It's an important evolution, one that recognizes that the reason Gmail became so popular is because email is intrinsically complex, with questions and replies and attachments all over the place. Google is using its Gemini AI search to help make sense of it all.
But — and this is a big but — this isn't here yet. It will roll out in Google's Labs workspace this fall. And even then, consumers will have to pay a whopping $19.95 per user per month for the Google AI Premium plan that makes it all happen.
Gmail Q&A
In a demonstration, Aparna Pappu, Google's vice president of Workspace, explained how integrating Gemini could be used to quickly catch up on an email chain. In a demo, Pappu asked Gemini to sum up an exchange with a roofer, including what the proposed project would cost.
Gemini did so, but it went much further: it also was able to sum up competing quotes from other contractors and present them in a unified format. Gemini then proposed several replies, and let Pappu pick what response she would send back. It's a capability that Google will roll out this month as part of its Labs.Google beta program, while the contextual replies will be added (again, in Labs) in July.
What does that mean for regular users? More or less, it's all about smarter searching that pulls more and deeper information from more websites, and organizes it in smart ways. It all starts with "AI Overviews," the new, fancy version of the Rich Results you currently see before (and sometimes to the right of) standard text results. AI Overview will soon be graduating from the Search Labs walled-off area to standard users in the US, with Google hoping to expand it to "over a billion people by the end of the year."
These auto-generated results created from indexed and crawled websites will include the familiar "people also ask" queries, shopping results (which, of course, earn Google some ad revenue), and results for more complex questions phrased in natural language. The
There are a few things you'll want to consider when looking for a VPN: First, it should be able to keep your internet usage private and secure without leaks. Speed is another factor — privacy and security are crucial, but you don't want the service to cripple your internet speed either. And if you're concerned with anonymity, you should seek out a VPN with data collection policies that are clear and transparent. Finally, the number of available servers and country locations a VPN offers is worth bearing in mind if you're trying to get around region locks in specific countries.
Why you should trust us: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We're 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. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out our article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you'll find our favorite VPNs and additional information about how we test these services as well as helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
The details of USB-C can be confusing, however, and pricing for USB-C monitors is often higher than that for monitors that lack the interface. See our buyers' guide below our recommendations to better understand the nuances.
For even more monitor recommendations, check out our roundups of the best monitors and the best monitors for a home office. And while you're at it, check out our list of best monitor arms so you can optimize the ergonomics and comfort of your desk setup while viewing that brand new monitor.
Updated May 14, 2024: Check out our review of the BenQ PD3225U, which offers the com
Once again Google is recommending that users immediately update their browsers to apply the fix, which went out yesterday. According to the Chrome release blog (spotted by Bleeping Computer), this is a high-priority fix for an out of bounds write error, and yes, it's being exploited in the deep, dark wilds of the web.
Of course it's better that security flaws be fixed than, well, not fixed, but there seem to be just a ton of high-profile issues popping up with Chrome as of late. Even so, it remains the number one browser on the planet on both mobile and desktop platforms by a wide margin. Don't wait too long to click that update button.
To patch Chrome immediately, head to Options Help About Google Chrome. Wait for the update to download and reset your browser when instructed.
A dead-simple, wonderfully nifty test offers a quick and reliable way to check the actual charge state of a battery, keeping you from rashly discarding good batteries or buying new ones unnecessarily.
Battery full or flat? This simple test reveals it
All you need for this test is the battery you want to check. If available, have a new, fully charged battery ready to compare the results. This is how it works:
Make sure you have a flat and firm surface, such as a table, in front of you.
Drop the battery vertically onto the surface from a height of about 20 centimeters (roughly 8 inches).
Pay close attention to how the battery hits the surface and how it behaves afterwards: A fully charged battery usually tips over and stays put. An empty battery, on the other hand, often bounces back a little and bounces up a few centimeters.
Why? Alkaline batteries contain a gel-like substance that absorbs the impact when fully charged. When the battery is flat, this substance dries out and hardens, making the battery more likely to bounce back.
Extend battery life with these 4 tips
Switch off devices correctly: Make sure you switch devices off completely when they are not in use. Even in standby mode, some devices can continue to consume energy, which puts unnecessary strain on the batteries.
