Month: April 2025

Geekom Mini IT 13S Mini PC Review

My latest mini PC review is of the Geekom Mini IT13S, a compact computer powered by Intel’s i9-13900HK mobile processor. This chip isn’t something we usually see in a device this small, and it offers 10 cores and 16 threads—enough horsepower for media serving or other compute-heavy applications. While this machine isn’t the most powerful mini PC available at around its price point, I was curious to see how it holds up in real-world testing. Check it out in my latest review.

You can find the current price over at Amazon (compensated affiliate link), at the time of recording this video it was a little more than the lower end devices I typically look at, and a little less vs. some of the Ryzen AI PCs we’ve reviewed recently.

The PC is powered by that i9 processor, and includes 32GB of DDR4 RAM along with a 1TB NVMe SSD. The NVME SSD can be swapped out and you also have the option to add two additional drives: there’s a 2.5″ SATA slot along with 2242 M.2 SATA slot on the main board. I would’ve preferred seeing a second NVMe slot instead. RAM can be upgraded to a maximum of 64GB.

Build quality is solid thanks to the metal case and frame. The system stays cool under load, and I was pleased with the overall thermal performance. I also liked the inclusion of an SD card slot, along with plenty of connectivity on the front and rear panels. That includes two USB-A 10Gbps ports in front and a headphone jack on the front, and on the back two 40 gigabit USB 4 ports (Thunderbolt compatible), dual HDMI outputs, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, an additional USB-A 10Gbps port, and one USB-A 2.0 port. The USB 4 ports performed well in my testing, supporting both fast data transfers and video output.

Wired networking worked well, with speeds up to 2.3Gbps on my multi-gigabit internet connection. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, wasn’t as strong. Despite having Wi-Fi 6E support, it struggled to hit expected speeds—likely due to internal antenna placement. I measured only around 250Mbps downstream where 700Mbps would be typical.

In day-to-day use, the system handled basic tasks easily. Web browsing and office work were quick and responsive, even on a 4K 60Hz display. Playback of 4K video worked smoothly as well, with only a few dropped frames at the beginning. On the browserbench.org Speedometer test, the IT 13S scored 24.3, which is expected for this generation of Intel chips, but there are newer processors starting to edge past that mark.

For light video editing, the system performed well in DaVinci Resolve when applying basic effects to 4K60 footage. More demanding tasks like color grading or advanced effects began to push its limits, and that’s where the lack of a discrete GPU becomes noticeable. The USB 4 ports can support an external GPU if needed. I’m fond of the GMKTec eGPU I reviewed a few weeks ago.

Gaming isn’t a strong suit for this system. I tested Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p on the lowest settings and averaged under 30 frames per second. Other newer mini PCs using Ryzen AI chips or Intel’s latest integrated graphics tend to perform better in this area. The 3DMark Time Spy score came in at 1,882, and that lines up with what I’d expect from this generation of Intel mobile graphics.

The good news is that thermal performance was consistent. The fan stayed quiet during idle and light tasks, and the 3DMark stress test score of 98.9% suggests minimal throttling. Under load the fan is audible but not distracting. Power consumption was also low—about 10 watts at idle and a maximum of 57 watts under load.

It ships with Windows 11 Professional but supports Linux as well. I tested the latest Ubuntu release and everything worked out of the box, including audio, video, networking, and Bluetooth. If you’re planning to dual boot or run this as a Linux-based server, it’s a viable option.

Ultimately, this is a well-built mini PC with decent performance for general productivity and media use. I think a small price reduction would help it compete more effectively, especially given the rising number of mini PCs offering stronger graphical performance in the same range.

Disclosure: Geekom provided the PC to the channel free of charge. However no additional compensation was received and they did not review or approve my content prior to uploading and publication. All opinions are my own.

Big ATSC 3 / NextGenTV Update: FCC Opens Public Comment Period, Acknowledges Thousands of Anti-DRM Complaints

Over the past two years, I’ve been closely following developments around the transition to the new ATSC 3.0 television standard—particularly the implications of broadcasters encrypting over-the-air signals with digital rights management (DRM). In my area, I’ve already lost access to a couple of local networks via my HDHomeRun. That experience isn’t unique, and now the FCC is asking for public comment about how this transition should proceed.

I cover what they’re looking for and show how you can respond in my latest video. Instructions are also below.

This is the most direct invitation yet to share feedback on some key questions before any decisions are finalized. Notably, question eight on their list acknowledges thousands of consumer objections to DRM on ATSC 3.0 broadcasts—comments that many of you submitted over the last couple of years from our collective effort:

Even though the question seems to accept the idea that broadcasters may need to protect their content, there’s still room to advocate for alternatives. If you believe gateways could strike a balance between access and protection, you can say that. Personally, I don’t believe DRM is necessary at all, but the FCC appears to be open to constructive, well-supported suggestions. The key is offering real-world experiences and ideas, not just opinions.

