One venerable computing technology, USB, could be about to help kill off an even older standard, the 3.5mm audio jack. The 3.5mm audio jack was popularized as the way to plug headphones into Sony’s portable Walkman tape player and got a new lease on life as a way to handle audio on virtually every mobile …

Last week, a new trailer from the upcoming film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” gave fans glimpses of a hovering Star Destroyer, Rebel Pilots in shackles, a very tall robot K-2SO spouting the odds of failure, AT-ATs in battle, an ominous Death Star, and yes, even a glimpse at Darth Vader in all his dark-side glory. Now in a …

Is your computer gigabit speed-capable? Does it support the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard? At what speed does it connect to your current network? What the hell is your current IP address? And how do you find the MAC address? If you’ve ever pondered any of these questions, this is the post for you. This tip works on Windows 10, 8 …

Mid-price phone maker Alcatel joins forces with carrier MetroPCS for a budget-friendly package price of $29 on the new Alcatel TRU — after a couple of rebates of its $109 manufacturer price. Enlarge Image Alcatel The TRU’s feature set runs true to its budget price. It uses Android 5 (the current version is 7, though the most popular version is …

#PhelpsFace has had its day. The infamous image of gold-medal swimmer Michael Phelps scowling like a scary Anakin Skywalker captured online imaginations for a few days, but the new Olympic photo meme is as sunny and happy as a day on Copacabana Beach. When Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt zoomed past his competitors in the semifinal heat of the 100-meter dash …

There’s probably no logical, scientific reason to drop bowling balls 150 feet off a tower on to an axe and watch them get sliced and diced like a Benihana lunch. But sometimes human beings just like to break things. Or maybe someone clumsy who’d dropped a bowling ball on their foot one too many times wanted revenge. You might even …

The pieces are slowly coming together for the Nokia phone to make a comeback. In May, Microsoft unloaded the phone business it purchased from Nokia on Foxconn’s FIH Mobile and on HMD Global, a Finland-based company founded that month and tasked with selling phones and tablets under the Nokia brand. Former Nokia executive Arto Nummela was chosen as HMD’s chief …

Preseason games, last year’s star quarterback on the latest cover of GQ and another collaboration between the NFL and Microsoft — make no doubt about it, football season is here. Just in time for all of the fun, Microsoft on Monday released officially branded NFL covers for the Surface Pro 4. The case, which will set you back $160, is …

The Fireside Audiobox is a wireless music player with a trick up up its sleeve. See that silver tube on top? There’s a speaker on one side but the other end connects to a small propane tank underneath that pumps gas up through a series of small holes. When you introduce fire to the burner, it ignites a series of …

At this point in the 21st century, it’s safe to assume that the annual cycle of new Apple products is as regular as the progression of the lunar calendar. A report released on Monday and spotted by MacRumors has given us a glimpse of what to expect from the tech giant in both 2017 and 2018. Three new iPads are …