Microsoft's newly published support document (found by Windows Central) is significant in that Microsoft is no longer selling video content via the Microsoft Store. It follows Microsoft's decision to stop selling music as part of its Groove Music services, which was shuttered in 2017.
But Microsoft's decision to stop providing movies and TV shows to rent or buy probably should be met with a shrug. Several streaming movie services already show movies just weeks after they're released in the box office, with rumors that the recent Superman release might be opened to streaming services just 45 days after first appearing in movie theaters. Microsoft doesn't offer a streaming service; instead, it provides direct sales and rentals to consumers. Plenty of services already do that.
So what will happen to movies and TV shows that you've already purchased? For now, they'll remain on Microsoft's servers. Microsoft's support document indicates that you'll be able to continue playing them
Being able to condense days of growth into a short video that I could watch in just a minute seemed like magic to me. What's more, it opened my mind to something about plants that you just can't see every day — the fact that they're not just inanimate things. They can move just like us (albeit a lot more slowly).
The great thing about making a time lapse video these days is you don't need a studio or specialist equipment to pull it off. It can be done with a mobile phone and / or a free app in Windows.
So, if you're into a hobby that lends itself well to a time lapse (and that can be almost anything), why not make a time lapse video? Here are some ideas for inspiration:
A flower bud opening
An artist painting
Traffic moving on the street
Your own hair growing out after a snip
Tip: Slow moving things like snails and clouds make excellent subjects but require a little more time to shoot.
What to do:
One of the simplest ways to create a time lapse video is with an app called Time Lapse Creator. It gives you the option of either uploading images or videos, or shooting a video directly via the app itself.
For the purposes of this "how to," I've assumed that you've already shot your pictures, uploaded them to your PC, and stored them in a folder. Now you can do the following:
Download and install the free app Time Lapse Creator.
Select either Import Folder or Import Files to sel
There's big news out of Silicon Valley, as OpenAI unveils its ChatGPT Agent - an AI that can autonomously complete complex, multi-step tasks using its own virtual computer to browse the web, run code, use other terminals, manage files and even interact with your personal applications and files (if you let it). It marks a significant milestone toward AI that not only advises but does.
We've tested every laptop on this list ourselves, and we didn't just look at the specs. We also paid attention to frame rates, thermals, keyboard feel, screen quality, and more. No fluff or filler here. Just great gaming laptops that get the job done.
This isn't a major multi-port hub or bulky docking station. Those might be great for home offices and turning your laptop into a full-blown workstation, but this miniature adapter is way smaller and more portable. You can slip it into your pocket and take it with you anywhere, allowing you to turn your laptop's USB-C port into a 4K HDMI port on demand.
Instead of fiddling around with wireless casting (which may or may not be compatible all the time) or struggling to find a large-enough hub to connect that screen to your laptop, you can just plug this thing in. It's short and it's covered with braided nylon, which helps it endure tons of bends and the wear-and-tear of travel in a backpack or pocket.
It supports monitors with resolutions up to 4K@60Hz, so it will serve you well with most displays excluding gaming monitors. It's compatible with Windows laptops, MacBooks, iPads, Galaxy phones, Chromebooks, and supports Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.
Snag your own Anker USB-C to HDMI adapter for 40% off before this limited-time deal vanishes into thin air! Remember, this is a Prime-exclusive promo, so if you aren't a Prime member yet, start a 30-day free trial to take advantage of this excellent deal.
One trick I've learned recently is how to send a YouTube video link at a specific timestamp. It's super useful when I want a colleague to see exactly where something happens in a video without them having to laboriously search through the video for that point.
There are two ways I can do this: One is I can simply right-click on a YouTube URL at the point in the video I want to highlight and select Copy video URL at current time, or else I can manually enter the timestamp at the end of the URL in the format &t=ymxxs where y is the minute value and xx is the seconds.
We've tested all the laptops on this list ourselves, so these aren't just specs pulled from a product page. They're real recommendations, based on hands-on experience.
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