Remove Unsightly Power Strips with This Chic Substitute

A tidy workspace is crucial for productivity, which entails clearing most of the clutter from the vicinity of your desk, including all the various power cords in use. If you have several monitors, chargers, gadgets, and other devices lying around, you likely have numerous wires. Concealing them can be challenging unless your desk is equipped with a built-in cable management system, but even then, surge protectors and power strips tend to create chaos. Everything must connect to those strips, often resulting in an unattractive jumble of cords. Enter the D-Line Cable Management Box, a remarkably simple, clever, and convenient method for hiding some of those wires from sight.

The box hides cables connected to a power strip and is available in two sizes, small and large. The larger box can fit power strips up to 14 inches long and two inches wide, or dual power strips measuring up to 10 inches long and five inches wide. This accommodates anything plugged into those strips, with clever openings in the box for the wires to pass through. The box also comes in three styles: all-black, all-white, and a variant with white and wood accents. Moreover, the large box is priced at $29.99, and the smaller one is $22.99, making it a reasonably affordable solution to conceal wiring around your desk, entertainment center, or other areas of your home. You can even complement the D-Line box with some Dollar Tree hooks for organizing cables to secure all your wires, allowing you to finally bid farewell to cable clutter altogether.

What makes the sleek D-Line Cable Management Box worth considering?

Unlike an under-desk cable management tray, the D-Line Cable Management Box can remain in plain sight. It can be placed on or beneath your desk, or at the most convenient spot. The design of the box includes a ventilation system that facilitates airflow, ensuring the power strip remains cool, even when heavily utilized. The box features three rear entry and exit points—one on each side and one centrally located—to enhance organization. Everything stays hidden, unlike the basket option, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to keep wires and cables as concealed as possible.

Currently, the D-Line box boasts over 13,600 user reviews on Amazon, holding a rating of 4.5 stars. Some users describe it as “solidly constructed,” and highlight it as a “clean, safe, and intelligent cable organizer for any configuration.” Others note that the price seems a bit steep for essentially an empty plastic box. However, there is consensus that the minimalist design and user-friendliness align with what they were seeking.

While the D-Line box is ideal for concealing cables from essential tech accessories in your office, your desk isn’t the sole location where cables can accumulate. The D-Line box is suitable for use wherever you might need a solution like this, including areas by TVs, around holiday decorations, on countertops, and beyond.

Reasons Your Audio System Could Be Linked to the Wrong HDMI Port

uncertainty surrounding HDMI cables and format protocols can leave even the most dedicated tech enthusiast occasionally puzzled about the best connections to maximize their setup.

If you happen to connect your audio system to the incorrect port on your TV, you may not be fully utilizing its capabilities. Not every HDMI port on televisions functions identically. Multiple technologies, including ARC, eARC, and HDMI-CEC, collaborate to optimize the performance of a sound system. These features offer users an advantage that standard HDMI lacks — effective control.

HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI-CEC) includes enhanced features that permit users to manage connected HDMI devices. Numerous TV manufacturers utilize their own terminology for HDMI-CEC. Mitsubishi refers to it as NetCommand, LG calls it SimpleLink, Samsung designates it Anynet+, among others. Regardless of the name, you’ll want to activate it to fully benefit from your television’s HDMI ports.

HDMI-CEC offers greater control over all compatible devices

“Matrix Star Keeps Contemplating Character’s Demise”

fans regard as one of the finest TV series of the last quarter-century), leading to his on-screen demise in various forms. Nevertheless, Pantoliano still harbors some resentment towards the Wachowskis for offing Cypher.

During an October 2025 “Matrix” reunion panel at New York Comic Con (as reported by Entertainment Weekly), Pantoliano disclosed that the writer-director pair “deceived” him (intentionally) while filming the 1999 action sci-fi masterpiece. He stated, “They deceived me! They f****** deceived! I asked, ‘Hey, you can’t kill me, right? You’re not going to kill me?’ And Lilly responded, ‘Hey, Lana, he doesn’t want us to off him.’ And I overheard Lana off camera, aware that I could listen in, as she said, ‘Well, just mislead him and we’ll off him regardless.'”

