Interestingly, the source is a public one: a guidance document on how to use Intel's platforms for real-time computing. The most recent "gold deck" presentation has been taken down after a Twitter user, InstLatX64 (via Videocardz), noticed it. Intel's March 2025 version remains in place, though without the roadmap details that the most recent version provided.
The key is a slide that discusses "Intel offerings enabling the (Time Coordinated Computing) TCC Experience. The slide lists several cores "in development:" first, there's Panther Lake and Nova Lake, both of which Intel has discussed publicly as the flagship CPU offerings from 2025 and 2026, respectively. But the slide also lists Bartlett Lake-S, Bartlett Lake S 12P, and Wildcat Lake, all names that Intel hasn't discussed publicly.
About all we know of Bartlett Lake is that Intel lists it as an Intel Core (thoug
Unfortunately, the new Bing Video Creator is accompanied by a cadre of compromises, although the premise is still true: Download the Bing mobile application for your smartphone, and you can generate 10 "fast" 5-second creations for free, although you'll have to pay for more with credits in Microsoft's system or just wait longer.
Here's how Bing Video Creator works, and what works…and what doesn't.
How to use Bing Video Creator
Microsoft's free Bing app for your smartphone is essentially a Start menu for all of Microsoft's mobile services. (I'll use the Android application for reference.) You can use it to search Bing, read news (including even a selection of paywalled news), and more. Although Google would prefer you to use its Gemini application, Microsoft's Copilot appears prominently.
The following are the best gaming monitors we've tested throughout this year and last. If you want to learn more about what we look for in a good gaming monitor and how we test them, scroll further down the page.
This one is a bit confusing, as technically it has nothing to do with Trump's newly-imposed import taxes on Chinese goods, which currently sit at 30 percent. Instead it's a further delay of an existing planned tariff that dates back to 2018, imposed by the original Trump administration in his first term before Biden but later suspended in 2019. The 25 percent tariff on China-produced graphics cards, motherboards, solid-state storage, and other components that use printed circuit boards (PCBs) has been pushed back again and again since then, most recently to June 1st of this year.
The Office of the US Trade Representative once again suspended the implementation of the original import tax, pushing it back to September 1st of 2025, as reported by Tom's Hardware. That should stabilize US prices on many computer components coming in from China, at least for the time being. The Trump administration has a tentative agreement with the Chinese government for the 30 percent rate on most
This is a new variation on the known Crocodilus malware, which has a primary function of taking over an Android phone to find and steal crypto wallet info. But the new behavior, discovered by Threat Fabric, is particularly interesting. According to the report (spotted by BleepingComputer), the novel behavior of the malware creates fake entries in a user's Contacts list. The idea is clever: instead of seeing an unknown number, you see a name like "Bank Support," and it's meant to put you at ease so you're more vulnerable to social engineering attacks.
Crocodilus' main functions appear to still be focused on theft of cryptocurrency and banking info, with malicious Facebook ads focusing on users in Turkey but expanding to larger operations in Europe, South America, and the United States. The social engineering aspect of the malware appears to be an afterthought… but it makes sense. If you have a Trojan program loaded onto someone's phone and you've found that they have vulnerable bank accounts or crypto wallets, you might try passing their info off to a social engineering team to see if you can steal anything else of value. (Geez, it feels weird to think about this from the perspective of a hacker. I need a shower.)
On the support page, which was last updated yesterday, Microsoft lists several issues that have already been resolved as well as several that remain in need of fixes. Those issues include meetings sometimes getting accidentally cancelled for some participants, attachments in meetings sometimes being accidentally deleted only to reappear later, and some users not seeing changes made to attachments.
Users are reporting all kinds of errors with the classic Outlook, but some of those reports are actually just how the mail app now works. For example, when appointments created by users with limited permissions disappear from the calendar, that isn't a bug.
An APU (or "accelerated processing unit") is a central processor with extra features, like an integrated graphics processor. Combining the central processor and the graphics processor in the same circuit increases the transfer speed between them and reduces power consumption.
The new APU is said to be co-developed with MediaTek and combines a powerful Arm processor with graphics based on Nvidia's latest Blackwell architecture. The APU is also anticipated to have a low power consumption of between 80 watts and 120 watts, which is significantly lower than today's systems.
The launch could be a potential breakthrough for the Arm architecture in PC gaming, which has previously been dominated by x86-based systems from Intel and AMD.
Reddit user JamesFerg650 claimed that they had gone to the much-anticipated retail opening of the new Micro Center store in Santa Clara, California last week in the hopes of tracking down an elusive and extremely expensive Zotac Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card. The user managed to buy one—PCWorld was present and there were several thousand cards available, very cool!—only to discover when they opened the box at home that it was stuffed with three "crossbody backpacks" (significantly less cool). According to the post, the retail box was sealed and there was no way to tell that it had been tampered with.
While initially met with skepticism, the Reddit poster showed photographic evidence and was soon put in contact with representatives from both Micro Center and Zotac USA, and they were able to get a replacement card almost immediately. Though this customer was apparently the only one affected at that Micro Center, they were told that 31 other retail GPUs had been found with dummy goods inside.
An extensive investigation of the supply chain would seem to be in order.
With my bedroom full of electronics—including a router and modem, which seem to have the brightest LEDs ever made—I rely on LightDims to keep me sane and help me sleep better. It only costs $5 for a sheet of these LED-dimming stickers and it's well, well worth it.
You don't have to suffer bright LEDs
LED status indicators are everywhere—on routers and modems, on laptops while they're charging, on desktop PC cases, even on wireless chargers. I once kept a wireless charging pad next to my bed, and it had a bright LED on it to let me know that it was indeed charging my phone… while I was sleeping. That'd be fine if it were dim, but it was so annoyingly bright. Some LEDs even blink!
The problem isn't just about the bedroom. It can be annoying in a media center, too, where you want to focus on your TV and not the bright LED on one of the devices connected to it.
It's also not just about your own electronics! I rented a home a few years ago that came with an unbelievably bright home security system control panel in the master bedroom. It lit up the room at night and I couldn't exactly remove it from the w
Not only does it boost your router's Wi-Fi signal to cover an extra 1,200 square feet, it supports up to 30 connected devices. It also has an Ethernet port, allowing you to connect wired-only devices (like a Blu-ray player) to your Wi-Fi network simply by plugging into the extender.
The best thing about this TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender is that it's super easy to set up. Just plug it into any free outlet that's located in an area with good Wi-Fi reception, then press the button on it to automatically connect to your Wi-Fi router via WPS. Done!
