Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged in All the Time?

At one point or another, all laptop users find themselves pondering the same question: is it bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time?

Turns out, the answer isn’t entirely straightforward. So let’s take a look.

Know Your Laptop Battery

There are two main types of battery used in laptops: lithium-ion and lithium-polymer. Although they are different technologies they function in broadly the same way, generating power through the movement of electrons.

This constant flow is also needed to help keep the battery healthy.

For both types of batteries, the following statements are true (at least as far as modern laptops are concerned):

• A battery cannot be overcharged. There’s no danger of overcharging a battery if you leave it plugged in all the time. As soon as it hits 100 percent it will cease charging and won’t start again until the voltage falls below a certain level.
• Fully discharging a battery will damage it. Allowing the battery to become completely empty for an extended period can put it into a deep discharge state. This can be fatal—you might never be able to charge it again. (You can try these methods to jump start a dead laptop battery.)

So, based on this, do we conclude that you should leave your laptop plugged in all the time? Not quite.

Things That Damage Lithium Batteries

The truth about lithium-based batteries is that they are inherently unstable. They begin to lose capacity from the moment they are produced, and there are numerous factors that hasten their decline. These include:

• Charge/discharge cycles. Every battery has a finite number of times it can be charged and discharged.
• Voltage level. The higher the charge level (measured in volts per cell), the shorter the battery’s life.
• High temperature, over 30 degrees celsius. This can cause irreparable damage.

The last two are the ones that we’re most concerned with here. A comprehensive study by Battery University highlights how voltage level and high temperatures will shorten the life of a battery in isolation, and even more when they combine.

Charge or Voltage Level

Lithium-ion batteries charge to 4.20 volts per cell, which amounts to 100 percent of its capacity. At this level, the battery will have a lifespan of 300-500 discharge cycles.

Every 0.10V/cell reduction in the charge doubles the number of discharge cycles, until the optimum level is reached: 3.90V/cell, with 2400-4000 discharge cycles.

Unfortunately, at this level the battery is only around 60 percent charged. The runtime will be little more than half of a fully-charged battery.

Heat

And then there’s heat. High temperatures, typically classified as being over 30 degrees Celsius, will shorten the life of a battery irrespective of any other factors. Simply leaving your laptop in your car on a summer’s afternoon is a bad idea.

When you combine the stress of high temperature with the stress of high voltage, the effects are even worse.

The Battery University study shows that a battery stored with a 40 percent charge at 40 degrees would see its capacity fall to 85 percent after a year.

Charged to 100 percent the capacity falls to 65 percent under the same conditions. For a fully charged battery at 60 degrees the capacity plummets to 60 percent in just three months.

The evidence seems clear. Keeping the battery permanently charged at 100 percent will slowly shorten its life. Keeping it at 100 percent and exposing it to high temperatures will shorten it much quicker.

And remember, these high temperatures are not just environmental. Resource intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing will considerably increase heat levels, and using the laptop on a pillow or in a poorly designed case will trap that heat as well.

For the sake of your battery, it’s always a good idea to fix an overheating laptop.

Should You Remove the Battery?

If heat is such a danger, it begs another question. Should you remove the battery altogether when using your laptop on AC power?

Obviously, this isn’t possible on the growing number of laptops that sport sealed batteries.

Where they are replaceable, the answer seems to vary from one manufacturer to the next. Acer, for instance, says you don’t have to remove the battery on AC power, but should remove it if you aren’t going to use it for several days. When Apple produced laptops with removable batteries, it advised against ever taking them out.

It all comes down to the power management setup in the laptop. Some may reduce the power when a battery isn’t present, just as some do when the battery level gets low. This could leave you with subpar performance.

If you do choose to remove the battery, ensure that you store it properly. This usually means charged to between 40 percent and 80 percent, and kept at room temperature.

Should You Keep Your Laptop Plugged In?

Does leaving your laptop plugged in ruin the battery? Yes it does. But then so does charging it every day.

Curiously, the industry as a whole doesn’t seem to have settled on a single answer for the question about whether to use your laptop on AC or battery power.

We’ve seen that Acer recommends removing the battery when you aren’t using it. Asus says you should drain the battery to at least 50 percent every two weeks. But Dell says there’s no problem leaving the laptop plugged in at all times.

Apple’s advice is no longer on its website, but you can still read it online. The company recommends against leaving a laptop plugged in all the time. Instead, it suggests:

“An ideal user would be a commuter who uses her notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing…”

Leaving your laptop plugged in will not cause short term damage, but if you only ever use it on AC power you’ll almost certainly find that after a year the battery’s capacity has been significantly reduced. Similarly, if you only ever use it on battery power you’ll get through the battery’s discharge cycles quicker.

So, the best solution is something of a compromise between the two: use it on battery power some days, and keep it plugged in on others. And whatever you do you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t get too hot.

Want some more tips on prolonging the life of your laptop battery? Check out these tools for analyzing your laptop’s battery health.

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How to Return Merchandise Without a Receipt

You’ve bought something in a shop, only to get home and realize that the item isn’t right for you, after all.

So, you go rummaging through your bags, pockets, and purse to try and find your receipt. But disaster strikes—you can’t find it! Do you have any hope of getting a refund?

It depends on the store and the reason for your return. Let’s take a closer look.

What Does the Law Say?

In almost all countries, retailers are under no obligation to issue a refund simply because you don’t like the color or the way it looks, regardless of whether you have the receipt.

It is a different story for defective goods. In the United States, all states have “Implied Warranty” laws. Implied Warranty is a guarantee that the purchase will work for its intended purpose. If you’ve bought defective products and don’t have the receipt, you can exercise your right to Implied Warranty with a credit card statement. In the UK, even the say-so of a store salesperson is legally sufficient.

But what happens if you simply don’t want the purchase and don’t have the receipt? Retailers are free to set their own rules. They can vary from a full refund to store credit to no rebate at all. Let’s take a look at the returns policy of seven major US retailers.

Macy’s Returns Policy

Macy’s provides refunds for up to 90 days after the date of purchase. It offers a full refund for in-store and online purchases. However, it does have special guidelines for jewelry, floor rugs, mattresses, gourmet food, and furniture.

But can you return something to Macy’s without a receipt?

The answer is yes. Macy’s return policy says it will accept returns without a receipt if the product still has the store’s sticker, or you have a gift card receipt. However, you will only get an in-store credit; you will not get a full refund.

