It’s here! It’s begun! Black Friday deals have kicked off at most stores, and we’re digging for discounts left and right, finding the ones that are truly worth your time and attention. Even if you’re over the whole Black Friday madness, we’ve found some budget-friendly picks you might actually like — all for under $50, too! What’s not to love? Charge everything — Anker Prime 6-port charger Anker One of the best ways you can get everything charged while sitting at your computer is to get a charging station. This six-port model from Anker is just what you need, especially since it can deliver a massive 200W output across all ports. Speaking of which, it has four USB-C and two USB-A ports. When using single-port charging, the USB-C ports can reach 100W, which is fantastic for laptops. The charging station also features multiple safety precautions, so you don’t have to worry about high-voltage, short circuits, or overheating. The Anker Prime Charger is available for its very best price right now. The Anker Prime Charger is 38% off for $50Buy now at Amazon Rise and shine — Ecozy Sunrise Alarm Clock Ecozy Like most adults, I don’t get nearly enough sleep. I’ve heard a sunrise alarm clock can help, so I’ve been looking into them. This particular model from Ecozy doesn’t just gently mimic the rising sun, it also doubles as a white noise machine to help you drift off. You can even use it as a Bluetooth speaker! Since it’s 50 percent off right now at Best Buy, you can get it for just $35, a small price to pay for better rest. The Ecozy Sunrise Alarm Clock is 50% off for $35Buy now at Best Buy Recharge your gear — Anker Prime GaN 100W charger Anker If you’d rather have a charger you can take anywhere, including on trips, this 100W model from Anker will do the trick. With one USB-A and two USB-C ports, this tiny device is ready to travel with you thanks to its compact design and foldable prongs. Since it can reach 100W output, it’s even suitable for charging laptops, which is always a plus, although you’ll a cable that supports those speeds. The Anker Prime Charger 100W is 40% off for $42Buy now at Amazon Add monitors to your laptop — Ugreen 7-in-1 docking station Ugreen Laptops these days never seem to have enough ports for all the monitors you might want in your office. The best solution? A docking station. This 7-in-1 model from Ugreen is quite the find, featuring two HDMI ports, two 10Gbps USB-A ports, two 10Gbps USB-C ports, and one PD 100W charging port. Since the type-C ports don’t support video, you’ll get two extra monitors via the dock, which, considering its $25.98 price tag, is a great deal. The Ugreen 7-in-1 docking station is 30% off for $25.89Buy now at Amazon Take control — Logitech G309 Ligthspeed wireless gaming mouse Logitech Sure, you could be spending north of a hundred bucks for a mouse, but… why? Let’s be real: most of us aren’t exactly gaming pros that need something that expensive, so this Logitech G309 Lightspeed wireless mouse is more than enough. It’s lightweight, has a super sensitive 25K sensor, and battery life that keeps you going for over 300 hours. With six programmable buttons, you can dive into customizations if you want. The Logitech G309 Ligthspeed mouse is 44% off for $49.99Buy now at Amazon Ignore the world around you — JBL Tune 245NC earbuds JBL Blocking out the world around you doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The JBL Tune 245NC earbuds are super affordable right now, thanks to a massive $70 discount at Best Buy, bringing their price just under $40. These wireless buds feature JBL’s well-known pure bass sound and deliver Active Noise Canceling with smart ambient mode, letting you minimize audio distractions while commuting or at the office. When Ambient Aware mode is on, you can tune in to your surroundings, while TalkThru lets you chat with people without removing your earbuds. That’s a lot of technology for $40! You’ll also get a total of 48 hours of battery life. Have you clicked “Add to cart” yet? The JBL Tune 245NC earbuds are 64% off for $39.95Buy now at Best buy Keep the kids entertained — Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet Amazon If you need a bit of help here and there and want to give your kids access to technology, you have to ensure that everything is age-appropriate. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids is a tablet that was built specifically for this, giving parents total control over what their kids can watch. This purchase includes six months of ad-free content and access to Amazon Kids+, opening the door to books, games, videos, and apps. The best part? If your child breaks the tablet within two years, Amazon will replace it for free. The Amazon Fire 7 Kids is 55% off for $45Buy now at Amazon Get some extra storage — Samsung Evo Select microSD Samsung How much storage can $50 get you? When it comes to Samsung microSDs, quite a lot! This 512GB Evo Select is just $33 right now, the best price we’ve seen for this model. Whether you need a card for your smartphone, your old Switch, or your tablet, this tiny card supports speeds up to 160MB/s. That means recording 4K videos is no problem. The Samsung Evo Select 512GB is 30% off for $33Buy now at Amazon Install it and forget it — TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit TP-Link I actually have this camera — well, the European version, anyway — and I absolutely love it. Since it comes with its own solar panel, you won’t have to worry about charging it or hardwiring it. It also connects to your home Wi-Fi and sends notifications when it senses motion, which is fantastic. Without any subscriptions, it can tell you whether it has detected a person or a car, which is more than we can say for many other cameras. The C402 works with both Google Home and Alexa, so you can pull live footage on your smart display. