Suggested Interval for Restarting Your Phone

tackle intermittent Wi-Fi issues, rebooting the problematic device is recommended. A restart may resolve the disruption preventing a certain component from functioning properly or prompt you to consider seeking expert assistance if the issue persists. The same approach should be applied to the smartphone in your pocket or bag. It is advisable to restart your iPhone or Android device regularly to keep everything operating seamlessly. You should power cycle the device occasionally even if it appears to be functioning well. This is an effective method to address any software anomalies and background activities that might be affecting performance and battery life.

This isn’t solely about rebooting your iPhone or Android phone following a software update. Typically, every time you upgrade the phone to the latest iOS or Android version, or apply a security patch, the device will restart — this is part of the update procedure. The focus here is on rebooting the device between updates, during standard use. After all, software updates can be issued every few months, regardless of the operating system.

Another factor to remember is the age of your device and the kind of model you have. Latest devices will provide a superior experience compared to older ones, as they come equipped with advanced hardware. High-end phones will also deliver quicker performance than mid-tier smartphones and entry-level models. The variations in speed may be more prominent on Android than on iPhone, since Apple’s most affordable iPhones continue to use the company’s most powerful processors. More budget-friendly Android models generally come with less powerful chips.

How often should you restart an iPhone?

This Neglected Animated Adult Sci-Fi Movie Merited More Acknowledgment

The ’80s represented a pivotal era for cinematic musicals. Instead of the conventional showtunes found in classic productions like “Oklahoma!” and “Cabaret,” musical films of the 1980s frequently incorporated rock and pop-influenced soundtracks to attract a younger mainstream audience and mirror the chic, stylized music videos that gained popularity following MTV’s debut in 1981. Numerous prominent artists of the decade took on roles or contributed soundtracks to these movies, including Prince (“Purple Rain”) and David Bowie (“Labyrinth”).

Consequently, some of the most remarkable musical films ever — along with their irresistibly catchy tunes — originated from this era, featuring the cinematic renditions of “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life,” “The Blues Brothers,” and “Fame.” Nevertheless, not every ’80s movie musical achieved the same timeless acclaim. In 1983, MGM/United Artists launched “Rock & Rule,” a sci-fi fantasy musical targeting adults that fused Disney-style animation with tracks from some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll. Although this concept appeared, on the surface, to guarantee commercial success, the film underperformed at the box office — and was subsequently relegated to obscurity.

What is Rock & Rule?

Taking place in a post-apocalyptic U.S. inhabited by animal-like humans, Rock & Rule (also referred to as “Ring of Power”) is a Canadian animated musical that centers on Mok Swagger (Don Francks, known for voicing Grimaldi in “Heavy Metal”), a legendary, aging rock star who embarks on a quest to discover a singer whose voice possesses the ability to unleash a powerful demon from another dimension. Upon encountering Angel (voiced by Susan Roman of “Sailor Moon” fame), a keyboardist in a rock band, Mok realizes that she has the vocal talent he requires to release the demon’s strength. However, she is resistant to participating, leading Mok to kidnap her — and it falls to her band to rescue her. This isn’t exactly the kind of endearing, family-friendly content that one might expect from the reboot “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.”

In terms of appearance, the characters in “Rock & Rule” bear a resemblance to those in Disney’s “A Goofy Movie,” and viewers might even catch some notable Powerline energy from certain musical segments. However, this film is not intended for children, due to its inclusion of profanity, themes of sexuality, and — of course — the central demonic storyline. Even if the premise doesn’t captivate you, “Rock & Rule”‘s musical segments are definitely worth experiencing, as the soundtrack features tracks from renowned artists like Rick Nielsen (from Cheap Trick), Debbie Harry of Blondie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, and Beloyd Taylor. It’s a remarkable collection, perhaps one to consider while searching for a movie soundtrack to try out your latest audiophile gear.

Why Rock & Rule is considered a box office flop

Financially, “Rock & Rule” turned out to be a substantial box office disaster, with a production budget of $8 million, yet grossing only $30,379 in North America — nearly leading to the bankruptcy of its production company, Nelvana. This could largely be attributed to the film’s severely limited release in the U.S. by MGM/United Artists, as well as the edits applied to the American version of the film, which included redubbed characters, trimmed scenes, and an abbreviated finale that might have secured a spot on our list of alternate endings that could have transformed popular films… had “Rock & Rule” enjoyed any real acclaim.

