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The best Chromebook deal of Amazon’s October Prime Day event doesn’t actually boast a huge discount. But still it’s one of the best prices of the year for what you’re buying. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon, just 10 percent off. Yes, our list of the best Chromebook deals for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days does include some cheaper prices, especially at a couple of retailers other than Amazon. But in general, Amazon holds its own, delivering some of the best fall bargains on Chromebooks. If you’ve been following our Chromebook deals coverage for the past few years, you’ll know our criteria are straightforward: first, memory counts. More memory means more available tabs and apps, and a lot of deals cut corners by offering just 4GB of memory. The IdeaPad 3i offers a full 8GB, and that matters. Second, I like at least a 1080p screen. The 3i offers one, and at a nice spacious 15.6-screen size, too. I care less about the processor, but the 3i’s Celeron N4500 is a dual-core chip from 2021 — about average. Lenovo’s ThinkPads and IdeaPads typically offer solid, comfortable keyboards, and the 15.6-inch display sneaks in a bonus: It’s wide enough for a dedicated number pad. That’s not a necessity, but it certainly makes any data entry a lot easier. Lenovo also boasts 10 hours of battery life, too. That’s dependent on how you use it, of course, but it’s a solid baseline nevertheless. I care less about some other aspects of a Chromebook, such as the ports. Still, the IdeaPad delivers, with a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and even a dedicated HDMI port in case you want to connect an external display for some additional screen real estate. One of the arguments for a Chromebook is that it’s simply easier to manage than a Windows machine. But as we move further (for better or for worse) into the age of AI, a Chromebook doesn’t mess around with trying to have you use local AI. Google wants you to connect to its cloud AI, Gemini, but you can also open another tab and just connect to ChatGPT as well. (Remember, Google also offers an AI subscription with its Chromebook Plus program. You can review our Prime Day deals for a more detailed explanation, but the best Chromebook Plus deal is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 for $299, or 38 percent off at Best Buy.) Sure, the 10 percent discount Lenovo is offering for Prime Day doesn’t pop. But really, all a sale is offering you is the best price available, and the IdeaPad 3i is already cheaper than Chromebooks with much weaker specifications. This is my recommendation for the best Chromebook deal for Amazon’s October Prime Day sale. I think you’ll like it. Get the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i for $169.99 for Amazon Prime DaySee it on Amazon Read...

1st Call Recruitment general manager Angela Singleton says the number of available roles was about 50-70% down in a lot of sectors across the country. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Palm vein scanner works especially well Robust multi-user support Reasonably priced Cons Still has some kinks to work out Troubleshooting notifications required multiple days of tech support and factory resets Our Verdict This simpler and less expensive version of Lockin’s flagship smart lock drops the integrated camera—mostly for the best. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock Retailer Price $159.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Lockin was a pioneer with the palm vein scanning feature on its Veno Pro Palm Vein Recognition Video Smart Lock, and it didn’t stop there, throwing in a massive collection of additional features on top of that, including an integrated camera and a video doorbell. While rough around the edges, the kitchen-sink approach was at least an interesting concept and a nice starting point—albeit an expensive one. If you like the general direction Lockin is going with its smart locks, but don’t need the video camera features in the Veno Pro—which weren’t all that great anyway—Lockin has an alternative for you: the Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock (yes, it’s the very same product name, less the “Pro” moniker). A sensor embedded in the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock works with a custom strike plate to detect whether the door is open or closed. Specifications This more basic model removes the camera from the Veno Pro but keeps virtually all its other features. Apart from the missing camera lens, it even looks identical. But its $160 street price–$190 cheaper than Lockin’s flagship product–renders it much more competitively priced. The palm vein scanner on the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock is amazingly accurate, but a fingerprint reader, a numeric keypad, and the Lockin app are also available as backup.Lockin The overall specs remain the same: IP65 weatherproofing, ANSI grade 2 certification, and an array of unlocking options that allow for operation via physical key, mobile app, numeric touchpad (with 6- to 10-digit PINs), or fingerprint reader, in addition to the palm vein scanning feature. There’s still a doorbell button covering the keyhole, and pressing it rings a chime on the device, although the button is not backlit, making it virtually invisible in the dark. Power