Hot water is like internet connectivity for most Verge readers: you just expect it to be there. But that’s unlikely to be the case this summer when tent camping at a music festival or road-tripping into the great unknown. That’s where BougeRV’s battery-powered shower comes in. The $310 “Portable Propane Outdoor Camping Water Heater” from BougeRV is not only optimized for search engine discovery, it also delivers a luxurious spray of hot steaming water to the unwashed, be they human, canine, or stubborn pots and pans. Charge up the battery, attach a propane canister, drop the pump into a jug of water, and you’re ready to get sudsing.It’s so useful and flexible that I’ve ditched my plans to install a permanent shower cabin and expensive hot water system inside my adventure van, even if I don’t completely trust it.8Verge Score$310The GoodBattery-powered portabilityTemperature controlAdjustable flow to save waterLots of safety featuresThe BadLots of hoses and cables to snagWeak shower head holderNo bag to carry all the accessoriesLongevity concerns$310 at BougeRVHow we rate and review productsMy current portable shower consists of an 11-liter water bag, a manual foot pump, and a spray nozzle. To make it hot, I have to heat water on the stove or hang the bag in the sun for several hours, yet it still costs over $150. For $310, the BougeRV heated shower seems like a bargain.The BougeRV system can produce a maximum heat output of 20,500 BTUs — about half of a typical residential gas water heater. It measures 15.75 x 6.7 x 14.57 inches (40 x 17 x 31cm) and weighs 13.2 pounds (6.21kg), making it compact and fairly lightweight with two big handles for easy carry. The hoses and cabling make it a little unwieldy — capable of chaos inside a small space unless handled with care.Assembly starts with screwing in an easy to find one pound (454g) propane canister that attaches at the rear of the unit. That’s the size BougeRV recommends, but you wouldn’t be the first to instead run a hose from your RV’s existing propane tank to the pressure regulator on the water heater. Two quick-connect water hoses — labeled blue and red for idiot-proof attachment — route the water from your chosen receptacle, through that gas furnace, and out through the showerhead. The long 2.5m (8.2 feet) shower hose allows for flexible placement of the heater.The small water pump measures just 2.24 inches (5.7cm) across, so it easily fits through the opening of standard jerry cans. The pump is electrically powered by the BougeRV unit, which is powered by its rechargeable battery, an AC wall jack, or 12V adapter that plugs into the cigarette jack of your vehicle or solar generator.My outdoor shower using a standard jerry can for water. Magnets hold the towel in place and I’d buy a magnetic shower head holder to complete the setup. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeCan place the BougeRV system on my sliding tray for a gear cleaning station. A long press on the pump button bypasses the heater to save gas. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeA makeshift outdoor sink. The included holder is too weak to hold the shower head in more extreme positions. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeHank hates getting hosed off with cold water but enjoyed this lush heated rinse. (He rolled in dirt immediately after.) Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe 2500mAh / 12V (30Wh) integrated Lithium-ion battery takes about three hours to charge from the included charger. A full battery and one-pound (454g) canister of liquid propane gas can pump out about an hour’s worth of hot water before both run dry. The shower’s gas consumption rate is 20MJ/h. Alternatively, you can save gas with a long press on the pump button to put the shower into cold water mode — ideal for rinsing off your mountain bike, hiking shoes, or wet suit, for example.The dial on the front of the heater controls the size of the flame. I did a handful of tests, starting with water measuring between 13 and 16 degrees Celsius (55–61 degrees Fahrenheit) according to the display on the BougeRV water heater. With the dial turned all the way to the left, the water pouring from the shower head rose to 23–25C (73–77F) after just a few seconds. Turned all the way to the right, the temperature maxed out at a steamy 34–41C (93–105F) in about 30 seconds.Recycling the water can make it even hotter, if you dareRecycling the water can make it even hotter, if you dare. After two or three cycles on max, the heater boosted the temperature above 51C (124F) before the unit shut down with an error, by design. It’s not meant to exceed an average water temperature above 50C (122F). A simple on/off reset the E6 error.Water flow is between 2.2 and 3 liters per minute — well below what you can expect from a 9 to 12 L/min flow of a modern home shower. That’s still acceptable, in my opinion, and far superior to nothing, which is the typical alternative when camping away from home. The shower head has a rocker switch to toggle between hardish, mixed, and soft water flow rates as well as an on/off limiter button to help conserve water between lathers.It’s surprisingly quiet even with the pump turned on. There’s some rapid clicking to ignite the gas (followed by a whoosh of flame) whenever the flow of water returns, and the pump produces a low-level hum that’s quickly drowned out by the sound of spraying water.The water heater is also protected from tilts, bumps, and an empty water source. When I leaned my review unit over about 30 degrees, the unit shut off. It also shut off automatically after two minutes of trying to pump from an empty bucket. A master override on/off switch on the button prevents the unit from turning