The holidays are here. How are you going to make them affordable? The trick isn't to replace your apple pie filling with crackers or to wrap gifts in newspapers. Instead, try changing where you shop. There's no better time than now, especially when you can get a Sam's Club 1-Year Membership for only $20 (reg. $50).
There are 597 Sam's Club warehouses in the United States, and your membership gets you in the door at any of them. Once you're at Sam's Club, you can start hunting down fresh produce, tasty baked treats, clothes, jewelry, and so much more.
But the widespread availability of these displays and the ability to manufacture them cheaply has resulted in some questionable brands on the market. Often the quality of these monitors can be sub-par. That's where we at PCWorld come in. We've tested multiple models and can separate the best portable monitors from the rest.
Our list of favorites below will help you find the right portable monitor for you. You can learn more about what to look for in a portable monitor at the bottom of the article.
This tiny PC features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor that's coupled with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, so you'll have no issue running demanding apps and games. And if you want more power, you can later pop up the magnetic side cover and upgrade to 64GB of RAM.
The Acemagician AMR5 also comes with a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, which should be enough speed and space for most of your files, apps, and games. If not, you can use the same accessible magnetic cover to add a second drive. Each drive can be up to 2TB, for a total of 4TB.
And if you're going to be using this mini PC as a workflow powerhouse, you can optimize your productivity with three 4K@60Hz displays, one through HDMI 2.0, one through full-feature USB-C, and one through DisplayPort. Other ports include four USB-A 3.0, full-size Gigabit Ethernet, and an audio in/out jack.
Simply put, this thing is a miniscule monster. You can't find a laptop or desktop PC with specs like this anywhere near this price. Act fast and grab this Acemagician AMR5 mini PC for just $339 while
You can call it a laptop dock, a laptop docking station, a USB4 dock, or a Thunderbolt dock; they're basically the same thing, and this buying guide covers them. Both Thunderbolt docks and the best USB-C hubs and dongles provide legacy ports (USB-A, microSD, and others), and connect PC peripherals like mice, printers, external hard drives, and more. A Thunderbolt dock has traditionally been the faster, more powerful option, however, supplying enough bandwidth via the Thunderbolt port to drive a pair of 4K displays and charge your phone.
My recommendations for the best laptop docking stations begin with my top picks, followed by budget and premium options. I also include my favorite DisplayLink USB-C docks — a simpler, cheaper docking station that you should consider. If you need more help, I've included a FAQ designed to answer your questions, as well as information on up-and-coming technologies such as Thunderbolt 5 and the slightly odd Thunderbolt Share.
These so-called "companions" are additional bits of information that are integrated into the taskbar and Start menu, and you can spot these details — which include contacts, files, and calendar events — at a glance.
The MSI MAG 271QPX is designed to be a fantastic, gaming-focused OLED screen without a lot of extras. 240Hz at 2560×1440 hits the "sweet spot" for a 27-inch monitor, offering a little extra sharpness for high-end AAA games and plenty of speed for online multiplayer.
Connections are a bit basic with one DisplayPort and double HDMI. The monitor does support USB-C video, but with just 15 watts of charging you won't be able to charge up a gaming laptop at the same time. A headphone port for your gaming headset and VESA mounting for a monitor arm round out the features. MSI is offering a 3-year warranty on the OLED panel, which is a nice boost for peace of mind.
At Ignite 2024, Microsoft just unveiled a cool new feature for Microsoft Teams that uses artificial intelligence to not only translate words from one language to another in real time, but even emulate the speaker's voice, intonations, and mannerisms.
Microsoft says a preview version of this "AI interpreter" feature will come some time in early 2025, but it remains unknown when the feature will be released more generally across all versions of Teams.
The Teams interpreter will initially support nine languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, German, Italian, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Users will also be able to set whether they want the interpreter to mimic their own voices. For example, so the translated audio sounds like you're the one speaking Spanish.
According to a new blog post (spotted by PCMag), Windows Recall will be disabled by default on all enterprise machines. If you want to use it, not only will you need local hardware that meets Copilot specs, you'll need permission from your IT administrator to turn it on.
"Recall will be disabled by default, and IT will enable this feature through new policies before it can be made available to employees for opting in," says Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's VP of Windows Devices. They'd still really like you to use it, though. The post goes on to claim that Recall will ship with "meaningful security enhancements, including additional layers of data encryption and Windows Hello protection, making it one of the most secure experiences we have ever built."
This cautious approach to implementing Recall for its enterprise customers is more stringent than the same feature that's now enabled on consumer Copilot machines, but even there, you ca
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.
Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the best laptop deals available right now. By the way, since we're in the thick of back-to-school season, make sure you check out PCWorld's back-to-school coverage.
Updated November 20, 2024: We added the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 ($1,699) as an alternative option to the Best Battery Life pick. In addition to lasting a jaw-dropping 23 and a half hours on a single charge, it also features a versatile 2-in-1 form factor as well as a beautiful AMOLED display. We also updated o
Microsoft Edge offers a number of options for better data protection, but these settings are difficult to find. We'll show you three easy ways to protect your data.
Further reading: 5 ways Microsoft Edge is better than Chrome
1. Prevent third-party cookies
Cookies are small text files that are copied to your PC from the websites you surf. First-party cookies can only be read by the website that set them. In online shops, for example, they are used to identify the customer's shopping basket. Third-party cookies, on the other hand, are usually placed by advertisers. They're used to recognize the user, which is why they're also called tracking cookies.
The Baseus Blade laptop power bank is super fast, packs a lot of power, and currently has a jaw-dropping discount: get it now for just $51 on Amazon. (You'll need a Prime membership, but if you don't have one, sign up for a 30-day free trial. You'll also need to clip the on-page coupon.) That's 61 percent off its original price of $130!
This Baseus portable charger has a 20,000mAh capacity, which is more than enough to charge most laptops. The 100W output is also fast enough to get it recharged within minutes, not hours. It features two USB-C ports and two USB-C ports, allowing you to charge up to four devices at once if you want to. And it's slim so it fits right next to your laptop when you pack it away in your bag.
Note that only the USB-C ports support the max 100W speed, as the USB-A ports have a 30W limit. And even though it's nice to be able to charge so many devices at once, note that the charging throughput will need to be split between them, so don't expect max speed like that.
That said, a laptop power bank like the Baseus Blade is definitely something you need, especially when it's only $51. Remember, this is a Prime deal, so grab a free Prime trial if you need to!
Save big on this travel-friendly portable charger for laptops
To combat this old form of malware, Microsoft will soon upgrade Edge with a new form of protection. Announced during the Microsoft Ignite conference, the company will use machine learning to identify scareware within Edge tabs and warn users of the danger. The browser will contain the perceived scam attempt unless you give the green light—so if you know the site is safe, you're still able to proceed.
An example of scareware (left), and then Microsoft Edge's coming ability to quarantine such scam sites (right).
Scareware protection will first become available to organizations, who must guard regularly against threats to their users and networks—especially if an employee is tricked into granting remote access to their machine. But with Microsoft saying this feature will make online browsing safer "inside and out
But starting in December, Meta's Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets will get official support to stream Windows 11, direct from Microsoft. The capability was announced in a post-Ignite news roundup and shown off in a short video, below:
Microsoft's mockup of the integration between Windows and Quest headsets is impressive. The demo user puts on the headset and almost instantly has access to three virtual monitors floating in space via augmented reality, all wireless and apparently seamless. Alternatively, you can put everything on one giant screen right in front of you.
Both use a familiar VR control panel that floats beneath the virtual displays. The whole thing is reminiscent of Apple's Vision Pro "yes, you can use this thing for work" videos.
Again, this core capability is not new. Accessing PC content via a standalone VR headset like the Quest is a pretty common
The new UltraGear GX7 is a gamer's dream, with 27-inch diagonal size, a resolution of 2560×1440, and a response time of 0.03ms. It's fully compatible with Nvidia's G-Sync and AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro technologies, and it's VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certified.
Connectivity isn't the greatest, but it isn't bad. You'll find that it has one DisplayPort 2.1 port, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a headphone port. The monitor also comes with a stand that can be raised, lowered, rotated to 30 degrees, and tilted to 15 degrees.
The UltraGear 27GX790A is available for pre-order at a price of $999.99, which is reasonably in line with other 27-inch 1440p OLED monitors with 480Hz of refresh. It's not yet known when pre-orders will ship.
