PCWorld

Image: Michael Crider / Foundry If you’re using a workstation-class laptop, odds are pretty good that you didn’t buy it. Your employer did. These things are only “portable” in the sense that it’s technically possible to carry a cinder block around, and they’re designed to be full-power desktop replacements for industrial or professional media applications. That said, HP’s new ZBook Fury G1i does something so cool I had to show it to you. During the demonstration at an HP media...

about 11 hours ago

PCWorld

Dell’s new Pro Max AI PCs boast the new Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell GPUs, making them desirable to AI developers for that reason alone. But the new desktop and laptop lineup also include several nerdy new innovations that we haven’t seen before, including an “infinite turbo” mode that most gamers would pine for and 18-inch displays. Dell’s “Pro Max” lineup isn’t for the everyday user. Instead, the Pro Max is what Dell traditionally called the Precision lineup: workstations, basically. Dell...

about 11 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Bosgame Laptops are great if you need portability, but these days you can get the same performance with a mini PC while saving a bunch of money and taking up less space on your desk. Today’s deal is the perfect example. This Bosgame P3 mini PC is darn powerful and it’s only $339 right now on Amazon, down from its original $400 with a Prime membership. (Don’t have Prime? Grab a free 30-day trial and you can score this...

about 11 hours ago

PCWorld

When Major League Baseball starts its 2025 season on March 27, you can enhance your big-screen game-watching experience by enlisting the aid of your small screen; i.e., your smartphone or tablet laptop. A second screen adds context to the game by delivering everything from analysis, player stats, and interactive features, to tools for communicating with other fans. We’ve rounded up the six best second-screen apps that belong on your smartphone or tablet this baseball season. Download and install one or...

about 14 hours ago

PCWorld

I use a HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless as my personal PC headset, specifically because its battery life is bonkers at 300 hours. But it’s a bit barebones otherwise. It’s only 2.4GHz with a bulky dongle, not exactly cutting-edge, and it doesn’t work with my phone. The new Cloud III S brings that incredible longevity with a more premium design. Before I continue, I should say that the Cloud III S isn’t quite as amazing in terms of battery life—it “only”...

about 15 hours ago

PCWorld

If I had a nickel for every time I went to an NYC press event and got blown away by a super-light laptop, I’d have two nickels over the last four months. The first would be when Asus unveiled the Zenbook A14 before CES 2025. The second would be now, with HP doing something similar with its sub-1kg (2.2-pound) OmniBook 7 Aero. Two nickels isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice. Thin-and-light laptops are certainly desirable, and...

about 15 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Lenovo/Valve SteamOS is coming to PC handhelds other than Valve’s own Steam Deck. We heard a short but official confirmation last year, and then Lenovo confirmed a SteamOS-flavored version of its new Legion Go S design at CES 2025. We’ve got a vague idea of how far away the launch is—the Windows version is already out—but it looks like SteamOS developers are hard at work preparing for it. Near the top of the patch notes for the recent SteamOS...

about 15 hours ago

PCWorld

At a glance Fastest benchmarking NVMe SSD we’ve tested. DRAM for fast random operations Available in up to 4GB capacities, and soon 8TB Expensive overkill for most users A hair off the pace in Windows file transfers The fastest Consumer NVMe SSD you can buy — but it ain’t cheap. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today There was a time when Samsung was the long-reigning, undisputed performance king of...

about 16 hours ago

PCWorld

So, what kinds of streaming ads will you tolerate? Maybe a 60-second commercial break in the middle of a show? Pause ads? A static ad on the home screen?  There’s a range of streaming advertisement that most of us will tolerate. Nobody loves an unskippable 30-second ad before a YouTube video, but most of us will deal with it, waiting patiently for that “Skip” button to appear to we can jump to (say) that classic SNL skit.  Similar to other...

about 16 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: CCleaner Keeping your computer in tip-top shape involves regular cleaning and maintenance. It’s possible to do it all by hand, but your time is more precious than that, isn’t it? For the price of a Starbucks frap, you could just grab CCleaner and let it clean out the junk on your PC for you. Right now, CCleaner Professional 6 is on sale for $10 on the PCWorld Software Store. That’s a jaw-dropping 75% discount on a 1-year license for...

about 16 hours ago

PCWorld

In the 1990s, a colleague took me to “Snake Alley,” Taipei’s red-light district, for a night of drinking with “entertainers” and some of their very muscled, serious friends. A good time was had by all, fortunately. Still, I was young, dumb, and lucky that I didn’t end up in any trouble. Some parts of the internet are like that, too. If you think you’ll be potentially surfing into a risky internet neighborhood — a knockoff shopping site, a little-known streaming...

about 17 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Alfonso Casas / Foundry Here at PCWorld, we all love great deals on great hardware—like this crazy discount on the Acer Swift X 16 gaming laptop. “That’s a LOT of laptop for $899!” said one of our editors when I shared with him this hot deal on Acer’s gaming laptop at B&H. And he’s right. That’s a stunning price for a laptop with a Ryzen 9 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 1TB...

