Four Vehicle Accessories That Threaten Your Car’s Integrated Safety Systems

car gadgets to enhance your driving experience, from connectors that provide Bluetooth capability to your sound system to dashboard cameras that increase your vehicle’s security. However, most accessories carry some danger, as in case of a collision, any loose item may strike you with considerable force. It’s important to remember this even when adding basic accessories such as phone holders that attach to your vent or embellishments.

Even worse, some accessories pose a threat not only because they might be dislodged in an accident, but also because they disrupt elements of your car meant to protect you. This encompasses some common items you might already own like seat covers, along with modifications like lift kits and bull bars that you may mistakenly believe enhance your car’s safety but actually undermine it.

Dummy seatbelt buckles

Amazon to Discontinue Support for Some Older Kindle Models

PCMag): “Starting from May 20, 2026, users of Kindle and Kindle Fire devices that were released in 2012 or earlier will no longer have the ability to buy, borrow, or obtain new content through the Kindle Store.” Models impacted include the Kindle 4, Kindle Paperwhite 1st Generation, Kindle Fire HD 7, and all other versions launched before 2013.

So, what is the reason behind Amazon ceasing support for so many functioning e-readers? No official explanation has been provided, but Amazon is making an intriguing offer to current owners of older Kindle devices. Affected customers will likely receive an email soon, presenting, “20% off select new Kindle devices in addition to a $20 eBook credit that will be automatically credited to your account once you buy a new device (valid until June 20th, 2026, 11:59pm).” The fact remains that purchasing a Kindle is worthwhile even if you already have an iPad, which is precisely why Amazon is keen to sell you a new one.

Kindle devices generally have a lifespan ranging from five to eight years, and some Reddit users claim their Kindles continue to function well after over a decade. Total Kindle sales were estimated to be around 20 million by 2013. Given the popularity and durability of Kindle devices back then, it is evident that Amazon’s disappointing choice to stop support for a range of devices still operating effectively will significantly impact many users.

Will you still be able to use your Kindle after Amazon ends support?

Samsung References “2001: A Space Odyssey” in Lawsuit Against Apple

In a significant legal dispute between technology leaders, Samsung and Apple, the former referenced Stanley Kubrick’s legendary movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” to contest Apple’s assertion of originality with the iPad. In 2011, Apple attempted to prevent the sale of Samsung tablets, claiming they violated the iPad’s design. However, Samsung contended that the idea of a tablet was not original, pointing out a moment in “2001: A Space Odyssey” where characters utilize devices that resemble contemporary tablets. This assertion was part of Samsung’s approach to illustrate “prior art,” indicating that similar concepts were present before Apple’s patent, which could potentially weaken its claim of novelty.

Samsung emphasized that Apple’s D’889 patent described a tablet akin to the device from the film, showcasing a rectangular form, large screen, slim borders, and a sleek design. While this argument represented only one aspect of the case, Samsung ultimately had to compensate Apple millions in damages. This legal confrontation highlights the intricacies of patent law, particularly in a time when actual inventions frequently take cues from science fiction. The case prompts fascinating questions regarding the limits of patentability and the significance of prior art in assessing the distinctiveness of technological advancements.

Five Long-Lasting Gadgets Designed for Endurance

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The short lifespan of products has become a persistent irritation for consumers. It’s aggravating to have to consider a gadget’s likely breakdown when making a purchase decision, especially if it comes with a hefty price tag. Although not feasible for all items, discovering “buy for life” gadgets, which you only need to acquire once or perhaps twice over your lifetime, would be ideal. Examples include a quality digital watch or a mechanical keyboard.

The hunt for gadgets is a continuous struggle against obsolescence and breakdown, and the most effective strategy to avoid getting trapped in the cycle of planned obsolescence and annual repurchases that afflicts many products is to choose those that can be repaired, upgraded, and generally have their lifespan extended. The unfortunate truth regarding technology is that electronic parts tend to wear out faster than physical components, but you can still exercise some influence by selecting items known for their durability and inherent simplicity.

A streamlined laser printer

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display Function Exposes a Major Vulnerability

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is an impressive smartphone. While it may not offer significant upgrades over last year’s Samsung flagship, the S25 Ultra — with the primary enhancement being the advanced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor designed for Galaxy devices. Nevertheless, it introduces a feature that’s catching attention in the tech world: the Privacy Display capability of the S26 Ultra.

There have always been methods to shield your phone screen from onlookers, so the idea itself isn’t novel. However, in contrast to third-party screen protectors, this feature is integrated into the device itself, allowing you to toggle it on or off at your convenience. It can even be activated for particular apps or sections of your display, such as selectively hiding notifications.

The Privacy Display of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra represents a significant advancement for the smartphone market, though it has its limitations: activating the Privacy Display slightly reduces its visual clarity at certain viewing angles. A noticeable variance exists in screen appearance before and after enabling Privacy Display regarding brightness and pixel sharpness. However, even when Privacy Display is turned off, the screen remains marginally dimmer in comparison to other Samsung devices, including last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Understanding the Functionality of the Samsung S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display

When your smartphone screen displays an image, every pixel emits light at a broad angle, enabling visibility from various directions. The Privacy Display of the S26 Ultra functions at a hardware level whereby activating the mode alters the physical behavior of the pixels. The S26 Ultra’s display consists of two types of pixels: standard wide pixels that can be seen from any angle and specialized focus pixels that emit light straight ahead. When Privacy Display is activated, all wide pixels are deactivated, allowing only the other set of pixels to operate.

Unfortunately, this results in some drawbacks even when the feature is not in use. This is due to half of the pixels on the device’s screen having subpar viewing angles. Even with Privacy Display turned off, the S26 Ultra appears dimmer when viewed from certain angles because it effectively

Google Photos for Android Finally Brings Long-Expected Functionality

Photos application the ideal substitute for CapCut.

