Infantry cadre assigned to the 1st Battalion, 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute conducted Soldier Borne Sensor training from Dec. 9–11, 2025, using nano-uncrewed aerial systems from Teledyne FLIR, also known as the Black Hornet 4, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize small-unit reconnaissance and prepare instructors for future unmanned aircraft system integration. The […]
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded an $80 million contract modification to provide additional remote turret systems for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle program, according to a newly released contract notice. The modification applies to a previously awarded contract and covers the Amphibious Combat Vehicle medium caliber cannon Protector remote turret 20, […]
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN )’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian (CV-18), transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the second time the carrier has passed through the sensitive waterway, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. The Taiwanese military said they monitored the carrier’s movement and responded in line with established procedures. The […]
The Trump administration on December 17 approved a sweeping arms sale package to Taiwan valued at $11.1054 billion, covering eight major defense systems, including HIMARS launchers, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, TOW and Javelin anti-armor missiles. As reported by Liberty Times, the package includes systems designed for long-range strike, rapid cross-regional reinforcement, and battlefield survivability. Taiwan’s Ministry […]
Investigatory Powers Commissioner says reforms have failed to close oversight gaps
The UK's Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) has several regulatory gaps that must be plugged in future legislative reforms, according to Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) Sir Brian Leveson.…
There’s a good chance you own a couple of gadgets that support wireless charging now, be it your iPhone or Android phone, wireless earbuds or smartwatch. Multi-device wireless chargers can help power them all up in one place, without the need for a bunch of cords messing up your space. There are dozens of these accessories out there today, and we’ve tested a bunch of the most popular models. You’ll find out top picks below for the best wireless charging pads, plus some advice on how to choose the right one for your needs.
Do wireless charging pads work with any phone or device?
The short answer is no, but the long and more detailed answer starts with it depends. Regular old wireless charging pucks should work with any device that’s compatible with the same wireless charging standard that the charger supports. Smartphones and other mobile devices that support wireless charging nowadays are likely to support the Qi standard, so double check that your phone or gadget fits that bill and it should work with any Qi wireless charging pad (all of our top picks fall into this category).
When it comes to multi-device chargers, things can get a little tricky. Rather than starting your search looking for the most universally adaptable accessory, consider the devices you have and aspire to own in the future. If you’re an iPhone user with an Apple Watch, you may want to look for a wireless charger that has a Watch pad built in. Ditto if you’re a Samsung phone owner and use a Galaxy Watch. Some earbuds support wireless charging, but you’ll only need an open pad or space on your multi-device charger where you can sit the earbuds in their case down for a power-up.
Those with iPhone 12s and newer Apple smartphones can take advantage of MagSafe chargers, which magnetically attach to their handsets. Android devices don’t support Apple’s proprietary MagSafe technology, but you can buy a magnetic adapter for pretty cheap that will allow your Samsung or Pixel phone to work with MagSafe multi-device chargers. You’ll also need that to get full Qi2 goodness with newer Android phones like the Galaxy S25 series, which are “Qi2 ready,” but since they do not have magnets built in, aren’t precisely Qi2 compliant.
How to pick the best wireless charging pad for your needs
Even without a charging cable to worry about, you’re probably buying a multi-device wireless charger with one location in mind. It might sit on your nightstand or on your desk. Not everyone buys a charger just for themselves, though; you might want to use one as a shared station for you and a partner.
If the charger will sit on your nightstand, you’ll likely want a compact, stable unit that won’t swallow all your free space or tumble to the floor (and if it does fall, one with enough durability to survive). Some may prefer a lay-flat design if your phone screen has a tendency to keep you awake at night. Others might use their phone as their alarm clock, in which case you may want a stand that keeps the screen within reach and eyeshot. This is also the preferred design if you use Standby Mode on iPhones.
A vertical orientation may be best for a charger that lives on your desk so you can more easily check notifications throughout the day. Will the charger sit on a low table? Horizontal charger pads may make it easier to grab your devices in a hurry. Travel chargers should fold up or otherwise protect the pads while they’re in your bag. And, yes, aesthetics count. You may want something pretty if it’s likely to sit in a posh room where guests will see it.
