Author: sparta

Steam Deck Offered at a 20% Reduction for a Short Period

extend your Steam Deck’s battery.

The ongoing promotion running until October 6 offers a 20% discount on the $399 price. This allows you to get a Steam Deck for just $319.20. Although the OLED variants of the Steam Deck are not currently on sale, the base LCD Steam Deck remains an excellent option for newcomers to the handheld PC gaming scene. It’s a difficult opportunity to overlook considering that the current lineup of Steam Deck rivals begins at around $600 and higher.

One of the top methods to game while traveling

Banned Actions on the International Space Station

Being on the International Space Station (ISS) might appear to be the pinnacle of a SciFi escapade. Envision drifting through the compartments, looking down on Earth from 400 kilometers in the sky, and performing experiments in the void of space. Yet, beneath the breathtaking scenery and advanced technology lies a drastically different situation. The ISS represents a delicate ecosystem, a habitat meticulously designed to support human existence in one of the most unforgiving settings conceivable.

Consequently, astronauts are required to adhere to a comprehensive set of guidelines that dictate every facet of their everyday routines. These regulations are not merely about maintaining military order; they are essential for survival. In microgravity, even the slightest error can escalate into a major risk. It could jeopardize the health of the crew and the gear, or it could jeopardize the mission’s success. Thus, certain actions that are entirely normal on Earth are strictly prohibited in space.

Rather than rendering space experience mundane, these limitations emphasize just how extraordinary existence on the ISS truly is. They serve as a reminder that every meal, every action, and every test must be meticulously planned when you are residing in a station orbiting Earth at 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph).

Consuming alcohol

Samsung’s Forthcoming Update Could Include a Well-Liked Pixel Phone Feature

Android Authority reports that Samsung’s One UI 8.5 code contains elements that indicate the company is developing its own call screening feature. This functionality is technically present in One UI 8, which Samsung has begun to deploy more extensively; however, it necessitates manual activation for each incoming call.

In contrast, Google’s version automatically activates for any presumed spam calls, spoofed numbers, or callers not saved to your contacts. According to the code discovered by Android Authority, it seems Samsung’s implementation will function in a similar manner, allowing an AI assistant to intervene and answer the call to identify the caller on the other end. Samsung might even provide an option for users to enable a specific mode that engages the AI assistant to answer all calls while Do Not Disturb is switched on.

A more significant update than One UI 8?

In addition to the new call screening capabilities, the One UI 8.5 leak seems to imply that this update will be even more extensive than the original One UI 8 release. Images shared by SammyGuru suggest that Samsung is adopting a more iPhone-like style in its design. More precisely, the company seems to have drawn inspiration from iOS 26 — whether this will be beneficial is yet to be determined, especially since there are ongoing discussions about how iOS 26 impacts battery performance on iPhones.

Of course, all this remains conjecture based on images purportedly depicting a Galaxy S24 operating on One UI 8.5. Until Samsung begins to demonstrate the new operating system,

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“The Boys Star’s 2023 Horror Movie Rises in Popularity on Netflix Streaming Rankings”

“Cobweb,” the 2023 horror flick featuring “The Boys'” Antony Starr alongside Lizzy Caplan, and helmed by Samuel Bodin. Most Netflix viewers likely didn’t realize this film, centered on a tormented young boy, was even available, considering its limited rollout in the U.S. (the tepid ratings from critics, reflected in the movie’s 59% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, certainly didn’t aid its visibility). However, here we find ourselves two years later with “Cobweb” unexpectedly climbing into Netflix’s U.S. Top 10 — showcasing that kind of revitalization the streaming powerhouse frequently offers to neglected or underestimated films, contributing to the chart’s… intrigue. To put it mildly.

Cobweb hits the Netflix Top 10

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Forthcoming Gemini Enhancements Might Allow AI to Identify Ideal Moments for Checking Your Phone Display

Gemini Live, the name of this capability, has been steadily progressing since Google introduced it in August 2024. Presently, a fresh analysis of the code within the Google app indicates that the company may be aiming to provide Gemini with even greater access to your phone screen — obviously with your consent.

This new insight comes from Android Authority, which has recently conducted an APK teardown of the Google app. The analysis reveals that Google has implemented modifications that could hint at an alternative configuration for Gemini’s “Ask about screen” feature, which also supports Circle to Search.