However, before you get started, there are some things you'll likely want to know to make sure everything goes smoothly. Here's what you should keep in mind about the release, downloads, and more.
Release time for Stalker 2
The official launch of Stalker 2 will take place today at 11am EST. From then on, you'll be able to download the game if you've bought it. (If you pre-ordered it or if you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can already download part of the game as a preload.)
You can avoid long waiting times by pre-installing the game — as long as there aren't any issues similar to the preload for yesterday's Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 release. Simply start the Xbox app on your PC or console and search for Stalker 2 to start the pre-installation process.
The game is included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from day one. Incidentally, Stalker 2 will also be released on Steam at the same time, but there is no option to preload it there.
Download size for Stalker 2
The official download size of Stalker 2 on Xbox Series X/S is a whopping ~147GB. However, some users who have already installed the 140GB preload have reported a day-one patch that took up another 139GB.
Itching to jump in and get started? Before you do, here are some crucial details worth knowing about the release of MSFS24.
Release time and download size
The official release time of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is November 19, 2024 at 11am EST. However, you can start the preload in advance to avoid long waiting times after it releases.
You can start the pre-installation if you have either pre-ordered the game or have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as this includes Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 from day one.
To do this, search for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in the Xbox app on PC or console and select the pre-installation. (The pre-installation doesn't download the complete game. Depending on your internet connection, it may still take a lot of time to download the remaining files.)
Officially, the installation size of MSFS24 is only 50GB, which is relatively small for such a large game. However, it's quite possible that we'll see a large day-one patch that makes final tweaks to the game.
Secure your pre-order bonuses now
Depending on which version of the game you pre-order, you'll receive unique bonuses and additional content that come with it. Here's an overview of them all:
Standard Edition: De Havilland Canada CL-415 Firefighting Aircraft
Deluxe Edition: All
So, have you picked up your jaw off the floor yet? Good, because we need to talk about this monitor.
Again, it's a massive 43-incher of a display with a sharply crisp 4K resolution and smart TV functionality, allowing you to quickly access streaming content directly on the monitor.
But the winningness of the Neo G7 comes from its gamer-loving specs, featuring a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals, a 1ms response time for minimal lag, HDR 10 for stunning contrast, anti-glare and flicker-free technology for reduced eye strain, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.
Connectivity-wise, it comes with a DisplayPort 1.4 port, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and two USB-A 3.0 ports. And though it's huge, it's VESA-compatible with 200x200mm mounts, so pop it up on a monitor arm if you so wish. It also has a headphone port.
Take advantage of this deal and get this Samsung 4K gaming monitor for just $500 while you still can. It's doubtful we'll see such a stunning discount again anytime soon.
A 43-inch 4K gaming monitor for only $500? Yes, please!
This is the newest model of Blink's video doorbell, able to capture 1080p video that clearly shows who's outside your door. It also has two-way audio so you can chat with your visitors, whether it's to tell your relatives to come back later or give instructions to the delivery person.
The Blink Video Doorbell sends you phone notifications when motion is detected, including at night, and even in low-light conditions. It has an infrared night mode that let's you see what's going on in the dark, and it also works with Alexa, allowing you to pull up video footage on your Fire tablet or other Alexa-compatible screen.
Installing this video doorbell is extremely easy, with a choice between hooking it up to pre-existing doorbell wiring or using 2 AA batteries that can last up to two years on optimal settings.
Snatch the Blink Video Doorbell for just $30 on Amazon in this early Black Friday deal and rest easy during the upcoming holidays!
Save 50% on this video doorbell and secure your front doorBuy now on Amazon
Fall damage and static electricity
A fall, for example, can severely damage the hard drive. The impact can cause the read/write head to hit the rotating platters and scratch or damage them. Internal components can also shift and the read head or drive motor can be damaged. That's why it's important to handle external hard drives carefully and make sure that you do not drop your laptop to protect internal hard drives. When buying online, if possible, make sure you use a reliable shipping service provider that handles electronic devices properly.
You should also protect your hard drive from static electricity, as such discharges can damage sensitive electronic components. Ideally, wear a grounded antistatic wrist strap when repairing and disassembling the hard drive to prevent static charges. Also avoid placing the hard drive on synthetic materials or clothing that can generate static electricity.
If possible, use an anti-static mat and hold the hard drive by the edges to minimize the risk. Store unused or external hard drives in anti-static bags to protect them from static electricity.
In addition, we also explain the common causes of hard disk errors and how you can avoid the inconvenience of a corrupted disk at work or in life in the future - scroll down for more details.
Common Hard Disk Issues
Before learning how to repair a hard disk that doesn't work properly, you should figure out the condition of your disk - is it physically damaged, a logical error, or a firmware fault? Below are common disk errors and how they manifest themselves:
Logical Errors
Problems occur in the software or data on the hard disk, not the hardware itself, such as virus infections, malware, corrupted system files, bad sectors, etc., leading to data loss, file system corruption, performance degradation, or boot failure.
Firmware Issues
When firmware gets corrupted, it is usually accompanied by obvious telltale signs, such as the drive slowing down in reading and writing data, the clicking noise happening when the read head is seeking the right sector, the operation system can't recognizing the hard disk and showing "Disk Unknown/Not Intialized" message, etc.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is also a common cause of hard disk failure, including high temperature, water ingress, falling from a height, extrusion, etc. Unfortunately, if a hard disk has suffered severe physical damage, es
It's an interesting possibility from many angles, but the one that I want to chew on is this: What could Google possibly do differently this time to make a laptop that people actually want to buy?
Before I continue, I should point out that all of this is based entirely on speculation. Here's a story about Google pushing hard on a new laptop design, and here's a story about a new version of ChromeOS that's heavily based on Android. That second factor would presumably power up ChromeOS to more effectively use Android apps, making it better able to compete with devices like the iPad Pro and Surface.
So, let's assume (and it is an assumption) that Google sees a rejuvenated ChromeOS as a good reason to dip its toes back into the laptop market. The company has an inglorious history there, which is worth looking at before we move on to considering the future.
A history of laptop letdowns
The original ChromeOS development device was the Cr-48, an interesting footnote. It was meant to be a sort of blueprint for the first generation of Chromebooks, but unlike the Nexus and Pixel phone lines, this one wasn't sold at retailers. At the debut of ChromeOS in 2011, Google left that up to its OEM part
Want to learn French? How about Spanish? Or maybe a bit of Japanese? You don't need to grind your way through boring memorization exercises or try to fit language classes in your schedule. Instead, see if Rosetta Stone might be a better fit for your language goals. With beginner and advanced lessons in 25 languages, Rosetta Stone gives you the chance to learn a language the fun way, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $148.97 (reg. $399) for a limited time.
How to learn a new language
With Rosetta Stone, you learn by doing. You can practice pronunciation with speech recognition technology, study practical vocabulary, and so much more. You even get instant feedback from the app without needing to find a tutor.
Whether you're working toward fluency or just want to know a few key phrases before your next trip, Rosetta Stone can help you along the way. Plus, lifetime access means you aren't wasting money if you skip your lesso
And you know what? Right now, Amazon is offering a fantastic deal on an even newer model: the 2024 iPad Air M2 is $100 off.
For just $499, you can get the 11-inch iPad Air, powered by the M2 processor, with 128GB of storage and in four color options. It's a rare discount on one of Apple's most popular tablet models — in fact, I'd be surprised to see it go any lower even on Black Friday.
The physical design of the iPad Air hasn't changed a whisker since 2020, back when the iPad lost its physical home button and moved its fingerprint sensor to the power button. But to be fair, it's not as if it needs any big changes. While you could hope for the OLED screen upgrade seen on the latest iPad Pro, you won't find any such new OLED tablets in this price range.
The upgraded M2 processor is the biggest deal if you're coming from an older iPad Air. The CPU has the same Arm-based design that goes into some models of the MacBook Air and Pro laptops and the 2023 Mac Mini, but it's using a newer and more efficient 9-core GPU. That means it should be able to handle just about any game or media app you can find on the App Store without breaking a sweat.
Amazon is also offering a similar $100 discount on the 512GB and 1TB models of the 11-inch iPad Air M2, bringing their prices down t
Itching to jump in and get started? Before you do, here are some crucial details worth knowing about the release of MSFS24.
Release time and download size
The official release time of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is November 19, 2024 at 11am EST. However, you can start the preload in advance to avoid long waiting times after it releases.
