Brian Fagioli

Valentine’s Day should be a time for love, but sadly, these days it is also an opportunity for digital tricksters to pull scams. Recent insights from McAfee shows that AI bots, celebrity impostors, and misleading dating apps are on the rise, complicating the quest for true love online.

Dating apps are super popular nowadays, with over 60 percent of folks using them or social media to find love. If you’re in the 18-24 demographic, you’re likely swiping through Tinder, Snapchat, or TikTok in search of a connection. But be warned, scammers are using AI to spin convincing tales of romance.

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Today, MIXX launches the Analog System 5 which blends classic vinyl play with the flexibility of wireless audio. This setup is crafted for audiophiles seeking the rich sound of records with the ease of modern technology.

The system features an Audio-Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge mounted on an aluminum tonearm, ensuring precise tracking and crisp audio playback. It accommodates both 33 and 45 RPM records, with pitch control for those who enjoy tweaking their tunes. Its belt-drive system minimizes motor noise, ensuring an enjoyable spinning experience.

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Mark your calendars, fellow tech fans! Google I/O 2025 is happening on May 20-21 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Can’t make it in person? No worries, you can join in the fun online at io.google -- registration is open now.

This is Google’s biggest bash for developers, where the search giant will show off all the cool new stuff in tech, software, and AI. The event will surely offer some big announcements -- think new gadgets and software updates. After that, there’s a whole bunch of workshops, sessions, and meet-ups for everyone to get hands-on and network.

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Elon Musk has a reputation for rewriting the rules, and his latest venture at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is no exception. He’s brought on a 19-year-old known as "Big Balls" to help overhaul how the government operates, causing quite the stir, not only because of the nickname, but because of his young age.

"Big Balls" isn't just a provocative moniker regarding large testicles, however. Actually, this name more likely embodies courage, bold decision-making, and a defiance against conventional challenges. These are the traits that fuel breakthroughs, and let's face it -- big tech could benefit from infusing some of that spirit into their operations.

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Keychron’s Lemokey brand is gearing up to launch the Lemokey L5 HE 8K, and it’s shaping up to be an exciting option for gamers and productivity enthusiasts alike. With cutting-edge technology, a premium design, and impressive customization options, this keyboard has the potential to stand out in a crowded market.

One of the most intriguing features is the 8,000 Hz polling and scan rate, which promises incredibly fast response times with a latency of just 0.125ms. Combined with Hall Effect magnetic switches, which allow for adjustable actuation points, the keyboard offers an impressive blend of speed and precision. Plus, the 0.01mm sensitivity means every keystroke is detected with near-perfect accuracy, which could make a big difference for both gaming and detailed work.

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The creators of Netrunner have just released a new iteration of their Debian-based Linux distribution, Netrunner 25 "Shockworm." This update offers enhanced security patches, a fresh desktop background, and an interface that's smoother than ever.

Netrunner 25 is built on Linux Kernel 6.1.0 for stability, with KDE Plasma 5.27.5 for a modern look and feel. It uses Qt 5.15.2 for backend operations, so everything should run without a hitch. On the software front, you get Firefox 128.6.0 ESR, LibreOffice 7.4.7.2, and VLC 3.0.21. The updated OS also comes with a new "Shockworm" themed wallpaper.

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Dealing with Apple iWork files on non-Apple systems has always been a bit of a headache, but at least there were solutions. Apps like Microsoft Office and LibreOffice have long been able to deal with iWork formats, converting Pages, Numbers, and Keynote into formats that are more universally accepted. Now, however, with version 8.3, ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors steps up, adding iWork compatibility for users on Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms.

This update lets users peek into iWork files without needing Apple's own software. While you can't edit these files directly yet, there's a conversion tool that can turn them into DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX, making them editable in the familiar formats. This move cuts out the need for extra software or asking for different file types from colleagues.

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I now pay $82.99 a month for YouTube TV, yet when it comes to watching the biggest football game of the year in 4K, I’m using Tubi -- for free. Let that sink in, folks. A completely free streaming service is giving me the Super Bowl in 4K quality, while YouTube TV is hiding it behind an additional paywall. At this point, why am I even paying for this damn subscription?

