Yes, it's a fan, but it's not one of those cheap battery fans that demands you hold it in your hand and aim it at your face. My new favorite chilling solution—available for $100 on Amazon—is a surprisingly powerful hands-free fan that you can wear on your body. Meet the Torras COOLify Air neck AC fan.
Of course, fans don't lower the temperature of the air itself, but they do create a breeze that accelerates the evaporation of sweat to help your body cool down.
I'm writing this from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where 97-degree temperatures are making life extremely uncomfortable (at least while I'm outside the blessed cool of the hotel AC).
Saving me daily from heatstroke and a sweaty head, the travel-friendly, adjustable COOLify Air is a neck-worn air conditioner that incorporates two fans and an extremely welcome cooling plate at the back of the neck. And how's this for validation: I saw two more neck fan users by the pool.
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.
The latest version of the software development kit indicates that programs taking advantage of Nvidia's DLSS upscaling tech—so most of the 3D games released in the last few years—will be able to do so with an approximately 20 percent reduction in video RAM usage. That's according to VideoCardz.com, quoting the reduction at various resolutions from 1080p all the way up to 8K.
In layman's terms, once these changes are applied to games via updates, you'll be able to run DLSS optimizations with a lower graphics overhead on GPUs going back to the RTX 30 series, possibly even the 20 series. And with DLSS applied, you can put in more shiny graphics stuff while hitting the same frame rates, or just feel smug as your frames go up without any changes at all. Exactly how long it'll take game developers to implement the changes will vary from game to game, of course.
Note that a 20 percent reduction in VRAM usage to implement DLSS doesn't mean 20 percent VRAM freed up for any particular game. We're talking about a 20 MB savings on a 1080p implementation, and a little over 1 GB at 8K. That's a chunk of memory saved on the top end… but that's a situation that only appl
In short, the answer is no. Based on Will's personal Windows 11 video editing and gaming desktop, a Ryzen 9800X3D machine with 64GB of RAM, there was almost no difference between a PC that's heavily customized and running for over a year versus a clean installation. He also tested it on the even more powerful 9950X3D.
The benchmarks showed a difference of about 3 percent for single-core tasks, and maybe a tiny bit worse for multi-threaded applications. In fact, some benchmarks showed an improvement in the "dirty" setup, with an SSD full of Will's games and personal projects and RAM buzzing with background programs like Dropbox. Adobe Premiere ran 8 percent faster on the older setup. WHAT?
Gaming tests were a little more demonstrable. Cyberpunk 2077‘s built-in benchmark showed a 2.5 percent imp
This raises questions about data privacy. By agreeing to "cloud processing," you enable Meta AI to analyze your private photos. Users who activate the feature can have their photos used for collages, photo themes, or AI-generated edits. However, this gives Meta access to all images in the smartphone's storage.
The feature is currently being tested and rolling out in Meta's apps. Users must actively agree to use it. However, the idea of Meta AI being able to view private photos is dubious at best. On platforms such as X and Reddit, users are expressing concerns that Meta could use the photos to train its AI models, despite promises to the contrary.
Meta doesn't rule out use for training AI
Meta has clarified to The Verge that the photos are not currently being used to train AI models. However, there was no clear answer to questions as to whether this is ruled out in the future.
A Meta spokesperson pointed out that the feature is voluntary and that users are informed exactly what data is being used. Nevertheless, the concern remains that the unclear communication and far-reaching access rights could undermine user trust.
To protect themselves, users should scrutinize the feature critically before activating it. If you have any concerns, you can deactivate the "cloud processing" option in Facebook's app settings. It's also advisable to only upload photos that you
Think of a Thunderbolt docking station as a complement to a modern laptop, the vast majority of which include a Thunderbolt or USB4 port. If you're not familiar with what a docking station is or how it works, I'll explain that too.
What this story does is recommend the best Thunderbolt docks — an overall pick, as well as budget and premium recommendations — based on my own testing of dozens of Thunderbolt docking stations. That testing includes a formal performance evaluation, of course, but also simply using each dock for several days.
Be aware that older laptops often don't use Thunderbolt. They may have a slower, generic USB-C port instead, making our picks for the best USB-C hubs and dongles a better choice. If you're interested in productivity and not gaming, consider a middle ground: my favorite DisplayLink USB-C docks. I explain how to make that decision below these recommendations.
Here's the full list, compiled from two different Anker alerts and spotted by 9to5Google:
Anker PowerCore 10000 — Model A1263
Anker Power Bank (10K, 22.5W) — Model A1257
Anker Power Bank (20K, 22.5W, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1647
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 7.5W) — Model A1652
Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C and Lightning Cable) — Model A1681
Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1689
Anker says that it's initiating a recall for these models "out of an abundance of caution." If you have one of the affected devices, first of all, stop using it. Second of all, don't throw it in the trash—a flaming bag of garbage is only marginally better than flaming pants. You can initiate the recall process with Anker even if you no longer have a receipt for the battery, simply using photos of the appropriate model number.
Once you document your battery and submit the photos to Anker, you can dispose of it via an authorized recycling or waste disposal center (standard electronics recycling centers might not have the necessary safety equipment). Yo
Kasa's Smart Plugs are tiny enough that you can fit two snugly into a double outlet, which is pretty awesome and makes it easy to get started if you don't have any smart devices at all. Anything you plug into the Kasa Smart Plug will be controllable via the app, allowing you to turn the outlet on and off remotely. It's great for lamps, fans, Christmas lights, and more.
These smart plugs are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can easily integrate them if you already have a burgeoning smart home of either ecosystem. Use voice commands to shut off the lamp in the living room while you're already nestled in nicely in bed. You can also use a timer or countdown schedules to automatically turn on and off any appliances plugged into these smart plugs.
You'll love how easy it is to control certain outlets right from your phone, and getting two smart plugs for $11 is a great deal!
We've scoured the market for hidden gems: gadgets that will make you think "Wow, I didn't know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!" So, let's dive in and see what cool devices you'll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with.
Security researchers at ERNW presented vulnerabilities in widely used Bluetooth hardware, finding three crucial weaknesses and creating a proof-of-concept exploit. The implementation wasn't all that sinister—just "reading" what media was currently playing—but the three bugs, one of which was rated as a "high severity issue," could be expanded far beyond snooping on your racy audiobooks. It's possible that they could be used to execute calls to specific phone numbers, scrape contacts or call history, or in the most extreme cases execute code remotely and fully compromise a connected smartphone.
According to BleepingComputer, the affected Bluetooth headphone, speaker, and microphone hardware is used by at least 29 devices (and probably many more) from brands like Bose, Sony, Jabra, JLab, Marshall, and JBL, among others. Notable popular models include the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, Sony's WF and WH headphone series, and Marshall's Woburn and Stanmore speakers.
That doesn't mean you should immediately toss your gear in the trash. We're talking about some pretty in-depth research from people whose entire job is to find and fix these vulnerabilities, and there's no indication that these problems are actively being exploited "in the wild." Furthermore, an attacker would need to get physica
Govee already has several floor lamps in its portfolio, including two that we've reviewed, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro and the Floor Lamp 2. We admired both lamps, which have long, thin, stick-light designs that cast multicolored and even animated light on your walls. But while both lamps can serve up eye-catching color scenes, they're not really designed for illuminating your reading nook or dining table.
With its trio of new floor lamps, Govee is trying something different. The first lamp boasts a three-zone lamp head that casts light up as well as down; the second model comes with a torchiere design; and the third is a tree-style floor lamp with three adjustable arms. All three lamps are compatible with Matter, the smart-home unifying standard, and all are designed to cast white light as well as color, with the traditional lamp-head and tree-style lamps particularly well suited for reading or workspaces.
