Logitech is giving its Powerplay lineup of wireless charging accessories some much-needed juice with a follow-up to the Powerplay mouse pad. The Logitech Powerplay 2 mouse pad is a less expensive, and slimmer version of its original Powerplay mouse pad from 2017, and will be backwards compatible with Logitechs existing family of Powerplay accessories. Compared to the $119.99 launch price of the original Powerplay, the Powerplay 2 will cost $99 when it launches on March 11.The Powerplay system is currently a unique contender in the space of gaming peripherals, which effectively allows you to use a variety of Logitechs wireless mice without ever having to recharge them. Using a small puck that gets slotted into the bottom of the mouse, the device will draw continuous power wirelessly from the mouse pad. The charging puck that comes packaged with the Powerplay 2 is currently compatible with 10 different models of Logitech gaming mice, and adds very little weight. Ive been using Logitechs G502 X Plus paired with the original Powerplay mouse pad since 2022, and havent had to charge it once.Aesthetically, the new Powerplay mousepad isnt terribly different from its predecessor, but is slightly smaller than the original, with a surface measuring 344 x 284 mm instead of 321 x 344. Its also slimmer, sitting just 1.3 mm off your desk. However, the charging area of the Powerplay 2 is listed as being 15% larger than the original, and will rely on a USB-C connection instead of the micro-USB found on the original.Ive been using Logitechs G502 X Plus paired with the original Powerplay mouse pad since 2022, and havent had to charge it once. Even though the Powerplay 2 seems like a modest improvement on the original, Im happy to see Logitech continuing to support this unique accessory instead of tossing it by the wayside like Razers short-lived Hyperflux mouse from 2018.

