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Sep 30, 2023
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This bundle includes four courses, including one for absolute beginners. The work is taught by some of the web's top instructors, including Mike Wheeler (4.5/5-star instructor rating) and John Elder (4.4/5-star rating). From the absolute basics of ChatGPT to even building your own chatbot assistant with Python and Tkinter, you'll learn how to leverage the power of machine learning to generate ideas, write blogs, automate work, and much more.
Save time by becoming a ChatGPT expert. Now through 9/30, you can get The Complete ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence OpenAI Tr
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Sep 30, 2023
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Rated 4/5 stars by verified purchasers, Taskio is an AI-powered productivity tool that can automate tasks, generate content, conduct research, and much more, saving you time, money, and headaches. Whether you're a marketer in need of content, a designer who needs to simplify their workflow, or an entrepreneur looking for creative ways to scale or solve problems, Taskio can help. In just a few clicks, you can amplify your web presence, streamline social media, solve problems, create ads, transcribe speeches and notes, and much, much more.
The applications for Taskio are virtually limitless. Give those limits a test when you get a lifetime subscription to Taskio for just $25 through September 30th.
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Sep 29, 2023
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We throw coins, briefly distract a guard, dart around corners. We duck into dark corners, because in the evening even our shadow in a candle could betray us. It's a completely different feeling from Assassin's Creed Valhalla. In that game, we are a bear of a man, with arms like tree trunks as we swing the axe and make the English army tremble.
Valhalla also had its moments, but in Mirage there is much more of a hand-built feel. Look at the finely crafted vase, the decorations on the walls. Every single house, every room has that attention to detail that is only possible in a smaller Assassin's Creed.
IDG
In Assassin's Creed Mirage we have to be quite careful, because our character Basim
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Sep 29, 2023
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AntOnline's official eBay portal has the gen 1 ThinkPad X1 Nano on sale for just $600. It's a tiny fraction of the original price…but to be honest, Lenovo's "retail" prices are all over the place. Just know that it's a damn good price for a teeny-tiny, 13-inch ThinkPad that weighs just 2.5 pounds. It also comes standard with 16GB of RAM, which I think is the minimum for running Windows in 2023, along with 512GB of upgradeable SSD storage.
With an 11th-gen Core i5 processor and integrated Xe graphics, this machine will handle just about anything you can throw at it in terms of web browsing, video, or productivity. It's no gaming powerhouse, but basic or older titles are more than playable, and the 2160×1350 IPS screen is much better than most at this size and price range. There are only two things I don't like about it. One, this particular model doesn't have a touchscreen…which probably isn't a big deal if you want an ultraportable that excels at typing. And two, both its USB-C ports (which double as power input) are on the same side, the left. That makes it a bit awkward if you can't get the right spot in a coffee shop or airport loun
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Sep 29, 2023
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Arriving at the end of October, the new Raspberry Pi 5 has been unveiled with just two variants named so far: a $60 4GB version, and a $80 8GB option. It's a departure from leading with a $35 model (currently the 1GB Raspberry Pi 4), but given the long history of that entry price, it's not unlikely to see additional variants announced down the road.
Right now, the focus is on power, and it's understandable why. Not only does the Raspberry Pi 5 appear ready to deliver a sizable step up in performance compared to its 2019 predecessor, but its new silicon was designed in-house by the Raspberry Pi team. The specs show tangible upgrades across the board:
2.4GHz Arm Cortex-A76 CPU (quad-core, 64-bit)
VideoCore VII GPU (supports OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2)
Dual 4K60 HDMI output
4K60 HEVC decoder
Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
High-speed microSD card interface (with SDR104 mode support)
2x USB 3.0 ports (supports simultaneous 5Gbps operation)
2x USB 2.0 ports
Gigabit Ethernet (supports PoE with separate PoE HAT)
2x 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers
PCIe 2.0 x1 interface
Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header
Real-time clock
Power button
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Sep 29, 2023
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Fortunately, the upgrades in FSR 3 will be coming to a variety of current and future games soon, including Cyberpunk, Warhammer 40: Space Marine 2, Crimson Desert, and the Yakuza spinoff Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. FSR 3's improvements include "AMD Fluid Motion Frames," which inject generated frames between natively rendered frames to boost performance well beyond that of FSR 2, and a "native AA" quality mode that applies FSR 3's high-quality anti-aliasing and sharpening without any upscaling for better-than-native image quality. Think of it as a rival to Nvidia's popular DLAA technology. There's a slight performance penalty with native AA active, but it can be combined with FSR 3's Fluid Motion Frames to increase performance without upscaling.
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Sep 29, 2023
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From no-compromises hardware to displays with high refresh rates, these laptops can do pretty much everything a desktop PC can do. During our review process, we put every single one of these laptops through a battery of tests, so we've got the numbers to back up our recommendations. Whether you're looking for the best 17-inch gaming laptop or the most portable machine, we've got you covered. Read on to learn more.
Why you should trust us: Hey, it's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
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Sep 29, 2023
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Google documents the bug as a high-profile security issue, labeled "CVE-2023-5217." "Heap buffer overflow in vp8 encoding in libvpx" is the description, and if you haven't sunk proficiency points into software jargon, that means that in specific situations it's possible for a program to record more data to a memory buffer than it's designed for. That can cause it to overwrite other data, which the program generally can't account for, opening up unforeseen security issues.
If you need a Star Trek-style metaphor, imagine it as pouring too much cake batter into a mold, and the spilled-over batter catches fire in the oven. The cake batter is your data, the oven is any piece of software, and the fire is…bad stuff that malicious hackers can take advantage of. Hey, I didn't say it was perfect.
Ars Technica notes that Mozilla has already c
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Sep 29, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$79.99
Best Prices Today: Roccat Kone Air
Retailer
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Sep 29, 2023
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The Roccat Vulcan 121 features Titan Switches, with an actuation point of 1.8mm, and a travel distance of 3.6mm. The Titan Switches, which have been developed by Roccat, have a crisp and tactile feel to them. They're also housed in a material that resists dust and wear. There's even advanced anti-ghosting, which allows you to press multiple keys simultaneously. A detachable palm rest, dedicated media controls, and easy per-key customization features round out the package (along with RGB lighting, natch.)
According to buyers on Amazon, it's a solid keyboard at a reasonable price point — especially today! — and the keys aren't too loud. This is loaded gaming keyboard going for a whole lot less than loaded gaming keyboards normally sell for, so don't miss out.
Get the Roccat Vulcan 121 mechanical gaming keyboard for $54.99
Keyboards
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Sep 29, 2023
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Adam's friend needs a new PC and wants to see what the DIY scene is all about, so it's a perfect time to test out Corsair's build kit and see how easy it really is for a first-timer. Don't worry, they'll be building in the PCWorld lab with plenty of help on hand.
And what a way to start: Our test subject will be building Corsair's "Ultra" kit with a retail price tag of nearly $4000. It includes the absolute peak of current gaming gear, including a Core i9-13900KS processor, RTX 4090 GPU, Z790-A motherboard, 64 gigs of DDR5 RAM, and Corsair's 5000D case plus a huge AIO CPU cooler, seven RGB fans, and a 1000-watt power supply. It's about as ultra as
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Sep 29, 2023
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Remember, Windows Hello debuted on Windows 10 as a biometric means of authentication. Since then, you've been able to open a laptop, show your face to the camera, and absolutely ignore any requirement to type in a Windows password to unlock your PC. It's simple, extremely convenient, and largely foolproof.