First up, the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp ($179.99, available now) has an upper zone that can splash up to 20 square meters of multicolored light on the ceiling, while a middle RGBIC zone serves up a groovy de
The Asus ROG Swift PG49WCD uses the same 49-inch 144Hz panel that Samsung, LG, and other gaming monitor makers do. Honestly, they're probably coming from the same factory. So it's up to individual manufacturers to distinguish their designs beyond that 5120×1440 resolution, which is basically two QHD monitors squished together on one curved screen. Asus does this with some extra I/O prowess. In addition to the usual HDMI and DisplayPort options, you get a USB-C port with 90 watts of power delivery, which should be enough even for thirsty gaming laptops. An extra pair of USB-A ports lets the built-in KVM switch do its thing for multiple PCs at once.
Other highlights include a beefy heatsink to protect the OLED panel, various software tricks like pixel cleaning and screen moving to do the same thing, and three years of warranty coverage for burn-in if that stuff isn't quite enough. Oh, and according to the Amazon listing, buying this monitor will get you a free copy of Doom: The Dark Ages. Hell yeah!
You can use the savings to get a VESA mount for a stylish upgrade, but keep in mind that you might need an upgraded model to handle its weight. If this monitor isn't quite what you're looking for, be sure to check out
Many users were impressed by them, as Snapdragon laptops aren't just fast but also power-efficient, offering much longer battery life and requiring virtually no fan. PCWorld's Mark Hachman was personally impressed by his Snapdragon laptop while on a business trip. Plus, with the integrated NPU (neural processing unit), these laptops also have local AI capabilities with lots of future processing potential.
But for some, there's been one big problem with these Snapdragon laptops: they could only run Windows 11. No Linux distribution was able to support them well due to numerous technical problems, and that was despite the existence of Arm editions of Linux. Qualcomm had even originally announced its intention to actively support Linux with them.
Where do I even start with this one? There's so much to gush about! How about the vibrant OLED touchscreen with a super-crisp 2880×1800 resolution that looks incredible on the 13.3-inch display? With 500 nits of brightness, it'll shine and serve you well in most environments, too. Not to mention the dedicated RTX 4050 graphics card that's great for modern 3D gaming, which will also look fabulous on this screen.
All of that is founded on top-notch specs, including the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, speedy 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and spacious 1TB SSD. That's enough power for gaming, productivity, and creativity! Flip the screen over and use it like a drawing tablet, or prop it up like a tent and conveniently read PDFs or watch streaming video. And did I mention that CPU qualifies this as a Copilot PC? That means you'll have full access to all the new AI features in Windows 11.
We reviewed the Asus ProArt PX13 and absolutely loved it, giving it a bright 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award. "The Asus ProArt PX13 is an incredible laptop." Enough said. Frankly, what are you even waiting for? Laptops like this rarely come this cheap—get the
At the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, Google launched its new AI teaching tool.
"Gemini for Education provides default access to our premium AI models, soon with significantly higher limits than what consumers get at no cost, plus enterprise-grade data protection and an admin-managed experience as a core Workspace service — all included in your Workspace for Education plan free of charge," Google said.
Google is pitching the ability for educators to roll their own "Gems," or AI experts, which can help students learn new concepts. Google NotebookLM also provides a repository for students to upload documents into and then hear an audio summary, via Audio Overviews. Google recently added Video Overviews, too, which adds a visual element.
Google Gemini for Education will be free, though Google is offering a paid Google Workspace with Gemini add-on for $18 per user per month, though with some educ
You might get system error 3227320323 or see codes like 0x80070035 or 0x800704f8. But don't worry, you can still connect Windows 10 PCs to the NAS.
In most cases, the problem stems from new security restrictions introduced in Windows 11 24H2. For instance, Microsoft has now disabled guest access to shares. In the past, it was possible to connect to a share or NAS without entering a username and password—but this is no longer allowed in Windows 11 Pro 24H2.
The PNG image file format was originally launched in 1996, but this is only the third version ever. New features in the latest version include support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) images, animation via animated PNG (APNG) files, and storage of EXIF metadata.
The W3C decided to update the file standard after another group within the consortium—working on time-based text such as subtitles, captions, and audio descriptions—realized that PNG files needed HDR support.
The newest version of PNG is already supported by popular web browsers including Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, as well as creative editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Da Vinci Resolve.
Microsoft compares Windows 11 25H2 with version 23H2, which was way more manageable than the mess of 24H2. But "minor" doesn't mean it won't have any new features. On the contrary!
What's new in Windows 11 25H2?
Even though the Windows 11 25H2 update is expected to be only around 1 MB in size, Microsoft is still preparing a few adjustments for Windows 11 with it. These adjustments include a new Start menu with a grid and category layout, as reported by Windows Latest.
Users will then be able to categorize their apps themselves into specific groups—for example, creative apps, games, streaming, social media—to access them more quickly. However, a certain number of apps must be present in a category for it to be visible.
Right now, you can get this awesome mini PC with an excellent discount on Amazon. Normally priced at $590, the GMKtec M3 Plus is now 25% off and available for just $440, matching the lowest price it's ever been. It's tiny enough to fit under your monitor, it's super powerful, and it supports three 4K@60Hz monitors via two HDMI ports and a USB-C video port. You also get three high-speed USB-A, LAN, and 3.5mm audio.
This is a device you'll use day in and day out for all your needs, ranging from work to streaming to light gaming. The Intel Core i9-12900HK processor paired with the chunky 32GB of RAM makes for a fantastic combination that can carry you through the day without stumbling or choking. There's also a 1TB SSD on board that offers plenty of storage, and if you ever need more, you can self-upgrade the memory up to 64GB and the storage up to 4TB.
These days, nothing is better for a modest home office than a mini PC, especially when you can get something like the GMKtec M3 Plus for just $440. It's worth every penny at this deal price!
Save 25% on this powerful Core i9 mini PC with 32GB RAM
This is an incredible deal given how fast and compact the brand-new Crucial X10 is. We reviewed it and we loved it, enough to give it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award. The super-fast transfer speeds, the gorgeous design, and the IP65-rated water and dust protection are some of the things we loved the most about it. It's inching its way towards becoming one of our favorite portable SSDs.
We're talking data speeds of up to 2,100 MB/s. Think about that for a second. With the Crucial X10, you can move two gigabytes every second—an entire movie file in the blink of an eye. In our own tests, we managed to move 48 gigabytes in less than half a minute. That's a huge step up over nearly all other portable SSDs in this price range. Plus, the Crucial X10 is compatible with just about any device and operating system, including Windows, Mac, Android, iPad, Linux, and even PS5.
Snap up the 2TB Crucial X10 on Amazon for its best price yet while you still can! Or if 2TB is too little or too much storage space for you, take a
Windows 11 24H2 will be administered via what's known as a "shared servicing branch," which is the normal way for Windows to be updated. Microsoft simply takes the code that your machine lacks and sends it down to your PC via Windows Update, reducing the total download size by about 40 percent, Microsoft said.
In early 2025, Microsoft rolled out an update to Windows 11 24H2, which required a much more intensive process. Microsoft called that rollout a full code swap, and when I performed the upgrade myself, it took as long as just under two hours on an older machine. That process essentially swapped all of the existing code for a total update.
Since Microsoft is returning to a shared servicing branch, you can expect the update to move much more quickly. Essentially, Microsoft is saying that it will quietly download the Windows 11 25H2 components, then turn them on via an enablement package. Once the code is enabled, all a user has to do is reboot to "turn on" the new code.
We will show you which typical everyday mistakes will slowly ruin your power bank and how you can easily extend its lifespan.
1. Incorrect charging behavior: Too often or too empty
The next trip is coming up and of course it makes sense to charge the power bank properly beforehand. What actually sounds quite logical is unfortunately one of the most common mistakes, as many people charge their power bank when it's still half full or almost full. Just like a smartphone battery, this leads to battery wear in the long term.
But the opposite—regularly letting the power bank run completely empty—is also problematic. Ideally, it should be recharged as soon as the capacity has dropped to around 20 to 30 percent.
