models Archives

No filter

Actually, yes, much-needed filters — for screens, fans and more.

This privacy filter for iPhones (57% off) helps ward off prying eyes so they can, you know, solve their own Wordle.
The same handy filter is also available for Samsung models (20% off).
These personal water filter straws (25% off) are so cool. You could slurp from a puddle and it’d be clean! (But don’t, please, unless you have to.)
A TubShroom is the best filter for hair in your shower. It’s also easy to clean.
A cut-to-fit carbon filter for your air purifier, AC or fan. Yes, those get worn out!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

QR codes used in warfare

Open/download audio

You won’t believe how powerful scanning one of these malicious QR codes is. Plus, the app that turned into a marketing nightmare, three must-have downloads and OpenAI’s duet shows just how far language models are coming.

🚗 270,000 Ford models recalled: Certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022-2023 Maverick trucks could stop suddenly, making them a scary crash risk. It’s an issue with their 12-volt batteries degrading. Own one? Look for a letter in the mail around Feb. 3 with info on dealer inspections and replacements.

$5 to $50

Drop in Apple’s trade-in values for iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watch models. You used to get up to $650 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max; now, it’s $630 at best. Hit this page to check your new trade-in value.

🚀 Harder, better, faster, stronger: SpaceX is prepping for another Starship rocket test flight, this time loaded with 10 Starlink simulators. They’re dummy models of the V3 satellites, which promise 10 times faster download speeds and 24 times faster uploads than the older gen.

💿 Let it go: LG is done making Blu-ray players, joining the likes of Samsung and Sony. Some Blu-ray player models are still available until they sell out. If you want a soon-to-be artifact, get moving.

👗 Maybe she’s born with it: Fashion retailer Mango is using AI models instead of real people. They’ve done AI-generated campaigns for teen fashion, with men’s and women’s fashion AI models coming soon. More than anything, it’s about the money. A human model costs at least $35 an hour. AI lookalikes? $30 a month. Really, the only thing the AI and living models have in common is that neither one eats.

Scalpers ruin everything: The PlayStation 5 Pro ($699) and PlayStation 5 30th Anniversary Limited Edition bundle ($999) drop on Nov. 7. The updated models have 2TB of storage, a beefier GPU and AI upscaling tech. Only 12,300 Limited Edition models were made, and they sold out in seconds. Surprise, they’re on eBay for up to $12,300.

📺 A TV is a watching machine: LG smart TVs now show ads before the screensaver kicks in. No word yet if it’s limited to specific models, but they’re live on the new flagship G4 T showing LG products and third-party promos. Fortunately, you can turn it off. If you have an LG, go to TV Settings > Additional Settings and disable Screen Saver Promotion.

🔥 Anker power bank recall: You risk a fire if you’re using an Anker 334 MagGo Battery (PowerCore 10K), Anker Power Bank and Anker MagGo Power Bank with a model number of A1642, A1647 or A1652. These were all sold between Jan. 3, 2024, and Sept. 17, 2024. If you own one, stop using it immediately and fill out the recall form.

The estates of long-gone celebrities are raking in money: It’s not just voice cloning, like Judy Garland reading “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (paywall link). Using old footage and the right AI, Hollywood can create digital models that look, sound and move just like the real person. Even concerts with de-aged virtual avatars like ABBA Voyage pull in over $2 million a week. They’re alive, but you get the point.

🚨 Watching you, watching me: Nearly 1.3 million Android TV boxes across 197 countries are infected with Vo1d malware. Compromised devices include the R4 TV Box, the KJ-SMART4KVIP and TV Box models that use Android 12.1. All run outdated Android versions with unpatched security holes. If you have an Android TV box, make sure the firmware is updated and that it’s Play Protect certified.

AI chatbots are politically biased: Researchers ran 11 standard political questionnaires through 24 different AI bots, including ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Most leaned left-of-center because they were fed more left-leaning training data, not right-leaning. Developers have a huge influence on what their models “think.”

🚫 Another China ban: The House of Representatives just voted to ban new DJI drones in the U.S. The Chinese spy balloon incident, along with China’s threats to invade Taiwan and drag America into a Pacific war, have led to real concerns about China collecting intricately detailed maps of the U.S. and its infrastructure through the millions of DJI drones flown by innocent Americans. You can still buy one, but if the bill passes, flying new models will be off-limits.

⌨️ Where in the world? Remember Mavis Beacon? She was the woman on the cover of a popular typing game. Turns out “Mavis” was a Haitian model named Renee L’Esperance who returned to the Caribbean and vanished. Now there’s a documentary about trying to track her down.

🚙 Break my wallet: BMW is going all in on hydrogen-powered cars starting with its 2028 models (paywall link). How it works: Hydrogen fuel cells within the vehicles generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only emission is water vapor. Sounds sweet, but hydrogen is more expensive than gas, and there are almost no refueling stations in the U.S.

🤖 Beware the good idea fairy: The U.S. government will now get access to OpenAI and Anthropic AI models before they’re accessible to the public. The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (wow, sounds fancy) will assess AI’s capabilities and risks. The goal? To keep AI in check and establish safety standards the world can follow (paywall link). There are so many problems with this, I don’t know where to start.

💣 Sounds expensive: By 2050, a new generation of tanks could replace those made during the Cold War. The plan is to outfit existing models with AI integration and Tesla-inspired tech. Think hybrid electric engines, autoloaders, self-launching drones and jammers to stop incoming missiles. Hopefully, they don’t have the Tesla fart-sounding horn.

Death march: Starting with some 2023 models and those released in March 2024, Samsung TVs get seven years of free updates to keep them safe from hackers. No specifics on which models yet, but it’s likely to cover those with AI features. PSA: Before you buy any used electronics, know the EOL (end-of-life) date. More about that here.

43 times out of 100

AI car features are more trouble than they’re worth. J.D. Power polled Americans who drive 2024 models that include tech like facial recognition, a fingerprint reader and interior gesture controls. The feedback? “Meh.” See the top-rated manufacturers and models here.