Two kinds of people play the stock market: The type who win big and leave everyone curious as to how they do it… and those who try to be them and lose time and time again. You do not want to be the latter, but many beginner traders go there, get stuck, and give up. Instead, get some advice from a stock-picking app like Sterling.
After downloading, you'll start with a 5-minute questionnaire that assesses your risk tolerance, helping you understand what kind of investments fit your comfort level. From there, you can use Sterling Stock Picker's personalized tools to identify stocks that match your financial goals and values. The Done-For-You Portfolio Builder can even help you construct a diversified portfolio based on your results.
If you have any questions (like where do you even buy stocks), Sterling has an AI-powered financial coach, Finley, who will answer anything. The app also provides dynamic stock insights, risk assessments, and even suggests high-growth stock opportunities through its Stock Rockets feature.
Gamers have recently discovered a goldmine in a simple PC upgrade: moving from Windows 10 to 11. Yeah, those annoying upgrade reminders had a point. Currently just $14.97, Windows 11 Pro packs a suite of serious PC gaming upgrades that can squeeze even more power out of your PC, old or new.
The biggest win for gamers is DirectX 12 Ultimate support. This lets you take full advantage of modern GPU features like ray tracing, variable rate shading, and mesh shaders, unlocking visual effects that rival reality in the latest titles. Combined with Auto HDR and improved graphics optimization, Windows 11 Pro helps your hardware deliver the best possible experience.
Beyond graphics, Windows 11 Pro gives gamers more tools to optimize system performance. Features like Hyper-V virtualization and Windows Sandbox allow you to test mods or beta builds in isolated environments without risking your main OS. And with BitLocker device encryption, you can secure your gaming rig against malware and ransomware, a growing concern for players who mod or run unofficial tools.
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.
When you just need a laptop that works—no bells, no whistles, no stress—this is it. Now you can get a Chromebook for only $75 with free shipping, making it a smart pick for anyone in need of an ultra-affordable device, a reliable backup computer, or something for their kiddo.
At this price, you won't feel nervous about tossing it in your backpack for a flight or giving it to your child with perpetually sticky fingers. The compact design is built for the basics: web browsing, emails, video calls, and streaming—and it runs Chrome OS for hassle-free setup and all-day battery life.
The Lenovo Chromebook features an 11.6-inch anti-glare touchscreen for easy navigation, along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage for day-to-day tasks and files.
Because this is a refurbished grade "B" refurbished model, expect minor cosmetic wear (like light scuffs or small dents), but fully functional performance. That also means you don't have to worry about adding more scuffs yourself—it's a lapt
Privacy solution: Your digital life deserves anonymity and security, and with AdGuard, you can shield your data from trackers, activity analyzers, and other bad actors.
Block ads: Tired of ads ruining your streaming or browsing experience? This tool rids your device of every type of ad to give you a more enjoyable experience.
It's also compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems and can be used to protect up to nine devices at once.
Shields your devices from malware and phishing sites to keep those and your personal information safe.
For those with kids, AdGuard offers parental controls to ensure they can only view or access content that's appropriate for them.
One-time payme
When the streaming service began showing ads early in 2024, the commercial breaks were supposed to be between 2 and 3.5 minutes per hour. In a new email to advertisers, Amazon now states that the commercial breaks have slowly been expanded to 4 to 6 minutes per hour, AdWeek reports.
The streaming service reportedly didn't notice a major drop in subscribers when it began showing ads, but it now remains to be seen how much advertising subscribers are willing to put up with.
Why are more ads being shown?
It's common for streaming services to start with a small number of ads to rope in new customers and avoid alienating existing customers. Once the subscriber base is large enough, they can then gradually increase the advertising load (which has backfired for companies like Roku).
The more people switch away from traditional, linear television offerings to streaming services, the easier it is for providers to implement both price hikes and increased advertising without risking major losses in subscription numbers.
Companies like Amazon naturally want to earn as much money as possible through advertising per subscriber, to finance further productions and line the pockets of share
The latter point is the cause for concern. Reports say that Samsung and SK Hynix have sent end-of-life notices to their customers about the end of DDR4 memory for PCs. Now Micron, the last holdout, has reportedly done the same, according to Digitimes via Tom's Hardware.
While most modern PC platforms use DDR5 memory, DDR4 was typically found in Intel's older PC platforms (6th- to 10th-generation Core processors, up to Comet Lake) as well as the AMD Ryzen chips that used the AM4 socket (up to the Ryzen 5000 generation). That's bad news for the latter platform, whose strength was its longevity.
A dwindling supply of DDR4 memory plus tariff concerns means that the normally volatile memory market is panicking. TrendForce, a Taiwan analyst firm with its fingers on the short-term "spot" market and the longer-term "contract" market, reports that DDR4 prices for PCs are expected to jump by 13 to 18 percent in the second quarter. TrendForce is projecting that prices could rise further in the third quarter, too.
We haven't confirmed with Micron that it's ending DDR4 production, but given that the company is pushing high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI as well as LPDDR5X for smartphones and tablets
The tablet features a gorgeous, super-light design built around an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with super slim bezels that'll be great for iPadOS 26's new multitasking. There's 128GB of storage space available for all those apps you want to install and use, which isn't a ton, and you're going to have to pay quite a bit for storage upgrades, but you'll still save $100 on other storage capacities if you want more.
This iPad is ready for Apple Intelligence. You can already make use of all those cool features that are already available, as well as any that are coming with iPadOS 26. You'll also get great battery life, a Center Stage camera, and a fantastic processor.
All this adds up to the M3 iPad Air M3 being a fantastic tablet that's about to get even better with iPadOS 26. And now that it's only $499 at Amazon, it's a great deal.
For example, your video image might skip and stutter without one particular setting enabled, while your audio might get funky unless a couple of other options are set property. You can also tweak how the home screen looks, as well as keep "sponsored" screensavers at bay.
Read on for the eight most important Roku settings to check first, starting with…
Show or hide the recommendation row
When you first land on the home screen after booting up your Roku, you'll see a row of menu items just above the grid of streaming apps. This auto-generated "Top Picks For You" row features streaming titles Roku thinks you might like; some will be from your installed streaming apps, and some won't.
Now, you might like having that top row of suggestions at the top of the home screen, especially if you're just randomly browsing. But if you find the "Top Picks For You" row to be bothersome, you can hide it.
The Vilva 13.3-inch portable monitor is pretty typical of these white-box designs, and you can certainly find a 13-inch 1080p portable monitor for less. But with a vibrant OLED panel giving much better colors and perfect contrast, I think it's worth a little extra for this, especially if you're using it next to an OLED monitor or laptop. A similar design from a name brand costs about three times as much, if you were wondering.
This design includes double USB-C ports for pass-through charging (meaning it's a great companion to phones, tablets, and handheld PCs), plus a Mini HDMI port for connecting to older devices. I also like the magnetic kickstand. I wouldn't suggest this one if you work outside frequently—OLED panels are typically lacking in brightness versus LCD—and I don't know if I would trust its "waterproof" claim.
Amazon is showing it on sale down from $120, which is already a pretty good price for a portable OLED monitor. If it's not to your liking, check out PCWorld's picks for the best monitors on the market right now.
Get this portable 13-inch OLED monitor for only $110
So… if you're not yet using an SSD, what are you waiting for? If you already have an older SSD, you might consider upgrading it for the even headier performance offered by cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 designs. If your PC sports those technologies, of course.
That said, a premium drive may not deliver any more real-world performance than a bargain drive. Mainstream software, including Windows has yet to implement the numerous performance tricks, such as multiple queues, that NVMe SSDs offer.
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Posters on Reddit and the Brave browser forum have observed videos being blacked out on first load, approximately for the length of pre-roll ads, with a pop-up link that directs users to the ad-blocking section of this technical support page. "Check whether your browser extensions that block ads are affecting video playback," suggests Google. "As another option, try opening YouTube in an incognito window with all extensions disabled and check if the issue continues." PCWorld staff has seen this in action, using uBlock Origin Lite.