You can start the pre-installation if you have either pre-ordered the game or have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as this includes Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 from day one.
To do this, search for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in the Xbox app on PC or console and select the pre-installation. (The pre-installation doesn't download the complete game. Depending on your internet connection, it may still take a lot of time to download the remaining files.)
Officially, the installation size of MSFS24 is only 50GB, which is relatively small for such a large game. However, it's quite possible that we'll see a large day-one patch that makes final tweaks to the game.
Secure your pre-order bonuses now
Depending on which version of the game you pre-order, you'll receive unique bonuses and additional content that come with it. Here's an overview of them all:
Standard Edition: De Havilland Canada CL-415 Firefighting Aircraft
Deluxe Edition: All
That's according to Bloomberg, which has been rock-solid on this case for years. Previously the DoJ was said to be considering some kind of breakup of Google's big three corporate assets: Search, Chrome, and Android. Some or all of them were on the table, but the DoJ has apparently settled on Chrome as the piece of the monopoly puzzle that has to go.
The federal team will also suggest that Google be forced to refrain from making the kind of exclusivity contracts that have become a staple of its OEM partnerships for Android and Chrome devices, according to the report. The DoJ also wants Google to give websites more tools to effectively opt-out of being used in the company's extensive data scraping for AI training.
Note that this doesn't mean it's a done deal. Assuming that Bloomberg is accurate, that means that DoJ attorneys will suggest Google be forced to divest itself of Chrome to District Judge Amit P. Mehta
Opera recently announced that the new Opera One R2 desktop web browser will include an integrated music player feature that allows users to access Spotify directly within, and it will come with a complementary three months of Spotify Premium.
To take advantage of the offer, you first need to download the latest version of Opera One. Install the browser, complete the initial setup, and launch it. The browser's default music player is Spotify, which you'll see as a small icon in the browser's left sidebar.
Unfortunately, Microsoft has made it a bit more complicated in Windows 10 and 11, including the transition to Microsoft accounts and logging in with Windows Hello. File sharing using the SMB protocol requires accounts with usernames and passwords, which most people no longer have.
But it can still be arranged, and may make sense if you have multiple computers and want to be able to move files here and there across the network. Especially if you d
Last week, Microsoft released cumulative update KB5046617 that was supposed to improve stability and fix bugs in 24H2. Unfortunately, the rescue update itself is now causing frustrations because users are having trouble getting it to install at all. They're running into various error messages with no clear causes.
If you're one of these users, here's some good news: there's a workaround you can use to solve the problem yourself.
The problem with patch KB5046617
You may encounter problems at various points when trying to install cumulative update KB5046617. According to Windows Latest, you might receive error codes 0x800f0991 or 0x800f0922 after the installa
Facebook ads have been used by hackers — as recently as this month — to spread fake Bitwarden password manager extensions for Chrome, which are infected with dangerous phishing tools.
That's according to Bitdefender, which details its investigation in a new blog post (spotted by BleepingComputer). According to the researchers, ads on Facebook pretended to offer Bitwarden, one of the most popular password managers on the market. The advertising indicates, falsely, that the viewer is "using an outdated version of Bitwarden" and that they must update it now to stay protected from "cyber threats."
I wonder if the people who make these ads are aware of the irony, or just don't give a hoot. The campaign was detected as active as recently as November 3, 2024, specifically targeting users in Europe.
Once users click on the ad, they're redirected to a phony page that imitates the Chrome Web Store and the legitimate Bitwarden extension download page. But instead of the rather smooth process for installing officially supported Chrome extensions, they're sent to a Google Drive page with a ZIP file to download. The page then guides the user through installing the fake Bitwarden in Chrome's Developer Mode, an elevated privilege state that's analogous to an admin account in Windows. The user is then instructed t
There are different reasons that may be the case, ranging from your software settings to the hardware you are using. The good news is that most old monitors whose colors look washed out or inaccurate can be corrected to look a whole lot more colorful and vibrant. Here are the steps to follow to make that happen.
Ensure you have the right color profiles installed
Windows 11 should automatically detect your monitor's correct color profile and apply it, but if colors still don't look right, there's a chance the profile could still be wrong. You can update to the right color profile in Color Management in Windows 11.
However, first you may need to download the correct color profile drivers from your monitor manufacturer's website. You can follow this guide to do both of these things.
But there's a better way — and Google seems poised to bring it to the masses. As spotted by Android Authority, a new "Shielded Email" feature in the Gmail app for Android devices is seemingly on the way. It would let you create disposable email addresses, or temporary burner email addresses that forward email to your real account.
My colleague Michael Crider covered how Shielded Email could serve as a defense against spam, but there's another payoff to this privacy protection: stronger online security.
Using a random, unique email address for every account you have would make it harder for hackers to use data leaks to break into other accounts of yours. This is the same principle as masked email, but with one big advantage: you don't need to sign up for a separate service.
With almost 2 billion users already signed up for Gmail, the new Shielded Email feature would level up standard privacy, big time. If offered for free, it would also eclipse Apple's equivalent feature, Hide My Email, which is only available to paying iCloud subscribers.
I'm rooting for this feature to make it out the starting gate. Google's been strengthening its security and privacy features, like
Right now, you can get this MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop for $400 off at Best Buy, a significant discount off its original $1,500 price.
This laptop is a top-notch beast that runs on an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. The beauty of the Katana 15 is that if you feel like you need more oomph, you can easily replace the memory sticks and upgrade up to 64GB in total. It also has a 1TB SSD, plenty enough to hold all your videos, games, and apps.
But the big winner here is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, which is beyond what you can normally get in a laptop in this price range. Massive discounts like this are the only way to snag an RTX 4070 laptop for anywhere close to $1K. Rare as it is, that's reason to rejoice and jump on this deal for this powerful machine.
And that graphics card is going to look good on this laptop's 15.6-inch 1080p display with 144Hz refresh rate, edging it closer to being the perfect machine for smooth, lag-free gaming.
If you've been waiting for the chance to score an RTX 4070 gaming laptop for a truly affordable price, don't miss this sale — grab the MSI Katana 15 for $1,100 at Best Buy!
You rarely see RTX 4070 gaming laptops going for this price
All capacity models of the Samsung T7 Shield portable SSD are currently on sale on Amazon: the 1TB model is down to $100 (41 percent off), the 2TB model is down to $170 (40 percent off), and the 4TB model is down to $286 (43 percent off).
These are huge savings on one of the best portable SSDs we've ever tested. When we reviewed the Samsung T7 Shield, we gave it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award. Our reviewing expert found it to be speedy, reliable, rugged, and stylish.
One of the best parts about this travel-friendly drive is that it has IP65 water and dust resistance, meaning it's perfect to take with you anywhere you go, even on outdoor adventures. It's also shockproof, so both the drive and your data on the drive will survive drops. Plus, it's so small and light, you won't even notice it in your pocket or your bag.
The Samsung T7 Shield is compatible with pretty much any device you have, from laptops and desktops to smartphones and gaming consoles. With read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, even the largest videos will transfer in no time flat.
Since then, Microsoft has been equipping more and more programs with artificial intelligence, above all the Edge browser and Office programs. But AI is also finding its way into Windows.
In this article, we present the new AI functions in Windows, the Windows apps, and Microsoft 365.
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 is down to $21.20 at Amazon, a 20 percent discount from its original $30. This smart tag connects to your phone via Bluetooth and the SmartThings app. When out of range, you can still get its location as long as another Samsung phone is within its range. If you're thinking of getting more than one, the four-pack for $61.77 (down from $100) is a better investment.
The Apple AirTag is also on sale for its best-ever price of $20, down from $29. This tracker pairs with iPhones and/or iPads and allows you to keep track of your stuff through the Find My app. When out of range, it pings off of nearby Apple devices, much like the Samsung one does. This one also has a better-value four-pack for $73, down from $99.
Lastly, Tile's 2024 model tracker is now just $20, a 20 percent discount from its $25 MSRP. This one works with both iOS and Android devices. When out of range from your own device, the Tile pings off the devices of other Tile users. The four-pack is $65, a good $15 off full price.
As part of this year's Ignite developer conference, Microsoft says Windows 11's built-in search function will be accelerated by the NPU in Copilot laptops and other hardware. According to the announcement, the improved version of search will come to the broader Windows Search (the thing that lives in the Start menu) as well as more granular searches in File Explorer and Settings.