Passkeys are the latest iteration, and they're debuting in the Windows 11 22H2 update, available now. (They'll also appear in the Windows 11 22H3 or Windows 11 2023 Update, launching in the fourth quarter.) Instead of typing in a password on a website, passkeys use your PC's biometric identification instead. Essentially, you're logging onto a website using Windows Hello.
For now, there are relatively few sites that actually use passkeys: Best Buy, WhatsApp, GitHub, and 1Password do. And the kicker is that you'll have to create a passkey for each site.
Some sites' passkey support are tied to mobile devices, however — not Windows. Logging in on a desktop PC will ask you to register your fingerprint with your phone. I'm not going to say which approach is more secure, but using passkeys on your PC is certainly more convenient than fishing out your phone.
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Sep 29, 2023
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However, ChatGPT isn't the only framework for AI - nor is it necessarily the best option out there. There are other sites that offer similar or even better services than ChatGPT.
In other words, you can easily find a ChatGPT alternative - if you know where to look. This article will help you in that regard by offering not one Chat GPT alternative but 10. Let's explore some ChatGPT competitors, both free and paid.
1. HIX.AI
Rather than a single service, HIX.AI is an all-in-one AI writing copilot that offers an entire suite of AI solutions. Its services are available without a subscription, albeit the free plan comes with certain limitations. Still, HIX.AI is a good ChatGPT free alternative both due to its processing power and the range of functions it can perform.
The first service to mention is HIX Chat - a chatbot that functions much like
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Sep 29, 2023
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But here I am now, using the $300 Beelink SER5 Mini PC as my daily workhorse, powering an ultrawide 1440p 100Hz monitor and smoothly handling any productivity task I've thrown at it. This little computer has been so delightful to use that I've relegated my full-sized desktop tower PC to the basement television, where it's now serving exclusively as a gaming rig.
Consider this a lesson on technological overkill. Outside of some specialized use cases, the required compute power for getting things done might be a lot less than you think.
Sizing up the mini PC
Beelink sells an array of miniature computers, but the one I bought currently costs $274 (or $244 for Prime members) with the following specs:
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor
16GB of RAM (DDR4)
512GB of storage (M.2 NVMe)
Windows 11 Pro
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Front ports: Two USB-A 3.2, one USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Rear ports: One USB-A 3.0, one USB-A 2.0, two HDMI 2.0, gigabit ethernet
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Sep 29, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$169.99
Best Prices Today: TerraMaster F2-212
Retailer
Price
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Sep 29, 2023
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Sold separately, the cost of upgrading to Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office could run you several hundred dollars. But with this limited-time price drop, you can get both for just $49.97. That's an upgrade to the productivity and security features of Windows 11 Pro, plus the world's most popular office suite for less than the cost of a night out.
With Office, you'll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access — everything you need to do your best work. This bundle is rated an average of 4.9/5 stars by verified purchasers.
A more efficient workflow starts here. For a limited time, you can get
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Sep 29, 2023
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This deal is rated 4.6/5 stars on average by verified purchasers. Pixilio utilizes advanced machine learning algorithms to create high-quality, custom images to your exact specs in a matter of seconds. All you have to do is input your desired parameters and Pixilio creates 100% original images that are owned by you and usable however you would like. No more stock images or custom image creation. You can generate high-quality images in a matter of seconds without any prior design experience necessary.
Start creating high-quality imagery in seconds. Now through 9/30, you can get a lifetime subscription to Pixilio for more than 90% off at just $19.97.
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Sep 28, 2023
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Arriving at the end of October, the new Raspberry Pi 5 has been unveiled with just two variants named so far: a $60 4GB version, and a $80 8GB option. It's a departure from leading with a $35 model (currently the 1GB Raspberry Pi 4), but given the long history of that entry price, it's not unlikely to see additional variants announced down the road.
Right now, the focus is on power, and it's understandable why. Not only does the Raspberry Pi 5 appear ready to deliver a sizable step up in performance compared to its 2019 predecessor, but its new silicon was designed in-house by the Raspberry Pi team. The specs show tangible upgrades across the board:
2.4GHz Arm Cortex-A76 CPU (quad-core, 64-bit)
VideoCore VII GPU (supports OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2)
Dual 4K60 HDMI output
4K60 HEVC decoder
Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
High-speed microSD card interface (with SDR104 mode support)
2x USB 3.0 ports (supports simultaneous 5Gbps operation)
2x USB 2.0 ports
Gigabit Ethernet (supports PoE with separate PoE HAT)
2x 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers
PCIe 2.0 x1 interface
Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header
Real-time clock
Power button
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Sep 28, 2023
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Fans have waited patiently for a new chapter for several years, and now the beta phase for Counter-Strike 2 is over. You can now officially download and play it for free on Steam.
Massive Counter-Strike facelift
Counter-Strike 2 is not a completely new game, but a massive update for the the original CSGO. It upgrades the game to the updated Source Engine 2 and brings reworked and redesigned maps, improved grenades, network functions, reworked sound, upgraded community workshop tools, and more — including overhauled, physics-responsive smoke grenades that can be pierced by bullets and explosives. That's sure to shake up the meta.
Gameplay-wise, a few things have also changed and improved. There's an updated
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Sep 28, 2023
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"Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10 / 11 ended July 29, 2016," a Microsoft blog post now states, dating back to Sept. 20, and unearthed by Windows Central. "The installation path to obtain the Windows 7 / 8 free upgrade is now removed as well. Upgrades to Windows 11 from Windows 10 are still free."
At one time, Microsoft offered a whole year — until July 31, 2016, one year after Windows 10 launched — for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users to tap their existing Windows licenses as a free entry ticket to Windows 10. Then Microsoft allowed those using
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Sep 28, 2023
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Plus, many free PDF editors are browser based, which means that you don't need to worry about about platform- or device-compatibility issues.
Of course, free products won't come with every feature of their premium counterparts. So, if you find that you need more advanced tools such as password protection, Bates numbering, or e-signatures, then you're probably better served by a premium PDF editor.
Updated 09/28/2023: Check out our latest review of EaseUS PDF editor. A free version of the service is available and allows you full functionality. Your finished product will have branded watermarks though, so it's only recommended as a means of taking the software for a test drive rather than an alternative.
PROMOTION
EaseUS PDF Editor - Edit, Convert, Compress & Protect PDFs
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Sep 28, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$329.99
Best Prices Today: Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma
Retailer
Price
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Sep 28, 2023
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If that name doesn't sound familiar, you might want to check it out. This boutique China-based manufacturer started just five years ago, specializing in teeny-tiny desktop PCs that punch above their weight and are easy to work on. That includes several SFF Ryzen designs, offering an alternative to Intel's NUC standard (which is lately somewhat beleaguered). The V3 will be the company's first tablet design — its first laptop design, too, if you take the broad Surface-style definition — coming next year.
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Sep 28, 2023
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Can You Relocate or Move Windows to Another Drive?
Yes, you can seamlessly move Windows from one drive to another disk with efficient methods. Here is a breakdown of the process:
Install and initialize the new disk
Create a system image of the current Windows installation
Restore and migrate Windows to the new drive
So you can relax if you are experiencing a similar issue to what Ravija Randiunu described to Microsoft:
"Moving windows 10 to a new drive: Recently i bought a notebook where genuine windows 10 is already installed. But unfortunately it just has a SATA 1TB hdd and it is rather slower sometimes. So now i want to move to a SSD drive. But the question is my genuine windows… Will i be able to move this genuine windows 10 from my old HDD to a new SSD? And also i was not given any windows installation disk when i bought my laptop…plz help me…"
By following the next part, you'll learn about the key factors that guarantee you to
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Sep 28, 2023
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Called the Revolt Series, this run of small form factor PCs is all based on the Hyte Revolt 3, a mini-ITX case that generated a lot of buzz when it launched back in 2021. At 18.4 liters, the Revolt 3 fits a considerable amount of hardware inside—while still being portable enough to easily cart from place to place. (It even has an old-school carrying handle!) Unsurprisingly, this line of gaming PCs is being marketed toward eSports players, though the performance is really whatever you want from the machine. The $1,500 base model sports an Intel Core i5-13400F and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, while the $4,550 top-end variant offers an air-cooled Core i9-13900K and RTX 4090.