When the streaming service began showing ads earlier this year, the commercial breaks were supposed to be between 2 and 3.5 minutes per hour. In a new email to advertisers, Amazon now states that the commercial breaks have been expanded to 4 to 6 minutes per hour.
Amazon has already announced its plans to extend ad breaks to investors, but not yet to subscribers. It's unclear when the change will roll out to Prime Video and whether that figure will hold.
The streaming service reportedly didn't notice a major drop in subscribers when it began showing ads, but it now remains to be seen how much advertising subscribers are willing to put up with.
Why are more ads being shown?
It's common for streaming services to start with a small number of ads to rope in new customers and avoid alienating existing customers. Once the subscriber base is large enough, they can then gradually increase the advertising load (which has backfired for companies like Roku).
The more people switch away from traditional, linear television offerings to streaming services, the easier it is for providers to implement both price hikes and increased advertising without risking major losses in subscription numbers.
The Ryzen 5 5500X3D, a Zen 3 chip with six cores, has now shown up on AMD's promotional site. According to the listing, it's only available in "LATAM" (Latin America), at least at launch. With a 7-nanometer architecture, 3.0GHz base clock, 4.0GHz boost clock, and 105 watts of TDP, it should have a lot more juice than the other members of the Ryzen 5 5500 line (with 5500 and 5500 GT both capped at 65 watts). It'll be a step down from the 5600X3D released in 2023, also six cores and 105 watts, but clocked slightly faster.
PCWorld spoke with AMD on the subject of the AM4 socket's longevity at CES over a year ago. A representative said that supporting the huge remaining base of AM4 users was important and that the company will be doing it so long as the older DDR4 memory remains available and economically viable to produce. The Ryzen 5000 series itself is now almost five years old, succeeded by 7000 and the shift to AM5.
The product recall notice from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission states the hazard as: "The lithium-ion battery in the power bank can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers." Anker will replace the affected power banks.
According to the Commission, the exact number of recalled power banks is 1,158,000. Anker has so far received 19 reports of burns, fires, and explosions, including two reports of minor burns and 11 reports of property damage totalling over $60,700.
What should you do if you have one?
Only Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks with model number A1263 are affected. If you have an Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank with model number A1263, immediately stop using it and contact Anker for a free replacement power bank. Instructions on identifying your power bank model and submitting a product recall claim can be found on this Anker product recall page.
To receive a replacement unit, you'll have to submit a photo of your recalled power bank with the model number and serial number, plus your name, date of photo, and the word "recalled" written on the power bank in permanent marker. Proof of purchase will be requested but isn't required to participate in the recall. You'll als
The product recall notice from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission states the hazard as: "The lithium-ion battery in the power bank can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers." Anker will replace the affected power banks.
According to the Commission, the exact number of recalled power banks is 1,158,000. Anker has so far received 19 reports of burns, fires, and explosions, including two reports of minor burns and 11 reports of property damage totalling over $60,700.
What should you do if you have one?
Only Anker PowerCore 10000 power banks with model number A1263 are affected. If you have an Anker PowerCore 10000 power bank with model number A1263, immediately stop using it and contact Anker for a free replacement power bank. Instructions on identifying your power bank model and submitting a product recall claim can be found on this Anker product recall page.
To receive a replacement unit, you'll have to submit a photo of your recalled power bank with the model number and serial number, plus your name, date of photo, and the word "recalled" written on the power bank in permanent marker. Proof of purchase will be requested but isn't required to participate in the recall. You'll als
Instead of giving the impression that there are several different versions of Gemini, Google will now simply call its AI assistant "Gemini." The AI ??assistant will now be available in Free, Pro, and Ultra tiers.
Those who already use the Gemini AI ??assistant should already see the corresponding change in their relevant apps, but if not, the switch should arrive soon. The decision may initially cause confusion, but should bring more clarity in the long run.
In the same spirit, Google has also stopped using the name "NotebookLM Plus" and settled for just "NotebookLM," which is available in the Pro or Ultra tiers.
Under the hood, it's rocking an AMD Ryzen AI 7 chip, 24GB RAM, and a massive 1TB SSD. Translation: it's fast, smooth, and you've got room for all your big files and photos. The 16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen is super bright (400 nits), and because it's a 2-in-1, you can flip the screen around and use it like a tablet, which is perfect if you like jotting down notes or doing a little sketching.
This is also one of those new Copilot PCs that Microsoft has been pushing hard over the past year, so it's ready for all the cool AI tools and Windows 11 goodies. Copilot laptops tend to be on the pricier side, but this one's now relatively affordable.
If you want something that looks good, runs fast, and doesn't kill your wallet, jump on this deal while it's still around.
The topic has come up more than once on The Full Nerd, PCWorld's weekly hardware podcast. So when surrounded by scores of nerds at the recent opening of Micro Center in Santa Clara, co-host Adam Patrick Murray did what any reasonable person would: He sought out Linux users in the crowd to get their take.
Turns out, Windows users still dominate—even at a store like Micro Center, which attracts the most enthusiastic hardware enthusiasts. But with a little persistence (and some people volunteering their friends to go on camera), Adam does find several Linux users to talk with, ranging from a year-plus of use to over 20 (!). The interview that still keeps me up at night: the worker who's only ever known Linux, presumably since the cradle. How does that happen? Is it parentage? Philosophical leanings? Budget? I may never know, but I'll always want to know.
The most interesting part of all the Linux talk was a quick statistic: That with the coming death of Windows, Linux
This week, we're…clawing our way back to health. Attending the Nintendo Switch 2 launch at our local Nintendo Store felled both Adam and Will, delaying our usual Tuesday episode. But don't worry: I still have plenty of juicy news bits to share with you below. Also our Micro Center tour videos are live!
Plus, now that Adam and Will are feeling better, we'll still have a stream—catch us on live on Friday morning (6/13).
In this episode of The Full Nerd…
With the plague having temporarily overtaken Adam and Will, I don't have a Full Nerd episode to tease—but there are two Micro Center videos to share. (And a third is on the way.)
One such gem is the Windows 11 Voice typing tool (a voice-to-text dictation tool). I'd known about it previously, but I only really realized its potential when I got a bad case of RSI in my mouse hand and thought I'd have a go at dictating an article sans keyboard to give it a rest.
My impression after a few minutes of voice typing was that it's surprisingly accurate, despite me giving it no training. I was outputting my laptop's display to an external monitor at the time and wasn't even directly speaking into the microphone, yet the tool managed to reproduce what I was saying with near-perfect accuracy in Notepad.
I was also impressed by the fact it supports 36 different languages and multiple variants of some of the more widely spoken ones. Editing was a little hard at first, but after I memorized a few commands, I found I could insert punctuation without much fuss.
Here's how to use it…
Type Windows H to open the Voice typing tool — it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and is active by default. Also open the text app or program you'd like to use it with. For this demonstration I used the Notepad app, but it also works with Microsoft Word.
Now dictate the words you'
I got a firsthand taste of what it's like to lose a component while cleaning my gaming rig and let me tell you, it's no joke! What did I do wrong? I didn't use an anti-static wristband, that's what!
What do anti-static wristbands do?
In case you aren't familiar with them, anti-static wristbands are made solely for the purpose of preventing electrostatic charges from zapping your PC components when you're working on them. Static charges can be quite strong — upwards of 3,000 volts — compared to the harmless 12 volts or so normally running through your PC components, so they do pose a risk of damage.
The strap consists of an elastic / fabric wristband and a grounding cord with a clip on the end. The strap goes around your wrist, while the grounding cord with clip connects to a known grounding point; in my case it would have been the metal chassis of the PC I was working on.