But buying a used laptop can also be fraught with risks. What if the seller lied to you about its condition? What if the battery has been cycled too many times? What if there's a dead pixel or two on the display? Or what if it doesn't come with a valid Windows license key?
I addressed a lot of these concerns in my previous article on whether buying a used laptop is safe. In this article, I'm going further with mistakes you need to avoid when buying a second-hand laptop.
Mistake #1: Ignoring the warning signs
You probably already know what I mean by this one. Does it seem too good to be true? Then it probably is.
There are enough scammers, scalpers, and gray-area resellers on the web that any sufficiently good deal is going to catch interest. The chances of you being the only one who found that laptop at that spectacularly low price with all those impressive features before anyone else did… well, the chances are quite slim. Maybe if you're browsing through your neighbor's garage sale. But online
If you're ready to dive into a massive library of over 500 games, this 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code is your golden ticket, on sale for $36.49.
And here's the kicker: you're not limited to just three months. By stacking up to five codes, you can enjoy 15 months of gaming goodness, all in one go. That's over a year of access to hundreds of popular titles, from AAA games to hidden indie gems, on both Xbox consoles and PC.
Game Pass Ultimate isn't just about games, either. You'll get perks like online multiplayer, so you can battle or team up with friends, and exclusive member discounts on games and add-ons.
When we reviewed the Samsung 990 Pro, our only complaint was its price tag — and that's obviously no longer an issue with this price drop that'll put a smile on any serious PC owner's face. In our review, we praised the drive's performance and the fact that it's available with and without a heat sink. (The heat sink model is also on sale, down from its usual $265 to a more affordable $173.)
This NVMe SSD delivers mind-blowing read and write speeds of up to 7,450MB/s and 6,900MB/s, respectively, making it perfect for gamers, professionals, and basically anyone who wants a lighting-fast drive.
While the Samsung 990 Pro didn't exactly break any records when we tested it, its performance is right up there with the best we've ever reviewed. That's why we confidently recommend it, especially when you can grab it for a whopping 36 percent off.
Save over $100 on this top-tier, high-speed internal SSDBu
Luckily, you don't need to buy a complete 7.1 surround sound system to feel satisfied. For less than $100, you can find some affordable PC speakers that provide quality audio. It's true that at this price point you will need to make a few compromises, but the best budget computer speakers can still offer a quality listening experience while saving you money, and that's what we call a win-win.
Why should you trust us? Because our PC speaker reviewers have tried most of the budget speaker models on the market, so they know the ones that stand out from those that don't quite hit the mark. Our testing criteria is also as thorough as it gets. To test each speaker, we set it up in a typical environment — on a desk in a home office — and play a variety of audio tracks while pushing a speaker system's sound capabilities to the limit. We consider everything from how practical the design is, to the audio fidelity. We also compare and contrast models to make recommendations based on our findings.
To get insight into our extensive testing process, you can read our article "How we test PC Speakers at PCWorld."
I applaud the consumer skepticism, but there actually can be differences. At PCWorld we have used a ton of USB-C cables and can say with certainty not all of them are made the same. In fact, there can be huge performance variances among cables when it comes to both charging and transferring data.
My hands-on evaluation of numerous cables — ranging from the biggest, most-recognizable brand-names to the cheapest of the cheap — has revealed some clear winners, which I highlight below.
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing hardware since the 1980s and I've been poking and prodding PC components since I cracked open my Commodore VIC-20 in junior high school to see why it stopped working (who uses aluminum-coated cardboard that frays as an RF shield? Commodore, that's who). I've also been a professional journalist for more than three decades and started my stint at PCWorld as an intern in 1993.
For my USB-C cable reviews, I don't rely on consumer reviews like some "reviewers" — I purchase the cables retail and personally test each one of them, examining the resistance, how they are physically wired, and query the embedded eMarker (if it has one), and then performance test them where appropriate for charge rates, transfer rates, and display support. My picks are separated into two groups to avoid any confusion: USB-C cables that are best for charging, and those best for both charging and fast data transfer.
The results show that, yes, it's indeed possible to get decent results with just a mid-tier RTX 4070 GPU, which can hit an average 70FPS at 1080p. That drops to a still-respectable average 52FPS at 1440p, despite the game utilizing the Unreal Engine 5 build (with the tested configuration), which is one of the most resource-demanding to date.
And that's with DLSS 3.0 switched off. When it's on, the real magic happens… and gamers can expect double the performance, which was Nvidia's main point in the blog post in the first place.
Ironically, Nvidia's graphs for Stalker 2 hint at DLSS 3.0 being a fix for the game's possible CPU dependence. Not literally, of course — just in the way the results fall. Indeed, if that's actually the case, simply switching on DLSS 3.0 should elevate performance enough that any CPU dependence that could affect performance is simply a non-event.
Benchmarking setups
In its benchmarking, Nvidia compared DLSS 3.0 performance against non-DLSS 3.0 performance across a range of its RTX 40 Series desktop and laptop GPUs. Benchmarks were carried out on the upcoming game Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which will support DLSS 3.0 with Frame Generation and Super Resolution from day one (November 20 release).
All of Nvidia's benchmarks for its GPU desktop lineup were run on PCs powered by Intel Core i9-14900K CPUs with 64GB of RAM and Windows 11. The laptop benchmarks were run on PCs con
But today you can get the best of both worlds for cheap. Dell is currently selling a fast 27-inch IPS gaming monitor for just $150. (That's half off its original MSRP of $300!)
We've featured the Dell G2724HD monitor before — in fact, it scored an Editors' Choice in our review. With a 27-inch 2560×1440 screen that refreshes at an impressive 165Hz, it's great for showing off extra detail in new 3D games without breaking the bank.
And as I said, the high-quality IPS panel means it's great for working with photos, video, or even just reading a lot of text. It's the whole package, and it was a good deal even at its $300 retail price.
With just one HDMI port and two DVI ports, it's a little light on extras. This monitor doesn't have any USB ports or even a headphone jack. And it's still a budget model, so no matter how good it looks, don't expect it to blow away any of the OLED alternatives.
But it does make for a solid thrifty companion to any gaming desktop. And with standard VESA mounting, you can add a monitor arm to make this thing an excellent second (or third?) display in a workstation setup.
Dell puts this display on sale on a pretty regular basis, but it rarely gets any cheaper than this. If you're ready for a fast gaming monitor that won't break the bank, get this Dell monitor while
According to a teardown of the Android APK file for the Gmail app, performed by Android Authority, a new "Shielded Email" tool might let you do the same thing right from within Gmail. Several new strings of code refer to the Shielded Email feature, along with text descriptions that describe an integrated "disposable" address that will temporarily forward messages to your real email inbox.
"Use an email address created for this app. This can protect you from online tracking and data breaches," says one text string. Shielded Email addresses can be discarded at any time and the forwarding will be disabled. Android Authority was even able to make the visual element show up for a screenshot, though it's not actually functional yet.
Adding this feature to Android or Chrome (or both, please!) would be a huge boon to anyone who prefers to keep their real email addresses private. There are an estimated 1.8 billion active users of Gmail, making it by far the most used email service on the planet. Giving all of us an easy way to send spammers packing would be great.
Assuming it makes it to us, of course. Google has a nasty habit of sitting on big feature improvements like this for months, only to let them die off without ever seeing the light of an end user's screen. I'm personally hoping this comes sooner rather than later.
In our review of the Book4 Edge, laptop expert Chris Hoffman gave it a 4-star rating, appreciating its long battery life, its gorgeous display, and its cutting-edge Snapdragon X Elite processor.
Admittedly, he was testing the 16-inch version with a 1TB SSD, while this one that's on sale is the 14-inch version sporting half the storage space. Even so, this is a powerful laptop that can tackle any task you throw at it with that high-end CPU and 16GB of RAM.
Furthermore, the 4K AMOLED display makes using this laptop a pleasure day in and day out, delivering vibrant colors and great contrast.
Laptops rarely go for $550 off, and that's doubly true for impressive laptops like this one. Don't miss out on the chance to get
But SilverStone is nostalgic for a time when computers were, well, ugly. If you are, too, you might consider buying its new retro case next year.
The SilverStone FLP01 was shown off at a live expo in Japan and thoroughly fondled by ASCII.jp (spotted by Tom's Hardware). Apparently it started as an April Fools' joke last year, but the response was so positive that it's become a real product.