If you want to become a faster runner, youll probably end up doing a lot of speedwork on a track. Or if you live in a hilly place, you might wish you had a nice flat track to run on. But how do you find one thats open to the public? Turns out its easier than you might think. Many public high school tracks are available for the community to use.Call local schoolsWord of mouth is your best option for finding the best local tracks; guaranteed there are tons of people in your community who know which schools have an open track. You can ask runners, ask parents (they'll know the schools pretty well), or cut out the middleman and call the school. I run on a local school track, and the way I found it was pretty straightforward. I phoned up the nearest high school, and asked whether they had a track that was open to the public. They said yes, so long as I come outside school hours; but they also suggested a different school in the same district whose track has fewer evening events scheduled. Thats the track I now run on most often. I've found that schools don't always put their track policy (or locations!) online, so an old-fashioned phone call really is the quickest way to this information. You can also visit the school in personafter hours, pleaseand look for signs that say when and whether the track is open to the public. Be aware that there may be track meets, football games, or other activities that use the school facilities even after hours. Usually it's OK to run on the track while a team is practicing on the infield, but if you're not sure, find the coach and ask. (I've only been asked to leave a track once, and the coach was very polite about it, giving me 10 minutes' warning before the team started practicing so I could wrap up that part of my workout.) You can also look up the school's or district's sports schedule, and check before you leave home whether there's an event scheduled for the track that day.Use a track directoryAnother great resource for finding tracks is Run Track Run, which lists tracks and running routes across the U.S. Some of the tracks have information listed, such as the type of surface, whether its open to the public, and whether its free to use. Local running clubs may also keep their own lists of favorite tracks, trails, and other run-friendly locations.Check maps I opened Google Maps on a random state, searched "high school," and zoomed in on each to see if they had a track. Found this in less than a minute. Credit: Google maps Oval running tracks are easy to spot on maps. I found another track near me just by looking for oval shapes on the Strava global heatmap (it highlights popular running routes). The satellite view on Google Maps is another great way to look for nearby tracks, as I did above. Most regulation-size outdoor running tracks surround a football or soccer field, and theyll usually be at a school or sometimes a park or community center. They will be an oblong shape, curved around the ends, often with a red rubber surface and white lane lines visible when you zoom in. You may also find non-standard tracks around athletic fields or in parks; they are usually gravel surfaced and may not be a quarter mile exactly; I can think of one that is 0.2 miles, and a few I've seen that are half a mile. While I was traveling, I used maps to find this 1.125-mile running path in a Delaware park that used to be a horse racing track.What are the rules of running on a track?Once you get to the track, you may be a bit confused with all the lines, the people running around, and the presence of written and unwritten rules. There really aren't many points of etiquette to worry about, though. We have a full track etiquette guide here, but here are the main things you need to know:Read the rulesFirst, check for any posted rules or hours. School tracks are often closed to the public during school hours, but that still means evenings, weekends, and holiday breaks are fair game. Dont expect that every schools track will always be open, though. Private schools might not open theirs to the public, and public schools may still set a schedule or close the track for events. If the track is part of a park, gym, or community center, check their website or call to confirm who can use the track and when.Stay in your laneOnce youre there, the most important rule is to stay in your lane (if there are marked lanes). Think of them like lanes on a highway: You can pass somebody if you give them enough room, and you should always look behind you before you change lanes. Dont block a lane by stopping in the middle; find a spot off the track if you want to sit down to stretch.The faster people will run in the innermost lane, and you can use this lane, too, if you're doing fast sprints. But when youre walking or warming up, you should stay in the outer lanes. Go the correct directionOn a track, usually everyone runs counter-clockwise (turning left). That's standard for competition, anyway. Some tracks, especially indoor ones, will have a sign posted that on Tuesdays and Thursdays (or whatever), everybody goes the opposite direction for variety. Do what everybody else is doing. If for some reason you feel you must run a different direction than others, make sure to stay to the outside, out of everyone's way.How do you do running workouts on a track?The track is there for anything youd like to do, so there isnt a specific procedure. But as a general rule, youll break down the work youd like to do into small, measurable pieces. One lap of a regulation track (measured in the innermost lane) is 400 meters, almost exactly a quarter of a mile.It is totally fine to jog continuously the whole time youre at the track, but more often people will use the track for interval work. You run fast for a short distance, then either walk to recover or stand around while you catch your breath. Then do another fast interval, and repeat the process until youre ready to go home.Heres a beginner-friendly workout you can do your first time on a track:Warm up with four laps around the track (1 mile). This can be a brisk walk, a slow, easy jog, or a mix of the two. You want to finish this step feeling warmed up and ready to worknot exhausted.Walk the curved part of the track (this is about 100 meters).Run the straight part of the track (this is also about 100 meters). Dont go all-out, just keep up a strong, fast pace.Repeat steps 2 and 3 as many times as desired. One miles worth (four laps) will give you eight 100-meter runs, which is a good workout for your first day. You can do more later.Jog at least a lap or two to cool down, more if you like.Runners would call the above workout 8 x 100 since you are doing eight 100-meter runs. (The walking in between is considered the recovery.) Here are common distances for intervals:100 m (the straightaway of the track)200 m (the curve plus one straightaway, or half the track)400 m (one lap)800 m (two laps)In between the running portions of your workout, you can rest or walk for about the same amount of time it took you to run. For example, if you run a lap (400 meters) in about two minutes, youd rest another two minutes before going again.

Starting with the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung has started a big push for Galaxy AI on its devices, adding features like Live Translate and Note Assist to all of its most recent mobile releases. A majority of the time, these AI-powered features are processed in the cloud in order to work more efficiently. However, there is a way for privacy-conscious users that want to try out Galaxy AI's features but don't want their data sent to Samsung's cloud servers to do just that. Here's how to enable on-device processing for Samsung's Galaxy AI features. Why enable on-device processing for Galaxy AI?The biggest reason to enable on-device processing for Galaxy AI is privacy. By having all your interactions with Galaxy AI processed locally on your Galaxy device, it ensures that your data doesn't get seen by anyone else. That includes any hackers who might manage to work their way into Samsung's servers, but as a side bonus, processing locally also means these features will be able to work offline. Samsung's Knox technology and Personal Data Engine are especially helpful here. I'll start with Knox. This is an older security platform aimed at business customers that protects personal data stored on Samsung devices from malicious attacks. Since Knox was first launched, some features have trickled down to Samsung's consumer-facing products such as the Galaxy S phones, and these help keep your local data secure.Meanwhile, Personal Data Engine just launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. This on-device feature analyzes your data from various apps in order to learn your preferences and usage patterns, so then it can be used for AI-powered features without connecting you to the cloud (it also works with cloud-based apps, but that's not quite relevant here). While it might not sound like a feature that collects personal data would help with privacy, all gathered data is encrypted and securely saved using Knox's encryption methods, and it's a decent compromise for getting some more use out of Galaxy AI without sending your data elsewhere.How to enable Galaxy AI on-device processingTo enable Galaxy AI on-device processing, open Settings on your Galaxy phone. Next, scroll down until you find Galaxy AI. At the bottom, you'll see a toggle to Process data only on device. Switch that on, and the following Galaxy AI features will swap over to local processing only:Browsing assist: Summarize, Read highlights aloudCall assist: Live translateWriting assist: Chat translation, Composer, Style and grammar, Suggested repliesInterpreterNote assist: Translate, TranscribePhoto assist: Sketch to edit, Portrait studioTranscript assist: Transcribe, Translate, SummaryWith that, you're now processing locally, although note that note all features, like sketch-to-image, are available offline. Additionally, for the features that do work offline, disabling cloud connectivity might make results slightly slower.

