Utilizing a Google Nest Thermostat Without Internet Access

Google has phased out its Nest brand in favor of Google Home and has also ceased support for the 1st and 2nd gen Nest thermostats, raising a significant question. Is it possible to operate a Google Nest thermostat without internet, and if so, what functionalities are accessible or unavailable while offline? 

The brief response is yes, a Google Nest thermostat will continue to operate effectively without internet. Nonetheless, certain features will be inaccessible, and it will function like a standard thermostat with manual control over heating and cooling settings. You will not be able to access it through mobile applications, meaning no remote capability to adjust settings. 

You also won’t get notifications while the device is offline, nor can you utilize cloud-dependent features or voice commands. Any smart schedules you’ve created should keep functioning without internet, but if you wish to make any modifications, you’ll need to do that directly through the thermostat. This is akin to other products from the company, such as the Google Home Hub, which can operate offline, though only to a limited extent.

Your Nest thermostat does not require the internet for fundamental operations

Five Smartphones Boasting Extended Battery Life Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S25+

the standard Galaxy S25 retains a similar design to the more compact version. To recap, the Galaxy S25 Ultra boasts a more angular appearance and includes a built-in S Pen stylus that may not suit everyone’s needs. Consequently, the Galaxy S25+ stands out as the preferable choice, offering a large screen, premium specifications, a commitment to seven years of Android updates, and impressive battery longevity.

However, if you’re in search of a device with a size comparable to the Galaxy S25+ but desire even superior battery performance than its 4,900 mAh capacity can deliver, there’s good news: numerous alternatives exist for consumers, spanning both mid-range devices and high-end models. Before examining the five smartphones that surpass the Galaxy S25+ in battery longevity, we must address a significant concern: manufacturers’ battery life claims.

When evaluating battery performance across devices from various manufacturers, the official battery life figures these companies provide cannot be taken at face value since they may assess battery life in distinct manners that lack consistency within the industry. Rather than citing the official battery life ratings, we based our analysis on standardized battery tests from two tech websites, including PhoneArena (aggregate score for web surfing, video playback, and gaming) and Notebookcheck (Wi-Fi web browsing). The Galaxy S25+ results are recorded at 7 hours and 36 minutes (PhoneArena) and 19 hours and 49 minutes (Notebookcheck).

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Five iPhone Applications for Keyless Vehicle Management

keep your car keys on your iPhone or your Android smartwatch. This is typically achievable through your car’s corresponding app, if available for your model. These applications also enable you to track what’s going on with your vehicle, arrange maintenance, find your vehicle when you can’t recall where you parked, and utilize remote start. Moreover, if you own an EV, keeping track of its status could be crucial, given their reduced reliability.

If you reside in sunny Southern California, you likely don’t need to warm up your car in the morning, but if you are situated in places like Pittsburgh, you’ll appreciate your vehicle’s remote start and pre-heating functionalities in the winter when your area is covered by several feet of snow. Additionally, it’s hard to overlook the advantages of being able to oversee and operate your vehicle without a physical key or buttons.

The concept of a digital car key is no longer far-fetched. Many individuals might already be utilizing some type of digital house key and connected home security system via their phone. This is why a variety of apps exist that enable control of their vehicle, some from independent companies, others from well-known brands, and a handful that can even provide functionality to older non-smart cars.

Uconnect

Uconnect is one of the numerous remote-start capable apps from a prominent automobile manufacturer, compatible with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles. Through this app, users can check their vehicle’s health reports, access their digital glovebox for various manuals, review their fuel level and mileage, and more.

“Home Appliances and Devices with High Energy Usage”

cut down on your electricity expenses, although there are alternative strategies for lowering energy usage. The important factor for energy bills is the quantity of devices actively using energy, and some may consume significantly more than you’d expect.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration referenced its yearly energy outlook for 2025 to identify various electronics and appliances that consume the highest amount of energy in a single-family residence in the nation. These appliances can be located in different areas of your home, such as the kitchen, living room, or bedroom, but some of the primary culprits might affect the entire household.

We have a handful of minor recommendations for you to lessen the energy usage of these appliances, as well as other ways to decrease expenses. For instance, you might consider installing solar panels at your residence, or you can cut costs on your power bill by disconnecting certain devices at night. Besides these alternatives, here are a few gadgets that you might want to monitor in your house to lower their electricity usage.

6 energy-intensive devices in your household

Consumer Reports Reveals the Most Enjoyable Electric Vehicle Brand to Drive

Consumer Reports’ driver satisfaction summary ranked Tesla, the electric vehicle (EV) brand, as the most satisfying regarding drivability. The ranking primarily emphasizes handling and acceleration speed. Tesla secured the top position, followed by Rivian in second place and BMW in third. A survey conducted in 2025, reviewing around 380,000 vehicles from the 2023 to 2026 model years, was utilized to formulate these rankings.