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s down to its best price ever. The Tapo SolarCam C402 is 33% off for $40Buy now at Amazon Join your meetings in 4K — Emeet Nova 4K webcam emeet Whether you like it or not, every now and then, you have to join video calls for work. This tiny device comes with a massive 44 percent discount this Black Friday, bringing the price down to just over $39. That’s a fantastic deal for a camera that can deliver 4K video with autofocus and automatic light correction. It even has two noise-canceling mics, so your voice comes through loud and clear. When you’re not using the camera (or just want a break without cutting the video feed), you can simply flip down the privacy cover. The Emeet Nova 4K webcam is 44% off for $39.23Buy now at Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Fast and accurate fingerprint recognition High-capacity removable, rechargeable battery with USB-C charging ANSI Grade 2 certification and IP65 protection from the elements Integrated doorbell Cons Sensitive to misalignment; strike plate and door frame tolerances matter Lock will make repeated auto-lock cycles if calibration is off No external provisioning API for Airbnb-type integrations Our Verdict The Tapo DL110 delivers a reliable and polished daily experience for homeowners. While installation requires more precise alignment than other models we’ve tested, the lock delivers an impressive performance overall. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: TP-Link Tapo DL-110 Fingerprint Smart Lock Retailer Price $114.98 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The extremely affordable Tapo DL100 Wi-Fi smart lock I reviewed in July has become a favorite among budget-conscious homeowners. It’s not flashy, but it’s dependable, with solid Wi-Fi connectivity, decent app integration, and a clean design that’s easy to use. The step-up Tapo DL110 adds sophistication to that design, incorporating a fast fingerprint reader, a more powerful rechargeable battery, stronger build quality, and more robust protection from the elements. The DL110 represents an upgrade over its predecessor, but the right choice for you will depend on the features you need. Design and build TP-Link carries over the matte-black finish and keypad layout from the less-expensive Tapo DL00, but add several thoughtful refinements. The faceplate now includes a subtle doorbell button that flips up to reveal the keyhole, hiding the backup entry without interfering with the faceplate design. Near-instant fingerprint recognition lets you forget about remembering codes or pulling out your phone to launch an app. The overall build feels substantial and durable, with an all-metal housing, firm buttons, and a flush-fitting fingerprint sensor. TP-Link rates the exterior escutcheon at IP65; our IP code decoder tells us that means it’s dustproof and can withstand water jets coming from any direction (short of a pressure washer, that is). The removable 10,000mAh battery is one of the Tapo DL110’s best features.James Barber/Foundry The lock is certified ANSI Grade 2, the commercial version of the BHMA rating scale, which is more than sufficient for most homes (you can read about the differences between ANSI and BHMA certifications at the preceding link). This TP-Link lock feels dependable in daily use. Installation If you’ve swapped out a deadbolt before, installation will be relatively easy. The Tapo DL110 uses a standard footprint that fits doors between 1? and 2 inches thick. TP-Link includes all the usual spacers, screws, and templates. The printed instructions are clear, and the Tapo app walks you through calibration and connectivity once the hardware’s in place. The first step is to charge the 10,000mAh removable battery with a USB-C cable, as I did the evening before installation. Installation was straightforward after I removed my previous smart lock. I used the TP-Link phone app (available for iPhone and Android) to connect the DL110 to home Wi-Fi and followed instructions to set up the fingerprint entry. The entire process took about fifteen minutes, including the brief challenge I had while removing the rear panel from the TCL D2 Pro lock I needed to uninstall first. All of this smart lock’s important components are fabricated from metal.James Barber/Foundry Unfortunately, precision matters to a Tapo DL110 install more than it does with other locks I’ve tested. The fingerprint and auto-lock functions can behave erratically if the strike plate isn’t perfectly aligned. After running into some issues as I started using this lock, I went online to find that other uses were reporting the same issues. The motor tends to cycle repeatedly if the bolt isn’t perfectly set, but I eventually adjusted my strike plate to solve the problem. While that doesn’t sound like a surprising issue or solution, this is the first smart lock I’ve tested that was so finicky. All the others worked flawlessly with my existing strike plate. Day-to-day experience Biometric entry is the Tapo DL110’s biggest new feature. TP-Link says the fingerprint reader unlocks in about 0.42 seconds, and it really does feel that quick. The reader performed consistently across multiple fingers and even recognized damp fingertips reasonably well. I found the sensors far more forgiving than the home button on a basic iPad. The exterior escutcheon has the typical power cable that must be threaded through the door to a connection on the interior escutcheon.James Barber/Foundry That near-instant recognition lets you stop thinking about codes or app taps. Walk up, touch the pad, and its bolt slides back quietly. The motor’s tone is lower than on the DL100, and it feels more refined overall. It’s not quite as impressive as the touchless palm-vein technology on the (far