Brian Fagioli

Look, mechanical hard disk drives are on their way out. The technology is quite outdated -- solid state storage is obviously the future. For the short term, however, these mechanical drives do have some value, mostly because they are inexpensive comparatively. With SSD storage capacities increasing, the need for a HDD -- especially the 2.5-inch form factor -- is entirely due to cost savings at this point.

Toshiba is happy to manufacture these HDDs as long as people and laptop makers are buying them, and today, the company unveils its latest offering. Called "MQ04," it is a 1TB 2.5-inch drive that is very slim at a mere 7mm. The small physical design is possible because internally, there is just a single spinning 1TB disk.

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When people think of contributing to either a closed or open source project, they often imagine needing the knowledge of coding. Actually, there are many ways to contribute besides programming, such as moderating a community for the project, spreading awareness, or helping to write documentation to name a few.

The documentation aspect of any project is very important, as it can help people to both understand it and track changes. Unfortunately, many developers aren't very interested in documentation aspect, so it often gets neglected. Luckily, if you want to maintain proper documentation and stay organized, today, Google is releasing its internal developer documentation style guide. This can quite literally guide your documentation, giving you a great starting point and keeping things consistent.

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When I decided to buy my first-ever Mac last year, I was beyond excited. Unfortunately, I hit a quick roadblock. You see, I spend half of my time using laptops as makeshift desktop computers; when I am home, I prefer to use a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse. For the best experience, I would need some sort of dock, and Apple just doesn't make one.

Luckily, Apple's wise use of Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C meant it would be easy to obtain a docking solution. I quickly learned, however, that many solutions on the market were terrible. USB-C based solutions caused the most issues, such as various sleep/wake errors and disconnecting USB storage drives. Even some Thunderbolt 3-based products had similar issues. Thankfully, I finally found a quality TB3 dock. Made by OWC, it features 13 "ports," allowing you to convert a MacBook Pro into a legitimate desktop alternative.

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If you are a resident of Florida, I hope you have evacuated by now. Remember folks, you can replace things, but not your life. Hurricane Irma is looking like a monster -- it will almost certainly cause severe destruction in the state. I pray that there are no further fatalities -- some people living in the Caribbean have already died as a result of Irma. It is heartbreaking. This storm follows Hurricane Harvey which left a path of sadness in Texas.

Thankfully, individuals and organizations have both big hearts and big wallets. There has been a huge outpouring of support for those impacted by these natural disasters. In fact, on September 12, there will be an hour-long, commercial-free, star-studded telethon called "Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief" which aims to raise money for folks affected by Irma and Harvey. Today, Apple pledges an impressive $5 million to the initiative.

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Windows 10 isn't a bad operating system, but understandably, not everyone loves it. You know what? That is OK. People have different likes and needs, and sometimes an alternative to Microsoft's operating system, such as Ubuntu, macOS, or Chrome OS can be a better fit.

If you want to switch to Linux, there is no shortage of operating systems based on the kernel. With that said, many of them aren't very user friendly. If you have lived your life using Windows, it is wise to choose a Linux distro that caters to your habits and expectations. One such operating system with a very inviting user interface is Zorin OS, and today, version 12.2 sees release. If you have been on the fence regarding Linux, now might be your time.

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If you want to buy an Android smartphone, you really can't go wrong with Samsung's Galaxy line of devices. The company's "Note" variants in particular are well respected for their elegance, features, and top specifications. Yeah, the Note7 was problematic, but the company took ownership of that dilemma and has successfully moved on.

We all knew that the latest such flagship from the company, the Galaxy Note8, would be very popular, but as it turns out, its pre-orders are breaking records. According to Samsung, Note8 reservation sales are far exceeding any Note smartphone before it.

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Kodi is a tool used for piracy. So are television sets, the Windows 10 operating system, laptops, smartphones, and other things. In other words, almost anything can be used for bad purposes. A knife, for instance, can be used to cut food in a restaurant, but also used as a weapon in a robbery. Ultimately, the user is responsible for how they use a tool, and Kodi is no different. It shouldn't be vilified.

The makers of the software formerly known as XBMC have long fought this battle in the court of public opinion. Unfortunately, because of developers that create piracy-related addons, such as Covenant and Exodus, it is hard to sway the hearts and minds on the subject. To make matters worse, Kodi is apparently fighting on another front too -- it is battling what it calls "trademark trolls." Yes, apparently some people are looking to exploit the open source software's name for profit. This could potentially lead to people having to pay a fee when selling or buying Kodi devices.

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Data breaches are fairly common nowadays. This is unfortunate, as it exposes sensitive information to evil hackers and other nefarious criminals. Look, people are doing their best to make it through the day -- working long hours and struggling to make ends meet. Then, some computer nerd comes along and adds to life's difficulties by stealing identities. Sigh.

Today, another data breach comes to light, but this time it is particularly bad. In fact, it could quite possibly be the worst such hack in history. You see, credit agency Equifax -- a company you'd expect to be very secure -- had consumer information stolen. Now, it isn't just a handful of people that are affected. No, it is a staggering 143 million consumers in the USA! To make matters worse, it includes the holy grail of personally identifiable information -- social security numbers. Besides SSN, the hackers got birth dates and addresses too. For some of these unfortunate folks, even credit card numbers and driver's license numbers were pilfered.