If your office scanner sounds like it's about to launch into orbit every time it powers up—or if it's collecting dust somewhere near a fax machine—it's time to retire the dinosaur. SwiftScan VIP brings all the power of a desktop scanner right to your smartphone or tablet, no jammed trays or weird error codes.
For a limited time, grab a lifetime subscription for just $41.99 (normally $199.99) with code TAKE30, and scan, save, sign, fax, annotate, and share documents anytime, anywhere. Need to shoot off a signed contract from a café? SwiftScan's got you. Want to digitize a sketchbook or whiteboard session? Easy. Got receipts piling up? Turn them into organized PDFs in seconds.
SwiftScan automatically detects document edges, boosts quality, and even supports multi-page scanning and smart OCR text search. You can annotate, highlight, reda
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
MSI Codex Z2, Ryzen 5 8400F/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.00 (20% off on MSI)
MSI Aegis ZS2, Ryzen 9 9900X/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,099.99 (13% off on BestBuy)
AMD's Advancing AI event Thursday focused on enterprise-class GPUs like its Instinct lineup. But it's a software platform you may not have heard of, called ROCm, that AMD depends upon just as much. AMD is releasing ROCm 7 today, which the company says can boost AI inferencing by three times through the software alone. And it's finally coming to Windows to battle Nvidia's CUDA supremacy.
Radeon Open Compute (ROCm) is AMD's open software stack for AI computing, with drivers and tools to run AI workloads. Remember the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 debacle of a few weeks back? Without a software driver, Nvidia's latest GPU was a lifeless hunk of silicon.
Early on, AMD was in the same pickle. Without the limitless coffers of companies like Nvidia, AMD made a choice: it would prioritize big businesses with ROCm and its enterprise GPUs instead of client PCs. Ramine Roane, corporate vice president of the AI solutions group, called that a "sore point:" "We focused ROCm on the cloud GPUs, but it wasn't always working on the endpoint — so we're fixing that."
Copilot Vision sort of replaces the kinds of how-to articles, TikToks, and short videos you turn to when you need help. Basically, it "looks over your shoulder" at your PC's screen when you (orally) ask it a question, and it walks you through what you need to do.
Copilot Vision debuted at Microsoft's 50th anniversary party at its headquarters in Redmond, and later was released into Microsoft's Insider channels, where I was able to go hands-on with Copilot Vision, with middling success. With certain applications, like Photoshop, the app was able to direct me to a specific menu and commands when I needed help editing a photo. But it completely fumbled the ball with basic recognition on apps like Microsoft's venerable Solitaire.
Now, Microsoft is promising that Copilot Vision is more fully baked. Two things have improved since I tested it: First, it can visually highlight what you need to click or do, making it easier to find that command or shortcut. Second, you can now use it in two different applications at once.
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
"Just gonna leave this here," says the caption on a video posted to the official Windows Instagram account. It follows with screenshots of Vista and some familiar boot-up sounds. "Y'all good??? #Windows #WindowsVista #WindowsAero" is all that's in the description. As of this writing, just one day after it was posted, the video has over 150,000 likes and 3,700 comments. The post was spotted by Windows Latest.
With a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection, PNY claims that the Duo Link V3 reaches read speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 800 MB/s, assuming you're connected to a compatible port. That's fast enough to transfer 100 gigabytes of data in about two minutes.
It's technically an OTG drive, making it compatible with most phones and tablets in addition to the usual PCs and laptops (and just about everything else these days). I'm also a fan of the twirling exterior metal cover, which locks into place with either the USB-A or USB-C port side exposed, making this a lot more stable than some similar designs.
The Duo Link V3 is available to order from PNY's site now, starting at $35.99 for 256GB and going up to 2TB for a hefty $166.99.
Now, however, 404 Media reports that those plans have been put on hold after facing heavy criticism from Wikipedia's human volunteer editors. You can read the editors' discussion here.
Some responded with a simple but straightforward "Yuck." while others wrote thoughtful analyses, explaining how the AI-generated summaries could do immediate and lasting damage to Wikipedia's reputation as a serious, trustworthy, hand-crafted resource.
The idea was that these AI-generated summaries would appear at the tops of articles in tabs that users had to manually open, and would be marked with a warning that summaries were unverified.
It remains to be seen whether the Wikimedia Foundation will shelve the AI-generated summary feature for good or whether they'll rework it in a way that satisfies editors before
The images were taken on March 16th and 17th of this year, but ESA has only now published them. The poles of the Sun have been largely unexplored until now, and no space probe has ever seen them before, writes the ESA. Solar Orbiter's trajectory was recently inclined by 17 degrees to the solar equator, allowing brand-new measurements from a unique perspective for the first time.
At the time of the flyby, the probe had a clear view of the south pole and the probe's viewing angle to the Sun was around 15 degrees below the solar equator. With the Sun currently at solar maximum of its 11-year activity cycle, there was a lot to see during the flyby. ESA puts it this way: "At the south pole, the Sun's magnetic field is currently a mess. While a normal magnet has a clear north and south pole, the PHI instrument's magnetic field
You can run advanced, Microsoft-supplied tools like SFC, DISM, and CHKDSK every now and then to keep things smooth. If you want to run all those tools in one spot, there's a cool free program called Windows Maintenance Tool you can grab from GitHub.
It's described by the developer as a "powerful all-in-one Windows maintenance toolkit" designed "for power users, system administrators, and curious tinkerers."
Besides those tools, it can also restart your network, change your DNS, fix Windows Update, make reports, show your drivers, clean out temp files, and back up your registry.
How to use the Windows Maintenance Tool
To use the Windows Maintenance Tool, go to its Github page and download the latest version. Since it's a batch file, you can open it in any text editor, review it, and even make changes if you have the necessary skills.
You'll then need to run the script as an administrator, as it requires elevated permissions to access the various tools. This is what it looks like when using the tool on a Windows PC:
My perfect companion for travel and workouts: TOZO T10 Bluetooth headphones
I've already tried a few cheap Bluetooth headphones-many of them were ruined after a few months. Not so with the TOZO T10. I've been using them almost every day for over a year now, mostly in the gym, on walks, or when I'm travelling. And they still hold up.
The headphones connect quickly, sit comfortably and deliver a pleasantly balanced sound. The bass is solid (up to 16 Hertz) for the price. They usually cost about $25, but they're on sale right now for $20. The noise cancelation is excellent for this price range. I can train in the gym with them without any problems, even with loud music playing in the background. They only reach their limits when there's a good amount of ambient noise. Speaking of the environment, the TOZO T10 are waterproof (IPX8), so they're suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities.
As you'll see in the video on our YouTube channel, the store is full of bright polished floors, displays backlit with glowing colored lights, and sharp employees. It's exactly the right feel to draw in tech enthusiasts, especially after Micro Center's long absence from the San Francisco Bay Area (13 years!). Many who lined up to visit the store with no intent to buy. Rather, as more than one person tells Adam during their interviews, they showed up for the vibes.
How great is it inside? Everything you need for geeky projects is right there. You want mechanical keyboards, no problem—there's a whole long aisle of them, plus additional short rows. Monitors? A whole wall of them sit on the right side of the store. Tons of laptops to browse through, including gaming ones? Just walk straight in from the entrance. Networking equipment? Yep, got that, including Ubiquiti gear. 3D printers and filament? A big section sits at the back. Makers can find Raspberry Pi and Arduino components, too. You can
It turns out that Microsoft has added links to the Windows 10 Calendar to recognize special themed days, such as World Environment Day (June 5, 2025), World Oceans Day (June 8), Juneteenth National Freedom Day (June 19) and American Eagle Day (June 20).
When you click on one of those themed days, Windows launches the Edge browser and performs a Bing search of the event—and Bing is used even if your default search engine is something else.
According to Windows Latest, there's no setting to turn off this feature, nor is it possible to change which search engine is used. The purpose of the feature, according to Microsoft, is to offer a new "rich experience."