on accidentally if the on/off button on the front is bumped during transport or storage.I’m impressed by BougeRV’s water heater, but I’m a little concerned about its durability over time. After using it on the beach on a windy day, I ran into trouble once I returned inside: the heater didn’t heat and the water was reduced to a trickle out of the showerhead. It’s possible that some sediment trapped in the lines reduced the flow rate below the 1.2L/min required for ignition. Nevertheless, the issue was resolved after a few minutes of fiddling with the hoses and filters, and turning the unit on and off again. BougeRV offers a two-year warranty and says the water heater is rated at IPX4. So while it’s resistant to splashing water, there’s no assurance offered against dust and blowing sand. I do have a few other gripes. Those hoses can be a tripping and snagging hazard, and the plastic clip meant to hold the showerhead to one of the lifting handles is too weak to keep it from rotating and spraying your surroundings. I also wish BougeRV bundled the heater with an accessory bag to carry all the power adapters and hoses. And when putting the device away, you have to tip it forward to drain all the collected water from the inlet and outlet — there’s no automatic expulsion mechanism.But really, these are trivial issues for what the unit does at this price.1/8A cold water option is great for cleaning gear.Prior to this review, I had been in the late planning stages of having a shower cabin, water pump, gas heater, extra-large water tank, and all necessary plumbing installed in my Sprinter van. Total cost: about $4,000. I’m now convinced that a portable system like what BougeRV offers is a better option. Why pay so much for something so permanent that’s only used a few minutes each week, for maybe half the year?Instead, BougeRV’s $310 portable water heater can function as an outdoor shower during the summer months or be moved inside (with ventilation) when coupled with a portable shower curtain and basin, all for less than $600. That sounds like a better use of my money, and probably yours if you’re an aspiring vanlifer.And when the van is parked, I can bring those hot (or cold) jets of water anywhere my adventures might take me: to clean up after mountain biking in the muddy forest or kitesurfing in the salty sea, to wash the dog outside after rolling in shit again, or to take a refreshing shower during a sweaty four-day music festival.A near-identical water heater is sold under the Ranien and Camplux brands, but those have larger 4000mAh (48Wh) batteries and list for between $349 and $399. So it might pay to shop around.Photos by Thomas Ricker / The VergeSee More:

There are wireless earbuds in tons on the market – virtually leaving you frustrated which one fits your requirements the closest. The recent trend of see-through earbuds has caught up with the early adopters who love the visual intricacy of rejoicing the innards of their loved gadgets. Nothing sparked off this long-buried fad with their maiden earbuds that caught world’s attention. The Arctis GameBuds Glorange makes you fall in love while the Moondrop Pill tingles your compulsive instinct to make the purchase right away. Somewehre in between these two options sits the Moondrop’s another pair of earbuds that has gone under the radar but is no slouch by any stretch of imagination. Perfect for space phantasy enthusiasts, the pair has a retro-modern charm with the impressive specifications that will interest audiophiles. Designer: Moondrop Moondrop Ultrasonic is a pair of earbuds in contention for being one of the most balanced visual pleasers. It is a hybrid between a see-through look and the sci-fi aesthetic dominated pair of buds. The dual-driver hybrid TWS tuned by professional engineers has a combination of DD+BA drivers on each side to deliver high-quality sound. Add to the equation a FRA Lithium-Magnesium alloy balanced armature tweeter and your search for a natural sounding high frequency spectrum is a given. The 13mm sapphire diaphragm full-frequency dynamic driver promises a thump that rivals even the most sought-after over-ear headphones. These earbuds support LDAC lossless high-resolution audio ( 24-Bit/96kHz) and an advanced high-end Bluetooth SOC chipset that enables highly efficient performance with stable Bluetooth V5.3 connectivity. A low-latency rating of 55ms means the buds are ideal for the odd gaming session, playing highly competitive FPS titles. The Moondrop UltraSonic features wide-band Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) powered by advanced Single-Feedforward ANC technology. Leveraging a next-generation flagship SoC chipset and refined acoustic engineering, it delivers robust noise-cancellation performance. The transparency mode has also been enhanced, precisely tuned to better amplify human voices and ambient sounds. Additionally, the upgraded MitsuYuki voice prompts offer a more intuitive and seamless user experience for connectivity and operation. The earbuds are very comfortable to wear for long listening sessions and the passive noise isolation is also good. Battery life on the buds is also acceptable, with 6 hours on the buds and an additional 18 hours with the charging case. The only complaints being the plastic housing of the earbuds and case, and the average battery life, which might not be deal breakers for users. In more ways than not, the Ultrasonic earbuds are a worthy successor to the Space Travel buds. Carrying a price tag of $75 make them well worth the investment and a deal maker even with the little disadvantages. The post Retro Modern Moondrop Ultrasonic earbuds will be the perfect pair for a Mission to Mars first appeared on Yanko Design.