Despite its looks and horizontal layout, the case is fully compliant with all the modern ATX standards, meaning you can throw in a regular motherboard and all the trimmings and expect it to work. The only thing that might be tricky is getting a big cooler to fit under the disc drive.
Yup, this thing has a disc drive, something that's become rare even in a roomy desktop chassis. In fact, it's hiding it behind an even more archaic feature: the two plastic dummy floppy drives on the front, with the top one flipping down to reveal a 5.25-inch standard media drive fit for a DVD burner and the bottom one hiding USB-C, double USB-A, and headphone port
These emails are demanding users to pay $2,000 worth of cryptocurrency to a specific address, under the threat of stealth nude webcam photos of them being leaked to family members, friends, and colleagues.
Normally, these kinds of emails are supposed to get caught by spam filters, but because they're being sent via an official Microsoft address, they've managed to get through the eye of the needle.
It's not entirely clear how these hackers managed to send the extortion emails as of this writing, but according to BleepingComputer, the incident is currently being investigated by Microsoft.
If you ever receive this kind of blackmail email, never pay out any money under any circumstance. If you do, there's a high risk that you'll be flagged as a susceptible victim and repeatedly blackmailed for more and more money, again and again, until you're broke.
But according to a credible retailer leak, Asus is prepping an absolute monster of one for an upcoming release. This new design packs double 14-inch OLED screens and an Intel processor so new that it doesn't officially exist yet… oh yes, and a huge price tag.
According to a store listing for United Arab Emirates-based Gear-up.me, which is still live at the time of this writing, the Asus UX8406CA looks like an updated version of the existing Zenbook Duo design. The configuration looks identical, too, possibly even using the same chassis, with 14-inch OLED touchscreens in the usual position and where the keyboard usually rests. You can position the laptop in a conventional mode with a touchscreen keyboard, or prop it up with the integrated kickstand so the screens stack vertically or horizontally. A wireless keyboard/trackpad and stylus are sold separately.
The more interesting reveal is that this updated model packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 U9-285H. That's an Ultra Series 2 Arrow Lake-H processor that hasn't been officially announced yet, though Intel has set a Q1 2025 date for its 200H family debut. VideoCardz.com thinks that the retailer might have copied the specs wrong and that the chip will actually be labeled a U-285HX. Th
Just a few days ago, Windows 11 Insiders got a new preview update that comes with some features and improvements, including some minor Snap Layouts changes. (If you're unaware, Snap Layouts is a feature that makes it easy to snap multiple windows in various configurations, and it only takes a keyboard shortcut to use.)
Google's own AI tool, called Gemini alongside OpenAI's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Copilot, has been able to generate images for a while now, but soon you'll be able to use Gemini to create AI-generated images directly within Google Docs itself.
At the top of the list is 123456, followed by the as-easily cracked 123456789 and 12345678. (Seems people love mashing numbers along their number row). The overwhelming majority of the 200 can be cracked in seconds, with several extending to a few hours and one particular exception of 12 days (g_czechout). Most noteworthy: The self-aware but still indefensible changeme, which can also be cracked in under a second.
Why is this so problematic? With so many people reusing passwords, their accounts become easy targets. Further, when data breaches and leaks reveal new passwords that get often used across the web, that gives hackers more ammunition for attacks (like credential stuffing).
These and the remaining most common passwords were found as part of the company's annual look at data publicly available online, which includes the dark web. For this sixth run, NordPass worked with sister service NordStellar (which focuses on corporate security) to comb through 2.5TB of info with 44 countries of origin and encompassing both personal and corporate credentials.
Though it would normally cost you $359, which is already a fantastic price for what you get, right now you can snag it for just $271. This is a Prime-exclusive deal, but if you don't have Prime, you can simply sign up for a 30-day free trial to score this price anyway. Make sure to clip the on-page digital coupon for the extra discount on top!
This mini PC features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor alongside 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which means you'll easily multitask day in and day out, running as many apps as you need at once as well as all those Chrome tabs you're reluctant to close. Plus, if you ever want more power, you can later upgrade the RAM to a total of 64GB.
This Beelink SER5 model also comes with a 500GB M.2 SSD, which should be more than fast enough for day-to-day use, transferring files, and storing all your photos, documents, and apps. If you can upgrade the SSD later if you run out of space, and it supports up to 2TB drives.
All that aside, one of the best reasons to get this mini PC is that it comes with triple 4K display support. Yes, you read that right! This miniscule PC — which barely measures 5 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches — can take on three monitors up to 4K@60Hz each thanks to its HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video input options. It's a multitasker's dream come true.
Go ahead and take advantage of this superb deal and get the Beelink SER5 mini P
Though it would normally cost you $359, which is already a fantastic price for what you get, right now you can snag it for just $271. This is a Prime-exclusive deal, but if you don't have Prime, you can simply sign up for a 30-day free trial to score this price anyway. Make sure to clip the on-page digital coupon for the extra discount on top!
This mini PC features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor alongside 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which means you'll easily multitask day in and day out, running as many apps as you need at once as well as all those Chrome tabs you're reluctant to close. Plus, if you ever want more power, you can later upgrade the RAM to a total of 64GB.
This Beelink SER5 model also comes with a 500GB M.2 SSD, which should be more than fast enough for day-to-day use, transferring files, and storing all your photos, documents, and apps. If you can upgrade the SSD later if you run out of space, and it supports up to 2TB drives.
All that aside, one of the best reasons to get this mini PC is that it comes with triple 4K display support. Yes, you read that right! This miniscule PC — which barely measures 5 x 4.4 x 1.6 inches — can take on three monitors up to 4K@60Hz each thanks to its HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video input options. It's a multitasker's dream come true.
Go ahead and take advantage of this superb deal and get the Beelink SER5 mini P
To do this, open the Windows settings and click on "System - Clipboard." Activate the"Clipboard history," which saves all the content that you once had in the clipboard. Make sure the following is displayed with a green icon at the top of the window, "Your Microsoft account is synchronized with Windows."
You'll then want to activate the option "Clipboard history on all your devices." Select whether the text should be synchronized automatically ("Automatically synchronism text copied by me") or if you want to control the processes manually ("Manually synchronism text copied by me").
If you select manual synchronization, you can carry out the synchronization for the respective entry when calling up the clipboard history via the menu and clicking on the cloud icon.
On sale for its best price ever, the JBL Flip 6 is now just $80 on Amazon, a solid 38 percent off its original $130 price. The speaker comes in numerous colors, from black to teal to red to camo, so there's plenty of room to pick a favorite.
The JBL Flip 6 is the latest version of the popular travel-friendly Bluetooth speaker, delivering powerful sound, convenient portability, and lasting durability. Not only is it loud and clear, but it also packs quite a bit of bass, which means it'll quickly become your favorite thing to take with you to parties, to the beach, and other fun social occasions.
But the JBL Flip 6 will also serve you well when you're in the mood to listen to music at home. And the next time you're throwing a backyard blast, the Flip 6 can be paired with multiple JBL PartyBoost-compatible speakers for an even grander immersive experience or with the JBL PartyBox for karaoke or MCing.
And it was made for the outdoors, complete with an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, making it safe for pool parties and camping. The battery is pretty solid, able to play music for up to 12 hours on a single charge. Plus, as with pretty much any JBL speaker, this one's built sturdy, so it'll be a sturdy companion anywhere you take it.
On sale for its best price ever, the JBL Flip 6 is now just $80 on Amazon, a solid 38 percent off its original $130 price. The speaker comes in numerous colors, from black to teal to red to camo, so there's plenty of room to pick a favorite.
The JBL Flip 6 is the latest version of the popular travel-friendly Bluetooth speaker, delivering powerful sound, convenient portability, and lasting durability. Not only is it loud and clear, but it also packs quite a bit of bass, which means it'll quickly become your favorite thing to take with you to parties, to the beach, and other fun social occasions.
But the JBL Flip 6 will also serve you well when you're in the mood to listen to music at home. And the next time you're throwing a backyard blast, the Flip 6 can be paired with multiple JBL PartyBoost-compatible speakers for an even grander immersive experience or with the JBL PartyBox for karaoke or MCing.
And it was made for the outdoors, complete with an IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating, making it safe for pool parties and camping. The battery is pretty solid, able to play music for up to 12 hours on a single charge. Plus, as with pretty much any JBL speaker, this one's built sturdy, so it'll be a sturdy companion anywhere you take it.
