The Scuba X1 is essentially the full package when it comes to cleaning your pool, taking care of everything for you. Aiper's robotic pool cleaner can provide everyday maintenance, saving you countless hours and money spent on other solutions.
Each morning or evening, you can automate the Aiper Scuba X1 to scrub the pool bottom and walls free of algae and dirt, and scrub the waterline for any hair, leaves, sticks, and any other grime that blew into or otherwise ended up in the water.
Smart and easy cleaning
Aiper's Scuba X1 uses a dual jet system to provide 6,600GPH suction. This glues the robotic pool cleaner to the pool floor or walls, and ensures it does a thorough job of picking up anything that shouldn't be there, including sand and tiny pebbles.
The robotic pool cleaner collects all the debris into a basket where it will stay-the industry's first MicroMesh™ ultra-fine filter system makes sure none of it gets back into the water, where it could potentially clog the pipes.
View Aiper Scuba X1
It's not just the pool walls and floor that get the Aiper's attention, but also its waterline. The Scub
Hard drives still have a very real place in the world of backups. The WD My Passport® drive offers masses of storage capacity in a compact, portable device, at a very fair price. That makes it a great option for augmenting your existing backups, or starting off on the right foot when it comes to protecting your data.
The 1TB* model is priced at just $70, giving you all the space you need for expansive collections of work documents, precious family videos, and vacation photos. But that's just the entry-level option. You can pack as much as 6TB into one of these miniature 2.5-inch drives - and for less than $200, too.
Microsoft has officially started the countdown clock on Windows 10. If you're still procrastinating the upgrade, now is the time to act—before you're left with no future security updates and paying full price for Windows 11 Pro. While codes last, you're able to save a whopping $184.
These Windows 11 Pro keys also upgrade two compatible PCs, like your personal and work computers, to the latest, most advanced operating system to date. Enjoy a refreshed user design, new productivity tools, improved gaming graphics with DirectX12 Ultimate, and enhanced security with Smart App Control and TPM 2.0.
Since this is the Pro version of Windows 11, you'll also get remote desktop access for viewing files and running programs from your mobile device. There is also BitLocker device encryption for protecting your hard drive in the case of device loss or theft, plus Azure AD, Hyper-V, and Windows Sandbox for professional use cases.
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 4 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN)
NordVPN, now $3.99 per month for 24 months 3 free months (73% off at NordVPN)
Surfshark VPN, now $2.69 per month for 24 months 3 free months (85% off at Surfshark)
In that vein, a periodic review of devices logged into your Google account is a good idea. If someone's stolen your password, you should be aware of that unauthorized access to all your email, photos, videos, and other files. A hacker isn't the only person to be worried about, either. A romantic partner, roommate, family member, or friend could decide to spy on you, too. You should be sure that only the right people have access.
To see which devices are logged into your Google account, you can use either on a PC or your phone. If you spot any intruders, remove them—and then also change your password to prevent future unauthorized logins.
On a PC
The fast way to check is to head directly to google.com/devices. Otherwise you can go the manual route:
Open a page for a Google service (search, Gmail, etc)
Click your profile icon at the top right of a browser window
Choose Manage your Google Account
Click Security on the left side of the page
Scroll down to Your devices
Click on Manage all devices
Look over the list of devices logged into your accounts. For any you don't recognize, click on them, and then choose Sign out button in the top section of this info screen.
Avoid the impending Microsoft 365 price hike. It was normally $79.99 for a yearly plan, but Microsoft announced they're raising the price of this suite for the first time in 12 years to $99.99.
No more subscription fees: Instead of cutting a monthly or yearly check for Microsoft 365, you can eliminate the recurring fee entirely by owning your productivity apps with Microsoft Office 2021.
Designed specifically for Windows devices: Just ensure your device meets the system requirements for smooth installation.
Gain lifetime access to Word, Excel, Pow
Calling all small business owners or entrepreneurs—are you juggling multiple roles in marketing, invoicing and sales, and/or customer outreach? You might be feeling stretched thin, but you don't need to rely on a third party to perform those tasks for you.
Meet Sellful, an AI-powered platform designed to help small businesses and agencies streamline their operations, providing a single, organized space for you to manage daily growth tasks, automate outreach, and even create a website. Get lifetime access while it's available for only $399 (reg. $1,497).
Sellful is designed to relieve business owners and entrepreneurs of many of its day-to-day tasks. Check out what the software can help you with:
Last week, a California federal judge finally resolved a lawsuit that stretched over more than four years, ending in HP neither admitting fault nor compensating the vast majority of customers affected by software updates that were called "malware" by the litigants. Just three parties that brought the suit will get $5,000 USD each, and customers will have the option to roll back the offending updates on 21 models of LaserJet printer. The full list of more recent models was posted by Ars Technica.
Models made before the year 2016 are also covered… but that will be a relatively small slice of printers still in service almost a decade later. HP has begun at least nominally warning customers that its new printers include "Dynamic Security" that blocks ink cartridges that don't use HP's proprietary verification system. HP has apparently dropped its more overt attempts to "make printing a subscription," but it's still heavily invested into locking customers into its expensive ink system.
Speaking as both a consumer advocate and a person who begrud
To be clear, I still use Windows. It's what I'm using right now to type this, on a beefy gaming desktop I assembled myself, with triple monitors and all sorts of googaws attached. But I don't need all that anymore, and for the first time in my adult life, I can see myself transitioning to an entirely different operating system.
That's a big deal for me, and I suspect I'm far from alone. Microsoft might want to make a note of it.
Why I don't need Windows
So here's what I mean when I say that I don't need Windows anymore: Every tool, program, and piece of information I rely upon is now essentially separate from whatever machine I'm using at the moment.
I'm writing the words you're reading right now in Google Docs. When I'm done, I'll edit them in WordPress. Throughout my work day I'm talking with my coworkers and bosses on Slack, I'm chatting with my friends via text, WhatsApp, and some other platforms. I'm managing my own to-do list in Google Keep, updating my work tasks in a tool called Monday, and checking personal and professional email in Gmail and Outlook, respectively. I'm keeping an eye on news and social trends in BlueSky and The Old Reader for RSS.
I still use local files, of course. But they're all
Remember when AI first came onto the scene? Some people were obsessed, but others (perhaps like yourself) hoped it was just a fad. Regardless of your attitude, it's clear that AI is here to stay. If you haven't looked into how AI can make your workday easier, it may be time to learn how to use the chatbot.
While AI can save you time at work and make repetitive tasks less annoying, where do you start? Begin by using 1min.AI, the ultimate beginner-friendly AI tool. It offers a collection of the top AI models, like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, and more, and lifetime access to the Advanced business plan is now less than $80.
Need assistance with article writing or another boring task? It's simple with 1min.AI's selectio
Whether for streaming, studying, or everyday browsing, this budget-friendly Chromebook delivers.
What makes this Chromebook a great deal?
Durability - With durable rubber bumpers, reinforced ports & hinges, and a drop-resistant design, the Lenovo 100e Chromebook is built to withstand everyday bumps and falls from up to 29.5 inches, making it ideal for kids and daily use.
11.6" HD display - Anti-glare screen reduces eye strain while delivering crisp visuals for both work and play
Smooth performance - Powered by a MediaTek MT8173C processor and 4GB RAM, this Chromebook runs smoothly for browsing, multitasking, and using apps
32GB storage - Keep essential files, apps, and downloads without worry
ChromeOS - Access Google apps, cloud storage, and parental controls
Lightweight & portable - Weighs just 2.68lbs, making it easy to carry from classroom to living room
All-day battery - Enjoy up to 10 hours of power on a single charge for uninterrupted pr
Signal is an end-to-end encrypted app (E2EE), which means it encrypts every message before it leaves your device, and that message can only be read after it arrives on a recipient's device and gets decrypted. As it travels in between, even if it were to be intercepted, it couldn't be read thanks to the encryption.
The thing is, other apps like Messenger and WhatsApp also employ end-to-end encryption. So, what's so special about Signal? And how did it become part of a small firestorm in US politics this week? Well, the app isn't the problem. The issue is its use.
As an E2EE app, Signal's bona fides surpass Messenger and WhatsApp. For starters, Signal Messenger LLC—the company that develops Signal—created the encryption protocol used by all three messaging apps. (And to no one's surprise, it's called the Signal protocol.) Signal is also open source, which means the community can freely check its source code for any odd behavior or deceptive practices.
