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P-fast trie, but smaller

Previously, I wrote some sketchy ideas for what I call a p-fast trie, which is basically a wide fan-out variant of an x-fast trie. It allows you to find the longest matching prefix or nearest predecessor or successor of a query string in a set of names in O(log k) time, where k is the key length. My initial sketch was more complicated and greedy for space than necessary, so here’s a simplified revision. (“p” now stands for prefix.) A p-fast trie stores a lexicographically ordered set of names

How to Protect Yourself From Portable Point-of-Sale Scams

Considering the widespread use of contactless payment systems, it's no surprise that portable point-of-sale thefts are making a comeback. This type of robbery is enjoying a new wave of popularity, and is much harder to spot given how quickly those transactions take place. But how much risk is there, really? And how can you protect yourself from POS scams? The Case of Sorrento A recent example of POS theft happened recently in Italy, when topic exploded again a few days ago when the news agency

Virtual 6NF

One of the goals of this substack is to research ways of removing historical cruft from the way relational model is taught. One thing that puzzles me particularly is why Sixth Normal Form (6NF) is historically treated so... reverently? Lots of texts on the internet consider 6NF to be “exotic”, “academic”, “never used in practice”, etc., etc. As software developers, we can solve any problem by adding one level of abstraction, and database modeling is not an exception. I’m going to show that any

You can apparently buy Google’s official Pixel Tablet stylus that never launched

TL;DR Last year, Google canceled its plans for the Pixel Tablet 2, leaving the fate of the company’s Pixel stylus unclear. This summer, that stylus has started popping up at online retailers, now branded as the Pixel Tablet Pen. The pen works fine with the existing Pixel Tablet, but not all its features appear fully implemented. Google’s approach right now towards Android on screens larger than our phones is confusing, to put it mildly. On one hand, we’ve got Android’s increasingly impressive

Don’t let your competitor steal the brand spotlight — secure your exhibit table at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

TechCrunch Disrupt isn’t just a tech conference — it’s a launchpad. For 20 years, startups have come to TechCrunch Disrupt to meet their first investors, land their biggest partnerships, and spark the idea that takes them to the next level. In 2025, that launchpad could be your exhibit table. With tables selling fast, now is your moment to get in front of 10,000+ founders, VCs, and tech innovators from October 27-29 in San Francisco’s Moscone West. If you wait, your competitor will grab the s

How you're charging your tablet is slowly killing it - 3 methods to avoid (and the right way)

Maria Diaz/ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Unplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%. Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%. Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating. As someone who uses a tablet daily, I'm constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don't think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet's battery life, and there are some things you should avoid t

The Anker SOLIX F3000 is my new favorite high-capacity power station for one simple reason

Anker SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station The Anker SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station offers high-end performance that is very similar to Anker's top-of-the-line options. It is more portable and affordable, though, making it a better choice for hybrid use and buyers who need elite power at home and on the go. I recently got the opportunity to kit out my entire home with backup power thanks to the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus. I loved it then, and I still love it now, but high-end power stations like

Writing a storage engine for Postgres: An in-memory table access method (2023)

With Postgres 12, released in 2019, it became possible to swap out Postgres's storage engine. This is a feature MySQL has supported for a long time. There are at least 8 different built-in engines you can pick from. MyRocks, MySQL on RocksDB, is another popular third-party distribution. I assume there will be a renaissance of Postgres storage engines. To date, the efforts are nascent. OrioleDB and Citus Columnar are two promising third-party table access methods being actively developed. Why

Satisfy your charging needs with these two deals!

Is your phone charging slowly? Chances are the charger is to blame. Here’s an awesome deal on a fast charger with multiple ports that will untether you from the outlet. Also, we have a deal that will help if you are lacking outlets! Let’s go into the details. Buy the UGREEN 100W 4 in 1 GaN USB-C Charger with Retractable Cable for $44.99 ($15 off) Buy the Anker Surge Protector Power Strip 2100J for $22.79 ($7.20 off) These offers are available from Amazon, but they are slightly different. The UG

Exit Tax: Leave Germany before your business gets big

Here’s an interesting take on Germany’s exit tax, which I have written about before: Leave Germany before your business gets big. What do I mean by that? I mean that once you’re a business owner in Germany and your business has reached a certain size, you are essentially barred from ever moving out of the country again. Crazy, right? I think it’s also pretty crazy that no one really talks about this. This is, quite literally, erecting a “Berlin Wall” around German entrepreneurs, forcing them