We may still end up losing this fight, but I think it’s important that this question made it into the public notice. They did listen to us and they are interested in this topic enough to include it in the public notice. So now we have a chance to provide further clarity. So you can take the cynical route and do nothing, or spend a few minutes to share your thoughts with a commission that is at least interested in hearing from you on this topic.

Another point they’re seeking input on involves some of the mandates broadcasters are proposing as part of the transition—things like requiring all new TVs to include ATSC 3.0 tuners, putting broadcast TV front and center in menu interfaces, or even adding a dedicated broadcast button to remote controls.

What’s different this time is that the current FCC is moving faster than its predecessor. That means deadlines are tight. The main comment period ends May 7, 2025, with replies to comments due by June 6. If you submitted comments before this notice came out, please file again to have your input considered during this official period.

When writing your comments, be specific and back up your statements with facts whenever possible. If DRM has impacted your ability to enjoy over-the-air television—especially if you use HDHomeRun or hoped to—it’s important to say so. Also consider the broader impact. Small companies like SiliconDust, which produces HDHomeRun devices, face real risks. Channels DVR is in a tight spot, and Plex hasn’t even attempted to get into ATSC 3.0 because of the current restrictions. These are the kinds of real-world effects the FCC needs to hear about.

If you’re ready to comment, the process isn’t too difficult. On the FCC’s website, you’ll find two options: an “express comment” form and a more detailed “standard filing” route if you have something longer to say. Just make sure to reference docket number 16-142, and be sure to include your mailing address—it won’t be made public, but it’s required to verify your identity.

I’ve put together my own written comment organized into sections to make it easier for the FCC to follow that you can find here. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT MY WORDS AS YOUR OWN. A number of people have done this already, this hurts the cause more than helps. Take the time and relate your personal experinces.

atsc3commentDownload

Once you’ve submitted your comment, it may take a day or two to show up in the public docket. But the important thing is to submit something. Your experiences matter, and the FCC is actually listening—at least for now. Whether they’ll take action based on what we say remains to be seen, but our collective efforts are part of the official record. That alone makes it worth speaking up.

Here’s how to submit:

1. Click this link to be taken to the FCC filing form. This will take you to the express filing. You’ll also see the option at the top of the screen to select the standard filing option where you can submit a PDF or Word Doc. The instructions for submitting are the same for both.

2. On the first line for proceedings type in 16-142 . The system will then display the text “Authorizing Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcasting Television Standard.” Click on that to lock in the docket number. Here’s what it looks like:

I’ve found that sometimes on the express form that the search doesn’t always pop up correctly. Sometimes clicking over to standard and back to express will get it working. Once you click on it 16-142 will light up yellow like this:

3. Fill in your information. A US address is required and note that this will be part of the public record.

4. Write your comment in the comment section. It’s important to provide some detail especially how this change will make it difficult for YOU to consume over the air television.

We’re almost there!

Unifi 10 Gig USB 4 Ethernet Adapter Review

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been checking out some of the new USB 4.0 10-gigabit Ethernet adapters that have hit the market. In my latest review, we take a look at one from Unifi – known more for their network infrastructure equipment vs. individual adapter cards.

At $200, it sits a bit higher on the price scale compared to others, but this one stands out because it doesn’t have a noisy fan. The outer case gets a bit warm but I noticed no performance degradation under sustained loads.

This adapter is running with the same Marvell AQC113 chipset as some of the others we’ve reviewed recently. Setup was simple. On macOS, Linux (Ubuntu), and Windows, the adapter functioned as plug-and-play in my testing. UniFi also provides a direct link to Marvel’s driver download page for those who need additional support. That’s a refreshing change from some of the vendors I’ve seen who push downloads through sketchy sites.

Performance was consistent across the board. I ran speed tests on all three platforms—Mac, Windows, and Linux—and consistently saw results in the 9.4 to 9.47 Gbps range in both upload and download directions using iPerf. The adapter maintained those speeds reliably with minimal variation.

To get the full performance you will need to connect this to a USB 4 or Thunderbolt connection. In addition to 10 gigabit speeds it will also operate at 5, 2.5, 1 gigabits or 100 megabits. I’m sure it’ll probably support 10 megabits too if you happen to plug it into a 90s era hub.

Overall this one feels like a solid option for anyone looking to get reliable 10 gig connectivity and something I’m comfortable recommending.