After the panel’s moderator humorously tried to comfort him by suggesting that Cypher’s fate might not be “final,” the actor shot back, “Don’t even get me going, okay? They resurrected f****** Agent Smith. It’s ‘The Matrix’!” Still, Pantoliano maintains hope for his character’s potential comeback in another sequel (despite there being three sequels already).

Joe Pantoliano has faced multiple demises on the big and small screen

Complimentary Application Offers Facial Recognition Security for Your Pictures

If you are concerned that sophisticated AI-driven facial recognition technologies will enable third parties to easily pinpoint your identity through publicly available photos, you can make use of a free application called [Fawkes](https://sandlab.cs.uchicago.edu/fawkes/) to obscure your appearance. This free download was developed by researchers at the University of Chicago’s Sand Labs, with its initial version launched in August 2020. Fawkes remains accessible several years later, compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

The app was developed at a time when services such as Clearview AI posed a significant privacy threat. The facial recognition platform amassed over three billion images of individuals by extracting data from the internet and social media. As highlighted by Sand Labs, Clearview created facial recognition algorithms for millions of individuals without acquiring consent. Fawkes empowers users to blend into their surroundings by complicating the ability of facial recognition applications to match Fawkes-camouflaged images to those stored in their databases.

Fawkes debuted years prior to the advent of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, which are equipped with advanced image creation and analysis functions. The software received its last update in May 2022, just a few months ahead of ChatGPT’s surge in popularity that initiated the ongoing AI boom. By early 2026, AI image generation models are capable of producing lifelike visuals. Tools like [Google’s Nano Banana Pro](https://www.bgr.com/2032501/nano-banana-pro-viral-infographics/) can modify actual images of individuals and generate AI visuals based on uploaded photographs. [Chatbot applications such as Copilot and Gemini](https://www.bgr.com/2065020/google-gemini-vs-copilot-which-chatbot-best/) can also interpret image content. Some AI solutions are able to analyze video and real-time feeds. In this context, it might be perceived that Fawkes has become even more beneficial since its initial launch. However, it remains uncertain if the app retains its effectiveness against contemporary [AI systems that could potentially track you without visual recognition](https://www.bgr.com/tech/scary-new-ai-can-track-you-in-surveillance-videos-without-even-seeing-your-face/).

### How Fawkes operates

The video embedded above illustrates Fawkes in operation on a Windows 11 device, starting from the moment you download the application to its usage. On that note, ensure you obtain the correct app from the [Sand Labs website](https://sandlab.cs.uchicago.edu/fawkes/#code). Make sure to choose the appropriate version for your system, whether it’s Windows or macOS. The same source also provides installers for Windows, Mac, and Linux binaries, which include support for additional features.

The Windows application shown in the demonstration possesses a straightforward interface that allows you to choose a photo or selection of images you wish to obscure. Following this, you’ll initiate the protection process by clicking a button. The underlying mechanics are relatively uncomplicated. Fawkes introduces nearly invisible pixels to a photo to “poison” it, as the researchers described in their 2020 release. “Fawkes takes your personal images and implements subtle, pixel-level alterations that are undetectable to the human eye, in a method we refer to as image cloaking,” they conveyed. The aforementioned video demonstration illustrates that while these modifications are nearly unnoticeable, they can be discerned when contrasting the cloaked image with the original. The subsequent video, created by the Fawkes development team, elaborates further on the procedure of how the app cloaks images.

Once Fawkes generates the cloaked images, you can utilize them online. You can set them as profile pictures on social media platforms and share them with friends. In essence, you can handle these photos the same way you would typical images taken with your smartphone for online sharing. Nevertheless, when a facial recognition system attempts to identify you by comparing the cloaked images to any relevant images it might have been trained with, it will fail to recognize you.