I have gotten a few free tools in my life. Unfortunately, all of them have been hand-me-downs from my dad and that he used to within an inch of their lives. Right now, Home Depot is giving away a free Milwaukee power tool when you buy a kit. That translates into up to $149 in free power tool with your purchase. Here’s what you can choose from: Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Portable Inflator (Tool-Only) $119 Milwaukee M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Spot Blower (Tool-Only) $99 M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8 in. Ratchet (Tool-Only) $149 M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool (Tool-Only) $119 M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Soldering Iron (Tool-Only) $119 Here are the kits that include the free tool. Make sure you add the free tool by clicking on “full product details” and then adding both items to your cart. M12 FUEL SURGE 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver Compact Kit with 2.0 Ah Battery $229 M12 FUEL SURGE 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver Compact Kit w/Two 2.0Ah Batteries, Bag $179 M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Cut Off Saw $309 (was $369) M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit w/2 Batteries and Bag (2-Tool) $229 M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Bit Set (45-Piece) $255 M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Hammer Drill/Impact Driver/3/8 in. Ratchet Combo Kit (3-Tool) $409 M12 FUEL 12-Volt Li-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill/Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with Oscillating Multi-Tool $369 More Milwaukee power tool deals at Home Depot M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with 2 Batteries $349 (was $399) M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench w/Friction Ring Kit w/One 5.0 Ah Battery and Bag $349 (was $399) M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Combo Kit with Two 5.0 Ah Batteries, 1 Charger, 2 Tool Bags (7-Tool) $849 (was $1,149) M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (8-Tool) with (3) Batteries, Charger and (2) Tool Bags $599 (was $1,099) M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Subcompact Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit w/2 Batteries and Bag (2-Tool) $149 (was $199) M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Compact Hammer Drill/Impact Combo Kit (2-Tool) with (2) Batteries, Bag $229 (was $299) M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tool Kit with one 1.5 Ah Battery & Charger $99 (was $199) M12 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit (5-Tool) with Two 1.5 Ah Batteries, Charger and Tool Bag $199 (was $399) M12 FUEL 12-Volt Li-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with M12 3/8 in. Ratchet $229 (was $369) M18 FUEL 18- V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit (2-Tool) with (3) 5.0Ah Batteries $439 (was $558) M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Compact Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Impact Driver Kit with One 2.0 Ah Battery, Charger & Tool Bag $99 (was $199) M18 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Compact Drill/Driver with One 2.0 Ah Battery, Charger and Tool Bag $99 (was $199) M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-in-1 Installation 3/8 in. Drill Driver Kit W/ M12 3/8 in. Ratchet $199 (was $349) M18 FUEL Gen-2 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Mid Torque 1/2 in. Impact Wrench with (2) 6.0Ah Batteries and Charger $299 (was $598) The post Get a free Milwaukee power tool with select purchases during Home Depot’s Memorial Day sale appeared first on Popular Science.

