OpenAI’s Computer History turns Mac activity into searchable memories. See how it works, who can use it, and the privacy and security risks.

The post OpenAI Launches Computer History for ChatGPT and Codex on Mac appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple Maps ads are now available to eligible businesses in the US and Canada. Learn where they appear, who qualifies, and how campaigns and credits work.

The post Apple Maps Ads Launch in the US and Canada: What Businesses Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

Google now lets Gemini users disable visible AI watermarks while keeping invisible SynthID markers and C2PA credentials embedded for transparency.

The post Google Makes Visible Gemini Watermarks Optional for AI Images, Videos and Music appeared first on TechRepublic.

Johor’s data center pipeline has reached 8,542 MW, but a 0.7% colocation vacancy rate, grid constraints, and water demand mean regional IT buyers need to separate announced capacity from infrastructure they can actually deploy.

The post Malaysia Data Center Growth Surges as Johor Capacity Tightens appeared first on TechRepublic.

Samsung may be preparing a return to full-size wireless headphones with a device reportedly known as Galaxy H1. App code offers the first clues, but key details remain unconfirmed.

The post Samsung Galaxy H1 Leak Points to New Over-Ear Headphones: What We Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

The computer peripheral market has always been more experimental at its edges than in the mainstream. Ergonomic trackballs, in particular, have attracted a devoted following among power users, but the options tend to cluster at two extremes: consumer-facing products with locked-down firmware, and niche open-source hardware that trades polished finish for deep customizability. Finding something that genuinely does both has rarely been straightforward.

Ploopy’s Adept trackball made a compelling case for the latter category, earning a loyal following with its open-source, 3D-printed design and QMK compatibility. But it always felt like it had more to say. Its circuit board had always reserved space for two more switches that never made it to production, and the base had slots for a wrist rest that never materialized. The A+ is that unfinished story, now finished.

Designer: Ploopy

The most visible addition is the button count. The Adept had six; the A+ has eight, two of which also function as knobs. Out of the box, the knobs handle high-resolution vertical and horizontal scrolling, but both are fully reprogrammable for other functions. That dual-purpose approach keeps navigation and control within a single hand without needing a separate scroll wheel or accessory sitting alongside it.

The gesture system is arguably the more interesting addition. Hold a button and flick the ball in any of eight directions, and the device fires a command. By default, the left knob activates cut, copy, paste, desktop switching, and media controls. For someone who lives inside a browser and a text editor all day, that’s a significant amount of functionality without ever lifting a hand off the device.

Layers add another dimension. The A+ has two: a navigation layer for everyday use and a control layer accessed via the right knob. The control layer handles on-device configuration, covering left-hand mode switching, toggling between high-resolution and stepped scrolling, and other adjustments. It’s the first trackball to bring this kind of layered behavior, working entirely without any software running on the host computer. There are also two bright LEDs that can be used to visually tell you what layer you’re on without having to rely on some embedded screen.

The detachable wrist rest is another long-promised feature that finally arrives with the A+. It slots in or out during use and can be screwed on permanently if preferred. The device stays ambidextrous throughout, and its 3D-printed shell means the community can print modified bodies, alter the layout, or swap in custom colors. That kind of adaptability isn’t an afterthought; it’s part of how the whole thing is designed.

The Pixart PMW-3360 sensor carries over from the Adept, running at a 1,000Hz polling rate with the tracking accuracy that has made it a standard for performance-oriented pointing devices. Omron D2LS-21 switches handle the physical buttons. The firmware remains QMK, configurable through VIA, with all design files, firmware, and assembly instructions freely available on GitHub. Kits start at $99 CAD.

The post This $99 Trackball Has Gesture Controls That Work Without Any Software first appeared on Yanko Design.