2. Temperatures that are too high or too low
Batteries don't like it too hot or too cold. If you leave your power bank in the car in summer or transport it outside in winter, you risk permanent damage. Temperatures above 95 degrees or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit cause the chemical processes in the battery to change, which reduces the capacity and charging ability in the long term. Therefore, always store your power bank at room temperature if possible and avoid direct sunlight.
It's becoming impossible to parse all but the biggest triple-A releases (many of which aren't exactly stellar) and the most virulent of social media hits. How do you search and find new games in a landscape where you simply can't hope to see everything? That's the problem that We Love Every Game (or We HEART Every Game as its logo goes) aims to solve.
A product of a teeny-tiny Boston startup called Totally Human Media, I fell in love with the tool during a recent Steam sale and wrote it up here on PCWorld. The company reached out to me to ask if I wanted to go deeper, and I couldn't say "yes" fast enough. I wanted to find out the root problems of current game discoverability on the PC and other platforms, and what we as gamers can do about it, how developers can get their games out, and all that jazz.
Totally Human Media CEO Ichiro Lambe and head of marketing Matt Martindale joined me over a video call to chat.
It seems that monthly software fees are getting out of hand. If you're tired of watching those auto-renewals chip away at your bank account, this one's for you. Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is now available for just $39.97. That's a one-time payment, with no subscription fees or surprise charges a year from now.
This lifetime license includes all the heavy hitters: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and even Teams (free version). Whether you're crunching numbers in Excel, writing proposals in Word, or designing attention-grabbing presentations in PowerPoint, you're covered from every angle.
If "crunching numbers" sounds like a nightmare and "subscription fatigue" is real in your world, let's talk QuickBooks Pro Plus 2024. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime license for just $199.97—down from its regular $699. That's a serious chunk of change saved.
Whether you're running a one-person show, managing a small team, or handling books for clients, QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 combines everything you need into a single, streamlined platform. Think invoicing, expense tracking, financial reports, job costing, purchase orders, inventory tracking
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about VPN shopping at the bottom of this article. Before you decide on a new VPN, be sure to check out our roundup of the best VPNs to help you choose the right service for your needs.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these VPN discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
Best VPN deals
NordVPN, now $4.39 per month for 24 months (70% off at NordVPN)
ExpressVPN, now $4.99 per month for 24 months 4 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN)
Surfshark VPN, now $2.49 per month for 24 months 3 free months (86% off at Surfshark)
If your Windows setup is a little sluggish, this might be the sign you've been waiting for. For a limited time, you can grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97—down from the usual $199. Yes, really. That's less than the cost of a movie ticket for a permanent OS upgrade.
Windows 11 Pro brings the glow-up your machine deserves. The redesigned interface is smoother, cleaner, and easier to navigate—think of it like a digital spa day for your desktop. But it's not just pretty; it's smart. You'll get Snap layouts for smarter multitasking, enhanced search tools, and Copilot, the AI assistant that actually helps you get stuff done.
For the privacy-minded (and aren't we all?), Windows 11 Pro steps up with BitLocker encryption, Smart App Control, and TPM 2.0 support to keep things locked down tight. Whether you're managing a small business or just running a tight personal setup, this OS means business.
If you've ever needed to write a cold email, draft a quick marketing plan, or whip up a polished pitch deck in minutes—this one's for you. 1min.AI is a streamlined AI productivity tool designed to crank out business content fast, and right now you can grab lifetime access to the tool's Advanced Business Plan for only $99.99 (reg. $540).
This isn't your average ChatGPT wrapper. 1min.AI is powered by platforms like Claude, Gemini, and more, and it specializes in business use cases, with 100 AI-powered tools built in—from email templates and ad copy to HR docs, financial reports, and startup pitch builders. Whether you're launching your side hustle or working in a fast-paced startup environment, it's designed to cut hours of busywork into just a few clicks.
Invest in a modern robotic pool cleaner and let that machine do that dirty work for you. (Sadly, we've yet to find a robot that can scrub toilets.)
These labor-saving pool bots come in various shapes and sizes with diverse capabilities, not to mention a wide array of prices. The most sophisticated models go for $2,000 or more. Here are our top picks, followed by a buyers' guide that will help you determine what you need in a robotic pool cleaner.
Polaris Freedom Plus - Best cordless robotic pool cleaner overall
The security vulnerability in question can reportedly be exploited by hackers to bypass the app's built-in security features, increasing the risk of malware execution, reports BleepingComputer.
The issue was first reported on June 5th, 2025 through the Zero Day Initiative, and WinRAR released a fix for it with version 7.12 beta 1 on June 24th, 2025. The release also addresses two other minor issues.
"When extracting a file, previous versions of WinRAR, Windows versions of RAR, UnRAR, portable UnRAR source code and UnRAR.dll can be tricked into using a path, defined in a specially crafted archive, instead of user specified path," writes WinRAR in its changelog. In other words, files could be secretly extracted to system directories and other sensitive locations, allowing hackers to execute malicious files in unwanted places.
Though there are no known instances of this exploit being attacked in the wild, you should update WinRAR immediately to stay safe.
Well, if you have gremlins like me, it's not a bad idea to stock up on charging cables, especially super-fast USB-C cables like this one by Anker. Right now, you can get a two-pack of 3-foot cables for $8 or a two-pack of 6-foot cables for $10. Not bad at all!
These are 60W USB-C cables, which means they'll recharge your devices quite fast as long as you have a power adapter that supports up to 60W of charging. And these are USB-C-to-USB-C, by the way, so you'll need a USB-C power adapter. They're covered in braided nylon, so they're a lot more resistant to twists and bends and will last you longer.
Obviously, if you like charging devices while at your desk, you can get away with the shorter ones. But if you like to charge your phone while doomscrolling in bed, the longer ones may fit your needs better.
Stock up on charging cables (or upgrade the ones you already have) with these Anker two-packs now that they're even more affordable. Whether you get the 3-foot cables or the longer
In this sponsored video, Adam and Will chill out and play some of their favorite titles on a desktop PC with a fresh graphics card from Asus, the Prime RX 9060 XT. If you're wondering, this mid-range setup also uses an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X CPU, an Asus Tuf Gaming B850-Plus motherboard, 32GB of Crucial DDR5-6000 RAM, an Asus A31 mid-tower case, and an Asus Prime AP-850G modular power supply. There's an Asus Prime LC 240 all-in-one cooler keeping things frosty, too.
Adam and Will are playing Deadzone Rogue and Stellar Blade, checking out AMD's FSR capabilities with an eye on GPU temps while pushing polygons. For more fun stuff, subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube.
Many traditional VPN services still store logs centrally, meaning your activity could be traced back to you if they're hacked or forced to hand over data. NymVPN is different. It uses a mixnet - a decentralized network that blends your traffic with others, making it virtually impossible to trace who did what.
Try NymVPN now and get 5 months free with the 2-year subscription plan!
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When looking for the best VPN, you'll want to consider a few things: First and foremost, does it have a good privacy record; how are its average connection speeds; is it able to effectively and consistently unblock streaming services; and finally, does it have a large enough server network for your location needs? All of my curated picks below deliver these essentials and more.
Hundreds of printer models worldwide are affected by these vulnerabilities, especially Brother devices. And as BleepingComputer reports, some of them can't even be fixed.
Hackers can figure out Brother passwords
Rapid7's investigation uncovered eight vulnerabilities in 689 Brother models, which include printers, scanners, and label printers. Meanwhile, 46 Fujifilm, 6 Konica Minolta, 5 Ricoh, and 2 Toshiba models were also affected as they use Brother components. The severity of the vulnerabilities ranges from moderate (CVSS score 5.3) to critical (CVSS score 9.8), which emphasizes the urgency of the issue.
