Illinois Suggests Yearly $500 Charge for Electric Vehicle Owners

dependable means of transport, a growing number of drivers are shifting to EVs. One primary incentive for choosing an electric vehicle is that they are typically less expensive to operate and fuel compared to conventional gasoline vehicles. However, this could change in Illinois if a new legislation is enacted.

Recently, Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) introduced Senate Bill 3566, which seeks to modify the Illinois Vehicle Code to raise the yearly registration fee for EVs by $320. Should it be approved, this extra cost would take effect on July 1, 2027. Adding this to the $151 that EV owners currently pay each year to renew their registration, the total would amount to $471 … for the initial year. The legislation also allows for the possibility of raising the surcharge, indicating that EV owners might soon find themselves facing over $500 in annual registration fees.

Although the set $320 extra surcharge might not sit well with some drivers, it isn’t entirely compulsory. Kind of. The bill also suggests an alternative fee assessed by the new “Road Usage Charge Program,” which permits EV owners to pay 1.5 cents per mile up to a maximum of $320 instead of the yearly registration fee. However, those choosing this option must meticulously track their travel distance and report their mileage annually. Additionally, similar to the surcharge, the charges from the Road Usage Charge Program will undergo annual adjustments and increases.

Illinois would become the state with the highest electric car registration costs

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Five Creative Ways to Utilize the USB Port on Your Router

Most contemporary routers are equipped with one (or several) integrated USB ports. These are frequently ignored, given that devices like smartphones, laptops, televisions, and tablets connect wirelessly to the router. Many users typically have just a power adapter and LAN cable plugged in, and this configuration commonly operates without issues. However, with those extra USB ports, you can enhance your router’s capabilities beyond the usual Wi-Fi setup to include functions like wireless backups, wireless printing, file sharing, and more.

It’s important to note that not every router is capable of all these features. Some are restricted to basic storage sharing and device charging, while others can perform more sophisticated functions. You can easily confirm this by referring to your router’s manual or checking the router’s admin interface. If it offers options such as USB Storage, Media Server, or Print Server, your router is equipped for these capabilities, and that unused USB port can be put to a variety of innovative uses.

Print wirelessly with legacy printers

Top 4 Most Secure Smartphones Offered in the U.S.

iPhone can serve as a car key, and your Android smartphone can do the same. These devices manage everything from home lighting, entry doors, to thermostats with just a few taps. Additionally, they can function as your digital wallet, holding credit cards that enable quick payments for purchases. You can also include public transport cards, identification, and travel tickets in your wallet for speedy access, just like your credit cards. The phone is packed with a wealth of personal information, including messaging apps, photos, notes, passwords, and AI applications. Therefore, the iPhone or Android device you’re using to read this content is the most vital and personal computer in your existence. Consequently, it is essential that all that information remains safe so that attackers — whether they are thieves aiming to take your phone or hackers attempting to implant malware on your Android device – cannot reach that critical data. In the following sections, we will present the most secure smartphones currently available in the U.S. to guarantee your data is protected.

Furthermore, user privacy is an important consideration. Your phone may be safe from malware intrusions, yet the applications you utilize on the device might still monitor your actions to deliver targeted advertisements. Access to user preferences allows companies like Google to provide some of the applications you desire for free. However, this involves a trade-off that not all consumers are willing to accept, and it is a topic we will discuss further below.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Function Surpasses iPhone

the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the brand introduced several new design elements, including a glass casing that encircles the primary cameras, a shift from titanium to aluminum for the finish, and enhancements to the chipset with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 “For Galaxy,” the standout feature of this device is its innovative privacy display.

This capability has been prevalent in speculation surrounding the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and Samsung has not hesitated to promote it in recent months. However, with its actual release, the company’s privacy display has become even more compelling. After all, it’s now a tangible product. According to the brand, it can deactivate certain pixels on the screen that contribute to visibility from various angles, allowing the user to be the sole viewer in many situations. Rather than providing a separate privacy screen protector, Samsung successfully integrated this technology directly into the display.

Understanding how Samsung’s privacy display operates

Samsung explains that its displays contain two different types of pixels. One type sends light directly to the viewer’s eyes, while the other casts light for easier viewing from all perspectives. With the Privacy Display, users have the option to restrict visibility across the entire display, limit it to specific applications, or even just notifications. Through this technology, Samsung aims to transform privacy on smartphones, allowing users to comfortably access any messages, applications, or images without fearing prying eyes, whether at home, work, or on the go.

What makes this technology particularly fascinating is that it enhances, rather than diminishes, the display’s quality and does not require any additional accessories, as the functionality is incorporated within the screen itself. Given that Samsung can individually turn off each pixel, it empowers users with precise control, such as rendering only a notification blurred while keeping everything else clear.

This feature is also invaluable for thwarting criminals trying to observe your password from afar or preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information. In summary, Samsung has introduced a subtle yet significant upgrade—one of the main incentives for consumers to transition to the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Will the iPhone adopt a similar capability?

Result of the Epic Sci-Fi Crossover Clash Between Robocop and The Terminator

“The Dark Knight Returns” and “Sin City” (both of which were later made into movies). However, one thing you might not realize about Miller is that he penned the screenplays for both “Robocop 2” and “Robocop 3.”

With his deep understanding of the franchise, Miller utilized his miniseries expertise to create four crossover comics for Dark Horse titled “RoboCop Versus The Terminator,” which includes elements cut from both of his Robocop screenplays, leading to a lore-rich journey that respectfully delves into both franchises (after all, it was the 90s), and of course ends with some time travel escapades.

