This article is a sponsored by CloudwaysProduct launches and sales typically attract large volumes of traffic. Too many concurrent server requests can lead to website crashes if youre not equipped to deal with them. This can result in a loss of revenue and reputation damage. The good news is that you can maximize availability and prevent website crashes by designing websites specifically for these events. For example, you can switch to a scalable cloud-based web host, or compress/optimize images to save bandwidth. In this article, well discuss six ways to design websites for high-traffic events like product drops and sales:Compress and optimize images,Choose a scalable web host,Use a CDN,Leverage caching,Stress test websites,Refine the backend.Lets jump right in!How To Design For High-Traffic EventsLets take a look at six ways to design websites for high-traffic events, without worrying about website crashes and other performance-related issues.1. Compress And Optimize ImagesOne of the simplest ways to design a website that accommodates large volumes of traffic is to optimize and compress images. Typically, images have very large file sizes, which means they take longer for browsers to parse and display. Additionally, they can be a huge drain on bandwidth and lead to slow loading times.You can free up space and reduce the load on your server by compressing and optimizing images. Its a good idea to resize images to make them physically smaller. You can often do this using built-in apps on your operating system.There are also online optimization tools available like Tinify, as well as advanced image editing software like Photoshop or GIMP:Image format is also a key consideration. Many designers rely on JPG and PNG, but adaptive modern image formats like WebP can reduce the weight of the image and provide a better user experience (UX). You may even consider installing an image optimization plugin or an image CDN to compress and scale images automatically. Additionally, you can implement lazy loading, which prioritizes the loading of images above the fold and delays those that arent immediately visible. 2. Choose A Scalable Web HostThe most convenient way to design a high-traffic website without worrying about website crashes is to upgrade your web hosting solution.Traditionally, when you sign up for a web hosting plan, youre allocated a pre-defined number of resources. This can negatively impact your website performance, particularly if you use a shared hosting service.Upgrading your web host ensures that you have adequate resources to serve visitors flocking to your site during high-traffic events. If youre not prepared for this eventuality, your website may crash, or your host may automatically upgrade you to a higher-priced plan. Therefore, the best solution is to switch to a scalable web host like Cloudways Autonomous:This is a fully managed WordPress hosting service that automatically adjusts your web resources based on demand. This means that youre able to handle sudden traffic surges without the hassle of resource monitoring and without compromising on speed.With Cloudways Autonomous your website is hosted on multiple servers instead of just one. It uses Kubernetes with advanced load balancing to distribute traffic among these servers. Kubernetes is capable of spinning up additional pods (think of pods as servers) based on demand, so theres no chance of overwhelming a single server with too many requests.High-traffic events like sales can also make your site a prime target for hackers. This is because, in high-stress situations, many sites enter a state of greater vulnerability and instability. But with Cloudways Autonomous, youll benefit from DDoS mitigation and a web application firewall to improve website security. 3. Use A CDNAs youd expect, large volumes of traffic can significantly impact the security and stability of your sites network. This can result in website crashes unless you take the proper precautions when designing sites for these events. A content delivery network (CDN) is an excellent solution to the problem. Youll get access to a collection of strategically-located servers, scattered all over the world. This means that you can reduce latency and speed up your content delivery times, regardless of where your customers are based. When a user makes a request for a website, theyll receive content from a server thats physically closest to their location. Plus, having extra servers to distribute traffic can prevent a single server from crashing under high-pressure conditions. Cloudflare is one of the most robust CDNs available, and luckily, youll get access to it when you use Cloudways Autonomous.You can also find optimization plugins or caching solutions that give you access to a CDN. Some tools like Jetpack include a dedicated image CDN, which is built to accommodate and auto-optimize visual assets.4. Leverage CachingWhen a user requests a website, it can take a long time to load all the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript contained within it. Caching can help your website combat this issue.A cache functions as a temporary storage location that keeps copies of your web pages on hand (once theyve been requested). This means that every subsequent request will be served from the cache, enabling users to access content much faster.The cache mainly deals with static content like HTML which is much quicker to parse compared to dynamic content like JavaScript. However, you can find caching technologies that accommodate both types of content.There are different caching mechanisms to consider when designing for high-traffic events. For example, edge caching is generally used to cache static assets like images, videos, or web pages. Meanwhile, database caching enables you to optimize server requests. If youre expecting fewer simultaneous sessions (which isnt likely in this scenario), server-side caching can be a good option. You could even implement browser caching, which affects static assets based on your HTTP headers. There are plenty of caching plugins available if you want to add this functionality to your site, but some web hosts provide built-in solutions. For example, Cloudways Autonomous uses Cloudflares edge cache and integrated object cache.5. Stress Test WebsitesOne of the best ways to design websites while preparing for peak traffic is to carry out comprehensive stress tests.This enables you to find out how your website performs in various conditions. For instance, you can simulate high-traffic events and discover the upper limits of your servers capabilities. This helps you avoid resource drainage and prevent website crashes.You might have experience with speed testing tools like Pingdom, which assess your website performance. But these tools dont help you understand how performance may be impacted by high volumes of traffic.Therefore, youll need to use a dedicated stress test tool like Loader.io:This is completely free to use, but youll need to register for an account and verify your website domain. You can then download your preferred file and upload it to your server via FTP. After that, youll find three different tests to carry out. Once your test is complete, you can take a look at the average response time and maximum response time, and see how this is affected by a higher number of clients. 6. Refine The BackendThe final way to design websites for high-traffic events is to refine the WordPress back end.The admin panel is where you install plugins, activate themes, and add content. The more of these features that you have on your site, the slower your pages will load.Therefore, its a good idea to delete any old pages, posts, and images that are no longer needed. If you have access to your database, you can even go in and remove any archived materials.On top of this, its best to remove plugins that arent essential for your website to function. Again, with database access, you can get in there and delete any tables that sometimes get left behind when you uninstall plugins via the WordPress dashboard.When it comes to themes, youll want to opt for a simple layout with a minimalist design. Themes that come with lots of built-in widgets or rely on third-party plugins will likely add bloat to your loading times. Essentially, the lighter your back end, the quicker it will load.ConclusionProduct drops and sales are a great way to increase revenue, but these events can result in traffic spikes that affect a sites availability and performance. To prevent website crashes, youll have to make sure that the sites you design can handle large numbers of server requests at once. The easiest way to support fluctuating traffic volumes is to upgrade to a scalable web hosting service like Cloudways Autonomous. This way, you can adjust your server resources automatically, based on demand. Plus, youll get access to a CDN, caching, and an SSL certificate. Get started today!