If you have a TP-Link Archer AX21 router, you can combine it with this Wi-Fi extender to create a seamless OneMesh network for even better Wi-Fi connectivity throughout your home. Otherwise, the Wi-Fi extender will still work with just about any other modern router.
Before you replace your Wi-Fi router because you think it's too weak, try this extender. It's way cheaper and way more effective if the only you need is expanded coverage for dead spots. Get it now for under $13 while you still can! That's a whopping 64% off.
This hub is available in both USB-C and USB-A connector types, so choose whichever one fits best with your own laptop. It'll turn that connection into 4 high-speed USB-A ports that each support up to 5 Gbps data transfer speeds. It's perfect for jugging numerous flash drives, portable SSDs, and peripheral devices at once. And it's especially great if your laptop only has USB-C ports but you have lots of USB-A devices that you still use on the regular—instead of buying half a dozen USB-A adapters, this single hub can handle them all in one.
The one caveat is that these ports don't support power delivery, meaning you can't charge your laptop through the hub's ports while the hub is connected. If you only have a single port on your laptop, you should opt for a different hub with power delivery; otherwise, this one should work well if you have a separate port you can use for charging.
Anker's 4-port USB hub is available in both 0.7-foot and 2-foot cable options, both for $10. Get whichever one suits your needs best, but get it soon because this li
Well, good for you, Hue! But I'm not shopping right now! I just want to turn my lights down! The ones I paid for!
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, pop-up ads in smart home apps aren't that big of a deal. And to be fair, Philips Hue isn't the only smart home manufacturer who's guilty of sticking banner ads in their apps.
Eufy, for example, has been taking grief in that brand's subreddit for pop-up overlays that appear over event videos. Wyze also has a history of splashing banner ads over its app interface. And plenty of other smart home manufacturers clutter their notification feeds with "news" about discounts or new products.
We've already gotten used to ads on our smart TVs and streami
Discord says they're dedicated to making Quests the "most authentic, engagement-centric advertising product in gaming," which currently come in two types: Play Quests and Video Quests.
With Play Quests, you can either play the advertised game for a specified length of time while logged into the Discord desktop app, or stream with the desktop app to at least one friend in a voice channel for a specified length of time. With Video Quests, you must fully watch the advertised video in the desktop or browser app.
Get this Core i5 mini PC with 32GB RAM for only $350
Taking an in-depth look at how the Apple TV deals with privacy, Ars Technica reveals that a technology called automatic content recognition, or ACR, isn't part of the device's software stack.
A popular feature amongst smart TV and streaming device manufacturers, ACR is a feature that acts like a "detective taking fingerprints," literally tracking every pixel displayed on the screen and matching them to a massive database of TV programs, all in the effort to find out what you're watching.
In some cases, ACR is employed in a way that benefits cord-cutters. For example, some Roku TVs will use ACR to find streaming episodes of a show you're watching via an over-the-air antenna or a cable tuner.
That's certainly helpful, but here's the real reason streaming manufacturers love ACR: more cash in their pockets. Advertisers and other third parties will pay handsomely for the viewing data gathered by ACR software, which is often how Amazon, Roku, and other players in the streaming market manage to sell their TVs and streaming players for such low prices.
If the idea behind ACR sounds creepy, it is, and it's practically everywhere—except in Apple TV streaming boxes, that is.
In its report, Ars Technica notes that Apple doesn't put ACR in its Apple TV and Apple TV 4K devices, a major plus for privacy-minded cord-cutters.
And when the Switch 2 fills up, you're going to want a microSD card (or several) to hold all your additional, especially with modern games being as large as they are. However, you need to be careful. Your microSD card from your Switch won't work, nor will those random microSD cards you have collecting dust in the back of your drawer.
The Nintendo Switch 2 requires new microSD Express cards, which are needed for their faster and improved technology. Here's what Nintendo has to say about it:
Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2."
It's therefore important that you make sure that you buy a microSD Express card. Otherwise, it won't work with your Nintendo Switch 2. You can identify such cards by the "EX" label on them.
microSD Express cards have a read speed of up to 800 MB/s and are ideal for transferring large amounts of data quickly. For a console such as the Switch 2, it's also recommended that th
The MSI Stealth 14 AI moves fast, loading up your apps in a flash and swapping between them with little effort, able to handle hundreds of open tabs without choking. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor is relatively recent from 2023, and the 16GB of DDR5 RAM gives it the high-performance memory you need to get things done. The 1TB SSD is plentiful on storage space and quick for booting up and loading data.
And if you're hoping to squeeze some gaming in as well, then you're in luck because the MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. We know it's not the newest and greatest GPU, even of the 40-series cards, but it strikes a good balance between speed, features, and affordability. The 14-inch IPS screen is all-around gorgeous, complete with 1200p resolution and 165Hz refresh rate.
It comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed and ports include Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and 3.5mm headset jack. Beware that despite it having "AI Studio" in its name, this laptop is NOT a Copilot PC, meaning it doesn't have enough AI power to handle Microsoft's AI features in Windows 11. At 0.75 inches thin and 3.75 pounds light, it's pretty portable—and it'll last long enoug
I eventually had to get with the times and upgrade my phone to one without an audio jack, but I kept my beloved wired headphones. I tried going wireless with a set of Pixel Buds, but they weren't for me—they were uncomfortable and I didn't like relying on Bluetooth, which could be finicky and sometimes drained my phone's battery.
Sonnet's latest Thunderbolt 5 docking station includes an option to store from between 1 to 4 terabytes of data via an integrated PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD inside the dock itself. Before I reviewed it, I dismissed the SSD entirely; I was more interested in Thunderbolt 5's capabilities, namely the additional throughput and charging capabilities.
I couldn't have been more wrong. The integrated SSD is like the DVR of docking stations: you either live in a world where you can pause live TV, or one where you can't. And it makes all the difference.
I know what you're thinking. Me, I have a few SSDs around my office, and it's likely you own one or two as well. You might have a hard drive, or a USB key or two. What makes an integrated SSD inside a docking station any better?
It was heavy too. But the base was skinny, so it wobbled when I moved it. I figured if it fell off the side of my desk it was going to cause some serious damage — if not to me, then my floor. So, under my desk it went to live, and it stayed there next to my legs as I played endless rounds of Day of Defeat.
The position worked from a practical point of view, in that I had more space to spread out on my desk. I was glad it wasn't blowing hot air anywhere near my face, too. Overall, I was happy — I had a solid, reliable workhorse that wasn't an eyesore or a drop hazard.
