AllYouCanTech

Top 5 Essential Features in iOS 26.1 Based on User Reviews

explore our evaluation of this new phase), but approximately two months later, users are now discovering a few issues and glitches with the software. The positive aspect, however, is that the first significant update to iOS 26, iOS 26.1, is now accessible for download.

This update introduces some security enhancements to the iPhone and resolves a handful of bugs. More importantly, iOS 26.1 offers several clever features that are completely new to the system. You can expect some adjustments to the user interface, new functionalities for certain apps, and increased language support. Apple mentions just 10 new features for iOS 26.1, but there are indeed more. If you’re curious about which of these additions are genuinely worth trying, here are five that are highlighted by users.

Four Useful Methods to Reuse Your Old Google Chromecast

discovered a superior option, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still hold some value in your life. While properly recycling or selling the device are viable choices, there are a few exciting ways you can prolong the usefulness of your old streaming device.

If you’re unsure what to do with an unused Google Chromecast, consider some creative repurposing ideas such as keeping it on hand for work presentations, using it as a music streaming device with a soundbar, transforming it into a digital photo frame, or employing it with a TV to create a security monitor. Many of these suggestions leverage the features already available in the device, so setting them up and getting them to work for several of these ideas is quite straightforward.

While the Google Chromecast line has been phased out, there’s still a lot of potential left in the device. Even though Google has chosen to move on, it doesn’t mean you have to as well. You probably invested a good amount in your Chromecast, so take some time to consider the options below before you decide to part with it.

The HDMI Port of the Steam Machine Encounters Compatibility Challenges

Valve’s introduction of the Steam Machine has generated considerable excitement about the forthcoming gaming PC. Equipped with an AMD Zen 4 CPU, an AMD RDNA 3 GPU, and up to 16GB of RAM, the cube-shaped device isn’t expected to arrive until 2026 — providing gamers ample time to speculate on specifications and the launch of Steam’s new VR headset, revealed alongside the Steam Machine.

That being said, a perplexing issue has emerged: The Steam Machine’s HDMI is merely 2.0-certified. For those who may not be aware, HDMI 2.1 has been around since 2017, and it’s the type of connection you’ll find on contemporary consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, along with various gaming PC graphics cards. It certainly seems peculiar that Valve’s latest gaming system is categorized as a 2.0 device, but the intrigue only deepens.

Examining the Steam Machine’s specifications more closely, one will note that the HDMI 2.0 port supports up to 4K/120Hz and is compatible with HDR, FreeSync, and CEC. All of these are HDMI 2.1 specifications — which essentially indicates that the Steam PC is technically HDMI 2.1-compatible. The sole reason the new device can’t claim the official 2.1 designation is that the HDMI Forum prohibits HDMI 2.1 on Linux devices, the operating system that powers all Steam hardware.

HDMI 2.0, or HDMI 2.1 in disguise?

Does this imply you’ll be able to connect the Steam Machine to an HDMI 2.1 port on a 4K television effortlessly? The reality is that we’re uncertain, at least until we can put it to the test. However, we do know that Steam’s newest hardware will also feature a DisplayPort 1.4 connection, an alternative that some users may choose when connecting the Machine to a PC monitor. On paper, DisplayPort 1.4 surpasses HDMI 2.0 in terms of bandwidth capabilities, supporting up to 32.4Gbps compared to HDMI 2.0’s 18Gbps.

Nonetheless, this is not to suggest that gamers won’t experience excellent performance from the Steam Machine’s HDMI 2.0 port, which appears to function as an HDMI 2.1 in disguise. 4K/60Hz and even 1440p/120Hz are still visually impressive, and that’s before incorporating features like FreeSync. Still, since we’re compelled to deal with the HDMI 2.0 label, some gamers might end up evaluating the port by standards it no longer truly fits.

While the Steam Machine’s HDMI port seems to be experiencing an identity crisis, the Steam Deck’s USB-C port possesses a multitude of tricks, all of which are delightful surprises.

