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Nvidia GRID server
Product Reviews

Job losses might be likely due to AI but Nvidia’s CEO says the booming billion-dollar industry will always need more plumbers and electricians

by admin October 2, 2025



The explosion of generative AI over the last few years signals a change in the job market alongside it, and this brings with it worries of job instability and losses. With big players like Nvidia, Meta, X, and the governments worldwide further committing to AI, questions are posed to those at the very top.

In a recent interview with the British news channel, Channel 4, Nvidia’s CEO Jensun Huang, gave his thoughts on what’s next. He says, “If you’re an electrician, if you’re a plumber, if you’re a carpenter, we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of them. To build all of these factories.”

Huang argues, “The skilled craft segment of every economy is going to boom”.


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“You’re going to have to build. You’re going to keep doubling and doubling… every single year.”

Just last week, Nvidia shared plans to spend $100 billion on OpenAI. This cash is intended to go towards greater supplies of data centre chips, to further train upcoming AI models. Just weeks before that, Nvidia’s earnings report showed it made almost 10 times more from AI than gaming. Nvidia’s stock price is also at an all-time high, over 10 times what it was half a decade ago.

@c4news

CEO of US chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, tells Channel 4 News, that ‘electricians and plumbers’ will be the big winners in the AI race as the skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a ‘boom’. #Tech #AI #Nvidia #Economy #C4News

♬ original sound – Channel 4 News

OpenAI’s spending has also skyrocketed, alongside ChatGPT’s popularity, and the US government is firmly behind cementing “US dominance in artificial intelligence”. From a PC gaming perspective, we’ve even seen brands like Razer jump on the AI bandwagon. This is all to say AI doesn’t appear to be going away, and it has backing in the hundreds of billions.

(Image credit: Nvidia)

When asked what could happen if the UK doesn’t ‘grasp this opportunity’, Huang says, “just as the last industrial revolution, the reason why it came about was because you needed it. And so the industrial revolution that started here in the UK came out of need. You need it now, too.”

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

Earlier this year, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology signed an agreement with OpenAI to push the chatbot into the public sector in a further bid to make the UK an AI powerhouse.

Though highlighting future employment seems relevant to current fears around the job market, this doesn’t address those who have degrees and experience in fields being replaced. Senator Bernie Sanders argued in June that “Artificial intelligence is going to displace millions and millions of workers”. A month after this, OpenAI’s Sam Altman shared that he thinks some jobs will be “totally, totally gone” due to AI. A former Google executive in August argued AI will lead to a “short-term dystopia” because it will struggle to create new jobs for those it is replacing.

Huang tells reporters, “You’re going to be building out AI infrastructure here in the UK for a decade,” but it’s not clear what the plan is for workers after that.

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Tesla Hikes Prices After the Government Cash Grinds to a Halt
Product Reviews

Tesla Hikes Prices After the Government Cash Grinds to a Halt

by admin October 2, 2025



Tesla raised the lease prices for its most popular electric vehicles on Wednesday, according to figures posted to the company’s website. The change comes after the federal EV tax credit, which was $7,500 for new vehicles and leases and $4,000 for used vehicles, expired on Tuesday.

Tesla’s model Y lease has jumped from between $479 and $529 per month to between $529 and $599 per month, Jalopnik points out. And Model 3 lease prices went from between $349 and $699 per month to between $429 and $759 per month.

Tesla still sells more EVs in the U.S. than any other company, but Elon Musk’s market share has eroded in recent years. Tesla accounted for over 80% of all EV sales back in 2017, at the dawn of President Donald Trump’s first term. But that’s down to just 38% this past August, according to CNBC.

Musk has built his empire on companies that rely on massive government funding, through contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits, according to the Washington Post, which recently tallied it all at $38 billion. But Musk, as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until just a few months ago, did his best to dismantle the federal government without personally harming a single thing that benefited him financially.

The sole exception was the expiration of the EV tax credit, which Republicans worked hard to kill with Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which passed in July. The tax credit was originally not scheduled to end until 2032 under the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed under President Joe Biden and a Democratic-controlled Congress in 2022.

JPMorgan has previously estimated that the loss of the EV tax credit will cost Tesla about $1.2 billion per year. But it will take some time to see just how much of a dent is made by the EV tax credit going away. Tesla has already been suffering immensely, due in large part to Musk getting intimately involved in presidential politics.

Musk endorsed President Trump in July 2024 and spent over $270 million to get him elected. And the billionaire’s far-right politics caused the Tesla brand to suffer with liberal drivers, the people who used to support electric vehicles and Musk the most fervently. Musk’s two Nazi-style salutes on the day President Trump was inaugurated for a second time didn’t help his popularity with left-leaning car consumers.

A protester holds a sign that reads “Musk is a Nazi” at a protest on Feb. 17, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo: Gizmodo / Matt Novak

Musk became the world’s richest person again this week after some brief competition from Larry Ellison. The Tesla CEO is now worth $500 billion, according to a new estimate by Forbes, becoming the first person in the history of the world to reach that milestone.

Tesla didn’t respond to questions emailed on Wednesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back, though we’re not counting on it. Musk got rid of the company’s press relations team in 2020.



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The Best USB-C Cables (2025): For iPhones, Android Phones, Tablets, and Laptops
Product Reviews

The Best USB-C Cables (2025): For iPhones, Android Phones, Tablets, and Laptops

by admin October 2, 2025


More USB-C Cables We Have Tested

There are so many cables out there, and plenty of solid options did not make the cut. Here are a few I’ve tested and liked.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Twelve South PowerCord for $30: While I don’t think we want to go back to permanently attached cables and power adapters, they offer a simplicity that could be useful for some folks or situations. The PowerCord from Twelve South is thick and durable-feeling, with a tangle-resistant woven (4- or 10-foot) USB-C cable attached to a compact 30-watt (Power Delivery) wall plug.

EcoFlow Rapid Pro for $21: Kept out of a place above by Anker’s cables, this durable charging cable from EcoFlow is a solid choice if you want fast charging, since it can supply 240 watts. It also has tough metal ends, a lovely woven finish, and comes with a cable tie.

Nomad Chargekey for $29 and USB-C Cable for $25: The Chargekey is a handy wee addition to your keyring with 12 cm of braided cable capable of delivering 240 watts and up to 10 Gbps data transfer, though it can be a little awkward to use. I also tried Nomad’s new Kevlar-reinforced USB-C cable, which is also 240 W but only has 480 Mbps data transfer. It feels durable with metal ends and braided cable, but you can get more capable cables for less.

QDOS PowerMotion Ultra for £40: This USB 4.0 cable is a solid alternative to our top picks for folks in the UK, combining up to 240-watt charging with data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps. It is relatively thick, feels durable, and comes with a lifetime warranty. I like the braided nylon finish and color-matched cable tie. I also tried the QDOS Powerloop (£20), a handy wearable charging cable that doubles as a lanyard strap. It’s thick, woven, and durable, with screw-off ends that reveal a USB-C cable capable of supplying 60 watts of power and 480 Mbps of data.

Chargeasap Connect Pro for $60: Magnetic tip cables can be handy for kids and folks with dexterity issues. The idea is you stick the relevant tip in your device and then attach the cable magnetically when you need to charge. This one also has an LED display to show real-time power usage. It works best if you leave the tips in your devices, but that means they can’t be charged by regular cables, and the tips are very easy to lose if you remove them. Performance-wise, it’s a standard 100-watt charging cable.

Krafted Connex for £30: I like the idea of a Swiss Army Knife–style charging cable keyring, but the execution here is flawed. It does offer USB-A, USB-C, Lightning, and MicroUSB, but the flip-out plugs don’t have any cable attached, so they are not very adjustable, making it tough to plug into some ports. The Rolling Square InCharge X 6-in-1 Cable above is the same price and works far better.

