Well, bad news, bargain hunters: Peacock is doing away with its monthly Premium Plus add-on, and those who combined it with a sweet Black Friday deal have some not-so-sweet choices to make.
"We're simplifying your billion and adjusting your plan," reads an e-mail going out to Peacock users this week. "Starting soon, we're no longer offering Premium Plus on a separate add-on basis, so we'll need to cancel your monthly Plus add-on subscription."
Peacock users with the add-on are being told that if they take no action before a certain date (in most cases later this month), they'll automatically be switched over to Peacock Premium—which, confusingly, is the ad-supported version of Peacock.
Those who want to keep ad-free Peacock are advised to change their subscriptions to the pricier Peacock Premium Plus plan, at which point they'll be refunded for any unused portion of their Premium plan.
Now, anyone who paid the usual $80 a year for Peacock Premium plus $6 a month for the Premium Plus add-on (for an annual total of $152) would actually save money by switching to the full-on Premium Plus plan, which costs $140 a month. A monthly Peacock Premium subscription plus the $6 add-on costs $14, the same as a month of Premium Plus.
The real value of the $6 Premium Plus add-on came when you combined it with a special offer. For example, those who snapped up Peacock's 2024 Black Friday promotion—a full ye
I use a Brother HL-L2315D in my home office, and have for years. It's almost identical to this HL-L2420DW, only a little older — the newer version works better with new 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. It's a little tricky to set up because it only has a one-line LCD screen, but once you get going it'll print everything you could ever need (so long as you don't need color photos). I use it for shipping labels, plane and bus tickets, just about any kind of paperwork, which is the only thing I ever print anymore.
I love the wireless operation, and the fact that it's happy to take cheap, long-lasting third-party toner cartridges. That's right, it doesn't demand insanely expensive first-party ink replacements, like printers from
I've tested a bunch of ultrawide monitors in order to name the best picks in various categories ranging from those optimized for gaming to those suited for professional use. Below you'll find a curated list of my favorites in each category. I describe my evaluation process for monitors at the bottom of this article.
Indeed, Echo devices such as the standard Echo, the Echo Dot, the Echo Pop, and the Echo Show can display flashing indicator lights in a range of different colors, and they can be pretty confusing-even aggravating-if you don't know what they mean, or how to make them stop.
Luckily, deciphering the flashing lights on your Echo device is simple, and once you know the code, the lights can warn you when something's amiss with your Echo, let you know when you have incoming messages, alert you when Alexa is listening, and more.
"People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich' will not be one of them," said Gates. "There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people."
The plan is to distribute up to 99% of his total net worth by December 31st, 2045, which is when the Gates Foundation will be closed down. The total amount given away through the Foundation is expected to be around $200 billion over the next 20 years when you include his personal wealth, the Foundation's existing endowment, and earnings from ongoing business investments. That money will be spent on various charitable projects around the world.
On Bloomberg's list of the world's richest billionaires, Bill Gates currently ranks in 5th place with an estimated net worth of $108 billion.
So if you see a free alternative to a paid version you like, you can safely assume the antivirus protection level is similar—save for any specific malware types the free version doesn't cover. The difference is the number of features available to you.
To create this list of the top free antivirus programs, we looked at the top mainstream antivirus suites for Windows and selected the ones that offer a free version, as not all of them do. Then we looked at how well these suites performed in third-party detection tests. We also made sure they weren't resource hogs, because software that slows down your PC is a pain in the rear, even when it's free.
In the end, our selection came down to these top free antivirus suites.
In the roadmap of upcoming Microsoft 365 features, there's an entry for "Outlook: Offline Support for Calendar" that mentions "you'll be able to create, edit, and delete events in your calendar when not connected to the internet." The rollout is expected to start in June 2025 and will be for all users with general availability.
However, this offline calendar support only seems to apply to the new Outlook app. If you want to keep using classic Outlook, note that you'll still have to be always online to manage your calendar.
The music streaming service announced yesterday that it has started testing a new feature that you can use when a song is played too often. It's a 30-day snooze that temporarily removes the song in question from your recommended Spotify playlists.
In other words, if you feel like you've heard a song too many times and it feels played out, all you have to do is press a button for Spotify to stop playing it for a month. Note that Spotify says the removal affects "your recommendations," so it's unclear whether you'll still keep hearing songs in user-made playlists despite being snoozed.
Spotify has begun testing the new snooze feature on Premium subscribers. Other Spotify users will get access to it "soon."
Along with the new snooze feature, Spotify also has a refreshed Hide button that hides a particular song in its playlist so you don't have to listen to it again. Presumably this is for playlists that aren't your own, from which you don't have the ability to delete songs.
If you've been eyeing this segment, you probably know the specs. A 2560×1440 OLED panel, 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03 millisecond response time. Even if it's common, that's still plenty fast for multiplayer online gaming, making the Cooler Master Tempest GZ2711 an excellent monitor for all kinds of games and video. It also has a few extra features you don't see on entry-level monitors, including USB-C with up to 96 watts of power delivery. That means this monitor is an excellent companion to all but the most power-hungry gaming laptops.
But perhaps the best thing about this sale is that this monitor is new, not refurbished, as is often the case on eBay, which means it should come with the full manufacturer's warranty. (That means three years of coverage, according to Cooler Master's page.) It's being sold by Focus Camera, a retail store based in New Jersey, and shipping for free.
I doubt this deal will stick around for very long, so hop on it quickly if you've been waiting for a cheap-but-brand-new OLED monitor. If you need something bigger or more affordable, be sure to check out PCWorld's picks for the best gaming monitors.
The new Joro keyboard and Basilisk Mobile mouse are trying to change that. I've spent some hands-on time with each ahead of the announcements and wanted to share some quick impressions along with details about the products.
Razer Joro keyboard hands-on
Keyboard first. The Joro is an entirely new line for Razer, and yes, it's named after a spider. Essentially a gamer-fied version of the Apple Magic Keyboard. It is extremely small and crazy light — I can tell you it's 374 grams or 13.2 ounces, but that doesn't communicate how light it feels in my hand. Despite that bag-friendly weight, it's using scissor switch keys (not full mechanical, but similar to a really good laptop keyboard) and an aluminum top plate for a little extra sturdiness.
The Aurora series is quite a step below the Area 51 flagship in both aesthetics and capability, but there's a utilitarian charm to the new chassis. Air intakes on three different sides exhaust through an elevated portion of the bottom, combining beefy cooling hardware with a non-adjustable "foot" that presents the full-sized keyboard at a more comfy angle. This is a big change from the "shelf" seen behind the hinge on older models. Dell calls it the "cryo-chamber." Ports are spread around the sides and rear, in the knowledge that plenty of users will park this thing on a desk with optional accessories for the majority of its use.
Windows Latest reports that Microsoft is testing a new download button in Windows Search for apps that can be found on the Microsoft Store. This was hinted at in Microsoft's blog post introducing a new generation of Windows experiences, where they mentioned "continuing to enhance and expand improved Windows search" with "[the ability] to quickly find and install apps from the Microsoft Store."
In practice, here's what that means. Normally, when you search for an app in Windows Search, you can launch it if it's already installed—and if it isn't installed, Windows presents you with relevant Bing search results.
With this change, when you search a not-currently-installed app in Windows Search, Windows will check if that app is available in the Microsoft Store—and if it is, you'll get a preview of the app's listing
The massive 18-inch PureSight display is something to behold, offering up to either 4K resolution in traditional 2D or 2K resolution in glasses-free 3D. The 3D effect is achieved using eye-tracking tech and a clever lens system, no headset or special 3D glasses needed! Lenovo's AI-powered 3D Studio also supports various file formats as well as creation apps, allowing you to preview your work in 3D.