The most dangerous vulnerability, known as CVE-2024-51978, allows attackers to determine a printer's default admin password. Brother uses a weak algorithm that generates the password from the device's serial number and a static table. According to BleepingComputer, attackers can use the printer's serial number (which can be retrieved via other vulnerabilities) to generate the default password and gain control of the device. This would also allow them to attack other devices in the network.
Other vulnerabilities allow hackers to access sensitive data from the printer, cause the prin
As the name suggests, this is a Fire TV, which means you get access to almost all the streaming services along with Xbox games streamed via cloud gaming (even if you don't have an Xbox console). It'll also fit right in with all your other Alexa-powered (or Alexa-compatible) tech, enabling you to issue voice commands to access the weather, look for information, or turn off your lights.
As for the viewing experience, this TV comes with various technologies that will make watching your favorite shows an absolute pleasure, including Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10 Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG. Plus, it has adaptive brightness, so your screen's brightness will be optimized based on how bright/dark your room is. When you're not watching shows and movies, you can turn the screen into a canvas to display art.
Did I mention this is a gigantic 75-inch TV? Because I feel like I need to emphasize just how insane it is to get a TV this big for this cheap. Sure, it's an exclusive Prime-only early deal for Prime Day just around the corner, but you can take advantage if you start a free 30-day Prime trial. You can then use the Prime trial to score Prime Day deals!
What are you waiting for? You're not going to see a better TV deal
If you're like me, you have a box or drawer with dozens of cables. And while some cables have specific connections, like USB-C, my wired network (such as it is) is just a random collection of colored Ethernet cables with tiny little markings telling me what they can or can't do. How much data can that cable transfer? I had no idea. And that's bad.
I had never really thought about which Ethernet cables were being run between my cable modem, router, Xbox, and desktop PC. But I had performed speed tests more than once, and worried that my network was running slower than usual. And I also knew the problem: my network would run only as fast as its slowest segment.
If my Ethernet cables were transferring less data than my router or gateway, I was potentially wasting money. I didn't need to spend time researching the fastest mesh router or the best Internet gateway. If my cables were ancient, my entire network would be bogged down by my slowest cable. If my ISP quietly increased the speed of my broadband connection, I might not see any benefit. And I had already found an old Cat5 cable hooked up to my Xbox, a standard which had been basically extinct for about two decades. Ew!
I don't have any particular rhyme or reason for my selections. I'm just going on vibes based on how recent the game is, how popular it is, and how deep the discount. This is also, obviously, weighted towards my tastes—I'm not big on genres like survival horror or visual novels, so please keep that in mind here. Oh, I've also just created a list of the best new PC games that don't need a graphics card, which are all available on Steam, if you need even more picks.
Without further ado, here are the best deals I could find:
Atomic Heart: $17.99, 70% off
Avowed: $46.89, 33% off
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth: $7.49, 50% off
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: $3.99, 90% off
Cult of the Lamb: $12.49, 50% off
Cyberpunk 2077: $20.99, 65% off
Days Gone: $19.99, 50% off
Dead by Daylight:
The Arzopa Z1FC is a great 16.1-inch portable monitor with a lovely 1080p IPS screen and a responsive 144Hz refresh rate. That means crisp images for work and smooth motion for videos and light gaming, not to mention vivid colors and excellent color accuracy. And it's only 0.3 inches thick and 1.7 pounds, so it'll slip easily into any bag next to your laptop. It even comes with a sleeve to keep the screen protected.
When we reviewed the Arzopa Z1FC, we found that this monitor has a great quality build for the price and we appreciated the built-in kickstand. While the Z1FC is billed as a "portable gaming monitor," it's actually a "solid choice for anyone who needs an affordable portable display." You can use it with your laptop, your Nintendo Switch, or your smartphone. It has a full-sized HDMI port and two USB-C ports, plus the cables you need, so it's widely compatible with your devices.
Note this is a Prime deal, but if you don't have Prime, you can still take part with a free 30-day Prime trial—and you'll be able to use that trial to take advantage of the Prime Day deals coming up. So what are you waiting for? Get this
To create a search field in a spreadsheet, you must first activate the Developer tools menu. To do this, go to Options Customize Ribbon on the File tab. In the Customize Ribbon column, check the box next to Developer tools and select OK.
Next, switch to your spreadsheet containing your data. Make sure the first row has header data describing the content of each column. Select all the data and convert it into a smart table by pressing Ctrl T.
Confirm the table area by clicking OK. Then, in the Table Design menu, give your table a name under Table Name, such as Data.
Now you can create a search field to filter the data in your worksheet. In this example, it will search the Department column of your data.
According to security firm Varonis, hackers are using the Direct Send feature to send malicious emails that appear to come from a known sender. The emails contain a link to a fake Microsoft form, and when the recipient enters their login details, those details are intercepted.
Since May 2025, around 70 companies and organizations have been affected by the phishing campaign, mainly in the US.
According to Microsoft, Direct Send is a secure feature but it requires users to configure the right settings and properly lock down their smart host, which doesn't always happen. "We recommend Direct Send only for advanced customers willing to take on the responsibilities of email server admins," explains Microsoft.
To minimize the security risks involved, concerned users are encouraged to turn on the new "Reject Direct Send" setting in the Exchange Admin Center, which was introduced in April 2025.
In short, the answer is no. Based on Will's personal Windows 11 video editing and gaming desktop, a Ryzen 9800X3D machine with 64GB of RAM, there was almost no difference between a PC that's heavily customized and running for over a year versus a clean installation. He also tested it on the even more powerful 9950X3D.
The benchmarks showed a difference of about 3 percent for single-core tasks, and maybe a tiny bit worse for multi-threaded applications. In fact, some benchmarks showed an improvement in the "dirty" setup, with an SSD full of Will's games and personal projects and RAM buzzing with background programs like Dropbox. Adobe Premiere ran 8 percent faster on the older setup. WHAT?
Gaming tests were a little more demonstrable. Cyberpunk 2077‘s built-in benchmark showed a 2.5 percent imp
For example, the user can type in "turn on dark mode" or "disable notifications for Teams," after which the AI agent will either bring up the correct settings or change them directly for the user.
Mu is said to have 330 million parameters and has been trained on 3.6 million examples. It should be able to react to requests and prompts in under 500 milliseconds.
The AI agent runs directly on a device's NPU (Neural Processing Unit), provided the computer has one. That means you'll need a Copilot PC to access and benefit from this feature. With the NPU, all processing is done locally and no data is sent to the cloud.
The big news this time is that Microsoft's developers have finally managed to overcome the slow search performance in the Start menu, something that will surely please many users.
Another new feature is that the Windows Backup app has been equipped with a new wireless file transfer feature, which we previously covered when it was in testing phase. With it, you can migrate files and settings from one PC to another with relative ease.
If you don't see KB5060826 in Windows Update, you can download the update directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and Pornhub's parent company Aylo will begin restricting access to its adult sites for residents in Wyoming in protest on June 30, 2025. Aylo and other privacy advocates claim that these laws violate free speech, and infringe on personal privacy protections. By forcing individuals to hand over personally identifiable information to third parties, it creates the environment for potential government overreach and data misuse.
This ban is just the latest following a trend that has seen more than 19 states lose access to the incredibly popular NSFW site. Similar bans occurred in March of last year when access was blocked to residents in Texas, in June when Indiana, Idaho, and Kansas also lost the ability to visit the site, in July for Nebraska, in October for Alabama, and in January of this year when Florida was hit with the ban hammer as well.
For legal-age Wyomingites looking to access the site, this is disruptive to say the least. Fortunately, there's an easy workaround: using a VPN. Simply download and install your preferred VPN, connect to a server in a state that isn't blocked, and enjoy the content.