The Noctua North is a luxe, high-end collaboration between Noctua and Maingear.Maingear
This unveiling comes jus
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Sep 28, 2023
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The Dark Urge, BGIII's designated "evil" player character, is great for exploring on a second playthrough.
LArian Studios
Warning: this article contains late-game spoilers for Baldur's Gate III!
Playing through a second time allows me to go deeper down the rabbit hole on some
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Sep 28, 2023
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The key to quickly optimizing your graphics card lies in the best possible configuration of the so-called "Power Targets (PT)" or "Power Limits (PL)," which significantly influence the maximum power consumption of the graphics processor (GPU) and the graphics memory (VRAM).
This is exactly where we start and have to use two different tools, depending on whether we want to optimize an AMD Radeon RX or an Nvidia GeForce RTX.
Optimize Radeon with one click
You want to optimize a Radeon RX 5000 (RDNA), Radeon RX 6000 (RDNA 2) or Radeon RX 7000 (RNDA 3) with just one click? Then AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition is the right tool for you to pursue this goal.
The tidy, modern and user-friendly interface, which bundles quick access to all software functions, game statistics, and performance values, as well as driver updates in one place, also helps to optimize the graphics card.
With the key combination
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Sep 28, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$1,199.99
Best Prices Today: Acer Swift Go 16
Retailer
Price
Microcenter
$1059.99
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Sep 28, 2023
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Mashvisor pools up-to-date data from resources like the MLS, Zillow, Rentometer, Airbnb, and the US Census Bureau to give you the most accurate, current real estate market data available in a single place. All data is stored and analyzed using AI and machine learning, turning raw data into actionable analytics for you and your business.
Mashvisor offers comprehensive coverage for 95% of US markets, both large and small. All you have to do is search and you can find the best long-term and short-term rental markets in the US, filter based on your desires, and identify high-potential properties for your most important criteria, or to better understand the neighborhood you're looking to buy in.
Find out why Mashvisor has earned an Excellent rating on Trustpilot.
Right now, you can get a Mashvisor lifetime subscription for just $39.99 (reg. $899).
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Sep 27, 2023
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The big change for the Quest 3 is the addition of full-color, high-speed cameras to the exterior of the casing. While the Quest 2 allowed you to "see" through its tracking cameras, the low-res, black-and-white picture was really only useful for stopping yourself from hitting a wall (or catching your friends making rude gestures while your eyes were covered.) The new camera setup allows for far more immediate interaction with the world beyond your headset, not to mention a new focus on augmented reality apps and games.
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Sep 27, 2023
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Given the restrictions by services such as Netflix's towards VPNs, you need to choose a service that has active compatibility with that streaming site. Also, its a good idea to choose a VPN with good overall server spread so that if one server is down in the country you are trying to access, there are other options available as well. The PCWorld staff have thoroughly tested the top VPNs on the market to see how they fare at unblocking the top streaming sites and we've curated our favorites in the list below.
We highly recommend that you use a VPN not only to access location restricted content, but also to provide one of the best possible upgrades to your online security. So, if you're looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories.
Updated 09/27/2023: Check out our latest review of
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Sep 27, 2023
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The WebP image file format is particularly popular on the web because it offers a good balance between storage size and quality. But the vulnerability allows attackers to use a specially crafted WebP image to create a heap buffer overflow and execute malicious code. To do this, the image must be opened in an application; in browsers, simply calling up a website is sufficient. The code executed in the background can then install malware, for example.
Numerous known applications affected
The vulnerability, which was discovered by Apple's Security Engineering and Architecture (SEAR) and the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School, was initially wrongly classified as a pure Chrome bug; common web browsers were quickly protected with a security update. But as it has now turned out, significantly more applications are also affected.
The vulnerability is related to the open Libwebp library, which is used by numerous programs. Thus, applications such as Gimp, Libreoffice, Telegram, 1Password and many others could also become targets of an attack. As a result, the CVSS, a standardized score for evaluating security vulnerabilities, has been
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Sep 27, 2023
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The Acer Nitro VG271U features a resolution of 2560×1440, a refresh rate of 180Hz, and a response time of 1ms. In other words, the picture should be plenty sharp and ultra fast (if your graphics card can keep up). The 250 nits of brightness is a little low for my liking, but I wouldn't say it's a deal-breaker, especially for a responsive gaming monitor like this. For connectivity options, you're getting one DisplayPort 1.2, two HDMI 2.0, and one audio out.
According to buyers on Newegg, it's easy to set up and colors really pop. You don't find fast, pixel-packed monitors going this cheap very often, so don't miss out!
Get the Acer Nitro VG271U gaming monitor for $179.99 at Newegg
Laptops
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Sep 27, 2023
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The company outlines its Cross Adapter Scan-Out system (CASO) in its latest dev blog post, spotted by VideoCardz.com. Essentially, the CASO software tweak allows a discrete graphics card to handle rendering and send the output frames directly to a laptop's display, without needing to pass through the CPU's integrated graphics system first. This allows your gaming laptop to more or less ignore the integrated graphics during sessions of gaming or other intense graphical processing.
Normally, the laptop's integrated graphics becomes the "monkey in the middle," and bypassing it results in less visual latency, less wasted battery power, and more system resources dedicated to the task at hand. It's an ideal setup if you're ready to put your machine into its
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Sep 27, 2023
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Price When Reviewed512GB: $79.99 I 1TB: $129.99 I 2TB: $219..99
Best Prices Today: Solidigm P44 Pro NVMe SSD
Retailer
Price
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Sep 27, 2023
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As the company writes in its blog, Google is not only celebrating its 25th birthday today, but also 25 years of "curiosity" from users, which it says brought the company to the point where it stands today. "For our birthday, we're celebrating in ways you might have come to expect over the last quarter-century. Our homepage doodle today honors the evolution of the Google logo, and if you search for (or hum) birthday-related queries, you might see a little surprise."
A link in the blog post takes users to a presentation of the company's history with interesting insights into the last 25 years of Google.
Finally, there are a few words from the current Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, about the future of Google. He says Google is eager to think of new possibilities and drive technologie
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Sep 27, 2023
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Windows 10 also received an update a short time later, but you won't find any real innovations. It's limited to "improvements that affect the quality, productivity, and security of Windows 10," per Microsoft.
That's disappointing for Windows 10 users — but you're not fully left behind. Here's how you can implement the new Windows 11 features into Windows 10 as well.
What Windows 11 Explorer has to offer
After years of stagnation, the Windows File Explorer is increasingly the focus of Microsoft developers. A feature that has been planned for years has made it into Windows Explorer with Windows 11 22H2: displaying multiple folders in different tabs. A new tab can be opened with the key combination Ctrl T or the " " button.
This is practical if you want to switch quickly between folders, for example to copy files. With the impending Windows 11 2023 Update, Microsoft will allow Windows Explorer to unpack Rar and 7-Zip files as well as the tar.gz and tar.bz2 archives commonly used under Linux. So far — as with Windows 10 — only Zip archives are supported, but unpacking should be faster in the future.