Underneath the hood, you're looking at serious firepower! It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, a cutting-edge Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD storage. That's a crazy amount of power and space, which is ideal for giant game builds and creative assets. AI is a big part of the experience, too. AI features like Game Coach and Game Clip Master help you improve your gaming skills and create shareable content on social media.
To round it all off, the Legion 9i's lid is made of forged carbon fiber, so every machine has its own unique cosmetic pattern. Lenovo's also offering the Legion 18 Armored Backpack II to keep your gear safe while you're traveling.
The Lenovo Legion 9i is expected to launch this fall. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
Why you should trust us: Hey, it's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
The best laptops for engineering students
Dell Inspiron Plus 14 - Best overall
The best part about these USB-C cables is that they deliver charging speeds of up to 100 watts. That's more than most power blocks can even output, so you're good to go for several years at least. You can use these to charge your phone, laptop, or anything else that connects via USB-C. And these are excellent for use with fast-charging power banks, too.
These are 6-foot cables, the perfect length for plugging your phone into its charger at night while still being able to doomscroll comfortably in bed instead of hanging off the edge. And with this being a 2-pack, you no longer have to fight with your spouse over who gets the "long cord." You can each have one for your own sides. These cables are protected with braided nylon, which feels premium and makes them more resistant to bends and other potential causes of damage.
This deal on this two-pack of Anker USB-C cables won't last forever at Amazon, so hurry up and snag it for just $12 while you can. It's a brilliant price for long, fast-charging USB-C cables.
Want even more choices? Check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Best budget laptop deals under $500
By that I mean two things: The first is that in my life I have Buckley's chance of compartmentalizing my devices for just one use — I'm just too busy and inevitably end up using them for everything. My phone is the classic example of that -- it's my mobile notetaker, my repository for holiday snaps, and my communication's hub, all in one.
Secondly, I had overlooked a personality trait that I sometimes exhibit, one that I share with the character Toad from the classic children's story
My budget wasn't that high, so for the build I landed on an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G CPU with a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, and an Nvidia RTX 3090 video card. That combination was validated by my fellow PC builders online as entirely suitable for AI, so I felt confident I was onto a good thing.
And they weren't wrong! My new PC worked well for my newest hobby, allowing me to dabble in making simple apps in DeepAgent. But with the gift of hindsight, I now realize that I made a big mistake with my build, and I deeply regret it.
The issue was and still is that I had built a PC suitable for one use case only, and in doing so it has since become obsolete to my life. I arrived at my rig's configuration by unknowingly breaking one of life's less spoken-about rules: "Know thyself."
By that I mean two things: The first is that in my life I have Buckley's chance of compartmentalizing my devices for just one use — I'm just too busy and inevitably end up using them for everything. My phone is the classic example of that -- it's my mobile notetaker, my repository for holiday snaps, and my communication's hub, all in one.
Secondly, I had overlooked a personality trait that I sometimes exhibit, one that I share with the character Toad from the classic children's story
Generally, accidentally deleted files can easily be found in the Recycle Bin on a Windows computer. However, in more serious cases, your data may be permanently deleted, making recovery difficult. In this article, we outline eight proven solutions to help you recover lost data in various scenarios, whether the files were temporarily deleted or permanently erased, and regardless of whether you have backups.
SolutionsCompatible Windows OSRecover Permanently Deleted FilesNeed Backup FilesPriceRecover from Recycle BinAll Windows OSes??FreeUse Undo Delete featureAll Windows OSes??FreeUse File History featureWindows 8 and later??FreeUse Google DriveAll Windows OSes??Only for G Suite usersUse Backup & Restore featureWindows 7 and later??FreeUse Filestore@UCLWindows 10 and later??FreeUse Aiseesoft Free Data Recovery
In this guide, you will learn how to create stunning AI-generated images and videos in one place using Pollo AI. You will also learn about its features, benefits, and more. Keep reading!
Overview of Pollo AI
Pollo AI is an all-in-one AI image and video generation platform that lets users create stunningly realistic content via simple text prompts or reference images.
While most traditional AI generators function on single models, Pollo AI is a multifaceted tool. Aside from its proprietary model, Pollo 1.5, it's integrated with several industry-leading platforms.
For images, you can use models like GPT-4o, FLUX, Imagen, Recraft, and Dall-E. For videos, options include Kling AI, Hailuo, Runway, Pixverse, and Luma AI.
This ecosystem makes Pollo AI incredibly versatile, catering to content creators, filmmakers, marketers, educators, and hobbyists alike.
What makes Pollo AI stand out in AI video generation?
Text to video & image to video
Using descriptive text prompts, you can bring any imaginative concept to life. Powered by advanced algorithms and trained on vast visual datasets, Pollo AI can understand context and semantics to craft a tailored video that matches your instructions accurately.
For a while, a Microsoft 365 subscription was the only way to get recent versions of apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The only problem is that software subscriptions are expensive. It's basically like renting your own productivity, and you're never done paying for it, but now there's an alternative. Instead of paying at least $99.99 for Microsoft 365 every year, now you can get Microsoft Office for life, and it's on sale for $129.97 (reg. $149.99).
This version of Microsoft Office comes with
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
OneNote
These are some of the most recently updated versions of this software, so you're still getting AI enhancements like Word's Smart Compose or Excel's new data handling tools.
This isn't Microsoft 365. You'll get many of the same apps, but instead of paying (minimum) $99.99 every year, you're paying a one-time fee to get them for life.
Normally, that fee would be $149.99, but now you can get
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
Best gaming desktop computer deals
Skytech Gaming Shiva II, Ryzen 7 5700X/RTX 4070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.99 (18% off on Amazon)
Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 9 285/RTX 5080/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,449.99 (14% off on Dell)
Microsoft launched a new 13-inch Surface Laptop for as low as $899.99 and a 12-inch Surface Pro for $799.99. The two devices are just a tad smaller than the existing Surface Laptop and Surface Pro and slightly cheaper as well: the base prices of the existing, older Surface Laptop 7th Edition and the Surface Pro 11th Edition are $999.
As reported by XDA Developers, Microsoft has now widened the pricing gap, implementing a $200 difference between the smaller Surface Pro and Laptop and the existing models from May 2024. But that's not precisely true, either.
Instead, Microsoft has eliminated the lowest-priced 13.8-inch Surface Laptop offering from its website. Last May, you could buy a 13.8-inch Surface Laptop, in Platinum, with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, for $999, according to the price list Microsoft provided us. Now, the cheapest 13.8-inch Surface Laptop is a Black model but with 16GB of RAM and a larger 512GB SSD instead, with an MSRP of $1,199.99 — but one of those models, too, has been marked down to a discounted $1,031.47. (Microsoft sometimes offers educational or military discounts, bu
Whether you're waiting for friends to visit, watching for trouble-makers, tracking parcel deliveries, or hiding from that weird neighbor who keeps asking to borrow your lawn mower, the video doorbell is an essential security tool.
Why you should trust us
TechHive's editors and contributors have been testing video doorbells since 2014, and we continuously evaluate the latest devices along with their accompanying apps. We've checked out a wide range of video doorbells, including hardwired and battery-powered models; high-end and budget units; doorbells that can discern between people, animals, and packages; and video doorbells and peephole cameras for apartment dwellers. You can trust us to guide you to the right video doorbell for your needs and budget.
The Acer Predator X27U X1 monitor uses the very typical 27-inch, QHD (2560×1440) size and resolution setup, with 240Hz of refresh and a .01 milisecond response time. That means that even at its sharpest, it's fast enough for intense online multiplayer. That's about it for features, it uses HDMI and DisplayPort and doesn't feature any USB ports at all, but for this price you can't be particularly choosy. For a full breakdown of features and performance, be sure to check out PCWorld's review.
