NETWORKING

Anker Need some cheap USB chargers that are going to last a few years?  One of my go-to brands — Anker — has a twin-pack of 20W dual-port chargers and two 5-foot USB-C cables for a price that’s unbeatable. Also: This ultra-thin power bank is a must-have travel gadget (and it’s now under $18) Total Wattage: 20W Input: 100-240V~1A 50-60Hz 1-port output: USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2.22A / 12V⎓1.67A (20W Max) USB-A: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Anker Solix C300 DC is available from Amazon for $199. This fantastic portable power station can charge pretty much everything you have, and you can recharge it quickly using both the 140W USB-C ports. I wish the 12V port had a rubber cover to prevent dirt and metallic items from entering the port. As power banks get bigger, power stations are becoming smaller. Despite their compact size, this new…

Jackery Jackery has given the Explorer 2000 Pro an upgrade to bring it into 2024, and is also slashing the price for the launch sale. The Explorer 2000 v2 is an updated version of Explorer 2000 Pro, giving it a few much-needed upgrades. Also: The best portable power stations you can buy: Expert tested Explorer 2000 v2 tech specs Capacity: 2,042Wh Power: 2,200W Cell technology: LiFePO4 Outputs: 3x AC, 1x 100W USB-C, 1x 30W USB-C, 1x…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Blackview BL9000 Pro is available now on Amazon for $639.  It’s a rugged, feature-rich phone that’s ready for anything you can throw at it, and has a very long battery life. Its thick, chunky form factor definitely isn’t for everyone. I’ve been a fan of Blackview smartphones ever since I first laid hands on the BV9000 Pro back in 2018. It’s big, it’s chunky, and it’s super robust. It’s…

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The Auskang 5,000 mAh power bank is available on Amazon for $18. It’s small and thin, yet robust, and delivers on all its promises. I wish it could be recharged using the built-in USB-C port. I’ve got a thing for chunky power banks: there’s something about bigger devices that feels reassuring with all the power they can hold. That said, I’m acutely aware that the bigger the power bank, the…

AstroAI Dual Motor portable air compressor Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways The AstroAI Dual Motor portable air compressor is available from Amazon for $60.  Not only will this run on an AC outlet and a car’s 12V outlet, but it also has high pressure and high volume air modes. The buttons used for the presets are a little small and hard to read, especially in the dark. The tires on your car or bike need…

A video played by Elon Musk showed various things people can do in the front seat when not having to drive, including going to sleep. Tesla On the path to autonomous vehicles, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been known to stretch the truth.  The name for Tesla’s software, “full self-driving” — or, FSD — is itself a misnomer. The latest promises of autonomous automobile AI are prompting skeptics to roll their eyes.  Also: Tesla cuts its ‘full…

AAWireless/ZDNET While the AAWireless Android Auto dongle has been available for years now, it’s still one of the most elusive, highly recommended adapters on the market. The 4,000+ ratings of over four stars on Amazon are a testament to its quality. How the dongle works is fairly straightforward: You plug it (instead of your phone) into your car and then connect your phone to the adapter wirelessly, effectively giving you the same Android Auto capabilities…

Amazon The holiday season is quickly approaching and — if Amazon’s October Prime Day sale is any indicator — the deals will be wide-ranging and abundant.  This abundance of deals — while it’s almost any shopper’s dream — can get overwhelming. Also: Prime Day is over: These are the 100+ best deals still live Now, Amazon is releasing a new shopping tool that uses generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to help customers research products and…