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Sep 27, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$479
Best Prices Today: Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T
Retailer
Price
B&H Photo
$449
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Sep 27, 2023
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This 5-foot cable has a 6-in-1 keyring that supports USB to Lightning, USB to USB-C, USB to Micro-USB, USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Lightning, and USB-C to Micro-USB charging on a single cable. It offers up to 100W power output to quickly charge practically any device. And if you need to transfer data, data transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps will allow you to make a transfer and stay on the go.
Not only is it convenient, but the InCharge is way tougher than a standard cable with an aramid fiber build, braided copper wires, TPU cable guards, and nylon reinforcement.
Upgrade your charging situation. Now through 9/30, you can get InCharge® X Max 100W 6-in-1 Charging Cable for nearly half off at $16.97.
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Sep 26, 2023
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According to The Verge, the impending death was announced quietly in a Google help page around mid-September.
For many, this news may seem like a no-brainer—most people are familiar with the standard view, which is the default when you log into Gmail through the web. It's full featured, with support for modern fonts, a customizable inbox, integrated chat features, rich text formatting, and more. Meanwhile, the basic HTML view is exactly as described—it looks like something from 2005 and behaves like it, too. All you can really do is read your email (and on mobile web, you'd better hope there's a properly formatted text version, because it doesn't render fancier formats well).
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Sep 26, 2023
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It's the closest thing to a theme that we've seen within a Windows 11 update in some time. AI will power Windows Copilot, of course, but also recommended files in File Explorer and Start as well as a designated AI-specific section within the Microsoft Store app. You should also expect various small improvements across Windows, both in terms of ease-of-use and functional updates, like the ability to restore apps from a backup.
Microsoft unveiled the new update during press event on Sept. 21 in New York City, showcasing some of these new features. However, there's a small twist: the features that are coming to Windows 11 are arriving first in an update to the current version of Windows 11, Windows 11 22H2. Windows 11 23H2 will then roll out in the fourth quarter as a cumulative update that rolls up all of the new features. What does this mean to you? Not a whole lot, but the point is that you probably won't see all of these features right away.
When can you expect Windows 11 23H2 to arrive on your PC? Microsoft said that Windows 11 23H2 will be released on Sept. 26 in an update to Windows 11 22H2, before rolling out to all Windows 11 PCs later as Windows 11 23H2.
What will Windows 11 23H2 be known as? Windows 11 23H2 will be known as the Windows 11 2023 Update. The Windows 11 22H2 update is being delivered as KB5030310, also known as the "Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-Based Systems."
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Sep 26, 2023
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For the uninitiated, SteamVR refers to both the platform (the system and APIs that a lot of VR games on Steam use) and the user interface that Steam uses for virtual reality. This update is mostly about the latter, which has been given a fairly sizeable facelift and functionality boost. SteamVR 2.0 introduces a new dashboard, new store page, new keyboard interface — it's just a lot of work done across the board. Steam Chat and Voice Chat are now available while using a headset.
Perhaps most important is the revamp to the Steam store's presentation while in VR, which now puts VR content "front and center." There are tons of smaller tweaks for ease of use and smooth operation. A particularly interesting one noted by the update page is that SteamVR won't show you an inter-pupillary distance (IPD) slider if you'
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Sep 26, 2023
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Make no mistake, Microsoft is pushing new tools like its Copilot system hard, integrating it into systems that are staples for the company and hundreds of millions of users. But speaking as a power user — and accepting the limited perspective that gives me for many who are not — I can't see these new tools being anything more than an occasional curiosity.
They won't change the way that I work, and I think even those who stand to benefit the most from them will be hesitant to try.
It works, until it doesn't
To be sure, there are elements of the system that can be beneficial. ChatGPT-based AI text generation is dramatic, filling in pages of information in just a minute or two, far faster than the most frantic keyboard jockey could manage. Image generation is just as impressive, spitting out incredibly detailed and photorealistic images with just a few lines of text prompt. If you're not a natural writer, and you can't navigate your way around Paint, this stuff seems like Arthur C. Clarke's classic technology "indistinguishable from magic."
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Sep 26, 2023
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The new feature is rolling out in preview, apparently as part of a Microsoft Store update that will coincide with the Windows 23H2 release rolling out over the next few weeks.
The new Instant Games appears to work similarly to a feature already in Android: Instant Play, part of a feature called Google Play Instant. In both Android and Windows, the "Instant" portion means that selecting a new supported game to play will bypass the typical download and install process for immediate gratification. Not surprisingly, the Instant Play feature requires a game to be relatively small — less than 15MB, in the case of the Android app. Will Windows' Instant Games feature work similarly? It seems likely.
In a blog post authored by Microsoft consumer marketing chief Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft describes Instant Games as a "new experience that allows you to jump in and instantly play your favorite casual game directly from the Microsoft Store on Windows without the need to download and install on your Windows device," according to the blog post. "We've partnered with game publishers to be able to bring this experience to our collection of casual games."
Microsoft didn't say what games will be part of the Instant Games prog
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Sep 26, 2023
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It's a big win for Paint, which was on its deathbed as late as 2017. Now, Paint will essentially become a launcher and editor for Microsoft's Bing Image Creator, a lovely AI art tool that creates AI-generated images from text prompts. After adding trivial features like dark mode, Microsoft wowed users by adding Photoshop-like transparency and layers to Paint, too.
This doesn't appear to be an overly complex update: A new "Cocreator" button appears on the toolbar. Click it, and a sidebar opens to the right. There, you can simply add a text prompt, select a style, and Cocreator will create the resulting image in Paint for you to edit. It's bad news for those creators who have spent painstaking hours in Paint, crafting masterpieces in a tool that's been far outpaced by competitors. Still, it's certainly a victory for those who have always regarded Paint as a quick, easy method for creating and editing images.
There is, unfortunately, a catch. Paint will require you to download the latest Windows 11 22H2 update, then wait a few weeks for the updated Paint app to be available. You can also opt to download the Windows Insider version of Paint and sit on
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Sep 26, 2023
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Today, you can begin downloading some of the future features of Windows 11 as part of the new update. But there's still an unexpected twist: The new Windows 11 features we thought were scheduled for Windows 11 23H2 are part of a new update to Windows 11 22H2 instead. There is in fact a separate Windows 11 23H2 update, due sometime in the fourth quarter, which will be known as the Windows 11 2023 Update.
"These experiences, including Copilot in Windows and more, will start to become available on Sept. 26 as part of our latest update to Windows 11, version 22H2," Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's consumer marketing chief, wrote in a blog post describing the new features, some of which Microsoft showed off last week.
Is this just semantics? Yes, mostly, such as the renaming of Windows Copilot to just Copilot. Right now, the Windows 11 2023 Update is described as a "cumulative" update, with all of the features announced in Windows 11 22H2 update. It will have the same servicing branch and code base as Windows 11, version 22H2. Put another way, these new Windows 11 features will trickle out to Windows PCs over the next few months. Windows 11 23H2 will be the backup safety net that gathers them all up and possibly adds a few new bits.
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Sep 26, 2023
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A good USB-C hub or dongle is relatively cheap, but adds a smorgasbord of additional ports for memory sticks, cards, display connections, and more. Our recommendations dive into the benefits of each dongle, which we've tested and reviewed in all cases.
We've organized our USB-C recommendations this way: traditional USB-C hubs on top, followed by our pick for the best USB-C docking station. That's the simple approach. USB-C ports can conceal even more capabilities, including DisplayLink software and Thunderbolt functions. Though we've added our suggestions here, you'll find our pick for the best USB-C DisplayLink dock on a separate page, and a roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks, too.