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.You can get thousands of free e-books over the course of 2025 if you know whereand whento look. All year long, Amazon is offering up free Kindle e-books to readers, with new opportunities popping up every month. This month, Prime members canget two free Kindle e-booksfrom Amazon's First Reads program in January.What is Amazon's First Reads?Amazon First Reads is a program aimed at Prime members that offers early access to new e-books across many genres, as curated by First Reads editors (one of your many Prime Member benefits). Prime members can choose to download one free e-book every month from a rotating listthough some months that number is bumped up to twoand non-members get them for a discounted price. These e-books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or via the free Kindle app. Amazon Kindle (16 GB) Display size: 6 glare-free, Resolution: 300 ppi, Storage: 16 GB, Battery life: Up to 6 weeks. $109.99 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $109.99 at Amazon How to get your free Amazon Kindle e-books in JanuaryGo to the First Reads landing page to see the full list of e-books available this month. Once you find a book that seems interesting, click the "Shop Now" button from the First Reads landing page. Make sure youre not being redirected to the Kindle or Amazon mobile application, because you won't see the free book option there; instead, use your internet browser on your phone or computer. Make sure youre not clicking the Pre-order for... button, as that will direct you to pay; instead, click the Read for Free or the "Buy Now with 1-Click" button under the "First Reads" banner on the book's Amazon page (don't worry, you won't be charged). This will send the e-book directly to the Kindle linked to your Amazon account. You can see what it should look like from the screenshot below. Credit: Daniel Oropeza Youll know you did it right when you see a Thanks, [your name]! order summary indicating the e-book is being auto-delivered to the Kindle Cloud Reader.Free Amazon Kindle e-books available in January 2025This month, you can choose two from ten new Kindle e-books. Amazon notes the genre for each of the books above the title, offering a quick way to narrow down your options. If you hover over the "See Editor Notes" under the "Shop Now" button, you'll be able to read a short description from the First Reads editor who picked the book. Here are your options for January 2025. Choose two of these 10 e-books: Family Drama by Danielle Prescod (Author), Mindy Kaling (Introduction). The Rules of Fortune: A Novel $5.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $5.99 at Amazon Short Story by Lee Child. Eleven Numbers: A Short Story $1.99 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon Domestic Thriller by Tamara L. Miller. Into the Fall: A Thriller $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Historical Fiction by Megan Chance. Glamorous Notions: A Novel $1.99 at Amazon $4.99 Save $3.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $4.99 Save $3.00 Women's Fiction by Angela Brown. Some Other Time: A Novel $1.99 at Amazon $5.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $5.99 Save $4.00 Dark Fantasy by Mallory Pearson. Voice Like a Hyacinth: A Novel $1.99 at Amazon $4.99 Save $3.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $4.99 Save $3.00 Crime Thriller by Sherry Rankin. The Killing Plains $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Romantic Comedy by Sonali Dev. There's Something About Mira: A Novel $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Historical Fiction by Peter Golden. Their Shadows Deep: A Novel $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Romance by Heidi McLaughlin. The Art of Starting Over $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 Get Deal Get Deal $1.99 at Amazon $3.99 Save $2.00 SEE 7 MORE