No one but the sender and recipient(s) should be able to see messages in a secure messaging app. It's scrambled all the way through, whether on your device ("at rest") or while zipping through internet pipelines ("in transit"). Through use of both permanent and temporary encryption keys, your privacy should hold until decryption happens, even if those keys are compromised. In contrast, regular SMS (text) messages and email aren't encrypted at all—those messages can easily be read during an
Notorious (and controversial) examples of dynamic pricing include airline tickets, ride-sharing services, hotels and Airbnbs, sports and concert tickets. The price you see could fluctuate for all kinds of reasons.
You can defend yourself against dynamic pricing by deleting the cookies saved in your web browser. A cookie is a file stored on your device by a website that's used to track your activity and remember things about you—and when dynamic pricing is in play, websites use cookies when determining what price to show you.
Google has just announced that it's discontinuing the 10-year-old Nest Protect and the 7-year-old Nest x Yale lock. Both of those products will continue to work, and—for now—they remain on sale at the Google Store, complete with discounts until supplies run out.
But while Google itself is exiting the smoke alarm and smart lock business, it isn't leaving Google Home users in the lurch. Instead, it's teeing up third-party replacements for the Nest Protect and Nest X Yale lock, with both new products coming from familiar brands.
First up is the SC5 Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm from Residio-owned First Alert, which matches most of the same functions as the aging Nest Protect.
Like the Google smoke detector, the First Alert SC5 can send mobile alerts in case of a fire of CO event, along with voice alerts, "heads-up" early warnings in case the unit detects an "emerging" smoke situation, and the ability to trigger other nearby and compatible smoke alarms in case of an emergency.
The Wi-Fi-enabled First Alert SC5 is compatible with the Google Home app as well as existing Nest Protect alarms, meaning you can easily add the First Alert detectors to your home even if you already have Nest Protect units set up.
Available in both battery-powered and hardwired versions, the First Alert SC5 will hit retail in the "coming
Is there a neutral wire in the box?
Many smart switches and dimmers require the presence of a neutral wire in the electrical box inside the wall, in addition to the line (power from the circuit-breaker panel), load (power to the light to be controlled), and ground (a low-resistance path for electricity to flow to the ground in the event of a malfunction) wires. Smart switches have radios that must be constantly powered, and the neutral wire is usually what supplies that juice.
While all homes have neutral wires, many older homes don't have a neutral wire in every box. If you're not sure if there's a neutral wire at the location you want to install a smart switch, this how-to story will help you figure it out. If you don't have a neutral wire, Lutron's Caséta and Diva smart dimmers and the GE Cync Dimmer (3-wire version) are among the few smart switches that do not require one.
If there's a downside to converting to smart in-wall dimmers and switches, it's installing them. Don't worry, it's an easy DIY project. Be aware, however, that most-but certainly not all-smart controls depend on the presence of a neutral wire in the box. The neutral wire will supply constant power to the device's radio, even when the load it's controlling is turned off. If you're not comfortable dealing with high-voltage wiring, hire an electrician for the job.
Now, don't think we're besmirching smart bulbs. They have their place, too; if for no other reason than being able to change the color of the lighting in a room. I've lived with smart lighting in my home for more than 15 years, and I can't imagine turning my lights on and off without the options of using a voice command, in response to motion, on schedules, or with a smartphone app. You won't be disappointed in the results.
Need more information before you choose a specific product? We can answer all your questions about choosing the right type of smart dimmer or switch at the preceding link.
Why you should trust us
TechHive's editors and contributors have been testing smart switches and dimmers for more than that 15 years, installing them in our own homes to gain truly real-world e
The dedicated page shows a long list of features in development, indicating which ones are currently in the Windows Insider Program (that's what Microsoft calls a beta, they're not great at names), which ones are gradually rolling out via active updates, and which are now widely available.
Although Microsoft typically reserves major feature releases for the fall, April 2025 is a key month for the software giant because it marks the 50th anniversary of the company's founding. With two preview releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has tipped off what features your PC will be receiving soon—most likely in April.
Both Windows 11 Build 26100.3613 and Windows 11 Build 26100.3624 are part of the Release Preview Channel for Windows 11 Insiders, meaning you can try them out early yourself by joining the Windows Insider program. If you do, note that Microsoft isn't releasing all of these features in one fell swoop. Some of them will be released "normally" while others are rolled out in a "gradual" cadence.
Optional non-security feature releases typically launch on the fourth week of every month, usually on a Tuesday. (In this case, that'd be April 22, 2025.) Those features then typically roll out to everyone else about two weeks later. Nothing guarantees this timeline, of course. It's our best guess based on past releases and when they've occurred.
The details of USB-C can be confusing, however, and pricing for USB-C monitors is often higher than that for monitors that lack the interface. See our buyers' guide below our recommendations to better understand the nuances.
Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE - Best USB-C monitor overall
German online store Alternate.de has a listing up for the Zotac RTX 5090 Solid OC, with its "missing" ROPs spelled out right on the page. (The defective card only has 168 ROPs when it should have 176.) Those missing ROPs can result in up to 10 percent less performance.
The price for this rough diamond? €2,899, or about $3,140 USD. For a card that Nvidia claims has a $2,000 MSRP without defective hardware.
How do I know it's great? Because I have one of these in my own backyard! It's been there since last fall, waiting for the birds to make their return home with the warmer weather. And over the past several weeks, I've been getting pings left and right as the Birdfy alerts me when birds arrive and provides me with a direct video feed.
That's right, the Birdfy has a 1080p camera that looks great during the day and almost as good at night. Given how sensitive this bird feeder's motion detection is, it could even serve double duty as a kind of outdoor home surveillance camera. If you don't fiddle with the settings, you'll get notifications any time something catches its attention, not just when birds visit the feeder.
And when a bird does visit the feeder? Birdfy will tell you what kind of bird it is, allowing you to learn more about it if you want to. You can also download the videos and snapshots from any bird visit.
Get one of these Birdfy smart bird feeders and get an up-close look at your neighborhood's birdlife. Now that it's on sale for just $145, there's never been a better time to snag one.
Save 37% on this smart bird feeder with real-time video
The new model builds on the first AMR-C01 that launched in 2020, but has been upgraded with a new seating design inspired by the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. Improved ergonomics allow taller drivers to sit comfortably, while a repositioned button panel and improved grille provide better usability and cooling.
As for the gaming hardware, here's what you'll find inside:
49-inch Samsung Odyssey G95C curved display (with 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and HDR10 )
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card
Intel 14th-generation processor
32GB of DDR5 RAM
2TB of M.2 SSD storage
All of this is built into a carbon fiber monocoque with Aston Martin's iconic front grille. The steering motor feels like a real racing car with its precision feedback and high torque response, and the steering wheel itself has 9 rotary dials, 12 push buttons, an LCD display, dual-clutch paddles, and carbon fiber gear shifter paddles.
This is as close as it gets to hopping in a Formula car and driving it around without actually hopping into one. Former F1 driver Darren Turner describes it as "the ultimate racing simulator for those who demand the very best." I reckon so.
I'm being flippant, but it's understandable that Microsoft would want to give Office a performance boost, even if it is somewhat illusory. And in the company's defense, the announcement in the Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive (spotted by The Verge) does say that the new tool will only be enabled on PCs that have at least 8GB of RAM and 5GB of free disk space. I think even trying to run Windows 11 on just 8GB of RAM is kind of optimistic these days, but at least there's a floor.
A cynic might wonder why Microsoft is making Office start when the computer boots instead of, you know, just making Office more efficient so it can run faster. (There's no second part to that statement. The cynic is me. I want Office to be more efficient.)
The update to the Microsoft 365 installer will initially only apply to Microsoft Word when it rolls out in mid-May, then spread to other Office programs later. And yes, you will be able to disable this feature. End users can turn it off in Word's settings or in the Task Scheduler.
This thing is so compact, it can fit under your monitors and help you keep your desk space clutter-free. It will also impress with its performance thanks to its more-than-decent configuration: AMD Ryzen 7 5700U CPU, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That's a combo that'll boot Windows in no time, load apps and games in seconds, and handle pretty much anything you need it to. Plus, it's upgradeable to 64GB of RAM.
If you're a multitasker, you'll love this P4 mini PC because it comes with triple 4K@60Hz display support. That's ideal for work, allowing you to spread your windows out across multiple screens for maximum productivity. If there's a downside, it's the weak integrated graphics card that can only handle some light gaming.
As long as you don't need high-power gaming, this mini PC is an incredible investment: just $300 right now at Amazon with Prime and the on-page coupon. Remember to grab the free trial if you don't have Prime.
Right now, this 256GB Samsung Bar Plus thumb drive is $20 on Amazon. That's a whopping 50% off its original price and the best-ever deal we've seen for this model. 256GB is plenty of storage space, especially for a flash drive, and the value is unbeatable at this price.