This is an eBay Refurbished model, but it's sold directly from Acer, so it's about as good as refurbished gets in terms of reliability. The listing says it comes with a 2-year warranty from Allstate, and I'm guessing it might also get a 90-day warranty from Acer itself (don't quote me on that one). The retail version goes for $600 MSRP, though it's easy enough to find it for less. I'd use the difference to pick up a nice VESA monitor arm, especially if you're building a multi-monitor setup for your desk.
This kind of deep discount on an in-demand gaming monitor tends to disappear quickly, so I'd get an order in fast if you're ready to buy. If this one doesn't strike your fancy, check ou
XeSS 2 was added in conjunction with the $250 Intel Arc B580 ("Battlemage") architecture at the end of 2024, a "budget" graphics card that certainly helped alleviate some of the sticker shock that accompanied cards from AMD and especially Nvidia. It combines upscaling, frame generation, and latency in reduction, and doesn't necessarily require an Intel GPU, either.
The most important thing about XeSS is that it applies additional frames where it's really needed — at the low end. Increasing a game's frame rate from 260 fps to 360 fps looks great on paper, but where XeSS shines is pushing a game's framreate up from below 60 fps, for example, to 90 fps and above. That swaps what could be a bumpy, frustrating experience into something that's truly fun.
Now, Intel says XeSS 2 has been added to 10 more games for a total of 19, following Intel's decision to release the XeSS 2 SDK. Today, Intel is releasing estimated gaming performance on games like Marvel Rivals, where XeSS accelerates frame rates from 43 fps (native) to 138 fps using XeSS 2. That's an enormous bump! Ditto for Rise of the Ronin: pushing frame rates up from 37 fps to 100 fps means an enjoyable, playable game.
The reason for a talking Roku player is the "Screen Reader," a Roku accessibility feature that reads on-screen text for visually impaired users. Once enabled, the screen reader (formerly known as the Audio Guide) will speak aloud text and descriptions from the Roku user interface, including your various streaming apps.
Screen Reader is a crucial feature for Roku users with vision issues, but if you turn it on by accident, it can get old fast.
Luckily, it's easy to turn the Roku screen reader off. Here's a couple ways to do it.
Press the Option button (again)
So, here's the deal: If you press the Option button (identified by an asterisk) on the Roku remote four times in a row, you'll turn the screen reader on.
An on-screen pop-up that reads "Screen reader enabled" will appear if you activate the feature, but if you're not paying attention, you might be surprised when your Roku starts talking to you.
Intel is trimming the price of the Core Ultra 7 265K by $100 to $299, previously $399—basically 25 percent off. Intel has also cut the price of the Core Ultra 7 265KF by $100, down to $284 from an earlier $384. The chip manufacturer isn't discounting the high-end Intel 285K in the Arrow Lake desktop family, and it's leaving the 245K chips alone, too.
Arrow Lake (the Core Ultra 2xx series) received lukewarm reviews, so it's not unexpected that Intel would discount the chips to try and persuade buyers to snap them up. Intel is also attempting to use software bundles with qualifying products to help sell some of its Arrow Lake chips.
PC makers have said previously that processors from AMD and Intel should be free of the administration's China tariff, though it's not clear whether these chips will be subject to any semiconductor tariff. Still, any discount is a good thing, right?
The for-profit plans, announced in December 2024, were justified at the time by a need to secure sufficient capital to keep developing expensive artificial general intelligence (AGI). Now, instead of a full conversion to a for-profit company, OpenAI's for-profit LLC will be transformed into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), which is a type of US company that's beholden to both its shareholders and its purpose-driven mission. The existing OpenAI non-profit organization will retain control of the PBC and become one of its largest shareholders.
OpenAI says the decision was made after listening to community leaders and engaging in constructive dialogue with the Attorneys General of the states of Delaware and California.
Founded in 2015 as a non-profit organization, OpenAI has been the subject of widespread criticism for wanting to transition to a for-profit structure. Critics include co-founder Elon Musk—who has sued OpenAI for abandoning its original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity—as well as former employees, other non-profit organizations, Nobel laureates, and law professors.
According to TechCrunch, OpenAI reportedly needed to complete its for-profit transformation before the end of this or next year in order to not risk losing some of its recently raised capital. It's still unclear what—if any—the consequences might be with OpenAI backing o
Netflix has offered many solutions to try and help solve the video browsing blues, from the streaming's famous algorithm to the "play something" button. Now, Netflix has a new tool to help you find the perfect movie or show—and yes, AI has entered the chat, quite literally.
Coming soon as a "small" opt-in only beta for the Netflix iOS app, Netflix's new AI chatbot will help you search for videos using "natural, conversational phrases" rather than just sifting through rows and rows of categories.
For example, you'll be able to type "Something funny and upbeat" or "I want something scary, but not too scary" into the chat box, and Netflix's AI bot will serve up a list of suggestions, and with a comment like "Good vibes only: These comedies will leave you smiling, laughing or both."
Similar to ChatGPT and other gen-AI platforms, there will also be preset search phrases you can tap, such as "I need a good cry," "what's new in true crime," and "stories about dancers."
So, how will searching Netflix with an AI chatbot be different from simply using regular search? Good question. For its part, Netflix says the bot will be more amenable to subtle search phrases, like "I want something funny, but not ha-ha funny"
The only catch is the price. Most monitor arms worth buying will cost close to $200, and heavy-duty arms capable of holding two large displays can be priced even higher. The good news is that a good-quality monitor arm is likely to last you for a very long time. That's why it's important to make the right choice when you purchase a monitor arm.
To help you with that, we've tested several popular monitor arms, for both single- and dual-monitor setups. Below you'll find our curated list of recommendations, with detailed explanations of what features and qualities make them stand out. We even have some good budget recommendations. Below our picks, we point out some arms that we aren't so keen on — to provide a point of comparison.
What's an endoscope camera? Think of a long, flexible tube with a camera and light attached to one end. In the medical field, it's used to look inside the human body—but for me, it's been an everyday game-changer for all kinds of practical uses.
Before I got this nifty little accessory
The $21 endoscope camera I ended up getting is one that connects to my phone via USB-C. Prior to this, I'd always fiddled around with a bulky standalone endoscope camera.
The housing on that standalone endoscope camera—with its large digital display and analog control buttons—was clunky with poor image quality. The pixelated black-and-white images were blurry and always had me wondering if I should schedule a visit with my eye doctor.
In addition, the cable for that camera was relatively thick and rigid, so I struggled to get it into the drainage holes of some vintage cars, for example. And whenever I needed to use the camera, the batteries were always dead and needed replacing.
The DOJ recommending that Google be forced to sell or otherwise divest itself of its advertising divisions doesn't automatically mean that'll happen. The judge in the case would need to approve the Department's recommendation (which also bars Google from running an ad exchange for 10 years) over Google's or their own solution. Then there's the possibility of appeals that will certainly be exhausted by Google's lawyers, to say nothing of the X factor that is the Trump administration, which has shown a tendency to try to exert its own will on federal procedures in unpredictable ways.
But the worst case scenario at the end of both of these cases—for Google anyway—is that the company could be forced to sell or otherwise get rid of both the Chrome browser (and its associated products, Chromium and ChromeOS for Chromebook laptops, etc.) and its advertising business. That wouldn't completely destroy Google, but it would effectively mean the end of its two-decade dominance as a tech gia
Okay, that's a bit dramatic. To be more precise, both white and black versions of the apparently bigger, chunkier handheld have an extra button above the D-pad. It's just that the black one appears to have an Xbox logo on it, the same as Microsoft's official controllers and others have had for decades. That would make sense in the context of that teaser trailer that Asus released with both ROG and Xbox branding featured, not to mention industry rumblings of a more definite Xbox-branded handheld. And don't forget, Microsoft is pushing hard for people to think of the Xbox platform beyond console hardware.
