Eliana Willis

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    in Information Technology

    Power bank slapped with a recall? Stop using it now – here’s why

    Back in mid-June, Anker, along with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), issued a recall for the Anker A1263 PowerCore 10000 power bank because Anker had received 19 reports of fires and explosions. These reports included two for minor injuries, and 11 for property damage totaling over $60,700.This was a popular power bank, with over a million units sold between June 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, through retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and eBay, as well as on Anker’s own website.Then, at the end of June, Anker recalled a further five power banks — Anker Power Bank models A1257 and A1647, the Anker MagGo Power Bank model A1652, and the Anker Zolo Power Bank models A1681 and A1689 — because of faulty batteries. According to Anker, “the likelihood of malfunction is considered minimal,” but the recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution” because of a “risk of overheating, melting, smoke, or fire.”Also: Best MagSafe battery packs 2025: I tested the best options to boost your phone’s batteryIf you’ve bought an Anker power bank in the past nine years, it’s probably a good idea to check it. Details of the first recall can be found here, and the other five power banks here. If you have an affected unit, Anker says to stop using the power bank, get confirmation that it is affected, get your replacement or gift card sorted, and then get rid of the power bank — but, because of the risk of the power bank overheating or bursting into flames, not in the recycling or general trash. You need to contact your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection center or consult this EPA web page to find out how to dispose of it.Airlines seem to be worried. Chinese aviation regulator has banned passengers from carrying the recalled power banks and those without Chinese “3C” certification marking (short for China Compulsory Certification), after power banks were blamed for a fire that broke out on an Air Busan plane in January and a Hong Kong Airlines flight that was forced to make an emergency landing in March.Airlines are also banning the use of power banks during flights. More

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    in Robotics

    Microsoft fixes two SharePoint zero-days under attack, but one is still unresolved – how to patch

    Olemedia / Getty Images Microsoft has patched two critical zero-day SharePoint security flaws that have already been exploited by hackers to attack vulnerable organizations. Responding to the exploits, the software giant has issued fixes for SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and SharePoint Server 2019, but is still working on a patch for SharePoint Server 2016. Designated […] More

  • 113 Shares99 Views

    in Robotics

    My 10 favorite Linux distributions of all time, ranked

    Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETLinux is on the rise. I believe the popularity of the open-source operating system will continue to increase and possibly even hit the 10% mark by the end of 2025. Some say that’s a pipe dream, but I believe.Because of the popularity of Linux, I thought I would create a list of my all-time top 10 distributions that I’ve used over the years. Some of these distros are no longer with us, while some of them are still thriving.Are you ready to take a journey with me?Let’s go.1. Pop!_OSPop!_OS has been my go-to Linux distribution for some time now. Part of the reason for that is because I’ve been using System76 computers for the past decade and have found Pop!_OS to run extremely well on them. After all, System76 does ship those machines with Pop!_OS as the default operating system. The performance of Pop!_OS and the System76 hardware is truly something to behold. Of all the Linux distributions I’ve used, Pop!_OS has been the most efficient, while also being a beautiful desktop operating system. Of course, System76 is about to unleash the COSMIC desktop version of Pop!_OS, which I believe will elevate the operating system to even higher levels of performance and ease of use. If you want a do-all Linux distribution, you cannot go wrong with Pop!_OS. One factor to keep in mind, however, is that you aren’t going to revive old machines with Pop!_OS, so you’ll want a system with plenty of resources.Also: 8 ways I quickly leveled up my Linux skills – and you can too2. Ubuntu BudgieIf I had to migrate away from Pop!_OS, the one distribution that would be first on my list would be Ubuntu Budgie. This distribution does borrow some of GNOME’s underpinnings, but there is no mistaking that this distribution stands on its own. Ubuntu Budgie is gorgeous. And even though the developers have created a wonderful layout that should please anyone, Budgie also happens to be highly configurable. You can pretty much make this desktop look and feel exactly how you want. I often consider migrating from Pop!_OS to Ubuntu Budgie. The only reason holding me back is how well Pop!_OS performs on the System76 hardware; otherwise, you can bet I’d be running Ubuntu Budgie. 3. Rhino LinuxIf there is one distribution that could beat Ubuntu Budgie in the looks department, it’s Rhino Linux. Early on, Rhino used the Xfce desktop to achieve this beautiful look, but the developers recently announced they would be adding new spins, which will most likely see all of them looking as good as the default. Rhino Linux also happens to be a rolling release distribution, which means it will always have the latest greatest software. It isn’t just a pretty face. With this Linux distribution, you get multiple package managers, so you can not only enjoy tons of available software, but you can also install it with your favorite tools. More

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    in Robotics

    I changed 6 settings on my Roku TV to instantly improve the performance

    Maria Diaz/ZDNETFew things ruin the joy of watching a good show more than suddenly seeing that rotating asterisk symbol or swirly icon that tells you your TV is buffering. Or maybe it’s stuttering, or altogether freezing. If this is happening on your Roku TV, don’t give up on it just yet.Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing so makes such a big difference)Like phones and computers, Rokus have caches that accumulate temporary data, which inevitably slows them down over time. There are simple ways to clear up this hidden clutter and get your Roku TV behaving like its normal, healthy self.Here are a few methods to clear your Roku’s cache, improve its speed, and make shows play smoothly again.1. Start by unplugging it More

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    in Robotics

    The fastest US mobile carriers and ISPs in 2025, ranked

    Artur Debat / Getty Images T-Mobile has again earned top marks as the fastest mobile carrier in the land. In a new report released Wednesday, Speedtest provider Ookla highlighted the Uncarrier for providing the top mobile network in the US during the first half of the year. Also: The fastest Wi-Fi 7 internet providers in […] More