Items purchased at any Macy’s store can be returned to any of its store locations, not just the original location.

Walmart Returns Policy

Given the large variety of goods that Walmart sells, its refund policy is complicated. In simple terms, Walmart will accept non-receipted returns for a full refund in the US, providing certain conditions are met:

• You can supply a valid government ID.
• You have not claimed more than three non-receipted returns in the previous six months.
• The return date is within 90 days of purchase.
• The value of the item is less than $25.

If the value of the product is more than $25, Walmart will only issue a store gift card.

There are different rules for firearms, pharmacy products, food, gift cards, and hazardous materials.

Target Returns Policy

Target has a generous returns policy, even if you no longer have the receipt.

Firstly, before you head back to the store, remember that if you have a Target account, you can access all your receipts via the online portal. Just print the receipt for the item you want to return, and you won’t have any issues.

However, even if you don’t have an account, Target is still open to issuing full cash refunds. Here’s what the company says in its returns policy:

“We can attempt to look up the receipt for store and Target.com purchases in-store. Bring the item and the method of payment used to Guest Services within the return window allowed for that item.”

The return window is 90 days for most items.

Best Buy Returns Policy

Best Buy’s policy is much vaguer for anyone who’s trying to return an item without a receipt. The official policy says, “Reimbursements on returns lacking proof of purchase may be denied or limited, and state sales tax and fees will not be reimbursed.” In practice, it is down to the manager of each induvial store to make the decision. At best, it you can probably only hope to receive a gift card.

Also, be aware that Best Buy’s returns window is much shorter than many stores. Phones, tablets, and wearables need to be returned within 14 days. All other items are 15 days. Elite members get 30 days for non-mobile purchases.

Home Depot Returns Policy

Almost all items you buy from Home Depot can be returned to the store within 90 days of purchase. Exceptions apply to big-ticket appliances, gift cards, generators, flowers, installation services, and product samples.

Home Depot does accept returns without a receipt as long as you bought the item using a credit card or debit card. The company will find the record of sales in its systems. If you are returning an item to Home Depot without a receipt, you will also need to provide a government ID.

Bed Bath and Beyond Returns Policy

If you’ve been doing some interior design and bought unwanted merchandise from Bed Bath and Beyond, you might be able to get a partial refund, even if you don’t have your receipt.

If you made your purchase in the last year, the company could help as long as you have one of the following things:

• Credit or debit card statement showing the purchase.
• A merchandise credit number.
• A gift card number.
• Your order number.
• A registry number.
• Your checking account number.

Bed Bath and Beyond will not refund opened items without a receipt. For unopened items without a receipt, you will get the sales price minus 20 percent in the form of store credit.

Walgreens Returns Policy

Walgreens has a stricter returns policy than some stores. You only have 30 days to return your item. If you do not have a receipt, the company will only refund you the amount of the lowest advertised price in any of its stores nationwide.

So, for example, if you bought a bottle of shampoo for $10, but a store on the other side of the country is running a special offer of three for the price of one, you would only get $3.33 returned. The refund is issued as a store credit.

It will not refund prescription medication or contact lenses.

Other Tips to Return Merchandise Without a Receipt

As our study shows, most large retail chains are reasonably flexible about refunding purchases without a receipt. You might have more difficulty with small local retailers who don’t have the same amount of infrastructure.

In those cases, there are a few things you can try:

• Provide as much evidence of your purchase as possible.
• Claim that the item was a gift.
• Show a history of loyalty to the store.
• Wait until busy periods where returns are more common such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If you’d like to learn more about various companies’ returns policies, check out our other articles on how to request a refund on Facebook and how to return an item on eBay.

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Spotify Users Can Now Get a Free Google Home Mini

Spotify is giving away a free Google Home Mini to all Premium subscribers in the US. This applies to both Individual users and Family account holders. However, there are some limitations on eligibility, and the offer only applies for a limited time “while supplies last”.

In October 2018, Spotify offered a free Google Home Mini to Spotify Premium for Family subscribers. The promotion lasted for two months, with Spotify and Google teaming up to get more people using its products. Now, a year on, the offer has returned.

How to Get a Free Home Mini From Spotify

According to For the Record, the offer now applies to all Premium subscribers in the US, whether they pay for an Individual plan or a Family plan. If that describes you, you can get a free Google Home Mini between now and November 15, 2019. Or until supplies last.

There are some caveats. If you’re currently using Spotify Premium on a free trial, you’re not eligible. Subscribers to Spotify’s Premium Student plan are also not eligible. And if you nabbed a Google Home Mini in last year’s promotion you’re also not eligible.

Happy with my new Google Home Mini. Yehey!

Ok, Google…. pic.twitter.com/me9fFERZjC

— Paco The Dog (@GensanBoy) October 22, 2019

To claim your free Google Home Mini from Spotify, do the following:

1. Visit this website, and either sign into your account or sign up for an account.
2. Once logged in, select the type of account you have to reserve your Home Mini.
3. If you qualify for the offer, you’ll receive an email confirmation.
4. A second email will arrive with a link to the Google Store and a discount code.
5. Click on that link to claim your Google Home Mini with the discount applied.

Is It Worth Signing Up for Spotify Premium?

This is a fantastic offer for existing Spotify Premium subscribers. And if you have been sitting on the fence about whether to sign up for Spotify Premium, this could make it worth taking the plunge. If so, you should then check out our unofficial guide to Spotify.

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The PlayStation 5 Is Coming: Everything You Need to Know

It’s hard to believe, but the PlayStation 4 launched all the way back in 2013. To jog your memory, Sony launched the PS4 in the same year as Battlefield 4, BioShock Infinite, and Grand Theft Auto V.

Thus, it’s about time for a new console generation to begin, and Sony has started to release details about the new PlayStation. Here’s everything we know about the next-gen Sony console and successor to the PS4…

What Is the Next PlayStation Called?

Unlike Microsoft, which has used a unique name for each of its Xbox consoles, Sony plans to stick with the straightforward numbered approach. The next PlayStation will be called the PlayStation 5.

While it’s not particularly exciting, it does make sense.

When Will the PlayStation 5 Launch?

PlayStation 5 launches holiday 2020: https://t.co/VuaxUVoBaR #PS5 pic.twitter.com/MPkKyRaHio

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) October 8, 2019

Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 5 will launch “in time for Holiday 2020”. This is a bit vague, but we can guess when it will become available based on trends from the past systems.

