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innovative functions that smart plugs offer make them incredibly adaptable for basic electronics, lights, and fans. They are frequently much less expensive than purchasing a specific smart gadget, like a smart thermostat, and they enable integration with a smart assistant such as Google Nest or Alexa for voice activation.

Nonetheless, as with all electronic devices, smart plugs have a limited lifespan. Typically, you can anticipate a smart plug to operate effectively for three to five years, potentially even longer with proper usage. Since one of the main advantages of a smart plug is the ability to decrease energy consumption and costs, an extended lifespan inherently results in greater savings.

A significant benefit of using a smart plug is its environmental impact. However, for a smart plug to validate its eco-friendly claim, it must conserve more energy throughout its usage than what is consumed during its production process. You can enhance this aspect by using your smart plug thoughtfully and carefully to promote its durability.

Tencent, WeChat has become a quintessential platform integrating messaging, social media, and payment services. With over a billion monthly active users, it enables seamless communication between friends and family while offering features like mini-programs for various services, including food delivery, hotel bookings, and shopping.

As a versatile app, WeChat has transformed the way users interact online, allowing them to share moments through posts, pay bills, and access numerous services without leaving the platform. Its ecosystem includes official accounts and mini-apps that support businesses and brands in reaching consumers directly.

In comparison to Western apps, WeChat stands out as an all-encompassing tool, unlike apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, which primarily focus on messaging. The app’s integration of social networking and commerce makes it a unique player in the global app landscape, catering to diverse user needs in a single environment.

In March 2025, Google revealed that Gemini AI would be taking the place of Google Assistant on the majority of Android devices, excluding those operating on Android 9 or earlier, or those with less than 2 GB of RAM. A few months later, it disclosed that Gemini would be integrated into Google Home, gradually replacing the previous Assistant software. This announcement wasn’t surprising, as it became evident the prior year that Google Assistant’s time was limited when Gemini started assuming tasks for Android applications like Google Messages and Spotify. During the announcement, Google executive Brian Marquardt expressed a goal to extend Gemini to as many users of the company as possible.

This may be disheartening for Assistant enthusiasts who favor it over Gemini for its straightforwardness, but the rationale for its phasing out is understandable. Google’s pioneering two-way virtual assistant debuted in 2016, a time markedly different for AI. At that time, Assistant was lauded for offering more reliable answers than its rivals, but a decade later, those virtual assistants and board game champions seem quaint compared to platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.

Gemini is set to replace Assistant

There’s no denying that Google Gemini is considerably more advanced than Google Assistant. As an extensive language model (LLM), it’s crafted to grasp more natural language and handle a wider array of complex tasks, such as managing your email or evaluating options for car rentals and flights. However, this increased intricacy and enhanced language abilities can lead to errors and misinterpretations.

Users on Reddit who have transitioned to Gemini have expressed their dissatisfaction, citing issues such as absent features and the chatbot delivering unnecessarily complex answers to straightforward inquiries. Some have even mentioned on Google’s support forum that they might consider switching to iPhone due to their aversion to Gemini. Like other technology, there are also apprehensions related to utilizing Google Gemini, including ambiguities surrounding privacy concerns and how AI biases could affect responses. Numerous AI specialists remain skeptical of AI chatbots, which have been observed to hallucinate, and Google’s AI Overviews have made remarkably bizarre errors, such as instructing users to apply glue on pizza.

For those reluctant to part ways with Google Assistant just yet, the positive news is that Google is delaying the retirement of the software longer than anticipated. Although the company initially indicated that Assistant would be discontinued by the end of 2025, a December 2025 update mentioned that it was extending its transition into 2026. For now, Android users can still alternate between Assistant and Gemini, but be aware that once you switch to Gemini on Google Home, reverting is not an option.