comes courtesy of the same size and shape rechargeable battery (5,000 mAh) as the Pro, which can be charged via USB-C when disconnected or via an optional 5.5-watt solar panel ($70) that attaches to the emergency USB port on the underside of the external escutcheon for real-time trickle charging. Lockin says the lock should last for about 7 months on a charge, significantly better than the 3 months on the Pro (likely due to the absence of the camera). Installation and setup The installation process is identical to that of the Pro. An interior frame bolts with two screws through the door to the exterior escutcheon, and the interior escutcheon connects via three bolts to the frame. As with the Pro, the deadbolt is unique, with an embedded sensor that works with a custom strike plate to detect whether the door is open or not, a handy feature that spares you the eyesore of having an external magnetic sensor attached to the door. The Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock has more than the usual number of cables to deal with during installation.Christopher Null/Foundry As with the Pro, there’s a lot of wiring to contend with among the various components. There’s one cable leading to the deadbolt, which must be attached to the motor housing on the interior escutcheon, and two additional cables trailing out from the exterior escutcheon. It makes for a crowded bunch of wire connections; fortunately, getting them all seated properly was the only difficult part of physical setup this time around. (Needle-nose pliers help a lot.) Unlike when I reviewed the Pro, I didn’t have any trouble with the bolts getting jammed, and the lock otherwise came together smoothly. The unit offers native 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, and it also supports Matter—although you’ll need to use the Lockin Smart app to accomplish nearly anything with the lock. A quick Bluetooth connection gets the lock bridged to your Wi-Fi network, and a wizard-based setup now makes the rest of the process more convenient, prompting you to configure your admin user credentials, add additional users, calibrate the door’s open/closed status, and even set auto-locking settings (configurable from immediate to 180 seconds). With many other smart locks, all this work must be done after the fact, piecemeal. Using the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock I did encounter trouble when attempting to update the lock’s firmware, as the process repeatedly stalled out. But oddly (and fortunately), when I left the lock to its own devices overnight, I found that the firmware had automatically updated on its own by the next day. Nothing has changed from the Pro when it comes to access management, and Lockin provides an intuitive system for keeping users organized. Each user can have multiple PINs, fingerprints, and palm scans. You can have 50 of each access type stored at any given time; though again, any user created in this manner invariably gets 24/7 access—there is no provision for restricting them to particular days and/or times. I see the absence of an integrated camera as a money-saver more than a missing feature.Christopher Null/Foundry All temporary users must be managed via a separate menu that only supports PIN-based access. One-time passwords that expire within one hour can also be created via the Temporary Password menu. These passwords can now be set to go into effect at a later time rather than immediately, up to a day in the future. Note also that the geofencing feature of the Veno Pro has been removed from this lock. While Lockin has made some upgrades and fixed some of the aggravations I cited in my previous coverage of the Pro, some kinks still need working out. For example, locking the door from the outside still requires you to hold down the lock button on the numeric keypad—but this button is not illuminated (although the numerals are). The button is effectively invisible without a backlight, so you’ll need to remember where it is to press it. Robust logging keeps tabs on all operations, but push notifications did not initially work in our testing.Christopher Null/Foundry The fingerprint reader on this unit also often took more than one attempt to properly read my print. I had better luck with the palm vein scanner, which woke up on approach more easily than it did on the Pro and never had any significant trouble quickly scanning my hand. My biggest issue with the lock was that none of its notification features worked during my testing; this despite all settings in the Lockin Smart app and on my iPhone being set to allow them. After two full days of tech-support troubleshooting, I finally got notifications to work, via a process that required deleting and reinstalling the app and factory-resetting the lock multiple times, which erased all its credentials. This was a huge hassle, but in the end, it did at least get notifications operating normally. Should you buy the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock? While its  MSRP is a hefty $249, the Lockin Veno Palm Vein Recognition Smart Lock’s $160 street price is much more reasonable and competitive, even with other palm vein scanning locks, although the TCL D1 Pro (which doesn’t have a fingerprint reader or a doorbell) costs a bit less. I’ve really come to appreciate palm vein scanning on door locks, as it’s very reliable and means you can open the lock completely without needing to touch it. That’s a great add. After all, who knows where that thing has been? This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