In this guide, I'll go through different aspects of network security and show you what you can do to increase your privacy and reduce the risk of hacks and malware, without making your life more complicated.
Securing your router
In most homes, the router is both the central hub of the local network and the gateway between the network and the vast, wild internet. All traffic between connected devices and the internet or between two connected devices passes through the router.
This means that the most important thing for a secure home network is a secure router, which neither lets unauthorized people in through weak passwords nor can be taken over by hackers or malware.
Strong passwords
Start by choosing a strong, unique password for your router's admin interface. If possible, change the username on your router as well. If a vulnerability is discovered in the router that makes it easier to guess the right password, a unique
With the election season behind us, it's time to unclench and unwind—and BitMar Streaming Content-Finder is here to help you find the perfect movie, show, or playlist without the hassle.
Available now for just $19.99 (regularly $150) through November 21, BitMar is a content aggregator that streamlines your search, helping you discover free streaming content from various sources across the web.
Unlike traditional streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu, BitMar doesn't host its own content. Instead, it uses Bing-powered search, along with internal algorithms, to bring together movies, TV shows, music, and channels from reputable online sources so you can avoid shady sites and endless scrolling.
If you're ready to streamline content creation and maximize productivity, AI MagicX's Rune Plan has you covered. This all-in-one platform provides powerful AI tools that bring your creative ideas to life. For just $99.99 (regularly $972) through November 21, you'll get a lifetime subscription with access to everything from AI-driven logo design and art generation to dynamic chatbots and story creators.
With AI MagicX, you can create high-quality articles, engaging visuals, and even custom logos in minutes. Transform simple ideas into polished, ready-to-use content without spending hours on design or research.
The AI MagicX platform is user-friendly and versatile, designed to meet the needs of everyone from entrepreneurs and developers to content creators and artists. Plus, with MagicXBot and AI MagicX Coder, you'll have access to real-time content generation and code optimization, bringing innovation and efficiency to your workflow.
This lifetime subscription isn't just a one-time deal—it's a lasting investment in your creative toolkit, allowing you to leverage the latest in AI technology withou
Here's one recent change that some gamers may find unpleasant: As of September, your list of Discord contacts will no longer just show what games your friends are playing, but also how long they've been playing each game and how often they've played in the last 30 days.
The overview might show, for example, that one of your contacts has been playing Call of Duty for 13 days in a row while another contact has been playing World of Warcraft for over 100 hours, which is then advertised with a marathon badge.
You can also react directly to individual in-game time displays or activities using emojis on the tiles displayed for your Discord friends. More noteworthy is that you can review any contact's activities over the last 30 days, even when they're offline.
And that's precisely the problem. Not everyone wants their Discord contacts to be able to see, for example, that they played Counter-Strike three days ago. It might sound benign and not something worth hiding, but that's beside the point.
Suppose you cancelled a meetup with friends because you just want to play solo for a while. This would make it extremely easy for someone to see that you're playing alone, thus opening the floodgates for confront
Your 9-5 is already busy, and having multiple deadlines or worrying about project spending can get you into overdrive. What if there was a way to organize your projects more effectively? All you need is a project management app like Microsoft Project 2021. Add this to your collection of work tools for only $17.97 (reg. $249) through November 17.
With this app, you can plan, manage, and track your projects more efficiently. To start them on the right foot, you can use Project 2021's pre-built templates and keep tasks organized by assigning yourself or colleagues responsibilities. Imagine how much more organized and relieved you'll feel knowing tasks have been scheduled ahead of time. You might never miss a deadline again.
Microsoft Project additionally offers auto-population o
In the lead-up to Thanksgiving weekend, deals in this category tend to be a little sleepier. (That's especially so because I'm picky about what I recommend—I take user reviews, technical specs, price trends over the past year, and the feedback from PCWorld staff into account.) But a couple are already worth looking at if you want an early start on your holiday shopping.
And if these don't suit you? Keep checking back. Things tend to heat up the closer we get to the big date, which this year is November 29.
Black Friday 2024 deals on office chairs
Staples Cartwright Task Chair, Black - $60 (50% off at Staples)
Staples Hyken Mesh Task Chair, Black - $100 (66% off at Staples)
Believe it or not, Staples makes some very popular desk chairs—with one of Reddit's favorites back to its lowest price. And this time, all colors are down to $100, not just the black. If you don't need a chair for long sitting sessions, its lighter-use Cartright Task Chair is also available for a near all-time low price. (Note for the Cartright chair: A second person makes assembling it much easier.)
But not every discount is a good discount, even with the overall price hikes since last year. To save the most cash, it pays to know how and where to shop—so to help, we've made a list of the best deals, as well as tips for shopping. You'll find both below.
Best early Black Friday 2.5-inch SATA SSD deals
Kingston A400, 480GB - $35 (22% off on Amazon)
Teamgroup T-Force Vulcan Z, 1TB - $47 (28% off on Amazon)
Prices on many 2.5-inch SATA SSDs have stayed high throughout the year, relative to 2023. But not these two models from Kingston and Teamgroup—perfect news for anyone seeking to replace a hard-disk drive or expand their storage cheaply.
Best early Black Friday M.2 NVMe SSD deals
Crucial P3 Plus, 500GB Gen 4 - $41 (41% off on Amazon)
Samsung 990 Evo, 1TB Gen 4 - $70 (53% off on Amazon)
Corsair MP600 Core Mini
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. For my part, 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 below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
If you're looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories, as well.
Later on, online retailers launched Cyber Monday as a digital version of the free-for-all, with an eventual melding of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to first take over the whole Thanksgiving weekend, then eventually the entire month of November. Recently, deals sometimes even started in October.
This year's a bit more quiet, though—which puts even more emphasis on knowing the best time to buy. Jump too soon, and you'll pay more than you need. Hold out too long, and you might miss the top sale items. Not to worry, though. If you follow our tips below, deal hunting should be simpler and easier.
When is Black Friday this year?
Black Friday is always the fourth Friday of November—the day after Thanksgiving. For 2024, that comes at the very end of the month, on November 29. Cyber Monday will follow on December 2. However, stores don't limit themselves to just these calendar dates anymore. You can already start discount shopping now.
I'm talking about the classic PC shooter Unreal and its multiplayer sequel Unreal Tournament, which can both be downloaded from the Internet Archive here and here, respectively.
If you're not old enough to remember the Clinton administration, you might only know "Unreal" as the engine that powers tons of popular 3D games today. It's named after one of Epic's oldest games from 1998, a Quake-style early 3D shooter, and the game engine has been developed ever since as the company's primary product.
While Unreal was never quite the same cultural touchstone as other early shooter games, like Doom or Half-Life, it had a thriving online multiplayer scene with Unreal Tournament in 1999, which also saw console releases on the PS2 and Dreamcast.
Though various updates and special editions have been made available through the years, the original versions of these games currently can't be purchased or played unless you track down the original discs. But you can get ancient copies of Unreal and Unreal Tournament on the Internet Archive, recently highlighted by user-run Discord servers and ResetEra.
A research team out of Uruguay has found that it's possible to intercept the wireless electromagnetic radiation coming from an HDMI cable and interpret the video by processing it with AI. Three scientists from the University of the Republic in Montevideo published their findings on Cornell's ArXiv service earlier this year, as spotted by Techspot.
It's possible to train an AI model to interpret the tiny fluctuations in electromagnetic energy from the wired HDMI signal, the paper says. Even though it's a wired standard and it's usually encrypted digitally, there's enough electromagnetic signal coming off of these cables to detect without direct access.
Detecting and decoding are two different things, of course. But the researchers also found that using an AI model paired to text recognition software, it's possible to "read" the wirelessly recorded EM radiation with up to 70 percent accuracy.
Why you should trust us: It's in our name: PCWorld. We've been reviewing laptops for over 40 years, with exacting standards applied to all facets of the user experience, from performance benchmarks to features to the rigors of daily use. Our experts know their stuff and have curated a comprehensive list of the best laptops for college students, with their particular needs in mind.
After you finish looking over our recommendations, be sure to hit our daily updated roundup of the best laptop deals to try and score a great laptop on sale. Or check out our roundup of the best laptops for even more recommendations. By the way, since we're in the middle of back-to-school season, be sure to check out PCWorld's extensive back-to-school coverage for advice and deals.