The PlayStation 4 launched on November 15, 2013 in North America, and the PS4 Pro came out on November 10, 2016. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 3 first became available on November 17, 2016.

Therefore, it’s a good guess to say the PS5 should launch sometime in November 2020. This allows the console time to generate some excitement and build a library of games before the all-important holiday season.

What’s New With the PlayStation 5 Controller?

A console’s controller affects how you interact with everything in the game, so new features within it are always exciting. Sony has mentioned that it wants to “deepen the feeling of immersion when you play games,” and the new controllers reflect this.

While it doesn’t have an official name yet, we know the controller will use a modern USB-C connection. The company has mentioned two major innovations with the PS5’s controller so far.

Haptic Feedback

The first change is a switch from the classic “rumble” feature to haptic feedback. If you’re not familiar, haptic feedback refers to a specific set of vibrations that make you feel a particular sensation. This is in contrast to rumble, which is simply a constant vibration at various strengths.

For example, you might feel a light tap when your character knocks on the door, but a heavy “slam” when you’re tackled in a football game. This provides developers with better ways to make you feel like you’re part of what’s happening in a game.

If you want to test out how this feels, the Nintendo Switch’s controllers offer HD Rumble, which is a fancy name for haptic feedback. Nintendo promoted this by saying you could feel the ice cubes in a virtual glass.

Adaptive Triggers

The other new development in the PS5 controller is adaptive triggers. These allow game developers to adjust the resistance of your controller triggers (the L2 and R2 buttons) based on in-game events.

For instance, you might have to push harder to pull back a bow and arrow, or to accelerate a vehicle over rough terrain. Combined with the haptic feedback, this should go a long way in helping you feel like the elements of the game are real.

What Internals Will the PS5 Have?

Whole world right now ? #playstation5 #ps5 #playstation #sony pic.twitter.com/viKqULsb0Y

— OBlackThunderO?????? (@BT_BlackThunder) October 8, 2019

Seven years is a long time in the technological world, so you can expect some beefed-up components inside the PS5. While we don’t have specifics yet, we do have some idea of what will be inside the system.

CPU and GPU

The PS5 will boast some form of AMD’s Ryzen CPU, plus an AMD Navi GPU. Sony’s staff have also confirmed that the PS5’s GPU will support ray tracing, (how real-time ray tracing changes gaming). This is an advanced graphics technology that renders extremely realistic lighting and shadows. It simulates each ray of light from a source, which is an intensive process.

Storage

Notably, the new system is leaving behind hard disk drives (HDD) in favor of faster solid-state drive (SSD) storage. As you’re probably familiar with, SSDs have no moving parts, so they can load data much faster than a traditional hard drive.

This means developers won’t have to build artificial walls into their games to slow you down and let the game load. But switching to an SSD has additional benefits aside from speed.

Sony's official video comparing performance of PS4 Pro vs next-gen PlayStation pic.twitter.com/2eUROxKFLq

— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) May 21, 2019

To minimize the amount of seeking an HDD has to do, developers sometimes duplicate generic assets all over the disk. This leads to games taking up more space, which won’t be necessary with an SSD. As a result, game developers will be able to cut down the size of games and patches, or add more detail into the same amount of space.

Physical Games and the Disc Drive

The PS5 will use 100GB BDXL discs, which offer more storage than the PS4’s 50GB Blu-ray discs. If you buy physical games, you’ll still be required to install them onto the drive, since loading from an SSD is much faster than doing so from discs.

However, you’ll have control over what you install. If you don’t care about the single-player part of a game, you could just install the multiplayer portion and worry about single-player later.

Sony has also confirmed that the PS4 will play 4K Blu-ray discs.

More PlayStation 5 Tidbits

We’ve covered most of the known information about the PlayStation 5, but there are still a few tidbits that are worth mentioning.

Sony has mentioned that the PS5 will feature a fresh interface for its home screen. This includes more readily available information about what multiplayer matches are available with friends, or rewards for completing certain single-player missions. You’ll also be able to jump into the action much more quickly.

Players will also be happy to hear that the PlayStation 5 is confirmed as backwards-compatible with PS4 games. This is welcome news, as the PS4 wasn’t backwards-compatible at all.

Finally, the PS5 will support PSVR. The system can also handle 4K visuals at 120Hz, which means even smoother games if you have a compatible TV.

Can’t Wait for the PlayStation 5?

That’s the lowdown on the PS5 for now. There are rumors about various games being developed for the PlayStation 5, but we don’t have any concrete details yet.

Sony is bound to release more information about the PS5 soon, including how it looks and what games will be available at launch. So bookmark this article for more PlayStation 5 details as and when they’re released.

In the meantime, don’t forget that the PS4 has an excellent catalog of exclusive titles to play. And you may as well play the best PS4 games while you wait for the PS5 to arrive!

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One Mix 3S Yoga: Not the First Netbook, But Probably The Best

Our verdict of the One-Netbook One Mix 3S:
If you absolutely need maximum portability but want all the power you can get, this is a good buy, but the same money can buy you a much better laptop.710

It’s official: netbooks are back. It started with a few smaller computers here and there, but it wasn’t long before the trickle became a torrent. Things have changed though. The netbooks of 10 years ago were tiny and portable, yes, but they were also massively underpowered.

On the other hand, the netbooks we’re seeing released now can be as powerful as any other laptop, just scaled down in size. The One Mix 3S is an example of just how mighty these pint-sized powerhouses can be. Whether you actually need one for yourself is another matter entirely.

One Mix 3S Hardware Specifications

The One Mix 3S comes in a few different variations. The specs of our review unit, which appears to be the base model, are reflected below. You can also get it with major power upgrades like an i7 processor, though obviously, it will cost you more.

• • CPU: Intel Core M3-8100Y (1.1GHz to 3.4GHz)
  • GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 615
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 512 NVMe SSD
  • Screen: 8.4″, 2560×1600 55Hz multi-touch IPS display @ 358ppi
  • Battery: 8,600 mAh 3.7V
  • Dimensions: 204mm x 129mm x 14.9mm or 8.03 x 5.07 x 0.58 inches
  • Wireless: Dual-band 802.11ac / Bluetooth 4.0
  • Ports: USB-C, USB 3.0, Micro HDMI, Headset, TF card slot
  • Other: Fingerprint scanner, optional stylus with 4,096 pressure levels
  • Price: under $900 at GeekBuying.com

The One Mix 3S runs Windows 10 Home. We’d have preferred to see Windows 10 Pro, but this helps keep the initial price down, and you can always upgrade easy enough from the Windows Store.