Scosche Strikeline Premium USB-C Cable for $25: This braided cable comes in various lengths all the way up to the 10-foot cable I tested, and it’s a good alternative to our best long cable above if data transfer is more important to you than charging speed because it offers 5 Gbps data speeds, but only 60 watts for charging.

Ugreen Uno USB-C Cable for $10: I love the smiley-faced Uno line from UGreen, but I assumed the display on this cable would show the charging rate. It does not. It just displays smiley eyes when charging and changes when fully charged. I tested the 6.6-foot cable, but it also comes in 1.6-, 3.3-, or 10-foot lengths. It feels durable and is reasonably priced, but it is rated at a very ordinary 100 watts and 480 Mbps.

Native Union Pocket Cable for $30: This wee braided USB-C to USB-C cable is perfect for slipping on a keyring to ensure you are never caught without a cable. It’s a nice design with braided cables, but you only get around 7 inches, and it maxes out at 60 watts. It is built to last from recycled materials, USB-IF certified, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Caudabe ChargeFlex for $25: This was our Lightning recommendation, and it’s still good, but the price has gone up and there’s no need to spend this much. It is a thick braided cable reinforced with Kevlar for durability. There is a leather clip you can use for cable management, and the ridged finish on the connectors makes them easy to grip when unplugging.

Cable Matters Gen 2 USB-A to USB-C cable for $10: This is a good alternative to our pick above if you want faster data transfer speeds (it maxes out at 10 Gbps), but it is limited to 15 watts for charging.

Bluebonnet Eco-Friendly Charging Cable for $25: Bluebonnet (an Austin-based studio named after the Texas state flower) made this cable from naturally biodegradable wheat straw. It promises 50,000 plus bends and uses plastic-free packaging. I love the dappled blue finish and the cream ends. They make it easy to pick this cable out of the crowd. It’s nothing special performance-wise, offering up to 60-watt charging and 480 Mbps data transfer.

RUGD Rhino Power USB-C to USB-C for £11: This is a solid option for folks in the UK seeking a tough cable. It has a braided nylon finish and can withstand a minimum of 100 kilograms of tension and 100,000 bends. It can also deliver up to 60 watts.

Casetify Powerthru USB-C to Lightning Cable for $25: This tough, braided cable comes in some fun colors (most notably cotton candy), but it’s kinda pricey for a 100-watt charging cable.

Iniu Braided USB-C Cable for $6: This is a cheap, 6.6-foot USB-C to USB-C charging cable that tops out at 100 watts. Data transfer is only 480 Mbps. One end lights up green when it’s charging.

Lindy USB 3.2 Type C to C Cable for $23: These active cables are suitable for hooking monitors up to your computer, and they support up to 8K at 60 Hz and 4K at 120 Hz. They also support DisplayPort 1.4. I tested the longer 3- and 5-meter variants that max out at 60 watts for Power Delivery and 10 Gbps for data (but they’re out of stock). The shorter cable linked here can go up to 20 Gbps. They work well and feel durable, but they’re a bit pricey.

Satechi USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable for $20: Gear from Satechi always has a classy look, and its braided nylon cables are no exception. This one is 6.5 feet, has a Velcro strap, and is capable of 100-watt charging, with support for PD and QC. Sadly, data transfer is limited to 480 Mbps.

Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Transfer Cable for $70: This active Thunderbolt 4 USB-C to USB-C cable matches our top pick with support for 100-watt charging and data transfers up to 40 Gbps. It is 6.6 feet long and comes with a two-year warranty.

Belkin Boost Charge USB-C for $10: This cable maxes out at 12 watts and 480 Mbps. The basic PVC finish is the cheapest, but you can opt for braided nylon too; both come in black or white at 3.3 or 6.6 feet. These cables are USB-IF certified and work as advertised (I’ve been using one in the car for the last few months).

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Product Reviews

The best smart plugs in 2025

by admin October 2, 2025


They’re not complicated, but smart plugs can make life a bit more convenient and, honestly, a little more fun. I like saying “Goodnight” to Alexa and having all the lamps and the holiday lights click off. In the two years or so that I’ve been testing smart plugs, I’ve come across good ones and bad ones. I think TP-Link’s EP25 will work best for most people, but a few others have their advantages. Say, perhaps you need an outdoor plug, one that monitors energy or one with dual outlets. Based on our testing, and many conversations with Siri, the Google Assistant and Alexa, these are our top picks for the best smart plugs you can buy, along with how to get the most out of your plug once you buy it.

Table of contents

Best smart plugs for 2025

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause – except TP-Link’s Kasa EP25. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It’s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you’ll usually find it in a four-pack) and one of the best Wi-Fi plugs overall. It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you’d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes). 

TP-Link makes a wide range of other smart devices, so you could expand your smart home without having to leave the Kasa app. If you buy gadgets from TP-Link’s other smart home brand, Tapo, you’ll now be able to control both Kasa and Tapo products from one app. 

The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds Apple HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code’s also printed on the plug, but that’s harder to access.)

Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa “skill.” Once you’ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you’re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online.

After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off – everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router.

My single complaint is that sharing with another user isn’t supported within the Kasa app. You can share your log-in details with the other person, as the app does support access from multiple devices on one account. But Google Home feels like the best way to share smart home device control, whether that’s between iOS and Android devices or when everyone uses the same OS.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms
  • Solid, stable connection
  • Affordable
  • Easy setup

Cons

  • Can’t share control within the Kasa app

$42 at Amazon

Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

If you have many Amazon Echo devices and use Alexa to answer your questions, control your music and manage your timers, Amazon’s smart plug makes the most sense. Your Echos and Alexa app already have your details, so you won’t have to create an account, enter your Wi-Fi password or switch to a different app, which makes setup mindlessly simple. In addition to naming your plug, you’ll also want to designate it as a light (if that’s the case) under Type in the settings menu. That way, when you say, “Alexa, turn all the lights off,” it will act accordingly.

I was impressed with the speed of the onboarding process and how seamlessly the plug blended into the ecosystem, adding another IRL appendage to flex. I still get a small thrill when I say, “Alexa, goodnight,” and all goes dark. However, you won’t be able to use the Alexa smart plug with any other smart home app — but it’s not surprising Amazon makes the best Alexa smart plugs for it’s own ecosystem.

The only other drawback, and it’s not a small one, is the Alexa app’s lack of sharing capabilities. You can create households that let other people in your home access your Echo speakers through their phone, but they can’t see your smart home devices. If you’re the only one who needs app access and everyone else in your home is happy to interact via voice commands only, this plug couldn’t be simpler. At $25, it’s not the cheapest smart plug, but like all things Amazon, it goes on sale fairly often.

Pros

  • Dead-simple setup with Alexa
  • Stays reliably connected

Cons

  • Only works with Alexa
  • Can’t share app control

$13 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: Yes | Hub required: Only with HomeKit 

The Kasa KP125M plugs are best Matter smart plugs we tried. They work with all four platforms, install easily and reliably maintain connections. Most Matter devices need to be initialized with a QR code, but this plug also supports Bluetooth onboarding, which saves a step. I set it up through the Kasa app first and because I already had another Kasa plug installed, the process was simplified, automatically prompting me to add the plug with a couple of taps. Adding the device to Alexa, Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings worked the same way, with each app letting me know I had new devices available to add.

To add the plug to HomeKit, I had to scan the included barcode. The process didn’t work at first and I ended up having to long-press the button on the side to make it enter pairing mode. Unlike some Matter plugs, KP125M doesn’t require a Thread border router. And because it’s also a smart Wi-Fi plug, you don’t need a Matter controller, such as a smart speaker for access when you’re away from home. That said, many of the negative reviews on Amazon have to do with the plug’s poor HomeKit compatibility. In addition to the setup hitch I mentioned, the connection with the HomeKit app and Siri was extremely spotty until I added Apple’s HomePod mini to the mix as a dedicated hub. After that, the reliability improved.