about 17 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Amazon November has Black Friday, December has Christmas, and both July and October have Prime Days. But did you know there’s also Amazon’s Spring Sale in March, which has been going on for the past few years? We don’t know exactly when in March yet, but considering the 2024 Spring Sale event started on March 20th, we’re expecting Amazon to make an official announcement soon enough. Here’s everything we know so far about Amazon’s Spring Sale 2025, along with...

about 17 hours ago

PCWorld

Finding the right laptop for your lifestyle can be difficult. Should you go with a 13- or 17-inch display? How much storage and RAM will you need? With so many aspects to consider, you may very well be feeling overwhelmed. Don’t sweat it. Whether you’re looking for ridiculously fast gaming rig, a featherlight 2-in-1, or a straightforward Chromebook, we curated a list of the best laptops available right now. In addition to covering various price points and features, we’ve also...

about 18 hours ago

PCWorld

I develop an acute case of appliance envy every January. That’s when LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, and other manufacturers at the CES tradeshow demonstrate how their new wares can be integrated into the smart home, controlled via a single app, self-report minor problems that could lead up to expensive repairs if not addressed, and—in the case of appliances that work together, like a washer and dryer—even talk to each other. When our clothes dryer recently failed for the second time in...

about 18 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Baseus Are you tired of all those power cords and charging cables cluttering up your workspace? Between laptops, phones, monitors, headphones, keyboards, mice… it can get messy and overwhelming. That’s when a sleek charging station like this 6-in-1 Baseus Blade can work wonders, and right now it’s on sale for just $59.49 on Amazon with an awesome 40% discount coupon. All you have to do is apply the X4LPDNM4 code at checkout to get this amazing price. This compact...

about 18 hours ago

PCWorld

At a glance Functional ergonomic stand with small base Excellent SDR contrast and color gamut Good HDR brightness More affordable than the competition Build quality and design could be better SDR performance, though great, is same as competitors Doesn’t have USB-C with DisplayPort The Alienware AW2725Q is yet another excellent 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitor, and less expensive than the competition. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today I’ll be...

about 20 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: Owlie Productions / Shutterstock.com When DeepSeek-R1 released back in January, it was incredibly hyped up. This reasoning model could be distilled down to work with smaller large language models (LLMs) on consumer-grade laptops. If you believed the headlines, you’d think it’s now possible to run AI models that are competitive with ChatGPT right on your toaster. That just isn’t true, though. I tried running LLMs locally on a typical Windows laptop and the whole experience still kinda sucks. There...

about 20 hours ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce Why pay a subscription fee for Microsoft 365 when you can own Microsoft Office for life? Right now, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional for just $54.97 (reg. $219.99) — cheaper than a single year of Microsoft 365. Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook Teams (free version) OneNote Publisher Access Unlike Microsoft 365, which requires an ongoing subscription, this license lets you install the full suite of Office apps on one computer with no recurring fees...

about 23 hours ago

PCWorld

Last week’s March update for Windows 11 24H2 was already causing problems for users, but now it appears to be a headache for Microsoft itself… because it’s inadvertently uninstalling the Copilot AI assistant that the company has been pushing over the past few years. According to Windows Latest, an unexpected bug has crept into the update that causes the Copilot app to be uninstalled on some devices and unpinned from the taskbar. The problem occurs with updates KB5053598 (Windows 11...