Remove batteries: If you are not using an appliance for an extended pe
As we wait for all the legal issues to resolve, now is a good time to stay two steps ahead, and ponder a fundamental question: If the ban does go into effect, could a VPN help you get around the new restrictions?
Much of the answer keys into the specific nature of the ban—namely, that app stores in the U.S. would ostensibly be forced to remove the TikTok app from their marketplaces. If that's how the ban plays out, then theoretically a VPN should put you back in business, with the caveat that you'll already need to have the TikTok app installed prior to the ban.
There's a lot to unpack here, including what the law would require of TikTok, and how technically savvy users could respond. Read on for details. And if you're looking for a VPN to make your digital life more more secure—or, who knows, preserve TikTok access—check out my rankings of the best VPNs.
How would a TikTok ban likely play out?
The short but frustrating answer is that no one knows exactly how a TikTok ban would be implemented. While the law was passed and signed by president Biden, the actual details are still being worked o
While I'm a ride-or-die fan of Windows on my PCs and Android on my phones, I have to begrudgingly admit that Apple rules the roost when it comes to tablets. That's why there's a 4th-gen iPad Air on my desk right now. Don't tell any of my colleagues over at Macworld, they'll never let me hear the end of it.
The one Amazon has on sale gets a much speedier M1 processor, the same one that went into its first-gen Arm Macbooks, though to be honest you won't even need that power unless you're running the tablet version of Photoshop (which is an option). The fingerprint reader for login is a nice touch, but personally I'm just glad it uses a USB-C cable so I don't have to buy new Lightning chargers.
Amazon is selling the 64GB blue and purple models for $399, an impressive 33 percent off the $600 retail price. Other versions are also discounted: you can get pink, grey, or "starlight" (read: kinda gold-ish) for $449, or take smaller discounts on upgraded models with 256GB of storage and/or a 5G cellular connection.
Nine models are on sale at the moment. If you need one for as little scratch as possible, then the Asus Chromebook CM14 should be your first port of call. This 14-inch model is powered by a MediaTek Arm processor with just 4GB of memory, so it might chug a bit if you throw dozens of tabs at it. But with a 1080p screen and a power-sipping setup, it should let you browse for the better part of a day at least. And at $149 flat, a full 50 percent off the sticker price, it's an undeniable bargain.
If you're looking for something a little more flexible, then the
You and I just don't have enough money for them. However, for a multitude of mom-and-pop scammers, we do.
That point became clear during the 2024 RSA Conference in San Francisco, where members of Microsoft's security teams spoke with the press on cybersecurity topics, including the most current threats to everyday people. While you could still get caught up in a ransomware campaign, the main targets nowadays are companies big enough to pay multimillions but too small to have robust IT security teams.
Instead, Sherrod DeGrippo, director of threat intelligence strategy at Microsoft, says you should watch most for seemingly innocuous tricks that play on your emotions: romance schemes, influencer scams, banking hoaxes, and other such deviousness.
Romance scams, for example, involve gaining someone's trust and affection, and then using the relationship to start asking for money.
Influencer scams twist people's legitimate desire to earn a living into fronting money for opportunities that never pan out — and potentially expose the victims to identity theft if tax identification numbers and other personal details are shared.
If you're buying a laptop, you'll get the most value from focusing on sales. Let's say you have $1200 to spend on a gaming laptop. The best gaming laptop for your dollar might not be a $1200 laptop at all — it might be a $1600 laptop that's currently $500 off.
In fact, the best value may be snatching up last year's laptop on a clearance sale. Laptop hardware isn't advancing very quickly year over year. A laptop from last year might be roughly as good as one from this year — and half off, too.
Using Resso.ai, you can create resumes and cover letters that highlight exactly the skills and qualifications you need for a specific job type. The service can also tweak your LinkedIn profile to attract your preferred employers, and you can even practice for that important interview by fielding questions from an AI interlocutor. It's especially helpful for new graduates just entering the workforce (as its 100,000 student users can attest), but it can give a leg up to anyone who wants to increase their hireability.
Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to the Resso Professional Plan for $79.99 (reg. $540).