Further reading: Upgrading Windows 10 to 11: What you need to know
Sure, you can probably do more on a Windows machine, but if you're looking for something affordable and zippy enough for everyday tasks, a Chromebook might just be your best option — and a lot of the compromises these web-based laptops required in their earliest day no longer apply. Let's dig in.
Chromebooks are more affordable
With a couple of exceptions, Chromebooks are generally more affordable than their Windows counterparts. You'll find most premium models in the $600 to $800 range. However, we've seen Chromebooks go on sale for under $200, albeit with some significant compromises. Most cost well under $500.
You can point to two reasons right away. First, most buyers prefer a Core or Ryzen chip inside a traditional laptop, just to accommodate the additional performance Windows and its applications require (to run on the laptop, r
A scheduled task is an automated prompt that's performed in the future and/or in a recurring pattern. You can do things like have the AI pop up and remind you to do certain tasks on certain days at certain times, give you a topical news briefing every morning, scrape and analyze data once per week, and more. And I've found it impressively useful.
It's only available through the o3 and o4-mini models, which means you'll need to pay for ChatGPT Plus or higher—but scheduled tasks makes the price of a sub easier to swallow. Here's how ChatGPT's scheduled tasks helped me develop a healthier daily routine.
Setting the stage for a successful day
As a freelance writer, I'm blessed with work-life autonomy. No one expects me to clock in at a certain time every morning, nor am I expected to be on the clock throughout the day. I write mostly what I want, largely when I want, and as long as I get the work done within a reasonable time frame, I get paid for it. That suits me very, very well.
And like most independent contractors, that leaves me at the mercy of my own self-motivation and ability to concentrate. I've long struggled with procrastination, though, and that
That's an $83 value for only $40! That's a heck of a deal from Baseus, doubly so because this docking station is pretty awesome. It comes with dual 4K ports (one at 120Hz, the other at 30Hz), plus three USB-A ports, both SD and microSD card slots, a LAN port, and a USB-C port with 100W of power delivery for pass-through charging.
The discount on this dock would be good enough on its own to jump on. But you're also getting a free 100W USB-C cable out of this deal. It's 6 feet long and fast charging, so it's perfect for keeping your devices topped up, whether with a wall plug or a power bank. With it normally being $19, this free add-on deal is pretty sweet.
Again, don't forget to add both the docking station and the USB-C cable to your cart, then head to the promotional page to click the "Apply promotion" button. You must do that for the USB-C cable to become free, which you'll see on the checkout page afterwards. We don't know
Paying for Microsoft 365 every month adds up fast. But right now, you can bypass the subscription trap entirely and download Microsoft Office for 77% off. It's a lifetime license you actually own, not a rental. This price won't last long, though, and only a limited number of codes are available.
This suite includes all the essential productivity staples: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version only), OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Use Excel to crunch data offline, draft emails in Outlook without waiting for Wi-Fi, and design presentations in PowerPoint wherever inspiration strikes. Everything saves locally, so you can access your files instantly
PCWorld's Adam Patrick Murray cornered Nick from Gear Seekers on the show floor at Computex 2025 to finally have a knock-down, drag-out debate. Or at least a friendly chat.
If you've tried both regular air cooling and liquid cooling, you can probably write the list of pros and cons yourself. Liquid cooling has a small edge in performance for high-end setups, while a solid air cooler will beat any cheap or poorly installed AIO easily. Liquid cooling is generally quieter, but a noisy cooling pump could be a nuisance. AIO setups take longer to install, but offer easier access to the motherboard for complex builds. Air coolers are easier to clean, but cleaning out your desktop is infrequent enough that the time savings aren't huge.
At the end of the day, your personal preference is going to weigh into this decision a lot. But I think I can say with confide
Don't hold your breath, unfortunately. But the possibility became more real as the PCI Express Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) said today that it's working on a way for future PCI Express communication to take place over optical interconnections.
It was a busy day for the PCI-SIG: the standards company announced the final version of PCI Express 7.0 and that it was working on PCI Express 8 (PCIe 8) as well. Meanwhile, PCI Express 6.0 products have a good chance to ship this year, as our other story discusses.
Otherwise, you'll have a while to wait for products based upon PCI Express 7.0. Though the final PCIe 7.0 specification was announced today, the SIG doesn't expect compliance testing to begin until 2027. The projected date for the PCIe 7.0 integrators' list is projected for 2028, the SIG said, when the first products will likely roll out.
Most of the news today from the PCI SIG is theoretical: the SIG has formally announced PCIe 7.0, projected for 2027, and it's laying the groundwork for PCIe 8.0. Meanwhile, PCI-SIG is even allowing PCI Express to work over optical connections.
That will all make a difference, eventually. But the most meaningful announcement might be the eventual announcement of the PCIe 6.0 integrator's list, projected to be released in 2025.
Like other industry consortiums, the PCI-SIG works on developing the PCI Express specification with industry partners. The SIG develops its own requirements and then tests each product for compliance. Finally, it publishes its integrators' list of actual products that have been tested against the specification. Near the top of the current list are AMD's own 7th-gen Ryzen processors, which followed AMD's 12th-gen "Alder Lake" chips into the market as the first PC processors with PCI Express 5.0 connections, in 2022.
Here, I'll walk you through how to easily install and set up a VPN on a Fire TV Stick. Most VPNs nowadays come with native Fire TV apps, but if not I'll discuss an alternative option and some troubleshooting tips as well.
Also, be sure to check out our list of the best VPNs to find our recommendations for services that work with Fire TV Sticks and more.
Make sure your Fire TV Stick is set up
First and foremost, if you haven't done so already you'll want to set up your Fire TV Stick for use. If you've already done this then feel free to skip this step.
Connect the Fire TV Stick to your TV's HDMI port and the power cord to a nearby outlet.
Double-check to make sure the remote has batteries before using it. If not, place the included batteries into the remote.
Turn on your TV and change it to the corresponding HDMI input using your TV's remote (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.).
The Fire TV Stick should automatically turn on.
After this you can follow the onscreen instructions to finish setting up the device and then log into your Amazon account.
If the Fire TV Stick does not automatically update, you can check for updates under Settings Device Check for System Update to see if any are available.
After that, your Fire TV Stick should be fully updated and ready to use. Now you're free to begin downloading and installing apps including a VPN.
Coming soon, Nest Cam feeds will get picture-in-picture support on Google TV devices, perfect for keeping eyes on your home while streaming your favorite shows.
The long-awaited feature will make it easy to see who's at your door while in the middle of a binge-watching session, and you'll also be able to check the backyard or other Nest Cam-monitored areas without pausing the video.
As reported by Futurism, ChatGPT lost a chess game against the classic Atari 2600 gaming console. Robert Caruso, an engineer at Citrix, organised the game between the AI and a simple 1977 chess program released for the Atari 2600.
During the game, ChatGPT made a series of embarrassing mistakes, misread moves, and kept losing track of its own pieces. "ChatGPT got absolutely wrecked on the beginner level," Caruso wrote. In the end, the AI chatbot simply gave up and lost.
The fiasco is an important reminder that LLMs—even the "reasoning" ones—are still just language prediction models at their core. It's clear evidence that dedicated tools that are trained or coded for a specific purpose, like the Atari 2600's chess program, are still better than AI assistants that are supposed to do "everything." This should be an important lesson for tech companies like OpenAI and users who rely on AI tools.
We've cut through the clutter to bring you the top picks across every category-from sleek, no-fuss Chromebooks to powerhouse gaming machines. No fluff, just smart recommendations based on real needs.
This high-speed USB 3.2 flash drive is built for fast file transfers. Whether you need to copy/paste some files for work, move 4K videos to your media server, back up large photo collections, or whatever else, this drive can handle it in seconds or minutes, not hours. With up to 420 MB/s data transfer speeds, you'll barely see that file transfer pop-up.