It can be a little confusing, so we've also included explanations, an expanded FAQ, and a buying guide at the bottom. Here's the short answer: If you want to connect your laptop to a printer, an SD card or microSD card, mouse, keyboard, or legacy 1080p monitor, stick with a USB-C hub. If you want to add a pair of additional displays (especially 4K), or high-speed SSD drives, we'd recommend you look at our list of USB-C DisplayLink or Thunderbolt docking stations.
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Sep 26, 2023
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In fact, even the mechanism will be familiar to anyone who's traded in their existing phone to a manufacturer or carrier before. When you buy a new GPU on Newegg, you'll be given the option to apply to swap in your existing card and deduct the estimated value from the purchase. You'll see a Preliminary Offer based on precisely what card you have — not all GPUs will be eligible, of course — and if you accept, you'll get a pre-paid shipping box along with your new graphics card. Take the old one out, toss it in the box, and put it in the mail. Newegg will (presumably) sell it along to someone else.
Take note that unlike trade-in systems for phones and other gadgets, you won't get credit for your used card until someone at Newegg has evaluated it and determined that it matches the initial description. If the card doesn't pass Newegg's inspection, it'll be sent back to you with free shipping. If everything checks out, the agreed-upon credit will be refunded to you via the same payment method you used for the new card.
Credits range from just $30 for an RX 5500 XT to $561 for an RTX 3090 Ti, according to this list. (A list which, I have to point out, does not include any older GTX cards as seen in the promo
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Sep 26, 2023
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The HP Victus features an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.. That's a decent amount of power, especially for a budget machine. You should be able to run most games on the Medium to High graphics preset. However, for more intensive titles, we'd definitely recommend scaling the graphics back a bit. Gameplay should also be smooth thanks to the 15.6-inch 1080p display and its 144Hz refresh rate. According to reviews on Best Buy, it's a superb value. Sign me up!
Get the HP Victus gaming la
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Sep 26, 2023
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The setup seems extremely similar to designs from Asus and HP: A big, gorgeous screen that can function as a gigantic tablet, stand up with an included base like a monitor, or fold into a conventional laptop shape. Folded down it's 19.2mm thick with a fairly sizeable gap around the hinge, but that lets the Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad slide in for the ride. The laptop is compatible with stylus input, but notably does not include one in the box. There is a big folio-style case (which is also the monitor stand) to keep it all together, th
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Sep 26, 2023
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The Netgear support document in question is about Wi-Fi over the 6 GHz band. This was introduced with the Wi-Fi 6E standard and is also mandatory for Wi-Fi 7. According to Netgear, in order to use the 6 GHz band, a PC must have a compatible network adapter with the latest drivers and also use the latest version of Windows 11.
In this context, Netgear stresses that Microsoft has indicated that it will not backport 6 GHz support to Windows 10. So even if you have a 6 GHz-capable network adapter installed in your computer, if your PC is using Windows 10, you will not be able to use 6 GHz Wi-Fi until you upgrade to Windows 11.
In other words, since Windows 10 doesn't support the 6 GHz frequency band, but 6 GHz is mandatory for Wi-Fi 7, Windows 10 can't handle Wi-Fi 7.
Wi-Fi 7 (officially referred to as "802.11be Extremely High Throughput EHT") promises significantly more bandwidth than Wi-Fi 6E, theoretically up to 46 Gbit/s instead of the 9.6 Gbit/s. The main innovation that Wi-Fi 6E brought was the use of the 6 GHz band for WLAN communication as a supplement to the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands previously used.
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Sep 26, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$49.99
Best Prices Today: G.Skill KM360 Keyboard
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$49.99
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Sep 26, 2023
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Everyday monitor deals
Sometimes all you need is a simple monitor for everyday tasks like web surfing, writing email's, and so on. The picks below are great options for both work or personal use. They're also good sizes for a home office.
Acer R240HY, 23.8-inch 1080p display/60Hz refresh rate/16:9 aspect ratio/4ms response time, $99.99 ($50 off at Amazon)
HP V22, 21.5-inch 1080p display/60Hz refresh rate/Tiltable/HDMI and VGA port, $119 ($15.99 off at Amazon)
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Sep 26, 2023
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Acer
The Acer Nitro V's higher-tier configurations will have Intel Core 13th-Gen CPUs, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 Series GPUs, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of PCIe SSD storage. Given those specs, you can expect blazing-fast boot times as well as loads of space for all of your games and apps. The lower-tier configurations, specifically the ones with RTX 2000 GPUs, will have up to 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of PCIe SSD storage. The prices range from as low as $699.99 to as high as $999.99. You can't argue with those prices, that's for sure.
The 15.6-inch 1080p display has a maximum refresh rate of 165Hz and a response time of 3ms. If you're into competitive gaming, in which there's a ton of action going on, the refresh rate and response time of this particular machine should provide smooth visuals. There's also a dual fan and exhaust system, which should help keep the internals nice a
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Sep 26, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$499.99
Best Prices Today: Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901
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Sep 26, 2023
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The details of USB-C can be confusing, however, and pricing for USB-C monitors is often higher than that for monitors that lack the interface. See our buyers' guide below our recommendations to better understand the nuances.
For even more monitor recommendations, check out our roundups of the best monitors and the best monitors for a home office.
Updated 09/21/2023: Check out our latest review of the Innocn 27M2V. Innocn makes a splash in the monitor market with this 27-inch 4K USB-C display that comes with excellent image quality and a budget-friendly price.
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Sep 26, 2023
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This bundle includes 12 courses from some of the web's top instructors, including Musa Arda (4.6/5-star instructor rating) and Dr. Chris Mall (4.5/5-star rating). Whether you have a little experience coding or you're an absolute novice, you'll be able to dive into the courses wherever you're comfortable. There are resources for absolute beginners and intermediates alike.
Throughout the courses, you'll explore the extensibility of Python, building projects like a smart security camera, neural networks, image analyzers, and much, much more.
Start your coding journey by learning Python! Between 9/23 and 9/30, you can get The 2023 Complete Python Certification Boot Camp
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Sep 25, 2023
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In an interview with Michelle Johnston Holthaus, the executive vice president who oversees Intel's processor division, she confirmed (and re-confirmed) that a desktop version of Meteor Lake would debut in 2024. "You are confirming Meteor Lake desktop?" I asked. "Yes," Holthaus replied.
Intel's 14th-gen Core processor, Meteor Lake emphasizes low power via a move to a smaller Intel 4 process technology, breaking up or disaggregating the technology into four separate tiles, and with a new type of low-power E-core that can handle surprisingly powerful tasks. Holthaus explained how they all work together during an interview at the Intel Innovation conference in San Jose last week.
The Core Ultra or Meteor Lake chip also includes a new AI core, called an NPU, which attempts to put AI functions directly on your PC. How that will improve AI versus interacting with AI in the cloud is something that Intel is figuring out, Holthaus said. (Robert Hallock, a technical marketing manager for I
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Sep 25, 2023
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Most importantly, the free tier of the Unity engine will not automatically charge game developers a fee for every installation of games developed with it. In addition, the terms applying this fee to games retroactively, possibly setting the bar for the charge impossibly low for thousands of titles already on the market for PCs, consoles, and mobile phones, are now gone. The runtime fee changes will only be applied following the next major release of the Unity game engine. That release won't come until 2024.
