That's why it's imperative that you use a VPN while doing any torrenting or P2P file sharing. A VPN can keep your connection private and encrypt your data so that unwanted prying eyes — cybercriminals, overbearing ISPs, or nosy government watchdogs — can't monitor your online activity. (See "Can a VPN really hide all of your torrent activity?" to learn more.)
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. As PCWorld's primary VPN reviewer, I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite VPNs and additional information about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
If you're interested in using a VPN for more than just torrenting you can check out my list of best VPN services for even more great options.
The problem surfaced on Dec. 6, but the company hasn't been able to resolve it. Vivaldi's status page reports that the service has been unavailable for four straight days, though other online services — including the Vivaldi.com website, login functions, and auto updating — remain unaffected.
Vivaldi's sync services work much like how users log into Windows, Microsoft Edge or Chrome. In this case, information (what sites you've browsed, what feeds or email you've read) are sent to the cloud and to other Vivaldi browsers signed in on other PCs or your phone. Without the sync support, the browser doesn't know where you left off on another PC or what you've interacted with.
Vivaldi originally blamed a database performance issue, which prevented a third of its sync accounts from being served. The database was unable to keep up with traffic.
The most recent update again describes a mismatch between its server capabilities and the amount of data users are sending its way.
More recently, Microsoft has started pushing users in that direction even harder. According to Windows Latest, business-oriented Microsoft 365 users are being urged to switch from classic Outlook to the new Outlook app, despite it lacking several features from the legacy app.
There will first be an optional period where users can choose to switch over at their convenience, with a deadline at which point users will be forced to give up classic Outlook.
For Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium users, the transition will begin as early as January 2025. Microsoft 365 Enterprise users may have a little more time. Microsoft's plan is for the entire transition over to the new Outlook app to be completed by April 2026, so we now have an official "death date" for classic Outlook.
It remains to be seen if Microsoft will keep its promise to add those missing features from classic Outlook to the new Outlook, but we aren't holding our breath. We don't blame anyone for holding out and sticking with classic Outlook for as long as possible.
Why buy a Windows Hello webcam? Most laptops now include a webcam of some form or another, some with Windows Hello built in. Desktops don't, however. If you share an apartment with someone else (or just want to avoid typing in your password), Microsoft's biometric Windows Hello system uses a depth camera plus facial-recognition technology to log you in to Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a split second. And there's more: passkeys are hot, and they use Windows Hello as well.
Below, I've listed several Windows Hello webcams that I recommend. I start with 4K Windows Hello webcams first, if only because I really think that your appearance makes a difference in a video call. But the budget (and clearly the most popular) picks all use 1080p resolution instead. Want more information? I've included a buying guide and a FAQ after the best Windows Hello webcam picks. You can also review PCWorld's 1080p and 4K webcam buyer's guide for recommendations on webcams without Windows Hello support.
Why you should trust me: I've been a technology reporter and writer for 30 years, with 10 years covering consumer technology for PCWorld alone. I've written about Windows Hello and supported webcams since Windows Hello launched in 2015, and have authored a separate roundup of
The highlight here is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which allows you to crank those graphics settings to the max and play modern 3D games at their best. The RTX 4070 may not be the latest and greatest, but it's still an expensive one — getting an RTX 4070 laptop at this price is a true score, one that you won't want to miss out on.
This slim and lightweight laptop has an impressive 15.6-inch IPS screen that delivers 1080p visuals at a 144Hz refresh rate, so you'll get clear images, vivid colors, and buttery smooth frame rates.
This laptop features an Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which translates into fast boot times, short app load times, and the ability to multitask way too many browser tabs. We all know how resource-hungry Chrome can be, right? If you want to upgrade at some point later, you can punch it up to 64GB of RAM, too.
The Asus TUF F15 also features a 1TB SSD so there's plenty of room for games, apps, videos, and whatever else you want to keep.
Don't miss out on this chance to snag an RTX 4070 gaming laptop for $1,000 at Best Buy right now!
Well, if that describes you, Microsoft wants you to know that they're listening and they care. In the latest Windows 11 Insiders preview (Build 22635.4580), Microsoft has added an emoji panel to the taskbar, granting immediate access to emojis no matter what you're doing.
Although there's already a keyboard shortcut for accessing the emoji panel — simply press Windows key Period or Windows key Semicolon — it's clear that not everyone is aware of it. After all, who can really remember the hundreds of keypress combinations that exist?
If you don't want the emoji panel in the taskbar, you can turn it off in the settings by navigating to Settings Personalization Taskbar, then under "System tray icons," look for "Emojis and more." Change the drop-down menu to Never to disable it.
If you aren't a Windows 11 Insider, this feature will come to you soon enough. Keep an eye out for update KB5046733 in Windows Update, but we have no word on when exactly it will arrive as of yet.
Peacock users have begun receiving emails from the streamer about impeding changes to its terms of service, and among the provisions is one aimed directly at account sharers.
The revised agreement says that "unless permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household," The Streamable reports.
The updated terms also note that Peacock is keeping an eye on how you're using your account, and "if we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated these Terms of Service, we may limit, suspend or terminate access to the Peacock service."
If that language sounds familiar, it's because Disney used almost the exact same wording when it updated its own terms of service last fall.
That move turned out to be a prelude to a full-on password-sharing crackdown, with Disney (along with Hulu and ESPN ) now charging extr
Sometimes, a portable storage drive is just the better solution. And if you need one, here's a great deal to jump on: Crucial's X6 portable SSD (2TB model) is now $110 on Amazon, 25 percent off its usual price. It'd be a shame to miss out on so much extra storage space for your photos, videos, games, and all the rest.
In our review of the Crucial X6, we gave it a near-perfect score and our Editors' Choice award. We loved the ergonomic design and its great performance day in and day out. "I have zero qualms recommending the X6 for the average user. Especially those who like to carry their storage around in a pocket," our expert noted in his review.
With up to 800MB/s read speeds, you can comfortably run games off it, move files in a flash, stream movies, and do whatever else you want to do. Since it's compatible with PCs, Macs, Android devices, and gaming consoles, you'll be able to use this with whatever gadgets you want.
I don't know about you, but a compact 2TB portable SSD for $110 is always worth having on hand, so grab this deal while you can!
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can generate up to 50 priority videos in 720p resolution up to five seconds long in duration, while ChatGPT Pro subscribers can generate unlimited videos with up to 500 priority videos in 1080p resolution up to 20 seconds long in duration. ChatGPT Pro users can also generate up to five videos simultaneously and download generated videos without watermarks on them.
All videos generated via Sora will have C2PA metadata to indicate that they've been created using AI. Users cannot generate videos that contain explicit content, violence, or people under the age of 18.
Sora is currently available in the US and most countries worldwide, but according to OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, it may take a while before the AI video generator is made available in Europe.
A few days ago, Microsoft released a new preview build for Windows 11 Insiders on the Beta Channel (spotted by Windows Latest), which includes several improvements. But the one that sticks out is File Explorer's new ability to remember your tabs.