more expensive) TCL D2 Pro, but it’s the best touch sensor I’ve used. In addition to the fingerprint entry, you can use the PIN pad, which lights up when touched and supports decoy digits when you need to hide your code from prying eyes. There’s also control via the app, which works over either Wi-Fi or via a Bluetooth connection if your home network is down. You can also lock the door with voice control via Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartThings, and there’s a mechanical key as a last-ditch backup if the battery dies while you’re out. Alternatively, you can plug in a USB-C cable connected to a portable power bank. The Tapo DL110 also has a built-in doorbell with a variable volume that can be controlled via the Tapo app. You can also pair the this lock with Tapo Chimes and Tapo Hubs, or with any Amazon Echo or Google Assistant speakers or displays. During day-to-day use, I never needed to pull out my phone to lock or unlock the door. During testing, I discovered that you could configure the app to unlock the door via Bluetooth when your phone is in proximity. This can be convenient if you regularly arrive home with armloads of groceries, but keep security considerations in mind if you choose to use that feature. Battery and power design From left to right: The Tapo DL110’s battery, interior escutcheon, and battery cover.James Barber/Foundry Smart locks live or die by their power management. The DL110’s 10,000mAh rechargeable battery is a big improvement over the DL100’s smaller, internal pack. TP-Link claims up to a year of runtime, depending on Wi-Fi stability and how frequently you use the lock. After a month of roughly 10 to 15 entries a day, the battery remained at 100 percent. That’s encouraging, though long-term results will depend on conditions. Charging is simple. The battery slides out in seconds and connects to any USB-C cable. From a wall adapter or laptop port, TP-Link says a full recharge takes about three to four hours, depending on the output current. A quick 30-minute top-off should easily cover several weeks of typical use. The only real catch might be a dealbreaker for some users since the lock stays offline during recharging unless you’re using that temporary power source. If your main entry door is your only way in, plan to charge when someone’s home or keep a spare pack on standby. For most users, this is a minor trade-off for a battery you can recharge indefinitely instead of replacing every few months. Smart features and app control The Tapo app is well laid out and easy to use.James Barber/Foundry TP-Link’s Tapo app is one of the lock’s strongest features with a clean user interface with minimal steps required for setup. You can set up fingerprints, create or delete PINs, schedule access, and monitor usage logs without needing to dig through layer upon layer of menus. The access management system allows you to create time-limited or recurring codes, assign different users their own profiles, and see who unlocked the door and when. Notifications arrive quickly and reliably over Wi-Fi. You can also integrate the Tapo DL110 into Tapo Smart Actions, TP-Link’s basic automation layer. Users can set up commands that turn on compatible porch lights when the door unlocks, or schedule auto-locks at night. The Tapo DL110 is less useful for commercial landlords, lacking the advanced automation features that would allow it to generate temporary guest codes for vacation rentals and the ability integrate with third-party property-management APIs. But for homeowners, the DL110 covers nearly everything you’d expect, offering reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, straightforward scheduling, and instant notifications if your kids forget to lock up. Performance and reliability You can connect the Tapo DL110’s onboard doorbell (which covers its keyhole) to one of TP-Link’s in-home chimes.James Barber/Foundry The Tapo DL110 proved steady over several weeks of testing. The fingerprint reader rarely failed, and when it did, a second attempt almost always worked. The keypad also responded quickly, even in bright sunlight. Bluetooth fallback kicked in instantly when Wi-Fi dropped. The only hiccup came from the auto-lock calibration mentioned earlier. When the deadbolt meets resistance, the motor sometimes retries rather than timing out gracefully. TP-Link might  be able to smooth that behavior with firmware updates, but it’s the one annoyance that keeps the DL110 shy of perfection. Should you buy the Tapo DL110 smart lock? The Tapo DL110 is ideal for homeowners who want a biometric smart lock without a luxury price tag. It’s intuitive enough for first-time smart-home users, but flexible enough to satisfy enthusiasts already invested in TP-Link’s Tapo ecosystem. It’s lightning-fast, with a practical rechargeable battery, and its overall user experience feels refined. Yes, installation precision matters, and the automation layer could go deeper. If you’re ready to retire your mechanical deadbolt and want something smarter without going full premium, the Tapo DL110 belongs on your shortlist. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