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EaseUS RecExperts is the most recommended Discord audio recorder for computer users. It is compatible with Windows and Mac. It is capable of recording streaming platforms. For instance, it can record Discord, Netflix, and record YouTube audio etc.
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OpenAI will accompany the launch of the GPT-4o model with a new Mac app that will showcase the capabilities of the new model, which can now "see" the world around it. A Windows app will debut later on. The GPT-4o model can now "see," as well, via vision capabilities that include desktop screenshots as well as the ability to upload video and screenshots from a mobile app — again, just an iPhone app for now.
Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the new ChatGPT app with GPT-4o, however, is that the model now seems far more human in both tone and intonation. For one thing, the model is "real time," which means that you don't have to wait for it to complete its statement before you can jump in and cut it off. The speech synthesis can even harmonize its voices, as well as provide what we could consider to be "normal" conversational interactions, translations, and more. Normal conversations will now have GPT-4 levels of sophistication across the board.
Consider this GPT-4o demonstration, which now incorporates teenager-level sarcasm on demand, below. Consider this a demonstration, however: GPT-4o's new audio and video capabilities are coming in the future, OpenAI said. (You can still "talk" to ChatGPT via the mic app on the Web version of ChatGPT.)
We've tested several PCIe 4.0 SSDs and the best one to cross our labs thus far is the Solidgm P44 Pro in a field of tough contenders thanks to ferociously fast speeds only rivaled by next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSDs.
Read on to learn more, including what to look for in PCIe 4.0 SSD.
Why you should trust us: We're not called PCWorld for nothing. Our reviewers have been testing PC hardware for decades. Our storage evaluations are exhaustive, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As PC users ourselves, we know what makes a killer product stand out. Only the best SSDs make this list. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article.
Updated May 13, 2024: If you're looking ahead to the next generation of cutting-edge storage, check out our recent review of the PCIe 5.0 Teamgroup Z540 SSD. It's not the fastest PCIe 5.0 drive we've tested, but it comes in second, and comes at up to 4TB capacity.
You'll probably immediately know if you or your team might be using Places, given that you're already familiar with your company's attitude towards remote work. It's clear that some companies would like to convince their workers to return to the office, while some workers would rather avoid the stress and expense of a commute and work from home.
Places is designed to balance that tension, Microsoft said. First off, the app can be used as a standalone indicator of who will be in the office, and when. But it will also be integrated into both Outlook and Copilot, so you can visually see which team members will be where, or just ask Copilot to sum it all up. Copilot integration will take place during the second half of 2024, Microsoft said.
Microsoft outlined its Places plans in a blog post, with a surprising amount of graphics describing what Places will look like. We've reproduced a few here. Here's what Places will offer:
Location plans: You can set you location for a given period, and check to see whether your coworkers (or your boss) will be in too. A "peek card" sums your plans up.
We've spent hours and hours using each model, banging away on our reviews, surfing the web, and keeping up on social media to bring you a list of the very best wireless keyboards around. For example, the Logitech Wave Keys isn't our pick for the best wireless ergonomic keyboard, even though it's a fairly good option and a great value.
While there's no one-size-fits-all keyboard, our recommendations aim to help you make an informed decision based on your own personal needs. After you've perused our best picks, be sure to check out our buying advice at the end to help you learn what to look for when shopping for a wireless keyboard.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been the go-to name for personal computer news and reviews for over 40 years. And as the writer of this roundup, and the reviewer of most of the keyboards on this list, I can assure you they've been thoroughly tested by people who are absolutely obsessed with keyboards.
Every single keyboard on this list has been used by an expert, put through its paces for features and reliability, and carefully considered against the alternatives. We've tested every facet of the boards, even programming and complete disassembly for those that support it.
For a more in-depth look at how we test keyboards of every kind, c
I love this thing, and I've got it attached to my desk for easy access. The meat of the kit is the iFixit all-metal, magnetic driver, which comes in a box with 64 of the most common bits necessary for repairing PCs, electronics, and pretty much anything smaller than a car. We're talking eleven different Phillips and flathead bits, another dozen Torx bits, another dozen for hex screws and bolts, and exotic square, gamebit, and tri-point bits for weird proprietary stuff like Nintendo controllers and consoles.