For vehicles, consider a wireless car charger if you frequently need to top off your device on the go. These chargers combine convenience with functionality, ensuring your phone stays powered while you’re navigating and taking calls at the same time. We also heavily recommend a magnetic charger so there’s less of a chance your phone will go flying into the passenger’s seat the next time you hit a pothole.
Wireless charging speed and performance
It’s no secret that wireless charging is slower than wired, and powering multiple devices adds a new wrinkle. As these chargers often have to support a wide range of hardware, you’ll have to forget about the fastest, device-specific options from brands like Google, OnePlus and Samsung.
Today, most wireless chargers come in at 15W for phones. The latest Qi2 standard can get you up to 25W of power with a compatible smartphone. These speeds are improving bit by bit, but they're still not quite as fast as wired charging. It’s rare that you’ll find a truly slow-as-molasses example, mind you. Even some of the most affordable options we’ve seen will recharge your phone at a reasonable 7.5W or 10W, and the 5W for other devices like wireless earbuds is more than enough.
If you’re only docking overnight or while you work, speed won’t make a huge difference. Just be sure that whatever you buy is powerful enough for a phone in a case. Some chargers may also include an AC adapter in the box. If not, make sure you’re using one with the right power level to get the fastest charge.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-multi-device-wireless-charging-pads-120557582.html?src=rss
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense has received a $323,7 million contract modification to continue logistics support and engineering services for the U.S. Army’s UH-72 Lakota helicopter fleet, according to a newly issued contract notice. The modification, identified as P00214 under contract W58RGZ-22-C-0022, covers ongoing sustainment work for the Lakota platform, which is widely used by […]
The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lebanon involving M1151A1 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles and related equipment, with an estimated value of $34.5 million, according to a notification delivered to Congress. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification informing lawmakers of the proposed sale on […]
Boeing has been awarded a $930,7 million contract to carry out major service life modifications for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, according to a newly released contract notice. The award covers work on up to 60 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and supports ongoing Navy efforts to extend the operational life of Block II […]
Researchers have been able to make the semiconductor germanium superconductive for the first time by incorporating gallium into its crystal lattice through the process of molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE). MBE is the same process which is used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices such as diodes and MOSFETs and it involves carefully growing crystal lattice in layers atop a substrate.
When the germanium is doped with gallium the crystalline structure, though weakened, is preserved. This allows for the structure to become superconducting when its temperature is reduced to 3.5 Kelvin.
It is of course wonderful that our material science capabilities continue to advance, but the breakthrough we’re really looking forward to is room-temperature superconductors, and we’re not there yet. If you’re interested in progress in superconductors you might like to read about Floquet Majorana Fermions which we covered earlier this year.
Believes it can translate workflow smarts into AI ROI
In October, Salesforce debuted Agentforce IT in a direct challenge to ServiceNow’s ITSM product, and analyst firm Forrester’s vice president and principal analyst Charles Betz rated it the “most credible threat” ServiceNow has ever faced.…
A federal judge in San Francisco is reversing the terminations of hundreds of federal employees finalized during the recent government shutdown.
A preliminary injuction, signed Wednesday by Judge Susan Illston, orders the departments of Education and State, as well as the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration, to rescind reduction in force notices for employees who were terminated between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12 — the start and end dates of the shutdown.
“Absent a contrary ruling from a higher court,” Illston is giving agencies until Dec. 23 to carry out the terms of her preliminary injunction.
“Defendants must do what the continuing resolution says. They may not take any further steps to implement or carry out a RIF through January 30, 2026, regardless of when the RIF notice first issued,” Illston wrote.
These agencies sent RIF notices to employees before the recent government shutdown. In most cases, separations were scheduled to take effect in October or November, during the shutdown.
The American Federation of Government Employees and the American Foreign Service Association, who are leading a lawsuit with other unions, argued agencies that finalized these RIFs during the government shutdown violated a stopgap spending bill passed by Congress that prohibited layoffs through Jan. 30, 2026.