Historically, you’ve had two options to expand the port capabilities of your laptop: an inexpensive USB-C dongle or a more powerful, pricey Thunderbolt docking station. A third option is quietly emerging, trying to split the difference. A DisplayLink docking station (sometimes called a USB-C dock) uses data compression to offer the capabilities of a Thunderbolt dock over a standard USB-C or Thunderbolt cable. Why buy one? DisplayLink docking stations work great for normal day-to-day productivity, and historically the docks are cheaper and more stable than older Thunderbolt 3 desktop docks. They’re an upgrade over our picks for the best USB-C hubs dongles, and less expensive than the best Thunderbolt docking stations for your laptop. They can even support more displays than a native Thunderbolt dock. They’re just not suited for gaming. If you need a fuller explanation of how DisplayLink works and what it offers, you’ll find that directly under our two recommended DisplayLink docks, below. You’ll also find a FAQ with answers to questions you might have. I base my recommendations on hands-on testing of the DisplayLink docking stations. Why you should trust me: I’ve worked as a technology journalist for about 30 years, and at PCWorld for the last decade. I’ve tested dozens of USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt docks, and DisplayLink docking stations. I use a docking station in my daily work, connected to multiple 4K displays, and I typically review a handful of new products each month. Updated Nov. 24, 2025 with some additional details from Synaptics. Look for the DisplayLink logo to identify it as a DisplayLink dock.Mark Hachman / IDG The best DisplayLink docking stations Though I’ve tested a number of DisplayLink docking stations for laptops, I have two recommended docks. They’re the same picks that appear on PCWorld’s list of the best Thunderbolt desktop docks for your laptop. Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 – Best USB-C DisplayLink dock Pros Terrific price and value Excellent stability Great display port flexibility Support for two 4K60 displays Cons Have to provide your own power supply Can warm to somewhat alarming temperatures A lack of naming consistency Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $109.98 View Deal eBay $129 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 Like some of the premium Thunderbolt docks, Ugreen’s DisplayLink dock provides options to use either HDMI or DisplayPort to connect a display, allowing you to use your existing display cables and save some money. Like most DisplayLink docks, this dock was unusually stable, with no flickering between displays — one of the reasons I like DisplayLink docks. Some other Thunderbolt docks offer the same flexibility to shift between monitors, but not many. Ugreen’s dock does so affordably. Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615: other considerations If you’re not worried about hunting down the proper software driver (because Ugreen, bless them, does not make it apparent that it needs one) than I would recommend that you buy this dock. It offers many of the features of more expensive Thunderbolt docks at an affordable price. Read our full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 review Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Horizontal Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) – Best USB-C DisplayLink dock runner-up Pros Terrific value for office workers Great display flexibility Plenty of USB-A ports SD/microSD card slots, too 100W of charging power Cons No USB-C ports No dedicated charging ports Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $179.95 View Deal B&H $199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Horizontal Docking Station If you’re a home office worker who doesn’t want or need to game, this dock will suit you just fine. Plugable’s USB-C Dual 4K Display dock takes Plugable’s traditional approach: provide dedicated display interfaces, and let the user choose between which cables they’ll need to connect to their display. The dock is a pretty simple affair, with a pair of legacy USB-A ports and standard gigabit Ethernet connection. Interestingly, Plugable has recast this dock as a Mac-dedicated device, with a grayish tint to boot. (That’s what you’ll see on the Amazon page.) It’s really not — it will work on Macs and Windows PCs just fine, though you’ll need the Windows driver for it instead. Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Horizontal Docking Station: further considerations For whatever reason (maybe the bandwidth that a 10Gbps port consumes?) USB-C ports aren’t common on DisplayLink docks. (The Ugreen dock that we’ve picked as our favorite has one; this dock does not.) This is going to sound redundant, but just keep in mind that these docks are terrific for video playback or office work, but gaming is beyond them. Read our full Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display Horizontal Docking Station (UD-6950PDH) review Other DisplayLink reviews and features Laptop docking stations may evolve into “AI Docks”: Synaptics believes its high-speed signaling finesse can give it a leg up in future devices. DisplayLink goes ‘Pro’ to highlight even faster speeds: Synaptics’ DL-7000 chip will be rolling out in new DisplayLink docks. Plugable Thunderbolt Docking Station with DisplayLink (TBT-6950PD) review: Add up to four external displays and fast ports with this quality DisplayLink Thunderbolt 4 dock. It’s time to start docking phones again, DisplayLink says: Modern smartphones are powerful enough to try out this technology again, DisplayLink thinks. DisplayLink USB-C docks: How DisplayLink works USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt desktop docks, and now DisplayLink docking stations have emerged because of two factors: the growing ubiquity of do-anything USB-C ports, and the realization by laptop makers that they can use these ports to eliminate all the dedicated HDMI, microUSB, SD card slots, and USB-A ports that can clutter up their notebook PCs. DisplayLink docks provide some of the native functions of a Thunderbolt dock, namely the ability to drive multiple high-resolution displays. Because of the inherent bandwidth limitations, DisplayLink docking stations offer a good choice for office workers, who can use those extra displays for static applications like email, chat, spreadsheets, or office work. A USB-C port typically provides 10Gbps of