The Pro version is (obviously) the more expensive of the two because it offers a variety of extra features. The most compelling extra is full-featured BitLocker drive encryption for securing your data, as well as an intriguing Sandbox feature for testing software, plus some other stuff.
But what if you're just a regular home user? Are these additional features worth paying a bit more? Here's what you need to consider.
Windows 11 Pro and BitLocker encryption
BitLocker drive encryption is the main reason to get Windows 11 Professional. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature that protects your files from unauthorized access. If your PC is ever stolen or misplaced, nobody will be able to access your protected files without signing in as you. It's an essential modern security feature.
Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap right now
Windows 11 Pro
If you built your PC, or if you ever took a peek inside at your gaming PC's motherboard, then you've probably seen PCIe slots. These easily recognizable slots are mostly known as the place where you plug in your graphics card, with their mildly annoying tabs that make it a hassle to remove the GPU when you want to replace and upgrade.
Everyone loves ChatGPT, but what if you could have an AI assistant installed directly on your PC? Copilot in Windows 11 does more than chat — it lives in your system, summarizing web pages, changing system settings, generating images, and more. Just upgrade to find Copilot on your taskbar.
Windows 11 Pro also has a sleek, easy-to-navigate interface that's as functional as it is appealing. With features like snap layouts and multiple desktops, the OS helps streamline your work processes.
How can we pay so much for our Netflix subscriptions and still not find anything to watch most of the time? It's madness. We found a streaming service with no fees and thousands of new films and series.
Ready to cancel Netflix? First, you'll need to buy Curiosity Steam. But don't worry, it's just a one-time payment, and then you'll get to stream for life. Get this lifetime subscription on sale for $159.97 through December 15—that's less than one year of Netflix's Standard plan!
You won't have to scroll long to find something that catches your eye. Something like The Real Wild West, The Art of Seduction,
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
ExpressVPN, now $4.99 per month for 24 months 6 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN)
Surfshark VPN, now $2.49 per month for 24 months 4 free months (86% off at Surfshark)
This thing plugs right into any wall outlet, covers the entire plate, fastens with a single screw, and sits flush against your wall. Then, instead of your normal two-outlet receptable, you now have a total of five three-pronged AC outlets, three USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. (That screw is important as it prevents the whole thing from accidentally being pulled out.)
Of course, when plugging this many devices into a single receptable, you're bound to increase your risks. Rest assured, though, that this outlet extender provides at least 1,680 Joules of three-level surge protection. It also has a fireproof shell.
Over 87,000 people have rated this outlet extender on Amazon, giving it an astonishing 4.7 stars. They found that it's not just functional, but also well-organized, well-built, and aesthetically pleasing.
Don't miss out on this chance to grab one or more of these awesome outlet extenders for less than $10 a piece on Amazon.
Everyone could use more outlets and ports, especially at this priceBuy now at Amazon
Our expert reviewers have put these mice through their paces, testing them across a range of scenarios, and over extended periods of time — you can find out all about our extensive testing process in the article "How we test gaming mice at PCWorld."
Below are the results of that effort. While these are the current best wireless gaming mice available, for a no holds barred list, including both wired and wireless models, be sure to check out PCWorld's all-inclusive selection of the best gaming mice.
Why you should trust us: We aren't just tech enthusiasts we're also keen gamers and we're always on the lookout for better gaming gear to get an edge in our favorite games. We know that we're adding our expertise to a large body of PCWorld product news and reviews that goes back 40 years — that's credibility we've built up over four decades. Consequently, we want to tell you exactly what we find in a product — the good, the bad and the in-between.
Whether you want to use this with your phone, tablet, security camera, action camera, Nintendo Switch, or another gaming device, this microSD card will be ready for anything.
The 1TB storage space is massive, especially at this price. That's dozens of games for your console, tons of apps and photos for your phone, and lots of hours of video for your camera.
Speaking of video, this card supports up to 160MB/s read speeds and 100MB/s write speeds, so not only will you transfer files back and forth really quickly, but you can capture 4K video without frame drops.
Other capacity options for this Lexar Play microSD are also on sale, but they aren't as good in terms of savings. Don't believe me? Here they are for your reference and comparison:
Lexar Play, 128GB, now $14.37 (18% off)
Lexar Play, 256GB, now $19.99 (30% off)
Lexar Play, 512GB, now $37.99 (24% off)
Take your pick and save a lot of cash on microSD storage as we head into the holidays. The
According to a statement given to Tom's Hardware, AMD is aware of the supply issues and working to fix them. "We expect availability to get better as shipments ramp throughout the quarter," said a representative.
I'm sure that's comforting to at least a few people, but it's also a bit of a non-statement. Of course supply will get better as time goes forward and AMD works out the kinks that are always present for a new high-end CPU. It'll also happen naturally as the PC gamers who are eager to get the initial batch become satisfied. (We've already seen the aftermarket price go down following the launch sales rush.)
What might be a little more encouraging is the declaration that AMD is shipping more processors "every week." If you're desperate to get the 9800X3D at retail price, I'd ask around at local brick-and-mortar stores, like Best Buy or (if you're lucky) Micro Center, to see when they typically get new shipments from AMD. Hit the store first thing the following morning and you might just have a chance.
It's also worth noting that the 9800X3D is the first (and so far only) member of t
You can find those official instructions on this support page. However, Microsoft begins the instructions with a direct warning:
The risk alluded to here includes system crashes and the lack of crucial security updates that would otherwise keep the PC safe and protected against malware, hackers, and scammers.
Therefore, anyone wishing to install Windows 11 like this must first accept the following disclaimer:
While paid password managers offer nice extras, a free password manager still protects you from the risks of using weak passwords (or worse, using the same one everywhere). Instead of remembering all of your passwords and/or passkeys, you just need one to access a single, secure place where all of the rest are stored.
And because free password managers come in different flavors and styles, you should be able to find one that fits your needs. Even Google's password manager, built into Chrome and Android, can work as a no-cost option with a nifty Windows tie-in. Plus, if you find that the free versions aren't enough, down the road you can always upgrade to a paid service.
Privacy advocates don't want anything spying on them as they browse the Web, check email, post on social media, and so on. People who chase scattered details across the Web for publication, like me, are much more welcoming. Where Recall falls short right now is that is sort of fails on both: it's there, always watching, but not closely enough that you can depend upon it to find the critical detail that you missed.
I spent the better part of a week with Recall running in the background, trying to see a.) whether it would actually prove to be useful enough to keep and b.) whether I could either break it or it would freak me out enough to keep me from using it. Weirdly, I found a bit of both.
Today, you can get a bundle that includes the Logitech MX Keys S keyboard and the newest Logitech MX Master 3S mouse, plus some other goodies, for just $144.99. That's $65 off the retail price. You'll need to take a few steps to unlock this bundled price, though.
First, add to cart the MX Keys S combo on Logitech's store. That's listed for $199.99 price, which is already $10 less versus the MX Keys S and MX Master 3S mouse separately, plus a sweet wrist rest included. Once added to your cart, you'll notice that you also get a free POP Rubik's cube. (Weird, but okay. Can't complain if it's free.) And with the additional $35 discount automatically applied in the cart, it brings the price down to $164.99.