Below you'll find my top picks for VPNs to access Pornhub (or
Of course, we've seen affordable 2-in-1 laptops before, but the specs are rarely this good at this price. This one has a 16-inch IPS touchscreen with 1920×1200 resolution and an Intel Core 7 150U processor, whereas most $500 laptops maaaaybe have a Ryzen 5 processor and a 1080p LCD screen. And on top of that, this Lenovo IdeaPad also has 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a decent 512GB SSD, which is about the bare minimum you should have for a proper Windows 11 machine.
There are only two real downsides here. First, the 60Hz refresh rate is pretty basic and won't offer the most responsive experience, but it's fine if you're only doing basic tasks like spreadsheets and web browsing. Second, it's a 360-hinge style of 2-in-1 rather than the fully detachable screen-and-keyboard style, which is great for propping up in tent mode but not the most convenient if you like using it in tablet mode.
Still, at this price, it's hard to complain. Get the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 laptop for only $580 while you can! This is a stunning price for a laptop that delivers more than you can normally expect. If you're still on the hunt, though, check out our best picks for laptops.
In an email shared by Android Authority, Google states that they've "made it easier for Gemini to interact with your [Android] device" and that Gemini will "help you use" various apps "whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off." If you don't want this, you'll have to disable the feature in the Apps settings page, but Google hasn't yet provided an explanation of how this will work.
For years, I've used an Apple TV 4K for streaming, and while it's been a great device overall, I've always wanted to try swapping it for a home theater PC. In my early cord-cutting years (circa 2010), I used a cheap Intel Atom-powered Lenovo nettop (now obsolete) to access Hulu's website (still free at the time) and avoid its subscription fees on connected TV devices. Plugging a cheap mini PC into your TV today could yield similar advantages.
This experiment could fail for a variety of reasons, and I've already hit some snags in my initial setup. But if it works, it could offer a lot more control over the streaming experience along with some potential cost savings over time.
The case for a home theater PC (in 2025)
I'm going into this mini PC experiment with a bunch of use cases in mind:
Ad-skipping powers: With a desktop web browser, I can use MultiSkipper to fast-forward through commercials on Hulu, Peacock, Tubi, and other ad-supported streaming services, and I can use uBlock Origin to avoid ads on YouTube. This could save a lot of money as ad-free streaming subscriptions get more expensive.
Here's what you're getting for that insanely affordable price: an AMD Ryzen 7 3750H processor with Radeon RX Vega 10 integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage with Windows 11 Pro already loaded on it, with the ability to upgrade memory up to 64GB and storage up to 2TB. Not to mention all the connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, three fast USB-A, one slow USB-A, plus a USB-C, Gigabit LAN, and audio jack.
Here's what all that means: plenty of power to handle your daily workload and more, including tons of open browser tabs, high-resolution media streaming, and leisurely doomscrolling. It can even do some light gaming, and you won't need to worry about running out of space for your apps, documents, and photos. It can power dual 4K@60Hz monitors for lots of screen real estate and ample productivity, and it has a VESA mount so you can mount it to the back of a compatible monitor out of sight.
No word of exaggeration, this is an insane deal to get that much power for just $217. Don't miss this chance to snag an awesome PC for the same price as a trash-tier laptop—opportunities like this are rare!
This Ryzen 7 mini PC with 16GB RAM is a steal for $217
This week, the theme is gaming: a possible new X3D CPU from AMD, Steam showing detailed performance stats, and the future of Xbox. We also squeeze in two pieces of breaking news to kick off the show!
These games can run on a toaster, so long as that toaster runs Windows. They're also great picks for a Steam Deck or pretty much any other handheld PC. Oh, and it sure doesn't hurt that all of these games are under $20 at full price, and many come with demos. And would you look at that, this roundup just happens to be running at the same time as the Steam Summer Sale, which starts today.
Here are my picks, in no particular order. Want even more? Then check out the same article from 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
One thing I've recently started using is Snap — basically a formalized way to "snap" windows to sections of the screen — in Windows 10/11 and it's really changed how fast I can work.
How so? Well, I used to be the king of having multiple browser windows open that I would arrange around my screen like wayward clouds. That setup caused a bunch of problems: The windows would have to be relatively small and that meant they were hard to tell apart; the information in them wasn't scaled to fit; and, they weren't snapped into place so they would move about randomly with my clicking.
I'd end up just expanding them and in doing so obscure my other windows. Then I'd try to return to what I was doing but forget where I left off — and that muddled process would take up valuable work time.
But with Windows' Snap feature, I now have my main working app open, and then neatly place other windows I need for reference around it in a more accessible way.
I find there's enough viewing space to fit 2 to 3 of the most useful windows in, and they snap into place so I can just scroll and not have to worry about searching for the scroll bars or accidentally moving the windows. It's just so much easier to navigate a multiple browser window experience this way.
There are a couple of different configurations for Windows Split Screen Mode. But by far the most common are the 2- 3- and 4-window split screen setups. Here's how to do a simple 2-window split screen, from which you'll be able to glean how to do the other configurations.
Looking for a do-it-all video tool that won't slow you—or your PC—down? VideoProc Converter AI has just landed with a lifetime family license deal for only $35.99 (reg. $119.90). Whether you're trimming gameplay footage, compressing large files, or using AI to enhance old video clips, this powerhouse software covers it all in one clean interface.
Built for Windows users, VideoProc stands out with its full GPU acceleration, meaning smoother, faster performance even when working with massive 4K or HD files. It's compatible with over 420 formats and supports AI-powered features like video upscaling, noise reduction, and frame interpolation—perfect for upgrading legacy footage or tweaking YouTube-ready content.
The "family license" part? That lets you install it on up to five P
At PCWorld we've used our share of USB-C cables and can say with total confidence that, no, not all of them are the same. Big differences can arise in the quality of a cable's construction and how it performs, whether you're talking about charging or transferring data.
My hands-on evaluation of numerous cables — ranging from the biggest, most-recognizable brand-names to the cheapest of the cheap — has revealed some clear winners.
For my USB-C cable reviews, I don't trawl consumer reviews like some "reviewers" — I purchase the cables retail and personally test each one, examining the resistance, how they are physically wired, and the accuracy of the embedded eMarker (if it has one). I then performance test them where appropriate for charge rates, transfer rates, and display support. My picks of the best USB-C cables below are separated into two groups: those cables that are best for charging, and those best for both charging and fast data transfer.
Best USB-C cable for charging
Belkin BoostCharge 240-watt charging cable
But Microsoft is now changing the design of the blue error screen and breaking with 40 years of BSOD tradition. In fact, it won't be called a "blue screen" anymore because, at least in the current preview version of Windows 11 24H2, the error screen is now completely black. (For Windows Insiders on test versions, the error screen will be green instead.)
pdate: According to The Verge, Microsoft will finalize the transition to the new Black Screen of Death for current Windows 11 users "later this summer."
But Microsoft is now changing the design of the blue error screen and breaking with tradition. In fact, it won't be called a "blue screen" anymore because, at least in the current preview version of Windows 11 24H2, the error screen is now completely black. (For Windows Insiders on test versions, the error screen will be green instead.)
What's interesting about this hosting and sharing model is that you aren't on the hook for API calls made by your app. When someone uses your Claude-made app, they have to use their Claude account to do so and they pay for it with API usage counting against their subscription. No need to juggle and manage API keys.
In the example given by Anthropic, Claude creates a new chat app that can be used to talk to the chatbot. But Anthropic writes that it should also be possible to use this new ability to create games with AI characters that remember conversations and player choices.
This new feature of Claude is still being beta-tested by Anthropic, but has been made available to all Claude users.
What's shocking is just how many tasks ChatGPT is already capable of managing for you. While the naysayers may still look down their noses at the potential of AI assistants, I've been using it to handle all kinds of menial tasks for me. Here are my favorite examples.
Under US law, fair use means that copyrighted material is allowed to be used if the result is considered "transformative." That is, the resulting work must be something new rather than it being entirely derivative or a substitute for the original work. This is one of the first judicial reviews of its kind, and the judgment may serve as precedent for future cases.