bandwidth. Thunderbolt 3/4, which runs over the same physical USB-C port, supplies 40Gbps. In the real world, that typically means that a USB-C dongle can connect to a single 4K display (at 30Hz) while Thunderbolt can connect to two 4K displays, at 60Hz. DisplayLink can you give the advantages of a 40Gbps Thunderbolt connection via just a 10Gbps USB-C interface. How? Data compression. A DisplayLink dock can either use a “traditional” 10Gbps USB-C connection, or take advantage of the extra bandwidth provided by an existing Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port. Either way, it uses data compression to squeeze more data throughput over the port. We use data compression every day, in photos and streamed video from YouTube and Netflix, and never notice. It’s the same here; your Windows desktop and applications will look the same. Two similar products with different characteristics: a Lention USB-C hub (left), which has been previously featured among PCWorld’s u003ca href=`https://www.pcworld.com/article/402858/the-best-usb-c-hubs-for-your-laptop-tablet-or-2-in-1.html`u003erecommended USB-C hubsu003c/au003e, and the u003ca href=`` data-product=`699911` data-manufacturer=`10079` class=`product-link`u003eHP Thunderbolt G4 Docku003c/au003e, part of PCWorld’s recommended u003ca href=`https://www.pcworld.com/article/393714/best-thunderbolt-docks-for-a-laptop-pc.html`u003ebest Thunderbolt docksu003c/au003e. DisplayLink is a technology owned by Synaptics, meaning it’s a proprietary standard. Each DisplayLink dock has a special DisplayLink chip built inside of it. (DisplayLink docks rarely, if ever, publish which Synaptics chip they use, so a DisplayLink dock’s capabilities may vary by product.) DisplayLink USB-C docks: Pros and cons DisplayLink’s data compression means there are two negatives to the technology, which we’ll get out of the way. While USB-C and Thunderbolt work out of the box, DisplayLink requires a software driver. Without it, it will function as a generic USB-C dock. I’ve never seen any DisplayLink docks use their own unique drivers (though they may). In any case, you can use Synaptics’ official DisplayLink drivers. Most dock makers publish this information right up front, but not all do. (Be sure to reboot after installing it.) DisplayLink works perfectly well for email, Word, Excel, and anything static, like a web page. But it does have limitations: 10Gbps is a nice chunk of bandwidth. But pushing a ton of data across it will cause images to stutter and hitch. In practice, this means that PC gaming on a DisplayLink dock is iffy: A slow-paced game like Baldur’s Gate 3 should be fine, but a frantic shooter like Battlefield or Helldivers 2 probably won’t give you a good experience at all. Playing 4K video from Netflix or YouTube? It shouldn’t be a problem. Playing 4K video while copying files from a hard drive and downloading a file? Everything will work, albeit slowly. The big advantage for me is that DisplayLink tends to be really stable. Older Thunderbolt 3 hardware can be a little glitchy when connecting to multiple displays. In my experience, DisplayLink docks aren’t. That matters to some people. DisplayLink (often with a DisplayLink 4K logo on it) can also connect to multiple displays, even more than Thunderbolt. I don’t have room to neatly show off a photo of three or even four displays, but trust me — I’ve tried it on multiple occasions, and it works. The hitch is that your laptop has to be capable of rendering on four displays, and you’ll typically need to close your laptop to do so. That may mean adjusting the Windows Control Panel to tell your laptop to leave it up and running. This is only necessary if you are running four 4K displays with a DisplayLink dock. Mark Hachman / IDG Can I get a bit nerdy for a second? When you use a DisplayLink dock to connect to more than two displays, there’s even more magic going on behind the scenes. Take a DisplayLink dock like the Plugable UD-6950PDZ, which supports three 4K displays at 60Hz. It uses Synaptics’ most advanced chip, the DL-6950. But the DL-6950 only supports a pair of displays. To enable a third external display, the dock is using DisplayLink for two displays, and your laptop’s own “normal” DisplayPort connection (called DisplayPort Alt Mode) to drive the third. That brings up the final point that I always have to make: Recent hardware is best. A standard DisplayLink docks works best on, say, a 10th- or 11th-gen Core processor or a complementary AMD Ryzen laptop. With anything more advanced — 12th-, 13th-, and 14th-gen — you should have a pretty ideal experience. To be fair, Synaptics feels that you should be able to use older hardware with DisplayPort, and it should just work. “Regardless of your PC’s specs or age, DisplayLink docks will efficiently allocate bandwidth to handle your network connection and other peripherals, ensuring optimal performance,” a Synaptics representative says. That’s a fair objection. But I’m still more comfortable recommending more modern hardware, perhaps because I’m a little gun-shy after using other USB-C hardware. Unlike other Thunderbolt docks we’ve tested, Plugable’s UD-ULTC4K highlights not only which port is which but which I/O protocol each port is associated with. Note the “Alt Mode” label on the bottom ports.Mark Hachman / IDG How I test DisplayLink docking stations I use the same methodology to test DisplayLink docks as I do to test Thunderbolt docking stations. Here’s a synopsis. First, I take the dock from its packaging and evaluate its construction. I measure the cord length and check the dock’s physical dimensions with a ruler. I’ll then read the manual: Does the dock need any drivers? (Yes it will.) Are there links? What does the manual say about the dock’s capabilities, in terms of power and speed? Next, I take a USB key