Other controversial aspects of the new fee structure are still in place. Per-installation fees will remain for new games that earn more than $1 million USD in a 12-month period with an option to swap out this revenue model for a rather steep 2.5% revenue share scheme. That fee will be based on the estimated numbers of users engaging with the published game on a per-month basis. And along with the user installation numbers, these will be self-reported. The self-reporting concession sidesteps many of the issues that developers had with how users would be calculated, like re-installations, game streaming, or ga
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Sep 25, 2023
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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
Asus ROG Gaming Desktop, Core i7/RTX 3070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,299.99 (21% off on BestBuy)
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Sep 25, 2023
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With many free VPNs you'll encounter unexpected restrictions such as speed constraints, a bandwidth cap, or a limit to the countries you can access. These limitations can add up making the experience of using a free VPN feel pointless. That's why it's important that you choose the right free VPN service based on your own needs.
While we advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, we understand that sometimes you just need quick and easy basic protection without having to pay for yet another service. Therefore we've curated a list of the best free VPNs around. We lay out any restrictions they may impose and what activities they're best used for—streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Following our recommendations you can read about what to look for in a free VPN and how we test.
Updated 09/25/2023: Check out our latest review of
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Sep 25, 2023
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The Lenovo 14 Slim 7 features an Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That's more than enough power for checking e-mail, spreadsheet work, and so on. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 2880×1800, an aspect ratio of 16:10, and a maximum brightness of 400 nits. The taller aspect ratio is nice, as it makes scrolling through webpages and documents a heck of a lot easier. The laptop itself also weighs just a little over three pounds, making it a travel-friendly device.
Get the Lenovo 14 Slim 7 for $899 at B&H
Laptops
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Sep 25, 2023
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Price When ReviewedFree, $40 for SE, $55 for Pro
Best Prices Today: SyncBack 11 backup software
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Sep 25, 2023
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Take your smartphone and take a photo of the data, then send the photo to your PC via email, OneDrive, flash drive, or any other manner. Once the picture is on your PC, open Excel, select the Data tab and then the command From Picture Picture from File from the "Retrieve and Transform Data" area.
Step 1 when importing data into Excel by photo is to take a photo of the table. It is better not to include surrounding text. The image section in this example is too large.
IDG
Select the photo you have just taken. presto!
Excel carries out text recognition and displays the data found in the right-hand side of your spreadsheet. There you can check the data or insert it directly into the spreadsheet.
Step 2 when importing data is the command "Data -‘ From Picture -‘ Picture from File". On the right side you can check the data befo
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Sep 25, 2023
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It's called "Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing," or ECAM for short. Company Fabric8 Labs is using this process to expand on the design of conventional copper plate. Current designs use a series of straight or slightly curved copper "fins" in direct contact with the transfer liquid, balancing the surface area of a heat spreader with the liquid flow.
This new ECAM process uses advanced mathematical models to find the ideal shape and placement of those copper fins, making both the heat transfer and liquid flow much more efficient. 3D metal printing is used to fabricate this ideal shape with much more precision than is possible or economical with conven
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Sep 25, 2023
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Because you never know when and where your router will become a target, you should always ensure that the device is protected against hacker attacks: Increase the protection level of the router with suitable settings so that an attack is too costly for the hacker. And keep yourself regularly informed about security gaps so that you can plug them with firmware updates.
We show you how the most dangerous Wi-Fi network attacks work and how you can protect yourself against them: This means you immediately have the right answer to hacker attacks at hand and can secure your router and home network in just a few simple steps.
Why hackers attack your Wi-Fi network
To attack a Wi-Fi network, hackers either attack the Wi-Fi connection between client and router or they attack the router directly.
With the first strategy, the attackers want to record data that the devices exchange via Wi-Fi: In this way, they can first guess the Wi-Fi key in order to then connect to the connection or redirect it. In this way, they gain
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Sep 25, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$499.99
Best Prices Today: LG UltraGear 27GR83Q-B
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Sep 25, 2023
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This bundle contains 26 courses covering some of the leading certification exams from Cisco, CompTIA, Microsoft, and more of the world's top certifying bodies. You'll dive into courses with iCollege, one of the most trusted online learning organizations, employed by Silicon Valley startups and Fortune 500 companies alike.
From ethical hacking to firewall protection and much more, you'll get the education you need to thrive in cybersecurity. Just make sure to buy between 9/23 and 9/30 when The Complete 2023 Cybersecurity Developer & IT Skills Bundle is reduced from $69.99 to just $39.97.
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Sep 24, 2023
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While Apple's Time Machine provides users with an effective, set-it-and-forget-it recovery system, Microsoft users aren't so lucky. Instead, users are stuck deciding the best way to keep their data safe with a patchwork system of restore points, recovery discs, and file backups. Thankfully, a number of excellent third-party backup options have cropped up in recent years to help solve the woes of Windows users.
Below you'll find a list of our favorites, which come with easy-to-use and attractive designs as well as a full range of file and image backup capabilities. We've even included a couple free options that are more than worthwhile. Scroll to the bottom of this article for more info about what to look for in a Windows backup program.
Also, check out PCWorld's roundup of best external drives for recommendations on reliable storage options—an important component in a comprehensive backup strategy. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to keep your data on the cloud or need the flexibility of data storage for different operating systems, then check out our list of best online backup services.
Updated 09/24/2023: Check out our latest review of
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Sep 24, 2023
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Both of these drones have a 4K wide-angel front camera with 90º adjustment and a 720p bottom camera to capture a broad scope of the landscape below. Flying each is easy even for novices thanks to a host of coordination and control features from altitude hold to headless mode. And with a six-axis gyroscope and four-channel movement, piloting is as intuitive as it can be.
You can get a first-person view of the flight via the companion app and the Flying Fox even allows you to take pictures and video by simply making gestures. Enjoy 7 to 9 minutes of flight with the Alpha Z or 9 to 12 minutes with the Flying Fox.
Pick up a drone hobby today! Between 9/23 and 9/30 you can get the Alpha Z PRO 4K Flying Fox 4K Wide-Angle Dual-Camera Drone Bundle for more than 70% off $398 at just $109.97.
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Sep 23, 2023
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Why you should trust us: It's in our name, PCWorld. We've been reviewing laptops for decades, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind.
After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our roundup of best back to school deals and our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score your favorite laptops on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations
Updated 9/23/2023: To include the Acer Aspire Vero as our new choice for best eco-friendly option. Read our summary below to learn more about this environmentally friendly laptop made from recycled materials.
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Sep 23, 2023
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Chromebooks come in all sorts of varieties, so the PCWorld team has put together a list of the best Chromebook options on the market today, whatever your needs may be. Below our picks you can find helpful buying advice as well.
If you're still not sure whether a Chromebook is the right choice for you, take a look at our in-depth comparison of Chromebooks vs. Windows laptops to help you decide. And before you pull the trigger on a new computer, be sure to double-check our best laptop deals and our latest back to school deals while they last—both are updated daily. Finally, check out our complete guide to
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Sep 23, 2023
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Don't let that happen to you. With the Adam Elements Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station, you'll always be able to get powered up, and it's on sale for our Travel Campaign, running through 9/24.
This folding station works for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once and packs up neatly into your bag. It even has a USB-C charging cable that supports up to 15W of power output to give your MacBook a little boost too, if needed. It supports both vertical and horizontal charging to work how you need it while you're traveling and is made with a solid metal construction that's sure to stand the test of time.
Gear up for your next adventure! Now through 11:59 pm on 9/24, you can get the Adam Elements Mag 3 Magnetic 3-in-1 Foldable Travel Charging Station for just $75.97 (reg. $109), no coupon needed.
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Sep 23, 2023
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With an aloSIM plan, all you have to do is add data to the app, and you'll be able to get on data networks. With this introductory offer, you'll get $50 worth of data for just $21.97 from now through 9/24. It's important to note that while the eSim never expires, the data plan does expire at the end of the length stated at purchase — i.e. a seven-day package expires after seven days.