And it's made to last. You won't have to worry about damage to this flash drive or your data thanks to its durable aluminum casing. Should you accidentally delete or lose any files, SanDisk makes it easy to recover them with its RescuePro Deluxe software (offered and downloaded separately). Let's hope you don't ever actually need it, but it's nice to know you have the option.
Don't miss this chance to grab yourself a fast 256GB flash drive for $40. Need a different size model? The 128GB version is down to $35 (was $43) while the 1TB version is down to $110 (was $145).
Save 33% on this speedy 256GB SanDisk USB flash drive
Anker's versatile power strip can serve six devices at once with two AC outlets on its face plus two USB-A and two USB-C ports along the bottom edge. That should be enough to handle monitors, chargers, phones, tablets, laptops, and more. The USB-C ports deliver a maximum of 67W charging while the USB-A are limited to 12W. That said, if you're going to use all of the ports at the same time, expect slower charging speeds since the total charging power will be split between them.
The cherry on top of this is just how slim it is. The Anker Nano Charging Station has a 5-foot cord with a flat plug, so it's easy to position and plug in anywhere, even behind furniture. The slim profile also means it's portable and easy to pack, so you could take it with you while traveling.
Whether you're getting this for your home office or for your vacations, it's very much worth it for just $40 on Amazon. Get it while it's on sale because this "limited-time deal" won't last forever!
Get the slim Anker Nano 6-in-1 charging station for 20% off
Reddit user ZealousidealWorry881 posted an incredible, custom-made monitor array yesterday and instantly won the sub. According to their comments on their own photos, the setup is not in fact a full PC-monitor combo. It's a stunningly elaborate stand for the dual monitors and some extra bits, including a mini display, keyboard keys for buttons, and a USB hub. They said that the enclosure is made from wood, plywood, and "some metal parts," plus repurposed plastic ventilation elements.
According to the creator's comments, the side monitor on a regular VESA arm is 23 inches, so I'm guessing the lower screen is 27 inches and the top one (mentioned as 2K) is 32 inches. The smallest screen is a 4-inch LCD (which appears to be connected to the primary Windows system), and the number readout is a digital clock. There's no 3D printing involved; it's a lot more handmade by the looks of things.
I keep a bottle of cleaning solution and microfiber cloths in my office, but they do me no good when I'm out on the road or on a trip. And even if I wanted to haul around a 16-ounce container of cleaning liquid when I travel, I'm pretty sure the TSA wouldn't be too keen.
That's why I never leave the house without a few of these disposable wipes in my pocket. These CareTouch Lens Wipes are designed for eyeglasses, but they work wonders with screens too, particularly phone and watch screens.
I keep a bottle of cleaning solution and microfiber cloths in my office, but they do me no good when I'm out on the road or on a trip. And even if I wanted to haul around a 16-ounce container of cleaning liquid when I travel, I'm pretty sure the TSA wouldn't be too keen.
That's why I never leave the house without a few of these disposable wipes in my pocket. These CareTouch Lens Wipes are designed for eyeglasses, but they work wonders with screens too, particularly phone and watch screens.
But Pocket and Fakespot weren't the last of the cuts. We recently learned that the Deep Fake Detector and Orbit extensions are also heading to an early grave. Specifically, these two add-ons will be shut down on June 26th, 2025, per the notices on their respective pages.
Deep Fake Detector is an add-on for Firefox that uses the Apollo DFT engine to determine whether a text has been written by a human or an AI tool. Orbit is an add-on that can summarize articles and answer questions without sending your data to third parties.
In other words, if you still use either of these two Firefox extensions, then you only have a few weeks left to find suitable replacements.
Keep reading for more details on the various security vulnerabilities that have been addressed. The next Patch Tuesday will be July 8th, 2025.
Windows security vulnerabilities
A large number of the vulnerabilities—this time 44—are spread across the various Windows versions (10 and newer, Server) for which Microsoft still offers security updates. Windows 7 and 8.1 are no longer receiving security updates, so they remain vulnerable. If your system requirements allow it, you should upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 at your soonest convenience to continue receiving security updates. (With Windows 10 reaching end of life in October, we don't recommend that.)
Windows under attack
According to Microsoft, there are already attacks being made on the CVE-2025-33053 vulnerability in Windows, which affects WebDAV and Internet Explorer. This is still present as a legacy in all Windows versions because the MSHTML platform, for example, is still used by some older applications. A click on a specially prepared link is enough for the user to execute infiltrated code. Microsoft is providing updates for Windows Server 2008 and newer to fix this vulnerability.
The EoP (Elevation of Privilege) vulnerability CVE-2025-33073 in the Windows SMB client is already publicly known. Microsoft wo
In the Chrome Releases blog post, Prudhvikumar Bommana lists the two vulnerabilities that were discovered by external security researchers and reported to Google. Google classifies both vulnerabilities as high risk. CVE-2025-5958 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Media component. If successful, an attacker could inject and execute arbitrary code.
The second vulnerability, CVE-2025-5959, was demonstrated at the TyphoonPWN hacker competition at the end of May, which has been taking place since 2018 as part of the TyphoonCon security conference in Seoul. The vulnerability is once again a type mix-up in the V8 JavaScript engine, which can also be used to execute injected code.
Google has also released Chrome for Android 137.0.7151.89, which fixes the same vulnerabilities in the Android version of the browser as in the desktop versions.
Chrome usually updates itself automatically when a new version is available. But if you aren't up to the latest version yet, you can manually initiate an update check using the three-dot menu and navigating to Help About Google Chrome. Google plans t
Helium, though, is way less dense than air (about seven times less), so there's a lot less resistance. That means the parts inside don't have to work as hard, it uses less power, and the drive lasts longer.
We reviewed the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and loved it enough to give it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award. We praised it for its impressive battery life, beautiful display, and overall performance—and we loved it even at full price. The lack of an audio jack and USB-A ports was a downer, and it isn't as "bendy" as the Yoga name would suggest, but those are minor nitpicks in an otherwise excellent laptop.
While this laptop has some light gaming potential, don't get it if that's a top priority. The 3K OLED touchscreen is best for streaming and productivity, and this is a proper AI-ready Copilot PC thanks to its cutting-edge Snapdragon X Elite processor and amazing 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Other nice features include a 1TB SSD, three USB-C ports (two of which are USB4), Wi-Fi 7, and a 1080p webcam. It's also quite portable at 2.8 pounds and just 0.59 inches thick.
If you need long-lasting battery life, solid performance, and a travel-friendly build, all at a fantastic price, and if you don't mind the lack of gaming prowess, then you can't go wrong with the
It isn't quite the tip-top of mobile gaming laptops, as the Intel "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 9 275HX is just one 100-MHz step down from the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX Intel launched at CES 2025, but it does retain an edge over the MSI Crosshair 18 HZ AI that MSI launched at Computex 2025, with "just" a GeForce RTX 5070 inside.
Obviously, an 18-inch gaming laptop is not for the weak of wallet, and the Ultima 18 is priced accordingly: it starts at $3,599 and will probably climb precipitously upwards from there.
In addition to the 5.4GHz Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and 175W, 24GB RTX 5090 (or 5080), the laptop offers up to a whopping 192GB of DDR5 DRAM and four M.2 MVME SSDs. That's par for most competing laptops of this size, though you'll obviously have to pay considerably extra to populate them all. Maingear tells us that those SSDs include PCIe Gen 5 capabilities, though it's not clear if all of the slots will boast that speed or not.
One of my favorite things about this mini PC, other than its extremely affordable price, is that it supports up to three 4K@60Hz displays. Unlike a laptop, which would require a hub or dock, you can directly hook up three external 4K monitors with the built-in HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video ports. You also get six high-speed USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headset jack for all your other accessories.