or two and connect them to the available USB ports to determine if they have enough space to allow several to be connected at the same time. I then examine the display ports, find the appropriate cables, and then connect the dock to the laptop. I use a series of laptops with various generations of AMD and Intel hardware, and check to see if the experience is the same on each one. If it isn’t, I make notes. I then measure the power output of the ports, using a USB multimeter, a smartphone, and a laptop to measure how much power the dock delivers to a laptop. Finally, I check to see how well the dock performs under load. I use a specific test laptop for this purpose for repeatable results. I stream a 4K60 YouTube video using the Ethernet port on the dock (if it has one) and note any dropped frames. I usually check with a pre-recorded 4K60 video running from an SSD. I then run PCMark 10’s SSD storage benchmark off of a test SSD, connected to the dock. I measure the score, then measure the score again while streaming a video. I then copy a large, multigigabyte folder of various files from my laptop across the bus and measure the time it takes to do so. I repeat the test while streaming video. Finally, I check the operation and performance of any SD card slots the dock has and listen to audio through the audio jack, to make sure it works. FAQ 1. Should you buy a DisplayLink USB-C dock? Not all DisplayLink docks are created equal, which is why we test them. But for office workers on Windows, absolutely. For gamers, give it a pass. DisplayLink docking station offers a chance to expand your PC’s I/O capabilities, even with hardware that doesn’t support Thunderbolt. If you aren’t comfortable with this, feel free to return to the relative safety of a either a generic USB-C dongle or a powerful Thunderbolt dock: Both offer simplicity and a known experience. 2. How do I know if my dock is a DisplayLink dock? It should prominently feature a DisplayLink logo, which we include a photo of earlier in the story. Not always, though. Shopping for a DisplayLink dock can be a bit confusing, too, since the term “DisplayLink dock” isn’t really in vogue. Instead, vendors will sometimes use “USB-C dock” instead. Just read the documentation closely and look for the label. 3. How much should a DisplayLink docking station cost? DisplayLink was a much cheaper alternative to Thunderbolt docks during the height of the work-from-home years. Then, a Thunderbolt dock would cost about $300, and a DisplayLink dock about $150 to $200 or so. Prices for both have come down some, with DisplayLink docks starting for as low as $125. 4. How many devices can a DisplayLink dock support? You’ll usually see close to as many ports on a DisplayLink dock as you will on a Thunderbolt dock, and maybe more. In general, DisplayLink is just fine for connecting multiple devices simultaneously. It’s when they’re all in use, transferring data, that the bus may get clogged and transfer rates may slow down. 5. What’s better, a DisplayLink dock or a Thunderbolt dock? For now, there’s a case to be made that a DisplayLink dock is a better value: They’re generally cheaper, more stable, and offer the potential for more displays. But if you’re a gamer, the answer is not the same. Gamers should buy a Thunderbolt dock instead. The game changes, though, when Thunderbolt 5 debuts later in 2024. Then, Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth will shoot up to 80Gbps in both directions, allowing those docks to connect to four 4K displays at 144Hz refresh rates and offer improved charging. Again, Synaptics is competitive; its most recent DL-7000 chip allows four 4K displays to be connected at 120Hz. 6. Can a DisplayLink dock charge your laptop and your smartphone? If the DisplayLink docking station ships with its own external power brick, it should be able to, yes. Most DisplayLink docks supply the same amount of power as a Thunderbolt dock (a maximum of 90 to 95W to your laptop, and hopefully enough power to fast-charge a smartphone.) 7. Is a DisplayLink docking station plug and play? Not really. You’ll need a driver from Synaptics or the dock maker to enable the dock’s full functionality. 8. What’s DSC and HBR3? I’ve heard that those are a competitor to DisplayLink. Display Stream Compression with High Bandwidth Rate 3 (DSC with HBR3) is a more open version of DisplayLink. It doesn’t require a software driver, but you won’t see this technology advertised at all. However, you will find it in products like the Kensington SD5800T, which uses Thunderbolt 4 and DSC to enable four external 4K displays. Basically, the same rules apply. If you own a recent, modern laptop, you may have one with DSC inside: It’s found within laptops with an Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics chip, or as part of Intel’s “Tiger Lake” platform, aka the 11th-gen Core chips. But this is absolutely not a feature that laptop makers advertise, either. 9. Are DisplayLink and DisplayPort the same thing? No, they’re not, though the names are confusingly similar. DisplayPort is a physical display connector as well as a display protocol. Your laptop can route DisplayPort display protocols over Thunderbolt without ever using the connector itself. DisplayPort can also be routed over a USB-C connection encoded with DisplayLink, too. 10. Is a DisplayLink dock good for gaming? Not especially. It’s best for productivity, which uses a number of windows with static applications. Any time you push gobs and gobs of data over the DisplayLink bus, as you would with gaming, you risk the connection being saturated and your game reduced to a stuttery mess. You may be able to “game” with a slow-paced game or one that doesn’t use a lot of fast-paced motion or detailed graphics, but it’s risky. Buy a Thunderbolt dock instead. Read...