It’s noteworthy that Tesla holds the top spot for drivability according to this report, especially since Consumer Reports recently categorized Tesla as the least reliable used car brand. Nonetheless, EV technology is relatively nascent, the industry is constantly evolving, and the vehicles keep enhancing. Tesla, which currently manufactures the Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y, and Cybertruck, consistently expands the limits of what an EV can offer, making it intriguing to observe how these rankings develop in the future.

What owners say about driving Teslas

Google Discloses Hackers’ Employment of AI as a Potent Tool

prompts to enhance ChatGPT’s efficiency, cybercriminals have been leveraging AI to pilfer passwords and financial data.

Recently, the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) released a blog post outlining how nefarious individuals are exploiting various AI systems, including Google’s own Gemini, to target people and either abscond with essential data or deceive victims into divulging it. GTIG reports that AI is being employed for the theft of intellectual property, monitoring, and the development of new types of malware programs, prompting the group to compile a roster of “threat actors” who attempted to misuse Gemini for harmful purposes. Google intervened and halted these offenders, but it still aimed to illustrate what these individuals were doing, as their programming misdeeds could significantly affect the future of cybersecurity.

AI enables hackers to swiftly identify targets and modify tactics

Comparative Review of 7 Leading Music Streaming Platforms: Ranked from Least to Most Preferred

**Ranking 7 Major Music Streaming Services From Worst To Best**

Before streaming became prevalent, music fans depended on buying albums on CDs or via platforms like iTunes. This method involved acquiring one album at a time without any guarantee of its quality. The emergence of streaming services such as Spotify transformed this experience by providing limitless music for a small fee, drawing many users in due to its affordability compared to purchasing single albums. Furthermore, artists obtained the liberty to create music independently, avoiding conventional record labels.

By 2026, streaming accounts for roughly 80% of the music industry’s revenue, aided by the multitude of platforms accessible. While trailblazers like Spotify foster a social and engaging environment, others like Apple Music and Tidal focus on offering high-resolution and spatial audio experiences. With an array of choices and increasing subscription fees, selecting the ideal service can be overwhelming. To help in finding the right platform, we have assessed and ranked the major music streaming services from worst to best.

**Deezer**

Deezer, one of the earliest platforms, serves as a practical alternative to Spotify, offering features such as collaborative playlists and music quizzes. It has a free tier supported by ads and streams at 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, which is satisfactory for Bluetooth headphone users. Nonetheless, its absence of Dolby Atmos support and limited recognition outside of France are disadvantages. At a cost of $11.99 per month, users have experienced sporadic crashes and glitches.

**Qobuz**

Qobuz is tailored for audiophiles with its outstanding audio quality, providing 24-bit, 192 kHz streams. It permits music purchases without needing a subscription and offers discounts via its Sublime tier. Qobuz places emphasis on human-curated content and editorial features. However, despite its advantages, it lacks some significant albums and Dolby Atmos support, making its starting price of $12.99 a tough sell for non-audiophiles.

**Amazon Music Unlimited**

Included as part of Prime, Amazon Music features over 100 million tracks, yet offline and on-demand listening is restricted to 15 playlists. Music Unlimited, available at $11.99 ($10.99 for Prime subscribers), supports Hi-Fi audio and spatial content. It presents various subscription options for Amazon devices, although the app can sometimes act up, impacting the user experience.

**YouTube Music**

Though initially lacking, YouTube Music now provides great value with YouTube Premium and Music for $13.99. Google’s AI improves playlist suggestions, yet the absence of lossless or spatial audio is a drawback. The app does not offer human-curated playlists and can run into glitches.

**Spotify**

Spotify, a frontrunner in streaming, features a free tier and an excellent algorithm. With a monthly fee of $13, it unveiled lossless streaming in 2025, but it still falls short on surround sound. Spotify’s usability, Discover Weekly feature, and exclusive podcasts stand out, although audiobook listening remains limited.

**Tidal**

Tidal provides high-resolution audio at a competitive monthly fee of $10.99. Its attributes include personalized playlists and Universal Links for song sharing. Tidal’s sound quality is unparalleled, and it supports artists by allocating a portion of subscriptions directly to them. Nevertheless, its accessibility is confined to 61 countries.

**Apple Music**

Apple Music shines with its sound quality, providing Dolby Atmos and high-resolution options. Its discovery features and human-curated radio stations are exceptional. At $10.99 per month, Apple Music’s global compatibility and extensive feature set establish it as the best option for most users.

**Methodology**

Evaluating music streaming services is complex due to their varying qualities. We prioritized sound quality, catalog size, discovery systems, and user-friendliness. Additional features such as app availability and curated content were also taken into account to ascertain the best value for listeners.

The Unmade 1960s Batman vs. Godzilla Movie Idea Uncovered as Strikingly Unorthodox

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit’s” animated figures that caused Bob Hoskins to see things), some unapologetically silly yet enjoyable ones (“Freddy vs. Jason”), and some budget, deliberately absurd mockbusters that functioned as a bad joke (“Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus”) in the past few decades, for sure. Yet, this unrealized 1966 venture called “Batman vs. Godzilla” probably takes the prize, even if it never materialized.

