Google Pixel 9 Pro

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Beauty that's only skin deep 

The Google Pixel 9 Pro is a study in contradictions. On the outside, it is one of the most refined, premium-feeling Android phones ever. On the inside, it is powered by a chip that would be more at home in a $500 mid-ranger than a $999 flagship, that's further handicapped by an out-of-date memory interface.

The heart of the Pixel 9 Pro is the Tensor G4. On paper, it is an 8-core processor built on Samsung’s 4nm node. In reality, it is a chip that barely outpaces its predecessor and gets crushed by the competition in raw power. It only has roughly half the multi-core power of a modern Snapdragon or Apple A-series chip.

Worse, to extend battery life, Google has resorted to aggressive power management, especially of background tasks. The result is a phone that lacks the responsiveness and smoothness of a high-end phone. It's particularly noticeable on speech-to-text, where phone struggles make it painful to the point of being unusable.

It also falls down on AI tasks. Google is pushing its Gemini AI to manage the phone, but it lacks the quick and predictable response of the old algorithmic Assistant (which is fortunately still available).

Bottom Line: It's a decent phone if you get it on sale, tune it carefully, and don't push it too hard. 

Note: There is now a Pixel 10 Pro, but it's not much better than the Pixel 9 Pro. 

Best Wall Charger 2025-2026

Anker Prime Charger

Anker Prime 67W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports)

What makes this wall charger so special:

• Fast Charging for 3 Devices
  With 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port, effortlessly charge your phone, tablet, and notebook all at once from a single charger. Connect a single device to charge up to 67W.
• 65W Max Two-Port Charging
  Whether you use both USB-C ports or a combination of USB-C and USB-A ports, enjoy fast and efficient charging with a maximum output of 65W.
• Ultra-Compact Design
  Experience exceptional power in a remarkably compact charger that is 51% smaller than the original 67W MacBook charger—ideal to bring anywhere you go.

Most current laptops will comfortably charge at 60 watts, but if you need more power:

• Anker Prime Charger (100W, 3 Ports, GaN)
• Anker Prime Charger (160W, 3 Ports, Smart Display)

 

Best Power Laptop 2025-2026

ThinkPad P14s Gen 4 AMD

ThinkPad P14s Gen 4 AMD

What makes this machine so special:

• Powerful, but relatively thin and light
• AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7840U processor
• 8 Zen 4 cores, 16 threads beast
• Light on battery
• Stunning 14" 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED display panel
• HDR 500 TB color
• 100% DCI-P3 coverage
• 400 nits bright
• Anti-Glare/Anti-Reflection 
• Powerful integrated AMD Radeon 780M graphics
• Generous ports including Ethernet (RJ45)
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• Bluetooth 
• Fingerprint reader 

Yes, there is now a Gen 5 AMD, but the Gen 4 AMD is still the one to get.

Power Bank Bargain

Generic is really AUKEY

Update: Sold out on Amazon. Check eBay.

A power bank is a big battery that can be used to power and recharge electronic devices when AC power is not available. Keep one charged to power phones in emergencies, when on an airplane without seat power, when camping or sailing, etc.

Unfortunately, they only last 3-5 years before losing so much capacity that they need to be recycled and replaced. Worse, it's hard to find a high-quality power back with good capacity, longevity and features at a good price.

At the moment, the best power bank for phones (not tablets or laptops) is the

AUKEY PB-N93A USB C Power Bank 20000mAh, PD Ultra Slim Power Bank with 18W PD. It has enough power for 3+ recharges of a typical smartphone and a wealth of good features. But the $60 price is too high for such a simple device that costs little to make.

There's a generic power bank on Amazon for only $16 that looks identical: PB-N93A USB C Power Bank 20000mAh, PD Ultra Slim Power Bank with 18W PD | Amazon.

The best part is that it's not just identical to the AUKEY, it is the AUKEY. 

If you need a phone power bank or a thoughtful gift for someone, $16 is an incredible price!

p.s. It can charge or power a device while itself recharging, so it can be used as a mini-UPS.

Rapid COVID Test 2022

Roche Pilot home COVID test

Previous post: Rapid COVID Test

Roche Pilot at home COVID test at CVS

• Previously available in Europe and U.S. government distribution.
• Clinical study results [excellent]: 
• False-negative rate of 6.8%.
• False-positive rate of 0%.
• CVS to stock it.
• New #1 recommendation, dropping ACON FlowFlex to (close) #2.

Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Video

Lumix DMC-FZ2500

The Lumix DMC-FZ2500 is great for sports action video!