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If youve been eyeing an iPad for work or creative projects, this 13-inch iPad Air (wifi + cellular) is currently on sale for $999.97, down from $1,249the lowest price its ever been, according to price trackers. At 11.04 by 8.46 by 0.24 inches and 1.36 pounds, this is reportedly the heaviest iPad yet, but it still feels portable. Additionally, its aluminum chassis gives it a more premium, sturdy feelthough it lacks an IP rating, so maybe dont put it to the test near water. For connectivity, the cellular model skips the physical SIM card tray in favor of eSIM-only support.This iPad impresses with its 2,732 x 2,048 resolution, 600 nits of peak brightness, True Tone for white balance, and LED-backlit IPS LCD with P3 color support. However, creators who value OLEDs deeper blacks and higher contrast might find the LCD screen subpar. That said, the Airs display handles glare well and resists fingerprints effectively. Audio is another highlight, with its stereo speakers delivering rich bass, especially in landscape mode, enhancing the experience for movies and music. The front cameras new placement along the long edge is a welcome change, making video calls feel more natural. Speaking of, both the front and rear 12MP cameras of the Air produce sharp, vibrant images, though performance in low-light settings could be better.Powered by the M2 chip and running on iPadOS, the Air feels snappy (even with its 60Hz refresh rate)multitasking is smooth, and tasks like editing in iMovie or using GarageBand are nearly as fast as on the Pro, notes this PCMag review. And, with 512GB of storage and 8GB RAM, its more than capable of handling app switching, media streaming, and general use with ease. Battery life is standard Apple fare (about 7 hours in real-world use) and charging caps at 20W. As for accessories, the Air is compatible with the Magic Keyboard ($319, down from $349) and Apple Pencil Pro ($114.99, down from $129), adding flexibility for work and/or creativity.

When a sickness is tearing through your home, you may not feel like cleaning, whether because youre down and out yourself, or youre taking care of a family member who isor maybe both. Unfortunately, when someone in the household has a virus, its more important than ever to stay on top of your disinfecting game.But how much cleaning do you actually need to do? It can be tough to know where to begin, especially if youre feeling ill, so heres a guide on where to start.Disinfecting is more important than just cleaningRight now you don't just need to clean, you have to disinfect. Viruses that cause sickness can stay on surfaces after normal cleaning, so you need to take extra steps to kill them. Look for products that have the word "disinfectant" front and center, or make your own disinfectant using diluted bleach. You can also consider using an EPA-certified disinfectant. Don't spend too much effort on this step, however: Lysol is an effective disinfectant, and you can get two cans for under $14. Start by cleaning your surfaces with soapy water as normal (this is perfectly fine place to stop if no one in the house is sick). During flu season or after someone's fallen ill, the next step is disinfecting. Spray your surfaces with disinfectant or diluted bleach, then let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off. Which surfaces to prioritize when there's sickness in the houseWork smarter, not harder, when you're cleaning up during and after a bout of sickness, and focus on the surfaces and areas that matter most. These are high-touch, high-use spots like the following:The bathroom, including the toilet, the faucets, and all hard surfacesThe kitchen, including dishes and cups that were touched by the sick person, as well as drawer and refrigerator handles, shelves, keypads on appliances, and all hard surfacesAll the door handles in the homeAny fabrics touched by the sick person, including clothes, robes, towels, stuffed animals, and bedding (which should be washed on the hottest setting in your machine)All the hard surfaces, including light switches, tables, remotes, and especially anything in the area the sick person tends to stayElectronics, like phones and tabletsThe garbage cans around the houseKeys, wallets, and anything that is regularly grabbed, touched, or toted aroundAll of these items should all be cleaned and disinfected. Some viruses can linger on surfaces for days or even weeks, so disinfect regularly for at least two weeks after you think the sickness has passed. Other steps to consider:Toss out the family toothbrushes and replace them with new ones. The same goes for sponges in the kitchen, or any other disposable cleaning products you only use for a short time. When cleaning each room, use different cloths, sponges, or cleaning tools to avoid bringing germs from one location into another. Change pillowcases daily, especially for the sick person(s), and leave the final bedding cleaning until the sickness is over. As mentioned, you need to wash all linens on the hottest setting in your washing machine. Wash them by themselves and use a disinfecting detergent for good measure.How soon do you need to clean when youre sick?Clean during the sickness to the best of your ability. Take garbage out daily and disinfect the cans. Wipe down surfaces and try to keep a supply of clean laundry on hand. The quicker you rid your home of the germs that are clinging to your stuff, the bettereven if the most you can manage in your time of illness is spraying everything down with the Lysol, it's a good start.Unfortunately, viruses can have some longevity on different types of surfaces, so it's important to start the disinfecting routine as soon as the first person gets sick.