A listing from Indonesia was apparently connected to an FCC filing by Twitter/X user Huang514613, who has leaked other hardware consistently. I can't independently confirm that these are FCC regulatory photos, but they certainly match the agency's documentation style that I've been watching for over a decade.
Other details can be gleaned from the photos as well,
The new Start menu is significantly larger and wider than the current one and it features a separate panel for the Phone Link app—which Microsoft refers to as a "phone companion in Start"—where users can have quick access to data and tools from a synced Android or iPhone.
The new Start menu will begin rolling out next month, coming first to Windows Insider preview testers running Microsoft's own Snapdragon X-equipped Copilot PCs.
When that update rolls out, said PCs will also be updated with several new AI tools and features, like a brand-new "agentic AI" in the Settings app that can autonomously adjust settings and manage apps.
I'm discussing security cameras, which are a crucial part of the smart home but still cannot connect to a Matter network. The last time I asked about security cameras and Matter was last fall, with the release of Matter specification 1.4, and the answer was "sometime" in 2025.
Well, that "sometime" is not yet. Matter spec 1.4.1, a "minor" core release of the protocol, was announced on Wednesday, and security cameras once again didn't make the cut.
What we do get in Matter 1.4.1 isn't bad. For starters, manufacturers will be able to employ multi-device QR codes, allowing customers to scan a single QR code on, say, a box of smart plugs or light bulbs, thus adding all the devices in the box to Matter in one shot. That's a great way to make adding new smart products to a Matter network a little easier.
Along the same lines, Matter 1.4.1 will let smart device makers cram the same information on a Matter QR code into an NFC tag, meaning you'll be able to tap a device to add it to Matter. That might not sound like much, but the addition of NFC
The SanDisk Ultra works with just about any microSD-compatible device, offering up to 150 MB/s transfer speeds that make this card ideal for recording 1080p videos, storing files for portable use, moving files between phones, and saving game data in handheld gaming devices. The SanDisk Ultra also comes with an SD adapter, so you can still use it with devices that don't have microSD slots (like your laptop or PC).
The 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSD for $20 deal won't last forever, so grab one before tariffs kick up prices in the coming weeks or months. Other capacity options for this microSD card are also on sale right now, including the 64GB version for $7 (41% off), 128GB version for $14 (18% off), and the 512GB version for $35 (24% off).
So, what does all that mean, and is there any difference between these varied Ethernet cables?
Defining CAT in Ethernet cables
The CAT label in Ethernet cables stands for "category," which denotes its standard and specification. You can tell which category the cables belong to by the number suffix each one has.
The main difference between the different categories is the rated performance of each. They also have different wire configurations and other variations in how they are made, like how tightly they are wound, and some have inner plastic tubing.
Just like USB cables, Ethernet cables get faster and more efficient with each successive generation released. That's great news for gamers looking for faster and more reliable cables for lag-free network gaming.
CAT and data transfer speeds
CAT 5 and CAT 5e cables are an early generation of Ethernet cable dating back to the early noughties. CAT 5 cables provide data tr
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is a decently specced laptop, featuring an Intel Core 5 processor with 10 cores and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. That's a combo that'll easily get you through any day's workload, plus media streaming, browser tab multitasking, and even some light gaming. There's also a surprisingly large 1TB SSD on board. All of that is pretty darn good for any budget laptop under $500, and we're talking about a brand-new buy here—not a refurbished option.
And if you're mainly looking for productivity, you'll get it here because this thing isn't tiny. It has a 16-inch IPS display with a gorgeous 1920×1200 resolution, offering plenty of screen real estate so you don't feel cramped even without a portable external monitor. You also get a 1080p webcam with privacy shutter, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, two USB-C ports with 10Gbps speeds, a built-in microSD card slot, a fingerprint reader, an HDMI port, and 3.5mm audio jack.
Not only does the laptop come with pre-installed Windows 11 Home, but you're also getting a complimentary 6-month subscription to Bitdefender Total Security for five different devices (worth about $50).
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is a solid workhorse, especially when you can snag it on a deep discount like you can right now. Get it for just $430 at B&H while you can—it's marke
When Microsoft previewed its upcoming Windows AI experiences alongside a smaller Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, they did so by showing off what they presented to the public: a collection of experiences that could take advantage of the NPU within Copilot PCs. One of the most important experiences is the "agentic AI" that's coming to the Windows 11 Settings menu.
Agentic AI will allow Windows to basically research, troubleshoot, and solve your PC problems for you. If your screen is too dim, Windows will show you how to adjust the brightness. If the font is too small, Windows will show you how to enlarge it. More importantly, Microsoft says that the agentic AI can (and will?) simply do it all for you.
A great example: This acronym I picked up from Kelly Bissell, corporate vice president of fraud within Microsoft's Security division. It focuses on how to avoid job scams—that is, phony listings and opportunities that might cross your path. But you can take away the general principles and apply them to other types of scams, too.
Stay S-A-F-E
Bissell says you should be:
Sure of the company you're applying with
Able to apply for free
Finding the job listing elsewhere online
Examining job offers carefully and confirming the legitimacy of the companies
Look into a company to be sure of them, especially if the offer is unsolicited. Is there a company website with contact info? How long has it been in business? Can you find employees on LinkedIn, and what do their backgrounds look like? Do you know anyone in your network who works there that you can speak to? Or at the very least, what's the good word on Reddit and job forums?
Job applications should never cost you a cent. That's standard practice, no matter the industry and job level. Perhaps you may pay for necessary education (where you get to select the school or certification program) or a certification, but not to apply. A legitimate place does not ask for money—times haven't changed on this point.
You don't always need a powerhouse laptop. Sometimes, you just need something that gets the job done. That's exactly what you get with this refurbished Lenovo 300e Chromebook, now just $75. Whether you're looking for a lightweight device to toss in your carry-on or a durable option for your kid to use at home or school, this fits the bill without draining your wallet.
It features an 11.6-inch touchscreen with an anti-glare finish, making it easy to use in bright environments like airplanes, hotel lobbies, or backseat road trip setups. Inside, it's powered by an AMD processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage — enough to browse the web, stream videos, use Google Docs, or log into classroom portals.
It's also surprisingly rugged for the price. The Grade "B" refurbished rating means you might see some light scuffs or cosmetic wear, but nothing that affects internal performance. In fact, that lived-in look is perfect for a laptop you won't stress over losing, scratching, or letting your kid
When determining what makes for a good VPN for Android, I consider several criteria on top of standard VPN essentials. It's crucial that it has full functionality on the Android OS. Also, since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent at times, I test these apps over multiple days to look at speed and consistency of service. I then take into consideration the Android app itself and its ease of use, as well as other things such as pricing and the number of simultaneous devices allowed per account. All of these factors help make the VPNs on this list my top picks.
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite VPNs and additional information about how I test these services as well as helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.
Without further ado, here are my recommendations for the best VPNs for Android.
Sonos has confirmed to The Verge that it's winding down its partnership with Ikea, the iconic home furnishings brand that teamed up with the networked home audio manufacturer for some of our favorite wireless speakers.
Among them were the very first products developed by the duo, the Ikea Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf speakers, which landed in 2019. The speakers, which won our Editors' Choice award, demonstrated how great-sounding home audio components could also look terrific in the living room while maintaining Ikea-friendly price tags.
Sonos says it will continue to support existing Symfonisk speakers while also confirming that no more new models will be coming. The speakers will remain on sale while supplies last.
"Over the past eight years, we've had the pleasure of working closely with Idea and are proud of what we've achieved," a Sonos spokesperson told The Verge, adding that "our work together has largely wound down and we won't be releasing new products as partners."
