Synthetic voices have been proliferating for years, and the generative AI boom of the new ’20s has sped that process right along. AI voices are everywhere—in podcasts, in political campaigns, and in chatbots where they maybe-not-so-subtly replicate celebrity voices. Soon, they’ll be all up in your audiobooks too. Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook company, announced a…
Aside from protecting your home, the newest home security systems also integrate a variety of convenience and safety features that include lights, locks, thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, video doorbells, and more. Some even double as routers. Furthermore, for most systems, you can monitor and control all components remotely, with an app on your…
It’s been a long time since I’ve used a laptop with a screen larger than 13 or 14 inches for any length of time. It’s so refreshing to have the room to spread my apps out … even if the machine no longer fits in my backpack. Maybe being able to fit your bag under…
For those undecided on which type of diaper they should go for, cloth diapers or disposable diapers, here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of each. Price: Cloth diapers can be slightly cheaper than disposable diapers, especially if you wash them yourself rather than using a laundery service. Absorption: The best cloth diapers we…
Notes are nested inside custom category tabs; think color-coded tags in a three-ring binder. You can attach specific notes to meetings via Outlook and prioritize them using urgency tags of various levels. If you’re looking for a “professional” notes app, OneNote is a great option. Plus, if you have a subscription to Microsoft 365 on…
The waterspout blamed for the deadly sinking of a luxury superyacht carrying the British tech billionaire Mike Lynch in Italy has been called a freak “black swan” event. But scientists believe this kind of marine tornado is becoming more common with global warming. While the cause of the sinking of the Bayesian hasn’t officially been…
To evaluate security, our testers use the same protocol that we employ for wireless security cameras. We start by evaluating each company’s public documentation, such as privacy policies and terms of service, to see what claims the manufacturer makes about the way it handles customers’ data. The tests include inspection of the user interface and…
Consumer Reports’ tests expose the value and limitations of this common feature By Jeff S. Bartlett Drivers are eager to boost fuel economy when gas prices are elevated. Could it be as simple as selecting the “Eco” mode found in many late-model cars and SUVs? To find out, we tested Eco mode in several vehicles undergoing…
Almost immediately after the UK general election was called on May 22, the meme war began. Social media campaigns from both the Labour and Conservative parties shared hundreds of memes, from Labour’s viral TikTok using English singer and TV presenter Cilla Black’s “Surprise! Surprise!” to mock the Conservative Party’s plans for mandatory national service at…
The vast majority of additional features on the 500—including Jabra’s SoundScape speech clarity technology, top-tier support from professional audiologists, and even the choice of five colors— haven’t changed in any detectable way. A single button on either aid still controls volume (up with the right button, down with the left) and choice of four operational…