1 day ago

PCWorld

We love Windows and Office as much as the next person, but we have to admit that Microsoft products can be fairly expensive. Paying hundreds of dollars for a Windows product key or getting a Microsoft 365 subscription doesn’t make sense when there are more affordable solutions. But what can you do? Brytesoft, for instance, offers cheap Windows and Office keys. Even better, these keys come with a lifetime warranty, so you won’t have to worry about it until there’s...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: We Love Every Game Almost 19,000 new games were posted to Steam last year. That’s a lot to comb through, even if combing through Steam games is your job. When the Steam Spring Sale hit, I was looking for something new to check out… but basically paralyzed by the discounts for thousands of PC games. I needed a little help—and I found it with an online tool. It’s called We Love Every Game, more specifically its Steam Sale browsing...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Rob Schultz/IDG Don’t let your favorite music and movies go to waste as you play them through your laptop’s built-in sound system. Your audio can come out sounding weak and lifeless with even the best laptop speakers. External PC speakers—along with a good set of headphones—are essential for getting the best fidelity from your media files. Luckily, you don’t need to buy a complete 7.1 surround sound system to make up for it. For less than $100, you can...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Baseball fans have more ways than ever to stream Major League Baseball games, but keeping track of where to watch can be a challenge. National broadcasts remain spread across multiple networks and streaming services, while local games are increasingly shifting away from traditional regional sports networks. Add in exclusive streaming deals and blackout restrictions, and figuring out how to watch your favorite team can feel feel as challenging as deciphering Tarik Skubal’s pitch arsenal. The 2025 MLB season is set...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: We Love Every Game Almost 19,000 new games were posted to Steam last year. That’s a lot to comb through, even if combing through Steam games is your job. When the Steam Spring Sale hit, I was looking for something new to check out… but basically paralyzed by the discounts for thousands of PC games. I needed a little help—and I found it with an online tool. It’s called We Love Every Game, more specifically its Steam Sale browsing...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Elecom Japanese company Elecom has unveiled the world’s first power bank using sodium-ion battery technology, according to the company’s official press release. The sodium-ion power bank consists of 3 battery cells of 3,000mAh each, for a total capacity of 9,000mAh. It comes with USB-A and USB-C ports, with a maximum output of 45 watts. Compared to the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries we all know and use, sodium-ion batteries offer several advantages. For starters, sodium-ion batteries are considered to be more...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Last week’s March update for Windows 11 24H2 was already causing problems for users, but now it appears to be a headache for Microsoft itself… because it’s inadvertently uninstalling the Copilot AI assistant that the company has been pushing over the past few years. According to Windows Latest, an unexpected bug has crept into the update that causes the Copilot app to be uninstalled on some devices and unpinned from the taskbar. The problem occurs with updates KB5053598 (Windows 11...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Ben Patterson/Foundry Time is running out for Google Assistant as Gemini prepares to take its place on mobile and—eventually—smart devices. Now Google is announcing another round of features that Google Assistant is soon to lose. None of the about-to-be-yanked features are all that critical, but the move is yet another sign that Google Assistant is going by the wayside.   The nixed features were spotted by 9to5Google on a support page that lists other deprecated Google Assistant features, including more...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Logitech Logitech’s MX series of premium mice are some of the most popular around if you don’t want a gaming mouse, but they don’t come cheap. Today, you can get the MX Vertical—the company’s most advanced ergonomic vertical design—for just $70 on Amazon. That’s $30 off its retail price, a discount of (hang on just a second, let me get out my calculator app… carry the one…) 30 percent. The MX Vertical is a delicious blend of stylish shape,...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Foundry If you need to “remote” in to a local PC while on vacation. there’s a new way to do it: the Windows App, which is replacing the Remote Desktop app within Windows. Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app is one of the easier ways to remotely connect to a PC while you’re out and about, allowing you to access a PC remotely and even perform some basic file transfers. (Unfortunately, since the October 2024 Update for Windows 11, the app...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Asus Graphics card prices are shooting up… and not just because of retailers or resellers. Prices for AMD and Nvidia GPUs made by AIB partner Asus have risen directly at the source, the Asus online shop where the company sells directly to consumers. At the time of writing, almost no cards are available at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. The rising prices were spotted by VideoCardz.com, which details prices that have jumped up in the last few days. The...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry It’s always a big letdown when new performance-boosting technologies come out but aren’t supported in all games. That’s been the case with AMD’s fourth-generation resolution upscaling technology, FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR 4), which remains exclusively supported on AMD’s new 9000-series RDNA 4 graphics cards. FSR 4 isn’t widely available, not even across high-profile games. Cyberpunk 2077 fans, for example, have been unimpressed that CD Projekt Red hasn’t yet gotten around to adding FSR 4...

1 day ago

PCWorld

There are lots of price search engines that show price histories for products via graphs, which can help you visualize what a product is really worth before you jump on a so-called deal. Why pay full price for something when you don’t have to? And that’s never more true than on Amazon. If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, you owe it to yourself to always look at a product’s price history before checking out—and you can do that with CamelCamelCamel....

1 day ago

PCWorld

Laptops with ample storage can be pricey, especially because they don’t go on sale as often as smaller options do. I’ve seen it so many times — a base model laptop goes on sale for hundreds of dollars off, but the model with more storage remains full price. That’s why I’m telling you to buy the less-expensive laptop model and upgrade the storage yourself. Of course, it’s easier said than done. You have to make sure the laptop is easily...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Blink Listen. Being able to keep an eye on your home when you’re away can be a huge weight off your shoulders, especially if you have kids or pets. But who wants to shell out tons of cash for a simple home camera feed? Well, with this awesome deal, you won’t have to. The super-tiny, super-cute Blink Mini 2 is on sale for half price on Amazon, bringing the cost down from its original $40 to just $20. You...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Nvidia Some PC gamers use the terms frame rate and refresh rate interchangeably. But while they’re related, your gaming PC’s frame rate and refresh rate measure two very different things — one fixed, the other varies. The frame rate, which is measured in frames per second (FPS), indicates the number of images displayed on the monitor per second. The higher the number of frames, the smoother the animation appears. In games, FPS determines how smoothly you see the animations...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: HP If you want a top-notch laptop with serious gaming chops, then you need to jump on this HP Omen 17 deal at B&H. It normally goes for $1,910, but right now it’s down to a mere $1,350. That’s an absolutely jaw-dropping $560 discount (29% off) for a high-performance machine! The Omen 17 runs on an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, which isn’t just speedy and capable but also comes with AI capabilities, so your laptop will be...