As a tech journalist, I often travel across the US -- and sometimes out of it -- to attend product launch events, trade shows, and other briefings for news that readers care about. It certainly helps to be based in New York City, where most of the gadgetry madness tends to take place, but when I am out and about (for work or play), there's a bag full of tech that I always lug around with me.My treasure trove of electronics has evolved over recent years, transitioning to newer GaN chargers and more capable yet still portable camera systems. The five picks below are among my current arsenal of travel tech, and if you're traveling soon, I highly encourage packing a few of these items into your carry-on. I'll make this a little more exciting for you by stating the obvious: My phone and a reliable Bluetooth tracker are always with me, so I've opted not to put them on this list. Instead, you'll find products I've personally tested that are useful enough for you to consider for your next adventure. Sony ZV-E10 II Kerry Wan/ZDNET While smartphone cameras have become very capable at capturing life's moments, I still prefer the output of a larger image sensor and portability of a dedicated pocket camera, especially when I'm recording reader-facing shots of product demos and scenery. The camera I've most recently settled on is the Sony ZV-E10, famous for its ability to record up to 4K resolution through a 26-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. The output I've gotten has been reliable and impressive, both for vertical and horizontal footage, which the touchscreen viewfinder quickly adjusts to as you rotate the camera.Also: I tested Sony's successor to one of its most popular vlogging cameras, and it blew me awayDoes carrying an additional camera feel unnecessary? Not when the quality is noticeably better than a smartphone, and it greatly reduces the battery consumption you'd otherwise put on your handset when recording videos. The best part is the battery life, which is powered by the same Sony NP-FZ100 cartridge found across the brand's more premium cameras. Show more Steam Deck OLED with Dbrand Killswitch case Kerry Wan/ZDNET I don't consider myself a hardcore gamer, but I've found traveling, especially when on long flights, to be the perfect opportunity to get my NBA 2K and Rocket League fix. Lately, my vehicle of choice for gaming has been the Steam Deck, a SteamOS-powered handheld with a punchy HDR OLED display, a fairly sizeable battery (twice that of the original Steam Deck LCD), and a swath of PC games that you can play with the standard analog sticks and gamepad or touchpads.Also: Valve's Steam Deck turned this 40-year-old dad into a gamer againThe Steam Deck OLED isn't the perfect portable gaming console, especially when it weighs a good 1.41 pounds, but it's the most consistent one I've tested, making it ideal for when I'm lounging on the plane or at the airport and want to immerse myself. I've been pairing my Steam Deck with a Dbrand Killswitch case, which greatly improves the grip and ergonomics of the device. There's also the benefit of more protection, for when you're stowing the system in a luggage or backpack full of other gear. Show more View now at Amazon Lenovo Go Wireless Power Bank 10,000mAh Kerry Wan/ZDNET Lenovo's power bank may look unassuming, but trust me when I say there's more to it than what meets the eye. Besides having a 10,000mAh capacity, meaning there's enough juice to power a phone (and other accessories like earbuds) two to three times, a fairly long USB-C cable is built into the battery pack, saving you the hassle of carrying a separate one. Also: The best power banks you can buyHere's the second trick: the Lenovo Go can wirelessly charge Qi-supported devices (though not Qi2) when you place them on top of the accessory, allowing you to charge two devices at once (via wired and wireless) if you're feeling adventurous.While the charge output is capped at 30W, many customers on Lenovo's website have found the power bank adequate for powering phones, tablets, and earbuds, and have been particularly satisfied with the built-in charging cable. Show more View now at Lenovo Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Kerry Wan/ZDNET While the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are fantastic for recording hands-free videos, I've found them more practical as a wearable tour guide. Thanks to recent Meta AI updates, the glasses now even support live translations, broadcasting the translated audio of who you're speaking with as you're conversing. I've also used the smart glasses to identify unfamiliar landmarks, tell me the most popular food items at a local restaurant, play music from artists from the city that I've traveled to, and more.Review: Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses: The best AI-powered AR glasses to buy right nowThe general sentiment toward the Ray-Bans has been mostly positive, with friends and family members praising the ease of use, comfort, and various capturing capabilities. The price point of the glasses, starting at $299, is fairly competitive as well. (Pro tip: You can also use your vision insurance to buy them.) Show more Nomad 65W Slim Power Adapter Kerry Wan/ZDNET Besides carrying a portable battery pack, I also travel with Nomad's 65W Slim Power Adapter, which features two USB-C ports to charge tablets, phones, earbuds, and even laptops, like my MacBook Air. To help with portability, the prongs are collapsible, the charger is very slim, and it lies flush when plugged into the outlet. Carrying the accessory around is like carrying a pack of mints.Also: Nomad's 130W charger has one unique feature that's game-changing for meCustomers, including ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, have expressed satisfaction with Nomad's 65W Slim Power Adapter, appreciating the speedy power delivery and support for two USB-C inputs. I especially recommend this charging adapter for users with ultraportable devices like lightweight and