The KP125M also provides detailed energy monitoring in the Kasa app. From the home screen, tap on a plug to see stats on its energy usage, along with an estimate of how much that energy will cost you on your next electric bill. You can even enter in your per-kilowatt hour pricing to get a more accurate picture. While we wish there were a way to see the energy usage from all connected devices at once, it’s still a useful insight to have on a per-plug level.

It’s important to note that our best overall pick is $7 cheaper and also works with all four platforms. The higher price tag is likely due to the Matter logo on the side. Honestly, I’d call the KP125M plug more of a hybrid Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Matter plug, which could be why it played nice with every platform. Another Matter plug, the Eve Energy Matter plug, requires you to have a HomePod for HomeKit access, a Nest Hub for Google Home connection and a SmartThings hub to make it work with Samsung’s system. The Matter plug I tried from Meross requires Wi-Fi splitting to properly connect, which is doable, but inconvenient. The promise of Matter is faster and simpler connectivity – needing multiple pieces of additional equipment and workarounds seem to miss that point.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms
  • A good starting point for Matter connections

Cons

  • Kasa’s non-Matter plug works just as well
  • HomeKit connectivity is spotty without a HomePod

$27 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

None of the smart plugs we recommend block the second outlet, but the Meross Wi-Fi dual smart plug takes that convenience one step further by combining two outlets into one. This lets you independently control two different devices at once like a combo of a lamp and fan, a humidifier and your coffee maker, or whatever else you’d like to lend some smarts to. It also works with all four major platforms, so it should smoothly integrate with whichever assistant you’re already using.

Setup starts with the Meross app, though if you’re using an iPhone, you’ll see a suggestion to set up with HomeKit first. The plug has a QR code for communicating with Apple’s system, but that didn’t work for me, so I followed the prompts to use a temporary Wi-Fi method and connected successfully. As for Google and Amazon, each of their apps should automatically detect it and cue you to add it once you’ve completed the initial setup in the Meross app. Setup with Samsung involves entering your Meross email and password.

While the Meross app is required for setup, it’s not the most compelling app for programming routines and schedules. You’ll likely get a better experience using whichever of the major smart home platforms you prefer. When I tested moving the plug to a new position in my house, it reconnected instantly. Then I put it in the basement, which sometimes has spotty Wi-Fi, but it had no trouble working as intended. Should you ever want to operate the unit manually, there are two buttons on the front with arrows pointing to the outlet each controls.

My only qualm was the default name Meross assigned to each outlet within the app. I would assume the left plug to be called “Switch 1” and the right “Switch 2,” but it was reversed on my unit. That’s really not an issue as most people would rename the switches to match the plugged-in devices, but it still struck me as odd. Also, getting Siri to understand which one I was asking to operate was complicated, until I renamed the entire plug and each switch within the Apple Home app. But in my experience, Siri is still working out its smart home assistant kinks, so I don’t blame Meross for this.

The plug is just $17 and, considering its wide compatibility and consistent connectivity, it’s easy to recommend, particularly if the number of outlets in your home isn’t as plentiful as you’d like.

Pros

  • Two independently controlled outlets
  • Affordably priced
  • Works with all four major smart home platforms

Cons

  • HomeKit control can be confusing

$30 at Amazon

Emporia

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Emporia’s smart home ecosystem extends to EV chargers, solar equipment and whole-home energy monitors. So it’s not surprising the company makes some of the best smart plugs with energy monitoring. In the case of an LED lamp, the power draw is going to be miniscule — but these plugs can give you insight into bigger loads such as those from a humidifier or even a small space heater (the plug can handle 1500 watts at 120 volts with a max load of 15 amps). A four-pack goes for around $35, which puts each plug below the cost of many plug-in power meters. So for less money, Emporia’s plug can gather stats and stop idle devices from vampiric energy drains.

Last year, Emporia issued a preemptive recall on its plugs for a potential fire risk. They worked well enough before the recall to earn an honorable mention in an earlier iteration of this guide, but the updated plugs are now faster to connect. A finicky setup prevented us from fully recommending it before but now, that kink has been worked out. In addition to useful monitoring, easy setup and reliable connections to Alexa and the Google Assistant, the plugs’ comprehensive app can also incorporate Emporia’s other equipment, should you ever decide to add those devices to your home’s power grid.

$35 at Amazon

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

My main concern with the Cync plug is the way the scheduling works within the proprietary app. Instead of programming when an outlet should turn on, you tell it when it should turn off. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to program the Cync-connected lamp to come on at sunset, as I did with every other plug. Other than that, the app is very elegant, set up is easy and reliability is spot on. It only works with Alexa and Google Home, not HomeKit or SmartThings, but at $15, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Wyze plug that has the same compatibility.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Elegant app
  • Reliable performance

Cons

  • Scheduling is finnicky
  • No HomeKit support

$20 at Amazon

The best outdoor smart plugs for 2025

Most people will likely use outdoor plugs for two things: patio lighting and holiday string lights. The devices are designed for the outdoors with a weatherproof protection rating of IP64 or higher, which means they’re impervious to dust and can handle splashing water from rain and sprinklers. They have a longer Wi-Fi range than indoor plugs, for obvious reasons, and many have dual outlets, with individual control over each one.

Setup is the same as for indoor plugs: you’ll use your phone to help the plug find your Wi-Fi using its companion app. The only tricky part is getting your phone within Bluetooth range of the plug (which it uses to initialize setup) and in Wi-Fi range at the same time. I had to awkwardly stand at a triangulated point in the middle of my driveway to get things communicating properly. Once set up, the plugs will communicate using your router for voice and app control and your phone needn’t be anywhere near the plug.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No

Wyze’s indoor version wasn’t one of the top picks for this guide, not because there was anything wrong with it — connection was quick, the app is clean, and the plug works well with both Alexa and the Google Assistant — other plugs simply had other features that made them stand out. But when it comes to an outside version, the Wyze Plug Outdoor wins. For one, it’s cheaper than most at just $20, yet it offers the longer, 300-foot range that more expensive plugs do. Setup was quick using the Wyze app, which has you set up an account and enter your Wi-Fi password. You’ll be prompted to name each of the two outlets (for reference, when looking at top of the device, the one on the left defaults to “Plug 1” the one on the right is “Plug 2”). What you name them in the app will carry over to the Alexa or Google Home app.

After a few months of playing around with smart plugs, I find Alexa (in my case an Echo Dot) to be the most reliable way to control them. But if you want to use the Wyze app instead, you’ll find a clean interface with useful features like a vacation randomizer and usage stats. The scheduling is a little confusing and requires you to select the device from the home page, then tap the settings gear, then Schedules, then turn on Schedule 1, then you can program the specific times you want. There’s an option to turn it on or off at sunset or sunrise but unfortunately, you can’t set it to trigger, say an hour before sunset like you can with other apps. But again, using a smart home platform from Amazon or Google bypasses those minor inconveniences entirely.

Pros

  • Long connectivity distance
  • Less expensive than other long-range plugs

Cons

  • Scheduling is complicated in proprietary app
  • Doesn’t work with HomeKit or SmartThings

$20 at Home Depot

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: HomeKit function is better with a HomePod

For those who rely on Siri to manage their smart home, the TP-Link Kasa EP40A reliably adds outdoor control to your world. The device looks like most smart plugs designed for outside spaces, with two downward-facing receptacles on the body and a short cable leading to a three prong plug. Unlike others, the plug head exits the cable at a right angle, so the unit hangs flat against the wall. That keeps things neater, but can get in the way of other items that might need access to the outlet.

