Forget Mac Mini, This 4.6-Star Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC Goes for Peanuts (16GB RAM, 500GB SSD)
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This pocket-sized Beelink Mini S12 Pro comes in a case that measures in at only 4.52 inches by 4.01 inches by 1.54 inches. It's powered by a 12th generation Intel N100 processor. That's not as fast as the Intel Twin Lake-N150 processor found on the S13, but it still can reliably provide up to 3.4GHz. That should work nicely for your to complete basic tasks, browse the web, or even work with some creative applications, light software development, or playing non-intensive games. The computer has 16GB of memory and comes with a 500GB SSD to provide you with ample storage. It does have two SSD card slots that support up to 1TB each so you can feasibly bring the mini PC up to 2TB if you desire.
With support for Wi-Fi 6, you can achieve fast upload and download speeds when connected to a Wi-Fi 6 network. The mini PC also supports Bluetooth 5.2 connections to pair with a variety of different accessories seamlessly.
Ports include two USB 3.2 slots on the front and two more on the back, each capable of data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps. The Beelink mini PC includes two HDMI slots which can support resolutions of up to 4K and refresh rates of up to 60Hz. Two of them means you can connect to two different screen at once to either extend or duplicate your display without the help of a docking station or hub. The PC also has a built-in AUX jack to connect to headphones or desktop speakers.
If you're concerned about keeping the top of your desk free of clutter, you should consider the Beelink S12 Pro mini PC. For a limited time, it's dropped in price by 26%. That brings it down from the list price of $209 to just $154. You'll save $55 and a ton of desk space.
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Tom's Guide
3 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro Review: This security camera doubles as a smart home hub - and does both well
Resolution: 1520 x 2688Field of view: 133 degrees diagonalSize: 2.78 inches (width), 2.78 inches (height), and 3.50 inches (depth) not including standWireless: 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi model), Ethernet 802.3af (PoE model), Zigbee, Thread, BluetoothWorks with: Apple HomeKit (including HomeKit Secure Video), Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, RTSP The smart home has gotten a whole lot smarter and easier to use over the past few years, especially with the advent of standards like Matter and Thread. But with the new standards comes the need for new hardware that ties everything together – and the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro does just that. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro, of course, can't skirt by on just being a smart home hub. As a home security camera, it also has to capture crisp and detailed footage. Is the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro really the complete package or does it make compromises? The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro comes at $199.99 for the power-over-ethernet (PoE) model, or for $179.99 for the Wi-Fi model. It comes in white or gray, and it's available straight from the Aqara website, or through Amazon. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro has a ton of smart tech built into it, and as such, you wouldn't expect it to necessarily be ultra-compact. That said, while it's definitely larger than some smart home security cameras, such as the ultra-compact Wyze Cam v4, it isn't overly bulky and doesn't draw too much attention to itself. The camera has a white body with a black front that houses the camera sensor and the built-in spotlight. It can be wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted using hardware included in the box, or simply placed on a table and angled properly using the stand built onto the bottom of the camera. The back of the device can be removed to reveal a reset button and 1/4" screw hole for mounting. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro actually comes in two different models, one that's powered by USB-C and connects over Wi-Fi, and one that supports power over Ethernet. We're reviewing the Wi-Fi model, and it has a USB-C port on the bottom, towards the back. The camera is weather-proof too, supporting an operating temperature of between -22°F and 122°F and a water resistance rating of IP65. Essentially, it can be used both indoors and outdoors, making it more versatile than some others – though keep in mind that it requires power to function, so you'll need to run a cable of some kind to it, whether it be the USB-C cable for the Wi-Fi model, or the ethernet cable for the PoE model. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro may not have a 4K resolution like some modern security cameras, but it still captures a detailed and crisp image with relatively natural colors. The camera can capture video at a resolution of 1520 x 2688, with a 133-degree diagonal field-of-view. That isn't as wide as the Arlo Wired Floodlight Camera, which has a 160-degree field-of-view, but it should suffice for indoor use. If you need the camera to capture a wide area, you might need to look elsewhere. I was, however, particularly impressed with the camera's dynamic range. I mostly used it indoors in my living room, which has a few windows. Other cameras, like the Eufy Cam 2C Pro that I reviewed, usually completely blow out the highlights, essentially making my windows look like big white squares. The Camera Hub G5 Pro was at least able to capture some of the detail outside of the windows. The G5 Pro has a spotlight built into it for color night vision recording. Thankfully, the spotlight is relatively powerful, which is important, as the camera doesn't support black and white infrared-based night vision at all. In other words, if you want to capture what's happening in low light, you'll have to rely on the spotlight. That will immediately disqualify this camera for users who don't want the bright spotlight to light up in any low light setting. Aqara also doesn't make it very easy to set the camera to only turn the spotlight on when motion is detected – for that, you'll have to create an automation. You should be able to do so through a simple toggle. Thankfully, it did seem to be relatively responsive to motion, initiating recording quickly after movement to ensure as much footage as possible was captured. Even smaller movements from my cat triggered recording, which isn't always the case with security cameras. Part of this is likely thanks to the camera's support for continuous recording – it's possible it detects motion, and then labels 'events' as starting a few seconds before it actually detected the motion. Regardless of how it works, it works well. The audio quality was good too. The speaker built into the camera played my voice relatively loudly, and made it easy to hear anything I said. And, the microphone picked up voices well too, playing clearly through my phone's speaker. Audio quality is often overlooked, but that wasn't the case here. The camera is packed with smart object recognition and recording features, with the ability to detect all different kinds of objects and use that information to inform notifications. It has facial recognition, vehicle recognition, package detection, animal detection, and even lens obstruction detection to ensure you're notified if the camera's view is being blocked. Additionally, there are audio-based notifications too. It sent me a notification that there was a baby crying when it heard my one-year-old (as if her crying while I was holding her wasn't notification enough), even when the crying was downstairs, in a bedroom, with the camera upstairs in the living room. All of these object- and audio-recognition tools seemed to be accurate. They were easy to set up too. Enabling the package detection feature involves setting an area for detection, however it was easy to select that area on a grid, and when enabled, it worked very quickly. I enabled package detection despite the camera being mainly used in my living room, and got a notification of a package within three seconds of placing a box in the pre-set package motion zone. Even better is the fact that these features are processed locally, on-device – so you don't have to pay a subscription fee to access them. That's pretty handy. The Aqara app has gotten quite a bit better over the years. It's relatively easy to navigate now, especially as it relates to the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro. The home screen of the app shows an overview of all your connected devices, and you can customize this screen to show a player with a live feed of footage. Tapping on the camera will allow you to see a live feed of the camera and control any top-line settings, all from one screen. Within that view, you'll get a tab at the bottom to view a timeline of recordings, and you can tap the three-dot menu button on the top right to access additional settings and features. Other features include those you would expect, including the ability to set zones and sensitivity. Unfortunately, you have to set motion zones for each detection type – be it vehicle detection, package detection, and so on. While this is a neat idea for those who want to set different zones for different object types, you should be able to set global motion zones too. Despite the fact that the camera offers a huge range of features and settings, they're organized well, and most shouldn't find it too hard to access the settings they're trying to tweak. That said, I do recommend going over all the settings when you first set the camera up, to ensure that it's set up in the exact way that you want it to work. My biggest complaint with the app, however, is how it handles recorded footage. Tapping on the timeline tab will show you a timeline of events, and you can view footage from those events from the app. Unfortunately, however, it's difficult to download those recordings to your phone. Instead, you have to hit the 'Record' button and watch the footage in real-time – after which the app will download what you 'recorded' to your device. Considering the fact that footage was already recorded, I'm not sure why that's necessary. While the image quality offered by the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is good, image quality is only one piece of the promise of this particular product. The other, of course, is smart home compatibility. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro can function as a Matter controller, meaning that it can be one of the devices that communicates with other Matter products in your smart home. Not only that, but it also works as a Thread border router. This means that it can communicate with Thread-based devices in your home to help build a thread mesh network for a smart home that's as responsive as possible. Matter can work over a number of standards, including Wi-Fi and Thread, but if all the devices in your smart home support Thread, they can all exist as part of a mesh network. And, on top of Matter and Thread, the G5 Pro can function as a Zigbee hub. What does it mean for the G5 Pro to be a 'hub' for all of these standards? Well, for example, your phone can't connect with Zigbee devices on its own – it has to communicate with a hub, which then sends commands to Zigbee devices. As a hub for these standards, all of the Matter, Thread, and Zigbee devices in your home can connect to the G5 Pro, allowing you to control them from the Aqara app, even when you're not at home. And, as a Matter hub, you can scan that Matter code on the G5 Pro to bring all of the Zigbee devices connected to the G5 Pro into other Matter ecosystems, like Apple Home. You might already have Matter hubs and Thread border routers in your home – but what the G5 Pro offers is the ability for one to be placed outdoors. The camera can be used both indoors and outdoors, but if you use it outdoors, it'll provide a more reliable and more stable connection point for any other nearby Matter, Thread, or Zigbee devices. As a hub for all of these standards, you'll be able to add your smart home devices through the Aqara app, controlling them all within one interface. Now, however, things might start to get a little more confusing. In the Matter standard, you have Matter controllers, and Matter devices. Matter controllers serve as the connection point between you and your Matter devices – but the Matter spec doesn't actually support security cameras yet. In other words, while you can use the G5 Pro as a Matter hub, you can't connect its camera as a Matter device within your existing smart home. That's why Aqara touts the G5 Pro as supporting Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and so on – without those individual connections, you wouldn't simply be able to add the camera to your smart home. On top of basic HomeKit support, the G5 Pro also supports HomeKit Secure Video. Apple HomeKit only supports a video resolution of up to 1080p, which is a little frustrating in 2025. That said, even when the camera is connected to HomeKit Secure Video, you can still record and view 1520p footage in the Aqara app. That's unlike some other HomeKit-compatible cameras – when the Eufy 2C Pro is connected to HomeKit Secure Video, it only records 1080p footage, despite being a 2K camera that can record in 2K when it's not connected to HomeKit. Lastly, the Camera Hub G5 Pro supports Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). That means you can use it as a simple IP camera, streaming to smart home clients like Home Assistant. The basic gist of smart home compatibility with the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is that it supports all major smart home ecosystems and can serve as the central brain of your smart home if you want it to. If you want to use it with another ecosystem, however, you'll still want to use the Aqara app to set the camera up and tweak advanced settings. Unlike many other modern security cameras, the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro offers a number of ways for you to store footage. For starters, it has either 8GB or 32GB of storage built right into it, and when it runs out of storage, it'll overwrite the oldest footage first. On top of that, it also supports Network Attached Storage, or NAS, for expanded storage. And, with its HomeKit Secure Video support, you can store recorded footage in your iCloud account – though keep in mind that HomeKit footage is stored in 1080p. Of course, Aqara has its own cloud storage service too, though you don't have to subscribe to get some cloud features. Without a subscription, you'll still be able to store a day of footage at a 360p resolution, though that's obviously relatively low. If you upgrade to the Aqara HomeGuardian service, you'll get 90 days of video history at up to a 2K resolution, along with additional features like continuous recording, daily snapshots, and notifications over SMS or email. For one camera, the service costs $6.99 per month or $83.88 per year – however, at the time of this writing, you could get it discounted at a rate of $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. For unlimited cameras, you'll pay $14.99 per month or $179.88 per year – however, again I saw a discount that brought it down to $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. If you're not sure if you want to use the service, Aqara offers a 14-day free trial, which is a solid amount of time to try out the service. A 7-day trial is common, so it's nice to see the ability to get a longer trial. Few security cameras are as versatile as the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro. I have no major complaints with the camera; sure, it's difficult to save recorded footage, but you can get around that, and it could be fixed with a software update down the line. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is much more versatile than almost anything else on the market, doing away with the idea of supporting one ecosystem really well or mainly prioritizing first-party features, in favor of supporting all ecosystems as well as possible, with the flexibility of local storage and the ability to serve as a Matter bridge and Thread border router.