Wipro Ventures invests in SquareX to enhance browser security, addressing rising cyber threats with innovative detection and response technology. Read...

Our health system is being held back by outdated, disconnected technology,” says Health Minister Simeon Brown. Read...

The fact that most companies no longer ship power adapters with their tech may be a blessing in disguise. Why? Because you get to pick a proper charger from a trusted brand that’s much faster, better built, and more travel-friendly. This Anker USB-C wall plug is only $10 right now thanks to a stunning 57% discount (was $23) that brings the price down to the lowest I’ve ever seen for this model. View this Amazon deal This 30W GaN charger delivers fast charging for whatever device is plugged in, whether that’s your smartphone, tablet, earbuds, keyboard, mouse, or even your older-model MacBook Air. Due to GaN technology, it’s smaller and more power efficient than older power adapters, plus it generates less heat so it’s safer for day-to-day use. The prongs even fold in when not in use so you can easily take it with you anywhere. What’s nice about this deal is that this crazy price drop also includes a free 6-foot USB-C charging cable that lets you take full advantage of the charger. It’s wrapped in braided nylon and built to survive thousands of bends (so no worries about it fraying for years) and that length is perfect for using your phone in bed while it charges. A fast power adapter and cable for just $10? C’mon, you know as well as I do that this deal is awesome. Snag this Amazon Black Friday deal before it expires. Who knows how long it’ll stay in stock? Get this 30W Anker GaN USB-C charger for only $10Buy via Amazon Read...

TL;DR: StackSocial is partnering with Babbel this Black Friday! Use code LEARN at checkout to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159 for a limited time (MSRP $198.97). If you want to learn a new language but the thought of traditional language classes feels all too overwhelming, a language-learning app like Babbel may be your perfect solution. Babbel offers 14 languages with its lifetime subscription, so you can learn fully on your terms. Babbel’s lessons are designed for real-life conversations, teaching phrases you’ll actually use. It won’t throw you into the deep end but will challenge your brain to learn. The platform’s speech-recognition technology helps you improve your pronunciation privately to perfect your skills without the anxiety of live practice. Plus, personalized lessons adapt to your progress. Another perk: you can download lessons for offline use, so when you travel, you’ll be prepared to practice before you even get there. No recurring fees—this lesson plan fits your life without worrying about subscriptions. Code LEARN expires soon! Get this Babbel lifetime deal at $159 for a limited time (MSRP $198.97). Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

If you’ve been enjoying the lack of advertising in Google’s new “AI Mode”, which replaces conventional web searches with a ChatGPT-style conversational interface, then I have bad news. Users are starting to see the former search engine’s omnipresent ads creep into its shiny new mode as of November 20th. Oddly, it only seems to be a small fraction of users or queries that are showing these ads at the moment, and by default it’s appearing below more direct answers. That’s for the results that are marked as “Sponsored” to comply with laws in the US and other countries. This is well below the advertising load in the “All” and far more direct “Web” tabs of Google Search, which show sponsored results immediately (and typically require lots of scrolling to get past for especially lucrative searches). BleepingComputer reports that ads are appearing below both the LLM-generated answers for user queries, centering the most immediate answer to the query, and effectively highlighting the sources for the generated answer on the right. These sources are still pretty lightly featured, especially on mobile, where I have to scroll to the very bottom of the page in order to see the sites that actually provide the information Google is scraping and regurgitating. I was unable to replicate advertising in AI Mode, despite using the same queries that users on Twitter did to find the ads, so they seem to be very limited at the moment (or tied to some other flag that doesn’t apply). Google is under pressure at the moment, desperate to compete with skyrocketing use of tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, while preserving the web advertising empire that makes it one of the most valuable technology companies on the planet. Meanwhile, it’s pushing its own AI tools onto users, in almost the same way Microsoft is trying to shove Copilot into every aspect of Windows and Office. Google still needs web advertising as a backbone in order to remain functional, so expect to see more of the familiar ads popping up into AI Mode and Gemini going forward. Read...