The ADTH USB Tuner Review: More DRM Nonsense and Poor Compatibility

I’ve been recovering from laryngitis, but I’m back at it with a look at a new TV tuner from ADTH. This one comes with a lot of buzz from the broadcast industry, which is pitching it as a reliable solution for tuning encrypted ATSC 3.0 TV signals. After spending time with it, though, I found it falls painfully short of expectations. See more in my latest review.

The ADTH tuner will likely cost more than the device you’re plugging it into. It’s also imported from China, so there’s a chance future shipments might cost more due to tariffs. You can find it here on Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

It connects via USB to Android TV or Fire TV devices. Out of all the hardware I tested, the only one it fully worked with was the Onn 4K Pro box. Everything else—like the Nvidia Shield, Onn stick, and Fire TV Stick 4K Max—ran into trouble with encrypted channels. On the Shield, encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels froze after showing a single frame. The Fire TV Stick displayed an error saying DRM wasn’t supported. In each case, unencrypted channels were fine, but the whole point of this tuner is to handle encryption, and that’s where it stumbled. My friend Elias Saba of AFTVNews.com tested twenty supposedly compatible devices and found only two worked as advertised.

To make things more complicated, AC-4 audio compatibility on the host device is also required for ATSC 3 broadcasts. Unfortunately most devices don’t say whether they do. So users are left guessing.

Setting it up was relatively simple. The app is available on the Android and Fire TV app stores. After granting permission for USB access—something I had to do each time I launched the app—it walked me through a channel scan and a dongle firmware update. It found channels quickly and offered a decent guide, both a quick overlay and a more detailed grid. The app also lets you pause live TV and jump back to the live broadcast, but there’s no recording or rewinding.

One feature that stood out was the stats screen. It’s the most detailed I’ve seen for ATSC 3.0 tuning and could be useful for those trying to troubleshoot signal issues or understand what’s coming through the airwaves.

It’s worth noting that the app only works on Android TV and Fire TV but not phones or tablets. I checked some APK sites to see if there was an unofficial workaround for mobile, but couldn’t find anything that worked. It also will never work with PCs, or anything Apple- or Roku-based. That’s a big limitation for a device that’s supposed to represent the future of TV tuning.

All of this brings me to DRM and its cost. Right now, the ADTH tuner is one of the few options that’s officially sanctioned to handle encrypted ATSC 3.0. But the GT Media USB tuner we looked at last year, which doesn’t support encryption but works on a much wider range of Android devices—including mobile—sells for as little as $30 on AliExpress. It even has DVR support via an SD card. Despite being cheaper and more versatile, it’s being held back by the same DRM restrictions that limit broader innovation in the space.

As broadcasters continue to push the FCC to accelerate the ATSC 3.0 transition, we’re left with hardware that still doesn’t deliver on the promise. Two years into this DRM rollout, basic functionality still isn’t guaranteed. There’s more to come this week as the FCC opens public comments on the DRM issue, and I’ll be sharing how to get involved. For now, this is where things stand—and it’s not a great place to be.

See more ATSC 3.0 tuners here.

Disclosure: I paid for this device with my own funds.

Free App Hidden Gem: Retro Achievements for Emulators!

My latest video takes a look at RetroAchievements, a free online service that adds Xbox-style achievements to classic games played through supported emulators. Think of it as a gamified layer on top of your retro library, with score tracking, leaderboards, and a whole community of players competing to earn bragging rights.

In the video I demo an achievement I earned playing the Sega Master system version of Choplifter for gaining an extra life without losing any lives. When an achievement is reached, an on-screen badge pops up, and points get logged on the RetroAchievements website. That bumped me to rank 100,800 out of around 111,000 players. It’s not exactly elite status, but it’s a start :)!

Setting it up was straightforward. After creating an account on retroachievements.org, I linked it up with my emulators. There’s a wide range of compatible emulators, including RetroArch, Dolphin, DuckStation, and PCSX2. On my Steam Deck, I use EmuDeck, which simplifies the process even further and logs you in across all your installed emulators.

RetroAchievements has two play modes: “hardcore,” which disables cheats, save states, rewinds, and slow motion, and “softcore,” which allows those conveniences. There’s a separate ranking system for each mode, so your score stays relevant no matter how you like to play. The community enforces rules against cheating, so even in softcore, the competition feels fair.

What makes this system interesting is how the achievements are actually built. They’re tied to the emulator’s memory and look for specific values or in-game events. When the right conditions are met, the emulator triggers the achievement and reports it back to the website. You can even follow other users and compare your scores directly.