1 day ago

PCWorld

At a glance Thin, light, and luxurious design Haptic touchpad and enjoyable keyboard Excellent 14-inch OLED with refresh rate up to 120Hz Future-looking connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7 Missing TrackPoint will divide ThinkPad fans Not the best performance for your dollar Modest battery life The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 is a sleeker, more luxurious ThinkPad. However, its performance and battery life are mid-pack. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Jon Martindale / Foundry I don’t know about you, but I have trouble sitting still. My personal combination of over-caffeinated autism and ADHD means I need to keep my hands busy during the workday to avoid chewing my fingers to bloody stumps or getting distracted by the latest notifications. In other words, I fidget — and it’s bad. Fortunately, I have a bunch of accessories, toys, and gadgets to help with that. I’ve invested in quite a few over...

1 day ago

PCWorld

Image: Beelink Looking for speedy PC performance while minimizing desk space takeover? Maybe you don’t need a full-blown desktop PC. Maybe what you need is an affordable mini PC with quality guts. The Beelink SER5 Pro mini PC is compact yet performant, delivering great specs for not much money at all—especially now that it’s 23% off. Normally $429, you can get it now for just $329 on Amazon with a Prime sub. (No Prime? No worries! Snag a free Prime...

1 day ago

PCWorld

 In today’s online age, antivirus software isn’t just a good idea — it’s a necessity. With cyberthreats like malware and viruses lurking online, a strong antivirus acts as your first line of defense. It detects, blocks, and removes harmful software, protecting your devices and data from further harm.  You may have heard about Surfshark VPN — the product that Surfshark is most well-known for. But did you know they also have their own antivirus software, Antivirus? In this article, we’ll...

2 days ago

PCWorld

With so much of our lives now lived online, security is becoming an increasingly important consideration when using a browser. You don’t want third parties watching what you do and tracking where you go, but that’s almost certainly happening already. Thankfully there’s an easy way to combat this intrusive behaviour, by using Surfshark VPN. Not only does it encrypt your online activities and block annoying ads, it also works in the world’s most popular browser via its Chrome extension. So,...

2 days ago

PCWorld

With increasingly advanced attacks on cybersecurity appearing all the time, it’s now pretty much essential to add effective protection for your online activities. One easy solution is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), as they are designed specifically to ensure privacy, while being very simple to set-up and use. They also have the significant advantages of letting you access your favourite shows when you’re travelling, avoiding the regional lockouts that can be so frustrating, while also offering the potential for cheaper...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Imagine being woken up late one Tuesday night by a phone call from your young relative. They’ve been in a car accident and urgently need money sent to their phone, not having their wallet on them. The connection is bad but it does sound like them. Still groggy and confused, you start making the transfer. Only it’s not them calling you, they’re asleep, safe and sound. You’re talking to a robocall, steered by a scammer and made from a spoofed...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Identity theft can sound like something straight out of a Hollywood thriller. A mysterious hacker breaking into a bank account or a con artist slipping through airport security with nothing but a forged passport. But in reality, identity theft is far less dramatic and far more common than movies make it seem. Every year, millions of people worldwide find their personal information stolen or misused, often with devastating financial and emotional consequences. To put things into perspective, the U.S. Federal...

2 days ago

PCWorld

In August 2024, National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, experienced a massive data breach that impacted around 2.9 billion records with sensitive information. Millions of people’s full names, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and addresses were all up for grabs on the dark web. Faced with the overwhelming financial strain from numerous lawsuits and the costs associated with the breach, NPD filed for bankruptcy just a few months later. This breach, one of the largest in recent history,...

2 days ago

PCWorld

In today’s online age, identity theft and data breaches are more prevalent than ever. According to a recent report by Statista, the number of data breaches has significantly increased. For instance, the number of data breaches in the US rose from 447 in 2012 to more than 3,200 breaches in 2023. The risk of having your personal information compromised is alarmingly high. This is where Surfshark Alert and its free Data Leak Checker come into play — offering help in...

2 days ago

PCWorld

The Global State of Scams Report 2024 from Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Feedzai revealed that in the past year, scammers stole a staggering $1.03 trillion globally. Most of these scams came through phone calls or text messages, highlighting just how vulnerable our personal information can be — and why protecting it is more important than ever. Scammers often get their hands on phone numbers by harvesting leaked information from data breaches or through malicious apps or websites that collect users’...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Every online action leaves a digital footprint that influences your online identity. This footprint can have both positive and negative effects. To protect one’s online presence, it’s essential to understand what the digital footprint is and the potential consequences of leaving it online. This article will discuss these risks, provide tips on how to protect your information and highlight the importance of online security tools like Surfshark Antivirus to keep your personal data safe.  A digital footprint, electronic footprint, or...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Identity theft is one of those boogeymen of the internet age. It’s the stuff of hacker movies from the ‘90s: one day your keycard, bankcard and phone just stop working, then it turns out someone has taken over your life and is living large on your dime. Far-fetched, sure, but not completely divorced from reality. How do you end up in an identity thief’s sights? Most don’t just select victims at random. Stealing someone’s identity and actually getting away with...

