Microsoft Solved the Biggest Annoyance With Batteries but You Can't Have It

April 11, 2022

Let’s talk batteries. Not car batteries or cell phone batteries. But the kind that goes in your gadgets and devices, like your TV remote. Yeah, I’m talking AAs, AAAs, maybe Cs and Ds. You know, the classic battery. We all know how they work, or rather, how to connect them to your stuff.

And yet, somehow, it’s always a pain in the butt. You have to peer into a tiny dark space to try and figure out which way the batteries need to go, and inevitably you get one wrong, and nothing works. What if I told you Microsoft solved that problem years ago? That you shouldn’t have to struggle with your batteries anymore? Well, it’s true. Hit up the top story for more details.

Other Highlights:

• LG doesn’t make Android phones anymore, which seemed like bad news for anyone with an LG phone. But in a bit of good news, LG will update a few of its smartphones to Android12.
• We seriously thought this was an April Fools Joke, but it’s not. Irish Spring made a crazy shower for gamers. No. Really.
• Yo, iRobot (y’know, the vacuum company) made an educational robot. And what more do we need to say besides “educational robot!”
• …and more!

-Josh

Batteries are useful but have a few issues. They can only hold so much charge; recharging them takes time if it’s even an option; there are many different types, and you have to insert them in a particular way. Microsoft has fixed that last issue, but you can’t have its solution. Read More »

It’s a brand-new year, and if you’re like many people, you might have set a New Year’s resolution to read more books. However, sticking to your resolution means you’ll need to have an outstanding selection of books to choose from. And with the help of these websites, you’ll be able to create one hell of a to-read list. Read More »

In celebration of National Robotics Week, iRobot is launching the Create 3 kit. It’s an educational robot based on the modern Roomba design, minus the ability to vacuum. But hey, it can detect walls and is insanely customizable. Read More »

Audio-Technica recently unveiled a new pair of wireless headphones to replace one of its most popular monitor-quality headphones. Of course, we’re talking about the new ATH-M20xBT, and they’re only $79. Read More »

Fiido is an affordable direct-to-consumer electric bike manufacturer with several different e-bikes available around the globe. Unfortunately, we have bad news if you have the popular Fiido X folding e-bike, as the company just issued a recall over fears of it breaking in half. Read More »

You can never have too much digital storage space! Between word documents, pictures, videos, music, important files from school and work, games, programs, and anything else you can enjoy on your computer, it pays to have storage (and extra room to spare). And bonus if it’s portable, like this 2TB HDD from Western Digital. It features USB 3.0 and 2.0 compatibility for fast data transfers. It works on PCs running at least Windows 7. You can also purchase the SSD version and in other size capacities, including 1TB, 4TB, and 5TB if you need even more space.

Get it at Amazon →

For many people, the words “tech” and “sustainability” don’t go hand in hand. But they can! There’s a lot of great tech out there that can inspire a more sustainable life and help you be kinder to the environment. Read More »

When Irish Spring announced the “Gamer Shower” on April 1st, we assumed that it was a joke. Everybody knows that gamers don’t bathe, and all that. But it turns out that the 2-in-1 body wash company actually made an elaborate shower for gamers, complete with a gaming massage chair, giant TVs, and thankfully, soap. Read More »

Anybody can film something digitally on a cheap smartphone, but you’ll need some serious (and seriously expensive) equipment to film a big-budget movie on, well, film. One filmmaker is looking to make film cameras more expensive, and just made one with a 3D printer. Read More »

After years of battling the competition, LG closed its mobile division in early 2021 to put its time and effort into other things. Almost exactly one year later, LG has confirmed that several phones will be getting the Android 12 update soon. Read More »

Every dog owner knows there’s no limit when it comes to spoiling their pup with treats, toys, and grooming items. With one of these dog-friendly subscription boxes, you can give your pooch fun, brand-new goodies every month. Read More »

The AirPods charging case is incredibly small, lightweight, and expensive to replace. If you want to keep it (and your AirPods or AirPods Pro) in pristine condition, then you’ll need a case for your charging case. Read More »

Upgrading to a new version of Wi-Fi sounds great, but how much faster will the Wi-Fi 7 standard’s transfer speeds actually be? Let’s compare current standards with Wi-Fi 7 (also called 802.11be) and learn how your actual speed may vary. Read More »

Who among us doesn’t have a gadget junk drawer or box on a closet shelf with some old phones? Those old gadgets aren’t just clutter, though: They’re a potential fire hazard. Here’s what you need to know. Read More »