Body and Design

 

As you can likely tell by either reading the size specs above or just looking at the photos, this is a tiny computer. Because of the overall small dimensions, it looks a little on the chunky side, but compared to my MacBook Pro, it’s just as thin.

Our review unit came in a sleek black finish that was stunning out of the box. There’s a reason I say “was” instead of “is.” This is a bit of a fingerprint magnet. Within a few minutes of handling the laptop, it didn’t look nearly as sleek as it had out of the box. A quick wipe with a microfibre cloth had it back to its original look.

The netbooks of old were often flimsy, but this is anything but. Like the One Mix 2S, this is machined from solid aluminum, giving it a very solid feel. This extends to the netbook as a whole, especially the hinges for the screen, which have been the downfall of many a laptop.

Given the small size, this is among the most portable computers you’ll find. It won’t quite fit in your pocket as advertised, but it will certainly fit in a purse and can easily fit into all but the most jam-packed backpacks.

Display and Brightness

The screen is almost overkill, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 packed into an 8.4-inch screen size. That’s close to the resolution of a Surface Pro, but in a much smaller screen size. This results in an ultra-crisp pixel density of 358 pixels per inch.

The color isn’t as good as the overall display, however. Colors are a little muted and washed out when compared to the displays on other gadgets I had handy. Granted I had to look, but this was definitely noticeable.

One issue I’m not sure will be so obvious, but did give me pause during testing, is the refresh rate. Instead of the usual 60Hz refresh rate, the One Mix 3S runs at 55Hz. This caused a noticeable strobing effect when I was shooting photos and video.

Even after I was done shooting, I could swear I noticed a vague strobing effect when looking at the screen. This could have been in my head, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re sensitive to this sort of thing.

Is the Tiny Keyboard Usable?

As with any computer like this, the keyboard is small. There’s no getting around that. Because of its small size, the keyboard layout has changed. This is the actual problem with these netbooks, rather than the individual key size.

If a company somehow manages to fit a standard keyboard layout into a netbook-sized keyboard, they’ll deserve some sort of award. Until then, it’s a matter of figuring out which sacrifices you can comfortably live with and which are simply untenable.

With the One Mix 3S, there are a few specific problems. The first and most common is the tiny space bar. For frequent users of the tab key, it’s even worse, as this key has been relocated to the function keys. The quote keys are down to the right of the space bar as well.

One plus of the tiny keyboard is that it is backlit. Strangely though, the backlight is aggressive about turning off. This is likely in the name of saving battery life, but if you frequently type in a dark room, this will get annoying quickly.

What’s the Point of the Pointer?

While older netbooks usually still included a touchpad, these are hard to find on modern netbooks. In the case of the One Mix 3S, it uses an infrared induction mouse. We’ve seen these before, and while not ideal, they are usable.

The problem in the case of the One Mix 3S is the location. On older One Mix models and similar netbook-style computers like the Chuwi MiniBook 8″, the “mouse” is located in the middle of the spacebar, similar to where a ThinkPad-style trackpoint would be. Here it’s below the space bar and in between the left and right mouse buttons, making it unwieldy to use.

As I and others have said before, an actual rubber trackpoint would be both smaller and easier to use. This could simply be familiarity, but the induction mouse would be maddening if it was your only option for navigating the OS.

Fortunately, the screen on the One Mix 3S is a touchscreen, which alleviates almost all of the mouse-related issues. Even better, our review unit shipped with a stylus, which made selecting tiny user interface elements possible.

The touchscreen and stylus allow the One Mix 3S to pull double duty as a Windows 10 tablet. It’s not going to give Microsoft’s Surface Pro devices a run for their money, but it works quite well in tablet mode.

Performance

As reading the specs might have clued you in, the One Mix 3S isn’t a toy. This is a serious computer that just happens to be in an ultra-portable form factor. While I noticed limitations from the screen size and keyboard, I never felt like the hardware was slowing me down.

Thermal issues can pop up on smaller form factor computers like this, so you may be glad to know the fans are pretty aggressive. They don’t get overly loud, but they tend to kick in as soon as the computer starts to work at all.

I’m not quite sure why, but when I tried running benchmarks, they didn’t line up with the performance I noticed. Geekbench gave me scores of 654 for single-core performance and 1263 for multi-core performance, much slower than scores I’ve seen on less powerful hardware. The computer certainly felt more responsive than these scores would indicate.

Another area where the One Mix 3S excelled was Wi-Fi speed. Unlike the One Mix 2S, which was hampered by problematic Wi-Fi, I never noticed any issues with the One Mix 3S.

Battery Life

The One Mix 3S sports an 8,600mAh battery, bigger than the 6,500mAh battery in the One Mix 2S. Of course, this model has a bigger screen, but battery life is still improved overall.

I averaged around 6 hours of life per charge during my testing, though this varied based on how much I was pushing the hardware. The good news is that the One Mix 3S doesn’t seem to sip much power when the screen is shut, so you don’t need to worry about shutting it down to save power.

Like other modern netbooks, the One Mix 3S uses USB-C for charging. It only has a single USB-C port, which can be problematic, but like other similar computers, you can always get around this by using a hub.

How long it takes to charge will vary based on the charger you’re using. With the included 12V, 2.5A charger, charge time was around 2 to 3 hours.

Should You Buy the One Mix 3S?

With some other modern netbooks, I’ve noticed that while the specs seem powerful enough, actually using them still feels slow. That isn’t the case with the One Mix 3S. This feels like a computer that, with the exception of editing video, I’d have no problem using on a day to day basis. That is assuming that I’d eventually get used to the keyboard.

That said, if you’re just looking for a moderately powerful laptop, the One Mix 3S shouldn’t be at the top of the list. If portability is your first concern, with power coming in a close second, then the One Mix 3S is absolutely worth looking at. The sheer amount of RAM alone will be very useful when it comes to everyday computing tasks.

If you’re not in a rush, you might just want to wait a few months and see what comes down the pike next. We’re in a great time for netbooks, with each new model seemingly better than the last. If that trend continues, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

The One Mix 3S, configured as we reviewed it, will cost you between just under $900 currently. That certainly isn’t cheap, and as mentioned above, that will buy you plenty of power in a standard-sized laptop. That said, if you crave portability but can’t sacrifice the power, you could certainly do a lot worse.