2 days ago

PCWorld

There are many reasons you might want to “delete yourself” from the internet. From receiving frustrating amounts of spam to protecting yourself from carefully crafted scams fueled by the availability of personal data. But it goes much deeper than that. Having your personal information floating around online leaves you more vulnerable to identity theft, a type of fraud that can lead to criminals opening lines of credit in your name. Stalkers can use location and other data to commit their...

2 days ago

PCWorld

So, your data was leaked by hackers. Well, you’re not the only one. We live in an era in which data breaches are a daily occurrence. And that’s both bad and good news. It’s bad for obvious reasons—no one wants to have their personal information exposed. But here’s why it could be good news—it means the digital landscape is saturated with terabytes of data, leaving each individual data point nearly worthless. The rise of data brokers—companies that legally aggregate hundreds...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce Running out of space on your phone or tablet? Instead of paying for monthly Google Drive or iCloud storage, grab this 1TB high-speed USB-C + A flash drive for 36% off. With dual USB-A and USB-C compatibility, this drive makes it easy to free up space fast by transferring photos, videos, and documents directly from or to your device. The USB 3.2 interface delivers speeds up to 30MB/s, so you can move large files in seconds. And with...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Rob Schultz / Foundry Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have already come and gone in a flash, but there are still plenty of VPN deals from top providers to be had this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for something that will give you the privacy you need or access location-restricted streaming content, we’ve got you covered with the very best VPN deals currently available. But not all deals are worth it, so we only highlight those offered by...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Unsplash Whether you’re looking for a productivity desktop, a gaming PC powerhouse, or a stylish all-in-one Windows machine, we’ve got you covered. The team at PCWorld sort through all of the daily computer sales and put together a curated list of the best deals available. But not all deals are really deals, so we only choose those offered by reputable companies and that include great hardware to ensure you get the best value for your money. We’ve also included...

2 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: PCWorld readers can get a MacBook Air on sale for $229.97 through March 30.  Diehard PC lovers, there may be a reason to finally try a MacBook: the price. Instead of paying $999 for a MacBook Air, now you can get one with 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD on sale for $229.97. Take a look.  This MacBook still has an Intel processor, which is actually a good thing for Windows users. The M1 chips can’t run...

3 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: You can get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for $30 for a limited time (reg. $229). Why are you paying for the whole Microsoft 365 suite if you only use Word and Excel? The subscription-based apps may be fancy, but if you aren’t taking full advantage of them, you’re basically paying $10 a month for, well, nothing. You should grab the lifetime version of Microsoft Office instead. This way, you can pay $30 only once...

3 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: Streamline your workday by letting WordPop AI generate copy, translate content, and more for $49.99 (reg. $1,170). Generating unique, compelling copy on a regular basis can be tiring and time-consuming. Instead of spending hours drafting social media copy or trying to SEO-optimize an article, let this content creation AI tool help. For only $49.99 (reg. $1,170) for life, you can get WordPop AI and get assistance with language translation, content generation, and so much more. Want to streamline your workday and...

4 days ago

PCWorld

The writing was already on the wall, but now it’s official: The Google Assistant era is over.  In a blog post Friday, Google announced plans for Google Assistant’s final phase-out, starting on mobile and continuing with tablets, cars, and mobile-connected devices such as headphones and tablets. Finally, Google Assistant will be going away on Nest smart speakers and displays as well as on Google TV devices.  Google Assistant’s replacement will, of course, be Gemini, Google’s entry in the generative AI...

4 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Netflix VPNs aren’t just useful for increasing privacy and security, they can also be the most effective tool at bypassing region locks to access streaming content in different countries. The top VPN providers are now offering features such as streaming optimized servers and stealth VPN protocols to make sure you always have access to your favorite sites. With the right VPN, you don’t need to play a cat-and-mouse game to access location restricted content from your streaming provider. That’s...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Just a few days ago, Microsoft released update KB5053598 for Windows 11 24H2, which includes several important security fixes. It’s a mandatory update that’s part of this month’s Patch Tuesday, so it’s meant to install automatically for all eligible users. Unfortunately, the update appears to be a wreck for many users, reports Windows Latest. For starters, the update itself can fail to install, presenting error codes 0x800f0993, 0x800F081F, 0x80070032, and/or 0xC004F211. The actual update process can get stuck before installation...

5 days ago

PCWorld

At a glance Wonderfully faithful to the original Can run custom games from USB HDMI and multiple USB ports No power adapter included Difficult controls for some Games can be difficult The Spectrum faithfully recreates the 80s original with its rubber keys and classic games, delighting older gamers, while younger players may face a steep learning curve due to tricky controls and tough gameplay. However, modern features like save and rewind help mitigate that frustration. Price When Reviewed This value...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Aopen Eighty bucks is pretty cheap for a monitor, but not unheard of if you’re limiting yourself to a budget 24-inch 1080p panel. But with extra features thrown in, it becomes a great value. I’m talking a speedy 180Hz refresh rate that makes for a pretty good gaming display and an IPS panel for superior color accuracy. You can get such a deal on Amazon today: this Aopen by Acer monitor is on sale for $79.99. (That’s 38% off!)...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Sony Nope, Sony isn’t quite done with Blu-ray yet.  Barely two months after announcing that it’s exiting the recordable Blu-ray business, Sony has revealed something of a surprise: its first new Blu-ray player in roughly five years. Just keep your expectations in check as far as features go. Slated to go on sale in Japan during the April-May timeframe, the Sony UBP-X700/K is 4K Blu-ray player that’s a variant of the older UBP-X700, the latter of which is a popular...