At the moment, in order to inquire Gemini about something visible on your screen, you must call up the Gemini overlay and engage Gemini using either a voice command or a button. Following that, you have to select the “Ask about screen” option. However, with the suggested alternative configuration, it appears that Google may provide the functionality for Gemini to recognize when you are inquiring about your screen, allowing it to automatically retrieve the relevant context.

Easier access to your screen

Significant Enhancement to iPhone Mirroring on Mac in macOS Tahoe

**iPhone Mirroring in macOS Tahoe: Improved with Live Activities Support**

iPhone Mirroring, a functionality introduced on the Mac last year, has undergone substantial improvements in macOS Tahoe, especially with the launch of Live Activities support. This feature showcases Apple’s dedication to unifying its hardware ecosystem through flawless Continuity features.

**Live Activities Integration**

Following the update in macOS Tahoe, users can now view Live Activities from their iPhone straight on their Mac. This integration is intended to be automatic and user-friendly. Live Activities will show up in the Mac’s menu bar, enabling users to track real-time updates without having to switch devices.

Depending on the space available in the menu bar, users will either notice a small Live Activity icon or a streamlined view of the Live Activity itself. Clicking this icon expands the view to reveal complete details, mirroring the iPhone experience.

**Interactivity with Live Activities**

Beyond simply observing Live Activities, users can engage with them directly from their Mac. A double-click on the Live Activity will launch the relevant app on the iPhone, effectively mimicking the tap function found on the iPhone’s interface. This feature boosts the usability of iPhone Mirroring, making it a more essential component of the Mac experience.

**Continuity Features and Ecosystem Integration**

The incorporation of Live Activities into iPhone Mirroring highlights Apple’s continuous efforts to enhance the synergy between its devices. By refining Continuity features, Apple ensures that users can transition effortlessly between their iPhone and Mac, optimizing multitasking efficiency.

For those keen on managing Live Activities settings for iPhone Mirroring, Apple offers an extensive support document. Moreover, updates on additional enhancements to Live Activities can be accessed through various tech news sources.

In summary, the advancements in iPhone Mirroring in macOS Tahoe, particularly with Live Activities support, mark a significant progression in how Apple devices interact with each other, strengthening the company’s emphasis on a unified user experience.

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The Advantages of Craft: The Productivity Application Apple Aficionados Have Been Looking Forward To

# Craft: The Ultimate Productivity Tool for Apple Users

If you cherish your Apple devices, you anticipate that your applications will have the same level of refinement. The reality? Many productivity tools still fall short. Some are robust but cumbersome, while others appear sleek but lack functionality. Craft fills this void with its innovative Liquid Glass update, enhancing usability across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Each interaction feels swift, fluid, and organic — as though the app was specifically tailored for the hardware it operates on.

## Designed for Apple. Updated for Liquid Glass on Day 1.

Craft isn’t merely functional on Apple platforms; it exudes the feeling of being crafted specifically for them. Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, every version of Craft is fine-tuned to harness the unique capabilities of the device in your hand. The seamless experience is deliberate, evident in how cohesive and fluid it feels across your Apple ecosystem.

With the new Liquid Glass design update, Craft unveils a lighter, more streamlined visual language that imparts a contemporary, premium aesthetic to every platform:

– **On iPhone:** Streamlined navigation and quick actions allow for capturing ideas and organizing your day with just a tap.
– **On iPad:** Touch gestures, Apple Pencil support, and a larger workspace provide an immersive, distraction-free environment for writing and organizing.
– **On Mac:** A focus on keyboard use and high performance creates a natural and seamless experience for intensive tasks and long-form writing.

The Liquid Glass design is operational across all platforms, ensuring a consistent, sophisticated interface wherever you work. Regardless of the device, the experience feels integrated — and distinctly Apple.

## Offline, On-Device AI

In contrast to most AI tools, Craft’s assistant operates offline, directly on your device — powered by Apple’s Foundation Models. This allows you to write, summarize, rephrase, and translate without needing to send your content to the cloud. It’s swift, secure, and perpetually accessible — even when flying or in areas without signal.

You can opt for either Apple’s on-device models or cloud-based alternatives based on your preferences. Regardless, Craft allows you to maintain complete control over your content — a rarity in today’s productivity environment. This is AI that honors your privacy and workflow.

