AllYouCanTech

most individuals are likely utilizing them incorrectly.

The concept behind a cooling pad is to direct cool air towards the laptop to lower its temperature and thereby enhance performance. However, practical tests indicate there’s only a slight enhancement in performance in the majority of cases — certainly not sufficient to accelerate the loading of the entire third act of “Baldur’s Gate 3.” At best, the cooling pad will help cool the laptop to avert overheating, but that is not guaranteed.

That being said, cooling pads may prove beneficial in certain scenarios. Although they might not significantly impact performance, they can be advantageous for older models and specific gaming laptops.

The Chromebook made its debut to the public in 2011, with the initial commercial models revealed on May 11 and reaching consumers by June 15, 2011. Over the last fifteen years, they have been a fundamental part of the ultrabook market, although some contend they never excelled beyond budget Windows or macOS laptop alternatives.

Built on ChromeOS, a web-centric framework designed for fast boot times, user-friendliness, and budget-friendly hardware, Chromebooks gained popularity alongside cloud technology, storing user information online rather than locally. This allowed for a more lightweight device with diminished dependence on internal storage.

This segment concluded on May 12, 2026, with Google’s launch of the Googlebook — a new series of devices that the search engine titan claims are grounded in the design ethos that “intelligence is the new spec.” In practical application, this translates to a heightened emphasis on AI, which seems to be deeply integrated into the new hardware (timely, as the company recently uncovered hackers utilizing AI to develop a zero-day exploit). There’s also a greater emphasis on seamless integration with Android devices, which means introducing smartphone-like functionalities to your laptop.

Gemini is the new ChromeOS

The incorporation of what Google refers to as Gemini Intelligence into laptops appears to mirror Microsoft’s extensive endeavors to embed Copilot into various aspects of consumer computing in recent years (a strategy they have recently started to retract). The most notable way AI is manifested is through the cursor. Googlebooks will enable users to shake the cursor to activate the new “Magic Pointer,” which provides contextual Gemini integrations for almost anything displayed on the laptop screen. The examples offered by the company in the announcement include clicking a date in an email to arrange a meeting or selecting two pictures to merge them.

Google also highlighted the launch of a feature named Create your Widget. The concept is to consolidate the utility of multiple programs or applications into one accessible by clicking a single desktop widget. Google recommends creating a widget for an upcoming trip, allowing users to quickly visualize itineraries, view airline, hotel, and restaurant bookings, and set reminders all through a single interface.

Blurring the lines between your phone and laptop

Googlebooks focus on encouraging your phone and laptop to integrate more closely, so you don’t need to disrupt your work to access apps and features on your phone. The Googlebook interface will enable you to swiftly access files and applications on your phone from your laptop’s taskbar, eliminating the need to reach for a second device.

Interestingly, the examples Google provides for this tighter integration with Android are primarily actions you can already perform through a browser or existing applications. For instance, the company suggests diving into a Duolingo lesson, but Duolingo is already available via browser, with no need for a smartphone. The announcement also mentions ordering food without grabbing your phone, yet virtually every delivery service, and many restaurants, already permit ordering via a website. There’s also a note about swiftly accessing files on your phone, which is doable on any Windows PC via the built-in Phone Link feature.

Whether Googlebooks signify more of an evolution or a revolution remains uncertain, but we shouldn’t have to wait too long for an answer. The company states it is collaborating with laptop manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, with an announcement regarding availability expected this fall. Should you choose to upgrade, we have some suggestions for innovative ways to utilize an outdated Chromebook.

banned consumer-grade routers manufactured in overseas nations by various brands. Some companies were not impacted. For instance, Netgear obtained an exemption from the FCC, and although newly imported routers are not included, TP-Link routers remain deemed safe for use — and will continue to receive software updates for a period. Sadly, most foreign routers were assigned an expiration date.

What complicates the situation is that previously sanctioned versions of products can still be imported and sold, including drones made abroad. The FCC has just revealed it’s retracting some of its suggested guidelines, extending the timeframe that permits products sold in the U.S. to obtain essential updates. The waivers will now end at the close of 2028, and are applicable until January 1, 2029. This pertains to both foreign-made consumer routers and Chinese drones.

The drawback, of course, is that you still cannot purchase newly imported devices that were prohibited as part of the initial alteration. You will only be able to update and keep using devices that might have been previously disabled due to their initially intended expiration on March 1, 2027.