Top 3 HDMI Cables for Purchase Recommended by Users

dynamic HDR formats along with eARC/ARC compatibility. While cable producers are more inclined to secure formal accreditation for HDMI 2.1 cables, the earlier models usually lack certification, which places you at the mercy of the manufacturers. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be concerned; we have carefully selected the top HDMI cables that come highly recommended by satisfied customers.

Google Cuts Features in Gemini’s Free Tier Because of High Demand for Gemini 3

The leaked benchmark results for Gemini 3 Pro provide insight into what we can anticipate from Google’s most advanced AI model to date. Once it became available, users rushed to explore the full range of capabilities that Gemini 3 Pro presented — including generative UI. Naturally, users had to navigate a few hurdles to activate Gemini 3 AI, but even so, the effort was well justified in unlocking the model’s fullest potential. However, it appears that users have been leveraging Gemini 3 excessively, prompting Google to restrict the free tier of the AI chatbot to mitigate bandwidth consumption.

Google has typically been somewhat accommodating with its constraints across its various AI offerings. For instance, AI Mode in Chrome appears to not necessitate any particular AI subscription for utilization, and even the company’s premier image generation model — Nano Banana — was free for Gemini users, albeit with certain limitations. Now, those constraints are set to become more stringent, as recent modifications to the Gemini app access support page (via 9to5Google) imply that the company has significantly reduced the access to more advanced AI features for users on the free tier.

Uncover an Enhanced Substitute for Plastic Screen Protectors for Your Mobile Device

everything else you should consider when purchasing a new phone, it’s reassuring to recognize there’s fundamentally a “no-brainer” distinction between tempered glass and plastic screen protectors.

Current Cyber Monday Android Phone Offers on Amazon: Best Selections to Consider

major Android manufacturers featured in Amazon’s Cyber Monday Sale.

Utilize Your Smart TV Without a Remote: Complimentary Alternative Option Accessible

iOS Find My Remote function, but this isn’t always the scenario. It can also be annoying when you acquire a new TV, yet your previous remote is incompatible with it. If you’re fed up with managing your remote, there’s an alternative device you can employ to operate your smart TV, one that you nearly always have on hand: your smartphone.

Almost every smart TV system has a supplementary smartphone app that allows you to utilize your phone in place of a remote, including Fire TV, Google TV, Roku, and Apple TV. When utilized this way, your smartphone mirrors the same buttons you would generally find on your remote, connecting with your TV or streaming device through your home Wi-Fi. It’s a fantastic choice if you’ve mislaid the remote once more, or if your remote is damaged and you either cannot afford or do not wish to purchase a replacement.

Grasping the Importance of a Black USB Port

when a USB port appears blue, it signifies that the port is compliant with the USB 3.0 standard, also referred to as SuperSpeed USB. An orange USB port similarly denotes USB 3.0 but indicates that the port is continuously powered with passive power delivery. There are also teal-colored USB ports available. However, what does it signify if a USB port is black? Is it merely a cosmetic choice to coordinate with the casing, or does it hold a specific meaning?

A black USB port typically suggests that the connector is compatible with the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed standard, which, surprisingly, is now considered older despite the “Hi-Speed” designation. It allows for a maximum data transmission rate of 480 Mbps — significantly slower than USB 3.0, which can reach up to 5 Gbps. You can connect any USB Type-A cable to these ports, but if you’re connecting a newer device, like a recent smartphone, the data transfer and charging speeds will be reduced. USB 2.0 was first introduced in 2000, and although these ports remain in use today, they are considerably slower than USB Type-C and USB 3.0 and higher.

Regulation Prohibits Autonomous AI-Powered Trucks from Functioning on Roadways

Autonomous artificial intelligence trucking technology has made significant progress in recent years, seemingly indicating a future in which these trucks no longer need to pause for rest like human operators. While not everyone supports this kind of technology, Aurora is advocating for it by proposing that self-driving trucks be allowed to utilize a different kind of warning signal instead of traffic cones.