. For the purposes of this tutorial, we’ll use Rufus to create a bootable Windows 10 USB....

Choose a Universal Ringtone for Calls The first method for selecting a custom ringtone will set the track or tune for the entire system. What this means is that it’s the ringtone you will hear anytime someone calls, whether stranger or friend. The exception is if you designate a ringtone for a specific contact, then that tone plays instead. To set a universal ringtone, do the following: Choose a Universal Notification Sound Similar to choosing a universal ringtone for calls, you can set a system-wide tone for notifications and alerts....

Tap the Trash Can in Apple Mail The easiest and most familiar way to delete a single message on the iPad is to select the email and tap the Trash can. This deletes the mail message you currently have open in the Mail app. The Trash can icon is located in the upper-right corner of the Mail screen. This method deletes the email without confirmation. It goes to the Trash folder, where it can be retrieved if you make a mistake....

How to Dispose of a Laptop Battery You shouldn’t toss an old laptop battery in the garbage. Recycling a laptop battery can seem a hassle, but it’s vital. A laptop battery can become a fire hazard if stored on a shelf and forgotten, and it becomes an environmental hazard if not disposed of properly. Fortunately, disposing of a laptop battery is simple once you’ve found a nearby recycling center. What If My Laptop Battery Is Damaged?...

Why Encrypt Files When files are encrypted, they’re scrambled to the point that they’re unusable unless they can be decrypted, which is usually only possible with specific software and knowledge of the password used for encryption. Encrypt the Whole Hard Drive Your operating system does not encrypt your files automatically unless you’ve turned on disk encryption options like Bitlocker (Windows) or FileVault (Mac). File storage encryption is usually turned off by default....