Setup is the same as with indoor Kasa plugs: download the app, create an account and add the device. You won’t be asked to scan a QR code to connect with Alexa or Google Home — just go to the respective app and the device should pop up after it’s set up with Kasa. For Homekit, you’ll need to scan the code, which is printed on a postage stamp-sized sticker in the box, and also on the back of the plug itself. It took a few attempts to get connected to HomeKit, but nearly every time I initialize a smart home device with Apple’s ecosystem I hit a similar snag, so I don’t blame the plug.

Once connected, I was able to ask Siri to turn on the holiday lights. (I even asked the Google Assistant to shut them off and Alexa to light them up again and assistant switching was glitch-free.) HomeKit maintained the connection and responses were quick. When I moved the plug from the garage to the side of the house, Siri found it quickly and no re-install was necessary. If you want to use the Kasa app instead, you’ll find user-friendly controls and a straightforward scheduling feature, though, if you’re not planning on using the plug with HomeKit, I’d recommend saving the $12 and going with Wyze’s option.

Pros

  • Works with all four major smart home platforms

Cons

  • More expensive than the Wyze plug

$20 at Amazon

Best uses for a smart plug

Before you buy one, it helps to know how a smart plug works best. They are designed for things that have an on/off switch, making them great for doing things like turning regular ol’ lamps into smart lights. If you want a fan to move some air around before you get home, a smart plug can help. You can load a basic coffee maker with grounds and water the night before and wake up to a fresh pot in the morning. And instead of an air purifier running all day, you could set it to just run when you’re away.

But gadgets that need to be programmed further, or require a stand-by mode, aren’t ideal. If you want to control built-in lights, you’ll need a smart light switch, which are more involved than smart plugs as they can involve in-wall installation. Smart bulbs are also an option for automation, and we have an entire guide devoted to those.

Some smart plugs can even monitor how much energy they use and display those figures within their companion app. That might not be much use on its own, as lamps with LED light bulbs consume very little energy, but it could help you keep tabs on your overall energy consumption.

What to consider when buying a smart plug

Setup and use

Adding a smart plug to your home is relatively simple. You’ll use the manufacturer’s app to initially connect, after which you can add the plug to a compatible smart home ecosystem so you can use voice control and other features. Both the brand’s app and your smart home app will let you name the plug, set schedules and program “routines” which provide automation for multiple smart devices at once. But as you can guess, a manufacturer’s app only lets you control products from that brand. If you want whole-home automation, operating, say, a plug from TP-Link’s Kasa, a smart bulb from Philips Hue, a smart thermostat from Honeywell and a camera from Arlo without switching apps, you’ll need to use a smart home platform, which means you’ll need to consider compatibility.

Compatibility

Smart home devices connect through wireless protocols, often using more than one to communicate with your phone, smart speaker, router and in some cases, one another. The majority of smart plugs use Wi-Fi, but some have recently incorporated Matter, a relatively new wireless standard intended to solve integration issues between different brands and manufacturers, while also improving security and reliability.

More of these smart plugs are coming to market and, for now, most Matter devices work via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a low-power mesh network called Thread. Matter requires a controller that stays at home, like a hub or smart speaker, to manage things when you’re out and about.

As for Bluetooth, most plugs, including all Matter plugs, use the short-range protocol to get the device set up for the first time. Some can continue to run on Bluetooth in the absence of another option, but the connection isn’t as reliable and you won’t be able to control the plug when you’re away from home, or perhaps even just on the other side of the apartment.

Because Matter is relatively new, it may be easier to consider the manufacturer’s system you’d use the most. There are four major “branded” smart home platforms: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings. The first two work with the widest range of brands and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. HomeKit not only limits app access to Apple devices, but it’s also compatible with fewer plugs. You can also turn to open-source software like Home Assistant or go with the larger functionality of IFTTT if you want to, say, have your lights turn off when your Uber arrives. For the purposes of our testing, we stuck with the four big players. Nearly every plug we looked at clearly stated which platforms it works with, both on the packaging and retail product pages.

Of course, there’s no rule that says you have to stick with one home assistant. You might have an Echo Dot in the basement, a HomePod in the living room and a Google Nest Mini in the kitchen, each controlling any compatible devices. My kid has a great time telling Alexa to turn on a light then asking the Google Assistant to turn it back off.

Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget

Hubs and smart plugs

All of our top picks recommended here don’t require a hub and connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi router. That means if you already have wireless internet and a smartphone or tablet, you can quite literally plug and play. The exception is Apple’s HomeKit. If you want to pair up a compatible plug with that platform, you’ll need a HomePod speaker, Apple TV or an iPad that stays in your home to enable remote control when you’re away.

Some smart plugs require a hub regardless of which platform you use. For our guide, we focused on the simplicity (and lower cost) of options that work on their own, but hub-dependent devices may make sense in certain situations. Some companies, like Aqara and Lutron for example, make a vast range of smart home products, adding automatic shades, window sensors, smart locks and air quality monitors to the more traditional cameras and plugs. If you’re going all-in on one brand and plan to get a plethora of connected devices, a hub can keep your Wi-Fi network from getting too crowded and provide a more seamless setup with reliable connectivity. Zigbee devices use their own protocol (different from Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) and also requires a hub.

Sharing

Once a plug is set up with your platform and voice assistant of choice, anyone can control the plug just by talking. If someone else wants to control things with their phone, things get more complicated. Google makes it easiest, allowing you to invite another person just by tapping the + button within the Home app. Whomever you invite will have full access to your connected devices – including cameras – so this is only for people you trust the most.

HomeKit makes it similarly easy to grant app access to someone else, but as with most things Apple, it only works for other iOS users. Amazon only allows you to share access to your Echo, not your connected home devices.

Many smart plug manufacturers allow you to share control through their app by inviting another person via email. But this only grants access to devices of that brand. Hopefully as Matter expands, multi-admin features will become more widespread.

If you get a new Wi-Fi network

Most people will wirelessly connect their smart plugs to their home’s Wi-Fi router. Matter, Z-Wave, Thread and other smart home protocols can work over local networks, but for most setups, the signals telling your plugs what to do will be dispatched through your router. If you happen to get a new one (like I did when it became clear my very basic gateway could not handle the number of smart home devices being tested) you’ll need to take a few steps to get everything reconnected.

Depending on the brand, the steps may simply involve using the plug’s companion app to update your credentials (network name and password). Or it will require deleting the device in the companion app, doing a factory reset (typically by pressing the onboard button for 10 seconds) and setting up the plug like it’s brand new. GE Sync and Emporia plugs allow for a credentials update via their apps, others, like TP-Link Kasa and Meross plugs require deletion and a factory reset to get along with your new network. Amazon’s smart plug updates automatically after updating the associated Echo device.

How we tested the best smart plugs

Before we decided which smart plugs to test, we considered brands Engadget staffers have had the best experiences with, both in review capacity and personally. We also checked out other online reviews. We then looked at factors like price, compatibility and relative popularity. I got ahold of ten indoor smart plugs and four outdoor versions from eight manufacturers.

I set up each one using its companion app, then added it to all compatible smart home platforms. Plugging in a cadre of lamps and string lights, I tested the plugs using an iPhone 11, Galaxy S10e, Echo Dot, HomePod mini and Nest Mini. I accessed the plugs via the apps and through voice commands and controlled them in my home and away from it. I programmed schedules and routines and moved the plugs to different outlets, including ones in the basement to gauge range. For the outdoor devices, I plugged them into an outlet in the garage (approximately 85 feet from my Wi-Fi router) and an outlet attached to the back of the house.