Don't travel without access to the local network. Now through 9/24, you can get an aloSIM Mobile Data Traveler Lifetime eSim Plan for $21.97, no coupon needed.
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Sep 22, 2023
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You can find even more monitor recommendations in our roundup of the best monitors.
Updated 09/14/2023: We've added the Monoprice 35-inch Zero-G Ultrawide as our choice for best budget ultrawide monitor. Read our summary below for more info on this affordable new pick.
Alienware AW3423DWF - Best ultrawide monitor
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Sep 22, 2023
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We've spent hours and hours using each model, banging away on our reviews, surfing the web, and keeping up on social media to bring you a list of the very best wireless keyboards around. While there's no one-size-fits-all keyboard, our recommendations aim to help you make an informed decision based on your own personal needs. After you've perused our best picks, be sure to check out our buying advice at the end to help you learn what to look for when shopping for a wireless keyboard.
Logitech MX Keys S Wireless Keyboard - Best overall wireless desktop keyboard
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Sep 22, 2023
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That was shouted loud and clear during Microsoft's Surface event on Thursday, where the company spent the entire keynote talking about how AI will make Windows 11 smarter, make Office smarter, and make the Surface Laptop Studio 2 better.
But while software will determine the AI PC's future, it's just part of the equation. This week, Intel formally unveiled its radically reconstructed, AI-infused Core Ultra processors, built using the Meteor Lake architecture. These mix-and-match chips were built from the ground up with AI in mind, and Intel is also providing plenty of API and framework support for developers to create applications that leverage Core Ultra's hardware to unlock new AI possibilities right on your PC, not in the cloud.
PCWorld's Adam Patrick Murray attended Intel Innovation this week and got to go hands-on with several Core Ultra laptops running a variety of AI tasks with surprisingly practical results. Check it out in the video below.
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Sep 22, 2023
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MSI has a distinctive look to its shroud designs, placing the fans front and center on double- and triple-fan cooler designs. Lately they've gone for a distinct octagonal look, but if you go all the way back to the original GTX 260 design from 2008, you can see things were a lot simpler and more straightforward, with an elevated cooler, much smaller fans, and an all-aluminum shroud.
Moving through MSI's cooler and shroud designs, you can see it progress to larger fans, larger heatsinks, and just generally more robust designs all around. Eventually MSI moved away from the aluminum covers to the more ubiquitous plastics and red-and-black coloring into the 600 and 700 series cards. Moving into the 900 series you can see a lot of the elements that will be familiar if you've bought one within the last few years, particularly the "dragon" branding. The Ventus and Evoke lines ar
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Sep 22, 2023
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Graphics cards for less than $200
The following graphics cards are currently in the price range of $120 to $170:
AMD Radeon RX 6400
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650
Here, the choice should tend towards a Radeon RX 6000-series graphics card from AMD, as these are already a good deal better performing than Nvidia's Turing generation.
Gamers who want to invest within this price range must be aware that they can play esports titles such as Fortnite, CS:GO, and PUBG here in particular. Above all, you cannot play AAA games either
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Sep 22, 2023
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Just two days after Intel's Pat Gelsinger helped make the case for integrated AI on PCs with new AI-infused Core Ultra "Meteor Lake" processors, Microsoft unveiled new Surface hardware and its upcoming Windows 11 feature update at an event in New York. Windows 11's big fall 2023 update (which still doesn't have a formal name, yet), will be led by Copilot, formerly known as Windows Copilot. Now, everywhere that Microsoft has sprinkled AI inside Windows (from Windows to Edge and other places) will be known just as Copilot.
And AI is everywhere within Windows 11 and its apps now. Copilot. File Explorer intelligently recommends files. Paint now has background removal and layers, and soon a "Cocreator" image generation tool, too. Windows' Photos app is back with background blurring features. Snipping Tool will be able to
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Sep 22, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$369
Best Prices Today: Asustor Nimbustor 2 Gen2 (AS5402T)
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Sep 22, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$199.99
Best Prices Today: Corsair Virtuoso Pro
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Sep 22, 2023
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Headway puts the world's best ideas right at your fingertips, with nonfiction bestsellers summarized into 15-minute reads, allowing you to soar through a reading list in a fraction of the time. There are more than 1,500 summaries, with 30-50 new ones added every month, and thousands of actionable insights and tips to help you better understand the world, learn new skills, and much more.
12 million users have helped propel Headway to being an App of the Day in the US App Store four times in a row and a 4.4/5-star rating on the Google Play Store. Find out why when you get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium as part of our Travel Campaign. Now through 11:59 pm on 10/2, it's an extra $10 off our normally discounted price at just $59.97 (reg. $299), no coupon needed.
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Sep 21, 2023
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Surface Laptop Go 3
The Surface Laptop Go 3 gets an extremely gentle update — in fact, it would be hard to tell at a glance that this is a new product at all, aside from some of the color choices. Underneath, the laptop is running a 12th-gen Intel Core processor, with the i5-1235U being the sole choice at launch. The base model will use 8GB of DDR5 RAM, more capacious and speedier than the 4GB DDR4 offering on the last generation, with a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of SSD storage.
Michael Crider/Foundry
In the hand, the Laptop Go 3 feels much as it ever has, extremely light and well-finished with its aluminum body and soft-touch plastic base. The 12.4-inch touchscreen appears unchanged, complete with its somewhat disappointing 1536×1024 resolution and signature 3:
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Sep 21, 2023
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Intel Microsoft didn't reveal a starting price for the Surface Go 4 for Business, which it will sell via corporate channels. Businesses will also have the option of adding a massive Surface instead, as Microsoft announced the Surface Hub 3 as well, for conferences rooms. Again, no price was disclosed.
Microsoft updated three of its Surface laptops with new components at its fall event on Thursday, adding the Surface Laptop Studio 2, the Surface Laptop Go 3, and the Surface Go 4 for Business to fill various niches in its lineup.
The biggest change to the Surface Go 4 is the new Intel N200 processor. Because of its relatively low price, we assume that the Surface Go sells rather well. The problem is that the Surface Go 3, which our Surface Go 3 review felt was adequate, began with a $399 price tag for a model with 4GB of RAM. That eliminated it from our recommendations, and pushed the price up to the $629 tier with 8GB of RAM.
Now, Microsoft has at least done away with the 4GB option, still leaving the 10.5-inch tablet (1920×1280) virtually unchanged
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Sep 21, 2023
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The Surface Laptop Go 2 always struck us as a struggle for Microsoft to establish a budget laptop in a competitive market, but with the premium Surface name attached. The Surface Laptop Go 3 tries again, this time moving from a Core i5-1135G7 to a Core i5-1235U.
The trouble is that Microsoft is again trying to convince you that a sub-1080p screen (12.45-inch, 1536×1024 touchscreen) is satisfactory. And to be fair, it kind of is, at least in our earlier reviews. The trouble is that back-to-school laptop deals and just general laptop deals routinely offer discounts on laptops that are comparable, if not better. That's going to be a challenge for the Surface Laptop Go 3 on paper, right off the bat.
Essentially, the Surface Laptop Go 3 is the same as the Laptop Go 2 in all respects, except for 8GB or 16GB RAM options and 256GB of SSD storage for consumers. There is a 512GB option for business users, which a consumer could presumably buy as well. That option, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, is reportedly priced at $1,199. We haven't been able to confirm that on Microsoft's Surface Laptop Go 3 for Business page, but it sounds a little r
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Sep 21, 2023
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Microsoft updated three of its Surface laptops with new components at its fall event on Thursday, adding the Surface Laptop Studio 2, the Surface Laptop Go 3, and the Surface Go 4 for Business to fill various niches in its lineup. Microsoft also quietly announced a Surface Hub 3 for businesses.