What makes this deal so appealing is the flash drive's performance. This thing can transfer at up to 400 MB/s, so you'll be moving movies, games, and other large files in seconds. In fact, it can move an entire 100GB folder in less than 5 minutes. No more sitting on your thumbs.
It's not just fast but protected, too. The rugged metal casing protects against bumps and drops, and the whole thing is waterproof, shockproof, and safe against magnets, X-rays, and extreme temperatures.
Frankly, there's no reason not to get the Samsung Bar Plus for $20—other flash drives at this size and price are going to be slower and feel cheaper. And while you're here, you might also want to check out the awesome Amazon Big Spring Sale deals we've found.
A high-speed 256GB flash drive for $20? That's a bargain!
Decades later, I can play it once again, via Visual Pinball.
Video games are as close to reality as they've ever been. We can model entire civilizations, even galaxies, in pixels. But there's something visceral about pinball: the flashing lights, the careening balls, trying to hit targets and ramps in a set amount of time. Pinball demands skill, lightning reflexes, and coordination, all for the chance of an extra ball or even a free game.
I started playing around with Visual Pinball more than a decade ago, maybe even two. I stopped, well, because life got in the way. But I recently got the urge to start picking it up again, and you should too, even if you don't consider yourself a gamer. Why? Because there's a reason Microsoft built a pinball game into early versions of Windows: We all instinctively get pinball. And Visual Pinball makes it better than ever, all for free.
By the end of April, most users will be greeted by a new login and registration experience that involves a restructured flow, fewer elements per screen, and better scalability for different screen sizes.
Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor with 16 cores, a powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 discrete graphics card, a decent 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a spacious 1TB SSD, this is a more-than-solid configuration that's perfect for productivity, video editing, PC gaming, streaming Netflix, and browsing the web. Specs like these don't come cheap, and you're lucky to find 'em under a grand.
And that's not even including the 14.5-inch OLED display with a crisp 2880×1800 resolution and fast 120Hz refresh rate. OLED panels are beautiful on laptops but they're normally pricey, hence why this is a great deal. You get vivid colors, high contrast, deep blacks, with a high-resolution screen, for hundreds of dollars off.
Get your order in quickly because this Acer Swift X 14 gaming laptop won't be $950 forever. In fact, this deal ends in just a few days when the month wraps up, but I suspect stock will run out before then because high-end gaming laptops with steep discounts usually do.
Save $550 on this Acer laptop with OLED screen and RTX power
That's a pity because mouse mats come in a variety of materials which have different speed and maneuverability profiles.
Read on to find out which ones are the quickest and which ones the slowest, and why you should really select your gaming mouse mat carefully.
Hard mouse mat materials: Made for speed
Mouse mats made from hard materials like plastic, stainless steel, wood, aluminum, and glass are the fastest of all of the material types for gaming. These materials provide less friction over their surfaces so they're ideal for making quick sweeping movements like strafing and spinning around.
Hard materials also provide a satisfying tactile feeling that many gamers like, but on the downside their slippery surfaces aren't so easy to stop or change direction on, so they can provide less precision than some softer materials. They can also cause more discomfort to player hands over time.
The fastest of these materials is tempered glass. It's especially favored by elite gamers looking for an edge in competitive games. To that effect, the surfaces of most tempered glass mouse mats are usually embellished for the smoothest glide.
The Razer Atlas mouse mat, for example, features a polished surface which has been etched to within 2 micrometers so that it'll work optimally with optical mouse sensors. Other hard grade mouse mats considered extremely quick include the
The following 5 tips offer a path to improved laptop performance and stability and a more satisfying experience that doesn't require a new laptop purchase.
Driver and BIOS/UEFI update
Before you tune your laptop, you should update the hardware drivers and the BIOS/UEFI of your device. A current update can provide optimizations from the manufacturer, such as better performance and power-saving functions for the CPU or more efficient fan control. Use the manufacturer's pre-installed driver tools for this.
Almost every laptop manufacturer installs some form of updating software as part of the bundle: This checks with a click of the mouse whether more up-to-date drivers and BIOS/UEFI versions are available or takes you to the website where you can download them. Make sure you only install updates that are suitable for your model.
You can usually get the latest drivers directly from the manufacturer of the chipset, graphics card, or WLAN module in the notebook.
Further reading: How to check your PC's CPU temperature
Overclocking the laptop processor
Depending on the CPU manufacturer, download the
If you reuse the same username across all sites, someone can more easily try to hack your accounts. And if it's your email address? Now they know what account to attack if they want to try to gain full control over your online life.
But if you start using random usernames (and email masks) in addition to random passwords, a hacker's job becomes more difficult. For starters, you'll neutralize attempts at credential stuffing—or checking to see if an account exists by initiating a password reset. And if you're lucky enough to have never had your primary email address involved in a data breach or leak, it should be harder to guess, too.
Fortunately, upgrading your security to include random usernames is pretty easy if you're already using a password manager. Whether the free one provided by Google or Apple, or an independent third-party service, you can track this info along with your unique passwords. Some password managers like ProtonPass can natively suggest email masks (aka email aliases) to cloak your email address if a site requires it for login.
Remember when TikTok went dark? Those days might be looming over us again with yet another TikTok ban on the horizon. Instead of desperately looking for an alternative app, why not code the next big hit?
If you have an idea, you might be able to jump and code the next TikTok. But you can't do it without assistance from a development platform like Microsoft Visual Studio Pro. Upgrade from a free IDE like NetBeans to this software for only $27.97 (reg. $499) through March 30.
"Bringing the Magic of Friends Back to Facebook" is how Facebook calls it, in a saccharine "Live Laugh Love" motif that people who are not all right plaster their kitchen with in an effort to try and convince the world and themselves that everything's OK.
"Bringing the Magic of Friends Back to Facebook" is a way to bring back the "OG" Facebook experiences, Facebook says. "OG" stands for "Original Gangster," which seems particularly telling given that Facebook acted too late to prevent disinformation from swaying the 2020 election and how Facebook's algorithm already divides the country into liberal and conservative bubbles.
If you don't believe that Facebook is already a hive of algorithmically, AI-generated content designed to rile you up, misinform you, and ultimately cause you and whoever you interact with to disintegrate into a seething hate cauldron of steaming id, I don't know what to tell you.
Sure, now is the time to get rid of all the programmatically generated content, and just see content from your friends. Hurray! Now that the cow's out of the barn, we can clean up all the manure and go back to the way things were.
The obvious, clear answer would be to hire more content moderat
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360
Adam had the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360—a big, thin, 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen and pen support. It's also surprisingly light on RAM for being so premium and packing a Core Ultra 7 256V processor. Most tasks were fine, but Adam could really see the laptop chugging when he threw some Adobe Bridge and Photoshop work on top of regular Chrome tabs. The on-chip memory shared between the CPU and GPU means it's going to struggle versus anything with discrete graphics.
On the plus side, it's rocking a big, beautiful screen in a thin body, which also means a roomy trackpad. And with 76 watt-hours of battery and an aggressively efficient setup, it can go for a solid workday on a charge.
More than two dozen first-generation Harmony remotes are slated to lose support, including the Harmony 670, 720, 880 and 880 Pro, 1100i, and the Harmony for Xbox 360.
Such newer Harmony remotes as the Harmony One, Harmony Elite, and the Harmony Companion aren't on the list. But the news that Logitech is dropping support for first-generation Harmony remotes begs the question of how much longer other Harmony devices will remain supported. We've reached out to Logitech for comment.
The "Harmony Remote Discontinuation Notice" pops up when you open the legacy Logitech Harmony Remote Software, which allows you to reprogram the remote's buttons as well as configure it to work with different makes and models of TVs, A/V receivers, DVD and Blu-ray players, game consoles, and other home theater components.
"After careful consideration, and more than 10 years of dedicated support, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue support for our Harmony First Generation Remote devices," the notice reads. "As technology continues to evolve, we recognize the challenges in maintaining our services to the standards we strive for."
While the affected Harmony remotes will still work, users won't be able to change the behavior of the buttons anymore, nor will they be able to add or remove devices or activities (that is, a sequence of actions that might turn on your TV and Blu-ray player while setting them to the correct inputs and outputs).
Newer Harmony remotes "will continue to be supported" via the MyHarmony website or the Harmony app, Logitech added.
Logitech, which acquired the Harmony brand back in 2004, announced in A
In 2025, all but one NBA team offers standalone streaming options, allowing you to watch in-market games without an expensive pay TV package. Six NBA teams are also broadcasting local games over the air, so you can watch for free with an antenna (don't miss TechHive's top TV antenna recommendations). Meanwhile, a couple of pay TV holdouts remain.