Here’s every smart plug tested before settling on our top picks:

*Emporia issued a recall on its smart plugs purchased before August 1, 2023 due to a potential fire risk, though no incidents were reported. The plugs have since been updated to resolve the issue and are back on sale. We tested the revised version and recommend it as the energy-monitoring pick.

As new smart plugs are released, we’ll continue to try them and update this guide accordingly. We plan to add smart power strips to this guide as well.

Other smart plugs we tested

Meross Matter plug (MSS115)

I wasn’t able to test the Meross Matter plug fully. It requires Wi-Fi splitting, a process that’s certainly possible for the average consumer, but more involved than it should be, considering the more than dozen other plugs I’ve tested don’t require such a step. The plug itself also blocked the other outlet. Meross has an updated version of the Matter device on the way, one that looks to solve both issues and we’ll update this guide accordingly once we’ve had a chance to test it.

Roku Smart Plug

Roku’s smart home gear is basically Wyze equipment with an app and packaging that are more purple. The Roku smart plug performed just fine with both compatible voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant). The companion app doesn’t offer scheduling that revolves around the timing of the sunset in your area, but the plugs go for less than $10 each and if you’ve got a Roku TV or streaming device set up and want to keep everything on-brand, it could be a fit.

Aquara Smart Plug

The Aqara plug requires an Aqara hub. In tests, the connectivity was solid and the companion app allowed for useful if/then automations that can rope in other Aqara devices like locks, window shades, cameras and more. The plug also worked well with voice assistants from Amazon, Google and Apple. As a stand-alone plug, however, it’s tough to recommend the nearly $100 combo to anyone who isn’t planning to get a complete Aqara smart home setup.

Smart plug FAQs

What should you not plug into a smart plug?

Anything with controls that are more complicated than on/off won’t work well with a smart plug. For example, a dimmable lamp with touch controls won’t turn on when the smart plug does. A programmable coffee machine, smart TV, microwave, Instant Pot, robot vacuum — none of these make sense to use with a smart plug as they all require further input from you to start working. Appliances like a lamp with a twist knob, a basic humidifier, a coffee maker with a red-rocker switch are all good options for using with smart plugs.

You’ll also want to pay attention to the wattage and amperage rating of your smart plug. All smart plugs work with 120V outlets, and most are rated to 15A, which should handle even power-hungry appliances like a 1500 watt space heater. But be sure to check that the plug can handle whatever you’re plugging in. It’s also not wise to use a smart plug to automatically turn on appliances that require supervision, like things with heating elements (heaters, curling irons, etc).

What are the disadvantages of a smart plug?

While they’re great when everything is working properly, smart plugs can be frustrating, adding a layer of complication to the simple act of turning on a light, if something goes wrong. For example: If your Wi-Fi goes out, your smart plug won’t work. If the smart plug loses its connection to your router, it won’t work. If you change your Wi-Fi password or provider, you’ll have to re-program your smart plugs. If you forget what you named a particular plug during setup, you may be faced with an irritating conversation with your voice assistant. The best way to avoid some of those problems is to get a plug that works reliably, which is one of the features we considered for this guide.

How much power does a smart plug draw?

Smart plugs don’t draw much more power than whatever you’re plugging into them. True, they remain on standby to await instructions from your smart assistant or other controller, so they’re always using a small amount of power. But if, for example, you set a light to automatically turn off at night, and that light would otherwise stay on unnecessarily, the smart plug will save far more energy than the watt or two extra that it draws.

Do smart plugs use Bluetooth?

Some smart plugs use Bluetooth to connect to your phone during setup. After that, most connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

What appliances should not be plugged into a smart plug?

Common sense will help you determine what not to plug in. Obviously anything dangerous like power tools should not be plugged into a smart plug. Appliances that require supervision, such as space heaters and curling irons, shouldn’t be set to turn on automatically if no one will be around. You also shouldn’t bother with anything that needs further programming. Simple on/off appliances like lamps and fans work best.



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The new Google Home Speaker is built for Gemini
Product Reviews

The new Google Home Speaker is built for Gemini

by admin October 2, 2025


Google is finally launching a new smart speaker, and it’s a complete redesign. The new Google Home Speaker features a new flattened sphere shape, new colors, a new light ring, and lots of new AI-powered features.

Announced this week, along with a major Gemini-infused update to its Google Home smart home platform, the speaker will also run the new Gemini voice assistant instead of Google Assistant. It won’t be available until spring 2026, but I got an early look in New York City last week.

Ditching the Nest moniker of its predecessors — the Nest Mini and Nest Audio — the Google Home Speaker features an entirely new design. At $99.99, it’s larger than a Mini but smaller than the Audio, around the same size as a HomePod Mini, but wider and flatter. The speaker is launching in four colors: white, gray, green, and red. I was particularly taken with the berry red color, which is bright and bold — a far cry from the muddy orange of the Nest Mini.

Featuring 360-degree audio, the speaker is catching up to competitors’ offerings from Apple and Amazon sound-wise. I heard it pumping out Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” with clear vocals, nice mids, and some decent bass. You can pair two for stereo sound and connect them wirelessly to a Google TV Streamer for TV surround sound — although I didn’t get to demo this.

Gemini is the primary interface for the speaker, and it has been significantly upgraded from Google Assistant.

Google says the speaker was “designed from the ground up” to support Gemini for Home, Google’s new smart home platform that puts AI front and center. It will be powered by Google’s new voice assistant, Gemini, and also support Gemini Live, a paid version that offers a more conversational AI chatbot experience. It’s also a Google Home hub, a Matter Controller, and a Thread border router, allowing it to connect and control smart home devices in Google Home.

Google Home’s Anish Kattukaran tells me the speaker features custom processing for Gemini and optimized far-field microphones. Also new is a light ring, another feature that Apple and Amazon’s smart speakers also have. Situated at the bottom of the device, the ring changes colors to indicate when Gemini is listening, thinking, or responding.

The new smart speaker comes in four colors and will launch next Spring in the US, Canada, UK, and several other countries.

The new speaker is about the same size as a HomePod Mini.

I saw several demos of the new speaker responding both as Gemini and Gemini Live. The latter requires you to say “hey Google, let’s chat,” to invoke it, whereas the former still responds to “hey Google” (and only “hey Google”). Gemini is the primary interface for the speaker, and it has been significantly upgraded from Google Assistant.

I wasn’t able to make requests myself as the speakers are voice-matched (it can work with up to six people in a home, as well as guests). I watched the tester ask what to substitute for vanilla in a cookie recipe and heard Gemini offer several usable suggestions. It was then asked to create a shopping list with ingredients for an authentic pad thai, which it proceeded to do.

I’ve written more about the capabilities of Gemini here, but my takeaway from these (very on the rails) demos is that the voice assistant appears to be more conversational, able to understand natural language, and has more access to real-time information, all of which should make it more useful. However, I won’t know for sure until I can test it myself.

I’m most excited to try out this natural language control interface with smart home devices, something I’ve enjoyed using with Alexa Plus, Amazon’s LLM-powered upgrade to its voice assistant. Kattukaran tells me that with Gemini, you don’t have to use precise nomenclature to get devices to operate, can string together multiple commands without specific names (so “make it warmer” instead of “turn the thermostat to 68 degrees”), and can use exceptions (“turn all the lights off except those in the bedroom.”)

The jade color is a fetching green.

The white has a clean look.

There’s a physical mute button at the back of the speaker to mute the microphone.

The demos I saw with Gemini Live seemed more limited in a home context. The Live assistant doesn’t require repeating the wake words, making the back and forth more natural, but the interactions were no different from those you can have with the Gemini Live chatbot on your phone or computer; there’s nothing particular to the home here.

The tester asked Gemini to help him create a recipe using eggs, spinach, feta, and bread. It started to respond, then he interrupted it and asked it to make the dish keto. He then interrupted again, asking it to be kid-friendly. The chatbot was able to understand interruptions and easily pivot based on the new instructions.