This Baseus power bank isn't just for phones. It's powerful enough to recharge your laptop, too, with its 65 watts of max output. Even if your specific laptop usually requires more power, it'll still work (albeit slightly slower). And with 20,000mAh of capacity, it can recharge a MacBook Pro almost fully from zero. (Or an iPhone 15 Pro over three times.)
It features three charging ports you can use: one USB-C port and two USB-A ports. That USB-C port is the only one that goes up to 65W while the USB-A ports cap out at 30W. The USB-C port also doubles as an input for recharging the power bank itself. (There's also a separate Micro USB port for that, in case the USB-C port is occupied.)
Plus, this power bank is small enough to fit into any bag, so you're a lot more likely to carry it with you on the go.
So, what are you waiting for? With it being just $25 right now, now is the perfect time to grab this high-capacity Baseus power bank on Amazon and never worry about going empty on battery again.
At 69% off, this three-device power bank is a total bargain
To be clear, these new ASRock monitors do not have onboard Wi-Fi, and they don't have any smart TV features for standalone streaming apps. That was my first thought, but nope. Instead, the monitors function as a gigantic extension for the little barrel ports on the back of your Wi-Fi-equipped motherboard, the kind that usually lead to a cheap plastic antenna included in the box.
As a desktop guy who obsesses over cable management, I can see the appeal. According to the spec sheet, the antennas in the monitors are compatible with Wi-Fi versions 4 through 7.
The Pi 500 is a standalone computer with all the connections you need along its top edge. But if you're also looking for a matching monitor, you're in luck because the company just released its first home-grown monitor, a spiffy-looking 15.6-inch model. It can work as a travel display or a small conventional desktop monitor thanks to its VESA mount, and it's a pretty darn good deal at just $100. It'll even power up from a Raspberry Pi alone, so long as you have a spare USB-A port to deliver a little extra juice.
I really like the look of the monitor, with its red-on-white coloring, a kickstand that doubles as a carry handle, and a stylish cutout on the lower bezel. Normally, I'd be down on its inclusion of a pair of extremely low-power speakers, but considering this is meant to be a companion to extremely flexible, affordable computer designs, I guess it makes sense.
I've gone ahead and dug up the best monitor deals going on. Even though Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, you can still snatch some incredible deals if you know where to look.
See below for the hottest monitor discounts, sectioned depending on what you're looking for. I'll be refreshing these deals to keep them fresh, so if you don't find one you like just yet, check back again later!
Best holiday deals on standard monitors
Sceptre 27-inch VA 1080p 100Hz, now $97.97 (18% off at Amazon)
Acer KB252Q 24.5-inch IPS 1080p 100Hz, now $74.99 (25% off at Amazon)
Samsung Essential S3 27-inch VA 1080p 100Hz, now $99.99 (44% off at Amazon)
Samsung T35F 27-inch IPS 1080p 75Hz, now $99.99 (33% off at Amazon)
Samsung ViewFinity S50GC 34-inch VA 1440p 100Hz, now $219.99 (42% off at Amazon)
The updated framework reduces loading times for elements of the user interface, resulting in a faster and more responsive experience. For example, "Browser Essentials" should now load 42 percent faster while the "Favorites" bar opens 40 percent faster than before.
These improvements should be particularly noticeable on lower-performance computers, such as those with less RAM and without SSD storage. For budget laptops, this adds one more reason to consider Edge over Chrome as your day-to-day web browser.
Microsoft will gradually convert more elements of Edge to WebUI 2.0, instead of doing the entire browser at once, so expect to see even more incremental performance boosts over the months ahead.
But 2024 was only the preview. Qualcomm's Snapdragon debut was limited, targeting a specific subset of premium, thin-and-light Windows laptops that don't require discrete graphics. 2025 will be the year that shows us the true extent of Arm innovation in PCs.
I spoke with two expert analysts in the hardware space for insights on how Arm PCs will continue to grow going forward.
Qualcomm chips will expand their reach
The launch of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite was bumpy, to say the least. Microsoft branded those new Qualcomm-powered laptops as "Copilot PCs" and touted their AI performance, only to recall their headline feature at launch due to public backlash. After multiple delays, it's just now trickling out to Windows Insiders.
"I think the messaging fell apart largely due to Microsoft having the snafu with Recall," says Leonard Lee, executive analyst and founder at Next Curve, who has decades of experience in technology and business strategy, business and product innovation, and market intelligence.
When it comes to the hardware, though, Snapdragon X Elite has proven its worth w
Privacy advocates don't want anything spying on them as they browse the Web, check email, post on social media, and so on. People who chase scattered details across the Web for publication, like me, are much more welcoming. Where Recall falls short right now is that is sort of fails on both: it's there, always watching, but not closely enough that you can depend upon it to find the critical detail that you missed.
I spent the better part of a week with Recall running in the background, trying to see a.) whether it would actually prove to be useful enough to keep and b.) whether I could either break it or it would freak me out enough to keep me from using it. Weirdly, I found a bit of both.
When you're working on complex coding projects, having a powerful and reliable development tool makes all the difference. Visual Studio Professional 2022 is designed for developers who need to handle large projects and workloads without missing a beat.
This 64-bit IDE is built to manage even the biggest projects, with support for multiple languages like .NET, C , and more, making it a go-to for developers everywhere, and you can get a lifetime license for Windows for $27.97 (reg. $499) through December 15.
Creating a professional website is frustrating at best and expensive at worst. Instead of relying on outdated web templates our outsourcing your site design, build it yourself with MaxiBlocks, a no-code webpage builder that works through WordPress that's only $59 (reg. $447) for life.
At its core, MaxiBlocks is a click-and-drag webpage builder. Instead of coding, you just drag the elements you want into the places you need.
You get an extensive library of over 2,300 block patterns, 280 page templates, and 14,300 SVG icons, giving you all the design flexibility you need. You can choose from a variety of pre-built layouts or start from scratch to craft a unique, professional site that stands out. Plus, with 18 foundation blocks and full Gutenberg integration, editing your page is easy.
Getting started is simple. Install the plugin, select a Style Card, and explore the vast template library. Customize your pages with drag-and-drop
Are you still not browsing, streaming, or working online with a VPN? You may be doing yourself a disservice, letting ads run rampant on your content and potentially putting your privacy at risk. If you've been putting off investing in a VPN because of the cost, you might want to hear about Windscribe.
Windscribe VPN protects all your devices and even blocks ads, all on a user-friendly interface. Plus, its three-year plan won't cost an arm and a leg, especially with this Cyber Week deal. Grab three years of VPN protection for only $69.97 (reg. $207) before this deal ends tonight.