However, the judgment also notes that the plaintiff authors still have the option to sue Anthropic for piracy. The judgment states that the company illegally downloaded (pirated) over 7 million books without paying, and also kept them in its internal library even after deciding they wouldn't be used to train or re-train the AI model going forward.
The judge wrote: "Authors argue Anthropic should have paid for these pirated library copies. This order agrees."
They're usually way cheaper than Windows machines with some starting around $300. They're quick to boot, easy to use, and update themselves in the background. No fuss, no bloat. And hey, thanks to cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, you can even stream AAA games on some models. Not bad for a budget-friendly laptop. Just make sure you're getting one that nails the basics: good speed, decent build, and battery life that won't quit on you halfway through the day. We've tested these picks hands-on, so if it's on this list, it's earned its spot.
If you decide that you'd prefer a Windows laptop, check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available today.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 - Best overall Chromebook
In a Windows Experience blog post from earlier this week, Yusuf Mehdi—Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft—wrote that "Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10 PCs."
The claim is based on benchmarking results from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core measurement tool, which could be seen as misleading as it doesn't entirely reflect real-world usage. For example, it's been shown that Windows 10 has better gaming performance than Windows 11, which is a common argument for sticking with the older operating system.
Meanwhile, the blog post also argues in favor of upgrading to Windows 11 by highlighting increased security due to solutions like TPM 2.0 and Smart App Control. Microsoft claims a 62 percent reduction in security incidents with Windows 11, but that's comparing new computers running Windows 11 to older computers running Windows 10.
Original story from June 17, 2025: In recent months, a long list of issues with the classic Outlook app for Windows has cropped up, including high CPU usage, empty sections in the Calendar view, and a bug that causes the Ctrl C and Ctrl Alt V keyboard shortcuts to malfunction.
The latest news is that many users are experiencing app crashes when opening emails or writing new messages. According to BleepingComputer, Microsoft promises to fix these crashes in an upcoming update. Until then, there's a
But putting your PC beneath your desk comes with its own set of problems, as my colleague Dominic Bayley learned the hard way. Cutting to the chase, I'd never put my PC on the floor without a stand; many makes and models are available on Amazon, but I settled on this Io Crest tower stand, which costs a reasonable $14.
Snag these awesome Govee outdoor string lights and get 96 feet of smart string lighting for just $70 while you still can! (Don't forget to clip the on-page coupon for $20 off. The extra 10% off will automatically
With this deal, you're getting 96 total feet of smart string lighting split into two string lights measuring 48 feet each. That's a lot of lighting! And given that the 48-feet light is normally $70, you're basically getting two for the price of one with this deal.
These string lights are perfect for just about any outdoor area. They're waterproof with an IP65 rating, so they're safe to stay outside year-round. They're also sun-proof and snow-proof, plus the bulbs won't crack if you drop them. (That last part is particularly nice because we all know how easy they are to accidentally drop while putting them up.) However, the power adapter is NOT waterproof, so you should plan accordingly.
These are RGBIC lights, meaning you can program different lights in different sections, which is awesome for customizing the look and atmosphere you want for your space (or stick with the mood presets if you don't want to bother). And if you hook them up to the Govee app, you can get them to "dance" in sync with your music. The Govee app can be integrated with both Google and Alexa, so you can also use voice commands to turn the lights on and off.
Snag these awesome Govee outdoor string lights and get 96 feet of smart string lighting for just $70 while you still can! (Don't forget to clip the on-page coupon for $20 off. The extra 10% off will automatically
There appears to be something of a rush on the existing stock of new DDR4 memory. TrendForce reports that retail prices for DDR4 RAM kits being tracked have gone up shockingly fast, with the price of some SKUs having gone up by almost 40 percent in the last week. That's due to several compounding factors, including decreased production from memory manufacturers and the Trump administration's import taxes (tariffs) feeding anxiety over pricing.
Those short-term price increases are, in fact, considerably higher than TrendForce predicted just a few weeks ago, where consumer-grade DDR4 modules for PCs was projected to rise 18 to 23 percent in the third quarter of the year. As Tom's Hardware observes, this is an unprecedented situation: DDR4 might become more expensive than the much faster DDR5, based purely on scarcity as manufacturers like Micron and Samsung have wound down production.
A few quick searches show that DDR4 prices haven't yet eclipsed DDR5 at the consumer retail level, though the
This is a Prime-exclusive deal, so you'll only have access to the discount if you're a Prime subscriber. That said, if you aren't a Prime member, that's okay—you can start a 30-day free trial to score this deal and all those other deals that are coming on Prime Day (July 8th to 11th).
The Anker Soundcore 2 is pretty darn small, measuring 6.5 inches long, 2.2 inches wide, and 1.8 inches tall. That's small enough to comfortably hold in your hand, allowing you to take it with you anywhere you go. It'll survive your adventures, too, thanks to its IPX7 waterproof rating that also protects against rain, snow, mud, and more. And despite its small size, it can get pretty loud and deliver high-quality audio packed with bass.
Anker is a brand that's famous for its portable power banks, so it's no surprise to see such great battery life in the Soundcore 2. You'll get 24 hours of playtime—yup, a full day!—on a single charge. It easily connects via Bluetooth, and you can even pair two of these together for an awesome stereo sound experience.
With it being portable, audiorific, with long battery life, and extremely affordable, it's a no-brainer. Get the
The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and Pornhub's parent company Aylo will begin restricting access to its adult sites for residents in South Dakota in protest on June 30, 2025. Aylo and other privacy advocates claim that these laws not only violate free speech, but will infringe on personal privacy protections. By forcing individuals to hand over personally identifiable information to third parties, it creates the environment for potential government overreach and data misuse.
This ban is just the latest following a trend that has seen more than 19 states lose access to the incredibly popular NSFW site. Similar bans occurred throughout last year for residents in Texas and Florida, among others. Both Wyoming and Georgia are also set to lose access beginning this July, with North Dakota following shortly thereafter.
For legal-age South Dakotans looking to access the site, this is disruptive to say the least. Fortunately, there's a simple solution: using a VPN. Simply download and install your preferred VPN, connect to a server in a state that isn't blocked, and enjoy the content.
Below you'll find my top picks for VPNs to access Pornhub (or other Aylo owned adult content)
The S3A mini PC isn't just super affordable, but it's also a device that you'll be able to rely on day in and day out. It runs Windows like a pro (pun intended as it comes with Windows 11 Pro), run your apps without issues, and can multitask Chrome, Zoom, Slack, Netflix, and more thanks to its lovely specs and bang for your buck.
The AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor and 32GB of RAM combo will deliver a speedy performance no matter what your daily goal is. There's also a 1TB SSD on board that offers ample storage and fast loading times. In case you want to upgrade, you can add your own hardware up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage. Swapping out the memory and storage is easy as you only have to lift the metallic cover to access them.
This particular model also supports three 4K@60Hz monitors via HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video. There are more ports available for peripherals and data transfer, including six high-speed USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Right now, you can get this $459 mini PC for $321.30 on Amazon, which is quite the discount for a device that's rather powerful. Remember to redeem the 5700UDEALS code on the product page!
This is the AW3425DW, a 34-inch model that debuted earlier this year. In addition to some sleeker looks, the 3440×1440 monitor has a considerably faster refresh rate than Alienware's original "affordable" designs, boosted to 240Hz. That lets it match most of the other recent ultrawide offerings from companies like Samsung and Asus, while still undercutting them on price. With a $100 discount, this monitor is about the best deal you can find without going for a refurbished model or a whitebox brand.
The monitor does sport a single USB-A and one USB-C downstream port, but with no mention of video input and just 15 watts of charging, it's not a great companion for a recent gaming laptop. You'll have to make do with just two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort, um, ports. Still, if you're looking for an affordable way to take your gaming desktop to the next level, look no further.