Wouldn't it be nice if someone provided a single page on which to look up your local NBA team and see what you needed to watch in-market games without cable for the 2024-2025 season? That is precisely the service we are providing right here. (If you missed it, here's a similar resource for this season's NHL coverage.)
NBA in-market streaming options: An overview for 2024-2025
Below is a chart showing every National Basketball Association team, its corresponding local channel or regional sports network, the live TV streaming services that carry those channels, and whether any standalone alternatives exist.
Note that these options only apply for locally televised, in-market games. We'll get to the options for nationally tel
We've tested nearly three dozen PCIe 4.0 SSDs and the best one to cross our labs thus far is Solidgm's P44 Pro. In a field of tough contenders it delivered ferociously fast speeds rivaled only by next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSDs.
Whether you want to upgrade, or add more storage to your PCIe 4.0 computer, there's an SSD for you. Read on to learn more, including what to look for in PCIe 4.0 SSD.
Why you should trust us: We're not called PCWorld for nothing. Our reviewers have been testing PC hardware for decades. Our storage evaluations are exhaustive, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As PC users ourselves, we know what makes a killer product stand out. Only the best SSDs make this list. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article.
The Acer KB272 is a budget monitor with its standard 1080p resolution and lack of USB extras. But surprisingly it can handle some light gaming thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync capability, and 1ms response time. It won't blow you away if you're used to a dedicated gaming monitor, but it's a lot better than the usual budget fare.
I'd also say it makes a great addition to an existing multi-monitor desktop setup thanks to its thin bezels and standard 100mm VESA mount. You can use it with any monitor arm or third-party stand. Note that the connections are a bit limited with just HDMI and VGA, but it comes with an HDMI cable in the box. You can also plug in your headphones.
Amazon doesn't say how long the sale will last, but since the Big Spring Sale promotion is nearing its end, I doubt it'll stick around for long.
Get this 27-inch Acer IPS monitor for just $100Buy now at Amazon
I'm talking about something like this gorgeous Arzopa portable monitor that's now on sale for $65 on Amazon (was $110). That's a stunning 41% discount brought on by Amazon's Big Spring Sale event.
This is a 15.6-inch display that's slim and lightweight at just 0.3 inches thick and 1.7 pounds. That makes it easy to pack and carry, so it's the perfect companion for your laptop on the go. And with its IPS panel and 1080p resolution, this travel monitor will deliver vivid colors, good contrast, solid brightness, and color accuracy. It's ideal for working and relaxing with Netflix or YouTube.
Arzopa's monitor comes with a built-in smart cover, which doubles as both a protective shield and as a kickstand. Prop up the screen and use it for reading PDFs, browsing spreadsheets, managing your email, controlling Spotify playback, or watching videos. And this monitor is plug-and-play, able to connect to your laptop (or smartphone, handheld console, tablet, etc.) via USB-C or Mini HDMI.
Go ahead and snag this Arzopa portable monitor for just $65 before this awesome Amazon deal expires!
Save 41% on this productivity-boosting portable monitor
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USB sticks are no longer the slowish commodity item they once were. Utilizing the fast 10Gbps USB 3.2 protocol, Type-C connectors, and NVMe internals they're now more akin to what we call external SSDs than those dime-a-dozen thumb drives of the past.
While not the fastest (it's still fast) such beastie I've tested, the PNY Pro Elite V3's elegant retractable design and uber-small form-factor won me over. At least for everyday workloads — it's not the best for super-large file transfers.
Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the
That's the subtext, if not the direct message, in the latest official Xbox Wire blog post. The Game Bar app—an overlay meant to enhance your game experience and deliver some on-the-fly statistical data—has a new look now. It's a little more muted and easier on the eyes, with faster access to tools like the Capture and Performance widgets. You can also navigate the Widget Store to download new tools much more easily with a controller, whether it's separate or part of your device.
The goal here is "ensuring a smoother experience when using Compact Mode on PCs and Windows Handhelds." (Note the direct shout-out and brand-approved capitalization.) When I tried out Compact Mode on my desktop, it gave me definite Steam Big Picture mode vibes, complete with a much bigger font and interface. It looks goofy on a 32-inch monitor, but it's easy to see how it would work better on a little 7-inch screen.
In other Xbox-slash-PC gaming news, Microsoft has announced new support for more games you can stream via Game Pass if you own a copy, notably highlighted by the new Assassin's Creed Shadows. The latest blockbuster in Ubisoft's long-running serie
According to OpenAI, the improved 4o model is able to produce precise, accurate, and photorealistic results. They claim that it's also particularly good at rendering text, following instructions precisely, and even understanding the context of a chat. All of this includes the transformation of uploaded images or using uploaded images as visual inspiration.
RDP issues reverted in Windows 11 24H2
Separately, Microsoft has
Major League Baseball's out-of-market streaming service isn't just available directly through the league. You can also subscribe through Amazon Prime, Sling, and Fubo. (T-Mobile customers can also redeem a full season of MLB.TV for free this week.)
But unless you sign up for MLB.TV directly, you might miss out on some major subscription perks without getting anything in exchange. You might even wind up paying more for less.
MLB.TV can cost more elsewhere
The main reason to get MLB.TV is to stream live, out-of-market baseball games. That perk is the same no matter where you sign up, at least if want to watch any non-local team. (Watching your home team is a different story; you can read about your in-market baseball streaming options here.)
But depending on where you live and which teams you want to watch, MLB.TV can cost more from other sources.
Fubo and Sling TV, for instance, offer only MLB.TV's "all teams" package, which costs $30 per month. You can't sign up for MLB.TV's single-team plans, which cost $130 for the entire season.
Fubo and Sling don't sell full-season subscriptions, either. They only offer monthly plans at $30 per month, versus $150 per year through MLB.TV directly. Over the full six-month season, MLB'TV's annual plan would save you $30. (The league also typically offers MLB.TV deals as the season goes on.)
For fans of the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Twins, and Padres, th
This dangerous software is bad enough to have earned an alert from the FBI's Denver field office earlier this month. As reported by BleepingComputer, the government agency issued a warning about online document converters, which can be found as downloadable programs or browser add-ons that you have to install. They work as advertised, like transforming a Word document (.doc) into a PDF, or combining JPG image files into a PDF. Or they might let you download media as .MP4 or .MP3 files.
But they also place malware on your system that opens remote access to your PC. They may also skim sensitive data from the documents you process, like social security numbers, addresses, banking details, email addresses, cryptocurrency info, and passwords. The outcome of these attacks can be identity theft or a ransomware attack.
Fortunately, safe alternatives exist to these converters—and one of them is baked right into Windows. If you need to convert a Word document to a PDF, for example, you can simply open the doc in Word, then use the Print feature and choose Microsoft Print to PDF.
Yeah, it's pretty crazy… and it's on sale for $100 on Amazon (was $150). That's a hefty 33% discount on a fantastic accessory that's sure to be both practical and a conversation starter. How do I know? Because I have one of these! And I can vouch for how awesome it is. Sure, you may not end up with this one in your purse when going to a concert—it's a little bulky—but it'll fit well into, say, a laptop bag or backpack.
The chunky 20,000mAh capacity is ideal for recharging phones, tablets, gaming handhelds, and smaller laptops. (20K is enough to recharge a standard laptop about one full time. Expect less if you're going to spread charging across phones, tablets, and other accessories.) It's fast, too! With 145W of power output, you can charge up in no time.
The Ugreen Nexode has two ports on the front—one USB-C and one USB-A—as well as another USB-C on the back. But the real head-turner is the magnetic 15W wireless charging pad on top, which can hinge up and act like a 65-degree stand for your phone while it charges. (You'll need either an iPhone or Android with a MagSafe case to do this.)
For $100, this is an absolute bargain. You get a powerful portable battery that fast-charges multiple devices while doubling as a stand. Get your very own Ugreen Nexode power bank on sale at Amazon, and check out these other
This is a 16.1-inch laptop with a 1080p IPS display with 300nits of brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate. That's great for gaming in all lighting conditions and perfectly capable of handling even the most action-packed scenes without lagging.
And it's a beast of a machine, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 88545HS processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM, which is a solid foundation for running Windows 11, your apps, and your browser tabs without choking. And don't worry about storage because there's plenty of space for those apps and games on the 512GB SSD on board.
But the pièce de résistance? This HP Victus is equipped with a discrete RTX 4070 GPU, which you can normally only get in a laptop with a $1,500 price tag—and even when those laptops go on sale, they rarely drop this low. Don't miss this chance to score this HP Victus for $900 at Best Buy before this incredible deal expires!