Besides the original Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf speakers, the Sonos/Ikea partnership also yielded the Symfonisk floor lamp speaker (which came
But not all antennas are created equal, and there are big differences between indoor and outdoor models. Indoor antennas are supremely convenient, if not always aesthetically pleasing, but a rooftop antenna is always better than one in your home's attic, which is always better than one that's installed indoors.
Our picks below are based on extensive testing, using each antenna as its intended over an extended period of time. Scroll below our product recommendations to learn more about our testing process and for guidance on choosing an antenna.
Channel Master Flatenna 35 - Best budget-priced indoor TV antenna
Microsoft's latest update to Minecraft‘s Bedrock Edition, version 1.21.80, removes support for both virtual reality and Mixed Reality, Microsoft's own take on AR that it killed off years ago. Now, Minecraft remains as a game that can be played on multiple consoles and platforms — just not VR.
Well, officially, that is. Vivecraft will allow Minecraft to continue, as a way to play the sandbox game on Oculus or Windows MR, according to the website. That version requires the original PC Java version of Minecraft, however.
To be fair, Microsoft signaled its plans in an October update last year. "Our ability to support VR/MR devices has come to an end, and will no longer be supported in updates after March of 2025, when you will receive your final update," the company said. "After you receive the final update, you will still receive updates on your PC and be able to play without a VR/MR device.
"From this point on you can keep building in your worlds, and your Marketplace purchases (including Minecoins) will continue to be available on a non-VR/MR graphics device such as a computer monitor," Microsoft said then. "You will no longer be able to use your VR/MR device with Minecraft as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates."
The RTX 5060 Ti is a solid 1080p gaming card, at least in its 16GB upgrade version. The 8GB variant of the card has been met far less warmly, which might help explain why Nvidia didn't send out review units before the launch. That means the 5060, sans Ti and saddled with the same 8GB memory, might be less than impressive, especially for the price.
For the sake of comparison, the 8GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti that's on store shelves right now for $380 sometimes underperforms Intel's Arc B580 card…which has a retail price of $250. Yeah, it looks like Nvidia isn't exactly making a play for the budget space with these entries, perhaps leaning on OEM gaming desktops or those whose brand loyalty outweighs their desire for performance.
Earlier today we saw the latest leaks for AMD's newest desktop card, the Radeon RX 9060 XT. It's coming with a 16GB version, presumably competing with the RTX 5060 Ti at the same level, though pricing has yet to be revealed. A 9060 version, which would compete directly with the RTX 5060, is not
While auxiliary storage and transport are great reasons to buy an external drive, let's not forget the all-important role an external drive plays for backup — either as the primary backup medium, or the secondary backup to an internal backup drive.
Restoring from local storage is far, far faster than pulling down your data from the web, which is why we are so keen on backing up to an external drive. If your time is important to you, that is.
Why you should trust us: We're PCWorld. We've been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. We've seen it all and we know how to root out a drive's strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. Below we offer our expert recommendations on the best external drives for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.
If you aren't familiar with how these work, they sit outside of your ears just behind your temple, vibrating the bones in your head to deliver music right to your eardrum. This keeps your ear canals open and unobstructed so you can hear everything around you while still listening to music, podcasts, or what have you. It takes a little getting used to, but it's a transformative way to listen to just about anything. They're popular for cyclists and runners who need to be aware of their surroundings, but I love Shokz headphones for everything when I'm in public.
Online shop Terabyte showed a Gigabyte version of the as-yet-unannounced card, briefly and with no price attached, before taking the page down. According to VideoCardz.com, this version of the GPU includes 16 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory, a Navi 44 chip, and 2,048 stream processors. That would give it the same memory as the (presumably) more expensive RX 9070, with a less powerful processor and only about 60 percent of the shaders. A big question mark in the spec sheet would be the memory bus, with previous speculation pinning it at 128-bit, half the width of the 9070.
We saw both 8GB and 16GB versions of the 9060 XT back in March, with that more narrow memory bus on the spec sheet, but some outlets have reported that the 8GB version of the card has been scrapped. Considering the big focus on expanded memory requirements in PC gaming, especially in the mid-range of graphics cards, that makes sense. But we're also seeing a lot of PC gamers just priced out of upgrades between rising prices
And it appears Microsoft has listened and is willing to meet users halfway by making it easier to not only switch back from new Outlook to classic Outlook, but also seamlessly use both apps at the same time.
According to a Microsoft 365 Admin Center message (spotted by Windows Latest), the company will be updating the new-and-classic Outlook switching behavior in two phases.
Up until now, when you switch from classic to new Outlook, the only way to use classic Outlook again is to completely switch back. Starting mid-May 2025, when you "switch back" to classic Outlook, new Outlook will simply minimize to the taskbar with suppressed notifications and reminders while launching a separate instance of classic Outlook. Starting early-June 2025, you won't have to "switch back" at all—you can simply open classic Outlook alongside new Outlook.
These changes will automatically roll out over the next few weeks without needing any action on your part. The entire worldwide rollout is expected to be completed by late-July 2025.
Let's take flying cross-country with a traditional laptop, for instance. You'd probably be anxiously keeping an eye on your battery icon throughout the flight, but with an AI PC you wouldn't have to think twice about it. The longest-lasting laptop we've tested, Lenovo's ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, delivers nearly 24 hours on a single charge in our testing — and it's no longer an outlier. Let's dig into why.
The heart of efficiency: A smarter, specialized chip
The new Neural Processing Units (aka the NPU) inside of Copilot PCs is where some of the magic happens, as it's more energy-efficient than a traditional processor with the x86 architecture. CPUs and GPUs can be a massive drain on a laptop's bat
A report from The Guardian (via PCGamer) says that a man was abducted on the streets of Paris last Thursday, with masked attackers forcing him into a van and then holding him captive until police rescued him on Saturday. Five men were arrested at the house after a raid, but unfortunately the unnamed victim had a finger cut off in a rather cliché ransom attempt. The kidnappers were apparently trying to extort his son—a "crypto-millionaire"—before the scheme fell apart.
Two other crypto-driven kidnappings have occurred in France, one in January and one in December, both times with the victim recovered by police after raids and with some significant distress. Similar stories have occurred in Spain and Belgium, again, with the victims recovered by police and at least some kidnappers arrested.
Cryptocurrency is a unique variable in this pattern of wealthy kidnappings and ransoms.
A trial for a two-person YouTube Premium tier is now underway in India, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and the option is striking similar to Spotify's Duo tier, which allows for two members of the same household to share a single subscription, according to Money Control.
YouTube confirmed the pilot program to TechCrunch, with a spokesperson adding that the streamer is "experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers, including offering a two-person Premium plan option in some countries."
The new two-person YouTube Premium plan offers the same benefits as existing YouTube Premium tiers, including ad-free streaming, downloads for offline viewing, and the ability to stream videos in the background.
Like Spotify's Duo tier, the two-person YouTube plan is especially enticing for couples and roommates, who can share a single subscription at a discount while still maintaining their own profiles.
Spotify Duo, for example, costs $16.99 a month for two people under the same roof, versus $11.99 a month for just a single user. That means a pair of roomies could pay roughly $8.50 each per month by going Dutch on a Duo subsc
Anker's portable 10,000mAh power bank is compact, lightweight, cute, and has a built-in USB-C cable. That built-in cable is what makes this one of the best pocket power bank designs, something you can carry around without the hassle of needing a separate cable. And right now, it's on sale for just $13 on Amazon. That's a whopping 50% discount!
The power bank may be tiny but it delivers a respectable 30 watts of charging power, which is fast enough to recharge an iPhone 16 Pro Max about halfway in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the 10,000mAh capacity is enough to charge most phones two times. There's also a second USB-C port you can use to charge a second device at once, although the total charging output will be split between them if you do.