Threat researcher EclecticIQ (via BleepingComputer) identified a ring of about 4,700 fake online storefronts in October. The storefronts are targeting shoppers in the US and Europe, hoping to amass a huge collection of credit card numbers and other identifying info, presumably to be used for identity theft and other fraudulent purchases. Based on IP info, the researchers believe the sites are operating out of China. They're calling this ring "SilkSpecter."
EclecticIQ outlines some sophisticated methods used to create and distribute these fake storefronts, imitating popular brands like The North Face, LL Bean, and IKEA. Many of them integrate Black Friday into their promotional images and URLs, and they can dynamically translate their content based on the location of the user. They're using the Stripe API system to retrieve and record personal info.
Again, I would caution shoppers to be wary of any store that pops up in a Google search, even if they're using Google's dedicated shopping tool. I've personally seen similar fa
The powerful ROG Ally runs on an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor along with 16GB of RAM. Plus, it comes with AMD RDNA3 graphics to ensure you get great visuals, especially when you run demanding titles.
The device features 512GB of storage space, so you'll have enough room for games and all your save data, but it would certainly be better if it had 1TB or more. Alas, it has a memory card slot that you can use to expand storage further when needed.
The ROG Ally features a 7-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which means it will not only deliver great images but also a smooth experience when you game.
The Windows app for ChatGPT is now available to all, just like the web and mobile apps. You can download it from the Microsoft Store.
Poking around a bit in the Windows app, it seems more or less the same as the interface I've tested on my Android phone, though of course in Windows it's easier to input larger amounts of text or submit images for scanning. It has the popular conversation mode along with a handful of digital voice options, but it's just as restrictive as it is elsewhere — I hit the freebie interaction limit in just a few minutes. (And just in case my editor is looking over my shoulder: don't worry, I'm only testing the app out. I promise this news post was written with my fleshy, human fingers.)
Those who do spring for ChatGPT's premium service, which starts at $20 per month for individual users, will likely find the Windows app far more useful. While it's largely the same as the web interface, having a dedicated window on your desktop will be a boon to those who integrate it into their workflows. Whether or not it's worth paying for a premium AI chatbot? Well, that'll depend on how you use it.
And not for nothing, it's another point for OpenAI to tick in competition with Microsoft's home-grown AI product, Copilot. Anecdotally, ChatGPT is much more positively received by general users, whereas Microsoft is more intereste
It appears that the Windows Update service warns of end of support for Windows 11 23H2 and asks you to download a newer version of Windows to stay up to date. It's as confusing as it sounds. Keep reading to understand what's happening and what you should do.
End of support for Windows 11 23H2?
This news is justifiably surprising, as Windows 11 23H2 is still expected to remain supported — with both security and feature updates — until November 11, 2025. (Official confirmation on this page.)
A Microsoft support representative confirmed with Windows Latest that this message is indeed a bug, stating: "This is just a reporting bug on our side." The issue is already being investigated and will be addressed in a future server-side update, likely within a week.
In addition to this warning about the alleged approaching end-of-support, users are also offered the opportunity to check for updates, which has raised eyebrows because this patch — the KB5046633 update — is already the latest version.
According to yesterday's Windows Insider blog post:
This is a strange move — but not altogether unexpected — given that the company released the first Windows 10 Beta Preview in three years earlier this year in June. It appears that was a last hurrah for the operating system, delivering one last dose of newness before shelving it away.
In addition, we also explain the common causes of hard disk errors and how you can avoid the inconvenience of a corrupted disk at work or in life in the future - scroll down for more details.
Common Hard Disk Issues
Before learning how to repair a hard disk that doesn't work properly, you should figure out the condition of your disk - is it physically damaged, a logical error, or a firmware fault? Below are common disk errors and how they manifest themselves:
Logical Errors
Problems occur in the software or data on the hard disk, not the hardware itself, such as virus infections, malware, corrupted system files, bad sectors, etc., leading to data loss, file system corruption, performance degradation, or boot failure.
Firmware Issues
When firmware gets corrupted, it is usually accompanied by obvious telltale signs, such as the drive slowing down in reading and writing data, the clicking noise happening when the read head is seeking the right sector, the operation system can't recognizing the hard disk and showing "Disk Unknown/Not Intialized" message, etc.
Physical Damage
Physical damage is also a common cause of hard disk failure, including high temperature, water ingress, falling from a height, extrusion, etc. Unfortunately, if a hard disk has suffered severe physical damage, es
Our long wait for the OneXFly F1 Pro is just about over now that the device is available for pre-order ahead of its end-of-November release date. But if you're thinking of picking one up, you might want to have some tissues at hand because of its eye-watering price that ranges from $1,099 up to $1,699 USD (with pre-order discount).
What's all the excitement about?
It's easy to look at the more-than-$1,000 price tag for a OneXFly F1 Pro and wince at the cost. Then again, the handheld's specs are impressive. It comes in configurations ranging from Ryzen AI 9 365 all the way up to AMD's flagship Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
If you choose the model with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, your handheld will benefit from the next-generation chip's 12 cores and 24 threads that can hit boosted clock speeds up to a blistering 5.1GHz. That puts it on par with the Asus ROG Ally X's Ryzen Z1 Extreme for sheer APU clock speed.
Yet for graphics, the ROG Ally X utilizes an older-generation Radeon 780M iGPU. Graphics processing in the OneXFly F1 Pro's flagship model is carried out by a Radeon 890M, which boasts performance gains of around 20 percent over that previous generation iGPU.
All versions of the handheld come with 32GB LPDDR5x-7200 RAM and a brilliant 7-inch 1080p OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The base model in ea
Pop-up ads? Trackers? Data-hungry apps? Say farewell to the digital noise that clutters your screens. The AdGuard Family Plan is a powerful shield against all that junk, built to keep your family's online life clear of distractions and data-grabbers. And with lifetime access for just $18.97 (reg. $79), this is one investment that'll keep on giving.
From scrubbing ads off your favorite sites to blocking sneaky trackers that try to follow your every click, AdGuard's software is like a full-time digital bodyguard. You'll notice faster page loads and a smoother browsing experience without interruptions — and your data stays right where it belongs.
Setup is easy, and it covers nine devices, so every family member gets a cleaner, safer internet. This
To be sure, serious gamers rarely use anything above 1,600 DPI and certainly never more than 3,200 DPI. That's not something I've just read about - I, too, have tried out different DPI stages and find that performance tanks when DPI is cranked even a measly point past 3,200.
This is the newest model of the tablet with upgraded hardware, aimed at kids between 6 and 12 years of age and specially designed to deliver kid-appropriate content with lots of parental control options.
The Fire HD 10 Kids Pro features a 10.1-inch 1080p display, so there's lots of screen space to watch videos, play games, and read ebooks. It also has an upgraded CPU with 25 percent faster performance than the previous model, so apps launch faster and feel more responsive. Expect the battery life to be around 13 hours on a full charge, though it might be somewhat shorter if your kid does nothing but stream video and play games.
One of my favorite things about the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is that it comes with a child-proof case that protects against drops, and even if the tablet somehow breaks, it's protected by a two-year worry-free guarantee with a free replacement by Amazon, no questions asked. It also includes a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids with thousands of ebooks, games, and apps from Disney, LEGO, Marvel, and more.
As far as parental controls go, this tablet has a filtered web browser for safer browsing of the internet, and it also lets you (the parent) set screen time limits and approve requests in the Appstore.
Take advantage of this early Black Friday deal to treat your kids to an early Christmas gift. It's now down to its best-ever price and I highly doubt it's going to drop any further before the end of thi
If you're in the same boat, or thinking of getting your feet wet as a home DIY newbie, then here's a deal that might interest you: this DeWalt cordless drill impact driver combo is almost half off on Amazon. Normally $239, this combo is now just $129.
DeWalt is right up there among the best tool brands, next to Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch. And with a cordless drill and impact driver, you'll be able to drill, screw, and fasten anything you want, whenever you want, for many years because DeWalt tools last.
The DeWalt DCD771 cordless drill is perfect for home DIYers because of its compact design and powerful motor. It also helps that it has an ergonomic grip for comfort during long projects, coming in especially handy when you have to contort yourself into weird positions. The bright LED also serves well when working in dark areas. It has a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck that grips tightly to drill bits.
The DeWalt DCF885 impact driver is even more compact, able to fit into tight spaces, which isn't all that uncommon when you're trying to screw things together. This one also has a powerful motor that delivers enough torque to fasten bolts and screws with ease. It has a 1/4-inch hex chuck that accepts 1-inch bit tips.