Enter the Competition!

One-Netbook One Mix 3S Giveaway

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10 Essential Twitter Tips for Beginners

If you steer clear of the bots and trolls, Twitter is a great place to hang out. However, many new users find Twitter intimidating. Luckily, we’re here to help with these Twitter tips for beginners. And even experienced Twitter users may learn something useful.

1. Be Selective About Who You Follow

If you’re new to Twitter, it’s tempting to hit the Follow button every time you see a person retweet one of your posts or like one of your photos.

Don’t fall into this habit. Twitter is only as good as the people you follow. If you clog up your timeline with people you don’t care about, your user experience will suffer.

Instead, think about which websites, publications, and people are the most prominent in the topics you’re interested in. As you follow more people, Twitter will suggest other users based on their profiles. For even more ideas, take a look at who the Twitter users you follow are following.

2. Start Using Twitter Lists

Twitter lists are a woefully underappreciated feature of the platform. They aren’t complicated to set up or use, yet almost all regular users overlook them.

Because your main Twitter feed is a single output of all the people you follow, it can be hard to digest. You end up with a mishmash of content across dozens of topics.

If you set up your Twitter lists correctly, you can compartmentalize content into different subjects, then dip in and out of it as you wish. You do not need to follow a user to add them to a list.

To get started using Lists, click on your avatar in the top-right corner and click Lists.

3. Sort Your Feed Chronologically

Twitter’s biggest selling point is its ability to provide users with real-time news, opinion, insights, and analysis on just about anything that’s happening in the world.

And yet, between 2016 and 2018, Twitter abandoned the policy of showing tweets in chronological order. The reason? Advertising revenue.

Thankfully, that policy is now dead. However, Twitter still defaults to showing you the top tweets rather than the latest tweets. If you want to see all of the tweets from the people you follow, here’s how to switch to a chronological Twitter timeline.

4. Don’t Expect to Build a Big Following

Don’t create an account and expect to have thousands of followers within a few weeks. To grow a sizeable Twitter following, you need to post quality content regularly and actively engage with the communities you enjoy.

If you look at the accounts with even a few thousand followers, they’ve typically tweeted tens of thousands of times. Don’t stress about it. For most people, Twitter should be enjoyed as a platform for consumption, not production.

5. Block, Block, Block

Twitter is well known for its ongoing problems with abuse and cyberbullying. It doesn’t matter what type of tweets you post; you will inevitably be targeted at some point.

A golden mantra among long-time Twitter users is “block early, block often.” It’s sound advice and one of the best Twitter tips for beginners.

If you ever encounter someone who gives you even the tiniest hint of backlash, block them immediately. Your Twitter experience—and your sanity—will be all the better for it.

6. Manage Personalization and Data Usage

Whenever you sign up for a new service or download a new app, one of the first things you should do is head to the settings menu and make sure the privacy and data options meet your requirements.

Twitter is no different. By default, the Share your data with Twitter’s business partners setting is enabled, as is Track where you see Twitter content across the web. At the very least, you should turn off both of these options by heading to Settings > Content Preferences > Personalization and Data.

It’s also worth considering whether you want to see personalized ads, personalization based on your identity, and personalization based on your location history. You will find the toggles on the same menu.

7. Use Bookmarks

Lots of Twitter users hit the Like button when they want to save a tweet to refer to later. In terms of functionality, it does work, and you can review your list of Likes at any time.

However, Likes have one major drawback in that they are public. Not only can other users see when you like something, but they can also see a history of all your Likes on your profile.

So, a great Twitter tip for beginners is to use Bookmarks instead. These are completely private. The person who wrote the tweet you want to keep won’t even know that you have bookmarked it.

8. Don’t Overuse Hashtags

Hashtags came to prominence as a way to find content on related topics. They still work, but in many ways, they are no longer fit for purpose. Twitter does a much better job of organizing content than it used to, while the most popular hashtags see thousands of new tweets per minute. People can’t possibly hope to scroll through them all to find your post.

At most, use one, highly specific hashtag. Your tweets will look neater and you’ll have much more success in reaching your target audience.

9. Use Advanced Notification Filters

When you create your Twitter account for the first time, every notification setting is enabled. You’ll get a stream of random alerts because someone you follow has posted a video or published a new tweet. It’s impossible to discern the useful stuff from the trash.

Instead, we recommend turning on the Quality Filter setting (to remove low-quality content from your notifications) and tweaking the Advanced Settings until you have a system that you’re happy with.

10. Turn Off Data Sync on Mobile

If you use the Twitter app on Android or iOS, it will automatically keep your Twitter timeline synced and up to date, even if the app is not open.

This is entirely unnecessary; it serves little purpose other than to eat through your data allowance. With the setting turned off, you’ll just need to swipe down to refresh your feed when you first open the app.

To change the setting, go to Settings and Privacy > Data Usage > Data Sync and unmark the checkbox.

Share Your Best Twitter Tips for Beginners

These are the essential Twitter tips for beginners. However, there are a lot of nuggets of information that new users will find useful. So, if you’re an experienced Twitter user, we’d love you to share your own Twitter tips in the comments below.

And if you’d like to learn more about using Twitter, here are the unwritten Twitter rules you’re probably breaking.

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What Are Steam Trading Cards and How Do You Get Them?

After playing a game on Steam, you may earn a Trading Card. If you’re wondering what Steam Trading Cards are, what you can do with them, and how to collect them all, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s how to make real money from Steam Trading Cards—and while you won’t earn quite enough to retire on, any kind of free money is better than no money.

What Are Steam Trading Cards?

Steam Trading Cards are entirely virtual. They only exist in your Steam profile and cannot be turned into physical rewards. So if you thought you’d be able to put them in binders to show your friends, you’re out of luck.

Each Steam Trading Card is part of a set. Collect a full set of Trading Cards and you can get rewards, like additional customization to your Steam profile. You can also sell them on the Steam Community Market for wallet funds, which you can then use towards purchases on Steam.

There are also special foil Trading Cards. You can collect a set of foil cards and turn them into a foil badge for your Steam profile. Foil cards are like shiny Pokemon cards: no different to the regular ones in function, but simply rarer and therefore higher value.

How Do I Get Steam Trading Cards?