Alteryx appoints Rajkumar Irudayaraj as SVP to lead global AI and technology partnerships, enhancing its cloud and analytics ecosystem worldwide. Read...

Reusing old electronic hardware is a great way to help the planet, as it avoids sending more e-waste to landfills. Sometimes, you can find really fun ways to do it, too—like turning an old laptop into a MU/TH/UR 6000 terminal from the Alien universe. That’s what I did this past weekend for a tabletop RPG session, repurposing an old 2018 HP Spectre x360 laptop and powering the whole thing with ChatGPT. It went brilliantly. Here’s how I did it—and if you want to give it a try, how you can do it, too. What’s the story, MUTHUR? I love tabletop roleplaying. I have several ongoing Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, I’ve run a bunch of Call of Cthulhu investigations over the years, and I’ve dabbled in a few one-off megagames that were fantastic fun. But one game I’ve always wanted to run? Alien RPG. I bought the starter set in 2019 and spent the next few years repeatedly planning for that first game that always got postponed. Finally, I pulled it out just as the Evolved Edition hit Kickstarter and was able to run the excellent “cinematic scenario” called “Chariots of the Gods.” Note: I’m keeping this as spoiler-free as I can, but if you’re going to play this at some point, maybe skip down to the next section. The setting for Chariots of the Gods involves a derelict spaceship and, like most ships in the Alien universe, this one has a MUTHUR computer system at its core that’s full of interesting information. Although I like to think I do a fantastic interpretation of the robotic MUTHUR voice system, I thought it would be a lot of fun to actually make one. My programming is rudimentary at best, though, so coding a terminal from scratch was out. But I’m pretty good at prompting ChatGPT, so over the course of a couple of months I crafted a custom GPT that had all the information it needed to act like a retro-70s-future computer terminal. How I built MUTHUR Jon Martindale / Foundry “This GPT model will act as the Weyland (Key: Not Weyland-Yutani) MUTHER 2000 terminal aboard the USCSS Cronos for an Alien RPG game,” read the custom GPT instructions. “Responses must look like a 1970s/1980s terminal display but must not use Markdown code blocks” to avoid snippets that break immersion. I told it to add periodic delays, random corrupted characters, and ASCII symbols to generate boxes and layout elements. I gave it a list of commands players could give it and I told it to disregard everything else. I loaded each of those commands with the information the players would need in clear bullet points, then asked ChatGPT to extrapolate that data into a log system, ship status, and personnel records. You can see it in action with my MUTHUR GPT here. It worked fantastically well! ChatGPT built out a whole system of 10 logs from various characters and only embellished a little. I gave it several test runs and tweaked the wording of its instructions to avoid giving the players too much information too early. I also added an admin override code in case I needed to update its instructions mid-game (e.g., if the players ended up doing something unexpected). Jon Martindale / Foundry The finishing touch was installing the GPThemes Chrome extension to remove some of the on-screen elements that make it look like a ChatGPT window and give it a green tinge instead. Icing on the cake! Bringing MUTHUR to life Using an old touchscreen laptop for all this is great, but really that’s far too advanced technology for the retro-future vibe of the Alien universe. For that, I really needed a CRT monitor… but my partner would kill me if I tried justifying something like that for a one-off RPG. So I opted for the next best option, which was to craft one myself out of cardboard, spray paint, and Weyland-Yutani stickers. I propped the laptop up inside using that handy laptop stand I reviewed recently. I also bought a retro PS/2 keyboard off eBay with yellowed plastic and hooked it up using a PS/2-to-USB adapter. The overall effect was decidedly janky, retro-looking, and just perfect for the kind of scenario we were running: an ancient spaceship with a busted old computer. But what secrets might it hold? Our corporate Weyland-Yutani player looked at home interfacing with the terminal.Jon Martindale / Foundry This culminated in a fantastic moment in-game where the corporate liaison character was poring through the records while I roleplayed with some other characters on the other side of the room. Another player sidled over to the corporate stooge to read over their shoulder, and they quickly cleared the screen to hide what they were up to. Very Alien. Very tabletop. Despite the cardboard taking up just as much room as a CRT, I’m going to have to keep it around. I have a feeling MUTHUR will make a reappearance in future games, too. Read...