Add this VPN as a desktop app or browser extension to your PC, tablet, or iPhone to secure your digital privacy. It'll keep trackers and activity analyzers at bay and protect your devices with AES encryption. Purchase Windscribe now for online peac
There's no need to switch to the dark side and add Apple's AirTags to the mix. The KeySmart SmartCard is a sleek, credit-card-sized tracker designed to fit effortlessly into your wallet, passport holder, or any small space where AirTags just won't fit. It's currently on sale for just $29.97 (reg. $39) for a limited time.
It's compatible with Apple's Find My Network. Once paired with your Apple device, you can quickly locate your SmartCard through the Find My app, just like you would with an AirTag.
This compact smart card will even alert you if you leave it behind. In addition, Lost Mode will display a message and contact info to anyone who finds it so they can get it back to you.
This gadget is ideal for wallets, work badges, student IDs, and more. This SmartCard holds a charge for up to five months, and it can even be charged wirelessly with a Qi-enabled charger.
Why should all the tech perks stay reserved for brand-new cars? This 10" wireless touchscreen lets you bring modern connectivity to any vehicle — no expensive upgrades required.
Hurry and grab this Cyber Week discount ending December 8 for $99.97 (reg. $199).
Designed for drivers who want the convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without replacing their car, this display delivers hands-free navigatio
Have you heard? Microsoft Office 2024 has just hit the (virtual) shelves. If you're still working with the 2019 or 2021 editions, you may be due for an upgrade, especially since the latest version of Microsoft Office comes with a fresh makeover, new productivity features, and AI integration that could streamline your work.
Cyber Week is an excellent time to get Microsoft Office 2024 Home since you can save 20% on a license and grab it for your PC or Mac for $119.97 (reg. $149). You'll have to act quickly, as codes (for use on one device) are limited, and this offer expires tomorrow.
Android users enrolled in Google Home's Public Preview can now help test "Help me create," a Gemini AI-infused tool that lets you create Google Home automations from natural-language prompts.
Here's how it works: You open the Google Home app, tap the Automations tab, tap Add, then tap "Help me create."
Next, just describe in English (yes, just English, at least for now) what you'd like the automation to do. For example, you could type (or say) "Turn off the lights at 11 p.m. every night," "Lock all the doors when everyone's away," or "Set a meditation time reminder."
Then just tap "Create," and the Google Home app—with help from Gemini—will compose an overview of a proposed automation.
You can then rate the Gemini-created automation, ask for a do-over, or rename and save the routine if you're happy with it.
Of the two, Microsoft Recall has greater notoriety—it captures your activity as you use your computer, taking screenshots every few seconds. Windows then leans on AI to sift through the accumulated data when you're seeking specific information like a recipe, conversation, or even document you previously worked on. Despite its obvious benefits, it also sparked debate over potential privacy and safety issues.
The truth is you won't lose much performance going for a cheaper option. In fact, you can get a top-performing mouse that — barring the sensor, which is usually more modest than in premium devices — is virtually identical in build quality and styling and with equally quick buttons.
That's not to say all budget gaming mice are alike. Admittedly, at the lower end of the market there tends to be more variation in the build quality, weight, and button configuration than at the top end, so you'll still want to do your homework before you buy.
Or, you could just peruse our list of best budget gaming mice (below). We've already done the research on your behalf by extensively testing a cohort of mice, sorting the wheat from the chaff, so that what's left is the best of the best. We'll keep updating our chart as we review more mice and find even better products.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld's gaming peripheral experts are hardcore gamers on a never-ending quest to find the best peripherals to improve their own gaming performance, so they know what works and what doesn't. As such, our reviews are raw evaluations, written in the voice of gamers. We want our readers to know the truth about products so that they can make informed decisions about which products to buy and which ones to skip.
That case is now resolved—if only temporarily—as TikTok just lost its bid to overturn the law that would spell its demise in the US.
On Dec 6, Federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied TikTok's arguments to strike the law, which will go into effect on Jan 19, 2025. That's one day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has signaled general support for TikTok, despite his anti-China sentiments.
TikTok will appeal the Court of Appeals decision, and take the case to the Supreme Court. However, there's no guarantee the Supreme Court will hear the case, so as we wait for all the legal issues to resolve, now is a good time to stay two steps ahead, and ponder a fundamental question: If the ban does go into effect, could a VPN help you get around the new restrictions?
Much of the answer keys into the specific nature of the ban—namely, that app stores in the U.S. would ostensibly be forced to remove the TikTok app from their marketplaces. If that's how the ban plays out, then theoretically a VPN should put you back in business, with the caveat that you'll already need to have the TikTok app installed prior to the ban.
There's a lot to unpack here, including what the law would require of TikTok, and how technically savvy users could respond. Read on for details. And if you're looking for a VPN to make your digital life more more secure—or, who knows, preserve TikTok access—check out my
Jarman, a modelling director at Operis (financial, not swimsuit) also walked away with a $5,000 check and the appreciative cheers of those gathered in the HyperX arena in Las Vegas. Players included familiar faces such as former champion Andrew Ngai, Diarmuid Early and a host of established Excel, um, athletes who ran out of the "HyperX Hype Tunnel," some puffing more than others.
Twelve finalists progressed to the finals, which was predicated upon a familiar, nerdy game: World of Warcraft. (Eve Online, or "Excel in Space," probably would have an even better choice). The players were asked to essentially "manage" a team of Horde players as they progressed through a simulated game — capping off the adventure with a simulated raid on the Molten Core dungeon. Each quest granted a certain amount of XP and gold, and took some amount of time to complete.
For each "level," the players were required to keep track of various stats like experience points (XP) and gold to begin with, then a game stat like armor, intelligence, or agility. As the rounds advanced, players were asked to track the character's ability to heal or do damage over time, too.
Simply managing those traits as the player characters progressed generated points. However, the organizers assumed that each Excel finalist would max out the available points, so they created a series of bonus questions. They asked players to track the total health pool of all the players, their total experience points, and even answer nerdy Excel questions like tracking the number of "W" letters in all of the available quests.
If you're feeling totally lost, don't worry-we did the hard work for you. The laptops below have been personally tested and vetted by members of the PCWorld team, so you know you're getting a good machine. Just note that laptop prices can fluctuate, so our picks below may occasionally go over $1,000. For more recommendations on gaming laptops, see our roundup of the best gaming laptops across all prices, or take a look at our roundup of the best laptop deals.
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.
But a German company has made an itty-bitty desktop PC that can truly disappear down there, mounted directly to the underside of the desk itself and protruding only just a couple of inches — and this silent, fanless machine is powerful enough to handle full Windows 11.
Arctic is a smaller company, but it'll be familiar to you if you keep abreast of the latest in desktop PC cooling. The Senza Under Desk PC is a full desktop PC design, albeit a not-especially-powerful one. The housing looks a little like a server blade, but it's designed to be screwed directly into the underside of your desk and essentially disappear. It even has a separate box for the PC's front-facing inputs and power/reset buttons, which can be installed at the front edge of the desk for easy operation. Cables can be run along the underside of the desk, too.
So the world took notice in September 2023 when Amazon demoed a revamped and AI-powered Alexa, backed by a state-of-the-art large language model (LLM) and capable of a whole new bag of tricks, starting with a vastly upgraded conversation style.
