This SanDisk microSD card is touted as an awesome option for photography needs. It has amazing read and write speeds and, more importantly, a ton of storage—512GB to be exact.
Most of our smartphones don’t have expandable storage anymore, but for those devices that do, microSD cards are still an amazing purchase. This microSD card brings your storage up by 512GB, and it’s an amazing price today.
This SanDisk 512GB microSD card is usually available for its retail MSRP of $52.48, but right now, you can grab one at Walmart for a measly $21.53. That’s more than half off its MSRP, a savings of over $30, and an amazing price for one of the best microSD cards out there.
This particular microSD card belongs to SanDisk’s ImageMate range, which means it’s pretty good for photography and video recording. It is a UHS-1 class card that offers substantial storage and rapid data transfer speeds up to 200MB/s. Not the fastest, but it certainly gets the job done if you don’t need to transfer files back and forth frequently. It’s a good fit for action cameras, drones, and the few Android phones that still have expandable storage.
Related
Get This 512GB Samsung microSD Card for Just $33 Today
Do you need more space for your Nintendo Switch, dashcam, Steam Deck, or other device with a microSD card slot? Samsung’s 512GB EVO Select card is now on sale for $33 from Amazon and Samsung’s online store.
With write speeds up to 140MB/s, it’s good for recording 4K video, but anything above this and you might struggle. It’s also not a microSD Express card, so it won’t work if you’re planning to buy a Nintendo Switch 2. Other than this, it’s a great option for anyone who needs to pack a lot of storage on their devices on a budget.
This card just hit its all-time low price, so it’s the best opportunity yet to save a lot of money on your storage and get one of these. Make sure to hop on this deal while it lasts, though—we’re not sure how long this offer will be around.
A smeary smartphone screen covered in fingerprints and other muck is a common occurrence for many of us—but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re like me and you want a nice, clean smartphone, it’s time to try a ceramic smartphone coating.
What Is a Ceramic Smartphone Coating?
Ruslan Lytvyn/Shutterstock
Protective hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings are used in various applications, particularly electronics, medical devices, industrial settings, and so on. Basically, if devices must remain clean and dry, hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings are a great idea. Now, many phones even come with a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating applied in the factory.
Most of the time, PFASs (Perfluoroalkyl Substances) are used to oleophobic coat phones. PFASs have been known to harm the environment and humans, but ceramic coatings are mostly silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon dioxide exists naturally in plants and on the Earth’s crust, and there is no evidence that it is harmful to ingest.
Ceramic coatings are used in many applications to protect surfaces from scratches and water adhesion, such as kitchen countertops, windows, sunglasses, and many more. Ceramic coating a phone doesn’t sound so crazy now, does it?
Was Ceramic Coating My Phone a Good Idea?
Jhet Borja/MakeUseOf
To test, I tested a ceramic coating made for automotive windshields against a tiny bottle of “Nano” oleophobic coating. I tested it on a glass screen protector with no oleophobic layer, covering half of the screen protector to compare. For a bonus test, I also put both of the coatings up against my partner’s iPad with a high-quality oleophobic glass screen protector, putting oil on all of them to see how oleophobic they all are.
Jhet Borja/MakeUseOf
I applied the coating using a latex glove and spreading it around. At some point, I also tried applying it with a fresh lens cleaner, which worked well for the ceramic coating. However, I ended up wasting a lot of the Nano oleophobic coating as it absorbed into the fabric and evaporated too quickly. Using a latex glove was better for the oleophobic coating, while the fabric worked well for the ceramic coating.
The results on the glass screen protector were night and day; the coated half makes the water bead up and roll off while the uncoated half keeps the water on its surface and creating sheets. The coated side was applied using the latex glove, and the excess was buffed a few minutes after coating.
The Nano oleophobic coating was quite finicky; it evaporated very quickly, and there was barely half of the advertised 2 mL per bottle. I eventually used the latex glove to apply it in a thick layer and left it for about 30 minutes. It worked well, showing hydrophobic properties, and fingerprints were much easier to clean. However, in the oil test I received some interesting results.
For the oil test, I wanted to test how well these DIY coatings would do against a more expensive oleophobic glass screen protector. I put the Nano oleophobic coated phone against the screen protector first, as in the video above. As you can see, the screen protector made the cooking oil bead up very quickly, while the oleophobic coating took much longer for it to bead up. It’s still oleophobic, but not as extreme.