Save $600 on this Ryzen 7 RTX 4070 16GB RAM gaming laptop
That's a shame because new technologies will likely propel VR forward in 2025 — at least a little closer to that seamless high-resolution experience that all VR gamers want. I'm mainly referring to Nvidia's RTX 50-series and AMDs Radeon RX 9000-series graphics cards and what they mean for VR gaming performance.
I'll get to that in a minute, but first a quick snapshot of PC VR performance in 2024.
VR and the best graphics cards of 2024
In 2024 we saw some gamers adopt Nvidia's RTX 40-series and AMD's 7000-series graphics cards in PC VR gaming. Those that did largely saw an uptick in frame rates from what they had before.
YouTubers posted impressive fps in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and iRacing, for example. The RTX 40 series added third-generation ray tracing for a boost to shadows and lighting while AMD's 7000-series cards also saw an improvement in ray tracing.
Despite 2024's top-tier cards showing big performance differences over the previous year's graphics cards they couldn't quite hit the kind of frame rates we saw in flat screen gaming. Mid-range cards like the RTX 4070 reported playable experiences in triple-A PC VR games too, some averaging around the 70- to 78fps mark, but performance rarely averaged upwards of 100fps.
In a nutshell, VR remained a tough gig for even the best video cards in 2024, which isn't really that surprising. VR does have heftier requirements than flat screen gaming, because of its stereo rendering and wide field of view, especially at higher resolutions, like 3K.
To be clear, I still use Windows. It's what I'm using right now to type this, on a beefy gaming desktop I assembled myself, with triple monitors and all sorts of googaws attached. But I don't need all that anymore, and for the first time in my adult life, I can see myself transitioning to an entirely different operating system.
That's a big deal for me, and I suspect I'm far from alone. Microsoft might want to make a note of it.
Why I don't need Windows
So here's what I mean when I say that I don't need Windows anymore: Every tool, program, and piece of information I rely upon is now essentially separate from whatever machine I'm using at the moment.
I'm writing the words you're reading right now in Google Docs. When I'm done, I'll edit them in WordPress. Throughout my work day I'm talking with my coworkers and bosses on Slack, I'm chatting with my friends via text, WhatsApp, and some other platforms. I'm managing my own to-do list in Google Keep, updating my work tasks in a tool called Monday, and checking personal and professional email in Gmail and Outlook, respectively. I'm keeping an eye on news and social trends in BlueSky and The Old Reader for RSS.
I still use local files, of course. But they're all
Investing can be downright frightening, especially if you're unaware of how the stock markets work and how to analyze which investments could be beneficial for you. Instead of using Google or the Apple Stocks app to research, let Sterling Stock Picker assist and help you make your first investment. Grab lifetime access to this educational platform and upgrade your financial future for $68.99 (reg. $486).
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We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
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But one feat of ChatGPT's new GPT-4o image generation model left even jaded AI watchers in a state of hushed, slack-jawed awe.
Red wine, anyone?
Behold, ChatGPT can now—quite reliably—render an image of a glass of red wine filled to the very tippity-top.
Prompt: render an image of a wine glass filled to the very top with red wine
Though the new apps appear in Windows, they're only available for those who also have Microsoft 365 applications installed, such as the Word/Excel/PowerPoint trifecta that accompanies a Microsoft 365 subscription. Right now, Microsoft is testing the new apps as part of the Microsoft 365 Insider program, and for those who have signed up for the Business or Enterprise license.
In a blog post describing the new apps, Microsoft calls these "mini-apps," which may be just an incidental descriptive term or may signal a new wave of smaller, lightweight applications or widgets. "You'll recognize familiar flows in these apps, but in a lightning-fast and streamlined format," Microsoft's Shilpa Patel wrote. "Plus, you can pin both apps to your taskbar so you always know where to access them, no matter how busy your workspace gets."
Both of these applications appear to be twists on existing functionality within Windows and Microsoft 365. Microsoft's existing Office application, for example, includes a list of files that you've worked on and has been shared with you. The new File Search app also focuses exclusively on your Microsoft 365 files, but with various filters to narrow it down, plus the ability to search by contents. It might not be quite the
Windows Central reported earlier this year that Microsoft is prepping a smaller version of Surface Pro tablet and Surface Laptop. Certifications for what could be those devices have popped up in China, indicating that they could be nearing production, the site reported. The new versions would have displays of about 12 inches, the site said.
Currently, the Surface Pro 11th Edition boasts a 13-inch display, while the current Surface Laptop 7th Edition is available in both 13.8-inch and 15-inch sizes. Adding a 12-inch screen to the lineup would offer a third option, the first time Microsoft has ever presented three different screen-size Laptop options from which to choose. Windows Central suggests that the new Surface Laptop could be a replacement for the Surface Laptop Go, which sounds like a good guess.
Microsoft, of course, hasn't confirmed that new Surface hardware is planned. Nor has it confirmed whether these new Surfaces would be offered to businesses, either.
For now, however, Microsoft seems committed to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X platform for its consumer devices, while offering traditional X86 processors from Intel for its more risk-averse business customers. That seems likely to continue.
However, smaller Surfaces probably do not mean updated hardware. Qualcomm showed off its second-generati
In a video posted on the OpenAI YouTube channel on Monday, researcher Manuka Stratta showed off the improvements. One of the most common annoyances with voice assistants is that they tend to interrupt you when you pause to think. That's now been fixed here.
Free ChatGPT users will now have access to an updated version of the voice mode where they can speak freely and pause without being interrupted. Paid ChatGPT users will also get a voice assistant with better personalization and fewer interruptions, TechCrunch reports.
According to OpenAI, the improved chatbot is now "more direct, engaging, concise, specific, and creative in its responses."
The update comes at a time when competition is heating up in the AI voice space.
In a post titled "A Sneaky Phish Just Grabbed my Mailchimp Mailing List," Hunt runs down the situation, starting with how it began (jet lag and fatigue while traveling) and how it ended (the phisher capturing his credentials, logging in, and then exporting all 16,000 email addresses associated with his newsletter). If you've been affected, Hunt has already loaded those email addresses into the HaveIBeenPwned database. The list includes people who already unsubscribed from the newsletter—Mailchimp does not delete these email addresses from its databases.
You can read the full details of what happened in the post, but I was most struck by the lessons to take away from Hunt's clear account of the incident. Not just the things to watch out for, but how to set up your digital life so you're still safe if you slip up. Let's dig in:
Don't rely on warning signs
Walking through Hunt's tale, you can see that scams do signal what they are. In Hunt's case, multiple small warning signs existed:
False urgency in the email
Sender of the email was fake
Autofill from 1Password didn't trigger on the illegitimate site
A security expert of Hunt's level normally would be sensitive to these details. But he was tired while traveling—a situation any of us could find ourselves in.
In a recent blog post, the developers of Discord have unveiled extensive changes to the desktop app, which includes a completely new version of the game overlay feature as well as a facelift that looks better and offers more ways for you to tweak and customize it to your liking.
Discord's revamped Game Overlay feature
One of the problems with the older Game Overlay was that it "hooked into" the game window, which dragged down the game's frame rate. This also ran afoul of anti-cheat software, which meant Game Overlay wasn't compatible with lots of popular games. The new Game Overlay isn't just faster and more performant, but it now works with so many more games, including lots of high-profile ones.
The revamped Game Overlay in Discord involves a new action bar, which you can use to access various voice and video
This time, it's a smart switch, with Homewithapple (via Notebookcheck) sharing an image (below) of what it says is a dual-button switch with Matter-over-Thread support.
The Ikea Bilresa Dual Button is still in the "internal testing phase," Homewithapple says on Threads.
There's no word on when the Bilresa may actually arrive, or how much it might cost. We've reached out to Ikea for comment.
Of course, the most interesting bit of trivia about the rumored Bilresa smart switch is that it supports Thread, a low-power, mesh-networking protocol that forms one of the pillars of the Matter standard.
In the Chrome Releases blog post, Srinivas Sista names the eliminated vulnerability CVE-2025-2783, which was discovered by external security researchers and reported to Google. Google classifies the vulnerability as high risk. It's an exploitable bug in Mojo on Windows that occurs under unspecified circumstances. (Mojo is a collection of runtime libraries for inter-process communication.) The vulnerability was reported to Google on March 20th by Boris Larin and Igor Kuznetsov, who are security experts at Kaspersky.
According to Google, there are indications that this vulnerability is already being exploited for attacks in the wild. These indications are likely to have come from Larin and Kuznetsov, who presumably discovered the issue while analyzing malware attacks. It remains unclear who is attacking whom, but the attacks are apparently targeting Windows computers, as Google only provided this Chrome update for Windows.