The main way to earn Trading Cards is by playing games on Steam. You can view a list of eligible games across the entire Store, along with eligible games within your library. This is also accessible in the Steam client via the Badges page, which appears beneath your username on the top menu.

In actuality, you don’t have to play the game, you just need to have it open. Simply logging time in a game is all you need to do to earn a Trading Card, and they will randomly drop into your account. If you want to go off and do something else, you’ll still be able to earn them.

In fact, there are ways to get Steam Trading Cards without even running the game. But where’s the fun in that?

The only difference is for free to play games. For approximately every $9 spent, you will get eligibility for a random card drop.

Once you finish playing a game and close it, you will be notified if you’ve received a Trading Card through the Steam messaging system. A new message is signified by the envelope in the top-right of the interface turning green.

Click the green envelope and click X new items in your inventory. This will take you to your inventory, where you can view more information about the card, such as its name and description.

How Do I Collect All Steam Trading Cards?

It isn’t possible to earn all of a game’s Trading Cards just by playing it—only half. If a game has eight cards available, for example, you will only ever receive four of those by playing. However, you can receive duplicates, so you won’t necessarily get four unique cards.

Booster Packs

Once you’ve exhausted all of the free card drops, you can get more cards through booster packs. These are randomly granted as community members craft game badges.

Booster packs contain three random cards, though they might already be ones you own. Booster packs contain both basic and foil cards.

You must sign in to Steam each week to retain eligibility to receive a booster pack. Your chance of receiving one also increases alongside your Steam level.

Buy on the Community Market

Other players sell their unwanted cards on the Community Market and you can buy them using funds in your Steam wallet.

To find the cards you want quickly, go to the Badges page, click a game, then click Search the Market next to the desired card.

If it’s an uncommonly played game you might find there are no cards currently listed or that they’re expensive. If that’s the case, you might be better off waiting a while because the price usually drops over time.

Trade With Friends

If you have duplicate cards, or cards for a game that you’re not interested in, you can trade with your friends. To do this, go to your friends list, click the dropdown arrow next to their name, and click Trading > Send a Trade Offer. You can also go to the aforementioned Badges page and click Visit Trade Forum to see if a stranger is offering an acceptable exchange.

This is a good way of getting a solid deal because you don’t have to be bound by market rates. You don’t even have to trade card for card—you could exchange for an in-game item, for example.

What Can I Do With Steam Trading Cards?

You can either choose to keep the cards and turn them into virtual rewards, or sell them on the Steam Community Market for money.

Craft a Badge

Once you have a full set of Trading Cards, you can turn them into a badge. This will display on your Steam profile and will also grant you rewards:

• A game-specific emoji to use in chats with friends.
• A game-specific background to customize your Steam profile.
• 100XP towards your Steam level (your Steam level determines profile customization options and how many people you can have on your friends list.)
• A chance to get a discount code for another game.

If you get another set of cards for the same game, you can use them to upgrade the badge (up to fives times at most.) This gives you 100XP and also changes the badge’s image and title.

Sell on the Community Market

If you’re not interested in badges or Steam levels or any of that, you can sell your Trading Cards on the Steam Community Market.

Cards have no set value. You can set whatever price you want, but whether someone is willing to pay that price is another matter. You will be able to make more money from a card if there’s someone in the community specifically seeking it out or if not many of them exist. Generally, the more popular a game is, the less valuable its cards.

Go into your inventory, select a card, and click Sell to begin the process. You will be able to see what the average price for the card is and how much Valve will take as their cut. When someone buys it, the money goes straight into your Steam wallet to use against future purchases.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All

Now you know how to get Steam Trading Cards and what you can do with them, it’s time to play your games and start earning them.

And if you need some advice on which games to play, check out our round-up of the best PC games you can play in short bursts.

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7 Simple Ways to Use Photoshop’s Transform Tool

Photoshop’s Transform tool allows you to manipulate images in a number of different ways. You can use Photoshop’s Transform tool to rotate, scale, skew, distort, warp, flip, and change the perspective of your photos, amongst others.

Download our FREE "Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts" cheat sheet today to discover every Photoshop keyboard command you absolutely have to know!

In this article, we show you some simple ways to use Photoshop’s Transform tool to edit your photos. And at the end of the process your photos should look much better than they did before you started tinkering with them. Hopefully.

1. Use Rotation to Position Your Photos Perfectly

Like most image editors, Photoshop has a few options when it comes to rotating an image. The standard ability to rotate your photos with the mouse is present. For situations requiring a set rotation, however, the transform tool also includes the option to rotate your photo a flat 180 degrees, 90 degrees clockwise, and 90 degrees counterclockwise.

While the options might all seem similar, the ability to stack these rotations and compare the results using the history panel can help you find the best position for your photos. Also, a number of transformations require a little maneuvering into place to help them along. Rotation may not be the flashiest Transform tool, but it can prove very useful.

2. Use Scaling to Make Your Photos the Right Size

As one of the more familiar transformations, you’ll find yourself scaling images frequently. As a simpler edit, the application of the tool here tends to be pretty direct. In a nutshell, you’ll be enlarging or shrinking your image horizontally, vertically, or in both ways.

When you’re considering using scale, bear in mind that the size of your image can either help or inhibit its use. For example, a larger graphic would need scaling down before inserting it on top of a smaller one. Consider trying to place a photograph on top of the front of a card, a book cover, or a mock-up design of a label.

Before you plan your activity, take some time to consider if changes need to be made and if scale can help you.

For anyone interested in alternative methods to the Transform tool for resizing photos, consider reading how to properly resize images in Photoshop.

3. Use Skew to Adjust the Slant of Your Photos

When skewing an image in Photoshop, you’re working to vertically or horizontally slant an object. As a more precise edit, thinking about a proper application can be trickier. However, when you find the right situation for it, this transformation can effectively change the perspective of a photo.

In the example below, the perspective around the wheel felt slightly off. By using skew to slant the image, the photographer effectively moved from one position to another to create a new perspective head-on with the wheel.

Instead of merely rotating the image and having to commit to additional edits to fix the balance, the skew edit allowed for a more precise change. Adjusting the slant at both corners of the photo led to a change of perspective.

As with most of Photoshop’s Transform tools, skew benefits from a lot of experimental usage. So, experiment away!

