How to Clear The Cache On Your Roku TV - Engadget

A little known remote shortcut could help speed up your Roku device.

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Like most smart devices, your Roku TV or streaming device is susceptible to slowing down over time. This can happen for a multitude of reasons, including aging hardware, outdated software and apps or simply a slow internet connection. You can check for new updates by navigating to Settings > System > Software update and selecting the Check Now option. By having the latest Roku update installed, you ensure any known bugs or performance issues have been ironed out. You also stand to gain access to new features.

Apple’s smart glasses delay reportedly stems in part from major privacy concerns - Engadget

The Apple team behind the upcoming smart glasses is reportedly exploring several tweaks related to user privacy.

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Apple is expected to soon reveal its entry into the smart glasses market, but it may be taking its time to make sure it gets user privacy right. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is grappling with how to address major privacy concerns when it comes to smart glasses. Gurman reported that the "teams developing glasses within Apple's Vision hardware group and elsewhere in the company see privacy as priority No. 1."

How to safely clean your USB ports - Engadget

Don't use WD-40 or Q-tips, for starters.

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You probably don't give much thought to cleaning your USB ports, but you really should. If you're having problems powering or connecting your devices, there's a decent chance a dirty charging port is to blame. Dirty USB connections that have dust or lint inside them can lead to unstable connections or charges that drop out intermittently. That's why it's a good idea to check your devices' USB ports every now and then to ensure dirt hasn't built up inside. If it has, there are a few cheap and easy cleaning methods you can deploy, which we'll guide you through.

Android Auto has a developer menu you can access in seconds - Engadget

If you want to tweak your Android Auto settings, this is a good place to check.

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Android Auto does a solid job of mirroring your phone's most useful apps on your car's infotainment screen. From maps to music and messaging, Android Auto handles the expected tasks just fine. But buried inside the app is a developer menu that most haven't even seen, let alone used.

The reason why the MacBook Air doesn't need a fan - Engadget

Apple Silicon delivers enough performance without overheating.

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Apple decided to ditch fans in the MacBook Air several years ago. The company made this significant hardware switch-up when it replaced Intel processors with its own silicon, starting with the M1 MacBook Air in late 2020.

Librarians are hosting viral ‘Avoiding AI’ workshops for people who are fed up with Big Tech

“Everybody’s on their phone at my program!” jokes Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia. He’s just asked his audience to pull out their phones so that he can walk them through the steps of disabling Apple Intelligence and Gemini.

Volkswagen engineers charged with insider trading tied to Rivian joint venture

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Volkswagen engineers with securities fraud for an alleged insider-trading scheme connected to the German automaker’s joint venture with Rivian.

The indictment, unsealed Friday by the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank made more than $300,000 by using confidential insider information. Stamp and Plank allegedly bought Rivian stock and options after learning that the EV maker and Volkswagen planned to form a joint venture — internally codenamed “Project Climb” — but before the companies made any public announcements.

Midjourney is buying horoscope app Co-Star, which users will surely be thrilled about - Engadget

Co-Star CEO Banu Guler is also becoming the company's Chief Design Officer.

Midjourney, the company best known as a maker of AI image and video generation tools, has decided to get into astrology. The company has announced it's purchasing Co-Star, a popular astrology app, and bringing on its CEO Banu Guler as its new Chief Design Officer. The app will still be under Guler's "complete control," according to the company, but now with Midjourney's resources behind it.

Meta launched a new AI optimism ad set to a song about human extinction

Meta’s newest advertisement begins with a black-and-white shot of an eye, showing us what someone sees as they read countless panicked headlines about how AI is going to take our jobs, isolate us, and spark a global crisis.

AI chip startup Etched defies skeptics, hits $10.3B valuation from big-name investors

Etched, the AI chip startup founded by three Harvard dropouts in 2022, has closed a $300 million Series C funding round at a $10.3 billion valuation, co-founder and COO Robert Wachen tells TechCrunch.