Brian Fagioli

USB-C docking stations and hubs are a dime a dozen these days. There are so many such products that can transform a single USB-C port into several others. Quite frankly, it is almost impossible to get noticed with such an adapter these days.

With all of that said, a new USB-C adapter from Belkin has managed to grab my attention. Called "CONNECT USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Hub with Mount," it has a unique feature that I find quite neat. You see, the "mount" in the product's name indicates that it can be attached to the back of a computer, such as Apple iMac.

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With COVID-19 pretty much over now, I decided to take my first vacation since the pandemic started (I am vaccinated and double-boosted). And so, I booked a Royal Caribbean cruise to Bermuda (Enchantment of the Seas) that left from Baltimore. I returned from that vacation this week -- the trip was quite lovely, as is typical with Royal Caribbean.

Believe it or not, this was my 10th Royal Caribbean cruise! Normally, I would use it as an opportunity to unplug from the internet and relax offline. This time, however, things were a bit different. You see, I adopted a chihuahua from a shelter a few years back, and I wanted to keep an eye on her by way of Wi-Fi cameras. She's a great dog, but very scared and skittish -- I needed to know she was OK at all times.

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Back in April, we told you about the Deco XE75 -- an affordable Wi-Fi 6E tri-band mesh system. TP-Link's AXE5400 wireless networking system comes with two 802.11ax access points, each with three Gigabit Ethernet ports. At just $299.99, it is quite a great value.

Today, TP-Link launches a "Pro" version of the Deco XE75. Yes, the name of this product is "Deco XE75 Pro." Why exactly does this new product get a "Pro" moniker? Well, it has one significant upgrade over the non-Pro variant -- a multi-gig port. You see, rather than have three Gigabit ports, each access point features two Gigabit LAN ports and one 2.5G WAN/LAN port.

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Are all NVMe M.2 solid state drives the same from a performance perspective? Technically, no, but nowadays, even the lower-speed offerings are still rather fast. In other words, no NVMe SSD is "slow" although I would still caution to stick with trusted brands if you value your data. After all, it doesn't matter how speedy your drive is if it dies and your files are lost.

Samsung is probably the most trusted name in solid state storage. Not only are its SSDs historically very dependable, but very fast too. While a Samsung SSD may cost a bit more than some other brands, it is absolutely worth the premium if you want the best.

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Created and maintained by Chinese developers, deepin has long been considered one of the prettiest Linux-based operating systems. Understandably, due to its development happening in China, many people do not trust the distribution -- especially with biometrics being added. Not to mention the recent dustup over Taiwan and apparent ongoing genocide.

If you are someone that trusts deepin despite its country of origin, however, I have some really exciting news. Today, an official public preview of the upcoming deepin 23 becomes available for download. The developers highlight the inclusion of the new "Linglong" package format, atomic updates, and new repositories.

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USB-C docking stations are very common these days. Hell, websites like Amazon are littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor do they offer the same things. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs. I recommend sticking with reputable brands such as Kensington, StarTech.com, and Plugable to name a few.

Speaking of Plugable, today, that company launches a USB-C docking station that can push two 4K displays at 60Hz at once. Called "UD-6950PDH," the dock also offers 100W of charging and provides an impressive 13 useful ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A, and both SD and micro SD card readers.

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While Apple's Magic Keyboards are actually quite good (unlike its terrible Magic Mouse), there is one unfortunate fact -- the company simply doesn't make a mechanical keyboard. And so, if you want such a keyboard for your Mac, you will have to depend on a third-party company. The problem there, however, is there are so many keyboard makers these days, it can be hard to know which are actually good. Sadly, there are many that are terrible.

Well, folks, Das Keyboard has a new Apple-focused USB-C keyboard called "MacTigr," and if you aren't aware, that company is one of the most respected keyboard manufacturers out there. Seriously, you can never go wrong with a Das Keyboard product. Not only is MacTigr built like tank, the wired keyboard is loaded with many excellent features.

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Earlier this month, we shared the news that Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (code-named "Jammy Jellyfish") was being delayed. Sadly, the first point release of this wildly popular operating system version was being pushed back an entire week -- an absolute eternity in the world of Linux.