With this feature, users can adjust the playback speed from 0.25x to 4x, which is particularly useful when recording an extended video of a concert, a lecture, or any content you wish to speed up. Furthermore, this feature can also simply enhance the speed of your video overall, allowing for a fun effect, whether you want it much faster or significantly slower. Through this, Google continues to enhance Google Photos with additional benefits.

It’s important to mention that, at this time, this new capability is exclusively available on the Google Photos app for Android, and it remains uncertain when Google intends to implement it in the Google Photos app for iOS. However, it’s probable that iOS users will eventually receive this feature, as Google typically does not overlook them, and at times even releases its applications on iOS beforehand.

Here’s how to adjust the speed of your video

China Advances Cutting-Edge Battery Technology Featuring Enhanced Energy Density

causing the movement of ions to decelerate.

The updated design preserves low viscosity and ionic conductivity, even in severe cold conditions. Researchers have faced challenges in making lithium-metal batteries functional previously due to dendrites, which are elongated structures that can penetrate the barrier between electrodes and cause a short circuit in the battery. Dendrites develop during the charging phase, as lithium accumulates unevenly on the anode in a process known as plating. The new design ensures that the plating remains uniform, resulting in a reduced likelihood of dendrite formation.

How China’s lithium-metal battery might transform EVs, drones, and space explorations

The Scientific Precision Underlying The Big Bang Theory’s Whiteboards

” The Big Bang Theory” is regarded as one of the greatest TV sitcoms ever created. Over its 12-year lifespan, CBS’ comedy series featuring two socially inept physicists, their nerdy companions, and an actress next door, garnered 10 Emmys — four of which recognized Jim Parsons’ unique performance as the eccentric Sheldon Cooper — and drew an average of 17.3 million viewers per episode. Even after concluding in 2019, the series remains immensely popular for binge-watching on streaming services, with Max users viewing a total of 29.1 billion minutes of the beloved show in 2024.

However, “The Big Bang Theory” also triggered a significant cultural transformation: it made geek culture trendy. The central characters were openly nerdy, frequently (and enthusiastically) engaging in discussions about “Star Trek,” Dungeons & Dragons, and comic book collecting, introducing a mainstream audience to a culture that many might have previously been oblivious to — or even ridiculed.

Furthermore, “The Big Bang Theory” embraced intricate scientific subjects without hesitation; indeed, it celebrated them. The sitcom paid tribute to celebrated scientists, with several, such as Bill Nye, Stephen Hawking, and George Smoot, making cameo appearances in the series. However, it was the surprisingly precise representation of authentic scientific theories and concepts that truly stood out. So much so that actual scientists sought out the show’s scientific consultant, David Saltzberg, to present their findings in hopes of featuring on the sitcom’s whiteboards.

Who was the scientific consultant for The Big Bang Theory?

During the beloved sitcom’s 12-season tenure, “The Big Bang Theory” showrunners secured the expertise of a scientific consultant to guarantee the precision of the scientific portrayals. David Saltzberg, an experimental particle physicist and educator at the University of California, provided guidance on the scientific aspects of each episode’s scripts and dialogue. He also verified that the equations and diagrams shown on the whiteboards — including those in Sheldon and Leonard’s apartment — were correct.

For every episode of “The Big Bang Theory,” Saltzberg would dedicate a few hours each evening to review the scripts and prepare the whiteboard content prior to the show’s filming. The scientific consultant also shared that, as the series grew in popularity, he received offers from real scientists eager to feature their recent findings on one of the sitcom’s whiteboards. “It’s kind of become a thing to get on the whiteboards,” he mentioned to Science in a discussion. “Dozens of scientists are observing those boards.”

These boards were designed to mirror ongoing scientific research, so when gravitational waves were detected in 2015 — a milestone in astronomy — Saltzberg ensured its inclusion in the series prominently: on Professor Stephen Hawking’s whiteboard (with his consent, of course). The consultant clarified that the discovery of gravitational waves was also woven into the show’s narrative because, as the characters in “The Big Bang Theory” are portrayed as physicists, it is logical for them to discuss actual breakthroughs, enhancing the authenticity of the sitcom’s universe.

After the series finale in 2019, Saltzberg has continued as a consultant for other projects, including Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and the spin-off of “The Big Bang Theory,” “Young Sheldon.”

Amazon Device for Rapidly Identifying Concealed Cameras at $37

almost undetectable smart home surveillance devices that individuals can set up throughout a home or structure. This implies that such gadgets could be positioned virtually anywhere. In hotel accommodations, Airbnbs, private workspaces, and even in places they ought not to be, such as restrooms or dressing rooms. 

To safeguard your privacy in different circumstances, learning to identify concealed cameras is an essential first step. In addition, there’s a $37 tool available on Amazon that can help you detect any RF or Wi-Fi signals they may be transmitting. It’s named the Dronewing AI hidden camera detector, and it’s a compact, handheld gadget that you can easily carry in a purse, backpack, or pocket if desired.

It’s a practical multi-purpose tool. To begin with, it features a built-in flashlight that can provide extra illumination when necessary. Additionally, it includes a wireless camera finder to detect signals emitted from hidden cameras, an infrared lens for locating pinhole cameras, and a detector for magnetic GPS trackers. The expansive scanner covers frequencies from 100 MHz to 8 GHz with five adjustable sensitivity levels. Furthermore, the integrated rechargeable 800 mAh battery can last for up to 25 hours of continuous operation on a single charge, alongside a 30-day standby duration. Charging is done through USB-C, and it will notify you if anything suspicious is uncovered during your area scans. The infrared lens finder can also assist in identifying cameras that do not utilize wireless signals.

What do users think about the reliability of the Dronewing?

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