The interesting result is the ceramic coating against the oleophobic coating. In the video above, the ceramic coating made the oil bead up much quicker than the oleophobic coating despite not advertising any oleophobicity. However, it also looks like the oleophobic coating performed much worse than when I put it up against the iPad—most likely because of the buffing process that removed much of the coating.
How Durable Is the Ceramic Coating?
Jhet Borja/MakeUseOf
I used my coated phone for about three weeks, then re-ran the oil test to see how the coating held up.
As you can see in the image above, it still retains some of its oleophobicity, but not as well as it used to. Oleophobicity is best retained around the least touched areas, like the very bottom or the very top. However, what matters most is not how well it makes oil bead up, it’s how easily you can clean off the fingerprints—and it definitely still is easy to clean. It also retains its hydrophobicity quite well.
The oil test is an extreme case, showing how well it repels a large amount of oil. However, finger oils are in much lower amounts, meaning the effect doesn’t have to be as strong to let it do its job. I don’t see this as a reason to reapply, and it might hold up for another two to three weeks. You could apply a few more layers and let it cure for a few hours for a more durable coating.
Should You Ceramic Coat Your Phone?
Justin Duino / MakeUseOf
After the results, ceramic coating your phone doesn’t sound so impractical. If you’re anything like me and find screen protectors (glass or film) annoying, this could very well be a great alternative.
I used ceramic coating made for windshields, so it’s not made to resist scratches. However, buying a ceramic coating made to protect car paint will provide quite a bit more protection than the one I used. There are also liquid screen protectors for touchscreen devices made specifically to increase scratch resistance, such as the Liquid Glass Screen Protector.
The automotive paint and screen protectors have silicon dioxide as the main ingredient but differ in the formulation to make it stronger or coat more evenly. These coatings don’t just have to go on the screen, either. They can go on a glass back, the camera lens, and metal edges. If it can protect car paint from rock chips and harsh elements, it’ll certainly protect the phone you keep in your pocket or bag.
If you can’t get a hold of the proper oleophobic coatings or are afraid to apply it yourself, you can use an oleophobic screen protector or take your phone to a professional who can apply the coating. You can also choose a screen protector based on your needs, like a privacy screen protector, and then add an oleophobic coating over it so you don’t have to compromise on features.
Related
Do You Use a Screen Protector on Your Phone?
Some see screen protectors as an essential phone accessory, while others think they’re not necessary. Where do you fall? Do you have a screen protector on your current phone, and has your stance on them changed over the years?
I used to put a screen protector on my phone because I figured it was a wise idea, but I never drop my phone, so I stopped doing it a few phones ago. I don’t like the feeling of touching the screen with one as much as without, and I’ve never really scratched a screen.
I’m Probably Going to Ceramic Coat More of My Stuff
I’ve ordered oleophobic and scratch-resistant coatings that I’ll try on more of my tech stuff, especially the ones with touch screens and shiny surfaces that scratch easily. I already thought of coating my PC’s glass panel, my headphones’ shiny plastic, glass mouse feet, and so much more.
Many of us own tech items that we’d love to keep scratch-free and away from fingerprints as much as possible. Thankfully, the solution doesn’t have to be to buy a new product entirely, but as easy as modifying your stuff to how you want it.
Cloud storage is convenient, but can fall victim to data breaches. Use cloud storage with end-to-end encryption to protect your files from leaking.
Secure your credentials in a password manager that encrypts passwords stored in the cloud.
Encrypt files shared online in password-protected archives and remove identifying information from shared documents.
It’s practically impossible to avoid uploading files to the cloud these days: even if you avoid cloud sync tools like OneDrive, you’re eventually going to need to share something with someone. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of that data being used for unintended purposes.
Why You Need To Secure Your Cloud Uploads
“The cloud” has become a catch-all term for any online storage—and it’s never been as secure as we’d like to believe.
Online sync tools like OneDrive, Dropbox, and iCloud store your files in far-away data centers and can revoke access at any time. Cloud email hosts store your emails and attachments on servers that are outside your control. Social media platforms change their privacy settings at the drop of a hat, exposing information that was once private. Online file sharing, image hosting, and other services are routinely breached, leaking raw data that can be used to identify you.