Fast forward six months, and one day I messed all that up when I moved it to get to my AC outlets. The move caused the four tiny feet on the rig's underside to fall off, first the two on the back and then the two on the front. I thought that was no big deal. It's not like I needed them to run my games, so I chose to just leave them off.
But without those tiny feet to lift the tower an inch off the floor, my PC had to rest on my fluffy carpet. It was probably a year after that, that I started getting throttling problems and big temperature-rise alerts in my PC stats — but I didn't know why. Had I pushed my fans too far by overclocking, or was something else to blame?
A friend diagnosed the problem after running some diagnostics: It turns out I had turned my rig into a dust bucket with my shoddy careless placement on the carpet, such that for the last year it had been pulling in every spec of microfiber, disintegrated skin cells, pollen, and fur from my American Sh
At PCWorld, we've had to adjust to remote work just like the rest of the world. Our staff has spent countless hours testing and reviewing hardware, which means we've been lucky enough to find the best gear and accessories available. Below you'll find our favorite work-from-home essentials.
Look sharp during Zoom meetings: Anker PowerConf C200 Webcam
The countdown is on—Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on Oct. 14, 2025. That means no more critical updates, no security patches, and no more excuses to put off upgrading. If you're still clinging to your current setup, now's the time to make the switch to Windows 11 Pro. For a limited time, it's available for just $14.97 through StackSocial.
Windows 11 Pro doesn't just bring a refreshed look. It enhances your gaming, work, and interaction with your PC.
Why You'll Actually Like the Upgrade
Windows 11 Pro includes built-in support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, Auto HDR, and DirectStorage, making it a must for smoother gameplay, faster load times, and crisper graphics. It also introduces Copilot, an integrated AI assistant that helps you manage tasks, organize windows, generate content, and more—all directly from your taskbar.
Whether you're a gamer, remote worker, or just tired of outdated software, this is your signal to upgrade before Windows 10 rides off into the suns
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about VPN shopping at the bottom of this article. Before you decide on a new VPN, be sure to check out our roundup of the best VPNs to help you choose the right service for your needs.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these VPN discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
Best VPN deals
NordVPN, now $4.39 per month for 24 months (70% off at NordVPN)
ExpressVPN, now $4.99 per month for 24 months 4 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN)
Surfshark VPN, now $2.69 per month for 24 months 3 free months (86% off at Surfshark)
Project managers, team leads, and spreadsheet warriors—rejoice. If you've ever stared at a chaotic to-do list and thought, There has to be a better way, you're absolutely right. And it's called Microsoft Project Professional 2021. Even better? Through this offer, you can grab a lifetime license for just $14.97 (reg. $249.99).
Whether you're managing a massive launch, juggling timelines and stakeholders, or just trying to stay ahead of deliverables, Microsoft Project Pro gives you everything you need to stay organized and keep things moving. With features like pre-built templates, multiple timeline views, budget tracking, and automated scheduling, it's like having a project manager for your project management.
This version is yours forever, meaning you'll never be caught off guard by another price hike or renewal email. And because it's a one-time download for Windows PCs, you'll be up and running the same day—no delays, no IT help required.
Upgrading your PC doesn't have to feel like starting from scratch—or like a trip back in time searching for ancient serial numbers and install CDs.
With the PC Transfer Kit Bundle, you can transfer your applications, files, and settings from your old computer to a new one without digging up old software keys or reinstalling everything manually. PCmover Professional does all the heavy lifting, even across different Windows versions, and gets your programs up and running right away.
And before you make any big changes, you'll want a safety net. DiskImage creates a complete snapshot of your system—files, settings, and all—so if anything e
There's a far better and cheaper way to boost the picture on your TV, and as a bonus, you'll be easing the eye strain that comes from watching a bright image in a dark room. This product—the Scenic Labs LX1 Bias Lighting strip—is one I've been using for years, and I swear by it.
Yes, it's still a light strip, but instead of the fancy color-syncing variety, it's a white-light LED strip that's tuned to 6500 Kelvin, the same daylight color temperature used as a reference by TV calibrators, video professionals, and filmmakers.
Instead of putting on a dazzling light show, this "bias" light strip shines dimly but steadily, at a brightness that's roughly 10 to 15 percent of the maximum brightness of your TV screen. With the brightness set just right, you'll barely notice the light at all during, say, a Netflix binge-watching session. But the faint glow of the LED strip is there, and it does a few key things.
You're getting 128GB of storage space for the price of a couple fancy coffees, which is pretty impressive when you look at the big picture. As the name suggests, this one has a USB-C connector so you can plug it into your laptop, smartphone, tablet—nearly any modern device. It's also fast, with transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s. When you need to quickly back up files or move them between devices, this is the one to rely on.
And it's super compact, too. You can slip it into your pocket and forget it's there. The sleek design looks great, but it's also robust with a cap that protects the connector and a sturdy build that's waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, magnet-proof, X-ray-proof, and good to use even in extreme temperatures. Oh, and it'll survive drops and bumps.
Snag your very own 128GB Samsung USB-C flash drive for next to nothing on Amazon while you can. Need more capacity? The other sizes are also on sale, including the 256GB version for $27 (was $35) and 512GB version for $50 (was $65). It's up to you and how much you're willing to spend for how much space you think you'll need.
Not everyone needs the latest MacBook that costs more than a month's rent. If you're looking for a sleek, reliable laptop that still packs a punch without ruining your budget, this refurbished Apple MacBook Air 13.3? (2017) is your new best friend.
For just $199.97, you get the real deal—1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, and Intel HD Graphics 6000. Whether you're working, studying, streaming, or casually online-shopping for things you don't need (no judgment), this Mac handles it all.
The 13.3? display is bright and clear, battery life stretches up to 12 hours, and yes—it's light enough to toss in your bag and forget it's even there.
Microsoft said Friday that it is adding "lightweight formatting" in Notepad, including markdown input and file support, but also bold and italic fonts and even hyperlinks. They're all accessible via a new toolbar that includes these new formatting options.
Microsoft didn't indicate that it is testing the new Notepad or offering these features in preview, so presumably these updates will arrive on your Windows PC soon.
Two things seem to be going on here. In late 2023, Microsoft killed off WordPad, the rich text editor that served as a poor man's alternative to Microsoft Word. (There's a way to bring WordPad back, but you'd need access to an older version of Windows where WordPad still existed.) Traditionally, Notepad has been the Windows answer to a light text editor that coders can use or write in, although more sophisticated alternatives like vim exist.
