# Getting More Play Time from Your Retro Game Console
Older handheld game devices like Game Boys and Nintendo handhelds drain their batteries quickly, but you can stretch playtime by adjusting screen brightness, closing unused games running in the background, and using rechargeable batteries instead of disposables. For anyone who enjoys these nostalgic devices—whether you're revisiting childhood favorites or introducing grandchildren to classic games—better battery management means fewer interruptions and more enjoyment without constantly hunting for new batteries. Worth knowing: keep your console in a cool place when you're not using it, since heat drains batteries faster, and consider investing in a quality rechargeable battery set designed for older devices.
Amazon has released a new colorful e-reader called the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which is nice to look at and easy to carry around, but costs quite a bit of money for what it does. If you already have a regular e-reader or tablet that works fine for reading books and newspapers, this fancier version probably isn't worth the extra expense. Worth knowing: stick with what you have unless you specifically want to write notes and sketch on your device — that's really the main reason to consider upgrading.
# Apple Watch Heart Rate Feature Summary
Apple Watches have a hidden feature that automatically checks your heart rate throughout the day and alerts you if it drops unusually low—something many owners never discover because it's tucked away in the settings. For anyone over 50, catching an abnormally slow heartbeat early could be genuinely helpful, since irregular heart rhythms become more common as we age. Worth knowing: you'll need to open the Health app on your iPhone, tap "Heart," and look for "Low Heart Rate Notifications" to turn it on and set your personal threshold.
# Supernatural VR Fitness App Gets a Fresh Start
The fitness app Supernatural, which helps people exercise using virtual reality headsets, is being rebuilt after its creators left Meta (formerly Facebook) to start fresh on their own. For people over 50 who want low-impact exercise options or find it hard to stay motivated at a gym, VR fitness apps offer guided workouts in your living room without the joint stress of running or jumping. Worth knowing: if you've used Supernatural before or are thinking about trying it, check whether the new independent version works with your current VR headset, as these technical details can change when companies make major shifts.
An artist named Keith Hansen is hand-painting a thousand different birds in beautiful watercolor detail specifically for a smartphone app called Flock that actually encourages people to put their phones down and go outside to watch real birds instead. For those of us who spend too much time looking at screens, this is a refreshing idea—the app uses Hansen's gorgeous artwork to inspire you to get outside and discover the actual birds in your neighborhood rather than keep you scrolling endlessly. You can download the Flock app to see if it genuinely pulls you away from your phone and gets you noticing the natural world around you.
Europe has launched a new free tool that lets anyone watch wildfires develop in real time using satellite pictures, with fires showing up in bright colors that are easy to spot. For people concerned about wildfire risks in their region or worried about air quality during fire season, this means you can now check for yourself whether fires are spreading near you without waiting for news reports. You can visit the Copernicus Browser online and look up your area to see if any active fires are detected nearby—just click on the "wildfires" layer to see them highlighted in white, yellow, and red.
# Phone Cases and Wireless Charging
Using the wrong phone case can slow down your wireless charger or stop it from working altogether, so picking the right one matters if you want fast, reliable charging. Thicker cases, metal components, and certain materials can interfere with the charging signal, which is especially frustrating if you're used to the convenience of just setting your phone down to charge. Worth knowing: look for cases labeled as "wireless charging compatible" or made from thin plastic, and avoid anything with metal parts or credit card slots that sit between your phone and the charger.
The PSB iQ2 is a wireless speaker system that combines high-quality sound with smart-home features, letting you control music and other devices from one place. For people who care about listening to music clearly and want an easier way to manage their home tech, this setup offers both without requiring a complicated installation. Worth knowing: you can try it out in a shop first to hear the sound quality yourself before deciding if it's right for your space.
Airlines are increasingly warning travellers about lithium-ion batteries—the power sources in phones, laptops, and e-readers—because they can overheat and catch fire if damaged during flights. If you travel frequently or pack devices in checked luggage, this matters because a battery fire in the cargo hold is extremely difficult for crew to control at high altitude. Worth knowing: pack your electronics in carry-on bags rather than checked luggage, and avoid placing heavy items on top of your devices where they might get crushed.
Google has released a free artificial intelligence tool called WeatherNext that can predict where hurricanes will go and how strong they'll become up to 15 days in advance—much earlier than traditional methods allow. Better early warning means you and your family have more time to prepare, evacuate if needed, or protect your home before a major storm arrives. Worth knowing: your local weather service may eventually use this technology, so keep an eye on whether your area's hurricane forecasts start improving in the coming months.
OpenAI has decided to remove the cap on how many written messages you can send to ChatGPT if you use the free version. You'll still bump into limits if you want to generate pictures or use the voice chat feature, but basic text conversations are now unrestricted. Worth knowing: this makes the free version considerably more useful if you like to have long back-and-forths with ChatGPT about recipes, history, or help writing emails.
OpenAI is removing the restrictions that prevented free ChatGPT users from having endless text conversations—you'll soon be able to chat as much as you want without hitting limits. For people who use ChatGPT daily to ask questions, brainstorm ideas, or work through problems, this means you won't have to worry about being cut off or waiting to use it again. Worth knowing: while text chats become unlimited, there are still limits on conversations that include images or file uploads, so check if you're hitting those instead.