Once you’ve uploaded data into the cloud, it’s potentially there forever, even if it looks like you’ve deleted it. It could exist in old backups that haven’t yet been purged by the provider, or simply marked as deleted, but retained for continued use per some buried clause in the company’s privacy policy.
Given the modern necessity to share files and information online, your only real option is to take measures to secure it and reduce the risk it poses if it is leaked.
Use Cloud Storage With Built-In End-To-End Encryption
If you’re using cloud synchronization tools to store files, choose ones with end-to-end encryption. This means that the files are encrypted and decrypted on your devices, using a password that isn’t stored in the cloud, meaning the service provider can’t read it.
The most popular end-to-end encrypted file synchronization tool is Apple’s iCloud, but it’s limited to Apple devices. Proton and NordLocker provide cross-platform solutions that work on most devices. If you rely on cloud storage to store important files, you should make sure you keep your own local copies as well, just in case you lose access, or someone compromises your account and deletes them.
Proton Drive Review: It Could Be So Much More
A secure cloud storage service that misses the mark.
Secure Your Credentials in a Password Database
In addition to helping you remember all the unique, strong passwords you’re using for each website and app (…right?), password managers encrypt all the info they store, so that their database files can be safely synced using cloud tools.
Bitwarden
The best free password manager is also one of the best password managers out there with its minimalist and straightforward interface. It’s also open-source, and even the premium version is a bargain at only $10 per year.
If your password manager database leaks, its contents cannot be read without the encryption key, giving you a head start on changing your passwords and locking everything down. Many password-management apps will also automatically clear your clipboard after you’ve copied and pasted a password from them, preventing the dreaded “pasted my password into chat instead of linking to a cat GIF” situation that has no doubt led to a few compromised online accounts.
Encrypt the Files You Share
If you’re using a cloud file-sharing service to send a file that’s too large for email, compress it into an encrypted ZIP archive, and share the password with the recipient so only they can read it.
This prevents snooping by the sharing services themselves, or by anyone who manages to breach it or gets hold of the download link for the file. This is particularly useful if sharing travel or business documents that contain sensitive information.
Protect Your Cloud-Hosted Backups
If you must use online storage that isn’t end-to-end encrypted to store backups (hey, it’s usually free!), consider storing any sensitive files in an encrypted VeraCrypt container.
You can safely store these containers online, and mount them when you need to add files to them, or recover data. Just remember, if you lose your encryption key, anything you’ve secured with it will be forever unreadable.
Redact and Watermark
Remove EXIF data from photos before sharing them, so that they cannot be used to determine your location. You can also redact data to reduce the harm in a file leaking, or track where the leak came from: for example, if sharing bank statements for a rent application, make sure your account numbers are blacked out.
You can also watermark documents by partially covering any photos, so that they are harder to use to impersonate you.
Cloud file sync and sharing services are super convenient, but like any convenience, it comes at a cost. If you’re concerned about privacy, or just don’t want to hand your info over to big tech, you can still avoid a lot of cloud platforms by hosting your own services and using peer-to-peer sharing services.
Syncthing can replace cloud file sync tools, syncing your files directly between your Windows, MacOS, and Linux devices without relying on an intermediary. NextCloud can be installed on a home server to build your own file sync service that you fully control, and you can also use Docker to host a variety of apps like online office suites and file transfer tools, all while retaining complete control of them.
All of this can be remotely accessed using an easy-to-configure VPN like TailScale. If you need some hardware to host all of this on and don’t have a spare PC around to start your homelab, you should consider picking up a NAS. If this all sounds like a bit of a project—it is, and it’s super rewarding when you get it all up and running.
Razer’s upcoming Blade 16 and other laptops are no longer available for preorder or purchase on its US site. The configurator for preordering its new Blade 16 laptop was available as recently as April 1st, according to the Internet Archive — one day before the Trump administration announced sweeping US tariffs on China, Taiwan, and others that make laptop components. When asked recently if tariffs might affect Razer’s prices or availability, its Public Relations Manager, Andy Johnston, told The Verge, “We do not have a comment at this stage regarding tariffs.”