It seems that Microsoft is adding more features to try and help those users, while moving towards a WordPad replacement.
Even more refreshing than the Borderlands games? Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, a 2022 spin-off that swapped out the familiar sci-fi planets and repetitive missions with a creative fantasy setting. Here you don't fight against the usual Borderlands opponents but against goblins, skeletons, dragons, and other fantastical monstrosities.
The ingenious thing about Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is that it wrapped itself up in a Dungeons and Dragons-esque plot in which the crazy Tiny Tina is in charge as she completely changes the rules of the game (or the surrounding levels).
If you want to try it out, you can grab it from the Epic Games Store for free and keep it forever. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands normally costs $59.99, but it's been three years since its release and
Even though we associate "Microsoft" with "Windows," Microsoft has numerous little platforms that it bolts features on to. Microsoft Edge Game Assist is one of these: It's a specialized hint tool for Game Bar, a Windows gaming feature that's been around for over half a decade with a steadily advancing feature set that includes performance tools, screen capture, and more.
Microsoft Edge Game Assist bolts Edge to Game Bar. Instead of forcing you to stop what you're doing and start typing terms into search boxes, Game Assist "knows" what game you're playing and opens up what you might call a specialized hint browser. I went hands-on with Microsoft Edge Game Assist in January, where I launched it alongside Baldur's Gate 3 to see what sort of tips it could offer.
At the time, Microsoft Edge Game Assist supported just a handful of games. Now, the list of games that Microsoft Edge Game Assist supports has grown quite long from newer games like Split Fiction, Avowed, and the "new" The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, to more interesting strategic choices like Hearts of Iron IV. Each of the games has been enhanced with tips and guides, Mi
The latest version of Firefox (version 139.0.1) fixes a bug that caused artifacts to appear when rendering on Nvidia GPUs, but only when using a multiple-monitor setup, and only if those monitors were set to different refresh rates. It's a rapid patch from Firefox 139.0, a major revision that dropped back on May 27th. According to Tom's Hardware, the new update dropped a blocklist that caused issues if you had 60 FPS media running on a secondary monitor.
As Nvidia is still far and away the most popular vendor for dedicated desktop graphics cards, and multi-monitor setups are getting more and more popular, I can see why this sort of thing was immediately spotted. Because I have an Nvidia graphics card, and multiple monitors, which have different refresh rates, and I often watch video on the slower one. Mozilla has been having some issues lately, but it's good to see them tackle an issue like this so quickly.
When we reviewed the Acer Swift 16 AI, it came close to being one of our favorites. We gave it a 4-star rating for its sleek and sturdy design, its sharp OLED display with 3K resolution, its lovely keyboard feel, and its long battery life. And keep in mind that this is a 16-inch laptop! Between that and the OLED panel, battery life usually suffers. But not here.
The laptop runs on a brand-new Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor that's AI-ready and compatible with Microsoft's Copilot features on Windows 11. It also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD. All combined, this is the perfect workstation for daily work and browsing, with over 17 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Intel Arc integrated graphics are even good enough for some light gaming.
Other features of note include two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports (both on the same side), two high-speed USB-A ports (one on either side), a full-sized HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The laptop itself is 0.63 inches thin and 3.37 pounds light, making it perfect as a thin-and-light for portable productivity. Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed.
When determining what makes for a good VPN for Android, I consider several criteria on top of standard VPN essentials. It's crucial that it has full functionality on the Android OS. Also, since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent at times, I test these apps over multiple days to look at speed and consistency of service. I then take into consideration the Android app itself and its ease of use, as well as other things such as pricing and the number of simultaneous devices allowed per account. All of these factors help make the VPNs on this list my top picks.
This 34-inch LG 34GS95QE delivers a crisp and clear 3440×1440 "sweet spot" resolution, which makes it fantastic for everything ranaging from mundane spreadsheet work to streaming Netflix to immersive PC gaming. The OLED panel gives you deep blacks, vivid colors, and great responsiveness. Plus, the 800R curvature makes spending long hours in front of the computer easier on your eyes.
When LG made this monitor, they clearly had gamers in mind. You get a fast-but-not-too-fast 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time for twitchy action games. It supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for minimal screen tearing, and the ultra-thin bezel maximizes your immersive experiences.
Connectivity-wise, this display has two full-sized HDMI ports as well as a DisplayPort input, plus a USB-A for connecting a peripheral. And if the stand isn't to your liking, you can always hook it up to a monitor arm with the VESA standard 100x100mm mount pattern.
Do yourself a favor and jump on this ultrawide OLED gaming monitor for only $750 while you still can. Its price has never been this good!
Save $550 on this 34-inch OLED ultrawide gaming mon
Like SilverStone, MSI is hopping on the retro bus with new GPU designs, marrying new RTX 50-series chips with coolers that look like they're straight outta the aughts. PCWorld's Adam Patrick Murray got to check them out on the show floor.
The RTX 5060 Ti "Twin Frozr 2 Retro Edition" is probably the more practical of the pair, with twin fans and an exposed heatsink, and should fit into just about any gaming PC build with minimal issues. But the more stunning of the pair is the RTX 5070 Cyclone, with a single fan dispersing heat through a massive copper heatsink. It's a style you might remember from the GTX 400 series, waaaay back in 2010. The only bow to modernity is an LCD screen hidden on the interior hub of the fan.
Sadly, these designs are both one-offs, and MSI isn't committing to building them for retail products. If you want to see it in reality, you'll need to let MSI know and GET IN THE COMMENTS.
The Baseus Blade is a no-brainer when you can snag it for nearly half off its original price. It's faster than your typical power bank with 100W of charging output, and it has a large 20,000mAh capacity so it can fully recharge your laptop from zero to full and then some. Want to use it with your smartphone? It can recharge it nearly four times. And the Blade is super-thin at just 0.7 inches thick and super-light at about 1 pound, so you can slip it into any bag next to your laptop and won't notice it.
You'll find four total ports on this power bank—two USB-A and two USB-C, with the USB-Cs able to reach 100W each while the USB-A are limited to 30W. If you use multiple ports at once, the total charging power will get split up between them. Fortunately, the handy digital display shows you exactly how fast each port is charging at any given time, along with how much charging power it has remaining.