The Lenovo Legion Go is sort of like the SUV of gaming handhelds. Its big, beefy, comes with a lot of extra equipment like detachable controllers and it supports vertical mouse functionality that lets it adapt to all sorts of situations. All of that versatility is great, but it makes the device kind of bulky. But for CES 2025, Lenovo is announcing a slightly more portable version called the Legion Go S with support for not one but two different OSes.Before we get too deep into the details, its important to mention that I only got a chance to check out the Windows 11 model. However, for anyone whos ever wanted a Steam Deck with better performance, Lenovo is also making a version that comes pre-loaded with SteamOS.That said, the specs on both variants are nearly identical. They feature either an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip or the Z1 Extreme APU Lenovo used on the previous model, with up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD and a 55.5Wh battery. You also get a microSD card slot for expandable storage, two USB 4 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The main difference is their color (and release date, but more on that later) as the Windows 11 Legion Go S comes in white while the SteamOS model will be available in black.Compared to the original Legion Go, the S features a smaller but still large 8-inch 120 Hz OLED display (down from 8.8 inches) with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution and VRR instead of 2,560 x 1,600 144Hz panel like on the original. It also doesnt have detachable controllers or a kickstand. The benefit of this is that the whole system feels much sturdier, which should make you feel better about tossing it in a bag before your next trip. Its also noticeably lighter at 1.6 pounds versus 1.9 for its older sibling.Notably, you still get analog sticks with Hall Effect sensors, which you dont get on rivals like ASUS pricey ROG Ally X. Lenovo also moved to a new pivot-style D-pad, though Im not sure that counts as a true upgrade as I tend to prefer the classic cross-style ones. Another nice bonus for tinkerers is that on the inside, the Go S comes with a shorter 2242 SSD module even though it can accommodate desktop-size 2280 sticks.Initially, I got a chance to check out the Windows 11 version, whose performance felt quite snappy thanks to the drop in resolution to 1,920 x 1,200, which feels like a more suitable match for its components. Lenovo has also made some improvements to its Legion Space app, so it functions much better as a general game launch and a place to tweak performance and settings. I also appreciate little touches like how even though it's much smaller, the Legion Go S still has a touchpad in front, which is such a huge help when you need to exit Legion Space and navigate around in Windows. Id even say that despite its size, the pad on the Go S is more responsive, as it feels more like a trackball than a tiny touchpad. And around back, theres a small toggle for adjusting how far you can pull the shoulder buttons.As for the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS, I found it remarkable how similar it felt to the Steam Deck despite not being made by Valve. The UI is almost identical, the only differences are some subtle tweaks Lenovo added to support things like the handhelds RGB lighting and higher 30-watt TDP. In person, the SteamOS models casing looks more like a dark purple than pure black, which is a nice subtle touch. However my biggest takeaways is that Valves OS felt slightly more responsive that it does on the Steam Deck, which Im attributing to the Legions newer APU.The small hiccup is that a higher-end version of Legion Go S running Windows 11 is expected to go on sale first sometime later this month starting at $730 with an AMD Z2 Go processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Unfortunately, that means anyone who wants one of the more affordable models with 16GB of RAM or running SteamOS will have to wait a bit longer, as those variants wont be available until May. On the bright side, the Legion Go S powered by SteamOS will have a lower starting price of $499 compared to an equivalent Windows model which will start at $599.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/ces-2025-the-lenovo-legion-go-s-is-the-first-third-party-steamos-handheld-160001642.html?src=rss