The direct link to the Blade 16 configurator now takes you to a 404 error page, and its product page only has a “notify me” button instead of anywhere to submit your preorder.
Even a new laptop stand Razer announced today, which a press release said would be “available now,” only has a “notify me” button with no price listed anywhere. Meanwhile, the same laptop stand has a price of $99.99 CA on the Razer Canada site, where the Blade 16 configurator is still available. It’s a similar story for Razer’s site in other countries as well. We’ve contacted Razer for further comment on tariffs and asked for confirmation that it has paused sales, but it did not respond by the time of publication.
The TP-Link AX1500 is a reliable Wi-Fi 6 router designed to deliver high-speed internet for seamless streaming, gaming, and working from home. However, users sometimes face speed limitations, such as capped Ethernet speeds at 100 Mbps or inconsistent Wi-Fi performance. These issues often arise due to improper configurations, outdated firmware, or hardware-related problems. This guide will help you optimize your TP-Link AX1500 router for maximum performance while addressing common challenges.
Step 1: Diagnose Speed Issues
The first step in improving your router’s performance is identifying the root cause of speed limitations. If your router is capping speeds at 100 Mbps instead of delivering gigabit speeds, the issue may lie with your cables, port settings, or external factors.
Test Ethernet Cables:
Use TP-Link’s built-in cable tester in the Tether app to check for damaged or low-quality cables.
Replace old cables with Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables, which are capable of supporting gigabit speeds.
Verify Cable Integrity:
Connect a laptop directly to your ISP router using the same Ethernet cable that connects to the AX1500.
Run an internet speed test to confirm whether the cable can deliver your full internet speed.
Eliminate ISP Issues:
If your cable passes the test but speeds are still low, connect your laptop directly to your ISP modem/router and run another speed test. This will help you determine if the issue lies with your ISP or the AX1500 router.
By diagnosing these potential issues early, you can pinpoint whether the problem stems from your hardware setup or external factors like your internet service provider.
Step 2: Force Gigabit Negotiation
If your Ethernet connection remains stuck at 100 Mbps despite using proper cables, it could be due to port negotiation issues between the AX1500 and your ISP modem. Here’s how to address this:
Log into Your Router:
Open a web browser and type 192.168.0.1 (or tplinkwifi.net) into the address bar.
Enter your admin username and password (default credentials are often printed on the router label).
Adjust Port Speed Settings:
Navigate to Advanced > Network > Internet.
Set Port Speed to 1 Gbps Full Duplex. This forces the router to negotiate at gigabit speeds.
If this causes link drops or disconnections, revert back to Auto mode and test again with different cables.
Test Connection Stability:
After making changes, run a speed test on a wired device connected to the AX1500 to confirm that speeds have improved.
Forcing gigabit negotiation can resolve many speed bottlenecks caused by misconfigured ports or incompatible hardware.
Step 3: Optimize Wi-Fi Performance
While wired connections typically offer faster and more reliable speeds, optimizing your Wi-Fi settings can significantly improve wireless performance for devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Assign Non-DFS Channels:
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels can interfere with radar signals, leading to slower speeds or dropped connections.
In your router’s admin panel, navigate to Wireless > Advanced Settings and manually assign channels 36–48 for 5 GHz Wi-Fi. These non-DFS channels provide better stability.
Enable MU-MIMO:
Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously without slowing down the network.
Ensure MU-MIMO is enabled in your router’s settings for optimal performance when multiple devices are connected.
Upgrade Client Devices:
Older devices with outdated Wi-Fi adapters may not fully utilize Wi-Fi 6 capabilities.
Upgrade laptops or PCs with Intel AX210 cards (or similar) for full compatibility with Wi-Fi 6 features like faster speeds and reduced latency.
Position Your Router Strategically:
Place your router in a central location away from walls, metal objects, and electronic interference.
Elevate it on a shelf for better signal distribution throughout your home.
Adjust Bandwidth Settings:
Use QoS (Quality of Service) settings in the admin panel to prioritize bandwidth for high-demand activities like gaming or video conferencing.
Advanced Troubleshooting
If you’ve followed all the steps above but are still experiencing slow speeds or connectivity issues, try these advanced troubleshooting techniques:
Update Firmware:
Log into your router’s admin panel and check for firmware updates under System Tools > Firmware Upgrade.