The court issued a temporary restraining order earlier this month that blocked layoffs of nearly 250 Foreign Service officers from being finalized at the State Department. Those layoffs were originally scheduled for Nov. 10, but were pushed back to Dec. 5, and remain on hold.
The Trump administration has followed a narrower interpretation of the stopgap spending bill, and has only reinstated federal employees who received RIF notices between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12.
The continuing resolution Congress passed on Nov. 12 states that between Nov. 12, 2025 and Jan. 30, 2026, “no federal funds may be used to initiate, carry out, implement, or otherwise notice a reduction in force to reduce the number of employees within any department.”
It also states that “any reduction in force proposed, noticed, initiated, executed, implemented, or otherwise taken by an executive agency between October 1, 2025, and the date of enactment, shall have no force or effect.”
At a hearing before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Illston said she would grant the preliminary injunction requested by the unions, because the “chaotic nature of these RIFs has been continuing.”
“The continuing resolution, ending the longest shutdown the government has experienced to date, said that no federal funds would be spent RIF-ing people through Jan. 30. But that is not what is happening in some of these agencies,” Illston said.
The judge’s order will impact about 680 total federal employees. That includes nearly 250 Foreign Service officers at the State Department, 200 employees at GSA, 150 at the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, and nearly 80 at SBA.
During the hearing, Illston said she would consider the Justice Department’s request to delay her preliminary injunction from going into effect for a few days. This would give the Trump administration time to consider whether it will ask a federal appeals court to stay her ruling.
Illston said this would minimize some of the “whiplash” some federal employees have felt in other court cases, in which lower courts have reinstated them, only for an appeals court to allow layoffs to continue.
“They’d have to send a notice, and then another notice, and a notice saying, ‘Forget what we said yesterday.’ It would be terrible,” Illston said.
Brad Rosenberg, a DOJ attorney representing the Trump administration, said that rescinding layoffs now would be “logistically a big lift” for agencies, especially if the courts later allow those RIFs to proceed.
“If a RIF is rescinded, and if this court either decides at final judgment in this case, or if the government were to appeal, and an appellate court were to stay or vacate this Court’s preliminary injunction, government agencies would presumably have to start all over again with that, with that process, and it would be awfully hard to unscramble that egg,” Rosenberg said.
“That’s not going to provide the type of long-term relief that I suspect plaintiffs are seeking here,” he added.
Rosenberg argued that employees should bring their individual cases before the Merit Systems Protection Board. An appeals court recently allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with firing a Democratic member of the MSPB.
“This is merely the administration trying to carry out its policy objectives. And I realize that those policy objectives have consequences for individuals, and that they can be significant consequences, although we do think that those consequences can be remediated through proper channeling to the Merit Systems Protection Board,” he said.
Danielle Leonard, an attorney representing the plaintiff unions, said the “mandate was clear” from Congress, and that agencies should “nullify those RIFs.”
“We have Congress stepping in here and being incredibly clear about what the public interest needs in this very circumstance, and the public interest is in restoring these employees to their employment status and giving them clarity,” Leonard said. “Congress could have just said, ‘Stop.’ Congress could have just said, ‘Halt, let’s just freeze everything.’ They went further than that,” Leonard said.
Leonard said recently separated federal employees face “real and ongoing harm,” including eviction notices and unpaid bills.
“We have seen agencies exploit their lack of communication to keep employees in the dark, to keep them confused. They have not even told them whether they’re still employed when they directly ask. There absolutely has been harm,” she said.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley called Illston’s ruling “another victory for federal employees and for the rule of law.”
“When Congress voted to end the longest government shutdown in history, it spoke clearly and unambiguously that further reductions-in-force were prohibited, and any RIFs that occurred during the shutdown were required to be reversed. The administration’s continued defiance of that mandate is part of a troubling pattern of egregious actions against federal employees and the American public,” Kelley said.
John Dinkelman, president of the American Foreign Service Association, said Congress was clear that “reductions in force were prohibited” when it passed the continuing resolution, and that the administration’s efforts to proceed with RIFs were “unlawful.”
“Today’s ruling confirms this,” Dinkelman said. “We will continue to fight to ensure that Foreign Service professionals are treated with the respect the law demands.”