I have the second edition of the Baseus Blade and love it quite a bit, but mine is smaller and slower than this one. If I could do it again, I'd get this one instead now that it's the same price. Take advantage of this Prime deal and get the Baseus Blade for $51! If you don
The Basically Homeless channel (via PCGamer) went with a Mini-ITX build and ran the power and data cables up through the base, with enough slack that the sitter can still get a bit of literal wiggle room. Most of the primary components are directly under the seat cushion thanks to a lot of customizations on the base with elevated spacers. The GPU can sit off to the side thanks to a PCIe riser.
Combined with a flex server power supply, some 3D printing, and a bunch of trial and error, the finished product is surprisingly sleek. A custom-printed housing hides all the guts, grants access to the I/O ports, and allows enough airflow to keep it from
As tiny as this PC is, it's packed when it comes to what's under the hood. An AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX on a device that can fit in the palm of your hand? Yes, it's true, and it's what makes it ready to tackle your entire workload or your next passion project. The AM21 also features 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which is pretty darn good for the price. But if that's not enough for you, you can always upgrade it to 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Now that's a powerful combo!
There's no dedicated graphics card, but you can get away with light gaming and video editing with the integrated Radeon 680M graphics. It's powerful enough to connect up to four(!) 4K@60Hz displays via the two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort and USB-C video. Other niceties include four high-speed USB-A ports, double LAN, another USB-C for data, and a 3.5mm headset jack. It's a multitasker's dream!
A powerful machine like this for just $360? That's way better than you'd get in a comparable laptop, and good luck finding a full-blown desktop PC at this price. Get the Kamrui AM21 on Amazon before it expires!
Get a 25% discount on this Ryzen 9 mini PC with quad 4K support
I'm talking about a Kindle case with a built-in elastic hand strap. Yes, yes, I know—it sounds unremarkable. Trust me, I was skeptical of it for a long time myself. But once I gave it a try, suddenly all of my "reading yoga" became a lot easier. No matter what weird position I ended up in, I could still grip my Kindle and read comfortable.
Your PC/Device needs to be repaired The operating system couldn't be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors. File: ACPI.sys Error code: 0xc0000098
This issue has been observed on a small number of physical devices, but primarily on devices running in virtual environments, including:
Azure Virtual Machines
?Azure Virtual Desktop
?On-premises virtual machines hosted on Citrix or Hyper-V
Home users of Windows using Home or Pro editions are unlikely to face this issue, a
This week, we're sleepy and jetlagged post-Computex, but full of hot takes about what was on the show floor. (Plus sidetrack into a mini-rant or two.)
In this episode of The Full Nerd…
In this episode of The Full Nerd, our usual crew of Adam Patrick Murray, Brad Chacos, Alaina Yee, and Will Smith wrap up the big news from Computex and the best from the show, ponder the release of SteamOS, and answer viewers' burning questions!
As to the old ones, I usually store them in a bag to recycle later — or to use in a pinch. But on the odd occasion I forget to swap out my battery, get a flat in my device, and have no spares left, I have to rifle through that bag and test out each battery to find one with enough charge left in it.
Correction: That's what I used to do. Now I have a method that saves me a bunch of time…
What to do
Find a flat, firm surface, like a table or a book — this will be your test surface.
Now drop the battery vertically onto that surface from a height of roughly 8 inches (20cm). Watch what the battery does.
A fully charged battery will tend to tip over and stay put. A flat battery, however, often bounces back up a few centimeters so you know it's not worth using.
We cover battery tips and explainers like this on PCWorld from time to time. For example, I found this one about whether fast charging your phone's battery causes any damage to be interesting.
Best of luck with the battery testing, and if you want more awesome tips like this one delivered into your inbox twice a week, every week, be sure to sign up to our Try This newsletter
From voltage converters to noise-canceling headphones, we've curated a list of the very best tech gear to optimize your next travel experience. The items below are worthy of any packing list and will help you prepare for anything you may encounter on the road—or in the sky.
Manage electrical needs with a voltage converter
BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V
Is it worth shedding a few extra degrees on your CPU just to drown yourself in fan noise? Is it a good use of your setup if it's running silent but overheating? Or is it best to fall somewhere in the middle?
I'm a big fan of quiet PCs, so it's no surprise that most of my fan curves are aggressively slanted towards reduced performance for lesser noise levels. But when it comes to water cooling, it's not just fan noise you need to worry about. The pump can have a noise all of its own.
That was a huge source of frustration for me. Fortunately, I found a quick and easy way to calm that noisy whine down. Here's what I did.
Want some cheese with that whine?
I have a powerful gaming PC that I use for work and play. It's complete overkill for Kerbal Space Program and online board gaming via Tabletop Simulator, but whatever. It's packing an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D and a PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Not the most power-hungry setup in the world, but also not exactly a lean system designed for a light-touch cooling configuration.
Running an agency or online business shouldn't feel like stitching together 17 different tools and praying they play nice. With Sellful, you can finally ditch the chaos—and do it all from one powerful, AI-powered platform.
For a limited time, lifetime access to Sellful's White Label Website Builder & Software ERP Agency Plan is just $349.97 (reg. $1,497). That's a one-time price for a platform that replaces your CRM, website builder, funnel builder, POS, invoicing system, email marketing tool, project management suite—and about 20 other things you're probably paying monthly for.
It's fully white-labeled, too, so you can run everything under your brand or your clients'.
It's easy to lose track of time when your phone is full of apps designed to keep you scrolling. If you're looking for a smarter, more mindful way to manage your screen time, Zario Pro might be worth a look. This Android-only app is designed to help you build better digital habits, reduce phone addiction, and reclaim hours of your day. It's also on sale for $19.99 (reg. $299).
How does Zario reduce your screen time?
Instead of simply blocking apps, Zario takes a more flexible, user-focused approach. Features like custom screen time limits, mindful pause prompts, and focus timers help you stay in control without cutting off access entirely. You can track your most distracting apps, set personalized limits, and even create focus schedules that make it harder to open non-essential apps when you need to concentrate.
If you want a stronger push, Zario also includes a Cold Turkey mode that force-closes selected apps, plus a Dopamine Detox feature that encourages a full reset.
The new Zotac Zone looks, well, a whole lot like the original Zotac Zone. The external body looks almost identical, notably including dual touchpads on either side like the Steam Deck. Underneath the beige body is a new AMD Ryzen AI 9 370 HX processor, which is massively powerful for a new handheld, along with more RAM and storage.