Download updates from TP-Link’s official website if they’re not available automatically.
Firmware updates often include bug fixes and performance enhancements that can resolve persistent issues.
Install Third-Party Firmware:
For tech-savvy users, installing third-party firmware like OpenWRT can unlock advanced features such as granular QoS controls and buffer bloat management.
Be cautious when flashing third-party firmware, as it may void warranties or cause instability if done incorrectly.
Disable QoS Temporarily:
While QoS is useful for prioritizing certain types of traffic (e.g., gaming or streaming), it can sometimes limit overall bandwidth.
Disable QoS temporarily in the admin panel under Advanced > QoS Settings and test if speeds improve.
Reset Your Router:
Perform a factory reset by holding down the reset button on the back of the router for about 10 seconds.
Reconfigure your network settings after resetting to ensure everything is optimized.
Preventive Measures
To maintain consistent high-speed performance over time, follow these preventive measures:
Regularly Check Cable Integrity: Use diagnostic tools like TP-Link’s cable tester in the Tether app to identify damaged cables early.
Ensure Proper Ventilation: Overheating can reduce router performance over time. Place your router in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight or enclosed spaces.
Schedule Periodic Firmware Updates: Set reminders to check for firmware updates every few months via your router’s admin panel or TP-Link’s website.
Reboot Your Router Periodically: Restarting your router once every week or two clears temporary glitches and improves overall stability.
Optimize Device Placement: For larger homes, consider adding a mesh Wi-Fi system or range extenders to eliminate dead zones and ensure strong signals throughout your space.
Backlink Suggestions
To enhance SEO and provide readers with additional resources, include backlinks from official sources:
Conclusion
The TP-Link AX1500 is an excellent router capable of delivering high-speed internet when configured correctly. By diagnosing speed issues, forcing gigabit negotiation, optimizing Wi-Fi settings, and following preventive measures, you can unlock its full potential for seamless streaming, gaming, and working from home.
With these optimizations in place—and supported by official resources like TP-Link Support Center and TP-Link Tether App Guide —you’ll enjoy faster internet speeds across all devices in your home without interruptions!
President Donald Trump’s tariffs are disrupting American’s financial plans and pressuring many to buy tech items now, out of fear of tariff-related price hikes.
Tariffs on China, a major tech manufacturer, as well as other countries, have already prompted price increases from tech companies on imported tech like laptops, TVs and gaming systems. In February, Acer announced that it planned to increase laptop prices by 10% to help offset tariffs. So far this year Trump has imposed a 20% tariff on imports from China, with another 34% reciprocal tariff planned to go into effect later this week. The president has also threatened an additional 50% tariff on the country, a move that could drive up tech prices even higher.
“If there’s a 10% tariff on smartphones, that means US-based companies have to pay 10% more to get the products from overseas,” said Patti Brennan, a certified financial planner. “That extra 10% has to come from somewhere, and I suspect that most companies are going to pass it along to the consumer — which is what they’ve done in the past.”
Experts predict that prices on items like iPhones could double this year, and the potential impact of tariffs has already delayed preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the US.
Before the last round of tariffs were implemented, a March CNET survey found that 33% of US adults feel pressured to purchase in anticipation of tariff-related price hikes. And nearly one in five US adults (17%) made a purchase ahead of potential cost increases that could come.
Here’s what we learned about how tariffs are changing US adults’ buying habits and expert advice on how to get the best deal on tech in the meantime.
US adults feel most pressured to buy electronics, including smartphones, laptops and home appliances, out of fear that tariffs will lead to price increases.
38% of shoppers have felt pressure to make purchases before tariffs raise prices.
One in 10 shoppers made big-ticket purchases late last year or early this year to try to avoid tariff-induced price jumps. Another one in 10 said they’re likely to make big purchases sooner rather than later.
27% of shoppers are delaying big purchases over $500. On the other hand, 18% are planning to shop sales this year.
Gen Z and millennials are facing more pressure to buy now
Compared to Gen X and boomers, younger generations are feeling more pressure: 48% of Gen Z and 45% of millennials said they felt pressure to make purchases to avoid tariff-related price hikes.
But over 60% of Gen X and boomers haven’t felt this same pressure to make purchases. Usha Haley, a professor at the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, said that younger generations may be more susceptible to peer pressure or the fear of missing out than older generations.