Despite its tiny size and price tag, the Acemagician K1 is quite powerful. It runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U and 16GB of RAM, which is just enough to handle Windows 11 and a handful of apps and browser tabs without lagging. The 512GB SSD is just enough for all your apps, documents, and photos, too. Need some more oomph? You can user-upgrade the memory up to 64GB and the storage up to 4TB.
All in all, this is a generous configuration for the price. Get the Acemagician K1 for only $249 while you can with this special Prime-exclusive discount! And again, if you don't have Prime, you can still take advantage of this deal by signing up for a free Prime trial.
After a little research on the topic, I discovered my cable would work fine if I dried it off properly. Now, I'd like to share the best way to do that…
What to do
First, unplug your USB cable if it's plugged into a device.
Now get a cloth or a tissue and run it down the length of the cable to dry it off on the outside.
Give the connector a shake to get any big fluid droplets out of it. Then get the end of a tissue or a thin cloth and insert it into the end to dry up any residual drops.
If you think there is any fluid left inside the connector, you can also use a hairdryer to blow air into the connector (just be sure to turn the hairdryer to the lowest setting and hold the USB connector at least 8 inches away from the stream of air).
Once it's dry, your cable should be okay to use again.
Good luck with returning your USB cables to safe working order again. If you want more awesome tech tips like this one delivered into your inbox, twice a week, every week, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld's Try This newsletter here!
The PDF is a perfectly fine format until you actually need to do something with it. Then it's a game of "find the free tool that won't watermark the life out of my file." SwifDoo PDF Pro is an all-in-one PDF tool that can help you easily work with PDFs and avoid that scenario.
For a one-time price of just $29.97 (normally $129), you get a lifetime license to a full suite of professional PDF tools on Windows. We're talking editing, compressing, converting, signing, OCR, watermarking, splitting, merging—and that's just the beginning. It even batch-processes multiple PDFs at once without losing formatting. (Looking at you, weirdly warped Excel-to-PDF conversions.)
Whether you're running a small business, managing contracts, or simply tired of juggling fiv
Microsoft's notes on the current release beta for Edge, as noticed by The Verge, indicate that the company is using what it calls an "AI-powered History search." If you turn this feature on, you'll be able to search your history of sites stored in Edge without ensuring that your search query is typed just so: Edge will accommodate "synonyms, phrases, or typos," Microsoft says.
Interestingly, this improved search is one of the functions that Microsoft is using local AI for. "An on-device model is trained using your data, which never leaves your device and is never sent to Microsoft," Microsoft notes.
Microsoft isn't saying what local model will be used, but it seems fairly likely that it will be the Phi Silica model Microsoft began talking about last year. Whether this means that you'll need a Copilot PC to enable this isn't clear, either. You do need Copilot hardware to take advantage of Recall, the tool that snapshots your PC periodically to improve search. (Recall is protected via encryption and Windows Hello, though I still think Recall is too risky in the current political environment.)
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Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed$139.99 (kit includes Aqara's Camera Hub G3, Vibration Sensor T1, Motion Sensor T1, Door and Window Sensor (1 each), and warning stickers (4 each)
This is an open-box item being sold by an eBay seller, so I can see why that might be a deal-breaker. But the seller has good reviews and the purchase comes with a one-year Allstate warranty, which is a lot more than you usually get with a refurbished or open-box unit from any retailer. It's "eBay certified" for quality with a money back guarantee, too.
This is the G91SD version of the monitor, which isn't the latest, and though it has USB-C ports it doesn't support USB-C video or laptop charging, so this big fella is for desktop PC gamers. And even though 144Hz isn't the fastest available even at this size, you'll still need a beefy machine to max it out at the 5120×1440 resolution, which is basically two 1440p monitors smooshed together on one massive curved panel.
This display is pretty heavy at 19.4 pounds, so if you want to use a VESA monitor stand with it, make sure it can handle the weight. If you're looking for something a little newer or cheaper, be sure to check out PCWorld's best picks for gaming monitors.
Get Samsung's 49-inch ultrawide OLED gaming monitor for $700
NPR reports that the FAA wants to finally bring the United States' aviation control system up to 21st century standards—and that means getting rid of floppy disks. The legacy storage format is still used in many air traffic control towers, in computers that still run on Windows 95. In some cases, paper flight strips are still used.
The 1990s control air traffic in the USA
The lives of millions of passengers and crew members depend on software and hardware from the 1990s. Back then, Bill Clinton was still President and Bill Gates was still head of Microsoft.
According to the FAA, this antiquated technology is used on about one-third of all flight control systems, and some of these systems are now starting to fail. A recent example is the radar and communication failures that led to significant delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. On top of this, maintaining such old IT equipment requires a lot of money and arcane knowledge.
But the widespread availability of these displays and the ability to manufacture them cheaply has resulted in some questionable brands on the market. Often the quality of these monitors can be sub-par. That's where we at PCWorld come in. We've tested multiple models and can separate the best portable monitors from the rest.
Our list of favorites below will help you find the right portable monitor for you. You can learn more about what to look for in a portable monitor at the bottom of the article.
Gamers Nexus took a break from their hard-hitting investigation work to check out this goofy little one-off project. Boutique desktop builder CherryTree (who are clearly fellow Star Trek fans, living their best, longest, and most prosperous lives) hollowed out a Gigabyte RTX 5070 card. Then they stuffed it full of Asus mini PC parts, re-assembled the shroud and working fans, and got all the necessary ports to go where you usually stick your monitor cables. The thing runs, all by itself, and with the fans and RGB lights still working.
As Steve points out, you could install this PC inside a regular desktop PC, since all the power and connection stuff comes out the back. It'll mount into a
If the Kindle Scribe seems right up your alley, now's the best time to grab one because it just got the biggest discount it's ever seen. Right now, you can get the 16GB version for $300, the 32GB version for $320, and the 64GB version for $350. All of them are $100 off their usual prices. This is a crazy deal—and we're still weeks away from Prime Day in July.
What does the Kindle Scribe do? Well, it's a bit larger than your regular Kindle, sporting a 10.2-inch glare-free display with 300 PPI density. It's front-lit like the Paperwhite and designed for reading and writing anywhere you go, even in full sunlight (something you'll hate doing on just about any other reading tablet).
You can read books or documents and make annotations anywhere you want with the included Premium Pen. There are loads of built-in AI tools that will help you summarize and refine the notes you take, whether they're made in a book or in a separate to-do list or notebook.
Take advantage of this unexpected discount on the Kindle Scribe while you still can! I think the 32GB model is the best value, but wouldn't turn my nose up at the
Among the new features is "Relight," which lets you adjust the lighting in a photo by placing up to three virtual light sources that can each be adjusted for color, intensity, and direction. There are also several built-in preset styles for quicker adjustments.
With Relight, you can use the power of AI to dramatically change the mood, tone, and appearance of any photo. However, you'll need a Snapdragon-powered Copilot PC to take advantage of this feature right now. Intel- and AMD-powered Copilot PCs will be getting this feature over the next few months.
The search function in Photos has also been upgraded, allowing you to search for images using natural language queries instead of keyword-based queries. For example, you can type "sunset at the beach" or "family outdoor fun" to find relevant images, even if they don't have file names that match those terms.
As with Relight, you'll need a Copilot PC to take advantage of semantic searches in Photos. If you don't know what that means, see our handy overview on what to know about Copilot PCs.
According to a Reddit post from a YouTube staffer, a month-to-month option for NFL Sunday Ticket will arrive in "early September." The plan will cost $85 a month for new subscribers, or $95/month with NFL RedZone included, while returning subscribers will pay $115 a month with a YouTube TV subscription, or $145 a month on a standalone basis (with NFL RedZone access boosting those prices to $125/month and $155/month respectively).
Unlike previous month-to-month payment NFL Sunday Ticket plans offered by YouTube, this new month-to-month option will let you cancel at any time, meaning you could sign up for just a single month if you wanted to. The 12-month installment plan can be had for as little as $23/month for new subscribers, but you can't cancel it mid-season, so it's really just an installment plan.