## A True Alternative to Apple Notes and Notion

If Apple Notes feels restrictive and Notion overly intricate, Craft occupies the perfect middle ground. It’s quick, organized, and refined. Craft consolidates your ideas, plans, and tasks into one cohesive system:

– **Notes that evolve into structured documents**
– **Tasks embedded within your writing**
– **Collections to arrange multi-step projects or research**
– **Tags for organized simplicity without the clutter**

Everything interconnects. You can brainstorm, plan, write, and arrange — all without toggling between apps or windows. The team introduced tags over the summer, and the September updates made them quicker to navigate and simpler to implement as you compose. Once tagging becomes second nature, you focus less on categorization and effortlessly find what you need.

## Collections: Powerful, Structured Documents

Craft’s Collections simplify the organization of complex projects — from project briefs and editorial schedules to event organization and research databases. The latest update introduces new field types such as percentages, currency, email, and phone, allowing you to customize each Collection for the specific task at hand. These are not merely documents; they are intelligent, structured environments that adapt to your workflow.

## Tasks: Integrated Directly into Your Writing

Craft’s Tasks are situated directly within your notes, ensuring your to-dos remain connected to their relevant context. With the new Tasks tab, the team has added useful filters that reflect how individuals plan their week: Inbox for quick notes, Today for immediate actions, Upcoming for a preview, and All Tasks for overall visibility. Combined with Collections and tags, you can handle ideas and execution in one location — eliminating the need to switch between a task manager and your notes app.

## Craft on iPad Demonstrates What Modern Software Should Feel Like

The most striking aspect of Craft’s Liquid Glass update is how naturally it integrates with the iPad. Craft’s update exemplifies what a contemporary iPad app can accomplish. It utilizes the tablet as the primary workspace and employs the platform’s latest design system judiciously. It introduces private, offline intelligence to writing and planning, while also connecting notes, tasks, tags, and structured Collections into a workflow that spans from academic use to professional settings. If you’ve been seeking software that transforms the iPad into a premier productivity tool, Craft’s Liquid Glass update deserves a prominent place on your iPad.

## Get Started with Craft

Download Craft on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Begin a new document, jot down a few ideas, convert one into a task, and include a couple of tags. Observe how effortlessly it all falls into place. As the project expands, transition it into a Collection and select fields that align with your workflow. Need a summary or translation?

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Apple Wallet Will Soon Allow US Passports on iPhone

# Apple Wallet Set to Include US Passports by Year-End

The Wallet application from Apple has recently been updated with numerous new functionalities alongside the launch of iOS 26, but an intriguing enhancement is forthcoming: the incorporation of US passports. This capability is anticipated to be available by the close of the year, greatly improving the app’s utility for iPhone users.

## Digital IDs in Wallet

The Wallet app has offered digital IDs for a while now, yet their access has been somewhat restricted. At present, only 11 states and territories in the US provide digital IDs, like state driver’s licenses, due to the necessity for state collaboration with Apple. The impending inclusion of US passports will expand the range of digital identification accessible to users, facilitating wider use among a broader audience.

## Expected Release Timeline

The latest update on Apple’s website reveals that US passport support is set to be launched later this year. The potential timeline indicates that this feature may be part of the forthcoming iOS 26.1 update, anticipated in late October, or possibly in iOS 26.2, which could debut in early to mid-December. There is also a chance that Apple might activate this feature via a server-side update, negating the requirement for a new software rollout.

## Conclusion

With the upcoming integration of US passport support, iPhone users will shortly have the capability to digitally store their passports within the Wallet app, simplifying travel and identification tasks. As this feature draws near, users are urged to reflect on how it could enhance their interaction with digital identification.

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Distinctions Between Thunderbolt and USB-C Displays

high-end displays for their computers, whether it’s to enhance their gaming sessions, optimize their creative endeavors, or simply relish the advantages of a bigger, crisper screen. However, maximizing a 4K or OLED monitor is more than just owning it; it involves how that monitor interfaces with your setup initially. Even the finest display can fall short if the connection doesn’t support the resolution. This is why the majority of users opt for HDMI or USB-C to DisplayPort connections, both of which provide the necessary bandwidth to unleash a monitor’s complete capabilities.

USB-C, in particular, has gained significant traction due to its multifunctionality. Depending on your configuration, with a keyboard, mouse, or several external drives already occupying ports, cable management can swiftly turn chaotic. USB-C addresses that issue by offering a two-way connection. It can not only carry video to your display but, in many instances, can also deliver power back to your laptop, conserving both outlet space and reducing hassle.