Gemini Live can’t take any actions, so it is purely a chatbot in a speaker.

However, it couldn’t pull up a recipe on the screen of the Nest Hub Max, which they were also demoing the experience on, or even send it to your phone. Gemini Live can’t take any actions, so it is purely a chatbot in a speaker.

Kattukaran says that having access to Live in the smart speaker is “like having 1000 experts on your countertop or your bedside table or in the living room.” My counter to that is so is my smartphone. However, Google’s long-term plan is to bring everything you can do with Gemini today to Gemini Live. “That’s the world we’re building towards,” he says. That’s when things could start to get really interesting.

Photos by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

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Google Forms 1
Product Reviews

Google Forms Review: Is This the Best Free Survey Tool?

by admin October 2, 2025



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Google Forms is an online form builder with robust functionalities, both on the free and paid tiers. It simplifies the process of creating and managing online forms to gather data from various audiences. It doesn’t have the most advanced data collection features, but it works well for collecting and analyzing simple data.

I reviewed Google Forms extensively so that you don’t have to go through the same stress. My review focused on essential factors, including its features, pricing, ease of use, and customer service. Read on to learn about Google Forms’ unique strengths, weaknesses, features, and how it fares against rival online form builders.

(Image credit: Google)

Google Forms: Plans and pricing

Google Forms is a freemium tool. Anyone with a Google account can access the free version and enjoy most features. The free version lets you create surveys to gather and analyze data. There’s no limit on the number of responses you can collect, as long as it fits within your allocated storage space.

Free users have 15 GB of storage for data collected on Forms and other Google tools. They’re also limited to self-service and community support. If you need more storage space, direct support, enhanced security, and collaborative features, a Google Workspace subscription unlocks these benefits.

Google Workspace is designed for businesses with employees who need access to Google’s software suite, which includes Forms. It unlocks premium features on Google Forms and many other Google tools, such as Docs (document editing), Sheets (spreadsheets), and Meet (videoconferencing).

Google Workspace has three pricing plans: Starter, Standard, and Plus. The Starter plan costs $7 per user per month and unlocks 30 GB of storage for each account. It also unlocks access to Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, which can help you create online forms.

The Standard plan costs $14 per user per month. It provides 2 TB of storage per account, ample enough to store vast volumes of data collected via forms. It also includes access to Google Gemini and direct support from Google’s team if needed.

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The Plus plan costs $22 per user per month and increases storage to a sizable 5 TB per account. It unlocks enhanced security features for organizations where data security is paramount. Google Gemini and direct support, which are available on other plans, are also included.

Google offers an Enterprise Plus plan with no regular pricing. This plan is designed for large companies, typically with a minimum of a few hundred employees, that can negotiate a custom plan with Google’s sales team.

The core features of Google Forms remain the same in both the free and paid versions. What differentiates the paid plans is access to Google Gemini, higher storage space, enhanced security, and access to advanced features on other Google tools.

Google Forms is designed as a simple tool for individuals and enterprises to gather and analyze data. It doesn’t have the most sophisticated features you’ll find on form collection tools designed specifically for businesses, but it works well for everyday forms.

(Image credit: Google)

Google Forms: Features

Google Forms offers a decent set of functionalities that enable you to create and manage online forms. It lacks some sophisticated analytics, customization, and integration features, but it meets most basic form creation needs.

To start, Google Forms has a library of pre-loaded form templates. Examples include templates for party invites, event registrations, online orders, and RSVPs. You can use these templates as the foundation for your forms, instead of going through the hassles of creating them from scratch.

Whether you select an existing template or create a form from scratch, Google Forms makes the creation process noticeably easy. You can input as many questions as you like in a numbered format. Existing questions can be rearranged by dragging and dropping them in the desired positions.

Each question on a form can have various response formats, including a short text, paragraph, multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdown list, rating, date, time, and even a file upload. Any uploaded files will count towards your allocated storage space, so carefully consider this if you’re creating forms for a large number of recipients.

You can insert images to add context to a question. A question can be compulsory or optional, depending on your preferences for collecting data. The short text format lets respondents answer a question in a single line, and the paragraph format allows respondents to type their answers in multiple lines.

You may choose to make your questionnaire a quiz, with point values assigned to each answer and automatic feedback once the respondent completes the questions. You can choose to collect email addresses during your response, and respondents can receive an email copy of their answers after completing the form.

As a respondent completes a form, you can choose to display a progress bar highlighting how far they’ve gone and how many answers are left. You can also choose to shuffle the question order for each respondent. Likewise, you can display a custom message after a respondent clicks the submit button, e.g., “Thank you for your response!” These features may sound trivial, but they go a long way in creating an interactive form that people are encouraged to complete.

I liked that Google Forms allows respondents to edit their responses after submitting a form. This feature is helpful, given the tendency for people to make mistakes when filling out forms. For instance, if I create a form asking people for their opinion about a product, it’ll be helpful to allow them to edit their responses after interacting with the product repeatedly. However, the response editing feature isn’t enabled by default. You have to toggle it on manually.

(Image credit: Google)

Notably, respondents don’t have to complete a form in one go. If a respondent has a Google account, which includes most online users anyway, and is signed in, their responses to each question are saved as a draft for 30 days. They can close the form and return within 30 days to the same responses, then complete the rest and finally press the submit button.

With your form created, you can share the link via email, social media, or embed the form on your website. All responses will be collated and displayed in a single dashboard, making them easy to analyze. You can export the responses to Google Sheets for further analysis.

Google Sheets comes in handy if the responses are numerical, as you can use formulas to analyze them. For example, I created a mock quiz and got mock responses from some friends and colleagues. Then, I used Google Sheets to grade the forms automatically. You can conduct real quizzes and grade them just like I did, saving considerable time, especially when dealing with many respondents.

On Google Sheets, you can also generate charts to visualize responses, from bar charts to pie charts, line charts, and scatter plots. I liked that the charts were very customizable, but that sounds more like something to discuss in a Google Sheets review than in Google Forms.

I mentioned earlier that Google Forms’ core features don’t differ much between the free and paid plans, but the latter unlocks valuable collaboration functionalities. Under a Google Workspace plan, multiple users can collaborate in real-time to create and edit forms.

For example, five employees can work on the same form, with each adding questions and configuring settings. Every employee can monitor each other’s changes on the form and message each other via Google Chat to clarify changes.

A standout feature on Google Forms is its support for conditional logic, i.e., showing or hiding questions based on a responder’s previous answer. For example, in a survey about which smartphone brands people use, selecting “iPhone” opens a new question of “Which iPhone do you use?” and selecting “Samsung” opens a new question of “Which Samsung smartphone do you use?”

However, Google’s conditional logic support is basic. It doesn’t allow the most complex workflows that are permitted in various business survey tools. Generally, Google Forms excels in basic form management but has limited dynamic features. It doesn’t have as many integrations and customizations as you’d find in survey apps like Qualtrics XM.

For example, Google Forms doesn’t let you directly capture signatures from respondents, detect a respondent’s geographic location, or generate PDFs from form data. Though it’s slightly customizable, all forms created on Google Forms retain a similar structure, which doesn’t bode well for businesses that always want to deliver a unique experience.

Google Forms integrations are mostly limited to other Google tools, but with few third-party integrations compared to rival survey apps. Another drawback is that while Google Forms lets you embed forms on a website, you can’t host the form directly on a custom domain.

From my perspective, Google Forms was created mainly as a free tool for individuals and businesses to manage everyday online forms. It works excellently for basic forms, with features that many rivals charge money for. However, if you need an online form app with extensive integrations, customizations, and features, you’re better off with an alternative. 