Music Assistant’s just dropped its biggest update yet. It comes with a visual overhaul, a host of new features, and the introduction of a custom multimedia streaming protocol. If you use Home Assistant and rely on this awesome audio manager, you'll love version 2.7.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr today faced blistering criticism in a Senate hearing for his September threats to revoke ABC station licenses over comments made by Jimmy Kimmel. While Democrats provided nearly all the criticism, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that Congress should act to restrict the FCC’s power to intimidate news broadcasters.
As an immediate result of today’s hearing, the FCC removed a statement from its website that said it is an independent agency. Carr, who has embraced President Trump’s declaration that independent agencies may no longer operate independently from the White House, apparently didn’t realize that the website still called the FCC an independent agency.
“Yes or no, is the FCC an independent agency?” Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) asked. Carr answered that the FCC is not independent, prompting Luján to point to a statement on the FCC website calling the FCC “an independent US government agency overseen by Congress.”
This week Jonathan chats with Jonathan Thomas about OpenShot, the cross-platform video editor that aims to be simple to use, without sacrificing functionality. We did the video edit with OpenShot for this episode, and can confirm it gets the job done. What led to the creation of this project, and what’s the direction it’s going? Watch to find out!
Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or have the guest contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.
One of the big stories of last year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was the debut of Donut Lab’s diminutive but powerful electric motors. When I spoke with Donut earlier this year, the company told me that it was looking at applications ranging from drones to large automotive motors, but also things like wind turbines and even washing machines. Now, almost a year later, we have our first look at an electric vehicle that uses the technology, thanks to a new collaboration between Donut Lab and WATT Electric Vehicle Company.
WATT had previously developed the Passenger and Commercial EV Skateboard (PACES), a lightweight aluminum platform for low-volume EVs. Now, it’s integrating Donut’s motors, first with one for each rear wheel, although there will eventually be an all-wheel-drive variant, too.
The small EV chassis is rather intriguing—with the motors in the rear wheel hubs, the layout is even more space-efficient than a more conventional EV, which still needs to find a few cubic feet to package its drive unit(s). The two companies see plenty of potential for the platform, which they say could give rise to “multiple vehicle configurations from beach buggies to high-performance sports cars to commercial delivery vehicles.”
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Infantry cadre assigned to the 1st Battalion, 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute conducted Soldier Borne Sensor training from Dec. 9–11, 2025, using nano-uncrewed aerial systems from Teledyne FLIR, also known as the Black Hornet 4, as part of ongoing efforts to modernize small-unit reconnaissance and prepare instructors for future unmanned aircraft system integration. The […] 
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been awarded an $80 million contract modification to provide additional remote turret systems for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle program, according to a newly released contract notice. The modification applies to a previously awarded contract and covers the Amphibious Combat Vehicle medium caliber cannon Protector remote turret 20, […] 
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN )’s newest aircraft carrier, Fujian (CV-18), transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the second time the carrier has passed through the sensitive waterway, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. The Taiwanese military said they monitored the carrier’s movement and responded in line with established procedures. The […] 
The Trump administration on December 17 approved a sweeping arms sale package to Taiwan valued at $11.1054 billion, covering eight major defense systems, including HIMARS launchers, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, TOW and Javelin anti-armor missiles. As reported by Liberty Times, the package includes systems designed for long-range strike, rapid cross-regional reinforcement, and battlefield survivability. Taiwan’s Ministry […] 
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense has received a $323,7 million contract modification to continue logistics support and engineering services for the U.S. Army’s UH-72 Lakota helicopter fleet, according to a newly issued contract notice. The modification, identified as P00214 under contract W58RGZ-22-C-0022, covers ongoing sustainment work for the Lakota platform, which is widely used by […] 
The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Lebanon involving M1151A1 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles and related equipment, with an estimated value of $34.5 million, according to a notification delivered to Congress. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification informing lawmakers of the proposed sale on […] 
Boeing has been awarded a $930,7 million contract to carry out major service life modifications for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, according to a newly released contract notice. The award covers work on up to 60 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and supports ongoing Navy efforts to extend the operational life of Block II […] 