Another nice feature is the in-game feedback indicating how close you’re getting to your next achievement. While playing Afterburner II on the Sega Saturn, I went after a particularly tricky achievement called “Too Close for Missiles,” which requires destroying 150 enemies with guns on normal difficulty or higher. A counter appeared on screen, incrementing after every plane was downed with my cannons. I haven’t cracked that one yet—it resets if you game over and continue—but it’s kept me coming back to the game long after I completed it.

The achievements themselves are created by the RetroAchievements community, and becoming an achievement developer involves learning how emulators and game memory work. It’s more than just coming up with fun challenges—you actually have to build them into the game logic without breaking anything. There’s a whole process for ensuring that achievements trigger properly and don’t interfere with the game’s performance.

FPGA-based systems like the MiSTer and Analog consoles aren’t supported, at least not yet. I use a MiSTer for a lot of my retro gaming on a CRT upstairs, and it would be great to get achievements while playing there. Hopefully, support for those systems is on the horizon.

You can find my RetroAchievements profile here. If you think you can top my score in Afterburner II, go for it. I’ll be watching.

Curious about how I retro these days? Check out my video on that here!

YouTube Experiment Limits Notifications from “Clicking the Bell”

I recently came across a post on Android Authority that a viewer, James Randolph, flagged for me, and it highlights an experimental shift YouTube is making to its notification system. It looks like YouTube is quietly testing changes that could result in fewer notifications being sent—even if you’ve clicked the bell for a channel. The gist is that if you’re not actively engaging with a channel you’ve subscribed to, YouTube might just stop sending you notifications from it altogether.

I take a look at this experiment in my latest video.

The details come from a March 26th entry on YouTube’s experiment page. Initially this is a small test targeting people who’ve clicked the bell for “all” notifications but haven’t been watching those channels lately. YouTube’s reasoning? A lot of people, overwhelmed by the flood of notifications, either stop engaging or turn off all notifications at the app level.

From YouTube’s perspective, this is about cleaning things up. But to me, it seems like a fix for a problem that was never really handled well in the first place.

For years, creators like myself have been dealing with how unreliable the bell icon has become. According to my analytics, only about 10% of my subscribers actually click the bell. But of those, just 3.9% actually enabled YouTube notifications on their device.

One of my longstanding issues with the bell is how rigid it is. It pings right when a video goes live, regardless of whether it’s a good time for the viewer. Most people aren’t going to stop what they’re doing and watch immediately. For my part, I started using YouTube’s scheduled digest feature. I have all my notifications come in at 7:00 p.m. every day. That way I can review everything at once and decide what I actually want to watch. Most users likely don’t use that feature.

Another issue is the inability to add a video to the “Watch Later” list directly from a notification. Personally, I rely on the Watch Later heavily. I’ll often find something I want to check out later in the evening on the TV, and being able to queue it up is a big part of how I use YouTube. That functionality is just missing from the notifications tab.

When YouTube first introduced the bell, it was a compromise to give viewers more control after the algorithm started more aggressively recommending videos. People were frustrated that they weren’t seeing videos from creators they cared about. The bell was meant to restore that connection. But the way it was implemented—again, notifying you at the exact moment of publication—just doesn’t work for most people.

There are also little things about how the system works that don’t help. Take the example of turning off notifications for a specific channel from the notification bell menu in the YouTube apps. Turning off notifications from that menu doesn’t revert to the default algorithmic notification setting, it stops ALL future notifications from that channel.

These are relatively small usability issues, but they add up. When YouTube says people aren’t using notifications or the subscription tab, my view is that it’s not because they don’t want to—it’s because the features don’t work well for them. I’ve looked at my own analytics and have seen the same trend. Even though my subscriber count has nearly doubled since 2018, the thumbnail impressions I get from the subscription tab continue to decline. It’s not for lack of interest. It’s just that the tool itself hasn’t evolved in a way that supports how people actually watch videos.

YouTube’s algorithm clearly does a good job keeping people on the platform. But some of us prefer a little more manual control over what we see and when. I for one like to see what I’m choosing not to watch. A few thoughtful changes—both to how notifications behave and to the usability of the subscription tab—could go a long way for viewers who use YouTube as their primary video platform.

See more about my subscription tab thoughts here!

TV Group Asks the FCC to Broadcast 5G TV vs. ATSC 3.0

I’ve been following the developments in over-the-air television closely, and something interesting is brewing—what looks like the early stages of a format war. Right now, the major U.S. broadcasters are backing ATSC 3.0, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

Now, a company called HC2 Broadcasting Holdings, which owns about 60 low-power TV stations across the country, is asking the FCC for permission to use a different technology entirely: 5G TV. Instead of sending out ATSC 3 signals, they want to use the same spectrum to transmit using mobile phone standards, essentially turning TV broadcasting into a data service compatible with 5G phones and presumably set-top boxes. I dive more into what 5G TV is all about in my latest video.

