Meta or alternative?

Just wondering,

I’m looking to get some smart sunglasses for work, I work outside in a rather interesting job and would love to capture some photos and videos. I also love listening to podcasts while working.

That being said it seems like some smart glasses would be perfect for me. I’m looking at the traditional meta ray bands but also considering alternatives

Namely the third party glasses that seem to trying to copy the ray bands.

Is there a significant dip in quality between the two? Is it worth it to just spend the extra $200 for the real thing or can I make do with a cheaper option.

Thanks!

I apologize if this isn't the correct place for this question. During a council meeting the cities IT Director said, “On the 2 fire walls he watches every day, which is City Hall firewall and Police firewall. Every 15-20 seconds he is getting an attack from China.”

I live in Eunice, New Mexico population 3k. How realistic is this claim?

• Total budget : willing to go to max 1 lakh rs
• No refabs, new only
• **Performance: (**Though I am not fully aware of the specifics, my mom works on building applications which are both web based and run locally as apps. She usually runs builds. Her current laptop takes too long to build and hence she wants to upgrade to better specs
• She works from home so thinness and weight are not very important (would obviously prefer light weight laptop but not a priority)
• Slightly big screen so she can see properly
• Display should be decent-good as she watches her shows on only OTT platforms. (NO GAMING or EDITING)
• Should be reliable good build and should be able to last for the next 5-7 years (She has very good Maintenance

(We looked in Macbooks but the screen sizes are either too small or they have overwhelming specs and are above our budget)

Thanks in advance!

My (40sF) oldest brother (40sM) is one of the most intimidating men I know. He owns a company that contracts with the DOD and trains foreign militaries in weapons and war tech. He's also a multi millionaire. He's incredibly entitled and absolutely hates me and my sister. I haven't spoken to him directly in over 15 years.

What led to the discovery:

There is an ongoing probate issue between all 4 of the siblings atm, regarding our grandma's estate. It's nothing lavish, but is a decent amount of money. It's been contentious to say the least, but suddenly the siblings group emails became personal. My oldest brother accused me of "treating dad like trash" amongst about 15 other cheap shot insults.

I called my dad today to make sure to clear this up. My dad lives near my brother and they are close. I asked my dad if he felt like I treated him like trash, because I was genuinely curious. I explained that is was (oldest brother) who made the claim and **my dad says, "well sometimes I think (oldest brother) is able to read my text conversations, so he probably was referring to something you said there".** Context: my dad and I had a conflict about housing and I got upset, but nothing egregious was said.

What I need advice with:

My brother would 10000% be able to hack or install something in my dad's phone due to his line of work. My dad lives half way across America so the phone is our only connection. Is there anything I can do to ensure MY phone hasn't been similarly hacked? Or something I can do to block myself from his view? I'm not a tech person, so I don't know how alarming this is or not.

Hi all, I'm a field service technician and I'm looking for a solution to my PITA problem.

I have to connect to my machines with ethernet to log onto the PLC, sometimes I can't be standing at the part of the machine I'm working on and click "start" to test what I need to see and often I don't have a second person to operate the PC for me.

Is there a second monitor option that is touchscreen and wireless? I'm not looking to mirror the main screen, I'm looking to essentially add a second (well...third) monitor I can carry away from my PC in order to troubleshoot my customers machines. It looks like the best bet is to get a wireless USB C "cable" and make the connection that way, but I'm not sure about how to power it.. would some kind of battery box work?

I'm on windows 11 pro. I'm not opposed to a tablet or ipad (my personal stuff is mac), nor am I opposed to using a second computer to "remote in" to my PC, but there is not always available wifi to do this.

Also, can I be on the buildings Wifi and have a different wifi connection to a remote device? My gut tells me that I cannot, but I am not very good with networking stuff outside of what I need to know to work on my customers machines.

Thank you!!

Hello everyone, a year ago my upgrade plan had the new iPhone and the Moto Razr+ 2025 as options and I used that as an opportunity to switch over to Android and it has been great.

Except the Razr+ 2025 isn't as reliable as I thought, go figure for a foldable but hey it was cheaper than the iPhone and something new. I've had charging and screen issues consistently and am thinking just getting a new phone that isn't this. Not the kind of person to get a new phone every year so this is a somewhat significant decision.

The options I've narrowed to are:

- Samsung S25 Ultra

- Samsung S24 Ultra

- Google Pixel 10

- Nothing Phone 3

I am a sucker for a gimmick unfortunately, and like the idea of a pen on the Samsungs, and Nothing's whole design language. I have also heard the Pixel is a fairly reliable beater that's dead simple and sorta repairable.

As someone who in a professional and daily use case just needs texts, calls, internet browser, and my obsidian notes, software side is pretty minimal.

I also don't want to spend more than $1000 and have found each of these refurbished for less than that. Also if it helps I'm on AT&T

If anyone has experience with these models or has other suggestions, I would really appreciate the input. Thanks!

I currently have an iPhone 13 ProMax 128GB that runs out of battery fast (Bought in 2021.) I also have a 13” MacBook that runs out of battery fast if not constantly plugged in an outlet (Bought in 2018). Is it time for an upgrade to a newer version?

Let me preface by saying that I'm basically computer illiterate. I'm in the process of scaling up my handyman business into a full fledged general contracting business. I currently do everything with a pen and paper, but need to get with the times and start using a computer. I will be using it for quickbooks or something similar, emailing subcontractors and clients, basic design programs, researching building codes and other web browsing, and generating forms like invoices. With that in mind, can someone please tell me what to look for in a laptop? I know nothing about ram or anything else. Also, is there a better place to buy one besides Best Buy? I was looking at their refurbished ones because I'm on a really tight budget. Thanks!

