Peripherals

Page 3

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A closeup shot of the Steam Controller.
I tried five Steam Controller projects—the self-charging one is hilariously ambitious

Valve made the new Steam Controller open-source, and the results are completely unhinged

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usbccables-2
You're using your laptop's USB-C port wrong: Here's what it can actually do

Your USB-C port does way more than charge—here's what you're missing

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Your devices keep disconnecting from that USB-C hub—here's why cheap ones can't handle it

Cheap USB-C hubs fail because of one invisible component inside

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Plugable Thunderbolt 4 set up on a desk.
Why Plugable still matters in a world full of generic USB-C docks

Everything is universal, so what problems are left to solve?

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Flash drive plugged into the USB-A port on the back of a Synology DS425+ NAS.-2
I spent 10 minutes testing the USB ports on my PC to finally find out which one is actually the fastest
USB

USB ports don't tell you much by themselves, but you can learn a lot by running a few simple tests

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A USB4 cable plugged into a microphone.
Your USB-C cable might be holding back your laptop's best feature

USB-C cables look identical, but this one difference changes everything

Popout USB ports on a Dell Ultrasharp 27 Thunderbolt Hub monitor-1
Please stop using your monitor as a USB hub

Monitor USB ports are nothing more than extension cords.

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Ports on the rear of the Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station.
That USB4 label is lying to you—here's what it should actually say
USB

You'd think that buying a USB4 dock is pretty straightforward, but it caught me by surprise

A GIGABYTE M32U 16:9 4K gaming monitor on a desk with a keyboard, controllers, and other accessories.
Wider isn't always better: Why I went back to 16:9 from ultrawide

Goodbye ultrawide, hello traditional.

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Man sitting on a reclined chair
This full-body adaptive ergonomic chair is at its lowest price for Prime Day

This post is sponsored by Sihoo

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A pile of usb cables on a wood surface
USB-C was supposed to end cable clutter, but manufacturers turned it into a trap

A typical USB-C cable gives you one shape and one port, but countless ways to disappoint you when you need it.

High-end 2023 Workstation Laptop with USB 2.0 Port
Stop wasting your USB ports—here are 3 hidden tricks most people miss
USB

Your USB port can do way more than charge and transfer files

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A close-up photo of a tiny USB wireless adapter.
The tech that promised to kill USB cables 20 years ago (and why it died)
USB

Imagine a world where your computer could automatically connect devices wirelessly, without the need for cables

USB-C port in a Moto Buds Loop case.
Stop complaining about your USB-C cables: These 6 weird formats prove how bad things used to be
USB

USB tried everything before USB-C: Here's why the side quests failed

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The Dygma Raise split keyboard on a bamboo desk with a MX Master 3 between the halves and some game controllers in the background.
Why is this Logitech mouse on every tech person's desk?

Master of Powerpoints.

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A vertical  monitor with a monitor arm and a main monitor on a desktop PC.
I mounted my laptop, mini PC, and keyboard to my monitor arm—and suddenly my desk made sense

Stop ignoring the VESA mount on the back of your monitor

A USB-C connector photographed at a wider aperture.
USB-C video was supposed to kill HDMI, but it turned into a compatibility nightmare

The hidden mess behind your monitor's most convenient port

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Apple AirPods, with a red Goldfish crackers case that says
I wasted years listening to music on AirPods

I spent years listening to music on my AirPods...until hearing loss forced me to seek alternative options.

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PS/2 keyboard dual plugs on a wooden table.
The forgotten PC ports that completely embarrass modern USB
USB

USB is fantastic, but looking back, we had some ports that could do its job with ease

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The back of the Anker Prime Docking Station showing HDMI, USB, Ethernet, and DisplayPort plugs.
This forgotten port was USB before USB existed

Modern USB devices are secretly still using this 40-year-old tech

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