Writing a storage engine for Postgres: an in-memory Table Access Method

With Postgres 12, released in 2019, it became possible to swap out Postgres's storage engine. This is a feature MySQL has supported for a long time. There are at least 8 different built-in engines you can pick from. MyRocks, MySQL on RocksDB, is another popular third-party distribution. I assume there will be a renaissance of Postgres storage engines. To date, the efforts are nascent. OrioleDB and Citus Columnar are two promising third-party table access methods being actively developed. Why

The latest iPad Air is cheaper than ever

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Laptops are great, but sometimes it’s simply just more convenient to use a tablet like the iPad Air. The Air’s easier to carry, after all, and still powerful enough to handle everything from streaming to taking notes and reading. And right now, the latest version of the Air is down to a new low price. The M3-powered 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB tablet is available for $449 ($150 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, Targ

These 3 common charging mistakes are slowly killing your tablet - here's what to do instead

Maria Diaz/ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Unplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%. Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%. Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating. As someone who uses a tablet daily, I'm constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don't think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet's battery life, and there are some things you should avoid t

3 charging mistakes slowly killing your tablet - and what to do instead

Maria Diaz/ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Unplug at 100%, keep battery between 20% and 80%. Avoid draining to 0%; store unused tablets at 50%. Use certified chargers to prevent stress and overheating. As someone who uses a tablet daily, I'm constantly looking for ways to make its battery last longer. However, some habits you don't think twice about could actually be hurting your battery over time. There are ways to extend your tablet's battery life, and there are some things you should avoid t

This midrange Lenovo tablet has no business being this good (especially for traveling)

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZDNET's key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is on sale right now for $549. It's a slam dunk tablet with a brilliant display, great speakers, and comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus. In laptop mode, it's better for simpler tasks. $599.99 at Best Buy $549.99 at Lenovo more buying choices Lenovo's Yoga Tab Plus is a well-rounded 13-inch tablet that comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus, offering all the primary use cases you can ask for from a tablet straight out of

The best Apple Watch accessories for 2025

UGreen’s MagFlow Qi2 3-in-1 charger station offers a ton of value for $100. The company managed to build a trio charger that works well as a permanent fixture on your bedside table or desk, as well as a compact portable charging station. As the former, it takes up very little space when fully setup, and the magnetic phone charger can be tilt-adjusted up to 70 degrees so you can get the right viewing angle if you’re watching videos on your iPhone while charging. The Apple Watch charging pad is si

Murena’s Pixel Tablet is helping to wean me off Google

A lot of people are overly reliant on Google. They put all of their important messages, appointments, musings, contacts, and spreadsheets into Google products. Many are aware that Google, like many tech firms, is likely to prioritize its own interests over user privacy. But signing data away for technological conveniences is a common occurrence. Murena's Pixel Tablet takes a stance against that norm. It's Google’s Pixel Tablet hardware running an Android fork but without any Google tracking or

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 rugged tablet drops to new record-low price!

There are very capable tablets out there, but most of them will likely break the first time you drop them from a halfway significant height. If you need a tablet that can withstand much more torture, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 is among the best, and it’s currently at a new record-low price of $384.99, saving you $115! Buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 5 for just $384.99 ($115 off) This offer is available from Amazon as a “limited time deal”. It’s the Wi-Fi model. The 5G version will cost m

The best tablets of 2025: Lab-tested recommendations

Tablets are some of the most versatile gadgets available. Many people even use their devices as a replacement for their computer, as it's lighter than the traditional laptop and can easily connect to various accessories to enhance your experience. With so many tablets on the market today from trusted brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, and Amazon, it can be daunting to choose the right one. The Amazon Fire Max 11 is a solid choice if you're on a budget. The iPad Pro and the Android flagship Gal

Why I'm recommending this midrange Lenovo tablet over competing models

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZDNET's key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is on sale right now for $549. It's a slam dunk tablet with a brilliant display, great speakers, and comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus. In laptop mode, it's better for simpler tasks. View now at Walmart Lenovo's Yoga Tab Plus is a well-rounded 13-inch tablet that comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus, offering all the primary use cases you can ask for from a tablet straight out of the box. It features a 12.7-inch, 3K

Looking for a budget travel tablet? I found one under $200 that hits all the right notes

AGM Pad P2 Android tablet ZDNET's key takeaways The AGM Pad P2 is available for $180 on Amazon. With a crisp display, solid mid-range performance, and decent battery life, it's a solid budget Android option. The Pad P2's included case is a bit flimsy, so you might want to purchase a third-party option. $189.99 at Amazon Many would say Android has a stranglehold on global market shares because of its inexpensive phones and tablets. Billions of people on the planet simply can't afford the price