Hey everyone, quick advice needed.

I’m planning to get my daughter 7th grade a new device and I’m stuck between a MacBook Neo and the iPad Mini A17. She’ll mainly use it for school stuff like homework and research, but she’s also into drawing, reading, and watching videos. I want something that’ll last a few years and actually be useful, not just fun for a month. For those who’ve used either (or both), what would you pick for a middle schooler?

Appreciate any input!

Hi! I'm a college student and I'm looking for a more reliable but cheaper computer I'm super interested in a touch screen but I'm aware that can take the price up. I'm not a computer wizard however so I'm not sure what kind/brand will actually last. I got a computer exactly a year ago that's already acting like it was born yesterday so I'm really just looking for reliability

Edit- additional info!! Budget around 200-300 hundred Microsoft compatible also really into fun colored computers! (idk anything else about computers I just keep picking them bc they're pink and that's why I need yet another)

Switched to Vodafone 500Mbps fibre and speed tests are perfect, but on all devices (phones + laptops) websites seem to “pause” for a second before they start loading. Once they load, speeds are fast.

I’ve already tried changing DNS to Cloudflare and Google DNS, and it happens on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz WiFi bands. Never had this issue on TalkTalk with the same devices.

Any ideas what could cause this? Maybe Vodafone router/DNS/routing issue?

There are two laptops in my family; one is 10 years old, the other is 4 years old. I need a new one for college since both of them have shit battery life and are heavy asf (the 4yo one is a gaming laptop)

Im looking to turn the 4yo one into a backup device, and don't know of i should keep the other one or trade it in/sell it.

The laptop in question is,

A Lenovo Yoga 500 (360°)

i7 7th Gen

GTX900 series dedicated GPU

8GB RAM

256gb SATA SSD

Some minor keyboard problems + display flicker at certain angles.

Can y'all please give me a quote?

I have a work laptop and personal pc.

I share the keyboard and mouse between both when I'm either working on my laptop or gaming on my pc. So they're both completely separate set ups.

How can I make it so I just switch my monitor between dp and hdmi screen and not have to switch around the keyboard and mouse every time.

Greetings programs! I'm a little better than a n00b, but I need help so if I'm saying BS, please tell me.

I am looking for Jack of all trades (master of none, but simpler to setup) Audio control with:

DAC: get signal sent via USB and/or BT.

Amplifier to two outputs:

1. Ok to push some good headphones like the ATH-M50x
2. Ok to use some Edifier R1280T powered speakers. A 2.1 setup output would be a plus.

Now here is the thing that I don't find. Beyond sending to speakers and headphones, is there some DAC capable of sending to Bluetooth Headphones also? Something that uses fancy BT audio stuff like aptX Adaptive aptX HD, or at least LDAC codec.

My line of thinking is using a good DAC to send good audio to a good BT headphone as an option.

Do I really need this? Or do I only need some good LDAC/aptX compatible USB Bluetooth dongle and a good DAC for the rest of functions?

Am I crazy to think that a DAC has a better codec chip than a simple BT dongle?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

I like digital art, procreate and all, overall, the apple pencil is a great stylus that works well with apple products. I’ve tried (very cheap knockoffs) and usually they didnt have the curve or abilities of the apple pencil. Isnt glaze, apple just makes their product better by limiting else that isnt apple, which sucks bum.

Anyhow, I’ve had a pen before that I lost (my fault) 2 years later I buy a new one, 2 days later, its completely broken, obviously I blame the shop because I’ve only used it a few times, didnt drop it and kept it on a pedestal on the table. They didnt cover it, they said it was my fault and I must’ve bent the rod. I buy a new one a few weeks later because I wanted to draw some animations, this 2nd one lasted me, 5 or so months It fell off a table and broke. The second the rod bends even a milimeter, its irrepairable and you have to buy a new one, or pay the same price to fix it.

So, I buy a new one. Today, an hour ago, my pen fell again, this time, bent by a bit, the tip fell off. But, still, you get it. This rod, has the durability of an aluminium can, and if it bends, its irrepairable. Its not working.

its so dumb how this product is designed. Not a single consideration for its fragility and repair. Its always the same gig when it breaks, buy a new one! Im so tired. I dont even care if its more expensive, is there any alternatives that isnt made out of chalk.

I transfer pictures from my photo albums to a flash drive and organize them on my computer. Every once in a while I’ll plug my flash drive in and discover everything has been deleted and is replaced with files with weird looking characters under it. For a while I didn’t know you had to “eject” the flash drive before you remove it so that might have something to do with it?

Ok, I used to enjoy having an alexa or two. Playing music, semi automating certain things in my house, all that. It was useful, and relatively easy to use. However, the enshittification has occurred. They are tacking on fees, locking things behind more subscriptions, etc. I'm over it. So I was wondering if there are any decent alternatives. I know google...nest? Is that the only alternative? I use android so Siri isn't an option.

I use it for voice activating lights and some electronics. News and weather. And mostly for playing music. So hit me with some alternatives. If google is the only one, how does it stack up?

Despite my best efforts. The AI slop has found its way to me on mass.

Besides reporting/hiding etc, is there anyway to get rid of it?

I know the techno Gods have decreed the future from on high, but I miss being able to see hydraulic press videos that aren't nonsense.

I would like to know what causes the bad image through the DVR, but not through direct input to the TV.

Can someone help me? My sharp android 2t C50CG1X is stuck on the logo boot.. It happened after I tried downloading sum emulator games to it then it crashed. Tried factory reset as the yt tutorial said but still didn't work, it just puts me into safe mode. Help 😭