**Why Striking Your Apple Watch Is Actually Beneficial**

Regardless of the urge you may feel, physically engaging with your technology is usually ill-advised. While software issues or unexpected updates—such as a 4GB AI integration—might tempt you to consider a more aggressive approach, most instances of striking your gadgets are likely to exacerbate the situation. Nevertheless, there exists one feature on the Apple Watch that may actually embrace your touch. Referred to as Cover to Mute, this function allows you to silence notifications on an Apple Watch by placing your hand over it for up to three seconds. In a hurried moment, this might seem akin to someone striking their device, yet it more accurately resembles a smothering gesture.

This feature is unique to the Apple Watch and provides a swift and efficient way to manage a range of notifications, including calls, alerts, messages, and even reminders for activities. In addition to the capacity to quickly silence notifications, there are also safety features on the Apple Watch that can be invaluable in emergencies. So set the gloves aside, and let us guide you on how to utilize the Cover to Mute feature, as well as how to turn it on and off.

**How to utilize the Apple Watch Cover to Mute feature**

Enabled by default, the Cover to Mute feature on the Apple Watch serves as a quick method for silencing specific notifications. It’s particularly useful when you wish to maintain focus during important tasks, and operating it is quite simple. Users merely need to cover the display of the watch for three seconds with the palm of their hand, causing notifications from items like a finished timer or incoming messages to hush. The watch will vibrate lightly as a confirmation of this action.

To enable or disable this feature, adhere to these steps:

1. Go to Settings on your Apple Watch.
2. Select Gestures.
3. Activate or deactivate Cover to Mute by toggling the switch.

Moreover, if you own an Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or an Apple Watch Series 9 or newer, you can also access the Wrist Flick function, which is similarly on by default (but can also be located in the Gestures settings). Simply flip your wrist with the watch on it over and then return it to the initial position to halt a notification.

As a note, an Apple Limited Warranty does not cover accidental damages, although AppleCare+ does provide such coverage. Still, we wouldn’t advise striking your device with excessive force. However, there may be some lesser-known features on the Apple Watch that you might want to explore if you’re interested in delving deeper into the functions of your smart wearable.

launch at curved paths to leverage the Earth’s gravitational force. Rolling is another technique rockets utilize to maintain their trajectory.

A rolling action, also referred to as a roll maneuver, arises from the rotational motions employed by all flying craft, including rockets and aircraft, for navigation. Each motion involves bending one of three axes, and these actions are identified as roll, yaw, and pitch. In aviation terms, a roll takes place when the lift on one wing surpasses that on the other, causing the aircraft to roll. The rear horizontal tail rudder manages the pitch and adjusts altitude. Simultaneously, the vertical rudder governs the yaw, rotating the aircraft sideways. While rockets do not feature wings and rudders, their roll, yaw, and pitch still influence their flight paths, which is where the rolling action is relevant.

Rockets execute a gradual, controlled roll during flight because it effectively eliminates roll from the navigation calculations. If pilots need to alter their horizontal trajectory angle relative to north (the azimuth), they only have to focus on the rocket’s pitch after executing a roll. This also conserves fuel since making mid-flight adjustments would consume more.

The Apple Watch is recognized as the leading smartwatch, according to Counterpoint. It seamlessly connects with the iPhone and AirPods, featuring three distinct series tailored to various users. Nevertheless, some runners, hikers, and swimmers opt for Garmin watches. This can be attributed to certain functions that Garmin offers which the Apple Watch does not, such as solar charging, comprehensive button navigation, and the ability to track more detailed health metrics.

To be frank, Garmin’s experience spans over 20 years, while the Apple Watch has just celebrated its first decade, making Garmin more entrenched in the marketplace. The debut Garmin smartwatch, the Forerunner 201, came out in 2003. Since that time, the brand has rolled out over 40 iterations of the watch, with modern versions boasting an OLED display, lightweight titanium bezels, and a battery as robust as the device itself.

Garmin watches provide athletes with significantly more than Apple Watches, which may explain their enduring popularity among sports aficionados. These capabilities are what lead some individuals to overlook Apple’s role in popularizing smartwatches, largely due to the Apple Watch’s design, customizable bands, and Watch Faces.