Most US adults are planning ahead for cost surges
Most US adults are making (or planning to make) changes to their budgets to prepare for tariff-related price changes. Consumers are also cutting back on nonessential spending, like dining out and travel (40%), and saving more from each paycheck (19%).
Tariff price hike threats are driving shoppers to buy big-ticket tech sooner than later
Most shoppers who are concerned about tariffs driving up the cost of tech products either planned to purchase ahead of tariffs or have purchased electronics late last year or early this year. Smartphones and laptops are at the top of that list.
By the numbers, 48% of US adults plan to buy or have already bought smartphones, and 42% have done the same for laptops. Other top tech items that shoppers are concerned about include home appliances, TVs and smart home devices.
Some US adults are still delaying bigger purchases for now
It doesn’t surprise experts that some US adults are delaying big purchases over $500 (27%). Nearly one in five (18%) that plan to make big purchases will take advantage of major sales throughout the year, which could be a big money saver if tariffs drive up prices. Additionally, the survey found that 11% of US adults already made purchases ahead of tariffs late last year and earlier this year to avoid higher prices.
If you’re worried about prices going up and already have the money saved, it may be best to buy items you’re planning for now.
“If you think it’s going to be more expensive in the future, it would make sense to go ahead and buy it now,” said Coon. “But just like the pandemic showed us with supply and demand constraints, if everybody buys it now, the item becomes more expensive anyway.”
If you need to make a big purchase or are already planning to, you can still save some money. Coon recommends comparing prices to get the best deal. The extra few minutes of comparing retailer offers could save you a few hundred dollars.
Read more: How Much Will iPhone and Other Apple Prices Increase With ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs?
Should you buy new tech now or wait?
It’s the big question that everyone wants answered — is it better to spend money on electronics now to avoid potential tariff-induced price jumps?
If you already have funds earmarked for a purchase, then shopping now or during an upcoming shopping event, like a rumored upcoming Amazon sale, could help you save money and offer you peace of mind. But if you don’t have the money saved, experts don’t recommend financing it.
Brennan agreed, adding that if you have the money to buy a new electronic or tech gadget, go for it — just make sure you actually need it.
“Don’t buy it in anticipation of prices going up, because we don’t know what the ultimate outcome is going to be,” said Brennan.
Above all, experts say to make sure you shop around to find the best deal on tech.
“You might spend an extra 15 to 20 minutes searching the internet, but you end up saving a couple hundred dollars,” said Coon. “It’s definitely worth the time to look for the best bargain.”
Tips to save money on laptops, TVs and phones
Shopping for new electronics is about timing and knowing the expert strategies to find the best deals. I asked CNET experts about the best deals on laptops, TVs and smartphones to find out when it’s best to buy and what we need to know about pricing for newer models coming out this year.
When to score low-priced laptops
Whether you buy a new laptop now or wait depends on your needs and budget, said Josh Goldman, an editor and one of CNET’s laptop reviewers.
“Prices certainly aren’t going to get better if the US gets involved in a trade war, so if someone needs a new laptop and can afford to buy now, I wouldn’t wait and see,” said Goldman. “With Easter and spring sales, dads and grads, Memorial Day and back-to-school sales, we are headed into the best time to buy a discounted new laptop outside of Black Friday.”
If you don’t have enough money saved to buy a new laptop, but you need one, Goldman recommends looking for a refurbished one at a discounted price — which shouldn’t be as affected by tariffs. He recommends Apple, Best Buy, BackMarket and eBay Refurbished for deals on used laptops with guarantees.
Now’s the time to buy last year’s TV models
If you’re in the market for a new TV, David Katzmaier, senior editorial director and a CNET TV reviewer, recommends buying last year’s model now. You’ll find TVs from 2024 at their lowest price point since retailers are getting rid of last year’s inventory.
With 2025 TVs coming out, expect prices to remain high on the newer models until the holidays, Katzmaier said. But if you don’t need a TV, there’s no need to rush into a purchase.
“TVs last a long time, and if you don’t need to buy one now, my advice is to wait until you do,” said Katzmaier. “Yes, tariffs could push prices higher later in the year, but whether they’ll affect TV prices around sales times — think Black Friday and later in November and December — is an open question.”