That’s correct: in order to thwart Skynet and avert mankind’s annihilation, Robocop had to <a href="https://www.bgr.com/science/an-ast

Best Android Tablets Below 12 Inches to Purchase in 2026

the top Android tablets with displays smaller than 12 inches. Given the vast array of possibilities as the industry expands, pinpointing the ideal Android tablet for your specific interests can still pose a challenge.

This is the reason we’ve compiled four of the top alternatives available, utilizing our knowledge in consumer technology such as tablets while factoring in a variety of criteria including user and expert feedback. The outcome is a list that caters to numerous requirements. Whether you are an avid gamer needing a high refresh rate, looking for maximum portability for work and recreation, or simply enjoy reading and taking notes in the most natural manner possible, these are the finest Android tablets under 12 inches that you can purchase in 2026.

Top premium tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S11

The Android tablet that most regard as the best of the best would be the Galaxy Tab S11. Samsung is renowned for its premium tablet series, and although the Tab S10 eliminated the 11-inch variant, the Tab S11 reintroduced this size at the close of 2025, starting at $699.99 for the 128 GB model. While numerous Tab S models utilized Snapdragon chips, Samsung has transitioned to MediaTek processors with the launch of the Tab S10 and has continued this trend with the Tab S11.

The Dimensity 9400+ in the Galaxy Tab S11 provides ample power, nearly matching that of a Snapdragon 8 Elite. Although Qualcomm may boast higher CPU performance metrics, MediaTek takes the lead with superior energy efficiency and cooler temperatures, plus it supports faster LPDDR5X memory, which is featured in the Galaxy Tab S11. Where MediaTek falls short is in emulation, with Reddit users agreeing that Snapdragon holds the advantage for emulating PC games. Nevertheless, the Dimensity 9400+ is sufficiently robust for intensive gaming.

Of course, performance is not the sole highlight; the stunning 11-inch Dynamic OLED screen is another significant reason to choose a Tab S11. Featuring a 120Hz refresh rate at 2560 x 1600 pixels and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, the display is easily viewable both indoors and outdoors. Colors are vibrant, blacks are rich, and whites are bright, with exceptionally smooth animations and motion due to the high refresh rate. Enjoying movies is delightful, and since the aspect ratio is 16:10, current content like TV shows and games fit with minimal letterboxing, presenting a far more content-optimized shape compared to the 3:2 and 4:3 ratios commonly found in iPads.

Top compact tablet: Lenovo Legion Y700 Gen 4

If you’re in search of something significantly more portable, yet don’t want to sacrifice performance, then the Lenovo Legion Y700 Gen 4 should be on your list. The term should is key, as you will need to acquire it as an import. This

Toll Cameras Fail Because of Pennsylvania’s Updated License Plates

PennDOT has issued a statement regarding the situation, clarifying, “The slash added through the zero was meant to aid in distinguishing between the numeral 0 and the letter O, which both the license plate readers (LPR) and the human eye have struggled to tell apart on previous registration plates.”

Automated cameras and recognition systems contribute to the issue at hand. There have been longstanding concerns about their precision, and it certainly appears necessary to establish a system of checks and balances before bills or fines are issued to potential drivers. This is an astute consideration, especially as one of the largest cities in the U.S. is implementing automated speed cameras to enforce substantial fines.

What steps is Pennsylvania taking to resolve the inaccurate readings?

While altering the font on the plates would present the simplest solution, Pennsylvania is instead choosing to recalibrate its systems and enhance the software’s ability to recognize the new character. PennDOT asserts that the new plate “satisfies PennDOT production and legibility standards and was crafted in collaboration with PA State Police (PSP) and the PA Turnpike (PTC).” Furthermore, the slash method through the zero was a “best practice recommendation” from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

The unfortunate reality is that the retraining process might not progress as swiftly as everyone desires. It requires time

MWC 2026 Highlights: Chinese Mobile Phones, 6G Developments, and Dancing Automata

From the pinnacle of Showstoppers to Lenovo’s wild innovations, such as a tabletop robot that could become the ultimate personal assistant, the trade show featured Honor’s inaugural global announcement event outside of China with the launch of the new Honor Magic V models. In addition, we witnessed the unveiling of mobile phones by Nothing, Huawei, Xiaomi, and even Oukitel, which transitioned from mimicking the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices to presenting a prototype of a compact smartphone resembling a Galaxy S27 series.

Additionally, Qualcomm pledged support for the forthcoming 6G standard along with numerous industry stakeholders, anticipating that the initial rollout of this technology will occur before the decade concludes. Even more optimistic, these companies are asserting that the next iteration of Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi 8 standard, will see its first products released by late this year or early 2027. In other words, these tech entities are preparing for enhanced AI, reliable connectivity, and rapid speeds.

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The Reason Behind the Bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ Keys of Your Keyboard

gaming laptops frequently. When using these devices, you’re likely to utilize a keyboard and mouse. Whether you’ve taken a close look at the keys or attempted to tidy up your laptop keyboard, you’ve surely noticed a small, helpful feature on standard QWERTY keyboards that might be assisting you in typing, perhaps without your awareness. Most computer keyboards include a tiny tactile bump on their ‘J’ and ‘F’ keys. You may have seen these bumps at some point, yet never understood their function, or this could be the first occasion you’ve detected them.

Though the bumps on these keys might be overlooked, they’re an important design aspect, particularly if you’re a frequent typist. The configuration of these keys enables you to type more quickly and effectively by allowing you to locate your finger position on the keyboard without having to glance at the keys. Here’s an explanation of why your keyboard’s ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys are equipped with bumps.

What is the purpose of the bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys of a keyboard?