For more info, you can check out PCWorld's full review of the Alienware AW3425DW. If it's not quite right for you, we have other picks for the best monitors on the market right now.
This is the AW3425DW, a 34-inch model that debuted earlier this year. In addition to some sleeker looks, the 3440×1440 monitor has a considerably faster refresh rate than Alienware's original "affordable" designs, boosted to 240Hz. That lets it match most of the other recent ultrawide offerings from companies like Samsung and Asus, while still undercutting them on price. With a $100 discount, this monitor is about the best deal you can find without going for a refurbished model or a whitebox brand.
The monitor does sport a single USB-A and one USB-C downstream port, but with no mention of video input and just 15 watts of charging, it's not a great companion for a recent gaming laptop. You'll have to make do with just two HDMI 2.1 and one DisplayPort, um, ports. Still, if you're looking for an affordable way to take your gaming desktop to the next level, look no further.
For more info, you can check out PCWorld's full review of the Alienware AW3425DW. If it's not quite right for you, we have other picks for the best monitors on the market right now.
When I say this laptop is a rocket, I'm seriously not joking. With this high-end hardware, you'll be able to ace just about any game you want to play without breaking a sweat. And given the powerful configurations, you'll be able to use this laptop for maaaany years without issues.
My choice would be to go with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor paired with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, 24GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB SSD. This combo will ensure your laptop blazes through any task you need to complete, whether it's work, editing photos, gaming online, or even just hopping between hundreds of Chrome tabs. Round it out with the 1080p IPS screen with 144Hz of refresh and you'll have a solid experience no matter what you're doing. Normally $2,050, you can now get this config for only $1,320!
But again, you can customize the configuration however you want. If you need more power, you can bump it up to 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, with a luxurious 2560×1440 resolution at 240Hz. This config normally goes for $2,320, but
The fault lies entirely with me, because after picking up a Beelink S12 Pro Mini PC and writing that story, I never got around to solving a fundamental remote-control problem. I didn't want a full-sized keyboard and mouse on my coffee table, but I kept waffling on what to use instead. In the meantime I drifted back to my old streaming setup for the convenience.
But during a recent attempt to watch Mr. Robot on Tubi, in which a single episode was broken up by a half-dozen commercial breaks, I knew I had to take this experiment more seriously. Being able to skip those ads was one of my main reasons for bringing a mini PC into the living room, and I needed a proper remote control to make it all work.
I think I've finally found the answer.
The weird world of PC mini remotes
Search on Amazon for "PC remote," and you'll find options in all shapes and sizes, from air mouses with gyroscopic controls to full-sized keyboard/trackpad combos that sit on your lap. But I didn't want anything too bulky, and waving a remote at the TV to control it doesn't sound very relaxing.
So apparently the idea is that scented thermal paste won't just smell when you apply it to the CPU. It'll off-gas (oof, what an unappealing term) when the PC heats up. So the more you're pushing it, the more it'll smell…in a good way. That's the theory, anyway. But it's not just for CPUs anymore — Yeston, of the anime waifu graphics card designs, apparently makes a Radeon RX 9070 XT with an "ocean-themed fragrance module." I suppose it could have been worse. Hyte is thinking about doing something similar for packaging, apparently.
Adam's all for this. But however you feel about scents in your PC parts, it's not going to be free — the extra hardware and engineering i
To avoid losing your money to fraud, it pays to stay sharp when making reservations or buying gear for your trip. Fortunately, you can do so pretty easily if you ask yourself the questions below.
The all-new Cync Clear Full Color Direct Connect A19 Smart Bulb—now there's a mouthful—features a spiral LED filament in a clear glass globe. The Edison-style smart bulb can be programmed to glow from a palette of millions of colors as well as a variety of white color temperatures.
In fact, I was so impressed by the reviewers' praise of the $144 GMKTek's NucBox G5 that I recently bit the bullet and bought one for a family member who was struggling with an old, Windows Vista-haunted laptop that would barely load up. Its tiny size was so enticing that I was personally keen to see what such a small PC could do.
The G5 arrived promptly, and the unboxing went well, until I needed to plug in a HDMI cable and hook it up to my monitor, that is. What I learned during that process has been a revelation for me about mini-PCs that I'd like to share with y'all.
Having previously only owned desktop PCs and laptops, I figured I could repurpose an HDMI cable that I'd used with those PCs. After hooking it up to the HDMI port on the mini, I went to do the same at the monitor end.
But instead of the mini-PC sitting tight on the tabletop where I placed it, it easily slid around on the table's edge, moving out of place from where I intended it to stay.
Keeping complex projects on track gets a lot easier when your tools are working as hard as you are. Microsoft Project Professional 2021 gives access to a robust toolbox to help you manage timelines, allocate resources, and track your budget, and it's only $14.97 (reg. $249.99) for a lifetime license during this limited-time sale.
This version of Project is built for professionals who want powerful project management tools without unnecessary complexity. You can get started quickly using built-in templates, then adjust schedules with drag-and-drop controls and automated start and end dates based on task dependencies. Run what-if scenarios, create multiple timelines to visualize progress, and keep an eye on every moving piece of your project.
If you're coordinating across teams or submitting detailed reports, Project makes it easy to track time, manage resources, and sync with Project Online or Project Server for broader collaboration. The interface is familiar for Office users, and it's flexible enough to handle
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
HP Victus 15L, Core i5-14400F/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $849.99 (29% off on HP)
Shoot for a 1080p screen and at least 8GB of RAM. That combo keeps things running smooth and makes videos look good, too. You'll have to give up a few bells and whistles at this price, but don't worry, we've already sifted through the junk to identify affordable laptops you actually want.
Here are our top picks that prove budget laptops don't have to be terrible.
Acer Aspire Go 15 - Best laptop under $500 overall
This AI-driven approach to creative coding has exploded in popularity over the past year or two—chiefly because it works. People are building genuinely useful stuff without even knowing what a variable is. I've been vibe coding my own apps with AI and I'm absolutely loving it, despite being a relative newbie to coding.
But most advice about AI-assisted programming still assumes you want to become a "real" programmer eventually. Because of that, the advice tends to steer you towards professional tools that are overkill for simple projects. You need a different—easier—approach.
PROMOTION
Launch in minutes by vibe coding
Turn your ideas into reality with Hostinger Horizons. Build web apps, websites, and custom tools by chatting with the AI - no coding required. Get everything you need to launch and grow including web hosting, domain management and email.
The best PDF editors allow you to edit, create, alter, and convert PDF files just like you would with any other text document. Adobe Acrobat is the most well-known option for most people. Its reputation is certainly deserved given its excellent feature set and overall utility. But it's also quite expensive.
Thankfully, there's a whole range of respectable and even great third-party PDF editors that provide less expensive alternatives to Adobe's premier product.
PROMOTION
EaseUS PDF Editor - Edit, Convert, Compress & Protect PDFs
Integrate PDF maker, PDF editor, PDF converter, and PDF reader in one full pack with all the basics you need. The clean interface simplifies your PDF work to edit, convert, comment, annotate, merge, split, background, page, watermark, sign PDFs, or fill forms. Your PDF workloads are down by batch processing efficiently.
Last year, Google also added the ability to view historical satellite and aerial photos directly in Google Earth—material that was previously only available in the Earth Pro desktop app.
In the coming weeks, Google also plans to launch a new feature that will provide professional users with AI-based insights about Earth. This could include information on tree canopy cover and soil temperature.
The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a superb daily driver laptop that'll do a great job when you're researching things online with a million tabs open, when you need to juggle a ton of apps for work, or when you simply want to chill out with Netflix or some other streaming service. Running on a Snapdragon X Elite CPU paired up with 32GB of fast LPDDR5X RAM, this is a laptop that doesn't mess around when it comes to speed.