A week ago, Google released a security update for Chrome that closed two other security vulnerabilities. Chrome usually updates itself automatically when a new version is available. You can trigger the update check manuall
Update, March 26th: An Asus representative confirmed to Dutch site Tweakers.net that the Q-Release Slim ports have been redesigned. Machine-translated quote:
The original story from March 14th continues below.
Twitter/X account Uniko's Hardware spotted a visibly distinct latch mechanism on the Asus X870E Apex motherboard, which is
We've featured the Predator X27U before. With a 1440p resolution (2560×1440) and speedy 240Hz refresh rate, it's hitting the "sweet spot" for PC gamers at the moment, able to handle cinematic single-player games and fast-paced online multiplayer with equal aplomb. It also pairs well with a gaming laptop thanks to USB-C video support with 90 watts of charging, in addition to HDMI and DisplayPort options. I'd also pick up a VESA monitor arm with your savings if you want to spruce up your setup.
At this price, you're getting a monitor from a very reputable brand with a 3-year warranty, which is nice peace of mind if you're still wary of switching to OLED. But this is a limited-time offer. Newegg's countdown timer shows that the deal will expire at midnight US Pacific time (that's 3 AM Eastern), assuming stock doesn't run out before then. I'd hop on it quickly if you've been waiting for an OLED deal.
If Newegg runs out, Amazon is selling the same model for $500, a decent consolation. Ditto for
The Kindle Colorsoft has a 7-inch display with glorious paper-like color as well as paper-like ink for equally comfortable reading of book covers, diagrams, images, and of course text. That means the Colorsoft is ideal for digital comic books, textbooks, and more. It also has a built-in light for reading while your lights are off, so you can read well into the night or even when you're out camping in the middle of the woods.
This colorful e-reader promises about eight weeks of battery life on a single charge, which is in line with other Kindle models. But what's even better about the Colorsoft is that it can be wirelessly charged—if you keep it on a charging pad at night, it will always be at 100% for you.
Its 32GB of storage space should be enough to hold all your ebooks with ease. And you don't have to worry about water damage thanks to the Kindle Colorsoft's IPX8 waterproof rating, making it safe to use by the pool, at the beach, or while taking a bath.
Don't miss out on this rare deal on a brand-new Kindle Colorsoft for $225! While you're here, you might also want to check out the amazing discounts we've found across Amazon's Big Spring Sale event.
In that vein, a periodic review of devices logged into your Google account is a good idea. If someone's stolen your password, you should be aware of that unauthorized access to all your email, photos, videos, and other files. A hacker isn't the only person to be worried about, either. A romantic partner, roommate, family member, or friend could decide to spy on you, too. You should be sure that only the right people have access.
To see which devices are logged into your Google account, you can use either on a PC or your phone. If you spot any intruders, remove them—and then also change your password to prevent future unauthorized logins.
On a PC
Open a page for a Google service (search, Gmail, etc)
Click your profile icon at the top right of a browser window
Choose Manage your Google Account
Click Security on the left side of the page
Scroll down to Your devices
Click on Manage all devices
Look over the list of devices logged into your accounts. For any you don't recognize, click on them, and then choose Sign out button in the top section of this info screen.
This is a versatile card that can be used for nearly any application. It has a V30 rating, so you can record 4K video with no frame drops and capture high-speed burst photos. It has an A2 rating, so you can run apps and software directly on the card without issue, making it great for phones, tablets, Nintendo Switches, etc. And with up to 180 MB/s read and 130 MB/s write speeds, it's solid for transferring files.
The 512GB capacity is spacious enough for most use cases, even video. And note that this card comes with an SD adapter, so you can conveniently use it with bigger devices that don't have microSD slots—like your laptop or DSLR camera.
The 512GB Samsung PRO Plus is an absolute steal for $38, and you should hurry up and snag one before this deal expires!
$38 is a bargain for a fast 512GB microSD card with SD adapterBuy now at Amazon
DirecTV offers two streaming services today, one called DirecTV Stream and the other called DirecTV via Internet. They have nearly identical branding and many of the same channel packages, but they're different in several important ways.
The short version: If you want to avoid sneaky fees and long-term contracts, sign up for DirecTV Stream. But if you're after a more traditional pay TV service with lower up-front costs, DirecTV via Internet might be worth a look.
Let's break down those differences in more detail:
Channel lineups are the same, but prices vary
If you're looking for a big bundle of pay TV channels, DirecTV via Internet and DirecTV Stream offer the exact same channel lineups:
Entertainment includes local stations, cable news, national sports channels, and entertainment channels. The total, non-promotional price is $87 per month with DirecTV Stream and $90 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet.
Choice adds more sports channels and regional sports networks. The total, non-promotional price is $115 per month with DirecTV Stream and up to $123 per month for two years with DirecTV via Internet (with a $10-per-month discount for new subscribers).
Ultimate adds more sports and movie channels. The total, non-promotional price is $130 per month with DirecTV Stream and starts at $153
Whether you need a home media center, a productivity workstation, or a compact gaming setup, this mini PC can do it all. The Geekom AX8 Max is packed with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, a solid 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and plenty of storage space thanks to its 1TB SSD. And it's pretty decent for gaming, too, with its ?AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics with 8GB of RAM. Just don't crank your settings up too high.
What's notable about the Geekom AX8 Max is how future-proof it is. Not only are the memory and storage upgradeable—up to 96GB RAM across two slots and up to 4TB SSD in a single slot—but it has two cutting-edge USB4 ports capable of 8K@30Hz each, plus two other full-sized HDMI 2.0 ports that can handle 4K@60Hz each. That's a quadruple high-resolution display setup that'll maximize your screen real estate.
You also get four more USB-A ports on the front and two more on the back alongside two 2.5Gbps Ethernet connections. This thing has more than enough connectivity for all your peripherals and more.
Take advantage of this fantastic Prime Spring Deal and grab the Geekom AX8 Max mini PC for $569! That's an absolute bargain.
Before fixing GPT protective partition, it is necessary to understand what it is and what causes this error.
What is GPT protective partition?
A GPT protective partition is a partition protected by a GUID partition table. It is primarily used on servers to restrict users from manipulating sensitive data or to provide redundancy for critical files.
This is different from a regular partition:
GPT protective partitions are not assigned unique drive numbers.
GPT protective partitions typically can't be deleted or reformatted in Disk Management.
MBR-based operating systems can't read GPT protective partitions and users can't access them.
So what causes a GPT protective partition? It usually happens when the operating system or hardware does not properly recognize or support GPT disks. See the table below for more possible explanations:
?? Causes?? DetailsIncompatible with older versions of Windows32-bit Windows (such as Windows XP) doesn't support GPT partitions. Systems with traditional BIOS firmware may not support GPT partitions.GPT disk errorsCorrupted or damaged GP
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Monitors meant for gaming and entertainment have traditionally existed in a separate realm from monitors for professional and creative productivity. That, however, has started to change with the rise of remote work and the proliferation of independent creative professionals who work for themselves—and, as a result, find themselves at the same desk both on and off the clock.
The BenQ PD3226G is a monitor built for this modern vision of work, as it combines an accurate image and great color performance with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and adaptive sync for smooth PC gaming.
Still unopened in its original packaging was a GE Monogram 7-4150A radio, which dates to around 1976 according to RadioMuseum. I don't like seeing old tech go to waste, so instinctively I wondered if it might still have some life in it. I brought it home with my father-in-law's permission—along with the garden hose—though if we're being honest, the radio was already in my car by the time I'd texted him about it.
To my delight, it works. Moreover, it just works. Unlike every other modern music playback source, this piece of vintage tech required no account creation, no pairing process, and no setup. You simply plug it in and it starts playing the radio. I quickly made space for it in my office, if only to celebrate its beauty and simplicity.
Of course, I couldn't resist complicating things from there. What sits in my office now isn't just a vintage radio but a round-the-clock Newmy R
A good computer can cost well over $1,000 unless you know where to look. If you need a laptop you can use for everything from art to gaming and video editing, check out this Lenovo Slim with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD. Normally, it would cost $1,099, but now you can get it on sale for $789.99.
This computer is marked down because it's technically a refurb, but you wouldn't know from looking at it. The grade "A" rating means it's in near-mint condition. The most obvious sign that it's refurbished is the price and the box it comes in. Even the battery can last up to 9 hours.
Despite its slim build, this laptop stillhas quite a few ports. That includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It also has a few quality of life extras like a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and a precision touchpad.
Desktops aren't the only one who can get a second monitor, and you don't have to sacrifice your laptop's portability to do it. The Fold Portable Travel Monitor is a free-standing 15.6-inch HD monitor, and it just went on sale. Instead of paying $199, you can get one of these low-cost monitors for $109.99, and shipping is free.
