AllYouCanTech

TSA Might Mandate Travelers to Turn On Phones for Safety Precautions

the essential TSA guideline regarding electronics that every traveler must recognize and understand. Per the TSA website, “Officers may request that you activate your electronic device, including mobile phones.” This implies that you might need to switch it on in their presence. The positive aspect is that TSA clearly mentions they do not “read or copy information from your device.” Their primary concern is merely to verify if it turns on and operates correctly. They also note that “nonfunctional devices” might be prohibited from being taken aboard aircraft.

But what is the reason behind this policy, and why is it important for TSA agents to ensure your device powers on? The straightforward explanation is to confirm the device is genuine and operational, rather than hiding something hazardous. A malicious individual could swap the battery with explosive substances, alter it into a bomb, or utilize standard safety mechanisms in the device, such as a thermal cutoff, to activate explosives hidden inside. By powering on a device for the TSA, you demonstrate that it has not been tampered with. Ultimately, the final determination about the permissibility of your item at the checkpoint lies with the TSA officer. If your device fails to power on, it is likely they will deny it, but even if it does operate, there’s still a possibility they may refuse it regardless.

Five Groundbreaking Devices You Were Unaware You Required

Audiophile devices, for example, might not attract someone who doesn’t frequently listen to music. Nevertheless, this compilation is not aimed at individuals looking for a particular kind of product. Rather, we are highlighting five impressive gadgets that anyone can benefit from. 

We emphasized products rich in features that provide excellent value. Additionally, every item is priced under $50 to prevent overspending. While these gadgets may not revolutionize your life, their wide appeal and affordable prices make many of them ideal holiday presents.

We took measures to confirm that the items we discovered are of high quality. We did this by perusing hundreds of user reviews on platforms such as Amazon and choosing those that excel not only in user-friendliness and functionality but also in dependability. We also considered professional reviews and incorporated their insights.

8 Chromebooks Endorsed by Users for Their Worth

**8 Chromebooks Users Consider Truly Worth The Investment**

When Chromebooks debuted in 2011, they faced doubt. Why put money into a device that mainly runs Android applications when economical Windows laptops were on the market? Yet, Chromebooks have demonstrated their value with a lightweight operating system that boosts speed and battery performance, positioning them as a genuine alternative to more expensive Windows laptops.

Selecting the appropriate Chromebook can be daunting due to the numerous options available. User feedback provides essential perspectives, mirroring actual experiences. Here’s a compilation of eight Chromebooks that users deem worthy of the expenditure:

1. **Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14**
– Features a high-end design with an aluminum chassis.
– Showcases a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 OLED touchscreen.
– Driven by MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
– Delivers 10-12 hours of battery longevity.
– Priced at $749 with a 4.8-star rating.

2. **Asus Chromebook Plus CX34**
– Economical choice at $599 with a 4.8-star rating.
– Comes with an Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage.
– Features a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen.
– Provides 9 hours of battery longevity.

3. **Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714**
– High-quality construction with MIL-STD 810H certification.
– 14-inch WUXGA IPS display featuring a 360-degree hinge.
– Powered by Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
– Offers 10 hours of battery performance.
– Listed at $750 with a 4.3-star rating.

4. **Acer Chromebook 516 GE**
– Perfect for cloud gaming with a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS display and 120Hz refresh rate.
– Runs on Intel Core i5-120U, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
– Delivers 10 hours of battery life.
– Priced at $649.

5. **Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9**
– Great for students with a detachable 2-in-1 design.
– Sports a 10.9-inch 1920×1200 IPS display.
– Features MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor, up to 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage.
– Provides 8-9 hours of battery life.
– Costing $379.

6. **Asus Chromebook CM30**
– Budget-friendly 2-in-1 model starting at $269.
– 10.5-inch TFT display with 400 nits brightness.
– Driven by MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage.
– Grants 10 hours of battery performance.

7. **Acer Chromebook Plus 515**
– Well-rounded choice at $429 with a 4.3-star rating.
– 15.6-inch full HD IPS display with touch capability.
– Powered by Intel Core i3-1305U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
– Offers 6-8 hours of battery life.

8. **Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus**
– High-end design featuring a 15.6-inch AMOLED display.
– Runs on Intel Core 3 100U processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage.
– Provides 11 hours of battery longevity.
– Listed at $599 with a 4.6-star rating.

**Methodology**
This guide was created by examining best-selling Chromebooks on sites like Amazon and Best Buy, along with expert insights and user feedback from platforms like Reddit. Most of these models are Chromebook Plus certified, providing significant value according to authentic users.

