Technology

Opening a PDF, reading its contents, and closing the window is one of the most basic tasks you can perform on a computer. It seems as passive as reading a physical piece of paper. In reality, two things are happening behind the scenes that you don't see: your reader is communicating with the software developer, and the document itself may be sending information to whoever drafted it.

My home internet is stable now, but that wasn't true just a couple of years ago. I've gone through several terrible ISPs before finding one that actually delivered.

Toyota introduced a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius for the 2012 model year, giving buyers a way to drive on electricity alone for short trips while keeping the same hybrid safety net for longer ones. More than a decade later, that basic idea has not changed all that much, but the price of admission has.

Android Auto puts your phone under an incredibly heavy workload, and summer heat only makes things worse. After only a couple of hours on the road, you've probably picked up your phone and noticed that it isn't just warm—it gets almost too hot to hold.

Got a vacant USB port or two on your PC? You'd like to use it for something useful, but don't know exactly what? Check out five practical things you can connect to your free USB ports, some of which can reinvent the way you control your PC.

I'll admit, I had a preconceived notion in my mind about what the results of this comparison would look like. The Core Ultra 9 would be superior to everything but maybe the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, right? Absolutely, unequivocally wrong.

Streaming hasn't officially replaced cable or satellite TV, but it's come pretty close. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 83% of U.S. adults watch streaming services. I'm certainly someone who uses streaming, but I have noticed that some of the medium's capabilities feel antiquated. Here are the four streaming features that feel outdated in 2026.

There are hundreds of productivity apps out there, and I think that's part of the problem. A productivity app is just a system—a means to an end, not the end itself. If any of these apps actually delivered, we wouldn't need hundreds of them. The sheer number suggests something fundamental is missing, which is why people keep hopping between them, hoping the next one will finally be the answer. I was one of those people, and I'm happy to say I've finally figured it out—and it has nothing to do with apps or any digital product at all.

Sideloading apps from outside the Play Store is a beloved feature of Android phones. You may not know it, but it’s possible to sideload apps on a Samsung Galaxy Watch as well. That’s good, because there are a few handy apps that are worth the effort of manually installing.

I wanted a new mesh Wi-Fi system badly a few years ago, but simply couldn't afford one. Instead of spending money I didn't have on Wi-Fi networking gear that I didn't really need, I repurposed my old router and it gave me almost everything I was looking for without costing me a dime.

The more comfortable I get using AI to help me code, the more curious I become about how the major platforms compare when they're given the exact same job. It's easy to ask Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini to create a simple app and come away impressed when something functional appears a few seconds later. But that doesn't necessarily tell you whether the code is secure, well structured, or capable of handling situations beyond the most obvious use case.

Smart bulbs are a common gateway into the world of smart home devices. Setting one up is as simple as screwing in a light bulb, and you get instant results with the ability to turn your lights on and off remotely, change the brightness, and even use different colors with the right bulbs. Smart bulbs aren't always the best solution to every problem, however.

After using Jellyfin for a while, I've finally got it running how I want. But the process wasn't without a few issues, and the software comes with a steeper learning curve than Plex. Here are some of the things I wish I knew before I started using Jellyfin.

We're not sure why exactly, but we're the midst of a flurry of national food days. Fresh from National French Fry Day and National Hot Dog Day, it's now time to celebrate National Ice Cream Day. We're not in the business of picking favorites, but come on. We'll whisper it quietly, but this is our favorite. Not only is this ice cream we're talking about, but the free deals and limited-time promotions are elite.

Sunday, July 19, is National Ice Cream Day. We're already seeing special offers from Target, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, and many more popular retailers. Clear your schedule, because ice cream is on the menu all weekend.

These are our favorite National Ice Cream Day deals in 2026.

Baskin Robbins

From National Ice Cream Day through July 25, rewards members get $5 off orders of $20 or more in-app or online. On July 26, members can score a buy-one-get-one free scoop.

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Grab the limited-time Chocolate Lava Cake flavor in honor of National Ice Cream Month before it sells out.

Blue Bunny

Use DoorDash’s DashMart grocery service to secure a "buy two, save $5 deal" on soft pints and mini swirls through July 26.

Dairy Queen

Rewards members can claim a free Dilly Bar with any purchase of $1 or more in the DQ app from July 13-19.

Dippin' Dots

Score a free mini cup of any flavor at participating locations during a specific two-hour window on National Ice Cream Day (check their online locator to find one near you).

DoorDash

DashPass members get a free Wendy's Frosty with a $20 purchase and a "buy two, save $4" deal on Häagen-Dazs from July 16-22.

Friendly’s

Get a free cone or dish of Friendly’s signature ice cream on July 19. There's no rewards membership or purchase required to qualify.