In the near future, according to a recent news release, Meta wants to systematically save and analyze its users’ conversations with the company’s own AI chatbot on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. The initiative will begin starting December 16th, 2025, initially outside the EU and UK where stricter data protection laws will force a later introduction. The data will be used to further personalize advertising and content, and it won’t be possible to opt out. Meta wants to study your AI chats According to Meta, all user inputs to the AI chatbot in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook will be stored and analyzed. The company wants to use this data to personalize advertising and content. Anyone who talks to the AI about topics such as cycling or cooking, for example, could start receiving targeted ads for bicycles or kitchen appliances. Users might also start getting suggestions and recommendations for relevant groups and posts. Meta emphasizes that sensitive information—such as health, religion, or political views—won’t be used for advertising purposes. Nevertheless, that kind of data is still technically collected and processed in order to provide the AI functions. No way to opt out of data collection There won’t be a way to keep using the AI chatbot while also opting out of data collection and analysis. If you don’t want Meta to read and study your conversations for advertising purposes, your only option is to stop conversing with the AI chatbot altogether. WhatsApp offers an option for blocking the automatic integration of AI. To do this, open the relevant chat, go to the settings, and activate the “Advanced chat privacy” option. This must be done for each chat. Note that Meta plans to compile the AI chat data collected across platforms. Anyone who has linked their accounts in the “Accounts Center” must be aware that AI interactions on one platform can also influence the display of advertising on another. Meta says it won’t analyze private end-to-end encrypted messages between real contacts. Only AI conversations. Launch in Europe still up in the air While the new policy is due to come into force in most regions worldwide starting December, the launch date for the EU and UK remains unclear. Meta is still examining how the changes can be reconciled with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws. According to the company, over one billion people already use Meta’s AI services, including the chatbot and the “Imagine me” image function. What does this mean for users? In the future, anyone who chats with Meta AI will have their full conversations stored and examined by Meta. As the data analysis can’t be deactivated after its introduction, the only protective measure you can take is to not use any Meta AI features. (In WhatsApp only, you can activate chat data protection on a per-chat basis.) For more information, check Meta’s privacy policy. Read...

Between data centers sprouting up like daisies and formerly affordable DDR4 memory finally fading into the sunset, we’re looking at some rough times ahead for memory and storage prices—and that’s before general economic turmoil and tariffs complicate things even further. Now, one major flash hardware producer’s CEO is even warning that we could be looking at a decade-long shortage. Said CEO is Pua Khein-Seng of Phison Electronics. Phison doesn’t get a lot of visibility in the consumer space, but it’s one of the planet’s biggest manufacturers of NAND memory controllers. (Pretty good odds that there are Phison chips in the gadget you’re using to read these words.) In an interview with Tech Taiwan, Pua predicted that we’ll be in a full-on memory shortage next year, with data centers made for increased capacity in general and “AI” products in particular creating an industry-wide dearth of hardware. That’s especially true as large data centers transition from conventional hard drives (the last major holdout for the decades-old tech) to solid-state drives. That would inevitably push the price for flash-based memory and storage higher, and by extension, raise prices on more or less all consumer electronics, including phones, PCs, and graphics cards. Even devices with mostly “invisible” integrated electronics, like monitors or headphones, would be affected. With a wind-down of investment following the pandemic, immediately followed by surging demand for the AI bubble, Pua estimates that we could see a shortage that lasts as long as a decade, according to TechPowerUp. I should note that the CEO of a major memory controller supplier isn’t exactly an unbiased source of information on the matter. Phison could be trying to spur investment or account for some rocky times in its own future. But speaking as someone who’s definitely on the consumer side of this equation, I don’t see anything that’s obviously wrong about a shortage prediction. Most other analysts are already predicting higher prices in the short term, and it’s certainly possible that the shortage could be sustained for multiple years. The biggest thing that might change that is if the “AI” bubble bursts… which might create some bigger problems for consumers, like finding a place to live or something to eat. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Inoffensive design includes a VESA mount Good sharpness and brightness for a budget monitor 100Hz refresh rate enhances motion clarity Cons Design is a bit too simple Doesn’t ship with a height-adjustable stand Modest contrast ratio and color gamut Our Verdict Though certainly drab, the MSI Pro MP275Q provides solid image quality for an office productivity monitor, and does it at an appealing price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: MSI PRO MP275Q Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Are you shopping for a basic productivity monitor that won’t disappoint? The MSI Pro MP275Q might be what you need. Though it has a ho-hum design and barebones feature set, it delivers high brightness and sharpness on a budget. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best home office monitors for comparison. MSI PRO MP275Q specs and features The MSI Pro MP275Q’s specifications are firmly targeted at office productivity. It provides a 27-inch panel with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, which is a nice bump from 1,920 x 1,080. It also has speakers, a VESA mount, and supports both HDR and Adaptive Sync. Display size: 27-inch Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: IPS-LED Refresh rate: 100Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync HDR: Yes, “HDR Ready” Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x 3.5mm audio-out Audio: 2x 2-watt speakers VESA Mount: Yes, 100x100mm Price: $179.99 MSRP, $139.99 typical retail Buying the MSI Pro MP275Q will set you back about $180 at MSRP but, like most monitors, it is often on sale and often for less than $150. That’s a decent price for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, but I wouldn’t call it a deal. MSI PRO MP275Q design The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t make much impression out of the box, and I suspect that’s the point. It’s a “Pro” monitor and, in this case, the professional could be anyone from a work-from-home administrator to a retail clerk ringing up an order. The Pro MP275Q looks fine, and it feels reasonably durable for a budget monitor, but it’s nothing special. However, the monitor’s function doesn’t live up to its branding. It has a simple stand that only adjusts for tilt. It’s not a tall stand, either, so tall users will find themselves looking down at the screen at an uncomfortable angle. The monitor does include a 100x100mm VESA mount, at least, so it’s possible to add a third-party stand or monitor arm. Matthew Smith / Foundry MSI PRO MP275Q connectivity MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities. We’re talking two HDMI 2.0 ports, plus one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. This is the expected range of connectivity for a monitor around $150. It’s neither better nor worse than usual. USB-C would be nice, but it’s not common south of $250. MSI PRO MP275Q menus, audio Menu navigation is provided with a joystick tucked around the right flank of the MSI Pro MP275Q. Many monitors offer a joystick (which is often the easiest, most responsive way to navigate a monitor’s menus), so this isn’t unusual. The monitor’s menu options are easy to navigate, but barebones. There are some image quality presets, a few color temperature options, and an EyeCare mode for reduced eye strain, all of which is normal for a monitor in this price bracket. You can also adjust monitor features using MSI Display Kit, a desktop software utility. It provides easy access to most monitor options and is often more intuitive to use than the on-screen menu controls. Display Kit is not the most visually appealing example of such a tool—I think those from Asus, BenQ, and Dell look a bit better. Still, it gets the job done. Matthew Smith / Foundry The only unusual feature is an “Eye-Q Check” feature, which displays an Amsler Grid that’s supposed to help you determine if you’re experiencing eye strain. Does it work? Probably not. While I was able to find medical studies on using an Amsler Grid to detect problems like macular degeneration, I couldn’t find studies suggesting it’s useful for general eye strain.A pair of 2-watt speakers are included. They provide modest volume and no hint of bass but, as budget monitor speakers go, they’re not bad. The speakers are fine for listening to podcasts or ambient music at low volumes—which is more than I can say for most budget monitors. MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities: two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. MSI PRO MP275Q SDR image quality The MSI Pro MP275Q is the type of monitor that will frequently be used for spreadsheets, web browsing, PDFs, and other office productivity. These tasks don’t require incredible image quality but benefit from good results in brightness, accuracy, and sharpness. Fortunately, the Pro MP275Q delivers. Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is definitely a highlight for the MSI Pro MP275Q. A maximum brightness of nearly 400 nits is extremely high for any monitor in the sub-$200 price bracket. This level of brightness isn’t required in most situations, but it’s helpful if you’re planning to position a monitor near bright windows or in an office environment without light control. The monitor also has an anti-glare finish to minimize reflections, which further helps with usability in bright rooms. If you want a bright, readable office monitor, the MSI Pro MP275Q is a top choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is an unsurprising weakness. The MSI Pro MP275Q uses an IPS display panel and doesn’t have a fancy dynamic Mini-LED backlight. Because of that, its contrast ratio is just 1190:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness.That’s not a terrible result, and it’s typical of budget IPS monitors. However, technologies like IPS Black and VA panels (like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30) can achieve a contrast ratio of 3000:1 or better, and OLED’s contrast ratio is effectively infinite. On the other hand, monitors with those technologies are often twice the price. While the contrast ratio isn’t great, it’s arguably not that important for an office monitor. Text-based workflows rarely benefit much, if at all, from a very high contrast ratio. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut isn’t the Pro MP275Q’s strength. It’s okay, with a color gamut that covers 99 percent of sRGB and 78 percent of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB. However, these are not impressive figures in 2025, and many alternative monitors do better. The color gamut will be a limitation if you need to do photo or video editing, or digital art, as many colors visible on more capable displays won’t be visible on this monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the Pro MP275Q’s color gamut doesn’t impress, color accuracy is more in its favor. The monitor’s color accuracy is solid, and most people won’t notice any issue. Color inaccuracy is highest in cyan and blue tones—a fairly common result for an IPS-LCD monitor—but even there, it didn’t come across to me in subjective viewing. Again, I wouldn’t recommend using this monitor to edit professional photography for, say, National Geographic. But that’s to be expected at this price point. The Pro MP275Q’s color temperature and gamma results were fine for a budget display. It displayed a gamma curve of 2.3, off the target of 2.2, which means content looks a tad darker than it should. But this is often hard to notice. The color temperature came in at 6600K, also just a shade off the target of 6500K. I didn’t find that difference noticeable. Sharpness is a strong point. The Pro MP275Q’s resolution of 2560×1440 works out to about 110 pixels per inch across the 27-inch screen. That’s a respectable pixel density. Speaking personally, I find it sharp enough—and a big upgrade over 1080p. With that said, shoppers should keep in mind that 4K monitors aren’t much more expensive. Even MSI has one priced at $200. Overall, the MSI Pro MP275Q’s image quality is good for a budget monitor. Its brightness and sharpness make it ideal for its target use case, which is office productivity. The monitor’s color performance and contrast are less impressive, and make it a less appealing choice for entertainment. However, at $150, you’ll be hard pressed to find alternatives that clearly defeat it in SDR image quality. MSI PRO MP275Q HDR image quality and motion The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t advertise HDR support, but its specifications list it as “HDR Ready.” This is, I think, a fair way to market the monitor. It can technically support an HDR signal, but its image quality is entirely insufficient to do much with HDR. It’s not bright enough, doesn’t have a wide enough color gamut, and doesn’t have enough contrast. However, this is true of all budget monitors. I actually like that MSI doesn’t advertise this feature. Some budget monitors do, which annoys me, because their claims of HDR support can be misleading. In reality, you’ll need to upgrade to a much more expensive OLED or MiniLED monitor if you want good HDR. Adaptive Sync is also technically supported, but the Pro MP275Q lacks AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync certification. My AMD video card did detect it as a variable refresh rate display, however, and I saw smooth motion in games. The monitor also has a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz. Though that won’t make headlines in 2025, it’s high enough to provide a noticeable improvement in motion clarity. The Pro MP275Q will look a bit less blurry in fast motion than 60Hz competitors. Note, however, that it is fairly subtle—your mileage will vary depending on how sensitive you are to motion clarity improvements. Gamers should note that budget gaming monitors like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 and Pixio PX248 Wave will provide a higher refresh rate of up to 240Hz for less than $200. However, you’ll often have to make a trade-off in either display size or resolution. Should you buy the MSI PRO MP275Q? The MSI Pro MP275Q is a workmanlike monitor meant for, well, work. It provides good image quality in SDR with high brightness and sharpness. The monitor’s build quality is simple and notably lacks a height-adjustable stand, which is its only significant flaw. Still, the Pro MP275Q is a good option if you want a 27-inch 1440p monitor for just about any work environment, from a home office to a corporate bullpen. Read...

Major-General Jerry Singirok says Papua New Guinea is caught up in a geopolitical battle between the United States and China, with little benefit to Papua New Guineans. Read...

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