smaller laptops and iPads. If you require a more powerful charging adapter, Nomad also sells a 100W variant of the same thing now. Show more View now at Nomad Goods Why should you trust me? When I'm not writing about technology, I'm probably working overtime as my family's IT support guy. And when I'm not working at all, I'm likely watching, reading, or consuming some form of content about technology. So when I make product recommendations, I suggest gadgets I've personally tested and have proven to deliver the value (if not more value) that manufacturers promise.My main expertise is mobile, from phones to wearables to accessories, which plays hand-in-hand with the topic of this story. I also travel about 10 times throughout the year, including from New York to California, so I've developed an understanding of which gadgets are essential and which are optional. Show more How do you pack electronics for traveling? When traveling, storing any devices with lithium-ion batteries, such as laptops, tablets, and power banks, in your carry-on baggage is best. If my gadgets aren't already stored in a tech pouch or cushioned bag, I'll surround them with clothing to prevent any damage during travel. Show more Other travel-friendly tech we think you'd love ZDNET Recommends

Located in the high-altitude desert of northwest Argentina, the Salar de Olaroz is part of the so-called "Lithium Triangle" ? a region that holds some of the world's largest lithium reserves. This project captures the transformation of this remote salt flat into an industrialized landscape shaped by the global demand for lithium, a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. What stands out in the imagery are the large-scale evaporation ponds, especially the white and red-toned zones that fringe the salt flat. The white areas are crystallized salts left behind as the brine evaporates. The reddish hues are caused by mineral impurities, such as iron oxides, and variations in salinity, concentration stages, or organic residue. These abstract, geometric patterns sharply contrast with the natural surroundings, forming a surreal mosaic that reveals both beauty and environmental tension. The red-white areas dominate the visual composition, highlighting the scale and

A jump starter is an essential part of car's emergency kit, and a cordless one is definitely a lot less of a hassle. You don't need to pay a premium for a jump starter that reliably gets the job done, either. Amazon is currently offering the Lokithor J400 12V 2,000A cordless car jump starter for $33.97 shipped after you clip both $20 and 40% off coupons on the product page. The retail price is listed at $89.95, but we usually see it for closer to $50-$60. Not only does it function as a jump starter, it can also be used to recharge your smartphone in a pinch.Lokithor J400 12V 2,000A Car Jump Starter for $33.97Clip Both $20 Off and 40% Off CouponsLokithor J400 2,000A 12V Cordless Lithium Car Jump StarterThe Lokithor J400 is a compact 12V cordless car jump starter that can supply 2,000A of peak power and is capable of jumpstaring up to 8L gas or 6L diesel engines. The sizeable 8,000mAh battery will give you several jump starts before needing a recharge. Since the battery uses lithium (NMC) cells, it depletes a lot slower than your traditional battery and will retain most of its charge even after 24 months of non-use. The J400 also doubles as a portable power bank, so you can also use it to charge your iPhone or smartphone in a pinch.The J400 charges quickly over USB Type-C and if you don't have a cable on hand, both USB Type-C to Tpe-C and USB Type-A to Type-C cables are supplied in the package. There's even a flashlight with three separate modes (flashlight, SOS, and strobe) for emergencies. The jump starter is one of the smallest models in its class (3.4" x 6.9" x 1.7"), weighs about 1.5 pounds, and stows away easily in your trunk or dash.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

To what extent should we attempt to tame nature, in the name of personal comfort? Already our homes are purpose-built to keep out weather and provide interior climate control. We commute in vehicles that keep us cool in summer and warm in winter. We shop, dine and view entertainment in temperature-controlled facilities.While camping, and attending outdoor events like barbecues and music festivals, we're at the mercy of the elements. Many would say that's an integral part of the experience. But for those who find the lack of comfort, the lack of control over nature, intolerable, there are companies ready to sell you a solution.Solo Stove, the outdoor gear manufacturer known for their smokeless fire pits, has expanded into other camping gear. Their new offering is the Solo Windchill 47, a drinks cooler with a built-in air conditioner. That you use outside. "At the push of a button, it turns icy temps inside the cooler into frigid, dry air-conditioning—thanks to a built-in heat exchanger, high-powered fan, and water pump," the company writes. "And yes, it's real air-conditioning. Upgrade your cooler setup with the Solo Windchill 47 to keep the chill coming—anytime, anywhere." You can also use it to charge your phone (of course). While I find the product obscene, that's due to my personal preferences. I live on a rural property, enjoy being outside and try to work with nature, accepting that I will get sweaty when I'm working outside in July. While there is an element of mild suffering to it, it makes that moment when you take a break inside, and feel the cool air of an A/C or a fan, that much sweeter.However, Solo Stove is based in Texas, which experiences more 100-degree-plus days than my region; perhaps Texans view summer as a war on their comfort. And for plenty of Americans, I'm guessing hauling around a 40-plus-pound cooler with built-in lithium ion batteries is a small price to pay for keeping cool. Even at $650 to $700 depending on battery options, the Windchill 47 will find a ready market. "Glampers" will be thrilled.