Well, folks, a week has passed, and thankfully, Canonical stayed true to its word (this time) and sorted the show-stopping Ubuntu Linux 22.04.1 issue. Yes, the major bug that caused snaps not to open on computers that used the OEM install option is now resolved. Even better, starting today, Canonical will being prompting Ubuntu 20.04 users to upgrade to Jammy Jellyfish.

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If you are a professional photographer/videographer or just an enthusiast interested in the latest-and-greatest technologies, you may already be using CFexpress Type A cards. For those of you that are unfamiliar, however, please know these media storage cards are designed to be extremely fast. You will need a camera that is compatible with this new standard though.

Today, Lexar releases its latest such product. Called "Professional GOLD Series," this new CFexpress Type A card offers both high speeds and durability -- perfect for creators on the go. In addition to the actual card, the company has also released a new 3.2 Gen 2 reader that is compatible with both CFexpress Type A and SD cards.

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I absolutely hate keyboards with number pads. Why? Because I do not use the number pad -- I use the numbers on the top row of the keyboard. And so, having a number pad on my keyboard is simply wasteful. It causes the keyboard to be wider than necessary, taking up extra space on my desk. This is why I prefer tenkeyless keyboards.

Understandably, some people do prefer having a number pad. Wouldn't it be cool if number pads were simply always offered as a separate accessory? While dedicated number pads have been around for years, a new such gaming-focused product from Glorious might be the coolest ever. Called "GMMK Numpad," this macro pad connects via Bluetooth, but it can charge and connect using USB-C too. The mechanical pad even features a knob and slider. Best of all, it can be extensively configured by the user.

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Can computer memory be cute? No, seriously. Can it be? While it is easy to say no to that question -- I would have said no just yesterday -- some new RAM from ADATA has turned my world upside down. You see, we now actually live in a world where cute memory exists. Seriously.

Today, ADATA launches some new DDR5 memory called ACE 6400, and while it looks like nice RAM from a specifications perspective, it is also a bit plain and boring aesthetically. The memory features a generic silver-colored heat spreader. What is truly exciting, however, is the Limited Edition variant of the RAM as it features a super-cute design. As you can see, its heat spreader is adorned with friggin' colorful flowers. Heck, even the packaging is cute!

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Canonical is usually quite dependable when it comes to Ubuntu releases. When a new version of the Linux-based operating system is expected, it usually becomes available on time.

Sadly, Ubuntu 22.04.1 won't become available today as expected -- a huge gut-punch to the Linux community. Why is Canonical disappointing fans of the operating system? Well, it seems a serious bug has caused the tragic delay. This serious issue causes snaps not to run on computers that use the OEM install option.

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Last year, in the beginning of 2021, we told you about the Envoy Pro FX -- an external solid state drive from OWC. What made this particular SSD special was its use of two chipsets to maximize compatibility with both Thunderbolt and regular USB-C. The drive even comes with a dongle to make it compatible with USB-A.

And now, in 2022, OWC is giving the Envoy Pro FX a capacity boost. While the SSD remains the same in all other ways, as of today, it can now be had with a 4TB capacity option. Previously, the drive was limited to 240GB, 480GB, 1TB, and 2TB sizes. As you can see, 4TB is a pretty significant increase.

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Last year, we told you about Plugable's second generation USBC-VAMETER -- a dongle with an OLED screen that can monitor USB-C voltage and amperage. The second gen variant was similar to the original, but it added a rotatable screen orientation -- a very welcome addition.

Today, Plugable launches the third generation of its useful dongle. Called "USBC-VAMETER3," it has the same rotatable screen technology found on gen 2, but it gets some power upgrades. The third gen model now supports 48V (4.5V-50V) compared to 20V (4V-20V) on the gen 2 model. The third generation variant also supports 240W compared to just 100W on its predecessor.

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M.2 solid state drives are great options for both laptops and desktop PCS. Hell, if you add such a drive to a compatible enclosure (such as this one), you can transform it into a portable SSD too. But did you know you can upgrade the storage of your PlayStation 5 video game console by adding an M.2 drive?

Today, ADATA launches a new M.2 SSD that is designed for both PCs and the PlayStation 5. Called "LEGEND 960," this PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 2280 SSD offers impressive speeds and will be initially offered in your choice of two capacities -- 1TB and 2TB. ADATA promises a 4TB variant will be available at the end of August.

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