The 8BitDo M Edition Retro Mechanical Keyboard is now 40 percent off at Woot, down to $60, the lowest it's ever been. Its a newer version of the Retro 108 Mechanical Keyboard (without the numpad) that ships with a pair of programmable "Super Buttons" which resemble gigantic versions of the A and B buttons on an old game controller. This 87-key keyboard has top-mounted hot-swappable PCBs, making it perfect for enthusiasts who like to tinker with their keyboards. It boasts three connection modes: wired, wireless 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth, and you can use the top left knob to swap between them. For users who want to do some custom key mapping, 8BitDo offers its Ultimate Software V2. However, its only available on Windows. You can still use this keyboard on Mac, but the software wont work. Woot has more discounted products as part of its video game sale. Aside from some peripherals, many games are also on sale. Of note, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is down to $45, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is discounted to $42. The sale will only last five days, or until supplies run out. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/8bitdos-m-edition-retro-mechanical-keyboard-is-40-percent-off-right-now-164852149.html?src=rss

Apples fantastic stylus, the Pencil Pro, is on sale via Amazon for just $99. This is $30 off, which translates to a discount of 23 percent. This isnt the lowest price weve ever seen for this item, but its close. The Apple Pencil Pro is the companys latest and greatest stylus. It allows for a number of squeeze-based gestures that can be adjusted via a drop-down menu during use. It also includes a gyroscope to detect when the stylus is rolled, which makes it easier to change the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools. Of course, it supports pressure sensitivity. There's even a haptic engine to deliver vibration-based feedback when the pen is being used. And, maybe most conveniently, it works with Apple's Find My network. After all, stylus pens are small and easy to lose. All of this new tech has been squeezed into a package thats actually lighter than the second-gen Apple Pencil. The primary downside here is the price, which has been mostly alleviated by this sale. Before making a purchase, double-check to ensure that your iPad supports the Pencil Pro. It's only compatible with some of the companys latest tablets, including the 11- and 13-inch iPad Air (M2), and the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro (M4). It also works with the newest iPad Mini. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-pencil-pro-is-back-on-sale-for-99-162456898.html?src=rss

Clusters of malicious activity using ChatGPT have been stopped by OpenAI.

Netflix's second major data breath in six months is a huge blow to the streaming titan's security measures.