Afeela is coming back for a curtain call. After dominating the Sony press conference on the opening night of CES 2025, the debut EV from Sony Honda Mobility (a joint venture between the two Japanese concerns) is getting its own breakout event today.What to expect at Afeela's CES 2025 press conferenceWe know a lot more about the Afeela 1 than we did 24 hours ago, thanks to Sony's earlier presser. The Afeela 1 Origin and Afeela 1 Signature are priced at $89,900 and $109,900, respectively. Customers in California are now able to reserve a Signature trim for a refundable fee of $200 and the first deliveries are planned for mid-2026. The Origin variant is set to arrive the following year. Both variants factor in three years of access to services including Level 2+ driver assistance, the Afeela Personal Agent and a range of entertainment options.At the Afeela keynote, we should learn much more about the Afeela 1. Expect a closer look at a near-final version of the EV, which is packed with tech.Watch the Afeela CES 2025 livestreamYou can watch the Afeela CES 2025 press conference live right here. The keynote starts Tuesday, January 7 at 7:30PM ET.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/sony-honda-mobility-ces-2025-keynote-learn-more-about-the-afeela-1-ev-live-here-212536780.html?src=rss

NVIDIA held its CES 2025 keynote last night with CEO Jensen Huang and it was surprisingly eventful. The company finally unveiled its much awaited GeForce RTX 5000 GPUs that promise a considerable performance uplift, to start with. The company didn't stop there, also announcing Project Digits, a personal AI supercomputer, along with DLSS 4 and more. Here's a wrap-up of what happened and you can watch the whole event uncut, via the YouTube embed below. (Spoiler alert: It's more than 90 minutes long.)NVIDIA RTX 5000-series GPUsHuang strode out in a new snakeskin-like leather jacket and revealed the much-anticipated RTX 5090 GPU. With 32GB of GDDR7 RAM and an impressive 21,760 CUDA cores, the new flagship can deliver up to twice as much relative performance, particularly for ray-tracing (RT) intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077. In fact that particular title ran at 234 fps with full RT on in a video demo, compared to 109 fps on the RTX 4090. It's not cheap, though, priced at $1,999.The company also revealed the $549 RTX 5070 with a far more modest 6,144 CUDA cores and 12GB of DDR7 RAM, along with the $749 RTX 5070 Ti and $999 RTX 5080.DLSS 4A key part of the RTX 5000-series launch was the introduction of DLSS 4, the latest version of the company's real-time image upscaling technology. It features a new technology called Multi Frame Generation that allows the new GPUs to generate up to three additional frames for every one frame the GPU produces via traditional rendering helping multiply frame rates by up to eight times. It also represents what NVIDIA calls the "biggest upgrade to its AI models" since DLSS 2, improving things like temporal stability and detail, while reducing artifacts like ghosting.Project DigitsFinally, NVIDIA launched Project Digits, a "personal AI supercomputer" designed for AI researchers, data scientists and students. It uses NVIDIA's new GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip, providing up to a petaflop of performance for testing and running AI models. The company says a single Project Digits unit can run models 200 billion parameters in size, or multiple machines can be linked together to run up to 405 billion parameter models. And for its intended audience, Project Digits is relatively cheap at $3,000.On top of all that, the company introduced NVIDIA Cosmos world foundation models for robot and AV development, the NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion AV platform for autonomous vehicles and AI Foundation models for RTX PCs "that supercharge digital humans." It's all explained in the video above and NVIDIA's CES 2025 keynote blog.NVDA stock price seesawCES and Huang's keynote are happening against the backdrop of continued volatility in the company's stock price. NVIDIA shares (ticker NVDA) spiked ahead of Huang's address, closing on Monday just shy of Apple's market cap pinnacle. But Tuesday saw a reversal, with the stock down more than 6 percent. Still, some are betting it's a toss up between the two tech giants as to which will hit the $4 trillion market valuation first.Update, January 7 2025, 4:18PM ET: This story has been updated with new details on Nvidia's stock price.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/everything-nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-announced-at-its-ces-2025-keynote-174947827.html?src=rss

Researchers spot Social Security-themed campaign timed alongside the US presidential elections.

Washington state is taking T-Mobile to court following 2021 data breach.

The world's first rollable display laptop, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, was revealed this week at CES 2025.