Uncover 5 Obscure Free Apple CarPlay Applications for iPhone

iOS 26 brought a host of enhancements and features to the Apple infotainment system, featuring a redesigned look thanks to the innovative Liquid Glass UI. Additionally, Apple incorporated widgets into the vehicle dashboard, allowing users to quickly access messages, navigation, smart home controls, and more. Users can activate these vital widgets by navigating to the CarPlay settings on their iPhone.

In addition to popular vehicle-friendly applications like Spotify, Waze, and Audible, there exists an extensive array of third-party tools that elevate your CarPlay experience — many of which are free. These apps assist in locating parking or EV charging stations, and even enable streaming of your favorite audio content. Here are some of the most overlooked CarPlay applications to maximize the potential of your vehicle’s infotainment system.

US States That Have Prohibited DeepSeek and Possible Future Bans

DeepSeek rapidly gained popularity. This achievement triggered a surge of allegations from Western AI companies claiming that DeepSeek had misappropriated essential data. Shortly thereafter, a larger security concern emerged, as American lawmakers feared that the firm had granted the Chinese government and military access to sensitive user data. Consequently, the U.S. DeepSeek AI bans commenced.

In its April 2025 assessment, Congress’s Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party discovered that “the application extracts data back to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), generates security risks for its users, and utilizes a framework that secretly censors and alters information in accordance with Chinese legislation” and was “developed using appropriated U.S. technology.” As a consequence, multiple state governments opted to prohibit the platform from their governmental computer systems. So far, at least 17 U.S. states have enacted some type of government restriction on DeepSeek, including: Texas, New York, Virginia, Tennessee, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, North Carolina, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Nevada.

Until now, no regulations prevent individuals or businesses from utilizing DeepSeek on private computer networks. Nevertheless, several federal and military entities have also taken steps to eliminate the application’s use on government systems. Additionally, it is significant to highlight that the United States is not the sole nation alarmed by DeepSeek’s privacy breaches, as numerous European and Asian countries have likewise imposed restrictions on the platform.

How to Tell Apart Costly and Inexpensive TVs

more affordable TVs may display the same resolution specifications as their higher-priced rivals, the quality of the experience they provide can vary significantly. This is due to the fact that resolution is merely one aspect of the overall picture quality. Elements such as brightness, color fidelity, motion performance, and construction quality contribute to how realistic your films, games, and television programs seem.

Promotional terms like 4K, UHD, and HDR can create the impression that all contemporary TVs are fairly similar. Nevertheless, the reality is that two displays with the same specifications on paper can look and feel distinct in reality. The distinction between “economical” and “luxury” transcends mere opulence: it pertains to efficiency, durability, and user satisfaction. Grasping the origins of that disparity can assist you in looking past marketing jargon and understanding what you are truly paying for when selecting your next television.

Ways to Reuse an Old iPhone: 5 Innovative Approaches

previous iPhone models can retain substantial trade-in value, yet keeping your old iPhone might be the optimal approach to enhance its worth. Even older iPhones still possess highly functional cameras, processors, and storage capacity, each of which can be utilized in various ways.

Whether you’ve just upgraded to the iPhone 17 series or merely have a collection of outdated, neglected devices, there are numerous ways to give an iPhone a new purpose for usage around your home, workplace, or while traveling. As long as that iPhone can still hold a charge, its internal storage, Wi-Fi connectivity, camera, and even screen space can all be utilized. From a mobile media center to a portable charging bank, let’s examine what that old iPhone of yours can still be repurposed for.

10 Common Mistakes to Sidestep When Configuring a New Computer

which components you can purchase second-hand and which ones it’s best to acquire new. After you’ve gathered everything necessary, these are the pitfalls to avoid when establishing a new computer.

How to Convert Your Aging Television into a Smart Mirror

repurpose your old television into something more functional — for instance, a smart mirror. A smart mirror can revolutionize the way you interact with your space as it essentially combines a conventional mirror and a smart interface. It appears and operates like a mirror, yet features a concealed digital display behind the reflective glass. This allows you to view information such as the daily weather, your schedule for the day, and even news headlines.

Smart mirrors can be designed in various shapes and sizes, but for this specific project, the smart mirror will be powered by Raspberry Pi along with the complimentary and open-source MagicMirror software. MagicMirror enables you to tailor the smart mirror to your preferences, ensuring it displays only the type of content you desire. Here’s a simple guide on how to transform your old television into a smart mirror.