Southwest Airlines announced it will require all portable device chargers to be kept in plain sight during all flights while they’re in use. The new policy comes after a number of lithium-ion batteries fires on flights worldwide in recent years. The new policy will start May 28 and will require all Southwest passengers to make sure they don’t have any portable chargers, including power banks and cell phone battery charging cases, in overhead bins or even just inside a bag in under the seat in front of them, while they’re in use. “Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted,” the airline told Gizmodo in an emailed statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of its Customers and Employees.” The airline told Gizmodo that it’s okay to keep your portable charger in your carry-on bag if it’s not connected to anything else. But any charger in active use, including one that may be connected to the phone in the form of a case, should be kept visible for the entire flight. The TSA already bans rechargeable and non-rechargeable lithium batteries for phones and laptops from checked baggage. Carry-on baggage is fine, but Southwest Airlines will soon require those chargers to be outside of all bags and visible while in use during the duration of the flight. It’s unclear if other U.S.-based airlines will follow Southwest’s lead, but other airlines around the world have also been cracking down on lithium-ion batteries in an effort to fight fire hazards. As the Associated Press notes, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways both already prohibit the use of portable chargers on all flights. And Korean Airlines also bans portable chargers from overhead bins. The average U.S. passenger brings four different rechargeable devices with them on a flight, according to the UL Standards & Engagement research group, with the most common devices being smartphones (82%), laptops (41%), wireless headphones (39%), and tablets (36%). The most common incidents were caused by vaping devices, which accounted for 35% of all incidents on flights in 2023, while power banks accounted for 16% of all incidents reported. “Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires in the cabin,” the FAA explains on its website. “Passengers should notify flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning.” Indeed. If you see something on fire on your flight, battery or otherwise, please let the flight crew know. That’s just generally a good idea.

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Sharp 2K video with color night vision Built-in solar panel with battery backup Local storage, with a cloud-storage option Cons No support for Alexa or Apple HomeKit App feels unfinished and lacks polish Solar charging may struggle in low-light locations Our Verdict A solid pick for basic home security with no monthly fees—just be prepared for a stripped-down app experience and limited smart home compatibility. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Outdoor security cameras used to be a hassle, with wires to run, batteries to swap, recordings to pay for, and more. The Night Owl Solar-Powered Battery Camera ($99.99) is part of a growing wave of products that promise to simplify all that. This camera is fully wireless, powered by the sun, and it doesn’t lock you into paying for a subscription to store recordings in the cloud. That makes it appealing to anyone who wants to boost their home security without taking on another bill or a weekend-long installation project. Design and features The Night Owl Solar-Powered Battery Camera has the clean, utilitarian look you’d expect from a modern outdoor security cam. It’s a compact white unit with an integrated solar panel on top and a ball-and-socket mount that lets you aim it where you need. The plastic housing feels solid enough to handle the elements, though it doesn’t have the heft of more premium models. Night Owl didn’t provide an IP code to rate its protection from the elements, but like most cameras in this price range, it’s best installed under an eave or overhang for protection. You can link the camera to your home Wi-Fi network, or you can establish a point-to-point wireless connection to a Night Owl hub, which comes with a 64GB microSD card and the option to host a hard drive. The camera records in 2K resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), which gives you a sharp image with enough detail to make out faces and license plates, assuming decent lighting and a clear line of sight. It’s a step up from the 1080p footage you get with many entry-level cameras. The solar panel is the main draw here. It keeps the internal batteries topped off with regular sun exposure, cutting down on the need to dismount the camera for recharging manually if it’s frequently in the shade or after long runs of cloudy days. The camera has two spotlights to brighten up the scene after dark or in shady areas.Night Owl Like most smart cams, this one includes two-way audio, so you can talk to delivery people or warn someone of your property. There’s also a built-in siren you can trigger from the app to scare off intruders. The camera uses motion detection to alert you to activity, and it can distinguish between people and vehicles. That helps cut down on false alarms from wind-blown branches or passing pets. It also has color night vision, using its spotlight to brighten up the scene after dark. When there’s not enough light, it falls back to black-and-white infrared. There are two connectivity options: You can link the camera to your home Wi-Fi network, or you can establish a point-to-point wireless connection to a Night Owl hub, which comes with a 64GB microSD card and has the option to host a hard drive for additional storage. The second option adds a layer of security by keeping your footage off the public internet, and that might be appealing for folks already invested in the Night Owl ecosystem. Two rechargeable batteries fit into a compartment on the underside of the camera, accessed by removing a small panel. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Storage options are equally flexible. You can save footage locally to a microSD card on the camera itself, to that Night Owl hub, or you can opt into a cloud-storage plan. Night Owl offers two tiers: $3.99/month for 15GB of 30-day storage on individual devices, or $9.99/month for 50GB of 30-day storage when using a Security Hub. The fact that cloud storage is optional—not required—is a plus, especially for users who prefer to keep costs down or avoid uploading footage to the internet. Everything runs through the Night Owl Protect app, which gives you a live view, event history, and control over motion settings and notifications. It’s available for iOS and Android, and while it’s not as polished as some competitors, it covers the basics well enough. Setup and performance Installing the Night Owl Solar-Powered Battery Camera is fairly straightforward. The camera comes with mounting hardware and a ball-joint bracket that lets you adjust the angle once it’s in place. The biggest decision is placement. You’ll want a spot with decent sunlight to keep the solar panel doing its thing, and within range of your Wi-Fi network or Night Owl hub. Setup is done through the Night Owl Protect app and takes just a few minutes. The Night Owl Protect app provide the live view, event history, and control over motion settings and notifications. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The camera comes with a pair of rechargeable lithium ion 18650 batteries and a USB-C charging cable. To install them, you’ll need to unscrew a small panel on the bottom of the camera. Once the batteries are in place, they’ll be kept charged by the solar panel, but you can also recharge them manually using the included cable. The charging port is tucked behind a rubber tab next to the microSD card slot. The cable is about 5 feet long, so if you don’t have and outdoor plug within its reach, you’ll need to take the camera down recharge it. Should the batteries ever fail you recharge, you can buy a replacement set for $24.99. The app gets the job done, but it could use some polish. Navigation isn’t as intuitive as it is with apps from bigger brands like Ring or Arlo, and the interface feels a bit dated. That said, once you learn your way around, it’s functional. You can view live video, review recorded clips, tweak motion sensitivity, and speak through the camera—all the basics are covered. Motion alerts come through quickly, and the camera generally does a good job recognizing people and vehicles while ignoring other types of movement. During testing, notifications arrived within a few seconds of motion being detected, with few false alarms. Audio quality is excellent. Voices come through clearly, and there’s a canned warning you can trigger—“Smile, you’re being recorded”—if you’d rather not interact with an interloper directly. The camera can be manually recharged via the included USB-C cable; the charging port sits beside the microSD slot under a rubber tab. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Video quality is solid for a 2K camera in this price range. Daytime footage is clear and crisp, with accurate color. Nighttime performance depends on ambient lighting. With the spotlight on, you’ll get decent color detail; without it, infrared kicks in and delivers a usable black-and-white image. Battery life depends heavily on placement. In full sun, the solar panel does a good job maintaining the charge, even with a few motion events per day. In shaded areas or during cloudy weeks, the battery might drain faster than it charges, requiring occasional manual recharging. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it experience in all cases, but it comes close with the right placement. The camera integrates well with the Night Owl ecosystem and also supports Google Home, so you can view footage on compatible smart displays. However, it doesn’t work with Alexa or Apple HomeKit, and broader smart home automation is limited. Should you buy the Night Owl Solar-Powered Battery Camera? If you’re looking for a simple, self-contained security solution that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you with monthly fees, the Night Owl Solar-Powered Battery Camera makes a strong case. It’s especially well-suited for budget-conscious users who want decent video quality, reliable motion alerts, and basic smart features without getting tangled in cords or locked into a subscription. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. That said, it’s not for everyone. If you live in a region with limited sunlight or need full integration with smart home platforms like Alexa or Apple Home, you’ll hit some walls. And the app, while functional, feels a step behind more polished platforms from bigger brands. Still, for what it is—a no-subscription-required, solar-powered security cam that plays nicely with Night Owl’s wired storage systems—it delivers solid value. If that’s what you’re after, this camera’s worth a look.

A successful game of fetch I helped a lost dog’s AirTag ping its owner: An ode to replaceable batteries The most repair-friendly device Apple makes needs to stick with coin batteries. Kevin Purdy – May 21, 2025 5:31 pm | 24 This is Serene, a 7-year-old pitbull mix available for adoption at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance This is Serene, a 7-year-old pitbull mix available for adoption at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Out of all the books I read for my formal education, one bit, from one slim paperback, has lodged the deepest into my brain. William Blundell's The Art and Craft of Feature Writing offers a "selective list of what readers like." It starts with a definitive No. 1: "Dogs, followed by other cute animals and well-behaved small children." People, Blundell writes, are your second-best option, providing they are doing or saying something interesting. I have failed to provide Ars Technica readers with a dog story during nearly three years here. Today, I intend to fix that. This is a story about a dog, but also a rare optimistic take on a ubiquitous "smart" product, one that helped out a very good girl. Note: The images in this post are not of the aforementioned dog, so as to protect their owner's privacy. The Humane Rescue Alliance of Washington, DC, provided photos of adoptable dogs with some resemblance to that dog. Hello, stranger My wife and I were sitting with our dog on our front porch on a recent weekend morning. We were drinking coffee, reading, and enjoying DC's tiny window for temperate spring weather. I went inside for a moment; when I came back, my dog was inside, but my wife was not. Confused, I cracked open the door to look out. A dog, not my own, stuck its nose into the door gap, eager to sniff me out. "There's a dog here?" my wife said, partly to herself. "She just ran up on the porch. I have no idea where she came from." Rexi, a nearly 3-year-old mixed breed, is being fostered and ready for adoption at the Humane Rescue Alliance. The author's wife thinks Rexi looks the most like their unexpected dog visitor. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance Rexi, a nearly 3-year-old mixed breed, is being fostered and ready for adoption at the Humane Rescue Alliance. The author's wife thinks Rexi looks the most like their unexpected dog visitor. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance I secured my dog inside, then headed out to meet this fast-moving but friendly interloper. She had a collar, but no leash, and looked well-groomed, healthy, and lightly frantic. The collar had a silicone band on it, holding one of Apple's AirTags underneath. I pulled out the AirTag, tapped it against my phone, and nothing happened. While my wife posted on our neighborhood's various social outlets (Facebook, Nextdoor, and a WhatsApp group for immediate neighbors), I went into the garage and grabbed a CR2032 battery. That's not something everyone has, but I have a few AirTags, along with a bit of a home automation habit. After some pressing, twisting, and replacing, the AirTag beeped and returned to service. I tapped the AirTag against my phone, this time receiving a link to a webpage with the tag's serial number and the last four digits of its owner's phone number. I had not yet needed to actually find something truly lost with an AirTag, so I looked up how it worked. Once you set an AirTag in your Apple account to "Lost" status, you can then choose to have a full phone number and message appear to anybody who taps it with their device (iOS or Android). If you don't know that your AirTag or Find-My-compatible item is missing and mark it that way, you can't preemptively have it offer up details. Maybe Apple should change that, for certain kinds of tracking. Noma, a 1-year-old pit bull mix, at the Humane Rescue Alliance. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance Noma, a 1-year-old pit bull mix, at the Humane Rescue Alliance. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance I had to leave the house, leaving my wife to negotiate space and sight lines between our concerned, confused dog and this excited newcomer. The local animal control encouraged my wife to monitor social channels before dropping the dog off at their facility. After two hours of unexpected fostering, we were anxiously texting one another. We were glad to have gotten this dog off the street and into a home with leashes and a crate available, but we had to make a decision before the animal shelter closed for the day. Then the doorbell rang. The dog's owner, led by the AirTag, asked if we had her dog. She explained how the dog got loose and pledged to keep a fresh battery in there from now on. My wife said goodbye to her temporary charge, and I came home to find both her and my dog far more relaxed. Maybe the dog's owner would have seen postings on Facebook or Nextdoor, though I cannot blame anybody who doesn't want those networks in their life. Perhaps a neighborhood phone chain would have come through, or the shelter could have connected us. But Apple's coin battery-powered nub came through in the nick of time, and I'm grateful. That’s a good AirTag—now, stay Cresha, a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog, is available for adoption. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance Cresha, a 3-year-old mixed-breed dog, is available for adoption. Credit: Humane Rescue Alliance I was working at iFixit when rumors circulated about Apple developing a "Tile-like" item tracker in early 2019. The teardown and communications teams at iFixit were largely expecting Apple to release another tiny product that was impossible to fix or have its batteries swapped, filling the gaps in landfills alongside AirPods. Tile, one of the first in the Bluetooth tracking market, had introduced replaceable batteries a few months prior. But Apple, at that point still defending its butterfly MacBook keyboards and holding tight to Lightning ports, seemed unlikely to go the way of the common denominator. But Apple chose wisely. After addressing some of the early concerns about their potential misuses (though others remain), AirTags have become very handy devices. Some dog owners go for GPS tracker collars, which might fare better in rural areas. But it's a good bet that somebody with an iPhone will get close enough to your dog—or wallet, or keys—to update its location. Even if they don't have an iPhone to provide a location ping, they can get some information on who owns this tag. Apple is seemingly gearing up to offer a new AirTag, one with purportedly greater range and fewer avenues for privacy-invading misuse. I humbly request that the new model continue to be powered by a coin cell battery. When something important goes missing—especially something that likes ear scritches and pumpkin treats—it is best not to have to find a charging cable or magnetic charging pad, or discover the cells inside are dead. Coin cells are not perfectly recyclable, because nothing really is, but they're generally much easier to handle than lithium-ion waste. I have AirTags on my family's bikes, keys, wallets, and a couple other things. Depending on what the next AirTag looks like, I'm keen to get one on my dog's collar, too. Take the battery warnings seriously, and they can help some wayward good boys and girls. And I hope they made this human, telling a story about coin batteries, momentarily interesting. Kevin Purdy Senior Technology Reporter Kevin Purdy Senior Technology Reporter Kevin is a senior technology reporter at Ars Technica, covering open-source software, PC gaming, home automation, repairability, e-bikes, and tech history. He has previously worked at Lifehacker, Wirecutter, iFixit, and Carbon Switch. 24 Comments