4. Use Distortion to Stretch the Limits of Your Photos

When utilizing the distort part of the Transform tool, a lot more freedom arises due to the array of movement allowed. The ability to stretch the image in any direction allows for multiple perspective adjustments. Additionally, this technique allows for a finer refinement after utilizing the scale and rotation tools.

In the photo below, the plan was to replicate the sign on another layer then distort the image to the floor. By stretching the sequence of points around the image, the slanted image became parallel to the perspective of the floor.

After using the distort transformation to match up with the plan, a simple adjustment of the image’s scaled size allowed it to fit naturally within the confines of the walkway.

Other applications of distorting involve stretching an image over any static object such as a mock-up of a book or label.

5. Use Perspective to Balance Your Photos

Unlike the utilization of different viewpoints when using skew or distort, the perspective transformation operates on a simple one-point perspective. As a one-point perspective typically utilizes railroads, hallways, buildings, or roads in front of the viewer, the tool works best as a forced camera lock for your photos.

In the image below, the first step came in duplicating the angled sign. After that, the perspective transformation took over and locked the image into a forced frontal perspective. For anyone wanting to create a more direct sense of balance for the viewer, the perspective transformation offers a solution.

6. Use Warp to Manipulate Objects in Your Photos

Warp allows you to manipulate objects within their space. Some of the best uses involve creating mock products or aligning images to existing objects within a photograph. While distort allowed for a lot more power in the design choices, the warp transformation takes it a step further in its ability to hug around different objects.

In the photo below, you can see a common application of warp. When you need images to hug around unusually shaped objects such as a T-shirt, the side of a vehicle, or another oddly curved object the warp tool comes into play. In the case of the cup, the way the teabag’s logo wrapped around the shape of the cup shows a nice mock-up of a branded teacup.

When utilizing the warp tool to improve your photos, bypass previous notions of your limitations and embrace the new options.

7. Use Flip to Mirror Your Photos

Like the scale and rotate transformations, the flip option works in a pretty direct fashion. For easy use, Photoshop has included the option to flip images vertically or horizontally directly under the Transform tool. The mirrored result can touch-up an image instantly or prepare it for further edits.

When looking for different perspectives in your photo, consider giving it a flip.

Experiment With Photoshop’s Transform Tool

Photoshop’s Transform tool allows for some creative exploration of your photos. With a little experimentation, you’ll find that all of these transformations can benefit your photos in different ways.

For those seeking more guidance with Photoshop, here’s how to change the background of a photo in Photoshop.

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OnePlus’ second 5G phone will be a T-Mobile exclusive

OnePlus’ 5G strategy has marked something of a shift for a company that has traditionally prided itself in a slow and steady approach to new features. Following the arrival of the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G this summer, the company is announcing its second 5G device for the U.S. market.

This time, it’s opted for its longer-time carrier partner, T-Mobile. Though soon enough, the distinction between the U.S.’s third and fourth place wireless carriers may be moot. For now, however, the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition is a T-Mobile exclusive here in the States.

For the record, the 7T Pro and the new McLaren Edition are pretty similar, though the latter gets a flashier color scheme and some pretty beefy specs, including an extremely generous 12GB of RAM.

Along with being OnePlus’ second 5G handset, it’s also the second T-Mobile device to support the next-gen network, following the already announced (but not yet released) Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G. As for the state of T-Mobile’s 5G roll out, the company promises to “cover 200 million people nationwide this year.”

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India to spend $6 billion to revive telecom operators BSNL and MTNL

India said on Wednesday it plans to spend nearly $6 billion to revive loss-making state-funded telecom operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL).

In a press conference, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today the Narendra Modi government has given its in-principle approval to the merger of BSNL and MTNL and infuse billions of dollars in capital, though he did not specify a time frame.

BSNL offers telecom services across the nation while MTNL serves people in New Delhi and Mumbai. Both the firms have been bleeding money for years as competition from private players intensified in recent years after the arrival of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani’s aggressive firm Reliance Jio. BSNL and MTNL have debt of about $5.65 billion.

The arrival of Reliance Jio, which undercut the market with its 4G-only telecom network, free voice calls and incredibly low-cost data prices, saw incumbents Vodafone and Airtel lower their prices and expand their 4G networks across the country.

MTNL, which is a listed company, will become a subsidiary of BSNL until the merger is completed, Prasad told journalists. “Neither BSNL nor MTNL are being closed, nor are they being disinvested or being hived off to third party,” he said, refuting weeks-long speculation that the government wanted to shut the carriers that serve about 120 million subscribers.

The revival plan includes a capital infusion of $2.8 billion to enable BSNL to purchase 4G spectrum, and write off of $520 million worth of taxes these purchases would incur. The network operators will additionally raise about $2.1 billion of long-term bonds that the New Delhi government will back and monetize $5.3 billion worth of assets over the next four years, the minister said.

“We want to make BSNL and MTNL competitive, and bring in professionalism,” Shankar said. The government is hopeful that BSNL would become operationally profitable in next two years, he said.

The existence of BSNL, which alone serves more than 116 million subscribers, is in the strategic interest of the nation, Prasad said in a conference last week. “Whenever we have flood or cyclone, BSNL is the first one to offer services for free,” he said.

BSNL, which uses about 75% of its revenue to pay its roughly 176,000 employees, was unable to process their salaries last month. The government said today that it will soon address this and also offer various “attractive voluntary retirement packages” to employees aged 50 or more. In a press release, the government said it would spend about $2.4 billion on the employee retirement packages.

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Streaming service Quibi sells out of its $150M in first-year ad inventory

Jeffrey Katzenberg’s mobile-only streaming service Quibi hasn’t even launched, but it’s already sold out of its $150 million first-year advertising inventory, the company announced this morning. The service, which officially debuts in April 2020, added new advertisers Discover, General Mills, T-Mobile, and Taco Bell, who join Quibi’s existing lineup of ad partners, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, ABInBev, Walmart, Progressive, and Google.

In addition to being an advertiser, T-Mobile only days ago announced a partnership with Quibi, as well.

The streaming service had cited T-Mobile’s “impressive 5G roadmap” as one of the reasons it went for the deal, but T-Mobile’s advertising contribution probably didn’t hurt either.

For an entirely unseen product, it’s notable that Quibi is already sold out for year one. That speaks to its ability to sell brands on its core concept — a sort of Netflix for the mobile era, where higher-quality content is chopped up into smaller bites (or “quick bites”), and viewable no matter how you hold your phone.