Now here we are, more than a year later, and there's still no obvious sign of the new AI-powered Alexa on our Amazon Echo speakers. What's the deal?
Here's what we know—and don't know—about the "remarkable" new AI Alexa, including what it will do, which devices it will work on, and when it will arrive.
What's the new AI-powered Alexa?
While Alexa as we know it has long used machine learning and AI to chat with us and perform smart-home duties, the revamped Alexa will land with a new generation of LLMs under the hood, allowing for the same (or at least similar) types of conversation skills employed by OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude.
Amazon initially said the new Alexa would run on a custom-built, in-house LLM called "Titan," but there are indications that the company may have changed course,
The new logo appeared on Valve's official Steam branding guidelines document (PDF) for partners who want to leverage Steam to sell laptops, desktops, and other stuff. The "other stuff" is what's exciting here.
"The Powered by SteamOS logo indicates that a hardware device will run the SteamOS and boot into SteamOS upon powering on the device," says the document, spotted by SteamDB and Ars Technica. "Partners/manufacturers will ship hardware with a Steam image in the form provided by and/or developed in close collaboration with Valve."
While there are lots of ways to get something very close to the Linux-based SteamOS on your PC or other hardware, right now there's only one retail product being sold with SteamOS pre-installed: Valve's own Steam Deck. It seems logical to assume that these guidelines wouldn't be necessary — and wouldn't be implemented — unless Valve was preparing to launch new Steam-powered hardware with other partners.
To be clear, that's a complete supposition on my part. But it's hardly unprecedented. Most people's first i
The issue was first raised on Microsoft's forums (spotted by Windows Latest), with a user saying they couldn't log into the Sticky Notes app due to an error message: "We couldn't verify your sign-in info. Your account doesn't have a mailbox, so we can't save your notes in the cloud."
Dozens of others users have chimed in on the thread, with many discussing their attempts to get around the problem. Resetting the app, reinstalling the app, and switching Microsoft accounts didn't help. Notably, though, work and school Microsoft accounts aren't affected. Only personal accounts seem to be running into this bug.
Since this is a server-side issue, the only real solution is to wait for Microsoft to issue a fix. Fortunately, you can still access your existing notes via Outlook or OneNote in their respective notes sections.
Alternatively, you can switch from the classic Sticky Notes app to the new Sticky Notes app. Though it's pared down and missing some features, the new Sticky Notes app is the future — and this login bug might just be the kick you need to finally switch over.
Microsoft hasn't yet acknowledged this bug or whether they're investigating and working on a soluti
I have some good reasons for this — reasons that go beyond the sunk cost fallacy. Sure, I might have spent a lot of money on this setup over the years, on building the VR PC for it, on upgrading the headset with all sorts of accessories… but that doesn't mean it isn't still better than most of what's out there. I'm not bitter or stuck in my ways. No, not at all.
Okay, maybe a little. But I'd argue that a heavily modified Vive Pro can still hold its own among modern VR headsets. There's no alternative that can do all the things it does well enough to be worth swapping. Here's why I'm staunchly defending this 2018 VR headset in 2024.
OLED is still rare in VR headsets
The Vive Pro's AMOLED display feels like a weird anomaly in the VR headset space. Its sequel, the Vive Pro 2, switched over to LCD. The Valve Index uses LCD. The Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S, and Pro all use LCD. Even the latest Pimax models all use LCD.
The only big-name VR headsets from recent years that use OLED at all are the Apple Vision Pro, Bigscreen Beyond, and PSVR2.
Now, it's fair to say that the QLED displays used in many modern headsets have
Console makers are growing more agnostic with their wares, shifting from exclusivity to a cross-platform embrace. Sony and Microsoft are both doing this to a staggering degree, with only Nintendo mostly in its own world. And if you're a PC gamer, you likely possess at least one or two consoles, even if it's just a Switch.
Let's dive into how consoles and PCs are more alike than ever, and how each console maker still tries to remain unique going into 2025.
What makes PC gaming unique?
For better or worse, PCs are more complicated than gaming consoles. You have immense flexibility when it comes to building your own machine, upgrading individual parts, and running all kinds of games at various settings. You also have options for souping up your rig with all kinds of third-party accessories and goodies.
But that flexibility comes with non-trivial complexity. Not all hardware options fit together, and you can run into software glitches due to certain PC parts being incompatible or running on outdated drivers. In shorts, there's a vast array of potential conflicts that can pop up, which is why entire communities have risen around PC troubleshooting.
Learning a new language can open so many interesting doors professionally and personally, but it's not easy. Some language-learning apps have you spend all your time memorizing new words, but that doesn't work for everyone. If you want to try learning a language through conversation and practical tutorials, check out Babbel. During Cyber Week, the price of a lifetime subscription to Babbel has dropped to $129.97 (from $599).
Babbel gives you unlimited access to lessons in 14 different languages, including Spanish, French, German, and more. Lessons are tailored for beginners and advanced learners, so you can start at your skill level.
A busy day won't stop you from studying. Babbel lessons are designed to fit into packed schedules, with each session lasting just 10-15 minutes.
It's not just memorization. Babbel lessons focus on vocabulary for real-life scenarios like dining and travel. You can even take advantage of advanced speech recognition technology to get feedback on your pr
Not everyone needs the newest, shiniest tech. If you're running Windows 10 or Windows Server 2019 and want to save a bundle (and avoid never-ending subscription fees), Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 might be your new best friend. Sure, it's not the latest version, but for cost-conscious users who don't need every new bell and whistle, it's a smart investment.
Unlike Office 365, this one-time purchase is yours forever — no sneaky renewal fees or monthly surprises. It's perfect for professionals, freelancers, and small business owners who just want access to reliable tools: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Plus, the compatibility with older systems means you don't have to upgrade your entire setup just to get work done.
If you're happy to skip the cloud-based extras of newer editions, this deal is a predictable, budget-friendly choice for your home office or business. After all, owning your software outright feels prett
By way of comparison, that's roughly as fast as an NVMe SSD on the PCIe 4.0 bus. And a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is exactly what's inside the OWC Envoy Ultra portable drive I used to test Thunderbolt 5 storage.
Note that you'll see 120Gbps listed in the Thunderbolt 5 specs, but that's uni-directional output for driving multiple high-resolution displays. Bi-directional transfers such as those used by storage devices are "limited" to 80Gbps, or roughly 6- to 7GBps after overhead.
How well does Thunderbolt 5 work?
From a design standpoint, the Meross thermostat comes in a sleek white housing with a glass touch panel, complete with LED indicators for current and set temperature, heating and cooling status, and wireless connectivity.
The Meross app lets you set up heating and cooling schedules, and it also tracks your HVAC energy consumption over time.
Best of all, the new Meross thermostat works with Matter, the smart home-unifying standard that made its debut roughly two years ago.
Thanks to Matter, the Meross thermostat will work with
Why you should trust us: It's in our name: PCWorld. We've been reviewing laptops for over 40 years, 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 daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score a great laptop on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations.