5 days ago

PCWorld

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics,” said Mark Twain over a century ago. While I’m not exactly accusing Nvidia of lying with its latest mollifying statement on the woeful lack of options for anyone trying to buy a new graphics card right now, I will say that it all sounds awfully… statistical. TweakTown spoke with Nvidia’s product manager for GeForce desktop GPUs, Justin Walker, at Game Developers Conference 2025. Walker claimed that the company has...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer If you’re in the market for an inexpensive laptop for day-to-day tasks, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of our top picks below. That said, it’s important to be smart about your choices. Although you may need to deal with a couple of minor drawbacks like a dim display or short battery life, it’s still possible to score a sub-$500 laptop with strong performance. Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: TP-Link The TP-Link Tapo C100 home security camera is tiny and practical, perfect for watching your kids and/or pets and keeping an eye on your home while you’re away. And right now, this camera is only $15 on Amazon. That’s a solid 40% off its MSRP! The Tapo C100 is an indoor camera that can double as a baby monitor. It delivers 1080p video and can do night vision for up to 30 feet. Day or night, you’ll be...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Asus Asus has been having some trouble with its high-end gaming motherboards. As the newest graphics cards launched, reviewers noticed some scratches and chips on motherboards with the Q-Release Slim system, which lets you pull a card out of its PCIe slot without using latches or buttons. Based on some retail photos, the latest Asus motherboards seem to have revised the problematic slots. Twitter/X account Uniko’s Hardware spotted a visibly distinct latch mechanism on the Asus X870E Apex motherboard,...

5 days ago

PCWorld

The Raspberry Pi single-board computer and all its variants have captured the imaginations of DIY enthusiasts and budding hobbyists alike. With the latest model, the Raspberry Pi 5, the mini-PC is more capable than ever, with an upgraded four-core 2.4GHz system-on-chip (SoC) that’s up to three times faster than previous models. Much of the coverage you’ll see around the web focuses on the more fantastical projects—magic mirrors, portable gaming handhelds, intelligent drones, and so forth. Those maker masterpieces certainly show what...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: iRasptek It’s Pi Day, so what better way to celebrate than by getting your hands on a Raspberry Pi at a discount? This Raspberry Pi 5 starter kit is down to $129 on Amazon, a nice little discount for Prime members. (Don’t have Prime? Score this deal with a free 30-day Prime trial.) What’s in this Raspberry Pi 5 starter kit? Everything you need to get a basic setup going without having to shop around for accessories and components....

5 days ago

PCWorld

The Raspberry Pi 5 is several times faster than previous models of the compact and cheap computer. For less than a couple hundred bucks, you can have a computer that can do many tasks that previously required a regular PC, that consumes very little power, and for which the web is overflowing with exciting tutorials and projects you can take on. In this guide, I’ll first walk you through how to build a Raspberry Pi 5 with maximum performance so...

5 days ago

PCWorld

You typically have a choice between Windows fullscreen or Windows borderless viewing modes while gaming on PC, which begs the question: Which mode is better? The short answer that you’ll get from any AI chatbot and most tech websites, is that Fullscreen is better for gaming performance. Otherwise, if you need to jump between programs, multiple monitors, or other tasks on your PC, borderless window mode is better. But is that a blanket rule? Read on for a more personal...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: MSI The powerful MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop is cut down to a much more affordable price at B&H. Get it now for just $1,149 (was $1,399) and score this awesome config that’s worthy of any deal-hunting winner. We’re talking about a laptop that’s packing a 13th-gen Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, a jaw-dropping 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card that’ll blow your socks off. All of that’s bolstered by a 15.6-inch IPS display...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry Trying to buy a new graphics card right now is an incredible gauntlet of high demand, poor availability, and resellers trying to become profitable middlemen. But one system integrator—someone who assembles and sells pre-built PCs out of retail or bulk-bought components—says the problem isn’t just at retail. He claims he’s getting “scalped” on the price of RTX 5090 cards directly from distributors. PowerGPU is a fairly typical boutique PC builder, offering a selection of...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Beelink Do you know what your home office needs? A mini PC! It’s tiny, fast, affordable—the best bang for your buck as long as you don’t need the portability of a laptop. And right now, the well-regarded Beelink EQR6 mini PC is only $359 on Amazon if you clip the on-page coupon for $90 in savings (was $449). What do you get for this crazy low price? A compact PC fitted with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU,...