While the new month-to-month option offers some welcome flexibility, the monthly rates aren't cheap. Consider the $115 a month price for returning NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers who already have YouTube TV; at that rate, three months of Ticket access would cost $345, just $32 less than a full-season subscription (we'll get to season S
According to Windows Latest, the new feature appears in the Windows Share UI, which now has a toggle that lets you change the quality setting for image files. You can select between Original, Low, Medium, and High quality settings, and Windows will then create a new image file with the same dimensions but compressed quality.
In their test, Windows Latest found that a 1MB wallpaper with 3840×2160 resolution could be shrunk down to 147KB without resizing. Furthermore, you can crop the resulting image and make other changes.
This feature is currently being rolled out to Windows 11 Insiders and should be available to standard users in the coming months.
That might be going away soon, according to Chris Bergey, a senior VP of Arm Holdings. In an interview with PC Gamer, Bergey says the core compatibility issues are largely resolved, even if the performance gap that gamers are so keenly observing hasn't been closed. Most users spend approximately 90% of their time in apps that are available with a native Arm version.
A notable and extremely visible exception is anti-cheat programs for some popular online games. Lack of compatibility with these complex (and often controversial) systems can make a game simply refuse to launch, whether or not it runs well on a processor from Qualcomm or another Arm licensee. The software is "actually looking for some registers… well those registers don't exist in the architecture," explains Bergey. Though Arm and Microsoft are working on the issue, problems persist. There are some indicators that major developers, like Fortnite maker Epic, are looking to expand compatibility with Arm-based Windows laptops
Though you can still access ChatGPT, it currently takes an unusually long time to respond and may end up responding with error messages. Similar issues with error rates and increased latency are affecting Sora and OpenAI's API, which could affect third-party services.
According to Downdetector, thousands of users have been reporting outages, and the rate of reports hasn't slowed as of this writing. It's happening for users worldwide across web, mobile, and desktop apps.
According to OpenAI's status tracker, the problem was first acknowledged at 2:36 AM this morning, and the issue is now marked as "Identified" with the company "still working on implementing the mitigation for this issue." It's unclear how long the fix could take.
The Legion Pro 7i comes with a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a chunky 32GB of DDR5 RAM. That memory is user-upgradeable, too, allowing you to hit up to 96GB across two slots. Between the GPU, CPU, and RAM, you have a powerful gaming machine that'll handle everything you throw at it and more.
And it'll look good, too, thanks to the 16-inch OLED display with 2560×1600 resolution, 240Hz of refresh, and 500 nits of brightness. Push those frames and experience some of the best gaming you can get on a laptop. Not to mention the 99.9 watt-hour battery that'll last several hours untethered, but it isn't exactly travel-friendly with its 6-pound weight and chassis dimensions that are on the larger side.
Other niceties include a 2TB SSD storage across two slots, a backlit chiclet-style keyboard, a Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C port, another USB-C with video output, three high-speed USB-A ports, a full-sized HDMI, a LAN port, and 3.5mm headset jack. It also has cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
Save $450 on this Lenovo Legion Pro 7i while this hot deal is still around! It may be a while before you find another RTX 50-series laptop with guts like this a
Many people stop there. But others go further—as far as sharing the password to a personal email address or even a bank account. And that's dangerous territory.
Why? Trust is fragile. The people closest to you can change. (Just ask divorce lawyers.)
But possibly far worse—our kids are picking up the wrong messages from our habits.
As adults, we understand the risks of password sharing. Someone could lose the account info, causing a lockout. Or someone could get angry and change the password, also causing a lockout. Many of us calculate this risk and decide that a streaming service can be written off, but not a personal email address that ties our entire online life together.
But our kids may not yet have the tools or life experience (or both) to distinguish between a true friend and a friend-for-now. Or even be able to predict who will remain a good friend through life's changes. They may know to choose a good password (I recently heard Ayelet Biger-Levin, CEO of RangersAI, say in an RSAC Conference panel that fifth-graders can instantly list reasons for why to choose a strong password), but not why they shouldn't give access to their email address to their best friend.
So how can you help your kids build better habits? By doing these things in your own life:
Keep your personal email account secure and private with a strong, unique password that you don't share with anyone. Memorize it, even if you also use
But between the bombastic branding and the lack of the familiar bottom taskbar on any of the promotional images for this redesigned gaming gadget, it's hard to tell that this is, in fact, a Windows-powered gaming PC. Asus and Microsoft seem far more interested in talking about a revamped full-screen interface for the dedicated Xbox app and the accompanying Game Bar than the underlying operating system that lets you play all your games.
It's the defining feature of most handheld PCs versus Valve's Linux-powered Steam Deck, which only just got its second official companion under the SteamOS umbrella (the Lenovo Legion Go S). Windows enables the ROG Xbox Ally—and all the handheld PCs that came after the Steam Deck—to play a wider gamut of games. The most notable among them are some of the most popular, including online multiplayer games that require proprietary anti-cheat software not available on Linux.
Handheld Windows gaming PC woes
The fact that Windows 11
If this sounds like old news, it is, sort of. While Microsoft's new "category" view within Start was hidden in a build last year, it resurfaced in February when Microsoft announced it would debut in a Windows Insider test channel soon. By April, the wider, scrollable Start menu was unearthed by Twitter sleuths, again as a hidden feature.
In June 2024, Microsoft also began testing a "sidebar" to the Windows 11 Start menu for Android phones, then added iPhone support to the sidebar as well. (Microsoft is also testing allowing users to mirror their Android phones' screens from this sidebar as well.)
If you're a member of the Windows Insider program and subscribe to the Dev Channel, this is all coming together: the category view, the wider Start, and the phone sidebar. (Though I added the screen mirroring feature, that's the only bit left out in the latest build,
The DeathAdder V3 Pro was built for esports pro gamers, so it's more than good enough for the rest of us. When we reviewed this mouse, we gave it a glowing 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award, appreciating its super-light build, fast performance, comfortable fit, and seriously impressive 30K DPI sensor.
"Summarizing my thoughts about the V3 isn't hard. In short, it's brilliant, living up to every bit of hype when it comes to speed and responsiveness. Its ultra-light weight makes it an absolute pleasure to use all day long, too," we wrote in our review. One of the only gripes we had with this mouse was its price, but that's no longer a concern when you can snag it with a discount that's never been this delicious.
Weighing just 63 grams, the DeathAdder V3 Pro comes with a built-in battery that lasts for up to 90 hours on a single charge. There are five buttons you can program, which isn't as plentiful as some other gaming mice yet is more than enough for most users. Note the DPI button's location, too: instead of being behind the mouse wheel, it's on the underside of the mouse to prevent accidental presses.
If you want to level up your gaming, don't miss this chance to grab the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro for only $95! This price drop won't last forever, and it's the bes
"Does my supplementary dental insurance also cover inlays?"
If you are a fan of board games, you can hand over all the game instructions to the AI and ask the chatbot questions such as:
"Where can I place tiles in Qwirkle?"
We have tested how well this works on typical home PCs.
Requirements
To be able to query your own documents with a completely local artificial intelligence, you essentially need three things: a local AI model, a database containing your documents, and a chatbot.
These three elements are provided by AI tools such as Anything LLM and Msty. Both programs are free of charge.
Install the tools on a PC with at least 8GB of RAM and a CPU that is as up-to-date as possible. There should be 5GB or more free space on the SSD.
Ideally, you should have a powerful graphics card from Nvidia o
With a 20,000mAh capacity, this sleek power bank holds enough to recharge your laptop completely. But it's also good to charge your other tech, including smartphones, tablets, earbuds, and even handheld gaming consoles. The beauty of this power bank is that it's slim, measuring just 0.7 inches thick, and light, weighing just under 1 pound. This means you can easily slip it next to your laptop in its bag.