Phone deals are out there, but not as easy to find
Before you buy a new phone, take a step back to assess whether you need one, said Patrick Holland, a CNET editor and smartphone reviewer. Most smartphones typically last between three to five years before you start to have problems. But you may be able to fix some of those hardware issues for less than getting a new phone.
Smartphones typically last a few years and we may not even buy one until we really need a replacement. So it can be tough to know when to buy a new phone — even without tariffs.
How much the next round of popular smartphones, like the iPhone 17 or the Google Pixel 10, will cost won’t be announced until later this year, but those prices aren’t as volatile as everyday essentials like groceries, said Holland.
“If your battery doesn’t hold a charge like it used to but everything else on your phone is fine, it’d be a lot easier and cheaper to replace the battery than to buy an entirely new phone — tariffs or not,” said Holland.
If you need a new phone, look for deals. Some retailers and carriers offer trade-in offers to swap your old phone for a discount on the new phone. However, Holland pointed out that if you rely on your phone carrier to finance your smartphone upgrade, that can make it even more difficult to find a deal.
Methodology
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,305 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken March 3-5, 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus).
UK-based Fractile is backed by NATO and wants to build faster and cheaper in-memory AI compute
Nvidia’s bruteforce GPU approach consumes too much power and is held back by memory
Fractile’s numbers focused on a cluster of H100 GPU comparison, not the mainstream H200
Nvidia sits comfortably at the top of the AI hardware food chain, dominating the market with its high-performance GPUs and CUDA software stack, which have quickly become the default tools for training and running large AI models – but that dominance comes at a cost – namely, a growing target on its back.
Hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Meta are pouring resources into developing their own custom silicon in an effort to reduce their dependence on Nvidia’s chips and cut costs. At the same time, a wave of AI hardware startups is trying to capitalize on rising demand for specialized accelerators, hoping to offer more efficient or affordable alternatives and, ultimately, to displace Nvidia.
You may not have heard of UK-based Fractile yet, but the startup, which claims its revolutionary approach to computing can run the world’s largest language models 100x faster and at 1/10th the cost of existing systems, has some pretty noteworthy backers, including NATO and the former CEO of Intel, Pat Gelsinger.
Removing every bottleneck
“We are building the hardware that will remove every bottleneck to the fastest possible inference of the largest transformer networks,” Fractile says.
“This means the biggest LLMs in the world running faster than you can read, and a universe of completely new capabilities and possibilities for how we work that will be unlocked by near-instant inference of models with superhuman intelligence.”
It’s worth pointing out, before you get too excited, that Fractile’s performance numbers are based on comparisons with clusters of Nvidia H100 GPUs using 8-bit quantization and TensorRT-LLM, running Llama 2 70B – not the newer H200 chips.
In a LinkedIn posting, Gelsinger, who recently joined VC firm Playground Global as a General Partner, wrote, “Inference of frontier AI models is bottlenecked by hardware. Even before test-time compute scaling, cost and latency were huge challenges for large scale LLM deployments… To achieve our aspirations for AI, we will need radically faster, cheaper and much lower power inference.”
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“I’m pleased to share that I’ve recently invested in Fractile, a UK-founded AI hardware company who are pursuing a path that’s radical enough to offer such a leap,” he then revealed.
“Their in-memory compute approach to inference acceleration jointly tackles the two bottlenecks to scaling inference, overcoming both the memory bottleneck that holds back today’s GPUs, while decimating power consumption, the single biggest physical constraint we face over the next decade in scaling up data center capacity. In fact, some of the ideas I was exploring in my graduate work at Stanford University will now come to mainstream AI computing!”
Just when you thought the $163 million opening weekend for A Minecraft Movie was the biggest surprise of the weekend, turns out it might also be the film that forces theaters to do their jobs.
Over the weekend, several videos went viral of audiences loudly and disruptively reacting to several moments in the movie, all while filming it on their phones. In one case, the police even had to be called. The internet loves a good viral trend, though, and as more and more people try to copy and participate in similar behavior, some theaters have begun to issue warnings about Minecraft screenings.