Thunderbolt has surfaced as another competitor in the connectivity domain. Although it appears almost identical to USB-C, its performance features distinguish it. Some manufacturers have started producing monitors specifically tailored for Thunderbolt, and comprehending the distinctions between these two crucial connections is essential in determining if a transition is worthwhile. 

Thunderbolt vs USB-C: All you should know before connecting

How Gemini Revamped a Difficult Apartment Layout Following a Year of Struggles

I regret not reaching out to AI for my interior design requirements sooner.

Artificial intelligence excels in certain areas while lacking in others. Identifying how AI can enhance your workflows or elevate your everyday experiences can be challenging, particularly without sacrificing quality.

I’ve discovered that AI chatbots such as Gemini or ChatGPT are fantastic at assisting with specific queries that require tailored context. Earlier this year, Gemini aided me in caring for my plants; I could have resorted to a search engine for suggestions, but none would have considered the actual appearance of the plants.

For those lacking a green thumb, I found another application for mobile AI while wrestling with a design layout for my apartment. After a year of rearranging items, acquiring new furniture, and perusing ineffective online articles, I finally grabbed my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in a moment of exasperation and sought Gemini’s assistance. My expectations were low, but I was amazed by the ideas that Google AI generated.

Here’s how I leveraged AI to tackle a complex interior design challenge, and how you can utilize it for your own issues as well.

Providing Gemini with the right foundation

The challenge with my apartment is straightforward: it’s quite spacious, yet it has only one window in the living room, kitchen, and dining area. This window is a sliding glass door, flanked by walls with double doors, which restricts furniture arrangement. With just one source of natural light, an improper layout could make this elongated and somewhat narrow living area feel dim and uninspired — that’s why I needed AI’s guidance.

AI operates poorly without clear direction, and excels when it receives sufficient context and detailed prompts. Rather than offering Gemini a vague, generic request, I located the precise floor plan for my space to provide context and outlined my objectives clearly. The prompt doesn’t have to be lengthy, but it should be thoughtful and specific.

In this instance, after sharing the floor plan, I asked Gemini how to arrange the living room to maximize sunlight.

Gemini’s customized and precise assistance

Gemini promptly provided general advice, such as avoiding blockages of the light source, utilizing reflective surfaces, and opting for light colors. These tips were helpful, but giving Gemini insight into the floor plan yielded personalized results. The chatbot recognized that “the living room is a central, elongated space with a significant window at the far end.”

It may seem simple, but Gemini’s basic understanding of the layout gave it a significant edge over search engines or interior design sites. For instance, one website I checked suggested renovating the room to alter the positions of windows and doors, which was absurdly impractical for a renter.

Gemini offered three in-depth recommendations, and I chose the “open flow” arrangement. This entails floating a sofa in the center, facing the glass door, fostering an open concept in the room. To avoid chaotically moving items around, I asked Gemini to create examples of what this would look like in my space — something I couldn’t have accomplished without AI.

Another fantastic aspect of using AI for problem-solving and brainstorming is the ability to ask additional questions along the way. If you have specific requirements, such as a TV placement, Gemini can consider that and only suggest solutions that fit this need.

AI also presented ideas and solutions that hadn’t even occurred to me — like placing mirrors around the room to mimic extra windows and enhance natural light in the area. After a ten-minute exchange with AI, I had an interior design plan that resulted in the following:

If you ask me, it’s a quite bright and open space, which is the atmosphere I’ve genuinely spent a year trying to cultivate — and something I was able to realize solely with Gemini. This was accomplished using the standard Gemini chatbot, and you could receive even more personalized support by utilizing Gemini Live’s multimodal live video feature.

How you can use Gemini to address life’s challenges

You can leverage Gemini to resolve issues in your daily routine by concentrating on three aspects: context, prompting, and refinement.

Context is the essential starting point. If you don’t supply an AI chatbot with sufficient context, it relies solely on its training material, which may lead to unhelpful outcomes. You can provide context in various ways, such as sharing AI photos or screenshots, as I did with my apartment’s floor plan. Alternatively, you can use features like Gemini Live that transmit your surroundings through your phone’s camera, offering additional context.

Next, ensure you compose a detailed prompt that accurately outlines your goals and what you require AI to accomplish. Utilize complete sentences for optimal results, but steer clear of lengthy paragraphs. Finally, remember that you can refine your prompts throughout the process and guide the AI chatbot accordingly.

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