If the FCC allows low powered stations to use 5G technology, we might be looking at two separate approaches to the future of free over the air TV. 5G TV’s backers are hoping that the technology can be cheaply built into mobile phones which have a far higher adoption rate vs. those using antennas on televisions for over the air television.

The way 5G TV works is relatively straightforward. It uses the same modulation as 5G mobile data but is designed for one-way communication—broadcasting data like video streams without requiring a return signal. It would operate in the 470 to 698 MHz range, which is the same frequency band currently used by low-power TV stations. That makes the transition more feasible from a technical perspective, assuming the FCC gives the green light.

What HC2 seems to be banking on is a future where phones can tune into TV signals without a mobile phone service subscription. In theory, a $20 prepaid phone from a big-box store could be enough to access live television and emergency broadcasts. That’s a significant departure from ATSC 3.0, which currently restricts playing back content on anything other than approved TV box.

This 5G-based approach also offers flexibility beyond just video. Since it’s essentially an IP data stream, broadcasters could use it to push all kinds of content. Speeds wouldn’t be blazing fast—maybe 10 to 25 Mbps—but that’s more than enough for several video channels. There’s also potential for emergency communication. In a stadium, for example, people could receive live camera angles or evacuation instructions without clogging up traditional mobile networks.

At the moment, there are no consumer devices that can tune into these 5G TV signals. So if a format war is on the horizon they’ll have a lot of catching up to do with ATSC 3.0 which, while flawed, still has been shipping on higher end televisions for awhile now. But given 5G TV works over the same technology mobile phones use already it shouldn’t be a heavy lift to add it to next generation handsets.

Most of HC2’s stations aren’t broadcasting high-quality content today. Most are just looping infomercials or retransmitting cable channels, often only running standard definition programming. Pivoting to data casting might offer them a more profitable path forward with a larger potential audience, especially if they can license out access or offer value-added services through the new format.

It’s worth watching how the FCC responds. If they approve the request, these broadcasters would have the option to pursue 5G TV instead of sticking with ATSC standards. That kind of flexibility could open the door to innovation, or at least force a new conversation about what over-the-air TV should look like moving forward.

My daughter takes over my YouTube channel!

My daughter Ellie really wanted to try her hand at product reviewing. So I let her take over my YouTube channel for April Fool’s Day! Ellie wanted to do her own review of the Hideal magnifier we looked at in my most recent Amazon haul video.

Check out Ellie’s video here. Will I still have a job after this?

YouTube’s automation detected her presence in the video and has restricted comments and reach on this one sadly.

Plex Update: New app, Plex Pass Price Increases and Changes to Free Tier (sponsored post)

Plex officially released its new mobile app, implementing the UI changes from the beta version that I previewed last November. Along with this release, Plex made some significant changes to personal media users running servers on the free tier.

In my latest monthly sponsored Plex video, we take a look at all that’s going on with Plex.

I found the new app is mostly the same as the beta we looked at previously. One important addition is improved support for TV tuners for live TV. Users can now easily switch between their antenna channels and Plex’s free streaming channels directly within the app. Users can set recordings for over the air channels too but can’t yet schedule them like they could on the previous version of the app.

Another big change is moving music and photos out of the main app. Plexamp now handles personal music libraries, and Plex Photos manages photo libraries. Both are standalone, free apps. Plexamp has additional features for Plex Pass users.

With this new app comes changes to how free tier users stream or share media outside the home along with the first price increase for Plex Pass in nearly a decade. Starting April 29, the cost of a lifetime Plex Pass will go up to $249, yearly to $69.99 and monthly to $6.99. Users can get a Plex Pass at the old price before April 29 using my affiliate link.

For users on the free tier, a new “Remote Watch Pass” is required remote streaming or sharing with others outside their home network. This pass costs $2 per month or $20 annually. If the server owner has a Plex Pass, free tier users can continue accessing that server for free. Additionally a Plex Pass user won’t incur fees accessing a server that is one the free tier. Plex did eliminate the mobile unlock fee previously required for Android and iOS users to stream remotely without limitations.

I have definitely heard from users who are having trouble with the new app or don’t like the changes. But this is the direction Plex is taking in order to keep the product sustainable into the future. I have been a Plex user long before they were a sponsor on the channel and still happy with it. But there are alternatives for those who disagree with the direction they’re taking.

Disclosure: The video attached to this post was a paid sponsorship from Plex. However they did not review or approve it before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.