Razer. Asus. SteelSeries. Even the budget brands on Amazon are hopping on the trend, and they all seem to be using teeny tiny screens from the same two or three suppliers. I can see this spreading and I want it to stop. It is the epitome of form over function, trend-chasing nonsense. And I say this as someone who can justify buying a keyboard that costs more than a car payment.
While I advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, I understand that sometimes you just don't want to pay for yet another service. Therefore I've curated a list of the best free VPNs around. I detail what restrictions they may impose and what activities they're best used for — streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Following my recommendations you can read more about what to look for in a free VPN and how I test these services.
Our top picks:
Best free VPN: Proton VPN
Best free VPN runner-up: PrivadoVPN
Best free VPN browser extension:
Based on the same radioactive isotope used in carbon dating, the new battery technology harnesses the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which emits a low level of energy for an extremely long time. It works like solar panels (which convert light into electricity) except instead of capturing photons (light particles), the diamond battery captures fast-moving electrons from the diamond's structure.
Sarah Clark, director of tritium fuel cycle at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), says "diamond batteries offer a safe and sustainable solution for continuous microwave power. The battery is made from an artificial diamond that safely encloses small amounts of carbon-14."
Diamond batteries could have a range of potential applications, including medical technology (to power devices like pacemakers, hearing implants, and prosthetic eyes without the need for battery changes), in extreme environments (like space and the deep sea, where it's impractical to change batteries), and for tags to track cargo or spacecraft.
This new tech is unlikely to apply to phones, laptops, smart homes, electric vehicles — you know, all the usual stuff that we look to for long-lasting batteries and infinite recharge cycles. But it's impressive and fascinating. Who knows what else could come of it?
I've never owned a Samsung TV until this past week, when I was bitten by the Black Friday OLED bug and installed one in my basement. And while I'd normally prefer an external streaming device over Samsung's built-in smart TV software, the HDMI inputs have already been claimed by my home theater gaming PC, an array of consoles, and a soundbar.
Thus I find myself learning to live with Samsung's Tizen-based smart TV software and finding some ways to make the most of it. Here are the tips and tricks that I've found the most useful:
This 16-inch laptop features a 1920×1200 resolution touchscreen that's great for work productivity and for light gaming. The display sits on a 360-degree hinge that you can fold back, turning it into a tablet-like form factor (which is what makes it a 2-in-1 laptop). It's the perfect mode for reading documents, browsing the web, or even tenting the laptop so you have a propped-up screen for streaming TV shows and movies.
Under the hood is an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, delivering enough power for decent performance whether you're working, watching Netflix, or playing games. The 1TB SSD is also plenty for all your files, games, videos, and apps.
While this is technically a business laptop, it's perfect for home users — especially at this price — with its AMD Radeon integrated graphics. Just don't expect to be playing any massive modern titles at tip-top frame rates. You'll want a true gaming laptop for those.
At just $650 for the HP Envy x360 2-in-1, you can't go wrong as a daily driver. This is an absolute bargain you won't want to miss, so grab it soon because this Best Buy deal isn't going to last forever.
Microsoft is pitching Copilot Vision as a collaborative assistant that works along with you as you browse the Internet. Vision was part of a suite of new Copilot demonstrations that Microsoft showed off in October, and was easily the most underwhelming example of new Copilot technologies that I'd seen.
Copilot Vision isn't a multimodal AI capability that can interpret the world around you. Instead, it's a cross between Windows Recall and the current version of Copilot. Vision is basically a real-time version of Copilot that's only available in Microsoft's Edge browser. Instead of asking Copilot for insights, Vision apparently can "scan, analyze and offer insights" based on what your eyes, and its AI sensors, see on the page.
Where might Copilot Vision be useful? Dealing with an overwhelming array of information, possibly. Think of a densely packed shopping page, all with similar products; making sense of the mess is what Copilot Vision promises. In this scenario, asking Copilot Vision what items meet your preferences, or offer the most value based on the available features, might be of interest.
In the October demonstration Copilot didn't offer anything insightful, often basically reading aloud what it — and presumably you — saw on the page. Furthermore, Microsoft is taking a very hesitant approach to Vision, possibly as a reaction to the
I haven't tested every one of these webcams, just most of them — and I describe how I test under my recommendations. You can also refer to my separate story on the best Windows Hello webcams for recommendations that aid videoconferencing and log you into your PC. Two recommendations from that list — a premium and budget option — appear on this list.
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing PC hardware since the 1980s, and I've been a technology journalist for 30 years, with extensive experience in reviewing PC hardware. When it comes to webcams, my recommendations are based on hands-on testing in real-world scenarios. I also tap the expertise and published reviews of my counterparts in Sweden and Germany to offer a comprehensive view of the current webcam landscape.
The best webcams we've tested
Anker PowerConf C200 - Best overall webcam
At the time, according to the Windows Insider blog post, the changes were only available to Windows Insiders across all Insider Channels, with the promise that those changes would "also start rolling out to non-Insiders soon." That day is now here.
The Microsoft Store's new product page experience involves a revamped interface that highlights apps and games that may be of interest to you. Furthermore, for apps and games that have video trailers, you can watch them while browsing without having to leave the Store. If a product page doesn't have a trailer, it'll now show a hero image instead. (If you don't want trailers to autoplay, you can disable that in the settings.) The new product page experience is available to all regardless of whether you're using dark mode or light mode.
Other Microsoft Store improvements include:
Version notes for app updates, which show details provided by the developer or publisher about what you can expect in the current version of the app. Not all apps have version notes, though.
A new download progress bar that replaces the old circular progress bar, which wasn't as intuitive. This new progress bar also includes more info, like download size and progress percentage.
Faster Microsoft Store performance with the
We know how daunting sifting through Amazon can be, so we did it for you, handpicking the best deals we could find in key tech categories. (There's a lot of PC gear, since this is PCWorld, but also other goodies like earbuds, smartwatches, power banks, and more.) Every pick is something someone at PCWorld either has or would love to get themselves. We've relentlessly scoured the price, the specs, the reviews, brand reputations, and everything in between.
Our list of the top Amazon holiday tech deals will change every so often as some deals vanish into thin air while others take their place. We'll be updating this frequently, so if you don't find something you love today, make sure to check back in a couple of days.
With its 27-inch IPS panel that goes up to a resolution of 2560×1440, this monitor delivers sharp images, vibrant contrast, color accuracy, and wide viewing angles. The Acer Nitro also has a 180Hz refresh rate and up to 0.5ms response time for smooth visuals and minimal lag. Plus, it's compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium, which goes further to enhance your overall gaming experience.
Apart from that, it's pretty barebones — as expected for a monitor at this price point. It has a stand with height/tilt/swivel/pivot adjustments as well as a VESA mount. It also has adequate connectivity, including one DisplayPort 1.2 port, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and one audio output.
If you need a gaming monitor but you're on a budget, this is the one to grab. You don't often see 27-inch 1440p 180Hz monitors for just $170, so snag this awesome deal while you still can!