Panasonic makes two great large (1") sensor Lumix bridge cameras with excellent Leica-branded superzoom lenses:

• DMC-FZ1000: great stills camera that also does very good video.
• DMC-FZ2500: great video camera that also does very good stills.

While the FZ2500 has a rich and powerful video feature set, its still image heritage makes the optimum video setup a bit tricky. For example, the viewfinder display in "S" Creative Video Mode shows the shutter speed but not the aperture. (Go figure.)

Action Sports Recommendations

• MP4 LPCM FHD 50M 60p
• Recording Format. Choose either MP4 LPCM or MOV (which are essentially identical) based on your own workflow. If in doubt, choose MP4 LPCM.
• Frame Rate. For action video, 60 fps (frames per second) gives smoother results than lower frame rates. That limits resolution to 1080p Full HD (FHD, not 4K), but that's usually sufficient for most purposes.
• Bitrate. 100M (Mbps) gives highest quality, but 50M is probably fine if you won't be doing heavy post-processing. 200M ALL-I is not recommended because quality is actually lower than 100M. 
• Mode. For smooth video, use a shutter speed twice the frame rate, so with 60 fps, use a shutter speed of 1/125 sec in Shutter Priority (S) mode.
• Aperture. Unfortunately, the FZ2500 lens suffers increasingly from diffraction softness at apertures smaller than f/5.6, so aperture should be no smaller than f/8.
• ND. Thankfully, the FZ2500 has built-in ND (neutral density) filters that can be used to keep the aperture large enough for sharp images. In general, 1/4 works well in outdoor sunlight with 1/125 sec shutter speed. Unfortunately, the viewfinder does not display the aperture in "S" Creative Video Mode, so either shoot video in Shutter Priority (S) mode, or switch temporarily to S mode to check the aperture set by the camera.
• Sample video with these settings: SailGP Practice, San Francisco Bay, 25 Mar 2022 - YouTube
• Stills. Shutter speed of 1/125 sec is often too slow for action sports. For different settings:
• Use Shutter Priority (S) with ND on for video.
• Use Aperture Priority (A) with ND off for stills, with lens wide open. 
• Unfortunately, unlike FZ1000, FZ2500 has only one Mode dial setting for Custom mode, so switching between Custom modes is a clumsy menu operation.

Notes

1. Except as noted, default settings are recommended.
2. Continuous Autofocus (AFC) works well in tracking moving subjects.
3. i.Dynamic Auto can help on dynamic range.
4. Diffraction Compensation is just extra sharpening and should not be used.
5. AF/AE Lock can help when lighting is variable.

Tips

• 

  Lowepro Toploader Zoom
  45 AW II

  Memory Card: SanDisk Extreme PRO is what I use and recommend.
• Case: Lowepro Toploader Zoom 45 AW II is a perfect snug fit, has a built-in all weather cover.

Happy shooting!

Rapid COVID Test

Flowflex COVID test

Rapid COVID tests help prevent transmission and community spread.

To do your own rapid COVID test at home, there are two tricky parts:

1. Choosing a test that can detect the new omicron variant.
   We don't yet have enough data to be sure, but these seem the best bets based on what we know now (in priority order):
1. Flowflex. Latest technology, only a single test required, just $10. Recommended.
2. iHealth. Two tests required, $18 on Amazon.
3. QuickVue. Two tests required, $24 for a kit.
4. BinaxNOW. Similar to QuickVue,
    
2. Finding them in stock.
• Try: Amazon, CVS,* Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens, Walmart.
• * CVS:
1. Open test product page on CVS website; e.g., Flowflex.
2. Click Check nearby stores.
3. Enter ZIP code and select Show stores where this item is available.
4. Call store to be sure, ideally when it first opens.

References

• Statement on the Omicron Variant - ACON Labs Inc.
• iHealth Statement on the COVID-19 Omicron Variant and Its At-Home Test Kit's Effectiveness
• SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations: Impact on COVID-19 Tests | FDA

KF94 Masks for COVID-19

LG Airwasher

Previous post: COVID-19 Masks

While (genuine) N95 (USA) and KN95 (China) masks are still recommended, another good option is KF94, the Korean equivalent to N95 and KN95. Important reasons:

• Readily available
• Designed for extended wear
• Inexpensive

TL;DR: Top recommendation: LG Airwasher KF94 Disposable Face Mask

Reasons:

1. High filtration
2. Good fit and sealing (excellent nose wire, adjustable earloops)
3. Easy breathing and talking
4. Lightweight
5. Comfortable
6. 3D shape (will not collapse onto nose or mouth)
7. Does not fog glasses
8. Inexpensive (reusable, replace weekly)
9. Authentic

Runner Up:

• BOTN KOREA: KF94

References & Data (lots of data):

• Some Covid masks are better than others. I know – I’m the Mask Nerd | Aaron Collins | The Guardian
• Aaron Collins - YouTube (A mechanical engineer by day, Collins’ master’s degree research focused on aerosols)
• KF94/KN95 Mask Test and Review - Bluna FaceFit, LG Airwasher, Dr. Puri Black and More! - YouTube
  
• Current Top Mask Picks & Kids Masks - YouTube
  
• Master Mask Testing Data Set

Mini UPS for Modem, ONT, VoIP, Router

TalentCell SL3400 Mini UPS

With VoIP telephone service, battery backup of the modem, ONT (Optical Network Terminator, like a modem for fiber), and VoIP adapter are important to maintain telephone (and Internet) service during a long power outage (e.g., during an earthquake or other disaster, which can knock out cell phone service).

Unfortunately, conventional 110VAC UPS units won't provide extended runtime. (They are typically good for only 2-4 hours even with a small load.) What will work is a "mini" UPS designed to directly power 12VDC equipment; e.g., modem, ONT, VoIP adapter, and/or wireless router.

• ​Mini UPS: TalentCell SL3400 Mini UPS 27000mAh 98Wh Lithium ion Backup Battery with DC 12V/9V/5V Output for Wireless Router, Modem, LED Light, CCTV Camera, Smartphone and More
• ​Power Tip Adapter: IBERLS Universal 5V DC Power Cable, USB to DC 5.5x2.1mm Plug Charging Cord with 10 Connector Tips(5.5x2.5, 4.8x1.7, 4.0x1.7, 4.0x1.35, 3.5x1.35, 3.0x1.1, 2.5x0.7, Micro USB, Type-C, Mini USB) [depending on what tips you need for your equipment]
• Review: A good backup for powering fiber internet (TalentCell Mini UPS)
  

If you have a wireless router for your Internet service, either rented or purchased, while it may be able to share a mini UPS with a modem or ONT, it's better to put it on its own UPS so as not to reduce modem or ONT runtime.

Manage Passwords

KeePass Password Safe

Use a Password Manager on PC, Android, and more.

Because remembering passwords can be a huge hassle, many people make the mistake of using a single password for multiple uses. That's a really bad idea because if one use is compromised, which happens all too often, that compromised password can then provide access to other uses, contributing to identity theft and serious harm; e.g., your compromised social networking password giving bad actors access to your online banking.

The best way to protect against this risk is to use different, strong passwords for different uses, so the compromise of any one use affects only that one use. That may sound like a huge hassle, but it doesn't need to be: a Password Manager can easily generate and manage lots of strong unique passwords. Then you only have to remember one strong master password that you don't use for anything else. Your other passwords are safely stored in a securely encrypted file. You can also increase security with multi-factor authentication.

If you use more than one connected device (e.g., computer, tablet, smartphone), you can have your passwords available on all of them by storing your securely encrypted password file in a "cloud" storage service like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or DropBox.

Password Managers can be either proprietary or open source. The problem with proprietary is that privacy and security cannot be verified—you are instead relying on hope and trust, and that's not a good idea, as evidenced by weaknesses and compromises known and unknown. By contrast, open source software can be verified easily by experts and corrected or modified as needed or desired. So look for FOSS (Free and Open Source Software).

Note: Be skeptical of reviews and ratings, especially on the Internet. 

Most are not written by real experts. Many are just paid promotions. 

This site receives no consideration for its recommendations.

Best Password Managers (FOSS)

1. KeePass. Limited native functionality, but rich in plugins and ports.
• Keepass2Android. Best Android implementation of KeePass.
2. Password Safe. Simple and basic. Written by expert Bruce Schneier.

Honorable Mention

• AuthPass. Compatible with KeePass. Has potential, but suffers from teething issues.
• Bitwarden. Slick, feature rich, and open source, but freemium and dependent on Bitwarden servers.

Better than Third Party

• Apple iCloud Keychain. Proprietary.
• Google Password Manager. Proprietary. Includes Password Checkup.

Resources

• On the Security of Password Managers - Schneier on Security
  Bruce Schneier is an internationally recognized security expert.
• Before You Use a Password Manager | by Stuart Schechter | Medium
• FOSSHUB | Password Managers Software.

Strongly recommended. Do it. Today.