Author: Press Room
The Long History of the Future: Why tomorrow’s tech still isn’t here author on on great ideas from cynicism, driverless cars, feeling conflicted by AI and her love of naps… My book, The Long History of the Future: Why tomorrow’s tech still isn’t here, published last summer I wrote another book before, but it was a little contract book for Wired, who I did some work for, so a little less exciting. I used to work full time at PC Pro magazine, a British computing title – I still freelance for them and hopefully will never stop as they are…
Introduction Everybody loves an Alfa, right? Well, the Junior isn’t your typical Alfa. The Elettrica variant driven here is the brand’s first EV, sitting on the same Stellantis platform as the Jeep Avenger, the Fiat 600 and the Vauxhall Mokka. There’s a mild hybrid version too. Both deliver in the looks department, especially in that glorious Brera Red metallic finish. Having recently driven the Junior hybrid, getting the electric model in for a week of testing became even more relevant. Both offer up a tantalising taste of what makes Alfa Romeo the go-to brand for many car enthusiasts. However, neither…
There is now a new way to watch Netflix with captions, as long as you’re ready to dive into the final season of You. Dialog-Only Captions Strip Out Audio Cues, Speaker Names and More Netflix You’re probably aware of the captioning option for deaf and hard of hearing, also known as SDH/CC. When you read that, you’ll see audio cues like [phone buzzing] along with speaker names. That’s not useful if you’re just interested in better understanding what’s being said in your favorite TV show or movie. Netflix is adding a new way to use captions. Starting with the new…
ChatGPT is part of my daily workflow for everything from simple definitions to self-diagnosis. When I switched to Grok for a week, I knew there’d be an adjustment—but I didn’t expect just how much I’d miss some of ChatGPT’s subtler strengths, or how easy it would be to let go of others. What I Miss About ChatGPT Even with Grok’s energy and engaging tone, there are moments I long for ChatGPT’s precision. It’s not only about features, it’s about the ease, the rhythm, the way it makes complex tasks feel a bit more manageable. For each of the following images,…
Looking for one of the best fitness trackers? Whether you’re training for a marathon, working on your overall fitness, or just want an easy way to track your daily steps, calories burned, heart rate, and sleep data, there’s a fitness tracker that’s perfect for you. With so many options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Some models focus on in-depth health metrics like blood oxygen levels and stress tracking, while others keep things simple with step counting and heart rate monitoring. There are premium smartwatches packed with advanced fitness features and budget-friendly options that still offer excellent tracking…
I hate it when my streaming night gets ruined due to constant buffering. Instead of paying for faster internet, I found ways to prioritize my Wi-Fi streaming device—and now my streams play smoothly every time. 6 Set a Static IP Address With Priority Access I’ve found the biggest improvements by prioritizing my streaming device’s access on my network. The first thing I did was to set up and enable SQM (Smart Queue Management) for my wireless access point. This is a type of QoS (Quality of Service) that actively manages queues, shapes traffic, and tackles bufferbloat, which is the main…
In my mind, there are two excellent ways to start a watch party with your friends: Teleparty or Discord. They’re both great, full of features, and easy to use—but what’s the best option of all? 5 Price: Which is Cheaper? Right out of the gate, both Teleparty and Discord get a point for being completely free. Teleparty is a simple plugin, while Discord can be used from your browser or downloaded and installed as a standalone program. I recommend installing Discord to avoid any complications you may have with screen-sharing over a browser. With that said, both Discord and Teleparty…
Your next gaming console might already be on your wall. LG Smart TVs are going to become Xbox game streaming machines with a simple software update—no console required. Xbox Game Streaming Comes to LG TVs Starting April 23, the Xbox app is available on select LG Smart TV models. This means that as long as you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you should be able to stream games directly on your TV. Microsoft’s announcement wasn’t clear on exactly what TVs are getting the app. If you have a 2025 LG TV, you can find the Xbox app in…
As a member of a multilingual household, the subtitles are always turned on for movies and TV. That is, until recently, when I decided to switch them off, and the positive effect has been remarkable. 6 Enjoy a More Immersive Experience While subtitles have obvious benefits for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and translation purposes, they can detract from the audiovisual experience. It’s surprising how much more I take in when I’m not distracted by the visuals and emotional nuance of a scene. Imagine the time spent flitting between text and images throughout an entire movie. Not only can this increase…
Roku’s just-announced streaming sticks are a low-cost way to turn any TV into a smart streamer. The Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus Take Power From Your TV Roku The highlight of Roku’s announcements were the Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus. Both sticks are 35 percent smaller than other devices on the market. They are designed to be power efficient and can be powered directly from your TV’s HDMI port. That helps eliminate a hanging power cord, especially a problem with a mounted TV. The smaller footprint will also not block neighboring HDMI ports. With the small design…