Save 41% on this budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitorBuy now at Amazon
ChatGPT apparently has 300 million weekly active users, and the AI chatbot receives over 1 billion messages every day. Altman also boasts that over 1.3 million developers in the US alone have built upon OpenAI for various tools and services. Maybe that isn't too surprising when you consider how ChatGPT can improve day-to-day life.
This growth is quite stark when you look at where ChatGPT was last year. In February 2023, it crossed the 100 million weekly active users milestone, so it's clear that things are still looking up. If you're one of those active users, make sure you aren't sharing any personal data in your ChatGPT messages, else it might come back to haunt you.
We'll be seeing more of OpenAI in the coming weeks, as the company announced that starting today it will be holding 12 days of livestreams, one per day, with "a bunch of new things, big and small" being revealed and discussed in each one. The video-generating AI tool called Sora might be one of them!
Clockodo: Time recording for teams
The time recording tool Clockodo is one of the most popular and best-known tools for time recording. Clockodo is a web-based time recording software that offers companies a simple and efficient way to record and manage working hours. The application is suitable for companies of all sizes and allows employees to flexibly track time from their desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The tool offers comprehensive functions such as project time recording, break recording, holiday management, and reporting.
Companies benefit from the integration with project management and billing software, allowing time tracking
Such third-party apps will be labeled as "provided and updated by" their respective developers or publishers, and these apps will appear in the general update list that appears in the Microsoft Store when you select Get updates. Prior to this, only apps that were hosted on Microsoft's system could be updated in this fashion.
Note that this new update process does not work with apps that were downloaded outside the Microsoft Store, such as from a product page or on GitHub. It only applies to apps that are listed in the Microsoft Store but configured to download from a third-party source.
The new Microsoft Store third-party app update feature is currently only available to Windows Insiders. It's unknown when it will appear in the stable version of the operating system.
Such third-party apps will be labeled as "provided and updated by" their respective developers or publishers, and these apps will appear in the general update list that appears in the Microsoft Store when you select Get updates. Prior to this, only apps that were hosted on Microsoft's system could be updated in this fashion.
Note that this new update process does not work with apps that were downloaded outside the Microsoft Store, such as from a product page or on GitHub. It only applies to apps that are listed in the Microsoft Store but configured to download from a third-party source.
The new Microsoft Store third-party app update feature is currently only available to Windows Insiders. It's unknown when it will appear in the stable version of the operating system.
As reported by BleepingComputer, users tricked by this scheme are routed to a fake Microsoft login page that steals credential info if it's entered. And because the sketchy content isn't immediately scannable within the document, this ploy can evade antivirus software. The phishing attack may not be anything new, but this method of deployment is.
Fortunately, the primary solution to protect yourself is the same as ever—be wary about opening email attachments. Don't open files sent by unknown or unexpected senders and even consider if a trusted contact has real cause to pass them along.
You can take other steps for safety, too, like being cautious of links in messages unless you requested the email. You're better off opening a browser tab, navigating to the official website for the service, and then entering your credentials.
This tiny computer features an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, ensuring maximum productivity as this thing can handle almost any app, game, stream, or work you throw its way. The apps will load quickly, the system will boot in no time, and you'll be able to jump between hundreds of tabs with speedy ease.
Need more RAM? You can later upgrade it to 64GB because its insides are easily accessible. There's a 500GB SSD on board, so storing files, apps, videos, and games won't be an issue either. There's a second SSD slot in it and both can be upgraded, allowing you to boost up to a max of 8TB down the road.
This particular model can connect up to two 4K@60Hz monitors via dual HDMI ports, and it has a 10Gbps USB-C port, three 10Gbps USB-A ports, a USB-A 2.0 port, an audio output, and two Ethernet ports.
So don't delay and get the Beelink EQR5 mini PC for $279 with Amazon Prime. Remember, if you don't have Prime, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to get this deal price anyway!
Razer. Asus. SteelSeries. Even the budget brands on Amazon are hopping on the trend, and they all seem to be using teeny tiny screens from the same two or three suppliers. I can see this spreading and I want it to stop. It is the epitome of form over function, trend-chasing nonsense. And I say this as someone who can justify buying a keyboard that costs more than a car payment.
Today's most attractive and feature-rich monitors command high prices compared to what was typical a decade ago, which has moved some monitor shoppers up-market. In turn, this has given monitor makers an incentive to pursue new trends in panel technology, video inputs, and image processing, among other features.
Also, the growing proliferation of OLED is a huge boon for monitors, and not just because OLED looks great and delivers smooth motion. While pricing on high-end, cutting-edge monitors is still up, pricing on monitors with OLED panels is edging towards a freefall.
Here are the key trends you should be aware of as far as monitor tech is concerned as we head into 2025 and beyond.
OLED monitors dip below $500
In the run up to the Black Friday sales period, we saw several 27-inch 1440p OLED monitors — like the MSI MAG 271QPX — dip a cent below $500. Innocn, a budget brand, had an even more outrageous deal: a 27-inch 1440p 240Hz OLED monitor for $429.99.
These deals have expired by now, but they're a strong signal of where OLED pricing is headed. Deep Black Friday discounts in 2024 prove that OLED monitors are now being produced in high enough volumes that monitor makers have excess stock to clear out, even if that means dropping prices to hundreds below MSRP.
Wubuntu (formerly: Linuxfx / Windowsfx)
Zorin OS
Linux Mint
Each system has its advantages and disadvantages. All three are available in a free version, although paid versions are also available for Wubuntu and Zorin-OS.
The new feature will be an optional add-on service to ExpressVPN's main subscription plan. It is currently available for Android, iOS, and Windows, with further platform availability expected in the near future.
Users will have the option to choose from dedicated IPs in 29 locations across 22 countries worldwide. The majority of which are located in Europe and North America. Pricing for the add-on service starts at $3.49 per month.
The first dedicated IP of its kind
The new feature provides users with a unique, static IP address that is designed so that neither third parties nor ExpressVPN can trace the dedicated IP address back to you.
Commenting about the aim of the new feature, Samuel Bultez, head of product at ExpressVPN said, "Many of our users have requested the option of having a dedicated IP, and we're glad to have developed a unique engineering solution to address the privacy concerns around traditional implementations of dedicated IP."
The innovative design "incorporates robust security controls and a transparent, open-source approach to develop a best-in-class dedicated IP offering."
The cornerstone of ExpressVPN's new dedicated IP address offering is Zero-Knowledge IP Allocation. This means that IP addresses are allocated privately and cannot be monitored. Adding to the anonymity is the use of Blinded tokens, which are issued by a server without the
Finding a VPN that's both lightning-fast and airtight on security feels impossible — but FastestVPN lives up to its name. With a lifetime subscription covering up to 10 devices for $24.97, this service delivers speed, privacy, and protection that rivals even the most expensive competitors.
If you're ready to take the plunge, skip ahead to checkout now and make your purchase.