5 days ago

PCWorld

I’m a smart home expert. Writing about smart home technology, smart devices, and voice assistants is my job. Yet, I don’t remember the last time I actually spoke with Alexa.  Just to be clear, I don’t mean to pick on Alexa per se. I rarely speak to Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri, either. The reason? It’s way easier to haul out my phone and use an app than it is to get a supposedly “smart” voice assistant to do what...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Cloud gaming demands low latency and smooth visuals, and a free plugin for Microsoft Edge helps achieve that: Better XCloud, which I’d say is a must for anyone trying to play Xbox Cloud games via the web. Better XCloud is an open-source, free plugin for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and other Chromium browsers specifically for use with Xbox Cloud Gaming. While the code can be downloaded and examined via Github, you’ll want to begin on the more user-friendly Better XCloud...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Laptops with ample storage can be pricey, especially because they don’t go on sale as often as smaller options do. I’ve seen it so many times — a base model laptop goes on sale for hundreds of dollars off, but the model with more storage remains full price. That’s why I’m telling you to buy the less-expensive laptop model and upgrade the storage yourself. Of course, it’s easier said than done. You have to make sure the laptop is easily...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Jon Martindale / Foundry The morning after I’d spent $120 on a Logitech PowerPlay mousepad, I felt like an idiot — and rightly so. That’s a lot of cash that could’ve gone towards other things. More important things. Life things. But it’s now five years later and the Logitech PowerPlay mousepad is one of my favorite PC accessories. It blurs into the background and I never have to think about charging my Logitech G Pro mouse anymore. Honestly, the...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce Building forms for your website or email campaigns is already a chore. Add the additional task of integrating into an email, and you have WORK on your hands. If you’re tired of Google Forms’ clunky interface or struggling to embed surveys without coding, Formly is the no-code solution that lets you create, customize, and integrate forms seamlessly. Whether you’re collecting customer feedback, email signups, or payments, its drag-and-drop builder lets you design forms in minutes while tracking real-time...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: StackCommerce TL;DR: Prep for an IT career with this online CompTIA training bundle, now less than $3 per course. You send out countless applications, tweak your resume, cross your fingers, and still nothing. It’s no secret that today’s job market is brutal, especially if you don’t have the “right” credentials, but this may be the perfect opportunity to earn some, such as a CompTIA certification. These are some of the most widely recognized credentials in the IT field. By...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Are you considering upgrading your system disk from a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD)? This process can significantly enhance your computer’s performance as SSDs offer faster boot time, longer lifespan, and better application loading speed. However, to make the most of the SSD, you need to set it as the boot drive. This article will walk you through a step-by-step tutorial on setting the SSD as the boot drive in the BIOS. Preparing your SSD...

5 days ago

PCWorld

How do you merge disk partitions in Windows 11/10/8/7? Can you merge two disk partitions without losing data? EaseUS Software provides two options (EaseUS Partition Master and Disk Management) to help merge both adjacent and non-adjacent partitions, and below we offer step-by-step guides to ensure a smooth process without data loss. Merging disk partitions is useful to optimize disk space, especially when managing multiple partitions on a single disk. However, Windows Disk Management can only merge adjacent partitions, and it...

5 days ago

PCWorld

For over four years, gamers have been able to access hundreds of titles across PC and Xbox via Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service—but you don’t have to pay full price. With a few smart moves, you can lock in a 52 percent discount on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for up to two years. (Note: This trick was last confirmed as working on 7/6/23.) This deal isn’t quite as good as before: Before July 6, 2023, you could lock...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Jared Newman / Foundry If you’re one of the unlucky Chromecast owners whose “untrusted” device stopped working earlier this week, here’s some good news: a fix is on the way.  As reported by 9to5Google, Google has issued a fix that should restore service to the stymied Chromecast streamers, including the second-generation Chromecast (pictured above) and the Chromecast Audio.  “We’re pleased to share some positive news regarding Chromecast 2nd gen & Audio,” read a Google email shared on Reddit. “The...

5 days ago

PCWorld

Need a new monitor for your PC? We’ve combed through scores of options to find the best monitors available. Our picks are the result of hundreds of hours spent testing the latest models from Acer, Asus, BenQ, Dell, LG, Samsung, and other major brands.  While our favorite monitor overall is an awesome choice for most people, we also have alternative options for budget shoppers, gamers, and those seeking the best HDR performance. After all, not everyone’s monitor needs are identical....

6 days ago

PCWorld

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips have helped lead the market for laptops with epically long battery life, but they’ve had a key weakness: games. To help address this, Qualcomm said Thursday that it will enable the hit multiplayer game Fortnite to run on Snapdragon, as well as Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat software. The latter service is probably the more important of the two. Epic, as well as many other multiplayer games, requires that anti-cheat software be added to prevent cheating. But it doesn’t...

