Author: Press Room
The other day I was sat after a long day to watch a movie. I proudly open the TV and head straight to Jellyfin. I was feeling pretty glad that I don’t have to deal with the usual streaming service network problems because I’ve spent the time self-hosting my entire media library on my own hardware. I hit play, and sure enough, the movie starts playing immediately. No loading circle, no buffering — awesome. But then, I notice a very annoying microstutter. It was as if, every two seconds, one second of the movie would play in a weird kind…
I’ve never really got on with smartwatches. Which is slightly awkward, given I’ve spent most of my professional career reviewing them. I respect what they do. I understand why people love them. But once a review is over, the unit goes back in the box. Part of that is taste. As Stuff’s resident watch writer, I’m far more comfortable slipping on something mechanical. A proper watch, in my mind. Springs, cogs, a sweeping seconds hand, and a design that exists because someone cared deeply about how it looks, not how many nits the display can achieve or how many graphs…
Looking for the best outdoor speakers? You’re in the right place. Summer mixes are made to be played alfresco, and any playlist can warm up winter days, which is where the best outdoor speakers come in. An outdoor speaker can pump up your jams – and keep the tunes coming, even when the weather doesn’t match your mood. From portable party starters to properly hefty stereos, the round-up below features our pick of the top outdoor speakers for every space and budget. Some can slip in a backpack, while others require more muscle to move. Size aside, each option in…
While I know VLC is more than a video player, over time, I’ve found it to be bare-bones and could be improved. So I went digging and found some extensions that have changed how I interact with my content, and it would be so selfish of me not to share them with you. Before I get into these plugins, you need to know how to install them in VLC, which is straightforward but does require some manual work. First, download the plugin file (.lua) from the official VLC add-ons website or a trusted repository. Then, navigate to your VLC extensions…
We’ve come a long way since some of the best phones around were also some of the ugliest phones around. Extendable antennae kicked the bucket, screens got injected with glorious colour, and unwieldy keypads were obliterated. The end results, after years of experimentation and design filtration, are rather uniform. But it took a lot of mistakes to get there. Some phones were beaten with ugly sticks. Others were born with genetic mutations. And a select few were summoned in circles of fire, entering this earth to the haunting rhythm of arcane chanting. Prepare to claw your eyes out. Best upcoming…
Apple Vision Pro was in the works for a long time. But the reaction from both users and developers has been somewhat underwhelming over the last couple of years, even if the technology on board has to be experienced to be believed (the Wall Street Journal published a particular damning article from users’ perspectives). What it can do is simply incredible. Late last year Apple debuted a second version of the Vision Pro headset with the latest M5 chip – but when will we get a genuine successor? After all, the M5 version is still called Apple Vision Pro rather…
Whether you’ve been using Fire OS for years or are just getting started, you’ll eventually face a choice for your streaming entertainment: stick with the Fire TV Stick or jump to the Fire TV Cube. I recently found myself facing this dilemma. Ultimately, I recognized that the Fire TV Cube was a better fit for my household. It might be for you, too. The Fire TV Stick, available in several formats and price points, has long been marketed as an affordable streaming dongle ideal for budget-conscious consumers seeking to upgrade their older televisions with 4K HDR support and basic Amazon…
TVs have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. Since flat-panel models became the norm, they have continued to get thinner, smarter, and more visually impressive. Unfortunately, the sound quality lags behind, and a soundbar is an essential addition to achieve the full audiovisual experience. Yet even then, I’d often find myself riding the volume button to find the right balance between inaudible whispers and deafening explosions. If this sounds familiar, the problem is likely your soundbar. More specifically, the issue is likely related to the small number on your soundbar’s box that indicates the channel count. The difference…
Google TV is like any other smart TV where you can install your favorite streaming apps, play a few lightweight games, and enjoy screensavers when you’re not watching anything. And for the longest time, I used my Google TV for only these things. But Google TV is full of useful features that can improve navigation, make better use of those remote buttons, and even turn your TV into a second screen for your phone or computer. All of these features together have simply changed the way I use my smart TV. Use apps-only mode Enjoy a distraction-free home screen Screenshot…
I made a one-of-one Swatch last week. It’s genuinely unique, and the tool behind it is called AI-DADA. We covered the service at the end of last year, but now Swatch is rolling it out across Europe and Turkey from today. I tried AI-DADA early at a launch event in Paris, fully expecting a glitzy party and a lot of brand chat. What I got instead was something genuinely fun – and surprisingly easy to use. AI-DADA is Swatch’s take on AI-powered personalisation. You type a prompt, it thinks for about a minute, and out comes a unique watch design…