While none of the hardware updates are hugely noteworthy, some of the circumstances surrounding the event are. For one, the soul of the Surface brand, Panos Panay announced he would leave Microsoft just this week, days before Microsoft's Surface launch took place. And none of the new Surfaces will include Intel's Core Ultra or "Meteor Lake" chips: Intel's latest processor, but also one that leans heavily on the AI features that Microsoft will lean into with Windows 11 23H2 and beyond.
The Surface Laptop Studio 2 will range in price from $1,999 to a whopping $3,699, and is
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Sep 21, 2023
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But backup is the number-one reason your rig is not complete without one (or more). Why? Chances are you have important data on your PC that you don't want, or can't afford, to lose. To protect that data you'll of course want to store it off-site on the cloud if possible and back it up to an external drive for sure.
Restoring from local storage is generally far, far faster than pulling your data down from the cloud, hence an external drive should be your primary hedge against disaster.
Why you should trust us: We're PCWorld. We've been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. We've seen it all and we know how to root out a drive's strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. Below we offer our expert recommendations on the best external drives for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.
Updated 9/21/2023: Check out our latest review of the Kingston XS1000 external drive. This small form-factor, inexpensiv
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Sep 21, 2023
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It's the closest thing to a theme that we've seen within a Windows 11 update in some time. AI will power Windows Copilot, of course, but also recommended files in File Explorer and Start as well as a designated AI-specific section within the Microsoft Store app. You should also expect various small improvements across Windows, both in terms of ease-of-use and functional updates, like the ability to restore apps from a backup.
Microsoft unveiled the 23H2 update during press event on Sept. 21 in New York City, showcasing some of these new features.
When can you expect Windows 11 23H2 to arrive on your PC? Microsoft said that Windows 11 23H2 will be released on Sept. 26 in preview form, before rolling out to all Windows 11 PCs later.
What will Windows 11 23H2 be known as? If history holds, it will be called the Windows 11 October 2023 Update.
How much will Microsoft charge for Windows 11 23H2? It will be a free update, and we have seen just a single small update feature that is reserved for the more expensive Windows 11 Pro.
How long will Windows 11 23H2 take to download and install? Though downloading Windows 11 23H2 can be done in the background, the installation/reboot process could take 20 minutes to a half hour, depending on how long Microsoft takes to apply the updates to your PC.
Microsoft will
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Sep 21, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$399.99
Best Prices Today: Vantrue N5 dash cam
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Sep 21, 2023
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If you're looking for an especially juicy deal, one of our writers' favorite super-tiny ThinkPad laptops is on sale for $600, a truly remarkable deal. We dig it so much that he wrote a post of its own about the sale, so be sure to check it out if you're on the hunt for powerful, portable, yet affordable laptop! If it fits your budget, this is truly an exceptional deal.
For even more notebook options, check out our roundup of the best laptops. We've got can't-miss picks for every use case and budget, putting our thousands of hours of hands-on testing to work for you.
The best laptop deals today
Acer Aspire 3
From: Best Buy
Was: $599.99
Now: $399.99 ($200 off)
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Sep 21, 2023
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On Tuesday, forums lit up with the idea that Mirage would be an Intel XeSS exclusive, cutting out AMD Radeon and Nvidia GeForce card owners from access to their respective upscaling tech, stoked by alarmist articles claiming just that. But in a same-day update to its blog post about Mirage's recommended specs and upcoming features for PC, Ubisoft now lists Intel XeSS, Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), and AMD Fidelity Super Resolution (FSR) as supported.
The exact quote: "You'll also be able to leverage features like Intel's AI-assisted XeSS Super Sampling, Nvidia DLSS, or AMD FSR to upscale resolution while enabling hardware to pump out more frames per second[.]" In other words, there's nothing to worry about, despite the first version of Ubisoft's post focusing on Intel's upscaling technology.
This isn't the only recent storm about a game supporting only one version of upscaling. Barely a month ago, AMD was accused of blocking DLSS and XeSS from being implemented in Starfield. That turned out to be false too, though some fa
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Sep 21, 2023
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The innovations in the current driver primarily relate to two games: The exceptional space role-playing game Starfield and the Soulsl-ike RPG Lies of P by Neowiz, which was released a few days ago. For the first time, the latency enhancer Radeon Anti-Lag is also part of the driver update. Specifically, Starfield, The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, and Immortals of Aveum are supported by the new feature.
AMD promises up to 45 percent lower latency in the space role-playing game Starfield when you're playing on an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Radeon Anti-Lag is supposed to minimize input delays between the pressing of a button to its related action on the screen, making your games much more responsive.
For the second time now, AMD has released different versions of this Adrenalin driver: One for Radeon RX 5000- through 7000-series graphics cards running on RDNA architectures, and another for older graphics cards such as Radeon RX 400, Radeon RX 500, or Radeon RX Vega. You can download Adrenalin 23.9.2 via AMD's website or by the update option in AMD's Radeon Software suite.
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Sep 21, 2023
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No sound in one app
First, reboot your computer.
Confirm the program's volume isn't turned down or muted. In browsers like Chrome and Firefox, each tab can be muted individually—right-click a tab to see its status. (The option will say "Unmute tab" if currently silenced.) You can also check a program's volume in the Volume mixer (right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar to open it).
If you still can't hear anything in this program, try uninstalling and reinstalling it. Before doing so, first back up any data and/or write down how your settings are currently configured, as applicable.
No sound at all
First thing to check: The audio output device. Windows can sometimes change it to a different source unbeknownst to you. (To view this image full-size, right-click on i
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Sep 21, 2023
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Brave: Automatic logout
Brave is a privacy-focused browser that promises to protect you from surveillance. For example, the latest version includes the Forgetful Browsing feature. This ensures that you are automatically logged out of a website when you close a tab — something that is otherwise easy to forget. Brave also now lets you search with its own search engine, so you don't have to worry about Google's monitoring.
Like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, Brave is built on Chromium. This allows you to browse web pages without them looking strange.
The people behind Brave include Brendan Eich, who was one of the men behind the Firefox browser and the Javascript programming language.
Download Brave for Android
Download Brave for iOS
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Sep 21, 2023
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Price When Reviewed$169.99
Best Prices Today: HyperX Cloud III Wireless
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Sep 21, 2023
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Start planning your next adventure. Now through 11:59 pm PDT on 9/24, you can get a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus Lifetime Subscription for an extra $30 off our already discounted price at just $69.97.
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Sep 20, 2023
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Screenshots can be practical to create illustrated notes or to chronicle processes from the Internet or software. While most screenshot tools specialize in single images, Faststone Capture can also record videos. The software hides its numerous functions in an inconspicuous free-floating bar.
This bar gives you quick access to the area selection for screenshots, the screen recorder, the timer for delayed recordings, and the output options and settings. Here you define actions, for example what should happen a
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Sep 20, 2023
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After extensive testing, I've determined that these are the best 4K monitors available today, covering a variety of budgets and use cases. If you're looking for additional options, see our roundups of the best monitors overall, the best gaming monitors, and the best monitor deals.
Updated 09/20/2023: Check out our latest review of the Innocn 27M2V monitor. This excellent 27-inch 4K display from newcomer Innocn gets top marks in image quality and comes with a price that can't be beat.
Dell U3223QE - Best 4K monitor
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