FastestVPN's 256-bit AES encryption is military-grade, ensuring your data stays locked down whether you're on public Wi-Fi or at home. Its NAT firewall blocks malicious traffic before it even reaches you, while the built-in kill switch ensures your information never leaks if the VPN connection drops.
Privacy is a top priority, and FastestVPN's strict no-logging policy means your browsing history stays yours alone. Unlike some providers that track and store user data, FastestVPN guarantees complete anonymity.
And speed? That's where FastestVPN really stands out. Its optimized servers keep your connection blazing fast, so you can stream, browse, and download without int
Cyber Monday is a time to grab the best online deals ahead of the holidays. This offer allows you to treat yourself or someone special to a fabulous tech gift. Head right to checkout to get this grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Air 13.3? for just $229.97 (reg. $348.99)—and free shipping—while stock is still available.
Whether you're looking for a reliable travel companion, a gift for a student, or a sleek backup laptop, this MacBook Air is an affordable solution. The 2017 Air offers the classic Apple experience—smooth performance and all-day battery life—at a fraction of the cost. If that sounds like just what you need, go straight to checkout to grab it.
Equipped with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, it delivers responsive
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
iBuyPower Slate 6 Mesh, Core i5-13600KF/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $699.00 (42% off on Walmart)
Good news is, when you see a free alternative to a paid version you like, you can safely assume the antivirus protection level is similar—save for any specific malware types the free version doesn't cover.
To create this list of the top free antivirus programs, we looked at the top mainstream antivirus suites for Windows and selected the ones that offer a free version, as not all of them do. Then we looked at how well these suites performed in third-party detection tests. We also made sure they weren't resource hogs, because software that slows down your PC is a pain in the rear, even when it's free.
In the end, our selection came down to these top free antivirus suites.
Update November 25, 2024: Free antivirus not cutting it for you? Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to upgrade to a paid antivirus suite. You can check out the top options (and their current prices) in our round up of the best antivirus, as well as in our overall Black Friday coverage.
Google's Genie 2 is the evolution of its Generative Interactive Environments, which uses AI to construct new, interactive environments on the fly. Genie 1, which Google released in February, could construct 2D environments. Now, Genie 2, which Google announced today, takes that into 3D space.
Google calls Genie 2 a "world model," which means it can simulate virtual worlds, with animations, physics, and object interactions. It's a two-step process: Genie 2 requires a prompt image to extrapolate into a world, but that image can be itself generated by an ordinary text prompt. Want a cyberpunk Western? Genie 2 will create it. A sailing simulation? That, too. You just need a reference or a prompt to begin.
The Arc B580 was leaked a little early, and already reason to be excited if you love a good budget card. The $249 card will come out in less than two weeks, packing 12GB of video memory and a 192-bit memory bus, beating Nvidia's RTX 4060 ($300 retail price) and AMD's RX 7600 ($270) budget offerings. Other highlights include 20 upgraded Xe cores, 20 ray tracing units, and a core clock topping out a 2.67GHz.
Update: Here's the full video if you missed it. And if you're short on time, Mark Hachman wrote up the bullet points in this article, covering a lot of the teething troubles with the initial Arc Alchemist release.
Why you should trust us: 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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Here's how it works: In Edge, navigate to the web page with the content you want to listen to. Highlight a selection of text using your mouse cursor, then right-click and select Read selection aloud in the menu.
Once you do that, a toolbar will appear at the top of the browser. Here, you can click buttons to Pause/Play reading and to skip backward/forward through the selection line by line. The toolbar also has a Voice options button, which you can use to change the reading speed and the text-to-speech voice.
Alternatively, you can have Edge read out the entire web page — not just a selection of text — by click the A icon (in the address bar) that has sound waves coming out of it:
"We will kick off literally in about a week," Warner Bros. Discovery streaming exec JB Perrette said during a Wells Fargo tech and media conference on Tuesday, as The Wrap reports.
Max's initial password-sharing crackdown will be more akin to a warning, with some "early, gentle messaging" to streamers "who we think are definitely in the higher tier of usage." That appears to be the extent of Max's account-sharing crackdown for now. But sometime early next year, the streamer will roll out "a way to essentially add a member," Perrette said.
Meanwhile, Max will start to make its filters "tighter and tighter" once the streamer determines "how good we are at detecting" password sharers, the WB exec continued. Max hasn't yet detailed how it will allow account holders to buy additional slots for friends, family, or other non-household streamers, but it will almost certainly follow the lead of Netflix and Disney , which both let its users pay for sub accounts.
Disney launched its password-sharing crackdown earlier this year. By September, it had revealed how much it would charge for an "extra member": $6.99 a month for Disney Basic (or with-ads) users or $9.99 a month for Disney Premium subscribers.
And right now, Amazon has a rare sale on this specialized mouse, selling it for just over $76 with a 24 percent discount.
The MX Vertical, like other vertical mice, is rotated so that your hand sits at a more natural and comfortable position. Logitech says its 57-degree angle "reduces the pressure on your wrist, while your thumb is positioned comfortably on the thumb rest." This is a matter of preference, of course. Only you can decide if you like it over conventional mouse designs.
The MX Vertical is packed with most of the same high-end components as the MX Master series, including 2.4GHz dongle support, multi-device Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and two programmable thumb buttons. An extra button on the top bar defaults to a quick sensitivity adjustment, but all of this can be customized in Logi Options software for PC and Mac.
I should point out that the MX Vertical only comes in a right-handed model. If you use your mouse in southpaw style, you might prefer the Logitech Lift vertical mouse instead, a similar design that's not quite as fancy but comes in mirrored righty and lefty shapes.
Logitech's MX mice rarely go on sale, doubly so for this more specialized MX Vertical model. If you've been hunting for a deal on this design, you're unlikely to find another one before the end of the year — so hop on it and
I should point out right away that this particular listing is not discrete graphics cards that are marketed under the Arc brand name. Nope, this is integrated graphics in new laptops with the latest Core Ultra 100 series processors from Intel. And in that regard, they're still far outmatched even among other integrated graphics from Intel itself, with Iris Xe, Intel HD, and various generations of Intel UHD graphics beating it out.
The highest ranking integrated graphics chip on the Steam list (spotted by KitGuru) is "AMD Radeon Graphics" at 2.05 percent for November. That's a combination of many different chips (and confusingly listed separately from "AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics," which is at 1.1 percent). As of now, no discrete Intel graphics card — of which there's just one generation — has s
But starting with One UI 7, the DeX app for Windows will no longer work; at that point, users are encouraged to switch over to Microsoft's Phone Link app. One UI 7 is rumored to enter beta testing in mid-December and will likely start rolling out in the US early in 2025.
Spotted by Windows Central, the UK page for Samsung DeX now has a tiny footnote that says as much:
However, the US page for Samsung DeX has no such footnote. Whether that means the page simply hasn't been updated yet or that the discontinuation will only affect UK users, we don't know for sure.
To be clear, Samsung DeX as a feature will still be around. The only change would be that it won't be accessible via Windows PC anymore. Instead, you'll find similar functionality via Microsoft's Phone Link app.
Among other things, the Phone Link app makes it possible to sync