But the big news is that it's running Linux out of the box. Instead of going with Valve's official SteamOS a la Lenovo, Zotac worked with the developers of Manjaro Linux to build something new. Don't worry, it's still running Steam as a game manager and it also has a friendly Steam handheld/Big Picture Mode link right on the desktop.
The problem is a simple one: The best SSDs for your PC generate a ton of heat. When I'm installing test applications for a laptop, the hottest it gets to the touch isn't under load; it's simply while copying tens of gigabytes of data. And the latest PCI Express 4 and 5 SSDs are the worst culprits.
xMEMS surfaced in 2024 as a competitor to Frore's AirJet, which promised to actively cool a chip by vibrating a thin membrane to create airflow. xMEMS, however, was already established in other markets, like earbuds, where the membrane was used to generate sound.
In early 2024, Frore pushed its AirJet into SSD cooling with the AirJet Mini and Mini Slim, which the company claims can dissipate 5.25W of heat from an SSD. What xMEMS is saying today is a little more conservative: xMEMS is touting two solutions, one for data centers and one for the SSDs used by PCs. In the data center, xMEMS claims that its own thermal modeling shows that it can dissipate 3W of heat. It's not making any claims regarding M.2 SSDs, just that it can dissipate temperatures by about 20 percent.
The xMEMS solution, though, is smaller: just 9.3 x 7.6 x
A Twitter/X user going by @LasseKrkkinen spotted four new hardware identifiers in the latest round of Linux driver updates for Arc graphics cards. According to Tom's Hardware, the "BMG" family label indicates that these are new members of the second-gen Battlemage line, which has so far only seen mid-range entries.
There's no way to positively associate these new IDs with new graphics cards beyond that, or even guess when or if they'll come to market. Let me stress that again: Just because hardware is identified in documentation doesn't mean that it'll go through the long process of making it to a retail product launch. But the hope for cash-strapped PC gamers is that at least one of them is the Arc B770, a follow-up to the original Arc A770, and which would presumably compete with Nvidia's RTX 5060 and the AMD's Radeon RX 9060. (The others are likely the business-focused Arc Pro variants announced during Computex last week.)
So how does this thing work? Well, you just mount it over your regular double wall outlet, plugging it into the top one. You then use a mounting screw to ensure it stays in place. That's it! Your outlet has now turned into five AC outlets plus four USB ports (three USB-A and one USB-C). Frankly, if you have a lot of devices to charge, then this is the perfect thing to use on the outlet nearest to your desk.
And that's not all, because this inexpensive outlet extender serves another purpose: to protect your devices from power surges. It can absorb up to 1,050 Joules, so your devices should be safe for day-to-day use. There's also a really cool-looking night light on this gadget's edges, so you'll find it easier to navigate your home in the dark.
If you dislike conventional power strips and hubs because of their unsightly cords, then this is the gadget for you. Mount it straight onto an outlet receptable and turn it into a full-blown charging station! It's affordable at just $13 on Amazon with Prime, and if you don't have Prime, you can still get it this cheap with a free 30-day Prime trial.
It's not just about the fanciest specs-it's about what works best for you and the way you play. Whether you're into smooth 1080p adventures or need top-tier frame rates for competitive wins, there's something here that'll hit the spot. Yeah, a strong GPU matters (duh), but don't overlook the display because a fast refresh rate can seriously boost your gameplay.
Every laptop on this list has been put through its paces by our expert team. We've tested everything: graphics, screen quality, keyboard feel, ports — the works. Let's help you find the one.
I purchased my Apple TV 4K, the second-generation model, back in November 2021—or at least, that's what Apple's serial number checker told me, as I'd completely lost track of the date. (A third-generation model with slightly speedier performance and a more affordable price tag came out in 2022, and it's our current Editors' Choice in media streaming players.)
Since then, the Apple TV box has been running like a champ. The 4K streaming quality is excellent—crisp, colorful, and rarely prone to buffering, thanks in no small part to the device's gigabit ethernet connection (there's also Wi-Fi 6 if you want to go wireless). The user interface feels peppy, while an onboard Thread radio allows the player to double as an Apple home hub, complete with Matter support.
I've tried other streaming players, such as a Roku Streaming Stick 4K—a fine little streaming device for the price—and always came back to my Apple TV, which just feels so much smoother and responsive. Oh, and the lack of ads in the UI certainly doesn't hurt.
This is all to say that I'm perfectly happy with my current Apple TV 4K, which is why the latest round of rumors for a new model (which
Security vendor GreyNoise discovered the botnet, which they say comes from "a well-resourced and highly capable adversary" (i.e., a team from, or financed by, a nation-state level actor). Routers are infected using a command injection flaw, which then enables SSH access on a custom port for remote control. Hackers brute-force logins and bypass authentication with two different techniques. According to BleepingComputer, the affected Asus routers include popular models like the RT-AC3100, RT-AC3200, and RT-AX55.
The routers compromised by this attack stay infected even after a reboot or a firmware update, thanks to configurations stored in non-volatile memory. So if you get infected, you'll have to perform a complete factory reset of your hardware and reconfigure it manually. You can tell if you're compromised by detecting activity from at least four specific IP addresses and access through the TCP/53282 port… though now that these addresses and port are known, the hackers might shift things around.
Fortunately, it's possible to protect yourself if you have a vulnerable router that hasn't yet been infected. You can update your Asus router to the latest firmware from or after May 27th, 2025.
No wonder it was the most popular of all the Twitter clients. But in 2023, TweetDeck was rebranded as X Pro and locked behind a paywall, only available to paid X Premium subscribers. Now, one former TweetDeck developer—Gildásio Filho—has been working on deck.blue ever since he was removed from the TweetDeck team, and he's been working full-time on deck.blue since March 2025.
To be clear, deck.blue only works with Bluesky, the open-source X alternative that has carved out a reputation for being independently developed and strongly guarded against extreme ideologies that are slowly taking over much of the web. There are some things you can do to get the most out of Bluesky, but a third-party client for power users could be just the thing if you feel limited by Bluesky's interface.
No wonder it was the most popular of all the Twitter clients. But in 2023, TweetDeck was rebranded as X Pro and locked behind a paywall, only available to paid X Premium subscribers. Now, one former TweetDeck user named Gildásio Filho has been working on deck.blue ever since TweetDeck went pay-to-play, and he's been working full-time on deck.blue since March 2025.
To be clear, deck.blue only works with Bluesky, the open-source X alternative that has carved out a reputation for being independently developed and strongly guarded against extreme ideologies that are slowly taking over much of the web. There are some things you can do to get the most out of Bluesky, but a third-party client for power users could be just the thing if you feel limited by Bluesky's interface.