According to Grantland, a proposed follow-up to the Adam West-starring “Batman: The Movie” (which premiered after the completion of season 1 of the live-action series) actually had a script (“Batman Meets Godzilla,” ordered from writer Shinichi Sekizawa) that merged the iconic kaiju with the exaggerated slapstick humor of William Dozier’s beloved “Batman” series that aired in the mid-’60s.

Located in Japan, the narrative would have featured Batman, Robin, and Batgirl teaming up to rescue the nation from a sinister German meteorologist, Klaus Finster. Finster asserts he can “control the weather,” which, it seems, serves as a euphemism for having dominion over Godzilla. Regardless, his preliminary threat is to obliterate the entire nation unless he receives $20 million in gold from… anyone. But when he discovers that the caped heroes have been notified to thwart him, he initially dispatches a robotic replica of Count Draidl (a companion of Batman and Robin) equipped with “gun eyes” to deal with them so he can execute his clever master plan. After taking down the android, Batman deduces that the kaiju may be a component of Finster’s nefarious scheme, total destruction and all, and the genuine circus featuring Kabuki performances, samurai swords, Batcopter, espionage robots, a Japanese bathhouse, and Godzilla falling in love is just around the corner.

However absurd this storyline appears, you must concede this movie would have been a spectacle, probably yielding meme material for ages.

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“Recently Introduced Features for Samsung Galaxy Phones”

The year 2025 proved to be remarkably lively for Galaxy users. Within just six months, Samsung rolled out two significant updates to its One UI platform. One UI 7 debuted in early April, while One UI 8 followed in mid-September. These consecutive updates brought a wealth of new features to explore. Among the standout additions were call captions, reminder templates, and a lock screen clock that changes shape according to the background. The Now Bar, the Galaxy S25’s counterpart to the Dynamic Island found on iPhones, is yet another prominent feature that provides quick access to your active applications.

If you find these features impressive, just wait—Samsung is only beginning. For those who participated in the One UI Beta Program, Samsung recently introduced a new array of features to your Galaxy device through the latest One UI 8.5 update. This update is presently in beta testing, meaning it isn’t officially available to the public yet. However, you can sign up for the program whenever you wish. After enrollment, here are five new Galaxy features you’ll want to explore.

**Record only a portion of your screen**

Whenever you’re screen recording a tutorial on your Galaxy device, you typically have to crop out the status and navigation bars later. This keeps your privacy intact and provides a cleaner recording. You might also want to crop a screen recording if your focus is on a specific section—perhaps a GIF a friend sent or an error message from a website.

With One UI 8.5, you can skip the hassle of file editing. Your Galaxy phone now allows partial screen recording, enabling you to select which parts to record manually. Using partial screen recording on One UI 8.5 is as straightforward as the previous screen recorder. Here’s the process:

1. Navigate to your Quick Settings.
2. Add the Screen Recorder control if it’s not already visible.
3. Tap Screen Recorder.
4. In the panel that appears, select Partial screen.
5. You can also set your preferred audio recording option—media, media and microphone, or none—and decide whether to include taps and touches.
6. Click Start recording.
7. Adjust the rectangle as necessary. A magnifier will appear in the upper-left for precise corner adjustments.
8. Grab the white circular handle in the center-top of the rectangle to reposition it.
9. Press Record.

Continue with the screen recording as normal. If you wish to pause, simply tap the pause icon at the bottom of the rectangle. Once finished, click the stop icon. Your screen recording will be instantly saved in your Gallery.

**Customize your Quick Settings panel**

The Quick Settings panel on your Galaxy device is likely something you access several times daily. While it is already somewhat customizable, One UI 8.5 allows you even greater flexibility in how it appears, enhancing the optimization of your Samsung Galaxy phone. This update lets you resize the tiles, drag them freely on the screen, and add or remove tiles beyond the standard Quick Toggles group.

When resizing tiles, most controls are limited to two options: icon-only and pill-shaped (icon with label). However, there are a few exceptions. For example, the brightness and volume sliders can be elongated and oriented either horizontally or vertically. The music player and Quick Toggles group can also be expanded significantly, covering almost half the panel. To adjust your Quick Settings panel’s appearance, follow these steps:

1. Swipe down from the top of the display to access the Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap the pencil icon at the top.
3. To modify a tile’s size, drag its resize handle located on the right or bottom.
4. To reposition a tile, drag and drop it to your preferred location.
5. To eliminate a tile, click the minus icon in the top-left corner.
6. To add a new tile, select “Add a control” at the bottom, long-press the setting you desire, and drop it on the panel.
7. When satisfied with the arrangement of items, simply hit Done in the upper-right corner and you’re set.

**Edit images with the enhanced Photo Assist menu**

Samsung Galaxy’s Gallery app has incorporated AI photo editing capabilities for some time. However, these features became much more user-friendly with One UI 8.5. This update has launched a more streamlined design and an accessible history feature to maximize your editing experience.

To access the new Photo Assist on your Galaxy phone, open an image you wish to edit in the Gallery app and tap the sparkle icon at the bottom. This action will take you to the Photo Assist screen featuring options at the bottom. You