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    Slow internet at home? 3 things I always check first for faster Wi-Fi speeds

    Charlie Osborne/ZDNETNearly every part of modern life depends on our connection to the internet. When my provider experiences an outage, everything grinds to a halt — working remotely via VPN, streaming music on Spotify, and even using smart home devices. It’s a stark reminder of how much we rely on the invisible network that keeps us connected. Almost every aspect of modern life is affected by our connectivity to the Web. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here’s how to put an end to itA total outage feels completely unacceptable. But a sketchy connection afflicted by lag and buffering can be even more frustrating. If you’re sure that your signal is strong but you’re still experiencing issues, the problem might be the location of your router.1. Location is key, but reach mattersIt’s always true that location is key. But your router’s efficacy is also impacted by the size of your home and how far the router’s signals can reach. A single wireless access point should be adequate for most apartments and smaller homes (1,500 square feet or less). Larger, multistory homes present a different challenge that can best be met by upgrading to a mesh network. Mesh networks consist of a main access point and additional nodes that can be placed throughout your space to ensure consistent coverage. More

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    I grew up on a farm. These are the tools I recommend for gardening

    Your garden can be as big or as little as you want it to be. However, you do have to be mindful of how much space certain plants need as they grow. Vining vegetables like peas, pumpkins, and cucumbers need lots of space to stretch out, so I recommend getting trellises to utilize vertical space. Container gardens don’t need much space at all, especially if you’re growing flowers or herbs for cooking, making them perfect for homes with balconies or patios. Tomatoes also do well in containers, but make sure they’re large enough pots to accommodate your plants as they grow. If you want to use raised beds or plant directly in the ground, you’ll need a much larger space, at least 6 x 6 feet to give yourself enough room to work. If you’re looking to include sweet corn in your garden, you’ll need to plant at least three rows to ensure it pollinates correctly, and this means you’ll need a lot of space. A garden measuring at least 20 x 20 feet would give you enough room for three to five rows of corn and a few other vegetables and herbs. More

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    I found a GPS tracker with infinite battery life and high-accuracy location tracking

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Garmin eTrex Solar is available now for $250, while the eTrex SE without solar sells for $150. Potential for unlimited battery life, extensive GNSS support, rugged build, and affordable. Small monochrome display, no turn-by-turn directions of TopoActive maps. –> Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I gained a deep affection […] More

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    I found a mini PC that can be a powerful Windows alternative – and it’s not a Mac

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Lenovo’s ThinkStation P3 Tiny is available now starting at $860 for the low-tier configurations, but upgrades will bring it close beyond $2,000. There’s some powerful hardware here packed into a tiny frame, and pro users will appreciate its upgradeability and support for up to six monitors. It’s pricey, the power supply […] More

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    Meta’s new AI app delivers a chatbot with a social media twist

    Vincent Feuray / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP Meta has unveiled a new AI app that combines chatbot features with a social media experience. Launched on Tuesday for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, the Meta AI app offers most of the usual aspects of an AI app. You can get information, generate content, and analyze […] More