Fast Company
3 minutes ago
- Fast Company
Trump accuses banks of political discrimination. Here's what to know
The White House was preparing to act against banks for allegedly dropping customers for political reasons, as President Donald Trump said he believes that banks, including JPMorgan and Bank of America, had discriminated against him and his supporters. A draft of the executive order, which was reviewed by Reuters, instructs regulators to review banks for 'politicized or unlawful debanking' practices. The order could authorize monetary penalties or other disciplinary measures against violators. It is likely to be announced as early as this week, two industry sources said. The White House had no immediate comment on the reported order. Trump's criticism adds pressure on America's largest lenders, but it also shows how the president's personal slights and business interests are getting reflected in the administration's policies — something that critics say raises issues of conflicts of interest. The sprawling Trump business empire has been placed into a trust, but it is still ultimately owned by the president. An executive order against the banks would come after Trump said in a CNBC interview on Tuesday that the country's top two lenders had previously rejected his deposits. Trump said, without providing evidence, that the banks' refusal to take his deposits indicated that the administration of former President Joe Biden had encouraged regulators to 'destroy Trump.' 'They did discriminate,' Trump said of actions taken by JPMorgan after his first term in office. 'I had hundreds of millions, I had many, many accounts loaded up with cash … and they told me, 'I'm sorry sir, we can't have you. You have 20 days to get out.' 'They totally discriminate against, I think, me maybe even more, but they discriminate against many conservatives,' he said. Trump said he subsequently tried to deposit funds with Bank of America and was also refused, and eventually split the cash. 'I ended up going to small banks all over the place,' he said. 'I was putting $10 million here, $10 million there, did $5 million, $10 million, $12 million,' he said, without naming the lenders. In a statement, JPMorgan did not address the president's specific claims about his account. 'We don't close accounts for political reasons, and we agree with President Trump that regulatory change is desperately needed,' JPMorgan said. 'We commend the White House for addressing this issue and look forward to working with them to get this right.' BofA also did not address Trump's specific claims. 'Reputational risk' issue During Biden's administration, regulators were able to scrutinize banks' decisions on the basis of reputational risks, a source familiar with the matter said. Lenders were under intense scrutiny and pressure to weigh reputational risks when dealing with Trump because of his legal woes, another source familiar with the situation said. JPMorgan continues to have a banking relationship with members of the Trump family that dates back years, and it also banks a number of campaign accounts linked to Trump, the source said. After Trump took power, the Federal Reserve announced in June it was directing its supervisors to no longer consider reputational risk when examining banks, a metric that had been a focus of industry complaints. 'What the White House is doing is telling the banks not to hide behind regulations to deny loans or banking relationships,' said Wells Fargo bank analyst Mike Mayo. 'Banks can use their normal underwriting standards and deny services, but not blame regulators or use reputational risk as a justification.' BofA said it welcomed the administration's efforts to clarify the policies. 'We've provided detailed proposals and will continue to work with the administration and Congress to improve the regulatory framework,' the bank said. Trump in January admonished the CEOs of JPMorgan and BofA for denying services to conservatives. At the time, the two banks denied making banking decisions based on politics. 'Regulatory overreach' Banks have consistently argued that any complaints about 'debanking' should be aimed at regulators, as they argue onerous rules and overzealous bank supervisors can discourage them from engaging in certain activities. 'The heart of the problem is regulatory overreach and supervisory discretion,' the Bank Policy Institute, an industry group, said in a statement. Lenders have held discussions around debanking and weighed scenarios around a potential order, the first source said. Banks are also hopeful the administration may change anti-money laundering laws that they say are outdated and burdensome, the source added.
Gizmodo
3 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
GoPro HERO12 Action Camera Now Cheaper Than Black Friday, Amazon Could Be Making Room for New Gear
If you have ever tried to film a bike ride or a kid's soccer game with a phone, you know how fast shaky clips can ruin a good moment. The GoPro HERO12 Black is built for those times when life moves fast and you still want a clean, steady shot. It is small enough to live in a jacket pocket, tough enough to ride on a helmet, and simple enough that you can press one button and start recording before the action gets away. Head over to Amazon to get the GoPro HERO12 Black for just $280, down from its usual price of $370. That's a discount of $90 and 25% off. See at Amazon What makes this camera special is how easy it is to get great video without babysitting settings. HyperSmooth stabilization keeps footage steady when the trail gets bumpy or the dog pulls on the leash. The camera records up to 5.3K video with crisp detail, or you can drop to 4K for silky slow motion that turns cannonballs and skateboard flips into highlight moments. Photos look sharp too, and the wide field of view fits more friends, more skyline, and more scenery into every frame. The body is waterproof down to about 33 feet with no housing, so pool days and rainy hikes are not a problem. A scratch resistant lens cover helps protect the glass, and built in mounting fingers pop out from the bottom so you can snap onto a chest mount, a handlebar clamp, or a suction cup in seconds. The front screen is handy for framing selfies or vlog clips, while the rear touch display makes menus feel familiar if you are used to a phone. Battery life gets a boost from the included Enduro battery. It handles cold weather better than older packs and helps the camera record longer between charges. When it is time to plug in, a quick top up gets you back outside fast. If you want to travel light, a small USB power bank in your pocket can keep the camera going during a long day. Little quality of life touches round it out. Voice control lets you start recording with your hands full. Horizon leveling keeps the horizon straight even if you tilt the camera. The GoPro Quik app makes it easy to pull clips to your phone, trim a reel, and post before your friends ask for the footage. If you want a tiny camera that makes action look good with minimal fuss, this one earns its spot in the bag. The GoPro HERO12 Black is still available for $280 at Amazon, a strong savings compared with the regular $370 price. See at Amazon