6 days ago

PCWorld

At a glance Integrated display shows you who’s on the other side of the door Robust build quality, with mostly solid operation Scads of features No subscriptions needed (unless 16GB of local storage is insufficient) Enormous and very heavy Palm vein reader can be a quirky Long feature list contributes to a high price tag The feature-laden FamiLock Max S3—the first smart lock we’ve seen with an integrated video screen on its interior escutcheon—works well, but its onboard camera won’t...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Foundry Windows 11 appears to be experiencing problems with Nvidia GPUs, according to Neowin. Windows Insiders on the Canary channel are reporting issues launching apps, apparently due to an incompatibility with DirectX 9 and crashing D3D9 DLL files. Anything that relies on or utilizes DirectX 9 is affected, including apps, games, PowerPoint presentations, browsers, and even some websites. Microsoft has already confirmed the problem. On the latest Canary Channel build 27808 announcement, Microsoft has added the error to the...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Anker If your devices aren’t charging fast enough, it might be due to the wall plug (also known as a power adapter) you’re using. Getting ultra-fast charge times could be as simple as upgrading yours to this 100W Anker Prime wall plug that’s now on sale for $55 on Amazon. This Anker Prime GaN charger features three ports: two USB-C and a USB-A. The USB-C ports can hit 100W when used solo, while the USB-A maxes out at 22.5W...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Acer Chromebooks have come a long way in recent years. They are no longer used to just run Google apps or access the internet. Chromebooks can do just about every productivity task a Windows or MacOS laptop can do, and they often come at a more affordable price. They are also renowned for having long battery life and solid designs. Google has developed Chrome OS to be perfect for everyday tasks such as working on documents and spreadsheets, browsing...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Tile AirTags are nice and all, but they don’t really fit into your wallet without crowding out everything else. That’s where the Tile Slim shines—and right now it’s only $21 on Amazon, a hefty 30% off its MSRP. This super-thin tracker/locator is just what you need to keep tabs on your wallet, luggage, or even your passport when you’re traveling. Just picture this: it’s morning, you’re late out the door, traffic is a nightmare, and you can’t find your...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Kensington Trackballs used to be a far more common alternative to conventional computer mice, but they’ve all but disappeared lately. One of the only options from a major brand is the Kensington Expert Mouse, which has remain unchanged for a decade or so—until now, as Kensington has just revealed a new design. But when (or if) you can get it isn’t clear. The new Expert Mouse TB800 EQ is a trackball and not a mouse. (That’s a legacy name...

6 days ago

PCWorld

I’ve decided to test a radical change to my living room streaming setup. For years, I’ve used an Apple TV 4K for streaming, and while it’s been a great device overall, I’ve always wanted to try swapping it for a home theater PC. In my early cord-cutting years (circa 2010), I used a cheap Intel Atom-powered Lenovo nettop (now obsolete) to access Hulu’s website (still free at the time) and avoid its subscription fees on connected TV devices. Plugging a...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Samsung You’ve been putting it off for years, but it’s finally time to upgrade your desk setup and get a premium monitor. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is down to its very best price on Amazon, meaning you can get it for $680 right now — a massive 43% off its $1,200 MSRP. This is a 34-inch monitor with an ultrawide 3440×1440 resolution and a curvature that’ll make all those hours spent in front of your computer that much...

6 days ago

PCWorld

At a glance High-quality feel and stable Construction Modular T-channel system for flexible customization Quiet and efficient electric height adjustment Large work surface with integrated cable tray Simple assembly thanks to pre-sorted components High price Expensive accessories Cable eyelets poorly made and difficult to mount The Corsair Platform:4 is a well thought-out, versatile, and customizable desk system that appeals to both gamers and productive users. The workmanship is high quality, the design is clearly structured, and the modularity offers many...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: HP A new firmware update has rendered some HP LaserJet printers inoperable, even when using HP’s own toner, Ars Technica reports. The update, version 20250209, was released on March 4, 2025 for HP’s LaserJet MFP M232 to M237 series. According to HP, the update includes security enhancements, updates to meet regulatory requirements, and general improvements and bug fixes. There’s no mention of any changes to how the printers handle HP toner. Despite this, users have started reporting Error Code...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: Epson Printers are awful. Buy this little Brother laser printer if you need to print shipping labels or boarding passes, but otherwise my professional advice is to avoid printers at all costs. For example, if you update Windows while your PC is plugged into a USB printer, it might start printing a bunch of random text. It’s like you got a fax from a ghost stuck in 1996. Microsoft issued an alert that a preview update for Windows 10...

6 days ago

PCWorld

Image: IDG There are many reasons why it makes sense to have a PC video capture card on hand, such as streaming video from an external device like a gaming console. But did you know you can use a capture card in many different (and creative) ways? We’ve summarized five of them: If you have VHS tapes or laser discs, they may become unusable due to the potential failure of older playback devices. You can actually digitize the VHS tapes...

6 days ago

PCWorld

When it comes to professional exchanges, I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a bit awkward. Sometimes my tone is more terse than intended (sorry!) or I’m just not as clear as I’d like to be from the get-go. Weirdly enough, sometimes I’m more comfortable writing from the perspective of a fictional character than from my own, though it depends on the type of writing.  Since I work from home and communicate with my coworkers via text the...

6 days ago