“To ensure everyone has the best possible cinema experience, we’re increasing our monitoring of screens during performances,” a spokesperson for Reel Cinema in Farham, England told the Daily Echo. “Disruptive behavior, including taking part in TikTok trends, before, during, or after a screening will not be tolerated. Anyone causing disruption will be asked to leave, and where necessary, the police will be called.”
A few others followed suit. “We’ve been informed of reports of an online trend that includes making excessive noise during A Minecraft Movie,” a theater in Glasgow, Scotland posted. “We would like to remind everyone to please be respectful to those around them by not making noise nor being on their phones during any movie. Failure to do so may result in ejection from the cinema.”
We have many, many thoughts here, as we’re sure you do too. The first is that theaters actually getting angry at this is refreshing. So often these days, people disrespect their fellow filmgoers at the movie theater by using their phones during the film or talking loudly. Then, if you complain, often the theater will do nothing. So, to see any push back against this is a good thing. Especially in the fight against privacy. Remember when filming the movie screen was considered sacrilegious?
On the other hand, it’s more than plausible to say the success in Minecraft is partially a result of this behavior. That some people are going to see Minecraft specifically for this loud, rambunctious TikTok-driven response, and if that gets them into the theaters, it’s a net positive for the industry. But there has to be a balance. If a family just wants to go see Minecraft, they should not have to worry about people pulling out their phones and disturbing their experience. Maybe there needs to be specific screenings where this is encouraged, like a Wicked singalong?
Which, actually, is already happening. The BBC reports that UK theater chain Cineworld is already jumping on that train. “To make sure everyone has a blast, we ask that all cinemagoers respect cinema etiquette,” the statement reads. “For fans wanting to whoop, yelp and clap their way through this block-busting adventure, we have created special Chicken Jockey 4DX screenings at Cineworld cinemas nationwide.”
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if more theaters will issue similar warnings or how/if they will be enforced. We imagine most theaters will differ to the audience and just be happy to have butts in seats, no matter what they’re doing. It’s a slippery slope, though, and one that needs to be monitored.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company Zoox has begun testing its robotaxis in Los Angeles. It has deployed a small fleet of retrofitted test vehicles throughout the city for the purposes of mapping and data-collection. This will, eventually, lead to paid rides for consumers.
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The company is sending out manually-driven Toyota Highlanders at first. These have been equipped with Zoox’s self-driving tech and will gather mapping data. Broader autonomous testing will start in LA this summer. This will happen after the Highlanders gather enough data regarding “driving conditions, potential roadwork, city events” and other potential surprises.
After that, it should send in the actual robotaxis, which operate without a steering wheel or pedals. The vehicles are already being test-driven in several cities but, again, not with commercial passengers. These areas include Foster City, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
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Zoox says it should begin offering public rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco later this year. It’s also testing manned robotaxi drives in Miami, Austin and Seattle. This is done with a Highlander and a human safety operator behind the wheel.
This expansion is happening just a few weeks after the company issued a software recall on 258 of its vehicles, due to issues with the driving system unexpectedly hard braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received two incident reports involving motorcycles crashing into the back of Zoox vehicles due to this hard braking.
Rival Waymo is the only autonomous vehicle company right now that offers actual paid rides. The Alphabet-owned company provides this service in several cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix and Austin. It plans on expanding to Atlanta, Miami and Washington DC in the next two years.
The US will impose a cumulative 104 percent tariff on goods imported from China after midnight tonight alongside a host of tariffs on other countries, the White House confirmed to CNBC.
It’s one of the most staggering figures from President Donald Trump’s worldwide trade war launched last week. The Trump administration calls the tariffs part of an effort to get the US on even footing with trade partners, bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, and replace the existing tax structure. But critics on Wall Street and elsewhere say that thinking is flawed, and American consumers and businesses will be the ones in pain amidst uncertainty and rising costs.
Even in comparison with the previously announced taxes on goods from other US trading partners, this tariff will have huge implications for many US businesses that manufacture or assemble at least parts of their products in China, including Apple and Tesla. Many economists say that price hikes are likely to be passed onto consumers.
Trump initially planned to impose 34 percent tariffs on goods from China, on top of ones that he put in place earlier this year. This escalation comes after China imposed its own 34 percent tariff on US goods crossing into its borders. Trump threatened raising tariffs by 50 percent unless China removed its own, but the Chinese government has said it would stand firm on its tariffs, CNBC reports.