It's fitted with a 15.6-inch 2880×1620 OLED screen that's perfect for vibrant colors and deep contrast, and the 120Hz refresh rate is great for smooth motion and some light gaming. There are loads of ports on this laptop, too, so you can hook it up to just about any accessory you need. It comes with a full-sized HDMI, two USB-C (USB4), and two high-speed USB-A 3.2 ports. It also has a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Between the Snapdragon processor and 75 watt-hour battery, this laptop delivers tons of battery life—up to 18 hours on a full charge. That processor also qualifies this as a Copilot laptop, so you get access to all the fun new AI features in Windows 11. It's rounded out with a 1TB SSD that comes loaded with Windows 11 Home.
When we reviewed the Asus Vivobook S 15, we loved the strong battery life. After running a 4K film on a loop, we got over 15 hour
This gen 4, 30mm-long drive isn't the biggest or the fastest on the market, but for portable gaming PCs and teeny-tiny laptops (at least the ones that actually let you access the SSD), it's more than fast enough with read speeds up to 7100MB/s. A screwdriver and a bit of elbow grease are all you need to install it, just make sure you have your files backed up. Amazon is selling this model for 36 percent off the retail price, so it's a great way to expand the storage on the base model Steam Deck on the cheap. A 2TB version of the same drive is $158.30, over $80 off.
PCWorld reviewed this exact drive, in this exact size, last year, and found it to be the fastest around in the tiny 2230 form factor. Amazon has the lowest price on both the 1TB and 2TB versions by a healthy margin at the moment, though I don't know how long that's going to last.
These designs are almost identical to the MX Ergo and M575 trackballs that have been on the market for years, just, you know, quieter. The MX Ergo S comes with a big, removable base that lets you tilt the whole thing up 20 degrees. That's not as dramatic as the MX Vertical, but for a device specifically intended to offer wrist relief, it's a nice touch. You get six buttons—one thumb, two extra adjustment buttons next to the primary click, and one button for switching between USB and Bluetooth devices—plus a 2048 DPI laser for the thumb-positioned trackball and horizontal scrolling for the wheel.
The M575S is a more budget-oriented option, keeping essentially the same layout but dropping the thumb button and multi-pair options. In lieu of a rechargeable battery, it uses a single AA battery that should last for over a year, and it can pair via Bluetooth or use the USB wireless receiver. It doesn't get the adjustable base, but it comes in a lot more color options for the body and ball—the MX device comes in any color you want, so long as you want graphite gray.
Both devices get much quieter primary click buttons, like the MX Mast
Mozilla plans to release versions Firefox 141 and Firefox ESR 140.1, ESR 128.13, and ESR 115.26 on July 22nd, 2025.
What's new in Firefox 140?
Firefox's local translation feature initially only translates content that's currently visible in the browser window. Only when you scroll to previously unseen sections of a page will it then translate that content. This reduces resource consumption and improves performance.
If you use the vertical tabs introduced with Firefox 136 in combination with pinned tabs, you can now keep more (or fewer) pinned tabs in view. All you have to do is move the separator line.
Firefox now also supports even more search engines that you can add. To do this, right-click in the search field of a (supported) website and select "Add search engine" from the context menu. For Firefox users in the US on version 139 and higher, Mozilla added the AI-based search engine Perplexity to the standard selection in mid-June at the request of users.
You can use Word's Document Inspector to detect and remove hidden information. First, open the document in Word and navigate to "File" "Info." Select "Check for issues" and then "Inspect Document." Word will display different categories in a window and flag those containing data with exclamation marks. Select "Remove All" to get rid of that data. Run the check again, and if the exclamation marks are gone, you're good to go
A new promotional video for the Geekom IT15 (spotted by Tom's Hardware), a model packing some impressive Intel-powered guts, shows off how much abuse it can take. The promotional page for the tiny 117x112mm desktop PC says that it's using an "all metal frame and base" covered in ABS plastic, that can withstand 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of force without deforming.
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What's new in Chrome 138?
On the "What's New" page in Chrome, Google advertises the ability to use tab groups on the go. With Chrome, you can now synchronize not only passwords but also tab groups between your desktop and mobile devices. Google is also raising awareness of Chrome's ability to search, select, and copy text in scanned PDF documents, but Google doesn't mention that this first requires text recognition (OCR) and whether this takes place locally or in the cloud.
Meanwhile, Google is continuing to expand AI integration, but a Gemini subscription is required to use it. Several interfaces (APIs) enable access to AI functions: the Summarizer API summarizes longer texts, the Language Detector API determines which language the text is written in, and the Translator API translates the text into the target language. Chrome extensions can access AI models via the Prompt API.
Security issues fixed in Chrome 138
In the Chrome Releases blog post, Srinivas Sista names three security vulnerabilities (of the 11 that have been fixed) that were discovered by external security researchers and reported to Google. Google classifies one of these vulnerabilities (
The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and Pornhub's parent company Aylo will begin restricting access to its adult sites for residents in Georgia in protest on June 30, 2025. Aylo and other privacy advocates claim that these laws not only violate free speech, but will infringe on personal privacy protections. By forcing individuals to hand over personally identifiable information to third parties, it creates the potential for government overreach and data misuse.
This is following a trend that has seen more than 19 states lose access to the incredibly popular NSFW site. Similar bans occurred throughout last year for residents in Texas and Florida, among others. Both Wyoming and South Dakota are also set to lose access beginning this July, with North Dakota following shortly thereafter.
For legal-age Georgians looking to access the site, this is disruptive to say the least. Fortunately, there's an easy workaround: using a VPN. Simply download and install your preferred VPN, connect to a server in a state that isn't blocked, and enjoy the content.
Below are my top picks for VPNs to access Pornhub (or other Aylo owned adult content) if you're in Georgia where access will be blocked. And for even more great option
I'm talking about the Anker Nano 6-in-1 Charging Station, which is kind of like a miniature power strip except it also has some USB ports built into it. That means you get two AC outlets on the flat face (for conventional plugs and devices) plus two USB-A and two USB-C ports along the bottom edge (for charging your phone, tablet, and everything else). With up to 67W of charging, it's super fast and won't keep you waiting.
The beautiful thing about this charging station is how compact it is. Compared to the bulky power strip designs we're all familiar with, this one from Anker is flat, slim, and shaped like a square. The extension cord is also thin and flat, reaching about 5 feet long, and the plug itself is also flat, so it can be fitted behind furniture if needed.
All of this makes the Anker 6-in-1 charging station fantastic for homes, offices, and travel—take it with you to hotels and Airbnbs as a convenient way to keep all your devices charged off of a single wall outlet. Keep the TV plugged in and powered while you're at it!
Get yourself this uber-practical Anker Nano 6-in-1 Charging Station for $50 while you can! Who knows how long this price will hold.
Anker's charging station powers up to 6 devices at once
At 27 inches, Samsung's ViewFinity S8 monitor is sized just right for the usual home office—not too large to hurt your neck, not too small to feel cramped. You can also easily put two of these next to each other on your desk to create a massive workspace in 4K without paying over $1,000 like you would with an ultrawide option.
With its 3940×2160 resolution and IPS panel, you'll enjoy crisp 4K visuals that are color accurate, with a wide viewing angle and overall great image quality. It's not the best choice for gaming with its 60Hz refresh rate, unless you're okay with low-capped frame rates. Otherwise, it's great for office work, creative work, and general leisure.
The ViewFinity S8 monitor features a USB-C port with 90W of power delivery, so it's great to use with a laptop. That same USB-C port serves triple duty, also handling the video output to the monitor itself, plus also able to handle data transfer needs. There are other USB ports available too, plus HDMI and DisplayPort, as well as an audio jack.
It's a fantastic monitor for everyday use, and it's currently available at a fantastic price. Get it now for just $235 while this limited-time deal lasts on Amazon! This is the lowest price it's ever been, after all.
Samsung's 27-inch 4K monitor has never been cheaper