My preferred solution is to use an under-desk headphone hook, and the AnchorPro by Elevation Lab is the best of its kind. It only costs $16 (or $25 for two), it's easy to mount, it doesn't involve any drilling, and it just works. I wish I'd made this upgrade way sooner—it's been that good.
The three-judge panel ruled after several lawsuits questioned the president's authority to unilaterally enact economic policy without the involvement of Congress, which is supposed to pass new laws to govern the US federal budget. The Trump adminstration's claim, that trade deficits—a normal and expected part of any economy that trades globally—constitute an "emergency" and thus grant the president authority beyond the executive branch's normal scope, has been rejected.
Not all of Trump's tariffs are immediately invalidated, according to the report from the Associated Press. A 15 percent import tax on some countries for up to 150 days, and 25 percent on auto parts, imported raw materials like steel and aluminum, may still be valid due to executive powers from other laws passed in 1962 and 1974. But the current tariff rates—10 percent on most countries and 30 percent on China (down from an incredible 145 percent at the height of back-and-forth squabbling between the two countries—appear to be invalid.
Of course, that's not the end of the story. The Trump administration will almost certainly appeal the ruling, up to the US Supreme Court if necessary, to find a more favorable conclusion. And with a firm majority of conservative-leaning justices, two of which were hand-picked
While the price has gone up by $10 compared to the previous model, the new version's higher-resolution camera (1440×1440 pixels), 150-degree field of view, and 1:1 aspect ratio will provide a head-to-toe view of visitors.
Blink is bundling the new doorbell with its new AC-powered Blink Sync Module Core, which acts as a bridge to the home's Wi-Fi network (it does not have a chime that sounds off when a visitor rings the doorbell). Blink says having the doorbell connect to the Core, instead of directly to a home's router, is what enables the doorbell's remarkable 2-year battery life.
But can you really believe the cable company here? And is Spectrum's big bundle of cable channels and streaming services really worth the cost of a full-size pay TV package? Let's do the math and find out.
Streaming services included with Spectrum
To get Spectrum's "free" streaming services, you'll need a TV Select Signature or TV Select Plus plan. The freebies aren't available with skinnier packages, such as Spectrum TV Stream.
TV Select Signature is Spectrum's main pay TV package, and it costs $95 per month for the the first year and $115 per month thereafter. (Those are the actual prices, as Spectrum nixed its sneaky fees last year.) The included streaming services are:
Disney with ads (a $10-per-month value)
Paramount with ads (an $8-per-month value)
Max with ads (a $10-per-month
But I did memorize the change. Why? Because that info makes scam emails and phishing links easier to spot.
Lazier or sloppier fraudsters sometimes use older logos (or even badly approximated logos) in their campaigns. If you know what a company's most current branding looks like, you can quickly avoid these lower-effort scam attempts.
This particular overhaul on Google's part is notable too, as subtle as it is. After almost a decade of the four distinct color blocks in the "G," Google's designers switched to gradients between the red, yellow, green, and blue. (Somewhere print designers are weeping, but the web doesn't care.)
While we weren't necessarily smitten by the fact you can mount this on a tripod, it's a pretty cool idea if you're into live streaming or want to record yourself away from your PC. You should probably make sure to have separate microphones, however, because the built-in mics don't do much to filter background noise.
It's hard to find a high-quality 4K webcam for less than $100, so this is a fantastic opportunity if you've been looking. Get the Emeet Piko for $72 on Amazon and ensure your videos look their best!
The Emeet Piko 4K webcam is at its lowest-ever price
This speedy Anker 3-port charger block is a fantastic choice, especially now that it's only $30 on Amazon. That's a solid 46% discount on its original MSRP and the best price we've ever seen it for.
The biggest reason to get this is that it uses newer GaN charging tech, so it's a lot more compact in size and it charges a lot faster while producing less heat in the process. And with 65W of charging output, this thing is great with phones, tablets, and even some smaller laptops. All in all, it's safer and offers numerous benefits with negligible downsides.
You'll find that this charger block has two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, letting you charge three devices at once. When used individually, either USB-C port can reach the 65W max throughput but the USB-A tops out at 22.5W. When two or three ports are used together, the 65W total gets split up between them (i.e., they slow down a bit).
If you're still hanging on to older power adapters that don't support fast charging, or if you want to consolidate your many power adapters into one, then you can't go wrong with this one. Get it for just $30 on Amazon before this limited-time deal ends!
Save 46% on this 3-port fast-charging USB-C wall plug
Enter Nvidia's new GeForce Now native app for the Steam Deck, announced today and available immediately.
If your internet signal is strong, and you pay for a premium GeForce Now subscription with advanced prowess and features, Nvidia's app transforms the Steam Deck from a delightful device into an utterly magical one.
How magical? Consider that Doom: The Dark Ages has been called a "nightmare" on the Steam Deck. Even with every graphics option turned to low, playing through the sparsely populated tutorial section results in frame rates in the low- to mid-20s — it not only looks ugly, it feels atrocious, like the Doom Slayer is a container ship you're trying to steer while blackout drunk. Hard pass.
Then I flipped over to it on GeForce Now's new Steam Deck app, using an early build (and GFN Ultimate subscription) provided by Nvidia. Oh. My. God. Suddenly, everything was beautiful and smooth, with the Doom Slayer ripping and tearing through demonic hordes like the finely tuned weapon he is. Even with graphics settings
After extensive testing, I've determined that the recommendations listed below are the best 4K monitors available today, covering a variety of budgets and use cases.
Segway's smart robot lawnmowers can be a great addition to any house, freeing up countless hours spent mowing for more pleasurable activities, such as spending time by the pool, having fun with the family, or just enjoying your hobbies.
By adding a Navimow to your smart home setup, you'll get a perfect lawn without any of the effort usually required. Since the robot can also cut the grass more frequently, it will keep down the weeds, removing another one of your yard chores.
View deal on Segway Navimow i Series
Segway Navimow i Series Key Features
Automatic mowing with app remote control
Multi-zone management
Voice command with Google Home and Alexa, integrated with Sprinklr
Mowing reports
Granted, ASRock doesn't seem particularly interested in talking about it. The BIOS fix comes to us third-hand, sent from ASRock to Aussie tech YouTuber Tech YES City via PCGamer. And apparently they had to get it on the show floor at Computex, presumably in a face-to-face discussion at the company's booth.