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If you are a student, you are probably back in school by now. Yeah, going to class can sometimes be a drag, but learning new stuff can be fun too. Heck, it is also a great way to socialize and meet new people. Not to mention, wearing freshly bought clothes and carrying a new backpack can be an exciting experience.

But what if you want to listen to music when you aren't doing school work? Yeah, you can play your favorite jams using your smartphone, but really, a Bluetooth speaker will provide more volume, and probably, better sound too. Today, Bose unveils a new model that should be ideal for students or anyone, really. It is incredibly small at just 1.5 inches high and 3.75 inches wide, making it perfect for tossing it into a backpack. Heck, thanks to the integrated strap, you can easily attach it to your bag too. If you are rough on your gear, do not worry as it is durable -- it has an IPX7 waterproof rating.

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Internet of Things devices for the home are becoming extremely popular, but Apple HomeKit, well, isn't. The iPhone-maker's platform for controlling the home hasn't exactly set the world on fire. Slowly but surely, however, device manufacturers are starting to embrace it.

Today, Logitech announces that one of its existing home devices, the Circle 2 Wired security camera, is getting Apple HomeKit compatibility; the wireless variant is not supported at this time. This will allow you to interact with the wired camera using Apple's Home app. It also means Siri support -- a huge convenience.

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Thanks to the MacBook Pro, the popularity of Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C docks and dongles has exploded. If you have accessories that use USB Type-A, for instance, they simply won't work with Apple's latest laptop without the use of an adapter. Heck, the machine does not even feature a standard video-out port, so an HDMI, VGA, or DisplayPort dongle must be utilized.

If you use your MacBook Pro as a makeshift desktop with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, investing in a dock or docking station would be a wise move. Today, a new such product from a company called "LandingZone" caught my attention. While I am not familiar with the company, the docking station is quite intriguing. It is one of the most complete MacBook Pro dock solutions I have seen, featuring many useful connection options and the ability to charge the laptop, of course. It is designed as a traditional docking station too, where Apple's laptop actually locks into the product as opposed to being more of a hub.

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The United States has been heavily under attack from Mother Nature lately. Hurricane Harvey caused horrific devastation in Texas, and now Irma is headed for Florida. During these disasters, it is not uncommon to lose electricity. This can be a huge pain point, as people need devices such as cell phones to call for help -- a device with a depleted battery is pretty much useless. Not to mention, some folks have medication that requires refrigeration, so a loss of power could actually lead to death or sickness.

Thankfully, companies sell generators to keep the power flowing during an electricity outage. For prolonged outages, there are even models with solar charging capabilities. Today, a company called Renogy unveils a heavy-duty battery backup generator that can be charged using the sun. Impressively, the company claims it can keep a refrigerator running for about 8 hours! It is even on wheels so it can be easily transported. The fact that it has so many connection types, including USB Type-A , should make it indispensable during a hurricane or simply on a family camping trip.

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T-Mobile may not be the best cell carrier from a coverage perspective, but it provides its users with a lot of value. The company and its foul-mouthed CEO, John Legere, often use outside-the-box thinking to disrupt the mobile phone industry. For instance, the company once gave free Domino's pizza to its customers through its "T-Mobile Tuesdays" scheme. Even without the added bonuses, its unlimited service is quite affordable compared to, say, Verizon.

Today, T-Mobile is once again giving away something for free, but it is much better than some cheap chain-restaurant pizza. You see, subscribers to its T-Mobile ONE family plans will now get free Netflix! This is well-timed, as the hit series "Stranger Things" returns to the streaming video site next month with season two. Of course, Netflix has much more content than that -- a solid library of original programming and a less-impressive collection of ho-hum films. The complimentary "Netflix On Us" subscription is not automatic, however -- users must activate it.

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While some people view the trackball as a product from yesteryear, they would sort of be incorrect. Sure, the number of users still leveraging this type of a pointing device is quite small comparatively, but the ones that do can be very passionate. Believe it or not, there are some people that hoard them because they can sometimes be hard to find. Not to mention, some folks with handicaps depend on them too -- since you move the pointer with your thumb, it can be great for someone with limited wrist mobility. Heck, they are great for HTPC use too.

Today, Logitech intends to delight these passionate trackball fans with an all-new new model. Called "MX ERGO," it brings the trackball to modern times with extreme comfort and functionality. Not only does the product feature Bluetooth connectivity, but it can also pair with Logitech's unifying USB dongle. The scroll wheel features horizontal tilt scroll which is great for working in large Excel spreadsheets. When you need to be as accurate as possible, there is even a special "precision mode" that you can enable for the ball.

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Earlier this year, I was shocked to learn that development of Opera for iOS was effectively dead. No, this was not just a rumor -- an Opera employee told me publicly on Twitter. And so, we here at BetaNews reported the unfortunate news. Luckily, the report of the browser's demise was short-lived -- the company later told me the employee was misinformed. I was dubious, so I took a wait-and-see approach to see just how alive development truly was.

Well, today, Opera supplied proof that its popular Mini browser is alive and kicking -- a new version! Apparently the company was just waiting for the iPhone 8 before updating the web browser. In a blog post highlighting the upcoming release of a new iPhone, the company shares that the user interface has been refreshed. For instance, there is more use of the "Opera red" color and trending news stories have been bumped to the top of the start page. New features have been added too, such as an enhanced search bar that can scan QR codes.

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