MakeUseOf

Your Android phone has a battery protection setting, and the default isn’t the one you want

Kanika Gogia — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:00:16 GMT

Most of us don't think twice about how we charge our phones. I prefer to plug in my phone at bedtime, allow it to charge fully, and then unplug it in the morning when my alarm goes off. Keeping your phone's battery at 100% for extended periods feels harmless, but it can contribute to battery wear over time.

I ran Fing on my network and found a device I'd never seen before

Robin John — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:30:16 GMT

When you work from home as I do, the last thing you want is your Wi-Fi acting up, especially when you’re in the middle of something important. Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share of moments when everything works perfectly one minute, and the next I’m wondering why even a simple webpage takes forever to load. It’s frustrating, especially when you’re paying for a decent internet connection and expect things to just work.

Your Linux distro could be quietly costing you 30 minutes of battery life

Dipan Saha — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:01:16 GMT

Not all Linux distributions handle power savings the same way. Some tend to be a bit more aggressive, resulting in noticeably longer battery life. And in some cases, it can make quite a significant difference. To test out this theory, I ran three different Linux distros on the same laptop, capturing the battery drain over time, and the results were surprising.

TP-Link’s update deadline is the best reason yet to put OpenWrt on your router

Gregory Gibson — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:31:17 GMT

I recently read about TP-Link’s update deadline, and it got me thinking about what people could do with routers that still have perfectly good hardware. Currently, a US waiver permits qualifying TP-Link firmware updates until at least January 1, 2029, and that date could change once again.

I didn’t realize my Android could measure this, but it’s surprisingly accurate

Pankil Shah — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 14:00:16 GMT

Our smartphones have replaced a lot of things over the years, but not all of them are obvious. It’s easy to recognize how they have replaced clocks, calculators, MP3 players, and even standalone cameras for most of us. But beyond these, there are several more unconventional ways to use an Android phone.

The Ring Spotlight Cam 2K has dropped back to its record low price from October Prime Day

Patrick Farmer — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:35:16 GMT

Black Friday is a great time to invest in some new security tech for your home, but you don't need to wait until November 27th to score an exceptional deal on Ring devices. Ahead of the official sale event, Amazon is slashing 47% off the new Ring Spotlight Cam 2K, knocking the price of the smart camera down to just $89.99. That's a return to the lowest price ever recorded for the device, weeks before the retailer's Black Friday sale begins in earnest.

These smart TV apps aren't on the Play Store, but every TV owner should have them

Pankil Shah — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:30:16 GMT

One of the best things about using an Android TV is the flexibility. If you don’t like something — whether it’s the default launcher or the official YouTube app — you can easily replace it. The only catch is that sometimes replacing those apps means sideloading. It does take some effort, sure, some apps are well worth it.

This little Ryobi tool fixed the car-maintenance job I always put off

Jonathon Jachura — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:01:16 GMT

Checking tire pressure is the easiest car chore to push to next week, and I pushed it for years. It meant using an inaccurate hand gauge or planning a detour to the gas station, then trusting a hose-mounted gauge that saw plenty of abuse. A small cordless inflator from my Ryobi ONE+ collection finally broke that habit.

Windows 11 has Snap Layouts, but these PowerToys tricks take multitasking much further

Judy Sanhz — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:30:16 GMT

I use Snap Layouts regularly because they organize my open windows so well. Even so, they fall short when I need to find a specific window that didn’t fit in my layout or keep an app always visible.

The worst mistake you can make after leaving your laptop in a freezing car

Gregory Gibson — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:01:16 GMT

I’m Australian, so naturally I’m an expert at keeping a laptop cool. Give me one that’s been sitting in a freezing car, and apparently I’ll just reach straight for the charger.