Look, YouTube TV is not cheap. It was supposed to be a cable alternative, but with the way prices keep climbing, it’s starting to make me sick. And the kicker (no pun intended)? If I actually wanted to stream the Super Bowl in 4K on YouTube TV, I’d have to cough up another $9.99 for the 4K Plus add-on, bringing my February total to $92.98! Meanwhile, Tubi (yes, the free ad-supported service owned by Fox) lets me watch it in 4K without spending a penny.

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Windows 12 has been the subject of leaks and speculation, which can be totally fun to discuss and imagine. But let’s be honest, folks -- that operating system is not likely to arrive this year. In fact, it could still be several years away. On a positive note, however, that should give Microsoft plenty of time to make sure the OS is actually worth using.

As a regular Linux user, I have some very serious demands if I’m ever going to consider switching, and Microsoft has a golden opportunity to get things right. Here are five things the company needs to deliver before I even think about going with Windows 12.

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The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and I suppose I’m excited. As a New York Jets fan, I can never truly enjoy football -- it’s a miserable existence. However, I enjoy all things sports, so even though I hate both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles (and refuse to cheer on either team), I will still tune in and watch the big game.

This year, you can watch the Super Bowl in 4K for free, which is definitely cool, but taking things a step further, if you have Xfinity TV service and the right hardware, you can experience the game in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos too. This upgrade is part of Comcast’s new “Enhanced 4K offering” on X1.

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If you are a Linux fan that is forced to use Microsoft Windows for some reason, you know how valuable Windows Subsystem for Linux is. If you aren’t familiar, WSL allows you to run a Linux environment from within Windows -- no virtual machine needed. It’s pretty wonderful.

Well, folks, today, Ubuntu on WSL gets a very useful upgrade that both developers and enterprises should really love. You see, thanks to Microsoft’s new tar-based distribution format, Ubuntu can now be installed and managed without relying on the Microsoft Store. That’s right, y’all -- no more struggling with Store-related headaches.

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Believe it or not, in the flash drive world, USB-A models are still the most common. Yes, folks, despite USB-C being far superior, consumers have been slow to adopt flash drives with the better connector.

Thankfully, companies are still producing USB-C flash drives despite the slow adoption. For example, today, PNY has launched a trio of new USB Type-C flash drives. The lineup includes the PRO Elite V3, Elite-X Fit, and Elite models.

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While I am a huge fan of steaming music for convenience, vinyl will always have a special place in my heart. You see, I have spent countless hours in record stores shopping for hip-hop on vinyl. Believe it or not, many of the records in my vast collection are not even on steaming services.

Do I listen to my vinyl ever? Unfortunately, no. Why? Because these days, I don’t even have a record player set up in my house. Sadly, I don’t have the space to dedicate to a player and stereo. This may change, however, thanks to a cool new portable record player from MIXX.

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addlink has launched the P21 USB SSD, a high-speed portable storage drive built for users who demand fast transfers. Featuring USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 support, it delivers sequential read speeds of up to 2050MB/s and write speeds of up to 2000MB/s, making it a strong choice for handling large files like 4K videos, high-resolution images, and game libraries.

The P21 is available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, with performance varying slightly by model:

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OpenAI has unleashed Deep Research in ChatGPT, a new AI-powered tool that can handle complex online research tasks faster than a human ever could. Available today for Pro users, with Plus and Team access coming soon, this feature is designed to synthesize information from hundreds of online sources, analyze data, and generate detailed reports. OpenAI says it can complete hours of research in just minutes -- but should we really be celebrating this?

This latest AI capability is powered by an optimized version of OpenAI’s upcoming o3 model, fine-tuned for web browsing and deep data analysis. Unlike a simple search engine, it doesn’t just find information -- it thinks about it, pivots when necessary, and compiles its findings into structured reports. That means it isn’t just doing research -- it’s acting like a research analyst. And if AI can do that, what happens to the actual researchers?

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