Pocket-lint

The problems with owning a 100-inch TV aren't what you think

Roger Fingas — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:19 GMT

I'm continually amazed by the number of smart TVs on the market at or near the 100-inch mark. Back in the 2010s, a 55-inch TV seemed like more than enough for the average living room, and it probably still is. A 70- or 75-inch TV is gigantic by comparison, since TV sizes are measured diagonally -- that extra 20 inches adds up to massive jumps in length and width, never mind an extra 50.

How long will your Blu-rays and DVDs last? I found out

Roger Fingas — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:20 GMT

There's a contingent of people out there stubbornly clinging to physical media, and I get it. As expensive as it is to collect Blu-rays and DVDs, going that route means you're no longer chained to monthly subscriptions. In many cases, you can't even count on streaming libraries providing what you want -- titles can vanish without warning, and of course some releases may never appear on streaming in the first place, at least in your home country. Good luck finding a reliable place to stream '80s Hong Kong action movies if you're in the US or Canada.

I sped up my Apple TV in less than a minute with this trick

Eli Becht — Sun, 17 May 2026 23:00:20 GMT

There are a lot of reasons why your devices slow down, and your Apple TV 4K isn't immune to it. While the Apple TV 4K is my favorite of all the streaming devices, I can't sit here and pretend that it's perfect. I'm still using a first-gen model, so it's nearly 10 years old. With that age comes its share of issues, and I find myself having to baby it more than I'd like. I've been telling myself to upgrade to the latest gen, but there have been rumors swirling about a new model for over a year now that have stopped me from doing so.

This annoying PS5 HDMI problem is fixed with one change

Eli Becht — Sun, 17 May 2026 21:00:20 GMT

I love gaming as much as the next person, and I like to take advantage of cool features when I can. I love that the PS5 can utilize 4K 120 FPS gaming, even if many games don't support it. There are actually quite a few settings you can dig into and mess around with to get more from your console. HDMI-CEC is one of those things, and on paper, it's a great thing. Who doesn't like controlling everything with one remote? CEC stands for Consumer Electronics Control, and it does exactly as it sounds, when it works. It's called something different with many TVs -- my Sony TV calls it Bravia Sync, while Samsung calls it Anynet+.

4 reasons why you should probably buy an older iPad

Roger Fingas — Sun, 17 May 2026 19:00:19 GMT

There are legitimate reasons to want to buy a new iPad, but let's be honest here -- a major draw is owning the latest and flashiest Apple gear. It's more exciting to pull out of the box, and for some of you, it's a status symbol. An iPad may not be as sexy as a new iPhone or Apple Watch, perhaps, but it feels like a piece of the future, especially for those of us who grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation and wondered why we didn't have handheld computers yet.

Should you buy a TV or big-screen monitor in 2026?

Saeed Wazir — Sun, 17 May 2026 17:01:20 GMT

Choosing between a TV and a big-screen monitor in 2026 is a straightforward decision for some buyers and complicated for others. It's because both are packed with modern features, and the lines between them are often blurry.

Testing the world's thinnest Qi2 power bank was a glimpse into the future

Saeed Wazir — Sun, 17 May 2026 15:00:19 GMT

Better Mobile Xperience (BMX) just released its SolidSafe Air 5K power bank, and I'm amazed by its ultrathin design. It attaches magnetically to my phone and adds a tiny sliver to its thickness compared to my other power banks, which have unique features but aren't pocket-friendly.

I don't recommend Dolby Atmos - unless you have this

Eli Becht — Sun, 17 May 2026 13:00:19 GMT

Dolby Atmos is a great audio format, provided you have a proper setup for it. True Dolby Atmos requires a number of things, and the most important thing is speakers. Yes, your soundbar probably says it's Dolby Atmos capable, but it likely means that in the form of upfiring speakers. That's a decent compromise, but to really get the most out of Atmos, you need to space out your speakers, including height speakers. How else could you get true directional audio?

I'll never pay for so-called premium streaming - and here's why

Roger Fingas — Sun, 17 May 2026 11:00:19 GMT

Recently I did something I once swore I would never do -- I paid for YouTube Premium. Specifically though I paid for YouTube Premium Lite, simply because the vast majority of the content I watch is on YouTube, and I was tired of ads constantly interrupting both my daytime viewing and my sleep playlist. I'd be on the verge of falling asleep after an EUC video, only to be jarred awake by an ad for something I'm never going to buy.

HP's on-device AI needs more if it is going to compete with Copilot

Zarif Ali — Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:20 GMT

HP IQ is probably not what most people expected the first proper post-Humane product from HP to look like. After HP acquired key parts of Humane, including its Cosmos platform, IP, and parts of its team, it would have been easy to assume the company was going to try and salvage some version of the AI Pin’s original vision. Instead, HP IQ is something much more grounded.