Topics: agm android p2 pad tablet

I replaced my ThinkPad with this Lenovo tablet for a week - and it was pretty dang close

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZDNET's key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is on sale right now for $549. It's a slam dunk tablet with a brilliant display, great speakers, and comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus. In laptop mode, it's better for simpler tasks. $599.99 at Best Buy $522.49 at Lenovo more buying choices Lenovo's Yoga Tab Plus is a well-rounded 13-inch tablet that comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus, offering all the primary use cases you can ask for from a tablet straight out of

Finally, an Android tablet that I can confidently recommend to gamers

RedMagic Astra ZDNET's key takeaways The RedMagic Astra gaming tablet is available on Amazon starting at $700. The tablet offers unmatched performance for an Android tablet. When the fan is in use on the Astra, the battery does drain a bit faster, and the price is up there for a tablet. $699 at Amazon As far as gaming is concerned, I'm not ashamed to say that I've done it all: consoles, PCs, handhelds, phones, and now, tablets. For the most part, I've found Android devices to offer less than

I'll Never Go Camping Without This Backpack That Can Charge My Phone 18 Times

CNET’s key takeaways This solar-rechargeable power station is also a backpack that can carry my camping essentials. I was able to charge my laptop six to nine times, my phone 18 times and my drone five times in one charge cycle. The Bluetti Handfree 2 backpack costs $599 at full price, but it is often on sale for $450. It's heavy. It weighs 16.5 pounds by itself before adding other gear. The Bluetti Handsfree 2 backpack, which is also a solar-rechargeable power station, is my new outdoor ess

Google’s Pixel Tablet is $190 off for a limited time

During the most recent Prime Day, the Google Pixel Tablet with Wi-Fi and 256GB of storage briefly dropped to just $309 ($190 off) — but the deal disappeared in a matter of hours. Fast forward to today, and the deal is back, but this time it’s available at Best Buy. Unfortunately, the discount is for today only (or until supplies last) and doesn’t include the speaker dock. The Pixel Tablet hit the scene back in 2023, so by tech standards, it’s relatively old. That being said, the discount certai

Why I recommend this Samsung tablet over pricier models - especially the Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ ZDNET's key takeaways The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is a 13.1-inch tablet for $649. It's a good iPad Air alternative for Android users, with reliable performance, a larger display than the S10+, and an IP68 rating that the iPad lacks; it also includes the S Pen. The price increased by $50 for the base model compared to last year, and the tablet now has a single rear camera rather than the precious dual cameras. View now at Best Buy View now at Samsung more buying ch

Topics: fe ipad s10 tab tablet

Why I recommend this Lenovo tablet over competing Google and Samsung models

Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZDNET's key takeaways The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is on sale right now for $549. It's a slam dunk tablet with a brilliant display, great speakers, and comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus. In laptop mode, it's better for simpler tasks. $599.99 at Best Buy $522.49 at Lenovo more buying choices Lenovo's Yoga Tab Plus is a well-rounded 13-inch tablet that comes with a keyboard, case, and stylus, offering all the primary use cases you can ask for from a tablet straight out of

I replaced my iPad with this $100 Android tablet - and it was pretty dang close

Tabwee T20 tablet ZDNET's key takeaways Tabwee's 10-inch tablet with Android 15 is available on Amazon for $110. It features a large 5,000mAh battery for decent runtime, and comes with a folio case, keyboard, stylus, and a mouse. The hardware has its limitations for more demanding tasks. View now at Amazon It amazes me just how much bang for your buck you can get if you choose an Android tablet over an iPad these days. While the cheapest new iPad will set you back at least $300, you can get s

I found a cheap Android tablet worthy of replacing my iPad (and better in some ways)

Blackview Mega 1 ZDNET's key takeaways The Blackview Mega 1 is available directly from Blackview and AliExpress, with prices starting at $330. The tablet has a big screen, a great display, fantastic sound output, and a lightweight design. However, the folio case feels flimsy, and there's nowhere to store the stylus. View now at Blackview If you think of a tablet, you probably think of an iPad. You should know that there are some fantastic Android tablets that you can buy for a fraction of the

How this one tablet convinced me gaming on Android is worth it

RedMagic Astra ZDNET's key takeaways The RedMagic Astra gaming tablet is available on Amazon starting at $700. The tablet offers unmatched performance for an Android tablet. When the fan is in use on the Astra, the battery does drain a bit faster, and the price is up there for a tablet. $699 at Amazon As far as gaming is concerned, I'm not ashamed to say that I've done it all: consoles, PCs, handhelds, phones, and now, tablets. For the most part, I've found Android devices to offer less than