This plug-and-play 15.6-inch display just needs USB-C or Mini HDMI to connect. It works with laptops, phones, and even some gaming consoles.
It has a super slim 6mm profile and only weighs 1.65 pounds. Pack it into your computer bag for a battle station you can take anywhere. Don't worry about the screen getting scratched. It has a magnetic cover that also works as a kickstand. It even has built-in dual speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack if you're in public.
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 something other than just torrenting you can check out my list of best VPN services for even more great options.
When ChatGPT landed in late 2022, everything changed. Google, the giant who invented the tech that paved the way for ChatGPT, is now trailing behind. Wired just published a great article detailing how Google was caught off guard and has been trying to claw back into the lead—or at least recover some lost ground—in the years since then.
Led by Sissie Hsiao, Google's AI team was tasked with building a ChatGPT competitor in 100 days. The result was Bard, brought forward by the work of thousands of employees, scaled-down security checks, and long hours. Meanwhile, Google's Brain and Deepmind AI units were merged, and that collaboration would result in Gemini, the language modeling project that helped salvage the company's reputation.
But the road back to the top of AI has been bumpy. Bard made embarrassing mistakes, Google's AI search feature gave inaccurate (and sometimes dangerous) advice, and the company's image generator caused a media frenzy after generating historically inaccurate images.
Despite the setbacks, Google has regained some ground. Gemini launche
The new Copilot interface may seem familiar to anyone who's been using OpenAI's ChatGPT, with the chat history now moved to a side panel on the left instead of as a pop-up window alongside the convo. There's also a button to hide the side panel and give more space to the convo itself.
Microsoft has also chosen to start using the same icons as ChatGPT for the "expand" and "conversation" buttons. It's now also possible to select different modes for the AI chatbot, with "Quick" mode for fast answers in 2 to 3 seconds and "Think Deeper" mode for more complex conversations that can take around 30 seconds per response. According to Windows Latest, more modes are on the way.
If you don't see the new Copilot interface yet, that's because it's still being rolled out and may not reach you until later this week.
This 49-incher is a beast, and you're definitely going to feel its presence as it looms over your desk with its ultrawide 5120×1440 resolution. That's a 32:9 aspect ratio and equivalent to two 1440p monitors side by side, except you won't have that annoying bezel line down the middle.
It's going to look fabulous, too, thanks to its OLED panel that delivers vivid colors and deep blacks. What about gaming? No worries. All of your gaming action will be super-smooth with this monitor's 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, assuming your PC is powerful enough to push that many frames at this size. And it'll be comfortable on the eyes with its 1400R screen curvature.
This is an awesomely huge monitor for both gaming and multitasking, with decent connectivity. You get a full-sized HDMI, DisplayPort, and Micro HDMI ports, plus three USB-C ports. Get the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 for $950 while this hot deal is still available!
If you'd rather spend a bit less, you can opt for this 45-inch LG UltraGear monitor for $550 instead. It's also ultrawide with the same 5120×1440 resolution, but "only" 200Hz of refresh and a 1ms resp
Microsoft is taking optical-character recognition capabilities that it developed several years ago and adding them to Photos, while pulling in design elements from Microsoft Designer, too. Finally, the company is beefing up File Explorer a bit as well, giving it a more robust visual search capability.
Unfortunately, it's also adding a Copilot button as well, which for now doesn't really do much.
Microsoft's Windows Photos app languished for years, but it started enjoying a renaissance about two years ago with new AI-powered editing features. Today you can automatically touch up a photo and remove the background — even upscale it, if you own a Copilot PC with a supported NPU. Now, Microsoft is testing the ability to "read" documents that you import, something it first added as part of its mobile Office Lens capability five years ago.
Microsoft said that it testing these new Photos features in an updated version of the Photos app, version 2025.11030.20006.0, which can be found in the Microsoft Store app. The company had previously released the feature, withdrew it, and then is rolling it out once again.
Anything that you can't find anywhere else, let's say. Microsoft said Monday that it's rolling out a beta of the Photos app with a Copilot button that will appear at the top of the screen. Here's what it does, according to Microsoft:
"Photo Editing Tips: Get expert advice on enhancing your images.
Image Insights: Discover interesting details about your photos.
Framing Suggestions: Improve your photography skills with personalized recommendations."
If you'd like tips on how to take better photos, there are numerous tutorials around the web, both in video and in text form. It's also not clear what Photos will have to offer in terms of "framing suggestions" as well as insights about your image. Hopefully you already understand these insights already?
What Microsoft appears to be hinting at is that it wants to bring more visual AI to Windows. The Microsoft Edge browser already has Copilot Vision, which can "see" what you are looking at. Presumably, some of these capabilities will eventually be arriving on the Photos app.
But with many people cheering after Windows accidentally removed Copilot from their PCs, it's not clear whether adding a (for now) rather
In 2025, Major League Baseball has yet to rally its teams behind a cohesive strategy for streaming local ballgames. While some teams are partnering with the league on distribution, others are going their own way, working with regional sports networks, or clinging to expensive pay TV bundles. Factor in all the nationally-televised games scattered across cable networks and streaming services, and there's a lot for baseball fans to think about.
As I've done with the NBA and NHL, I'll survey the scene of local baseball streaming options so you know what to expect when the weather warms up.
In-market MLB streaming options at a glance
Here's where things stand for in-market baseball streaming options as of February 20, 2025:
TeamSports NetworkSupported streaming bundlesStandalone optionsArizona DiamondbacksDiamondbacks TVDTV Stream, FuboDBacks.tv ($100/yr) *AthleticsNBC Sports CaliforniaDTV Stream, Fubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $18/mo
Personally, I'd go for the MX Vertical if you can afford it. It's bigger and heavier (my preference) with a little more functionality thanks to that big top action button, which can be custom-bound in the Logitech Options software. Ditto for the two thumb buttons, though that's also true for the smaller Lift mouse. Both of them have a maximum of 4,000 DPI on the sensor, but I doubt you'll use it at the maximum.
This 49-incher is a beast, and you're definitely going to feel its presence as it looms over your desk with its ultrawide 5120×1440 resolution. That's a 32:9 aspect ratio and equivalent to two 1440p monitors side by side, except you won't have that annoying bezel line down the middle.
It's going to look fabulous, too, thanks to its OLED panel that delivers vivid colors and deep blacks. What about gaming? No worries. All of your gaming action will be super-smooth with this monitor's 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time, assuming your PC is powerful enough to push that many frames at this size. And it'll be comfortable on the eyes with its 1400R screen curvature.
This is an awesomely huge monitor for both gaming and multitasking, with decent connectivity. You get a full-sized HDMI, DisplayPort, and Micro HDMI ports, plus three USB-C ports. Get the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 for $950 while this hot deal is still available!
If you'd rather spend a bit less, you can opt for this 45-inch LG UltraGear monitor for $550 instead. It's also ultrawide with the same 5120×1440 resolution, but "only" 200Hz of refresh and a 1ms resp
Two new Asus Radeon RX 9060 XT cards have been spotted on Eurasian Economic Commission's documentation site, where Nvidia's more affordable RTX 50-series cards have also debuted as of late. The initial listings were spotted by Twitter/X user harukaze5719 (via VideoCardz), who also clapped eyes on Asus 9060 XT cards in similar listings in South Korea. There are a bunch of variants, the usual Prime, TUF, et cetera sub-brands from Asus gear.
Detailed specs aren't available, but it looks like two primary variants will be offered: one with 8GB of video RAM, and one with 16GB. It also appears that the card will use a 128-bit memory bus, half as wide as the more premium RX 9070.
Of course, the biggest question on the minds of PC gamers will be how much the cards will cost. The MSRP of the Radeon RX 9070 is $550, but good luck actually buying one at that price. Presumably the RX 9060 XT will be considerabl
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.
This is a solar-powered security camera that's fantastic for outdoor home surveillance, and it's totally hands-off once you install it. Unlike other models, the solar panel is smartly integrated into the camera instead of being a separate piece you have to position and install nearby.
Installation is a breeze, too, and only involves screwing in a mount, clicking the camera into it, and connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network. No wires, no fuss, no need to recharge the battery every now and then. The solar panel only needs about three hours of sunlight to power the camera for an entire day. How's that for convenient?
As for footage, the SoloCam S220 captures crisp and clear 2K resolution video with a wide field of view and good nighttime visibility. You can tune into the video feed on your phone or pull it up on a compatible smart screen if you have Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. It also supports two-way audio so you can chat with whoever is outside your house.