Google Forms: Interface and in use

Google Forms scores an A+ in simplicity and ease of use. The interface is as simple as it gets, which I’ve observed as the norm with Google tools. From creating forms to viewing and analyzing responses, the Google Forms interface is easy to navigate. It helps that the app doesn’t have many complex features, so it isn’t hard to familiarize yourself with the interface.

You can easily add questions, rearrange them, and insert visual elements when creating forms. After creating a form, the Publish button is prominently displayed at the top-right corner, so you can click it and share the form with respondents. I liked that Google Forms has many keyboard shortcuts that make navigation more fun, although it took me some time to master them.

Google Forms is accessible only via the web interface. There are no dedicated desktop and mobile apps, unlike some rival tools.

Google Forms: Support

Google Forms users have access to reasonable support resources, depending on their tier. Free users can scour through the Help Center to resolve issues. The Google Forms section of the Help Center contains abundant user guides that will help you troubleshoot issues.

Free users can also check Google’s official support forum for answers to their questions. If the answer isn’t present, you can ask a new question and expect answers from other Google Forms users, but there’s no guarantee. Fortunately, Google Forms’ intuitive interface means you wouldn’t encounter many problems in the first place.

If you’re subscribed to Google Workspace, you can get direct help from Google’s support team via email, telephone, and live chat. Google has a 24/7 support team, but response times can vary depending on your location and the type of issue. Nonetheless, Google offers decent support with few complaints.

Google Forms: The competition

Google Forms has many rivals with unique strengths and weaknesses. As I’ve mentioned, Google Forms doesn’t have the most advanced features you’ll find in some rivals. SurveyMonkey is the main competitor I’d like to highlight and examine what sets it apart from Google Forms.

SurveyMonkey doesn’t have an interface as intuitive as that of Google Forms. However, it offers more sophisticated features, integration, and customizability. With SurveyMonkey, you can create more dynamic forms and customize them to fit your brand.

The built-in analytics features are more comprehensive on SurveyMonkey than on Google Forms. SurveyMonkey has many more third-party integrations, making it an ideal choice for businesses that want to conduct complex surveys.

The drawback is that SurveyMonkey isn’t as cost-effective as Google Workspace, considering the additional features you’ll get with the latter outside Google Forms. SurveyMonkey does have a free plan, but with minimal features compared to Google Forms’ free version.

Google Forms: Final verdict

Google Forms fulfills a valuable need for creating simple online surveys and collating responses. It’s the go-to tool I recommend for individuals or businesses seeking to conduct simple surveys.

However, if you need the most complex survey features and extensive customization, it’s not the best choice. Google Forms is perfect for small surveys but not large-scale ones.

We’ve featured the best survey tools.



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Today's Wordle clues, hints and answer for October 2 #1566
Product Reviews

Today’s Wordle clues, hints and answer for October 2 #1566

by admin October 2, 2025



Come on, let’s get this Wordle won. How? Entirely up to you. Click your way to the fastest win of your life thanks to our easily-accessed October 2 (1566) answer. Thoughtfully ponder our helpful clues for today’s Wordle for as long as you like. Mix the two. Your choice, always. We’re just happy to lend a hand.

A clue for today’s Wordle

Stuck on today’s Wordle? Here’s a clue that pertains to the meaning of the word.

If you’re still just as stuck after our clue, scroll down for further hints.


Related articles

Hints for the October 2 (#1566) Wordle

Our Wordle hints will start vague so as to just give you a bit of a nudge in the right direction at first.

As you scroll down, they’ll offer more and more help towards figuring out today’s word without fully giving it away.

Are there any repeated letters in today’s Wordle?

Every space is going to need a brand new letter.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

Only one vowel this time, so don’t go looking for more.

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.

What letter does today’s Wordle begin with?

Begin with a “W” today.

Just one extra row could fix everything… Then again, so could today’s answer.

The October 2 (#1566) Wordle answer is…

(Image credit: Future)

This is it. No turning back now!


Related articles

The solution to today’s Wordle puzzle is…

The meaning behind today’s Wordle answer

When new furniture doesn’t quite fit in the gap cleared out for it, it’s because someone didn’t measure the width accurately. 🪑

Previous Wordle answers

Past Wordle answers can give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle-solving fresh. They are also a good way to eliminate guesses for today’s Wordle, as the answer is unlikely to be repeated.

Here are the last 10 Wordle answers:

  • September 22: QUILL
  • September 23: MOUTH
  • September 24: BLUNT
  • September 25: DRAPE
  • September 26: DALLY
  • September 27: FRITZ
  • September 28: GOOEY
  • September 29: CIVIL
  • September 30: GEESE
  • October 1: SPOIL

Learn more about Wordle 

(Image credit: Future)

How to play Wordle

Wordle’s a daily guessing game, where the goal is to correctly uncover today’s five letter word in six goes or less. An incorrect letter shows up as a grey box. A correct letter in the wrong space turns up yellow. And the correct letter in the right place shows up as green. There’s no time limit to worry about, and don’t forget that some letters might be used more than once.

Get better at Wordle!

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Generally you want to pick something with a good mix of common consonants and vowels in it as your Wordle opener, as this is most likely to return some early green and yellow letters. Words like SLATE, CHIME, and REACT all work, but feel free to find your own favourite.

Is Wordle getting harder?

(Image credit: Valve)

Wordle is not getting harder!

There will always be the occasional day where the answer is the name of a body part, has a sneaky double vowel, or a word obscure enough to send everyone rushing off to a dictionary. But the daily answers, edited by Tracy Bennett, are still a good mix of common terms and tougher challenges.

Remember that if you’re craving more of a challenge, you can enable Hard Mode under the ⚙️ options menu. This option doesn’t make the words themselves harder, but it requires that “any revealed hints must be used in subsequent guesses.”

How did Wordle begin?

Wordle is the creation of Josh Wardle, and began life as a small personal project before its public release in 2021. From there it’s gone on to become a global phenomenon, attracting a dedicated daily audience, billions of plays, a whole host of competitors, and even a seven-figure sale to the New York Times where it’s become a mainstay of daily games alongside the crosswords and Connections.



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October 2, 2025 0 comments
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This Spooky Season's Must-Have Halloween Gifts
Product Reviews

This Spooky Season’s Must-Have Halloween Gifts

by admin October 2, 2025



It’s officially October, which can only mean one thing: Halloween season is finally here! At least for normies, because some of us outcasts live it every day, anyway.

Pop culture purveyors such as Spirit Halloween, BoxLunch, and the Disney Store have rolled out their spooky bag of tricks and treats. Fans of KPop Demon Hunters, Wicked, Star Wars, Stranger Things, and Terrifier will be happy to discover there’s new gear aplenty to celebrate the season. So, if you’re on the hunt for boo basket goods, or in need of costume ideas, frightfully fun fashion, and Halloween decor, you’re in the right place, as we’re running down the best of the season so far!

Fashion and accesories

‘One Piece’ x Dr. Squatch (Prices vary)

Clean up like a pirate before or after Halloween festivities with this One Piece bath collection from Dr. Squatch.

‘One Piece’ Straw Hat ($29)

Be the king of the pirates with this official Monkey D. Luffy replica Straw Hat available online and in stores at BoxLunch. The online and in store retailer also features more One Piece fashions to look ready to join the Straw Hat crew.

Buy the Straw Hat See more ‘One Piece’

Girls Crew Marvel villain studs ($45)

Glimmer like a Marvel villain with earrings from Girls Crew that represent comic book baddies—the perfect accessory for your badass costume.

Girls Crew ‘Star Wars’ earrings ($45)

Get in the galactic spirit of the season this Halloween with earrings shaped like Star Wars treats from Girls Crew.