Critical responses to “Rock & Rule” at the time of its debut were somewhat mixed. The New York Times, for instance, remarked that “Rock & Rule” was “more notable for its soundtrack than for the events depicted on the screen,” characterizing the film’s tone as “dopey and loud.” However, subsequent evaluations — in light of the film’s DVD release in 2005 and a two-disc Blu-Ray featuring both versions in 2010 — have been more favorable. Spin praised the film for its sci-fi eccentricity, while Birmingham Live labeled it as “the antithesis of Disney” and “flawed but ahead of its time,” and Vice deemed it enjoyable and somewhat nostalgic.

While Rotten Tomatoes lacks sufficient critical reviews to officially certify “Rock & Rule,” the film holds a 71% rating on the Popcornmeter. Some viewers commend its animation, character, and soundtrack, whereas others feel that the psychedelic feature has an unfinished quality. You can form your own opinion, as “Rock & Rule” is accessible for viewing on Tubi.

Consumer Reports’ Tips for Safeguarding Against the Increase in Online Fraud

2025 Consumer Cyber Readiness Report indicates that nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) have experienced a digital scam, with 19% of them (representing 9% of the overall American population) suffering financial losses. The report draws on findings from surveys by Consumer Reports, reviewed in partnership with Aspen Digital and the Global Cyber Alliance.

According to the survey, 74% of scams originated via email, social media, messaging applications, or text messages. A notable point from the report is the increase in messaging scams through SMS and messaging apps, now making up 30% of the total in 2025, compared to 20% in 2024. This trend is not surprising, as reports indicate that text messaging scams are generating over a billion dollars for criminals.

Given the prevalence of digital fraud, companies like Meta are implementing tools to safeguard users from scammers. Nevertheless, these protective measures have their limits, and it is equally crucial for you to familiarize yourself with tactics to defend against scams online. The Cyber Readiness Report also offers advice on staying safe from various types of scams in today’s digital environment.

Utilize your phone’s inherent security features

Assessing the Worth of Hard Drives in 2026

a range of devices is anticipated to experience a price increase due to the memory scarcity, and some firms are already raising the prices of their offerings, with Sony revealing a second series of PlayStation 5 price hikes in March 2026.

The German website ComputerBase has been monitoring the costs of SSDs and HDDs since September 2025, and according to the latest data from the site, they have surged by an average of 86.59% and 50.83%, respectively. The highest-priced HDD has gone up by approximately 72%, while the priciest SSD observed by the site has increased by about 170% since September 2025. Consequently, if you intended to assemble your PC in 2026 or had already begun sourcing components in 2025 but had not yet purchased storage solutions, the current prices of SSDs and HDDs might strain your budget.

Given that HDDs have not escalated in price as significantly as SSDs, you might be thinking about opting for one to save some money. Nonetheless, SSDs outperform HDDs regarding speed, durability, and energy efficiency. Yet, with their elevated cost, you may be questioning if purchasing an HDD would be a better option. While we typically advise against opting for HDDs, they are a sensible choice in 2026 since their prices have not surged as much as those of SSDs, making them an excellent solution for bulk storage to potentially supplement cloud storage services.

Reasons HDDs remain a viable option in 2026

<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap " data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2141151/are-hard-drives-worth-buying-2026/" data-post-title="Are Hard Drives Still Worth Buying In 2026?"

Five Useful Travel Devices You Can 3D Print on Your Own

purchase a variety of useful travel gadgets on Amazon; alternatively, you can utilize a 3D printer to create custom items such as chargers and earphones storage, phone stands, and camera tripods.

Although you could theoretically acquire storage solutions and holders at an airport souvenir shop in an emergency, it’s uncertain whether they would offer gadgets that fulfill your specific travel technology requirements, including your phone, charger, headphones, and others. You won’t discover this until after you’ve paid and unwrapped the item. To avoid that uncertainty, use a 3D printer at home to develop different secure storage options and practical gadgets that you can be sure will suit your requirements. You can customize these gadgets to fit your preferred technology, but if you need inspiration, you can explore popular 3D printing enthusiast sites like Printables and Creality Cloud. Here are five suggestions to spark your creativity.

Charger Container

America’s Sophisticated Surveillance Towers Are Quickly Growing

the covert cameras installed above roadways, COWs are visible. These swiftly proliferating surveillance devices are becoming increasingly prevalent across the United States, outfitted with cutting-edge video and audio monitoring and deterrent technologies.