Both the cordless drill and impact driver come with their own 20V Max batteries, and the combo includes the necessary charger. You'll have plenty of juice to get your projects done.
Don't miss this chance to get yourself not one but two essential DeWalt power tool
File sharing
One of the seemingly simplest things you can do to get more out of your network is to start sharing files and other stuff between different devices. It was always easy in the past and you don't have to carry around a USB stick or an external hard drive.
Unfortunately, Microsoft has made it a bit more complicated in Windows 10 and 11, including the transition to Microsoft accounts and logging in with Windows Hello. File sharing using the SMB protocol requires accounts with usernames and passwords, which most people no longer have.
But it can still be arranged, and may make sense if you have multiple computers and want to be able to move files here and there across the network. Especially if you don't want to install any additional software or have computers with operating systems other than Windows.
Choosing the right monitor specs can be downright stressful. From the various refresh rates to display sizes and response times, it can be a lot to take in. That's why we put together a list of the best monitor deals, separated into standard monitor deals, luxurious OLED monitor deals, and gaming monitor deals. We've also included an FAQ section that addresses what to look for in a good monitor, after the deals.
Early Black Friday standard monitor deals
GTek 15-inch USB-C portable monitor, $44.99 ($40 off at Amazon, with coupon)
LG 24-inch IPS 1080p 100Hz monitor, $89.99 ($30 off at LG)
Dell 27-inch IPS QHD 180Hz monitor, $169.99 ($30 off at Dell)
Dell 32-inch 4K monitor, $249.99 ($110 off at Amazon)
Philips 44.5-inch ultrawide QHD monitor, $549.99 ($250 off at B&H photo)
My top pick: For those who don't care about the beep-boops of gaming, there'
Not only do I oversee the laptop section here at PCWorld, taking every review through to publication, but I also update the laptop deals roundup on a daily basis. As far as laptop trends go, I'm locked in, as the young'uns would say. Below you'll find the best laptop deals from all over the web. I found many of these deals by using Camel Camel Camel, which is a free price tracker from Amazon. I've also included deals from laptop manufacturers like Dell and Lenovo, as well as sales from online retailers like Best Buy and Adorama.
After you've perused the list of deals, head on down to the bottom of the article to learn more about what to expect this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Early Black Friday budget laptop deals
Sometimes all you need is a respectable, baseline-level machine. Personally, I use a low-powered laptop for writing, watching Netflix, checking email, and so on. I dig the simplicity. So, if you're not a gamer and have no intention of muscling through processor-intensive programs, check out the list below.
We're already seeing some great discounts on power banks from the likes of Mophie and Anker, two highly respected names in the portable charging game. We'll continue to track down and highlight the best power bank deals leading up to and during Black Friday.
Best early Black Friday power banks deals
Anker 633 MagGo Battery, 10,000mAh/1x USB-A/1x USB-C/MagSafe charging, $39.99 (27% off on Amazon)
Mregb Solar Charger, 42,800mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/Flashlight/Solar charging panel, $29.97 (67% off on Amazon)
INIU Slim Portable Charger, 10,000mAh/USB-C in and out, $17.99 (40% off on Amazon)
AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the clear-cut winner in terms of desktop gaming. But a new blog post from AMD lays out how well the company believes it compares against Intel's new Core Ultra 200 — the "Lunar Lake" processor — in terms of mobile gaming. AMD also didn't hesitate to point out that its own HYPR-RX and FSR technologies give it a leg up over Intel's XeSS, which only appears in a few games.
To be fair, Intel's Lunar Lake is in the crosshairs of both the power-sipping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite — which it attempted to emulate by reducing power and performance — and AMD's own Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. AMD's gaming positioning basically echoed our own Ryzen AI 300 conclusions: Lunar Lake and the Snapdragon go head-to-head in terms of power draw and performance. AMD's Ryzen, on the other hand, is embracing what it should: as a mobile hot rod.
AMD presented several benchmarks that obviously cast it in the best light. Still, some of the comparisons are pretty damning: In Forza Horizon 5, for example, AMD said it can achieve 135 frames per second at 1080p resolution, at Medium settings. That's double the 68 fps that the Core
It's worth noting that Black Friday 2024 may be the last chance to buy a discounted dock for a while. In 2025, America's new president has promised tariffs that could reach 60 percent on Chinese goods, and a number of smaller dock manufacturers are headquartered in China. (Larger ones, however, have moved outside the country.)
I'm compiling the best early Black Friday deals on Thunderbolt docks at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and elsewhere. I've listed each Thunderbolt dock deal below, followed by an explanation of why I picked them. (For more details, scroll down to the FAQ at the end that explains what to look for in a Thunderbolt dock and how much you should pay.)
Best early Black Friday Thunderbolt dock deals
HP Thunderbolt Dock G2, Thunderbolt 3, 100W charging, now $70.52 (26% off at Amazon)
Targus USB-C Docking Station, DisplayLink, 65W charging, now $103.99 (58% off at Amazon)
OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, Thunderbolt 4, 90W charging, now $249.99 (17% off at Amazon with Prime)
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Plus, Thunderbolt 3, 60W charging, now $109.97 (63% off at Amazon)
If you still prefer Windows laptops, you'll want to check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available today.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been going strong since 1983, back in the days when print magazines were more common. Now that we've made the leap to digital, we've been reviewing more than 70 laptops every year. Every laptop that passes through our doors goes through an arduous testing process, in which we evaluate everything from processor performance to display quality. We're committed to reviewing laptops in every price range too.
Quick links to select top picks:
Best overall Chromebook: Lenovo Flex 5i
Best budget Chromebook: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
Best Chromebook for gaming:
This Asus laptop features an Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM, so you're going to be able to run pretty much any app or game and multitask like a pro. If you feel the 16GB isn't enough, you can swap out the two RAM sticks and upgrade to 32GB later.
But the best part is that this laptop features a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which is fantastic at this price. It's rare for an RTX 4070 laptop to drop below a grand, so consider this akin to a miracle. With it, you can push graphics settings to the max without batting an eyelash, and those games will look great on the 1080p IPS display with 144Hz of refresh.
There's a 1TB SSD on board this laptop, too, so that's plenty of room for any kind of content you intend to keep on there. From games to photos to documents to videos, you're good to go.
If you've been waiting to snag a top-tier gaming laptop for the price of a mid-range option, your day has come. Grab this Asus TUF 15 right now at Best Buy (was $1,400, now $1,000) while you can!
Amazon has $100 PlayStation Store gift cards down to $90 right now. You can then use that money to take advantage of the deals going on right now on the PS Store, allowing you to snatch some incredible games, from Tekken 8 to Resident Evil 4, for up to 75 percent off.
Similarly, an Xbox Gift Card worth $100 is now available for $90 at Amazon. You can use the credit to get yourself some of those awesome games being slashed down in price by Microsoft, from the super-cute Stray to the popular UFC series.
And if you're a fan of Roblox and/or Fortnite, you're in luck. Right now, a 10,000 Robux digital card that normally costs $100 can be had for just $90. Similarly, a digital card for 13,500 V-Bucks that'll usually run you $90 can be snagged for just $81.
This 10 percent deal applies to other amounts, too, so feel free to grab however many points you want and save regardless. Just note that this is a Prime-exclusive deal. But if you don't have Prime, you can still claim these deals — by signing up for a free 30-day trial of Prime and canceling before the trial period ends.
These are all digital codes, so you'll be adding them to your own accounts. Make s
Thanks to the Arm64-based hardware, which is different from the usual x86 and x64 guts you're used to in most laptops and desktops, the build of Windows 11 on these new laptops is unique. It took a few months, but Microsoft has finally published a disk image (or ISO file) for these devices. You can now download it directly from Microsoft's website to set up a direct reinstallation or create a bootable flash drive for another device. It's just like the existing installation media tool.
This is an exciting option for a very particular slice of the Windows userbase. Of course, that same slice is likely to be unimpressed by even a "clean" installation, as Microsoft's pack-in software and integrated advertising has only gotten more and more intrusive over the last few years, to say nothing of the huge push for Copilot AI "features." And assuming you want new updates for your fancy new laptop, it's likely to get more bloated as time goes on.
Keep in mind that using this method for a fresh install might create a few hiccups. That Sna
