What Is the Gig Economy, and Why Is It So Controversial?
The “gig economy” is a buzzword on the news and in everyday conversation. It refers to the rise in contracted work—or “gigs”—that aren’t traditional jobs. Ridesharing, food delivery, ...
What Is Leetspeak, and How do You Use It?
The internet’s full of weird words like “1337” and “hax0r.” These are forms of leetspeak, a stylistic way of typing that’s been around since the 80s. But why was leetspeak invented, and how...
What Is a “Hot Take,” and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
Hot takes are everywhere online. You’ve probably seen the phrase “hot take” thrown around, but what exactly does it mean? Where did it come from, and how do you use it?
What Does “FWIW” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
While FWIW isn’t the most popular piece of slang on the internet, it routinely finds its way into Twitter posts, message boards, and chat rooms. But what does FWIW mean, where’d it come from, and how do you use it...
What Is a GIF, and How Do You Use Them?
Even if you can’t define the word “GIF,” you’ve definitely seen one before. They helped define the early internet, and they’re more popular now than ever before. But what exactly is a GIF, and ho...
What Does “TFW” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
TFW is an internet acronym that you’ll usually find on social networking sites and in memes all over the web. But what does TFW mean, where did the acronym come from, and how do you use it?
What Does “NSFW” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
NSFW is an odd, versatile internet acronym that’s found its way into internet articles and social media posts. But what does NSFW mean, where’d it come from, and how do you use it? Don’t worry—this art...
What Does “FOMO” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
FOMO is one of the few internet acronyms that has wiggled its way into psychology papers, the evening news, and every college counseling office in America. But what does FOMO mean, where’d it come from, and how do you u...
What Does “Yeet” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
Yeet is one of the internet’s newest and least understood words. It’s used everywhere, seemingly without any form of context. But words have to mean something, and yeet does have a few precise meanings....
What to Do Before (and After) Your Phone Is Stolen
Millions of phones are stolen every year, and there’s a chance yours could be one of them. But it doesn’t have to be—you can make your phone theftproof! We’ll show you how, and what you should do if yo...
How Do Holograms Work on Stage?
Whether holograms of Tupac and Michael Jackson give you the heebie-jeebies or a dose of nostalgia, you’ve got to admit the technology is impressive. But how does it work? And are these really holograms or just projectio...
Why Free OTA TV Beats Cable on Picture Quality
It sounds ridiculous, but free broadcast TV offers noticeably higher visual quality than expensive cable. But they both operate at a 1080p resolution, so what gives? Why does a simple antenna get you a better picture than pri...
How to Watch FXNow Without Cable
FXNow is an impressive streaming service that offers most FX shows on-demand. But it requires an expensive cable subscription. So, how can you get FXNow cheaper? Subscribe to a less-expensive streaming TV service....
What Does “TLDR” Mean, and How Do You Use It?
Unlike most internet acronyms, TLDR (or TL;DR) has found its way into news articles, professional emails, and even Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. But what does TLDR mean, how do you use it, and where did it come from?...
What’s the Difference Between NTSC and PAL?
Whether you’re a movie nerd, a gamer, or an amateur filmmaker, you’ve probably heard of NTSC and PAL. But what’s the difference? And how are these formats still relevant today?
Not All 5G Is Equal: Millimeter Wave, Low-Band, and Mid-Band Explained
You’ve probably heard that 5G uses the millimeter wave spectrum to reach its 10 Gbps speeds. But it also uses the low- and mid-band spectrums, just like 4G. Without all three spectrums, 5G wouldn’t be reliable....
Are You Watching 4K Content? Here’s How to Tell
A common complaint about 4K TVs is that they don’t look any better than HD TVs. But the problem is rarely the TV’s fault. Often, the content that you’re watching simply isn’t in 4K....
How Does Facial Recognition Work?
Most people are comfortable with facial recognition for its use in Instagram filters and Face ID. But this relatively new technology can feel a little creepy. Your face is like a fingerprint, and the technology behind facial ...
What Is a Deepfake, and Should I Be Concerned?
We tend to trust the content of video and audio recordings. But with AI, anyone’s face or voice can be recreated with pin-point accuracy. The product is a deepfake, an impersonation that can be used for memes, misinform...
What Is “Upscaling” on a TV, and How Does It Work?
As 4K replaces HD in our homes, manufacturers are unveiling some interesting marketing jargon, like “Ultra HD upscaling” (UHD). But upscaling isn’t some unique feature—it just allows 4K TVs to work wit...
How to Properly Clean Your Gross Laptop
Like any computer, laptops are dust and grime magnets. But a dirty laptop isn’t just a cosmetic nightmare—it can also cause poor performance and overheating. So, how can you clean your laptop properly?...
What Does Apple MFi-Certified Mean?
If you’ve ever shopped for a new Lightning cable or gamepad, you’ve probably noticed many are MFi Certified. You may have also seen that certified products cost a bit more. Here’s what MFi certification mean...
How Do Bone Conduction Headphones Work?
If you haven’t heard of bone conduction headphones, then prepare yourself for something weird. They’re ultraquiet, they don’t sit on (or in) your ears, and they vibrate your skull. But how can you hear sound...
DisplayPort 2: What’s Different, and Why It Matters
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) just announced the newest iteration of DisplayPort technology: DisplayPort 2. This new standard will support resolutions up to 16K and use either traditional DisplayPort conn...
What is a “Qi-Certified” Wireless Charger?
If you’ve taken the time to shop for a wireless charger, then you’ve probably bumped into the term “Qi-Certified.” But what the heck is Qi, and why should you use a Qi-Certified wireless charger?...
