Who actually manufactures AmazonBasics batteries?

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Who actually manufactures AmazonBasics batteries? AmazonBasics batteries are so cheap, you might be skeptical of their quality and performance. When AmazonBasics launched back in 2009, batteries were among the initial line-up of products--and they're still one of the best, most classic impulse buys of this white-label brand. Mainly sold in packs ranging from 8 to 300 batteries at extremely affordable prices, they've become the go-to value battery brand for day-to-day needs.


World's largest solar-powered aircraft crashes after losing power

Popular Science

'Solar Impulse 2' made history by circumnavigating the globe in 2016. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. 'Solar Impulse 2' completed its circumnavigation of the planet, which included a flight over Giza's pyramids, in 2016. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. The groundbreaking experimental aircraft known as has met an untimely end.


The RAM crisis is bringing out DDR5 counterfeiters

PCWorld

PCWorld warns that high DDR5 RAM demand is driving counterfeiters to sell fake modules with plastic chips glued onto circuit boards. These fraudulent listings often appear as'junk' or'untested' items to prevent returns, with buyers discovering the scam only after installation causes system failures. This mirrors previous scams involving fake GPUs and re-lidded CPUs, highlighting the need for extreme caution when purchasing PC components from secondary markets.


AI-powered hacking has exploded into industrial-scale threat, Google says

The Guardian

'There's a misconception that the AI vulnerability race is imminent. The reality is it's already begun,' said John Hultquist at Google's threat intelligence group. 'There's a misconception that the AI vulnerability race is imminent. The reality is it's already begun,' said John Hultquist at Google's threat intelligence group. In just three months, AI-powered hacking has gone from a nascent problem to an industrial-scale threat, according to a report from Google .


How to teach the same skill to different robots

Robohub

In today's manufacturing environments, upgrading a robot fleet often means starting from scratch - not only replacing hardware, but also reprogramming tasks. Even when two robots are built to perform similar jobs, different joint arrangements or movement limits mean that a task programmed for one robot often can't be used on another. Enabling skills to transfer directly between robots could make these systems more sustainable and cost-efficient. To meet this challenge, researchers in the Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory ( LASA) in EPFL's School of Engineering have developed a new robotic control framework called . The method takes a human-demonstrated task, mathematically converts it into a general movement strategy, and then adapts it so that different robots can perform it based on their physical design.


Acer's 350 OLED is the gaming monitor deal I've been waiting for

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Acer's $350 OLED is the gaming monitor deal I've been waiting for At $200 off the retail price, and matching that new Alienware OLED for price, we're starting to see a new normal for 27-inch OLED gaming displays. I've been waiting for OLED gaming monitors to smash through a $400 floor, and it looks like they have in mid 2026. After Dell and Alienware turned every head with their 27-inch, $350 OLED, we're now seeing other major brands follow suit and drop their prices accordingly. To wit: Here's an Acer Predator monitor with almost exactly the same specs at $349.99 on Amazon .


Anker's 9-port charging station is now 34 and kills desk cable clutter

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Anker's 9-port charging station is now $34 and kills desk cable clutter Anker's 9-in-1 Desktop Charger with 3 AC outlets, 4 USB-C, 2 USB-A, and 100W fast charging is down to $34 at Amazon. Desks can get cluttered really fast when you have to charge half a dozen gadgets at the same time. Anker's 9-in-1 Desktop Charger is now just $34 at Amazon and an easy recommendation at that price. At 3.15 x 3.15 x 4.02 inches, this charging station is about the size of a coffee mug--not exactly, but small enough that it won't get in your way.


Fostering breakthrough AI innovation through customer-back engineering

MIT Technology Review

Agentic AI is helping organizations completely reimagine core banking processes and operations from the customer perspective, rather than simply making incremental improvements. Despite years of digitization, organizations capture less than one-third of the value expected from digital investments, according to McKinsey research . That's because most big companies begin with technological capabilities and bolt applications onto them, rather than starting with customer needs and working backward to technology solutions. Not prioritizing the customer can create fragmented solutions; disjointed customer experiences; and ultimately, failed transformations. Organizations that achieve outsized results from AI flip the script. They adopt a "customer-back engineering" mindset, putting customers at the heart of technology transformation.


HP OmniBook 5 drops to 699: 16GB RAM and 10 real hours of battery

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The HP OmniBook 5 was weak at full price, but the performance is solid at this deal price. A great daily driver laptop doesn't have to cost a fortune, and this HP OmniBook 5 is proof of that. Right now, B&H is selling it for just $699, a significant $200 drop off its original $899. With an Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB SSD, this laptop boots quickly, loads apps even faster, and provides enough storage space for years of files and documents.


Innovation abounds in device charging

MIT Technology Review

No longer peripheral accessories, chargers today are more powerful, portable, and proactive. Consumers can look forward to rapid innovations in the coming years. The changes may be less perceptible than in smartphones, tablets, or wearables, but chargers have also been quietly reinvented over the last decade. At one time a bulky mix of tangled cables and connectors, slow to perform and prone to overheating, they're now smaller, safer, and faster, thanks to a slew of technological advances. These advances include a switch to gallium nitride (GaN), which has now usurped silicon as the preferred semiconductor, capable of handling higher voltages, faster switches, and more efficient conduction. Multi-port chargers, coupled with an industry-wide shift toward USB-C standardization, mean a single charger can handle multiple devices.