On Saturday evening, a group of Yosemite National Park employees hung an upside-down American flag 3,000 feet in the air, at the top of El Capitan summit. The display was absolutely not missed. It happened in the midst of this years Firefall at Horsetail Fall, a popular event at the Mariposa County, California, national park, when between mid- to late February, the waterfall begins to light up 5 to 15 minutes before sunset, looking almost like molten lava.Hundreds of photographers and observers were in the park when the upside-down flag, known as a distress flag, according to American flag codea sign that something is desperately wronghung from the mountain top. The act came shortly after Elon Musks so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired more than 1,000 National Park Service rangers amid drastic cuts to the federal budget.The message was clear: Americas parks are in trouble.Were bringing attention to whats happening to the parks, which are every Americans properties, Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic at the park, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Carpenter was central to the employees pulling off the feat, supplying the flag and helping to get it to the top of El Capitan. Its super important we take care of [the parks] and were losing people here, and its not sustainable if we want to keep the parks open, Carpenter told the paper.National Park Service rangers are massively important to the preservation of our national parks. Their duties range from running programs and camps for children to maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of trails, as well as staffing visitor centers and helping to keep visitors safe from wild animals and other dangerous natural elements. But as DOGEs federal firings continue, many are expressing huge concerns over how parks will be maintained if there are not enough employees to manage them.Some parks have already begun trimming their hours, cancelling tours and other events, and closing visitor centers. In a post on Facebook, which has garnered more than 20,600 comments, the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Florissant, Colorado, announced it would be forced to cut hours.Due to a lack of staffing, effective Monday, February 24, 2025, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. There will be no access to the visitor center, trailhead parking, or public restrooms, the post read.Social media posts from devastated park employees who have been let go in recent weeks have gone viral, too. I am absolutely heartbroken and completely devastated to have lost my dream job of an education park ranger with the National Park Service this Valentines Day, former ranger Brian Gibbs wrote in a February 14 post on Facebook. My position was ripped out from under my feet after my shift was over at 3:45 p.m. on a cold snowy Friday.The post went on to detail the many irreplaceable roles of a national parks ranger: I am my sons Junior Ranger idol . . . I am a college kids dream job . . . I am the smiling face that greets you at the front door . . . I am your family vacation planner . . . I am a voice for 19 American Indian cultures.DOGEs alarming layoffs have not been limited to park workers. Last week, the administration also fired more than 300 National Nuclear Security Administration workers, then quickly rehired most of them over major national security concerns. And on Sunday, approximately 2,000 employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were informed they were being laid off. The majority of full-time staff were put on administrative leave.

This morning, Apple announced its largest spend commitment to date: A whopping $500 billion thats set to be invested in American manufacturing, engineering, and AI efforts over the next four years.The major news comes just days after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump to discuss the tech giants current manufacturing practices and the presidents tariff initiatives. Earlier this month, the Trump administration moved ahead with a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and proposed even larger tariffs on Mexican importsboth countries that serve as major manufacturing suppliers for Apples partner, Foxconn Technology Group. After Cook and Trump met on Friday, the president said that Apple planned to close existing plants in Mexico and build more products in the U.S. instead, claiming, They dont want to be in the tariffs.[Cook] is going to start building, Trump told reporters of the CEOs plans for U.S. investment. Very big numbersyou have to speak to him. I assume theyre going to announce it at some point.Now, Cooks plans have come into sharper focus. Heres everything you need to know about Apples supersized American investment:Where will the money go?According to a press release from Apple, the $500 billion investment will be spread across a few major projects and several smaller initiatives.To start, the company plans to begin building servers in the U.S. via a new 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The plant will be located in Houston, Texas, and is slated to open sometime in 2026. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Apple will open the Apple Manufacturing Academy, a tech education initiative.Apple engineers, along with experts from top universities such as Michigan State, will consult with small- and medium-sized businesses on implementing AI and smart manufacturing techniques, the press release notes.The company will also use the new investment to double its existing U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund, a program designed to create American manufacturing jobs. Part of that expansion will entail a multibillion-dollar commitment from Apple to produce advanced silicon in TSMCs Fab 21 facility in Arizona, the release reads.What can Apple users expect?Another core beneficiary of the $500 billion initiative will be Apples U.S.-based research and development (R&D) teams, which are responsible for new product releases like the recent iPhone 16E.Over the next four years, Apple expects to hire around 20,000 new employees, the vast majority of whom will be focused on R&D, silicon engineering, software development, AI, and machine learningeach a subcategory that will presumably shape Apples future product releases.Why is Apple doing this now?As Trump continues to pursue higher tariffs, costs for overseas manufacturing are rising for Apple, especially given that China is the companys largest manufacturing hub. Meanwhile, Cooklike many tech CEOs in Trumps second administrationseems intent on maintaining a strong relationship with the president, including via donations to his campaign and visits to his Mar-A-Lago estate. During Trumps first term, Cook leveraged his connection to the president to secure a tariff exemption for the iPhone.Now, it seems, this unprecedented new investment is part of Cooks plan to shepherd Apple forward in a political climate that rewards American manufacturing while punishing production abroad.

Sustainability needs to coincide with functionality.