But the end result is this: the issue stemmed from an amperage problem with the Precision Boost Overdrive tool in ASRock's UEFI/BIOS program. The latest update for AM5-equipped motherboards should address it… at least according to ASRock's in-person representatives.
All the Ryzen 9000-series CPUs affected by this issue should be covered under warranty at the time of writing, but there are plenty of AM5 motherboards that are outside the standard one-year term. (Easy and consistent updates between CPU generations is one of the reasons to go with AMD over Intel.) Good luck to you if your motherboard fails—or if
The existing Gamepad API uses a polling-based system that repeatedly checks the states of every button and axis, then compares those states to detect when buttons are pressed and axes are moved. Microsoft's proposed change is an event-driven system that immediately fires whenever buttons are pressed and axes are moved.
Allegedly, this would simplify input handling and reduce input latency for gaming controllers, putting them on par with keyboards and mice.
The improved Gamepad API would be welcome news for web-based gaming services like Amazon Luna. Currently, most users on in-browser cloud gaming platforms choose keyboard-and-mouse over controllers due to the higher latency experienced by the latter.
It's unclear when the new API will be rolled out to the public. The feature tracker is still in early stages, though, so it may be a while.
The Baseus Spacemate plugs into your laptop's USB-C port and turns it into 11 different ports, and it does so while looking gorgeous and minimizing desk clutter with its vertical design. Those 11 ports include 2 HDMI and 2 DisplayPort, allowing you to expand your workstation with up to four(!) 4K@60Hz external monitors.
What about the rest of the ports? On the front, you get high-speed USB-C and USB-A. On the back, you get a USB-C port with 100 watts of power delivery, a high-speed USB-A, a slower USB-A, a 1Gbps LAN, and a 3.5mm headset jack. Add 'em up and that's 11 in total.
If you want to turn your laptop into the ultimate home workstation simply by plugging and unplugging a USB-C cable, then you need this docking station. Use it to add displays, transfer files, attach peripherals, and funnel all your cables into one neat little hub. Grab it for $100 on Amazon while you still can—with a free Prime trial if you aren't a member yet.
The Baseus Spacemate plugs into your laptop's USB-C port and turns it into 11 different ports, and it does so while looking gorgeous and minimizing desk clutter with its vertical design. Those 11 ports include 2 HDMI and 2 DisplayPort, but one set of HDMI DisplayPort is either/or. In total, this allows you to expand your workstation with up to three 4K@60Hz external monitors.
What about the rest of the ports? On the front, you get high-speed USB-C and USB-A. On the back, you get a USB-C port with 100 watts of power delivery, a high-speed USB-A, a slower USB-A, a 1Gbps LAN, and a 3.5mm headset jack. Add 'em up and that's 11 in total.
If you want to turn your laptop into the ultimate home workstation simply by plugging and unplugging a USB-C cable, then you need this docking station. Use it to add displays, transfer files, attach peripherals, and funnel all your cables into one neat little hub. Grab it for $100 on Amazon while you still can—with a free Prime trial if you aren't a member yet.
You're getting 128GB of storage space for the price of a couple fancy coffees, which is pretty impressive when you look at the big picture. As the name suggests, this one has a USB-C connector so you can plug it into your laptop, smartphone, tablet—nearly any modern device. It's also fast, with transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s. When you need to quickly back up files or move them between devices, this is the one to rely on.
And it's super compact, too. You can slip it into your pocket and forget it's there. The sleek design looks great, but it's also robust with a cap that protects the connector and a sturdy build that's waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, magnet-proof, X-ray-proof, and good to use even in extreme temperatures. Oh, and it'll survive drops and bumps.
Snag your very own 128GB Samsung USB-C flash drive for next to nothing on Amazon while you can. Need more capacity? The other sizes are also on sale, including the 256GB version for $27 (was $35) and 512GB version for $50 (was $65). It's up to you and how much you're willing to spend for how much space you think you'll need.
Microsoft product manager Angie Chen announced the new Windows Update orchestration platform (a classic Microsoft name if ever I heard one) via the IT Pro blog. There's a lot of technical jargon on the page, but it boils down to this: developers will be able to join the platform to deliver software updates for just about anything from within Windows—from the tiniest programs to the most crucial drivers to giant packages like Adobe Creative Suite—all going through Windows Update.
Users would obviously benefit from a more seamless and streamlined update system, one that's (again) very much inspired by the way mobile operating systems work. Developers would be able to more reliably deliver updates without having to wait for users to launch their apps locally and check with a ping (or make yet another annoying "launch with Windows" thingy gobbling up your RAM in the taskbar). Microsoft's orchestrator system will scan the updates for safety and distribute them, installing them at an ideal time when the user's system isn't under load. Other benefits include a unified update log, centralized update notifications, and "automatic future enhancements."
It isn't perfect, as you might expect given Microsoft's previous atte
As of update KB5058502—the optional May patch that released yesterday for Windows 11 23H2—the Windows key C keyboard shortcut has been reinstated. Tap it to launch Copilot in text chat mode or long-press it to launch Copilot in voice chat mode.
A similar update will be released for Windows 11 24H2, reports Windows Latest. If you'd rather use Windows key C for another action, you can change the Copilot launching shortcut in Settings.
In the past, Windows key C debuted as a way to open the Charm menu in Windows 8, then was used for Cortana in Windows 10. Will this be the final and permanent use for it? Only time will tell.
You could spend an absolute fortune on a top-of-the-line gaming laptop—even one that's on sale—but you don't really need to if you aren't an upper-rank competitive gamer or someone who chases hundreds of frames per second at Ultra settings. If all you want is reasonable gameplay with Fortnite, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, and the like, then you can get it at an excellent price with this 15.6-inch HP Victus.
That's a good screen size for gaming, complete with a 1080p resolution and IPS panel with a fast-enough 144Hz refresh rate. It ain't the brightest with 250 nits, but you'll be pushing decent graphics at decent frame rates with the RTX 4050 graphics card and Intel Core i7-12650H processor. It'll also be able to keep up with your daily workload with 16GB of RAM, though we do wish the 512GB SSD was more spacious.
All of that is pretty darn good for a $770 laptop, and it's moderately portable with a thickness just under 1 inch and a weight just over 5 pounds. As for connectivity, you'll enjoy two fast USB-A (one on either side), a fast USB-C, full-sized HDMI, a LAN port, an SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headset jack.
It isn't every day you see a laptop of this caliber available for under $800, so if you're interested, you'll want to