5 ChatGPT Advice to Sidestep: Frequent Errors to Avoid

**5 Common ChatGPT Suggestions That You Should Avoid**

ChatGPT is an innovative tool that’s simplifying various elements of daily life, such as organizing tasks, acquiring new languages, composing emails, and grasping complex ideas. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to recognize its limitations as well. We’ve discussed certain inquiries you should refrain from directing at ChatGPT, like seeking medical or mental health guidance, but there are numerous other well-known ChatGPT suggestions that you should avoid. The online realm, especially social media, is overflowing with content creators and even AI-generated suggestions touting imaginative applications of ChatGPT that promise anything from romance to wealth.

You can easily find a plethora of pre-written prompts available for copying and pasting into ChatGPT to create an ideally tailored dating profile, workout plan, or financial strategy. However, it’s vital to approach this with caution. Just because an action is technically achievable doesn’t mean it’s advisable. In this article, we will explore some of the prevalent ChatGPT suggestions that you should avoid if you want to utilize AI responsibly and safeguard yourself from adverse outcomes. Please consider carefully before implementing these popular suggestions that could potentially do more harm than good!

**Avoid dating ChatGPT or seeking dating advice from it**

ChatGPT can be an excellent travel buddy, but don’t turn it into your romantic partner as well. While perusing social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, you may stumble upon videos depicting individuals treating ChatGPT as if it were a boyfriend or girlfriend. Although many of these are intended for humor or entertainment, situations can swiftly change for the worse. Instances exist of individuals depending on ChatGPT for complete romantic interactions. These relationships are termed parasocial relationships, which can negatively impact your mental well-being. While casual flirting with your favorite chatbot may initially seem fun, it’s hard to predict when it may develop into something detrimental, so it’s wise to avoid using ChatGPT in this manner.

In reality, you should keep your romantic affairs entirely separate from AI involvement and refrain from using ChatGPT for dating advice, too. Numerous videos online suggest prompts for ChatGPT to help improve your dating profile or respond to messages in a more charming and appealing manner. While this might appear beneficial, it conceals your true self and could be interpreted as deceitful behavior. After all, you likely desire a partner who appreciates you as you genuinely are rather than a fabricated persona generated by a chatbot. For a wholesome emotional journey, it’s best to exclude ChatGPT from your romantic life.

**ChatGPT is not a substitute for legal counsel**

It’s easy to think that AI has access to all available information online, including legal matters, which can be intricate and tough to comprehend for many of us. Therefore, it may seem simple and cost-effective to turn to it for legal advice. Studies indicate that individuals often trust the guidance provided by ChatGPT more than that from human lawyers, which is quite concerning as it fosters a misleading sense of safety. While ChatGPT and other AI tools can offer overviews of legal concepts or clarify terminology in simple terms, they aren’t qualified to interpret or apply the law to your unique situation. Laws vary by jurisdiction, are continually changing, and often require a nuanced comprehension of context, intent, and precedent—factors an AI model cannot evaluate accurately. Furthermore, ChatGPT lacks access to current legal databases and cannot verify whether the information it produces aligns with existing laws or case precedents.

Additionally, another significant issue is accountability. Should an AI tool provide erroneous or misleading advice resulting in financial loss, legal repercussions, or other situations, there is no legal recourse—unlike with a certified attorney bound by professional ethics and responsibility. Thus, depending on AI for legal advice can lead to serious, unintended repercussions, which you should definitely avoid.

**Refrain from asking ChatGPT for fitness routines**

A multitude of fitness influencers are currently promoting ChatGPT-generated fitness plans or suggestions to assist you in becoming fit without needing to consult a personal trainer. This may definitely appear to be an exciting and convenient way to achieve fitness, but it actually carries risks. While ChatGPT can create impressive workout schedules, dietary plans, and motivational tips, it doesn’t possess the contextual awareness of your personal health metrics, medical background, or fitness capabilities. Even if you share these details, there’s no assurance that ChatGPT will devise a fitness plan that is suitable for you. Exercise and nutrition are highly individual and hinge on elements such as age, weight, metabolism, prior injuries, and existing health issues best addressed by a human trainer. Absent such knowledge, any program devised by AI could result in overtraining, injury, or nutritional misalignment.

Furthermore, ChatGPT is not a certified fitness expert and cannot assess your form, technique, or recuperation requirements. Proper exercise instruction requires real-time evaluation and modification that AI simply cannot deliver. Adhering to an AI-created plan without expert oversight may also reinforce misconceptions.