**Solar charging**

Garmin presents 10 watch models equipped with solar charging functionality, including the Fenix, Forerunner, Instinct, Edge, and Enduro. While Garmin batteries are already recognized for their longevity, solar charging can prolong their life by months—and at times, you might not even need to plug in a USB charging cable.

These timepieces feature a semitransparent layer of solar cells on their displays which convert direct sunlight into power for your watch. This allows you to enjoy more outdoor activities like running and cycling while witnessing your watch gain energy instead of depleting it.

Certain Garmin models come with a solar intensity widget that displays the amount of sunlight absorbed. Designed with panels that are easy to read in bright sunlight without backlighting, the company asserts that placing a watch with a dead battery in sunlight can reactivate it. Models such as the Garmin Edge 840 Solar introduce new cycling metrics dubbed “ride gained,” indicating you may gain 20 additional minutes of battery life for each hour spent riding when utilizing solar power.

**Measure specific health metrics**

Health enthusiasts have accessed numerous new health metrics through the Apple Watch in recent years, particularly with the newest watchOS 26 update. However, users of the Apple Watch often require apps like Gentler Streak for a balanced, visual insight into their health data or rely on The Outsiders for a deeper understanding of their daily readiness.

In contrast, Garmin provides an integrated solution for athletes, incorporating features such as Training Readiness, Body Battery, HRV Status, Load Reports, and Structured Workout Modes. For instance, Training Readiness offers a score calculated each morning that compiles factors including sleep, recovery duration, training load, HRV, and stress to indicate whether you should pursue a Personal Best or opt for rest and recuperation. Conversely, Body Battery serves as a real-time indicator of your physical energy, highlighting the impacts of stressful engagements, an evening drink, or an intense workout.

HRV Status evaluates your overnight Heart Rate Variability against a two-week standard. Apple Watch users must again depend on third-party applications for similar analysis. On the other hand, Load Reports assess your efforts over the previous week, categorizing activities into base, tempo, and sprints. Apple’s Training Load is primarily concentrated on injury prevention, overlooking the various types of physiological strain.

**Impressive battery life**

Apple claims that Apple Watches offer all-day battery life. The most recent models have seen significant enhancements, with the Series 11 battery lasting up to 24 hours and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 reaching a maximum of 42 hours. In Low Power Mode, these figures extend to 38 hours and 72 hours, respectively. However, Garmin watches can last for multiple days, with some models sustaining functionality for weeks or longer due to solar power.

For instance, Garmin’s lifestyle models like the Venu 5 or Epix 3 feature AMOLED screens. Garmin states these watches can last between 10 and 16 days, while Always-On Display can extend their life to about a week. Yet, with GPS Tracking engaged, this lifespan is constrained to 15 to 30 hours. The standard models like the Fenix 8 and Forerunner 975 benefit from more robust batteries thanks to the microLED displays; they can last from 14 to 28 days, whereas solar versions can exceed 40 days if utilized outdoors for several hours each day.

The ultra tier, which encompasses the Enduro 2 or Inst…

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a remarkably costly year for technology, some individuals might be clinging to their graphics cards for much longer than they’d like to acknowledge. Nevertheless, AMD is introducing AI-enhanced features for older hardware that have been present in the company’s latest GPUs and cards.

As shared in a tweet on X by Senior Vice President and General Manager Jack Huynh, FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) is set to launch for the RDNA 3 architectures this summer, while RDNA 2 users should see the feature arrive in early 2027. Although a certain leak may have lessened the excitement, this remains thrilling news for those with older technology, as FSR 4 was initially exclusive to the RDNA 4 architecture. Additionally, FSR has also recently undergone performance enhancements.

FSR 4 is a machine learning algorithm designed to upscale images in real time. In essence, it aids in providing smoother gameplay and enhanced visuals. The first update for FSR was released back in March 2026, though it was initially available only for RX 9000 graphics cards. FSR 4.1 advances FSR 4 by delivering improved distance retention, enhanced particle effects, and clearer, less distorted images. With this update, specific AMD GPUs may no longer require replacement in 2026.

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