### The drawbacks of using Fawkes for privacy protection

Upon the release of Fawkes by Emily Wenger and Shawn Shan, they noted that the app had been “extensively” tested, demonstrating “effectiveness in various settings and […] 100% efficacy against leading facial recognition systems (Microsoft Azure Face API, Amazon Rekognition, and Face++).” However, in early 2021, the researchers revealed instances of adversarial training targeting Fawkes in Microsoft Azure, which they swiftly remedied.

By April 2021, the application had been downloaded over 500,000 times, indicating a strong public interest in privacy preservation. A total of more than 840,000 downloads were recorded by early May 2022. The researchers have not updated this statistic since that time. Nonetheless, the app remains available for download as of early 2026.

Currently, there are two concerns regarding the use of Fawkes. Firstly, it is uncertain whether other AI companies have developed methods to bypass its cloaking techniques.

Comparison of Amazon Basics and Costco Kirkland Signature Batteries: Which One Performs Better?

In the realm of batteries, notable names like Duracell and Energizer dominate, along with a host of others. These also encompass store brands sold by retailers such as Costco and Amazon. Costco’s Kirkland label is found on an array of items ranging from toilet tissue to alcoholic beverages, including batteries. On the other hand, Amazon’s Basics range consists of multiple products, spanning from personal care to apparel and batteries.

Both Kirkland Signature and Amazon Basics batteries come at a significantly lower cost than their competitors, making them enticing options for saving money. But are they worth it, and which one stands superior? It hinges on key criteria such as dependability, uniformity, and lifespan. While Amazon Basics batteries frequently receive solid reviews overall, Kirkland Signature batteries also deliver commendable performance. Statistically, Amazon Basics batteries generally have higher ratings and often excel in direct comparisons. However, divergent findings with useful insights exist to assist you in evaluating their merits and drawbacks, alongside price-value considerations. Ultimately, though, the decision resides in performing your own practical evaluations.

Specifications compared

How to Effortlessly Incorporate Your Smart TV into the Aesthetics of Your Living Room

DIY remedies for disorganized TV cables, such as in-wall electrical kits and streamlined cord covers. Merely utilizing twist ties to bundle cords and wall-mounted hooks to align them neatly can significantly help in managing cable chaos.

After addressing the cables, it’s time to turn attention to the TV itself. Enhancing the console area around the television allows it to blend effortlessly with your living space. For those wanting to elevate the experience, consider transforming your TV into a piece of art by utilizing its screen display.

Utilize your TV console to complement the living room

How to Rapidly and Economically Upgrade Your Steam Deck

Nintendo Switch 2 hardware proposal. Nevertheless, while the Steam Deck provides decent accessibility, it does come with drawbacks, as the console was designed with limited specifications to reduce costs and offer a lower price point.

You are unable to change the Steam Deck’s GPU or CPU, but when it comes to storage, that’s a different matter, and it’s remarkably simple to address. With new AAA games consuming vast amounts of storage space, the standard 64GB version frequently struggles to accommodate even one title. Therefore, increasing your memory is not merely a bonus; it’s crucial if you want to maintain a robust library without the incessant frustration of downloading files repeatedly.

Fortunately, Steam Deck users have several options for affordable and straightforward upgrades for their devices, as Valve’s handheld PC is compatible with two types of enhancements. This allows you to select what best fits your requirements and alleviates the necessity of managing storage on your console.

Upgrading the SSD is a budget-friendly and simple enhancement

Do Public Wi-Fi Providers Possess Access to Your Internet Usage?

company Wi-Fi networks.

At present, this can fluctuate based on where you access these networks — airports and other more secure facilities may implement monitoring to enhance security for any suspicious browsing patterns that could endanger the location. Naturally, this isn’t always true, and sometimes they can even be viewed as less secure than other public Wi-Fi spots due to their higher traffic. Therefore, it’s essential to stay informed about the risks associated with airport Wi-Fi before utilizing it.

It’s also plausible that the local café nearby lacks any form of additional monitoring and that the Wi-Fi network is merely provided to offer patrons a dependable internet connection as a benefit for patronizing the establishment. Nonetheless, that does not imply that surfing on these open networks is secure.

Why open Wi-Fi networks can pose risks