Don't miss out on this chance to score two of these Eufy cameras for $120 on Amazon! You also have other options: a single SoloCam S220 for $65 (50% off), a
Right now, you can get the 1TB SK Hynix Beetle X31 for $68 (was $90) and the 1TB SK Hynix Tube T31 for $64 (was $80). We reviewed and loved both of these external storage options.
In our review of the Beetle X31, we gave it a near-perfect 4.5-star rating and found during testing that the golden beetle-style portable SSD delivered fast enough performance to place it among the top 10Gbps portable SSDs we've ever tested. We aren't entirely sold on its shiny golden shell, but we understand SK Hynix's direction—and it's easy to overlook when you get this much storage with this much performance.
In our review of the Tube T31, we also gave this one a 4.5-star rating with lots of praise for its design. This is a compact portable SSD that looks like a flash drive, with a USB-A connection that works with pretty much any device you have (if not, then adapters are cheap). "The T31 features NVMe and 10Gbps USB and performs more like the cable-attached external 10Gbps USB SSDs we review—i.e., it's fast."
Take your pick, but don't delay. This is a great time to grab a massive 1TB p
If you haven't heard, Valve has been working to get SteamOS on the Ally for the better part of a year, at least according to a representative, and the newest 3.7 beta update explicitly includes at least some behind-the-scenes work to prepare for other handhelds.
YouTuber The Phawx took that to heart and coaxed a version of the Linux-based operating system onto the normally-powered-by-Windows ROG Ally. And I'm not talking about Bazzite, by the way, a popular SteamOS derivative that can do this to some extent already. This is unmodified SteamOS code, hot out of Valve's open-source oven.
But maybe you want to hold off on Windows 11 24H2 for as long as you can because of all the issues we've been seeing, like broken Bluetooth audio, File Explorer bugs, and even system crashes. Maybe you'd rather wait for this year's big 25H2 update instead.
This was a statement from Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang at HP's Amplify Conference in Nashville, last week. And in reflecting on it, it struck me as poignant for the following reason: Up until now I've viewed AI on a single timeline starting at the point where I first saw simple AI tools pop up, to now, where they are a lot more complex and capable than they used to be.
In doing so, I've failed to see the true potential of AI — the fact that we're about to enter a whole new age of AI that will make even those smart generative AI tools we have today pale in comparison to what we'll soon have on our PCs and other connected devices.
Bunny-hop advancements have masked the bigger picture
It's not that I haven't been impressed with the advancements I've seen in AI tools so far. It's just that I've been mostly fixated on those small advancements in lieu of the broader picture.
I've seen new AI art generators like DALL-E and Photoshop AI spring up and I've seen bunny-hop updates to AI chatbots like ChatGPT drop, each iteration getting a little smarter and a little more capable.
HP's own AI Companion on its consumer and commercial PCs, too, gets several of these updates later this year and these are all important steps forward for generative AI. It's just that I've been too focused on these small advancements.
Sometimes it takes a visionary to show you where you're headed, to reveal the unimaginable bigger picture that you're bounding towards. Big tech companies are quite good at doing that.
Yep, you can mostly always count on the likes of Intel, AMD -
As always, we'll be keeping an eye on the best tech deals that are worth your attention, so check back here often—but we've already rounded up some of the most impressive discounts you can save big on now!
Here's everything we know about Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025 along with the best deals to take advantage of, pronto!
What is Amazon's Big Spring Sale?
Amazon's Big Spring Sale event is a good excuse for you to get the products that have been sitting in your wishlist for a better price. There's a good selection of discounts across the board, including for tech products, laptops, storage drives, mini PCs, keyboards, mice, and more.
We're already seeing new all-time lows for some of our favorite stuff, and even for products that haven't had a proper price drop in a while.
Some of these Big Spring Sale deals are exclusive to Prime members. If you aren't subscribed yet, I recommend trying out a free 30-day trial so you can score these big discounts and play with the other perks like Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Gaming. After your trial ends, Amazon Prime costs $15 per month or $139 per year.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2025 is live (as of March 25th) and runs through to March 31st. Here are some great deals to score this week:
Nvidia G-Assist was fist previewed at Computex almost a year ago. According to Nvidia's promotional material, the tool now included in the rebranded Nvidia app can help you monitor game performance, answer hardware- and software-related questions, and even control lighting on some peripherals via ChatGPT-style text or voice interactions. At launch, Nvidia says that the app can control hardware and lighting settings on "supported Logitech G, Corsair, MSI, and Nanoleaf devices."
Other enhancements to the latest version of the Nvidia app include more distinct overrides and preset options for DLSS settings, and expanded DLSS support for more games (including Control, Warhammer 4
Nvidia G-Assist was fist previewed at Computex almost a year ago. According to Nvidia's promotional material, the tool now included in the rebranded Nvidia app can help you monitor game performance, answer hardware- and software-related questions, and even control lighting on some peripherals via ChatGPT-style text or voice interactions. At launch, Nvidia says that the app can control hardware and lighting settings on "supported Logitech G, Corsair, MSI, and Nanoleaf devices."
Other enhancements to the latest version of the Nvidia app include more distinct overrides and preset options for DLSS settings, and expanded DLSS support for more games (including Control, Warhammer 4
Privacy experts are wary of what comes next, as outlined by news reports from NPR and ABC. You can break down the concerns like this:
Your data will likely be part of what is sold to a new buyer
When transferred, a new privacy policy could take effect
Those changes could lower the amount of privacy you're entitled to—for example, it could be sold to third-party companies
The third point in particular is raising alarm across the internet, because unlike genetic testing done through health care providers, 23andMe's data is not protected under the U.S.'s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA establishes strict guidelines about who can access a U.S. resident's medical information, as well as how its stored. It also enshrines your right to see your own medical records. Since 23andMe is not part of the health care industry, these rules don't apply to its handling of genetics data. A new owner of 23andMe theoretically could more freely sell or share your data with third-parties.
Although Microsoft typically reserves major feature releases for the fall, April 2025 is a key month for the software giant because it marks the 50th anniversary of the company's founding. With two preview releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has tipped off what features your PC will be receiving soon—most likely in April.
Both Windows 11 Build 26100.3613 and Windows 11 Build 26100.3624 are part of the Release Preview Channel for Windows 11 Insiders, meaning you can try them out early yourself by joining the Windows Insider program. If you do, note that Microsoft isn't releasing all of these features in one fell swoop. Some of them will be released "normally" while others are rolled out in a "gradual" cadence.
Optional non-security feature releases typically launch on the fourth week of every month, usually on a Tuesday. (In this case, that'd be April 22, 2025.) Those features then typically roll out to everyone else about two weeks later. Nothing guarantees this timeline, of course. It's our best guess based on past releases and when they've occurred.
This tiny power bank fits in the palm of your hand, so you can easily take it with you to concerts, coffee shops, camping weekends, or work trips. Not only does it slip right into your pocket, the built-in USB-C cable provides immediate charging on demand. And when you're done with it, it plugs back into the power bank and turns into a loop handle.
You can also charge multiple devices thanks to its additional USB-C and USB-A ports. It has 30W of total output, which you can focus into a single USB-C for fast charging or split it between the ports to charge two or three things at once. That can come in handy when your earbuds, Nintendo Switch, smartwatch, or Kindle verge on dying. Just note that this thing has 10,000mAh of capacity, or enough to two full charges to an iPhone 15 or Samsung Galaxy S24.
Get peace of mind while out and about, knowing that your phone and other devices will never run out of battery if you have an Anker Zolo on you. It's only $11.99 at Amazon—snag this deal while you can! And don't forget to also check out these other deals in Amazon's Spring Sale.
But that may not be the case for very much longer, according to HP executives presenting at the HP Amplify Conference in Nashville last week. The team revealed the company's vision for a future in which AI laptops will seamlessly connect to an ecosystem of devices that will know what you want to do when you want to do it.
To illustrate, HP president and CEO Enrique Lores used the example of a worker who walks into a conference room whereby their laptop promptly knows they have a meeting, automatically launches their meeting app, then chooses and configures the right speakers and camera to use.
That kind of seamless connectivity will also be available for consumers, said Lores. "These are innovations that are going to start on the commercial side, but they will make their way into homes. In many cases homes are not just living spaces anymore. They have become offices, whether that's for parents working or kids doing their homework," he said.
Although HP is a little way off achieving its goal, it has made progress. One example of a product that takes all the guess work out of connecting is the new HyperX Cloud III S gaming headset that uses HP Instant Pair technology to automatically connect to your HP Omen PC when you switch it on.
Brad Pulford, HP managing director for ANZ, explained how it'll be much similar to access your applications in such an AI driven ecosystem.
"The power of AI, when I'm talking about personal referencing, it'll be able to determine what applications you use most. Say, you use five applications, it'll make sure those applic