The 100W output makes this power bank a fast charger for most devices and definitely enough for your laptop. There are four ports available: two USB-A and two USB-C. (If you're simultaneously charging multiple devices, the 100W speed will split between ports.) One of the USB-C is used to recharge the power bank itself, and it can do so in about 1.5 hours with an appropriately fast-charging power adapter.
Be sure to snag this Baseus Blade power bank for $40 on Amazon before this special deal expires! That's a big drop from its regular $100 price, and it's only available through the above link for a limited time.
Score 60% off on this 20K fast-charging laptop power bank
Apple's new macOS Tahoe is first defined by its "Liquid Glass" design aesthetic, a new universal design language, that I think hearkens back to Windows 10 and earlier versions of Windows operating systems. But beyond look and feel, there are practical elements, like the Spotlight search bar that understands what's on your Mac and taps into local intelligence to find what you want. There are also shortcuts or macros to help you complete tasks, and a phone application that looks as rich as what Microsoft offers. There's even a rudimentary Game Bar.
I much prefer Windows over macOS, and have used Windows and Android products for decades. Nonetheless, there have been a few times that I've been impressed with what Apple has accomplished—the Apple Watch integration with iOS, for example. There's a level of polish and integration here that I think Microsoft should pay attention to.
If I had to sum it up: What I use on a day-to-day basis on Windows feels like a rough draft. What Apple showed off at WWDC seems more like the final product.
Warm and rich
From day one of Windows 11, I wrote that Windows 11 felt like an unnecessary replacement for Windows 10. I've since changed my mind about that, in part because Microsof
PC cooling might not make your ray tracing benchmarks go up, but it's vital for making sure your system runs well without frying. And just as GPUs and CPUs have improved leaps and bounds over the years, PC coolers have taken some major steps as well.
If your PC is more than a few years old, here are the biggest PC cooling advancements you need to know about, why they're so exciting, and which ones to pay attention to for your next PC.
LCP makes fans better — and more costly
If you've wondered why PC cooling fans have gotten so expensive over the past few years, you may have been looking at fans made from a material called liquid-crystal polymer (LCP). Traditionally used in data center cooling, LCP made its way into high-end enthusiast cooling fans in recent years, and that has made them all-around better.
Still shelling out for Microsoft 365 each month? If you're using an older PC or just sticking to the basics, those ongoing fees might not be worth it. Instead, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2019 and cut the 365 subscription strings for good.
Full access to the classic Office suite
Word
Excel
PowerPoint
Outlook
OneNote
Publisher
Access
These aren't stripped-down versions, either. Office 2019 remains fully capable of handling reports, spreadsheets, presentations, email, and more, without requiring constant updates or additional charges.
If you're tired of Microsoft's subscription model and worried they might hike the price of 365 again, this is your chance to future-proof y
Paid password managers of course offer nice extras, but a free password manager still protects you from the risks of using weak or reused passwords. Instead of remembering all of your passwords and/or passkeys, you just need one to access a single, secure place where all of the rest are stored.
And because free password managers come in different flavors and styles, you should be able to find one that fits your needs. Even Google's password manager, built into Chrome and Android, can work as a no-cost option with a nifty Windows tie-in. Plus, if you find that the free versions aren't enough, down the road you can always upgrade to a paid service.
This is a super-slim 27-inch OLED monitor that looks gorgeous and performs well with a sweet spot 1440p resolution and a 0.03ms response time. Sony developed this in cooperation with Fnatic, one of the world's best e-sports teams, and that the monitor is "tournament-ready." If you're not going to believe the pros, who's advice are you going to take?
The OLED panel here delivers brilliant colors, vivid images, and perfect black levels. It's rare to see them this fast, though, and even rarer to see them this cheap. On top of the blazing-fast 480Hz, you get Nvidia G-Sync compatibility and fanless cooling, plus connectivity via two HDMI, one DisplayPort, two USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
We reviewed the Inzone M10S and gave it 4 stars, finding that it delivers superb image quality and motion performance. Our main issue with it was price, but that's not an issue with this discount. Snag it for just $715 while you can because this deal isn't going to last!
Get this 480Hz 1440p OLED gaming monitor for incredibly cheap
The Tapo SolarCam C403 comes with a double base where you can install both the camera and solar panel. Of course, if you'd rather install them separately, you can do that since the camera comes with an extra-long cable to connect the two. This means you won't have to worry about repeatedly recharging the battery, and you most definitely won't have to worry about running any type of wiring.
Just pop this thing on the wall, connect it to your phone via the Tapo app, hook it up to your local Wi-Fi network, and enjoy the motion-triggered notifications. You can either choose to send the video to the cloud, or you can fit a microSD card of up to 512GB.
The camera captures color 1080p video even at night, and the camera sends off notifications when it detects people, cars, or pets, so you know exactly what's happening before you even click to see the video. And $40 for a solar-powered security camera? That's a total bargain!
Save 33% on this solar-powered Wi-Fi security camBuy now at Amazo
This is definitely a budget design, so keep your expectations in check. The Aspire 3 has a plastic body and its 15-inch screen isn't going to impress anyone, even if the touch panel is an impressive find at this price point. With 53 watt-hours of battery, this laptop won't be a longevity champion either. But even with these specs, it's actually much better-equipped than the model we tested and reviewed back in 2023. This laptop won't run the latest high-end games, but it should be good enough for Minecraft and the like.
The version being sold on eBay has a touchscreen, a faster quad-core AMD processor, a much bigger 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. That's the minimum I would recommend for running Windows 11. Though it's being sold directly from Acer, it's "eBay refurbished," which means you get a two-year Allstate warranty.
As of right now, the listing is showing a price of $275.99, a discount of over $200 versus the non-refurbished model. Shipping is free via FedEx. If you've been waiting for an incredibly affordable workhorse laptop, this is it, so hop to it!
Get a 15-inch touchscreen laptop with 16GB RAM for $288
It's not some lazy computer, either, because this device can most definitely handle your workload. The AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor and 32GB of RAM work well together to help you complete your daily tasks without any hiccups. The 512GB SSD also offers enough space for your apps, documents, and photos. If you ever need more power, upgrading is fairly easy and it supports up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of space.
Imagine finally having enough ports to plug in all your peripherals, charge your devices, and so on. The Kamrui E3B supports triple 4K@60Hz monitors with its HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video ports, plus extra connectivity via six high-speed USB-A ports, a Gigabit LAN port, and a 3.5mm headset jack. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 built in.
Get yourself this Kamrui E3B mini PC for only $260 while you can! Use promo code PBOIDOYK code at checkout for this special deal.
Not even a month after declaring that Max would soon be HBO Max again, parent company Warner Bros. Discovery has announced what pretty much everyone in the industry could see coming: a breakup.
Specifically, Warner Bros. Discovery will split in two, with one company taking on HBO Max along with Warner Bros.'s film and TV studios, while the other company will take the (declining) cable assets, including CNN, TBS, and TNT, plus sports, the Discovery linear channels, and Discovery .
The announcement of the split leaves many questions unanswered for streamers. What happens to Discovery content on HBO Max? What about Bleacher Report, the bundle of live sports that's moving to the second "global networks" business? Will there be pricing changes? (Are there stars in the sky?) And when is all this going to happen?
Many of the answers will have to wait, as the Warner Bros. Discovery split likely won't be finalized until the middle of next year. That said, we should expect the "Max" streaming service of today to look very different from the "HBO Max" of 2026.
Namely, Max—er, HBO Max—is pivoting away from the whole "something for everybody" strategy that drove the decision to merge HBO Max and Discovery in the first place.
In announcing today's decision to shareholders, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav put it plainly. "We put HBO back in [to HBO Max] for a rea
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.
Here are our top picks that prove budget laptops don't have to be terrible.
Acer Aspire Go 15 - Best laptop under $500 overall