Loungefly x Marvel Studios ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ ($120)

Add a Fantastic Four cosplay backpack look from Loungefly if you’re dressing up as a member of Marvel’s first family.

Disney Store ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Oogie Boogie bottle ($60)

Keep hydrated with an Oogie Boogie steel water bottle from the Disney Store online. This is a good size for theme park hopping or long trick or treat walks.

Posh Peanut x Haunted Mansion (Prices vary)

Grim grinning looks for the whole family inspired by Disney’s Haunted Mansion are simply too chillingly cute. There are looks to haunt your home halls and also for a day out at Disney World, whose Haunted Mansion still runs during Halloween, or to make a pro-Halloweentime statement at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Unique Vintage x Disney Halloween Bat Hoodie ($64)

This Cakeworthy Minnie Mouse bat hoodie is perfect for Halloweentime at Disney Parks. It’s low-key but a statement to flap around in from park to park.

Unique Vintage x Pixar ‘Coco’ ($42)

Seize your moment, Mama. This Unique Vintage x Pixar Coco shirt tells the family who’s in charge especially at the theme parks.

BoxLunch x ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Sweater ($60)

Throw this Freddy Fazbear pizza delivery fit on in 30 minutes or less. Find this and more Five Nights at Freddy’s gear online or in stores at BoxLunch.

Unique Vintage x Elvira Dagger Dress ($110)

Become the Mistress of the Dark with this official Elvira x Unique Vintage dress inspired by the horror hostess’ iconic look. It’s Cassandra Peterson approved!

Netflix ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ (Prices vary)

Get the squad together to become Huntr/x with Netflix’s official KPop Demon Hunters collection. The online Netflix shop features fashion that can work in Halloween group cosplay or cozy movie night in capacity. The Huntr/x pajamas are perfect for streaming KPDH on the couch, couch, couch.

RSVLTS Spooky season collection (Prices vary)

From Star Wars to the Universal Monsters, RSVLTS trademark short sleeves are getting the Halloween treatment. Find designs such as “Dismembers Only” a delightful spin on the grim limb losses in the Star Wars universe.

Buy RSVLTS Spooky season… Buy ‘Star Wars’ Dismembers Only…

BoxLunch x ‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ (Prices vary)

Dress up as a Huntr/x or Saja boys fan this Halloween with band shirt options from BoxLunch. The online and mall retailer is working hard to get that KPop Demon Hunters merch in stores and into the hands of the fans.

Decor and more

Spirit Halloween x ‘Ghostbusters’ Slimer ($70)

Hang out with this unhinged hanging Slimer replica from Spirit Halloween’s Ghostbusters selection of decor and accessories. The details really get the gross green ghost’s whole vibe and sassy shapely figure.

Spirit Halloween x ‘Halloween’ neon sign ($50)

Michael Myers gets the neon sign treatment; it looks good on him and good on your wall.  This product also features other slasher baddies including Chucky, Art the Clown, and more! 

See at Spirit Halloween More horror neon signs

Home Depot ‘Gremlins’ Stripe animatronic ($179)

Party after midight with Stripe from Gremlins, this Home Depot animatronic can stay up from Halloween to Christmas. We love a dynamic holiday lawn greeter, especially one that mashes up the holidays. The collection just needs an adorable Gizmo addition.

Last-minute costumes

Bums and Roses x ‘Power Rangers’ family matching collection (Prices vary)

It’s morphin’ time with this extensive retro Power Rangers drop from Bums and Roses that’s got the whole family covered.

Bums and Roses x ‘Scooby-Doo’ (Prices vary)

Dress the whole squad up as Mystery Inc. with Bums and Roses’ cozy costume collection inspired by Scooby and friends. There are costume onesies and groovy yet spooky lounge wear that’s perfect for the season.

‘Wicked: For Good’ costumes (Prices vary)

Find the Glinda to your Elphaba and take flight this Halloween. You can now find looks from Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good in adult and kids sizes just in time for the sequel’s release.

Buy Glinda… Buy Elphaba…

Spirit Halloween x Damien Leone’s ‘Terrifier’ (Prices vary)

If you’ve been looking for Art the Clown costumes for the whole (and I mean whole including the pets) family, Spirit Halloween has you covered. The store also has a massive selection of Terrifier merch for anyone who wants to get their hands on awesome goods for the cult killer clown slasher. We love the inclusion of the daisy sunglasses and Sienna’s superpowered dagger.

See more Terrifier at Spirit Halloween

 

 

 

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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Exclusive: Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Lab Launches Its First Product
Product Reviews

Exclusive: Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Lab Launches Its First Product

by admin October 2, 2025


Thinking Machines Lab, a heavily funded startup cofounded by prominent researchers from OpenAI, has revealed its first product—a tool called Tinker that automates the creation of custom frontier AI models.

“We believe [Tinker] will help empower researchers and developers to experiment with models and will make frontier capabilities much more accessible to all people,” said Mira Murati, cofounder and CEO of Thinking Machines, in an interview with WIRED ahead of the announcement.

Big companies and academic labs already fine-tune open source AI models to create new variants that are optimized for specific tasks, like solving math problems, drafting legal agreements, or answering medical questions.

Typically, this work involves acquiring and managing clusters of GPUs and using various software tools to ensure that large-scale training runs are stable and efficient. Tinker promises to allow more businesses, researchers, and even hobbyists to fine-tune their own AI models by automating much of this work.

Essentially, the team is betting that helping people fine-tune frontier models will be the next big thing in AI. And there’s reason to believe they might be right. Thinking Machines Lab is helmed by researchers who played a core role in the creation of ChatGPT. And, compared to similar tools on the market, Tinker is more powerful and user friendly, according to beta testers I spoke with.

Murati says that Thinking Machines Lab hopes to demystify the work involved in tuning the world’s most powerful AI models and make it possible for more people to explore the outer limits of AI. “We’re making what is otherwise a frontier capability accessible to all, and that is completely game-changing,” she says. “There are a ton of smart people out there, and we need as many smart people as possible to do frontier AI research.”

Tinker currently allows users to fine-tune two open source models: Meta’s Llama and Alibaba’s Qwen. Users can write a few lines of code to tap into the Tinker API and start fine-tuning through supervised learning, which means adjusting the model with labeled data or through reinforcement learning, an increasingly popular method for tuning models by giving them positive or negative feedback based on their outputs. Users can then download their fine-tuned model and run it wherever they want.

The AI industry is watching the launch closely—in part due to the caliber of the team behind it.



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Product Reviews

Amazon is reportedly aggressively pitching law enforcement on its cloud services

by admin October 2, 2025


Forbes has published an investigation into Amazon’s efforts to court law enforcement clients for artificial intelligence and surveillance services. The article reveals that not only is the company promoting Amazon Web Services as a potential police tool, but it has been partnering with other businesses in that sector to use its cloud infrastructure. According to the Forbes report, Amazon’s partners that are pitching police departments include car tracking tools and license plate readers from Flock Safety, gun detection by ZeroEyes, real-time crime center apps from C3 AI and Revir Technologies, and AI that helps compose police reports from Abel Police and Mark43. The piece estimated that the police tech business is worth $11 billion. Based on emails sent by members of Amazon’s law enforcement and safety team, the company is working awfully hard to get a share of those billions.

The company’s aggressive sales work has raised outcry for privacy issues around how police officers might use these tools, which is unsurprising given that AI tools can create inaccuracies and easily be misused. Regulation is still a piecemeal affair and some law enforcement departments have failed to follow what laws do exist about tech use.

“​​It’s dismaying to see one of the largest and most powerful companies pushing authoritarian surveillance tech in this way,” ACLU Senior Policy Analyst Jay Stanley told Forbes. “I didn’t realize Amazon was serving as a midwife for AI law enforcement technologies.”



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