Is there any food as versatile or varied as seafood in a can? Depending on what’s in it, a tin of fish could be equally at home on a camping trip, at a cocktail party, in a lunch box, or served at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Maybe that explains the recent surge in popularity in the US (elsewhere, it never went out of style). Maybe the pretty packaging has something to do with it too. Maybe it’s all that plus the simple truth, already well-known to many, that good tinned fish can be a treat on the level of expertly crafted charcuterie or finely aged cheese.

That’s the kind of tinned fish that this guide covers. It does not include plain tuna, plain sardines, or salt-cured anchovies—though you can find truly special versions of all of these things, too. These are all staples in their own rights, and we plan to cover each in a dedicated guide in the future. For now, we’re focused on tinned fish that feels special or doesn’t fit neatly in a category.

In all I, along with several other members of Wirecutter’s kitchen team, tasted 109 promising-looking tins and jars of fish from Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Denmark, Japan, China, and the US, and landed on 24 favorites.

The following picks are all things we’d happily serve at a party or give as a gift, though many would also make a nice meal for one.

Dual Russian-Israeli national Rostislav Panev was arrested last August and is facing extradition to the US for playing a critical role in LockBit's RaaS activities, dating back to the ransomware gang's origins.

Over a decade later, none of the bodies of the 239 passengers and crew members abroad have been recovered.

(Image credit: Asit Kumar)

On Wednesday, Elevation Lab announced TimeCapsule, a new $20 battery case purported to extend Apple AirTag battery life from one year to 10 years. The product replaces the standard CR2032 coin cell battery in the Bluetooth-based location tracker with two AA batteries to provide extended power capacity.

The TimeCapsule case requires users to remove their AirTag's original back plate and battery, then place the Apple device onto contact points inside the waterproof enclosure. The company recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries, which it claims provide 14 times more power capacity than the stock coin cell battery configuration.

The CNC-machined aluminum case is aimed at users who place AirTags in vehicles, boats, or other applications where regular battery changes prove impractical. The company sells the TimeCapsule through its website and Amazon.

A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab

As related on the TimeCapsule's product page, the add-on case reportedly emerged after its inventor lost camera equipment to theft, discovering their AirTag had died months earlier due to a depleted battery. This experience led to the development of a longer-lasting power solution for the tracking devices.

It's important to note that we cannot verify these battery life claims without independent testing, but using larger lithium batteries to extend lifespan makes technical sense. The company has not released detailed technical specifications about power consumption rates or testing methodology, but we've ordered a unit to test ourselves.

Build your own battery extension?

On an interesting Hacker News thread, the TimeCapsule device sparked discussion about balancing convenience with size. While the TimeCapsule's larger form factor makes it impractical for keys or pet tags, some users pointed out specific use cases where the extended battery life may outweigh size concerns (such as in bags or vehicles).

A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab

Some worried that TimeCapsule might make stalking easier, while multiple commenters questioned the anti-theft applications, noting that AirTags alert nearby iPhones when separated from their owner—a privacy feature that also serves as an anti-stalking measure. Android phones also now detect nearby AirTags by default after a 2023 system update.

Other commenters pointed out that handy do-it-yourself types could potentially build a similar device using dummy CR2032 extensions that lead to external battery packs. Either way, it's an interesting hack that could potentially make AirTags more useful in some scenarios.

Read full article

Comments

Steam users spent only 15% of their total gaming time on new releases in 2024, according to the platform's year-end review, an increase from 9% in 2023 but below 2022's 17%. Legacy titles dominated playtime, with 47% spent on games released in the past seven years and 37% on titles older than eight years. New online games like Helldivers 2 and Black Myth: Wukong helped drive 2024's modest uptick in new game engagement across Steam's library of over 200,000 titles, while established service games like Counter-Strike and Dota 2 maintained their long-standing popularity.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.