BATTERYFORPC BLOG
Amazon cloud and ads units offset flat e-commerce
Amazon's core e-commerce business may be struggling - but the profit-making parts of its business are delivering. Online sales were flat in the first three months of the year compared with the same period in 2022, the company said on Thursday. But it offset that with better-than-expected sales in its cloud services and advertising units. Profits also jumped in a sign that the firm's cost-cuttin ... Read more
2023-04-27 21:19:52
The iPhone 14 Pro 7 Months Later: Still Apple's Best
We're months away from the expected iPhone 15, but after seven months, iOS 16 makes the iPhone 14 Pro even better. Spring has sprung. Baseball is in full swing, Tax Day is behind us and we're past the halfway point until when Apple typically announces new iPhone models. Last September, we got the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. Apple's top-of-the-line jewels introduced the much-hyped Dynamic Island ... Read more
2023-04-26 23:49:01
Microsoft Rolls Out Tool That Connects Your iPhone to Your PC
Phone Link for iOS is now available for Windows 11 computers. Microsoft has started rolling out its new Phone Link for iOS feature that lets iPhone users connect their phones to Windows 11 PCs. All Windows 11 customers should have access by mid-May, Microsoft said Wednesday. First previewed in February, the new feature uses Bluetooth and is available only for iPhone 14 models and above. Accordi ... Read more
2023-04-26 23:46:43
Google's New Cloud-Based Authentication Isn't End-to-End Encrypted Yet
Google says an option to make it end-to-end encrypted is coming. The Google Authenticator app, which was updated earlier this week to allow for cloud-based two-factor authentication (2FA) via your Google account, isn't end-to-end encrypted, according to software company Mysk. "We analyzed the network traffic when the app syncs the secrets, and it turns out the traffic is not end-to-end encr ... Read more
2023-04-26 23:45:42
Microsoft boss: Activision Blizzard deal block is bad for Britain
One of Microsoft's senior leaders has hit out after the software giant's deal to buy US video game company Activision Blizzard was blocked by UK regulators. The move was "bad for Britain" and showed that the European Union was a better place to set up a firm than the UK, Brad Smith told the BBC. But the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its job was not to serve the interests ... Read more
2023-04-26 23:44:32
Apple AirTags: Everything You Need to Know
Here's how to put the tiny Bluetooth trackers to use. The AirTag tracking tiles that Apple unveiled in 2021 are one way the iPhone-maker can help you track non-Apple devices. Apple also allows its Find My app to locate items made by third parties. This is especially helpful for traveling. The groundwork for the AirTag was laid in 2014 with the iBeacon, a small, inexpensive Bluetooth transmitter ... Read more
2023-04-25 21:31:55
Is Your VPN Crushing Your Internet Speed? Here's How You Can Fix It
You can lose about half of your internet speed when you use a VPN. These seven tips can help you get back up to speed. Let's face it: Using a virtual private network will slow down your internet speed -- often by 50% or more. It's the nature of how VPNs work, and there's unfortunately no way around it. However, there are a few things you can try if you want to get the fastest possible speeds ou ... Read more
2023-04-25 21:30:40
You Can Now Get the Galaxy S22 on Samsung's Refurbished Phones Site
The phone series starts at $619 on the Samsung Certified Re-Newed site. If you've been holding out on paying full price for a phone from the Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup, including the Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra, now's your chance to buy a refurbished device from Samsung's official used goods store. Here are the prices and phones available: Galaxy S22 Certified Re-Newed: Starting at $619 ... Read more
2023-04-25 21:29:08
Have Apple AirTags? 5 Unexpected Places to Put Them
Apple's tracking device can keep track of more than just your keychain, wallet and phone. Have you ever wondered what sorts of things you can track by using an AirTag? It can go beyond the basics of tracking your wallet, keys and phone. We've got several more things to keep track of with AirTags that you may have not thought of before. Generally, you need to be within Bluetooth range to find you ... Read more
2023-04-25 21:28:30
What the HBO Max Rebrand Means for Your Streaming Account
Here's an idea of what to expect amid changes to the streaming service's name, face and library. HBO Max will soon become Max, a revamped streaming service, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. The reworked platform will house merged content from HBO Max and Discovery Plus, including dramas such as Euphoria and Succession next to greige-tinted Fixer Upper and other unscripted series. Along with t ... Read more
2023-04-24 20:48:57