Now that it's on sale for half off, there's never been a better time to snag this Anker power bank. The current $13 sale price matches the all-time lowest price, so grab one before this deal ends!
Anker's trusty power bank with built-in USB-C cable is 50% offBuy now at Amazon
Right now, you can get the 1TB version for $100, which is a whopping 41% off its $170 MSRP. If you need even more storage space, you can instead get the 2TB version for $160, which is an even better 44% off, down from its $285 original price. Sadly, there's no discount for the 4TB capacity model right now.
Either way, the Samsung T7 Shield is a rugged portable SSD that doesn't just look sleek and gorgeous but performs well and withstands physical damage. It can hit read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s, which means you'll be moving large files around in no time at all—excellent performance for the price.
In fact, we loved the Samsung T7 Shield when we reviewed it, giving it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award, as we found it to be speedy and reliable, and we appreciated how it offers a well-rounded 10Gbps experience. Our only knock against it was the price, but that's not an issue when it's as steeply discounted as it is right now.
Don't miss this chance to snag a Samsung T7 Shield rugged portable SSD, whether it's
The on-sale Inspiron 16 Plus model comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a wonderfully performant combo for running Windows 11 and powering through just about any task you have to complete, whether it's for work or fun or hobbies.
You'll love using this laptop with its 16-inch IPS display that delivers great color accuracy at a spacious resolution of 2560×1600 and a 120Hz refresh rate, topped with an anti-glare coating. It can push those pixels thanks to the integrated Intel Arc graphics, which can handle some light gaming on lesser settings. No touchscreen, by the way.
Despite being a larger laptop, it weighs only 4.19 pounds and measures 0.78 inches at its thickest, which is pretty portable for the size. And while we wish it came with a larger storage drive, the included 512GB SSD is still adequate for most users and fast enough to provide quick system bootups and file transfers.
We reviewed the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus laptop some time back and liked it enough to give it a 4-star rating. That one had a different config, with a less powerful CPU but a dedicated graphics card, which was reflected in the price. Still, we found its performance to be excellent and loved the long battery life, and you can expect much of the same with this one.
Microsoft latest Surface 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro have finally done away with the iconic Surface Connect connector in favor of USB-C. If you've never used a Surface, that means little; if you have, it's a big part of what made a Surface a Surface.
The Surface Connect debuted about a decade ago, with the Surface Pro 3 — which, in keeping with Microsoft's rule of threes, was the first Microsoft Surface tablet that really nailed what a Windows tablet could do. I wrote then that the new charger broke compatibility with previous chargers, and that's true. But it did two things: offered a convenient, safe way to charge your Microsoft laptop or tablet, and kicked off an 11-year run where one Surface charger ruled them all.
There's a lot made about Apple's MagSafe charger, and rightly so. MagSafe debuted with the MacBook Pro, and its magnetic connector meant that if you kicked the power cable by mistake, you wouldn't yank the laptop off its desk. Surface Connect offered the same advantage, though a few years later.
Smaller doesn't necessarily mean cheaper, however. And while earlier reports said Microsoft would ship both devices with 12-inch screens, that's not quite what we're getting.
The new $899 13-inch Surface Laptop is very similar to the existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7, which actually ships for as low as $799.99 with a Snapdragon X Plus chip inside. Meanwhile, the smaller 12-inch Surface Pro will cost as little as $799.99, the same price Microsoft charges for its existing 13-inch Surface Pro 11 with a Snapdragon X Plus inside. As you'll see below, you're getting a lot less.
What's new? The smaller sizes, of course, plus new colorways like Ocean and Violet, and a special Slate color for the Surface Pro. The Pro features yet another redesigned keyboard, while the Laptop's chief selling point is a 16-hour battery life (23 hours for video playback) that Microsoft says is its longest yet. Microsoft is also using these Copilot PCs and the X Plus chip's 45 TOPS as showcases for AI technologies like Recall, Click to Do, and its improved semantic search capabilities, while promising even new AI-powered features for the future.
Microsoft is also waving goodbye to the Surface Connect port, the iconic magnetic power connector that define
Microsoft is promising that you'll be able to use natural language to change aspects of your Windows 11 Settings menu, and Windows will go out and make those changes for you using "agents," or small bits of AI that will work on your behalf — at least if you own a Copilot PC with an AI-accelerating NPU onboard.
Microsoft has begun to use its Surface devices as a showcase for its latest software, and the new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are no exception. They'll serve as launch vehicles for Windows Recall, semantic search, and Click-to-Do, but also brand new features like agentic AI and relighting features for Photos, object editing and sticker generation for Paint, and more.
Agentic AI comes to Windows
The unexpected addition to Microsoft's AI stable is an AI "agent" that will manage individual settings within Windows, Microsoft said. This is something Microsoft originally promised Copilot would offer, but the technology never progressed past simple tasks like turning on dark mode. Microsoft
In the best-case scenario, you will only clutter up your Windows if the software's uninstall routine does not delete all associated files and registry entries. In the worst-case scenario, malware will infect your system or ransomware will encrypt your files.
If you want to try out new programs or open unknown files, it is best to do this in a particularly secure environment that is separate from the running system: This is exactly what a sandbox offers.
If you open a program in a sandbox, it works as expected, but cannot make any permanent changes to the system or access resources outside its environment — the sandbox prevents this, redirects access, and deletes all activities of the program and itself when you close it.
With a sandbox, you can therefore try out new software or install programs from dubious sources with less risk, surf potentially unsafe websites, and keep your system clean.
We will show you various ways of setting up and using a suitable sandbox for programs and files under Windows: These range from Windows on-board resources and virtual systems to browsers and programs with their own sandbox function.
We describe the Sandboxie-Plus software in particular detail — the simplest and most practical sandbox solution for most users.
Similar in style to HK's more common Soundsticks range, the GLA-55 speakers sport the same crystal-esque aesthetic that's emblematic of Harman Kardon's PC sound design. They're huge, they take up way too much space on my desk, they don't have any kind of modern wireless connectivity, and their aesthetic doesn't even remotely fit with the rest of my PC hardware… but I love the GLA-55 speakers to death and I have no idea what I'll replace them with when they finally bite the dust.
The "coolest speakers ever made"
Those aren't my words. That's TechPowerUp's take when these speakers debuted in the UK market toward the end of 2009. The Times called them Gadget of the Week in 2010, too.
Suffice it to say, the GLA-55 speakers made a big splash when they released over 15 years ago—and they still turn heads today. I have lots of cool tech in my home office space, and I'm
Support for Windows 10 officially ends on Oct. 14, and that means no more security updates, no matter how many times you hit "remind me later." If you're still running Windows 10, it's time to upgrade, and luckily, Windows 11 Pro is currently available for $14.97 through June 1.
Windows 11 Pro isn't just a visual upgrade; it's built to make your PC faster, more innovative, and more secure.
Gaming Improvements
Enjoy better graphics and performance with DirectX 12 Ultimate, which delivers smoother gameplay, improved load times, and support for ray tracing on compatible hardware. Windows 11 also includes Auto HDR and DirectStorage, which provide better visual fidelity and faster asset loading in modern games.
Built-In AI with Copilot
The integrated Copilot assistant helps you work smarter, not harder. Use it to summarize web pages, adjust settings, organize your desktop, or even help write content, all built directly into the taskbar—no separate app or OpenAI subscription
Will and Brad show that while it's easy to compare some of this tech if you're watching frame-by-frame and zooming in for the finest details—especially on games that have a dedicated benchmark tool—it can be a lot harder to spot in motion in a way that actually affects your gaming experience. Also note that some of the most recent models, like Transformer Upscale, are only available on some games.
We hope this will help you make some decisions on what settings to use, or even whether or not to upgrade to a new card in these trying times. For more tests and analysis, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube, and
The details of USB-C can be confusing, however, and pricing for USB-C monitors is often higher than that for monitors that lack the interface. See our buyers' guide below our recommendations to better understand the nuances.
Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE - Best USB-C monitor overall
During Amazon's earnings call late last week, CEO Andy Jassy told investors that "over 100,000" users are currently testing Alexa , which Amazon unveiled more than two months ago during a splashy New York City press event.
"People are really liking Alexa so far," Jassy reportedly said on the earnings call.
A hundred thousand people may sound like a lot, but as AFTVnews points out, it's just a tiny fraction of Alexa's estimated 100 million-plus active user base, meaning the vast majority of Alexa users has yet to try Alexa out for themselves.
Meanwhile, the lucky few who have kicked the tires on the new AI Alexa are generally keeping mum about it.
There have been a few sightings here and there, including at least one screenshot on Reddit from a user claiming to be in the elite group of Alexa testers. But details have been hard to come by, and queries for rep
Starting in June, you will no longer be able to store new passwords in Authenticator. In July, the actual autofill feature will stop working, meaning you won't be able to use Authenticator to fill in passwords for you. In August, all saved passwords will disappear from Authenticator, effectively killing the feature for good.
Fortunately, all your saved passwords are synced to your Microsoft account, which means they'll still be accessible another way. To access your saved passwords after they're gone from Authenticator, you'll need to install Edge on your mobile phone. Edge also has autofill, so you can resume password management there.
If you don't want to use Edge as your password manager, you'll need to export your passwords from Authenticator and import them into whatever other password manager you end up using. Check out
Windows computers come with security software baked into the OS, but for some folks, an upgrade can help demystify and simplify security. To help you choose a good suite, we've identified products that offer excellent protection, worthwhile features, and minimal performance impact on your computer.
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Codename "HLX" is not a VR title
According to the rumors, "HLX" is the codename for the project, which is believed to be Valve's long-awaited Half-Life 3 and is currently undergoing extensive testing and optimization. If the rumors turn out to be true, it'll be announced this summer and released later this year.
The rumors themselves come from Tyler McVicker, who has served as a reliable source in the past when it comes to Valve leaks and rumors. McVicker commented on the current status of Project HLX on a livestream, and details about the game's plot are already circulating as a result.
As McVicker assured on the livestream, Project HLX will definitely not be a virtual reality title like Half-Life: Alyx was.
Half-Life 3 to be announced this summer?
Some time ago, someone else involved in Valve leaks reported that Half-Life 3 would be the "end of Gordon's adventure," possibly hinting at a proper ending for the franchise with no cliffhangers.
Aside from these rumors, fans have discovered code in major updates for Deadlock and Dota 2 that reference HLX. As these titles also run on Valve'
Last year, a federal judge ruled that Google's search business was an illegal monopoly, forged via exclusive contracts that restrict competition. In the wake of that ruling, the US Department of Justice is now demanding that Google no longer be allowed to pay to be the default search engine in third-party browsers—like Mozilla's Firefox.
Further measures to break up Google's search monopoly include the potential forced sale of the Chrome web browser. There are already several companies waiting to jump in and snatch Chrome for themselves if that happens, but that part isn't set in stone just yet.
Mozilla depends on Google's search deal
If Google is no longer allowed to strike deals to be the default search engine in third-party browsers, it would mean a massive financial hit for Mozilla. Firefox brings in about 90 percent of the Mozilla Foundation's revenue, 85 percent of which comes from a deal with Google. The loss of this revenue would lead to "significant cuts across the company," said Mozilla's CFO Eric Muhlheim to The Verge.
Twitter/X leaker @momomo_US spotted the Amazon Germany page for the unannounced WD Black SN8100, which appears to be a follow-up to the popular SN7100 series (PCWorld's favorite Gen 4 drives). This new 1TB PCIe 5.0 drive claims to have sequential read speeds of up to 14,900MB/s, which would let it beat the Crucial T705 by a hair, at least on paper. As Tom's Hardware notes, it would also be reaching closer to the theoretical maximum speed of PCIe 5.0, 16 gigabytes a second on the standard x4 SSD lane setup.
The listing says that the drive can write at 14,000MB/s and that the usual 2TB and 4TB models will also be available, presumably both in the standard 2280 (80mm) size and with the pictured slim heatsink. The Amazon listing says it'll cost €199.99 for the 1TB version and arrive on May 30th, at least in Europe. With the current economic chaos from import taxes, I wouldn't venture a guess as to what it'll cost in the US.
Whether you want to show mom how much she means to you, or you want to make your spouse feel appreciated for all she does with the kids, I have all kinds of ideas for you.
Here are some of the coolest and most practical Mother's Day gift ideas for a techy mother. I'm a mom and I can tell you this: I'd be delighted to receive any of these myself!
Let her read in peace: Kindle Paperwhite
And further:
"It happens with 4K and HDR titles, all white and washed out," one user wrote on Roku's community site. "It makes a ton of shows simply unwatchable."
That's just one comment from a lengthy thread about Roku's recent HDR woes, which (as noted by Cord Cutters News) seem to stem from a recent software update.
Many Roku users have singled out the Disney app when it comes to washed-out HDR images, but there have also been complaints about the Netflix app, as well as other streaming channels.
Roku says it's looking into the issue, and it's asking users to post details about their Roku rigs and to describe the HDR problems they're seeing.
"We're investigating the Disney Plus HDR content that was washed out after the recent update," reads the Roku announcement, which was posted late last week. "We appreciate your cooperation, and we'll keep you posted."
Roku users were happy to oblige, with many of them focusing their ire on Andor, a Star Wars series on Disney that just kicked off its second season.
If you're one of the dwindling few who still used Skype in 2025, you might be wondering what you can do going forward. Naturally, Microsoft recommends switching to Teams, which is free to use and conveniently installed on every Windows PC with Microsoft 365. But if you don't want to use Teams, you have other options, too.
Switching from Skype to Teams
Microsoft offers the ability for Skype users to log into Teams using their existing login details, which automatically transfers all chats and contacts.
Up until the final shutdown, it was still possible chat or call via Teams with Skype users who hadn't yet switched to the new platform. However, this is no longer possible. If you still have a Skype subscription, you can keep using it until the end of the next renewal period. If you have Skype Credits, you'll be able to keep using them via Teams' Dial Pad feature.
If the seamless migration from Skype to Teams didn't work, you can also try this method to move your contacts from Skype to Teams:
Open Microsoft Teams.
Select the three-dot menu Settings.
Select People.
Under Synchronize contacts, select the Manage button.
From there, you have the option to synchronize Skype if you use the same Microsoft accoun
We've featured the IdeaPad 5X before—it was one of the few new Snapdragon Copilot laptops that actually started out as a good value, thanks to its OLED touchscreen and solid specs. But right now Newegg is selling a refurbished version on eBay for over $400 off the original price from late last year. (And that was for a 512GB SSD, while this one has 1TB.) 16GB of RAM is great for running Windows 11 smoothly, and the Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor should handle just about everything… with the notable exception of 3D gaming.
I really like that this laptop comes with an OLED touchscreen, a very hard thing to find on any budget design. Other highlights from our review include a surprising selection of ports, fingerprint and face scanning via Windows Hello, and a solid keyboard. The battery life is a little below average for a Snapdragon laptop with 14.5 hours of video playback, but that still puts it well above many other recent designs. That should get you through any workday, even if you're hitting tons of browser tabs hard.
This IdeaPad 5X is a refurbished model sold with a 1-year Allstate warranty, which is less than we've been seeing recently, yet still much better than the 90-day warranty you get on
Perhaps an attacker wants a more discreet outcome, like introducing biases. Or perhaps instead malicious results are wanted, like dangerous inaccuracies or suggestions. AI is just a tool—it doesn't know if it's being used for positive or negative benefit. If you don't know what to look for, you could become the victim of cybercrime.