GoPuff

Grab two pints of Ben & Jerry's for $8, two pints of Halo Top for $10, or 30% off Snickers and Twix Ice Cream Bar packs. FAM members can score select premium pints for just $3.50.

Graeter’s

Use code ICECREAMDAY10 for 10% off online orders from July 17-19. Sweet Rewards members can also grab a $1.56 single-dip sugar cone in-store.

Häagen-Dazs

DashPass member can buy two, save $4 until July 22.

Jeni’s Ice Creams

Visit a scoop shop on July 19 to get a free pour of the signature Fudge Sauce or brand-new Caramel Sauce with any order.

Kilwins

Enter Instagram sweepstakes between July 19-31 for a chance to win "free ice cream for a year" (awarded as a $650 gift card).

Marble Slab Creamery

Loyalty members can redeem a free small ice cream on July 19.

Salt & Straw

Build your own custom pint (three scoops with fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry) for $12.50 from July 17-23, plus earn double loyalty points on July 19.

Stop & Shop

Scan your loyalty card at the in-store Savings Station kiosks from July 17-23 for a chance to win a free 1.5-quart container of store-brand ice cream.

Target

Score a buy one, get one 50% off deal on all ice cream from July 12-18.

Wendy’s

DashPass members can get a free Frosty with $20+ orders until July 22.

You no longer have to spend a fortune to get a quality, automated, hands-off 3D printer. This is a sentence I didn't expect to write just a few years ago, but it's reality today. Here's how I used an off-the-shelf, untuned cheap 3D printer to print something that even my more expensive printers would have struggled with.

An artificial intelligence program used to classify prisoners' security levels in Ontario jails is disproportionately placing Black prisoners in maximum-security conditions, according to an investigation published by The Breach and a class action lawsuit filed against the province.

The reporting, by journalist Desmond Cole, examined the Security Assessment for Evaluating Risk (SAFER) tool, which has been used in Ontario jails since 2021 to assign prisoners a risk score based on factors including arrest and disciplinary history.

Citing government data analyzed by University of Toronto criminologist Scot Wortley, the outlet reported that Black people make up roughly 5 percent of Ontario's population but represented close to 27 percent of prisoners in maximum security between 2022 and 2025, while white people were significantly underrepresented in that category relative to their share of the population.

The class action, filed by law firm Koskie Minsky, alleges the province was aware the tool's reliance on historical justice-system data — which reflects documented racial disparities in policing and charging — could disproportionately harm Black prisoners, and that Ontario adopted mitigation measures for Indigenous prisoners without extending similar safeguards to Black prisoners. Internal ministry training documents cited by The Breach acknowledged that "assessments like SAFER would likely contribute to the overrepresentation" of Indigenous and racialized people in maximum security.

The Breach reported that neither Ontario's Ministry of the Solicitor General nor Grant Duwe, the researcher credited with designing SAFER, responded to requests for comment on the program's methodology or accuracy. An Ontario Ombudsman report referenced in the investigation noted it had received complaints about the tool's disproportionate impact on Black and Indigenous prisoners, and that a ministry review of the program is ongoing.

Smart features on a TV can be very useful. You can stream content using apps such as Netflix or control your TV remotely with your smart home. You need to connect your TV to the internet to use some of these features, and doing so can expose a lot of your data.

There was a time, not too long ago in the grand scheme of things, when one GPU just wasn't enough. If you wanted the fastest machine possible, you bought two identical Nvidia GPUs, connected them with an SLI bridge, and hoped your favorite game could take advantage of both.

Are you looking at building your homelab on a Raspberry Pi foundation? This Raspberry Pi alternative actually competes with mini PCs more than the Raspberry Pi, but it still might not be the best choice for your homelab.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Belgian GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Belgian GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

This season of F1 is strange for a number of reasons. The new regulations continue to result in a lot of uncertainty, which can lead to unpredictable racing. That's what we all want as fans, but even though every race has felt like a lottery, we've only had four race winners from two teams this season. That's exactly the sort of thing these new rules were designed to avoid.

What will we see from the Belgian GP? Will Kimi Antonelli recover to claim another victory? Or will Ferrari build on impressive wins at the Barcelona-Catalunya GP and British GP? I'd love to see a driver from another team make the leap. Verstappen and the McLaren duo must be chomping at the bit to claim maximum points.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Belgian GP?

The Belgian GP is the 10th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 17

• Practice 1 — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET on July 17

• Practice 1 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on July 18

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on July 18

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on July 19

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Belgian GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It's this access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Belgian GP this weekend without spending anything.

I subscribe to Amazon Prime, so am I really watching for free? It's up for debate, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

If you've already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternative workarounds.

My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now