COWs are produced by a range of security and surveillance technology firms, including the contentious Flock Safety and the Texas-based ECAM, and subsequently leased to various local and state law enforcement agencies or private security firms. These cameras have emerged as the preferred crime deterrent for police departments in multiple U.S. States due to their capacity to observe and listen to everything within their range.

With the addition of artificial intelligence capabilities, they serve as a straightforward set-and-forget solution that enables officers to effectively and thoroughly oversee a specific area utilizing a blend of multifunction cameras and two-way audio functionality. The COWs’ tall poles and somewhat disconcerting blinking lights have earned them the unwelcome moniker of “scarecrows,” prompting security contractors to increase production to satisfy police demand.

The Scarecrows come equipped with an array of intelligent surveillance technologies

Grasping the Purple Dot Appearing on Your MacBook Display: What It Signifies

like the MacBook Pro and desktop devices such as the iMac. As macOS progresses, users frequently encounter new functionalities and configurations, even if it’s something as trivial as a purple indicator dot hanging out near the Control Center symbol. Speaking of which, what does that purple dot signify anyway?

Launched with macOS Sonoma in late 2023, the purple dot serves as a privacy indicator. Its appearance indicates that an application is recording system audio or capturing your screen. Features like FaceTime and screen sharing — along with video conferencing applications such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams — can trigger the purple dot to light up. Fortunately, there’s no need for worry, provided you have granted these applications permission to record and track.

The purple dot is indeed part of a small collection of Control Center indicators. There are two additional colored dots: an orange one indicates that your Mac’s microphone is active, while green shows that your Mac’s camera is in use. There’s also an arrow icon to denote that your location is being utilized. You might be able to click the Control Center icon to check which apps are using your system audio, microphone, camera, or location (shown beneath the Control Center icon).

A compact indicator with significant importance

You have the option to allow or deny screen and audio-recording permissions for supported applications on your Mac. To do this, access System Settings, then navigate to Privacy & Security and Screen & System Audio Recording. Locate the application for which you wish to enable or disable permissions, then simply toggle the recording option on or off. You can also opt for an application to capture screen and system audio simultaneously, or to record audio exclusively.

You can add new applications to the list by clicking the plus icon at the bottom of the screen. We also suggest removing applications you no longer utilize; this way, you’ll have fewer choices to scroll through while using the privacy menu and

The Present Worth of Your Initial iPhone

the $599 iPhone 17e, aligning with the cost of the 8 GB version of the first iPhone, priced at $599. Original iPhones remain available for purchase, as past owners frequently list pre-owned iPhone 2G units on auction platforms like eBay. The condition greatly influences the price buyers are willing to pay. The most sought-after models are those with 4 GB of storage that remain in their original, unopened packaging. Such original iPhone units can command prices in the hundreds of thousands. For instance, a factory-sealed 4 GB original iPhone sold for $190,372.80 during the summer of 2023, beginning at a bid of $10,000. In the spring of 2024, a comparable unit was auctioned for $130,027.20, while another reached $147,286.

Nevertheless, Apple enthusiasts looking to acquire a second-hand iPhone 2G will spend significantly less. A brief search on eBay indicates that pre-owned first-generation iPhones can be priced below $100, although these are not highly coveted collector’s versions like the sealed 4 GB models. The starting price can escalate to several hundred dollars for a used, original iPhone that includes the original box and all accompanying accessories.

What makes the 4 GB original iPhone so unique?

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All iPhone 17 models feature

How to Resolve the Router Configuration That Could Be Hindering Your Internet Velocity

household devices disrupt your Wi-Fi since they function within the same frequency range. This includes microwaves, smart home gadgets, and baby monitors. Therefore, if this disruption begins after the initial scan, your router won’t automatically change channels, resulting in reduced internet speeds.

Choosing channels manually can resolve the issue

By manually selecting the channel in the router’s admin interface, you can significantly reduce interference from other networks and household devices and remove channel overlap. For the 2.4 GHz band, you need to select 1, 6, or 11, as these are the only channels that do not overlap. If your router supports the 5 GHz band, you’ll have 30 channels available, of which 24 are non-overlapping. Ideally, you should pick 36, 40, 44, or 48, although other selections such as 149, 153, 157, 161, or 165 should also be effective.

The procedures for manually adjusting channels differ based on the router brand. However, in most instances,