So last week while I was at the RSAC Conference, which brings together thousands of cybersecurity experts, I took the opportunity to dive into AI security with Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, a Data Cowboy with Microsoft's red team. Red teams function as internal penetration testers for companies, purposely looking for ways to break or manipulate a system to find its vulnerabilities.
During our chat, Kumar gave me a handful of sharp tips on how to stay safe from compromised AI, whether it's a chatbot you're conversing with or an agent processing info more automatically. Because, as it turns out, spotting a poisoned AI is very difficult.
The bug was fixed with a service change that rolled out on April 25th. If you're still running into this issue, make sure your device is connected to the internet so it can receive the automatic resolution. Once received, it should be resolved after rebooting your system.
Original story from April 23, 2025: Microsoft developers apparently love making changes to the Start menu. Sometimes it's to add new features like an account manager, while other times it's to inject advertisements. And now it's time to make changes again.
The big April update for Windows 10—known as update KB5055518—has apparently removed the convenient jump lists that appear when right-clicking on app tiles in the Start menu. This feature, which let you quickly access recent files relevant to the app in question, has been part of Windows 10 fo
You know as much as I do that getting our kids away from their digital screens is hard enough, doubly so when summer vacation hits. But maybe it's not so bad if that digital screen is used for reading books? Especially with a device that has a gentle-on-the-eyes e-ink display that helps to provide a more immersive reading experience?
This Kindle Paperwhite Kids deal is a fantastic opportunity for both parents and kids. With its large 7-inch display, this e-reader has plenty of screen real estate for comfortable reading without being so big that it's a pain to carry around. The glare-free, e-ink technology makes it as close in feel to reading actual ink on paper, too, and it's good in all lighting conditions. This is the latest model, by the way, which is the thinnest yet and the most responsive when it comes to page turns.
The cherry on top of the Kindle Paperwhite Kids is that it comes with a child-friendly cover and a 2-year worry-free warranty with a free no-questions-asked replacement if your child breaks it, plus 6 complimentary months of Amazon Kids , a digital subscription service with unlimited access to thousands of age-appropriate ebooks.
No matter how you slice it, this world-class e-reader is a gift to both you and your kid—and now's the best time to get one with summer rearing its head and the price down to its all-time best. Snag the
This GaN charger is super fast and perfectly suitable for smartphones, tablets, handheld gaming consoles, and even some MacBook models. Providing up to 65W of charging power, it's able to refill the battery on a MacBook Air M2 about halfway in just 30 minutes. The GaN technology makes it smaller, faster, and more power efficient than previous USB charging blocks, and this one has additional protections against overvoltage, overcurrent, short circuits, and extreme temps.
Three of the four ports on this charger are USB-C while the fourth one is USB-A. Note that the total 65W throughput of this block is for a single active left-side USB-C port. You can charge multiple devices at once, but the charging power will be split (and thus slower) between them. Still, it's plenty fast even with two or three simultaneously. And the plug on this block is foldable, so it's especially nice for traveling—just toss it into a bag without worrying about it getting damaged or scratching anything.
This fast charging 4-port Ugreen wall plug is a win for $25.79 and a must-have for any home or office that's still fumbling about with numerous, chunky, last-gen power adapters that are slower than snails. Snag it while you can because this 40% discount won't stick around forever!
Sdelete is short for Secure Delete and it permanently wipes files by overwriting them-sometimes multiple times, which makes recovery virtually impossible. This tool is part of the Sysinternals suite from Mark Russinovich, which now belongs to Microsoft. It works according to the Clearing and Sanitizing standard DOD 5220.22-M of the US Department of Defense.
This is how it works via the command line: The tool comes in a zip archive and offers the command sdelete after unpacking. For this command to work in the Windows command prompt in any directory, it must be located in a folder that is part of the Windows path variable Path.
The easiest way is to copy the contents of the archive to the folder C:\Windows. Now call up the command prompt by pressing the key combination Win-R and entering cmd. This action starts the command prompt, in which you enter the command sdelete to delete files or folders.
This mini PC is configured with a Ryzen 7 5700U processor and an amazing 32GB of RAM, which are what make this compact computer so useful for day-to-day tasks. It can handle just about anything you have to do, from work to leisure to play, and it can go even further if you upgrade it down the road (up to 64GB of RAM). It also comes with a 1TB SSD, which is plenty of space for all your apps and files, plus fast bootup times for your system and speedy file access.
This thing is so tiny that you can fit it right under your monitor without issue. It also comes with a VESA mount, so you can even screw it to the backs of one of your monitors and hide it out of sight. Not a bad way to set up your workstation, especially with it able to support triple 4K displays via HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports. Other connectivity options include double USB-A 3.2, double USB-A 2.0, double 2.5Gbps LAN, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
If you want a decent mini PC at a budget-friendly price, you can't go wrong with this Bosgame P4 that's now just $300 on Amazon. Just be sure to clip the on-page coupon to get the best price!
Fear not, these six questions will steer you in the right direction.
How much performance am I currently losing out on?
If the answer to this question is, "Not much, just a few FPS here or there," then it's likely you can get away with simply upgrading your GPU, CPU, or RAM.
On the other hand, if your PC isn't even in the ballpark for the kind of performance you want, or you're getting issues such as game freezes or stuttering, or you find you have to play at a lower resolution than you would like to (and you've pinpointed those problems to being the result of bottlenecks), then quite simply, you should really buy or build a new rig.
How far below recommended specs is my PC?
Another good way to tell if you need to build a new gaming PC or simply upgrade is if your PC is quite a bit below the recommended spe
After all, Microsoft's Windows Security suite (also known as Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender) provides built-in virus protection for your PC, and it doesn't cost a dime. I've been using it for years, and the last time I can recall having virus problems on my PC was well over a decade ago.
And yet, looking around for confirmation of this long-held belief quickly turns up an alternate universe, full of experts who insist that everyone should be paying for antivirus software. This advice comes not just from the companies that sell antivirus suites, but from reputable sites that perform antivirus software reviews.
On top of that, nearly every laptop I've reviewed for PCWorld has come with some form of antivirus trialware from companies like McAfee and Norton. Those companies pay PC makers for placement, which wouldn't make sense if no one bought the products, right?
At this point, I've heard enough questions from readers—and family members—that I decided to dig a little deeper. What I've learned is that my initial assumptions were mostly correct: Most people can indeed skate by without extra antivirus software. But that doesn't mean everyone should, or that you shouldn't take any extra precautions to stay safe.
If you're online, safety is paramount. Fortunately, you don't have to roll the dice with networks; a 3-year subscription to iProVPN provides a suite of safety tools.
Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, iProVPN offers a range of useful tools to keep your data private. 256-bit AES encryption and a NAT firewall are built into the software, supporting up to 10 devices. Choose from over 250 servers in more than 45 countries, so you can access your subscriptions from anywhere. Use split tunneling to use apps that require a local connection without compromising your security. A zero-log policy also protects your privacy.
Built-in ad blocking and malware detection ensure that you're both safe from potential attacks and have the smoothest possible online experience. Smart Connect automatically selects a server when you just want to get online, and auto-protocol selection finds the best method for you so that you can connect with confidence.
You can access the Roku Channel via a web browser or via Roku's mobile apps for Android and iOS. To watch on a smart TV or another brand of streaming device (an Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung smart TV), you'll need to install the Roku Channel app from that device's app store.
Unfortunately, Roku doesn't have a version of the Roku Channel app for LG smart TVs or the Apple TV streamer. But we'll show you some workarounds for those platforms later.
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Some users apparently encountered a vexing problem at the time: if they set a single-color image as the background, their Windows 7 PC always took 30 seconds to start the operating system and switch from the welcome screen to the desktop.
