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JSAUX cooling fan for Steam Deck review: But why?
If you own a Steam Deck, it has probably become (subjectively) pretty dang hot at some point — if not basically whenever you use it. When the Deck’s GPU is pushed to 100% utilization, its fan is at full blast basically constantly, which may feel a bit concerning. Enter the JSAUX Cooling Fan for Steam…
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Reflections on my move to Germany
Around nine months ago, I decided to move to Berlin, Germany. I am 36 years old, I have never lived outside the United States, and I don’t speak a bit of German (update: I speak a very little bit). I didn’t have a job lined up. I didn’t have some friend who was putting me…
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Why Google launched AI overviews
Last week, Google launched its generative search product, AI Overviews, for a limited number of queries — mostly in the United States. This week, Google announced it would be reducing the breadth of that deployment after a series of immensely embarrassing stories detailing myriad examples of AI Overviews providing variously false, nonsensical, and even dangerous…
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MacBook Air vs iPad Pro in 2024: iPadOS still falls short
The iPad is far and away the world’s most popular tablet, but can it really replace a laptop? In 2024, iPadOS is more capable than ever — it supports an external mouse and keyboard, split-screen apps, and even looks and feels like a laptop when equipped with Apple’s Magic Keyboard accessory. But the iPad still…
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How to restore Fallout 4’s launcher on the Steam Deck
Bethesda, in its infinite wisdom, got rid of the launcher for Fallout 4 on the Steam Deck earlier this week (on April 25) with the release of the game’s first major patch in years. They did this, allegedly, to get the game the Steam Deck Verified badge — possibly because the launcher experience presumably doesn’t…
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Does leaving your Steam Deck plugged in reduce battery lifespan?
No, playing your Steam Deck constantly plugged into a charger does not reduce the battery lifespan or otherwise damage the Steam Deck’s battery. In fact, using your Steam Deck with external power will reduce the wear on the battery because of a feature called power passthrough. Does the Steam Deck have power passthrough? Yes. The…
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Can the Steam Deck replace a gaming PC in 2024?
A move from a gaming PC to a Steam Deck may seem like a downgrade, but the portable console offers surprising capabilities. While its performance may not match a high-end PC, the Steam Deck excels in portability and flexibility. However, its visual quality on larger screens and limitations with certain accessories are factors to consider.…
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Why independent journalism is dying, by a former independent journalist
The term “enshittification” has been used to describe the devolution of the broader digital landscape into a toxic sludge of affiliate marketing, unregulated influencer advertising, and AI-generated content. And much of the blame for this shift lays — correctly — at the feet of platform providers like Google, Meta, and X. But for all the…
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iPhone 15 Pro long-term notes: I’ve made a huge (small) mistake
I bought my iPhone 15 Pro shortly after launch in September. Concerning but quickly-resolved issues with overheating aside, Apple’s latest iPhone has left me seriously underwhelmed with the company’s ability to iterate its flagship product, and I want to relay some of that experience. Camera quagmire The camera array is easily the biggest letdown of…
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How to use a USB-C extension cable with the Steam Deck Dock
One thing I never understood about the Steam Deck Dock was why you’d sideline a perfectly good wired gamepad for a latency-afflicted Bluetooth one. With its permanently-attached USB-C cable of about 3 inches, the Steam Deck Dock is designed explicitly to keep your Deck stationary. As a dock, this product feature limitation makes conceptual sense.…