Advertisers are offered either a 6, 10 or 15-second pre-roll spot before the Quibi content streams. And unlike on YouTube, where some of the ads can be skipped after a few seconds — or removed entirely by way of subscription — Quibi’s ads won’t have a “skip” button. Quibi also hints at a unique offering for advertisers, saying that it will be “experimenting with a number of other innovative ad formats.”

In addition, Quibi is tackling one of the issues advertisers have with YouTube, where a brand’s message is often run against extremist content. YouTube has tried to fix the problem with better controls, and brands have at times left YouTube. Some brands even got together to form a global alliance for “responsible media,” which basically means they’re ready to more formally fight this problem.

It’s no surprise, then, that these companies are willing to help boost a potential YouTube competitor — one which promises they won’t find their ad played ahead of child exploitation or white supremacist content, among other things — as has been the case on YouTube, at various points.

However, what may be most responsible for the early ad sales is Quibi’s founder, Jeffrey Katzenberg. He’s not someone the industry is willing to bet against at this point.

“We are seeing a tremendous response from advertising partners who recognize the value of Quibi’s premium, brand-safe, mobile platform that is focused on the highly-coveted millennial audience,” said Meg Whitman, CEO, Quibi. “The world-class brands that are partnering with us in advance of our launch is remarkable, and it speaks to the opportunity in front of us,” she said.

Quibi had announced in June it had already booked $100 million in ad sales with $50 million to go. But even if it hadn’t sold out, Quibi still would have been a go for launch — Quibi is backed by $1 billion in funding, and was reportedly going to double that.

 

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A bike lover’s take on the Cowboy e-bike

Electric-bike maker Cowboy recently let me spend a couple of weeks with one of their e-bikes. It’s a well-designed e-bike that makes biking effortless, even if you’re going uphill.

Cowboy is a Brussels-based startup. The company raised a $3 million seed round a couple of years ago and an $11.1 million (€10 million) Series A round last year.

The company designs e-bikes from scratch. Components feel more integrated than in a normal e-bike. And it also opens up some possibilities when it comes to connectivity and smart features.

Cowboy sells its bikes directly to consumers on its online store. It is currently available in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria for €2,000 ($2,220).

I rode 70 kilometers (43 miles) in the streets of Paris to try it out. For context, riding a bike in Paris is nothing new for me. I primarily use my non-electric bike to go from point A to point B — bikes are commuting devices for me. And given that Cowboy is primarily designed for densely populated cities, I thought I’d give it a try.

From the outside, the Cowboy e-bike is a sleek bike. It features a seamless triangle-shaped aluminum frame, integrated lights and a low-key Cowboy logo near the saddle. The handlebar is perfectly straight like on a mountain bike. The only sign that this is an e-bike is that the frame is much larger below the saddle.

The e-bike is relatively light at 16kg (35lbs). Most of the weight is at the back of the Cowboy e-bike because of the battery. But an investor in the startup told me that it wasn’t a problem and that he was even able to attach a baby seat at the back.

The two things you’re going to notice quite quickly is that there’s no gear and there’s a rubber and glass fiber belt. Cowboy has opted for an automatic transmission — motor assistance kicks in automatically when you need it the most, such as when you start pedaling, you accelerate or you go uphill.

If you usually ride on a normal bike, this feels weird at first. I constantly shift from one gear to another. With the Cowboy e-bike, you have to trust the bike and forget about gears.

The electric motor kicks in a second after you start pedaling. It means that you are much faster than people using regular bikes. And you can reach a speed of 30 to 35 kmph in no time (18 to 22 mph). Yes, this bike is fast.

Fortunately, brakes work surprisingly well. You have to be careful with them. If you’re braking too hard, you’ll skid, especially if it’s raining.

I was able to ride from one end of Paris to another without breaking a sweat. Sure, the Cowboy e-bike is fast, but I only saved a few minutes compared to my non-electric bike. You still spend a lot of time waiting at big intersections.

In fact, riding the Cowboy e-bike felt more like riding a moped-style scooter. You start your engine at a green light, ride as quickly as possible, brake aggressively at a red light and spend more time waiting at intersections. I believe an e-bike makes more sense in larger cities with huge hills. Paris is much, much smaller than London or Berlin after all.

You may have noticed that the Cowboy e-bike doesn’t have fenders. Cowboy will start selling custom-designed fenders for €89 in a few weeks ($100).

Another thing worth noting is that you have to be relatively tall to use the Cowboy e-bike. I’m 1.75m tall (5’8”) and I lowered the saddle as much as possible. If you’re just a tiny bit smaller than me, chances are it’s going to be too high for you. Similarly, naming your brand “Cowboy” doesn’t make your bike particularly attractive for women.

When it comes to connectivity, the Cowboy e-bike isn’t just an electric bike — it’s also a smart bike. It has built-in GPS tracking and an integrated SIM card.

After pairing the bike with your phone using Bluetooth, you can control it from a mobile app. In particular, you can lock and unlock the bike, turn on and off the lights and check the battery. It would have been nice to put a light sensor on the bike itself as you may forget to turn on the lights at night. You can also get a rough idea of the current battery level without the mobile app — there are five LEDs on the frame of the device.

Thanks to GPS capabilities and the integrated SIM card, you can locate your bike using a feature called “Find my Bike”. The company also sells insurance package for €8 to €10 per month with theft insurance and optionally damage insurance.

I recharged the battery once during my testing. According to the company, you can get up to 70km on a single charge (43 miles). I got less than that but I also tried the off-road mode, which consumes more battery. Unless you’re going on a long bike trip, range isn’t an issue for city rides.

When it’s time to recharge the battery, you can detach the battery with a key and bring it back home. This is a great feature for people living in apartments as you can leave your bike at its normal parking spot and plug the battery at home. The battery was full after 3 to 4 hours.

Cowboy battery charger, tomato for scale

Overall, the Cowboy e-bike is the perfect commuting bike for people living in large cities. It’s a smooth and well-designed experience. If you’re looking for an e-bike, you should definitely consider the Cowboy e-bike as one of your options. I would book a test ride before buying one though.

If you’re happy with a normal bike like me, the Cowboy e-bike is 100% an e-bike. Don’t expect to get the same experience on a Cowboy e-bike. It’s a completely different thing. But I’m glad e-bikes exist because they are going to convince more people to ditch their cars and moped-style scooters.

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