The magnetic top is great for organizing screws while you're working. On top of all that, you get a bit extender tool for those hard-to-reach spots and a cloth roll that holds bigger tools, including precision tweezers, pry tools, a suction cup, and even an anti-static wrist strap. It's everything you'll need to get a smartphone open and replace the screen. Except, well, a replacement screen.
It's a compact package full of high-quality gear, and barely a week goes by when I haven't reached for it for some kind of repair or tinkering. Go grab one for yourself, and maybe an extra for dad (Father's Day is a month away).
Nikkei Asia reports that Arm is currently setting up an AI division and seeking partners for mass chip production, with a prototype AI chip planned for early 2025 and full-scale manufacturing penciled in for the fall of that year. It's all part of SoftBank's 10-trillion-yen ($64 billion USD) investment in the AI space, combined with plans to build data centers around the world and seek out new mergers and acquisitions. Notably, Nvidia failed to buy Arm from SoftBank in 2022 after the US Federal Trade Commission threatened to block the deal.
Arm-based chips are usually seen in smartphones and other mobile devices, but more recently they've been on the rise in Mac laptops and a big push for Windows machines. Arm's architecture is also gaining steam in servers, where they're generally less powerful but far more efficient than the x86 and x64 designs data centers usually rely on, still evo
I should point out that this is the Odyssey G95NA, which uses a QLED VA panel instead of the more vibrant, contrast-heavy OLED model (which also sees some massive-but-not-quite-as-deep discounts). This monitor is just as big with the same 5120×1440 resolution (basically two QHD screens smooshed together) and speedy 240Hz refresh rate, which will bring your gaming PC to its knees on any recent AAA title. The QLED tech is a bit older, but does beat OLED in terms of brightness with 1000 nits and has a more dramatic 1000R curve.
The screen is built for gaming, but has some more button-down features as well, including a side-by-side mode for connecting multiple PCs or consoles, a built-in USB hub, and HDR10 compatibility. Inputs include DisplayPort and dual HDMI, but sadly no USB-C video. The monitor is compatible with standard VESA mounts, but at 26.2 pounds without the stand, you may need a more beefy monitor arm than usual.
When I reviewed the Retro keyboard, I praised 8BitDo for nailing all the basics while also delivering on its Nintendo-inspired aesthetics. The keyboard has Bluetooth and dongle-based wireless, PBT keycaps, and even an add-on section with two massive NES-inspired macro buttons. Said buttons, and the rest of the keyboard, can be programmed with the 8BitDo Windows app.
Best of all it's packing hot-swap switch sockets, my must-have feature for mechanical keyboards. Yes, even the big extra buttons are hot-swap. So if you're not a fan of the noisy Kailh Box White switches, you can sub in any MX-compatible switch you like.
At its $100 retail price the 8BitDo is already a darn good deal. But right now Woot is offering it for $69.99, a 30 percent discount. And unlike many Woot listings, this one is good for multiple days — more than two weeks, at the time of writing — and it's a new keyboard, not refurbished.
Both colors are offered, the grey and red based on the American NES and the more
We do recommend a variety of premium antivirus software, password managers, VPN services, and Windows backup tools. But you don't need any paid offerings to stay safe online — you can get all the security you need for free.
Protect your PC with a free antivirus
Antivirus software is an essential security tool on any PC. Even if you're careful, applications you trust could have security flaws that open your PC to attack. Malware could get onto your PC due to a flaw in your web browser or even a developer's account falling prey to criminals on a platform like Steam.
If you're using a modern Windows PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11, good news: You already have an antivirus program installed, even if you've never thought about it. It's called Microsoft Defender and is part of the Windows Security suite of software. It works well as baseline protection, but it's not p
Rated 5/5 stars on the PCWorld Shop, Microsoft Visio is an intuitive tool that gives you dozens of pre-made templates and more than 250,000 shapes to create all kinds of visualizations. From flowcharts and org charts to floor plans and brainstorms, Visio makes it easy to turn the chaotic swirling of information in your brain into clear, concise charts and visuals. The intuitive program can draw data from Excel, Exchange, or Entra ID, consolidating your workflow, and it gives you all the tools you need to manage charts with ease.
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We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
Best gaming desktop computer deals
Alienware Aurora R15, Ryzen 9/RX 7900 XTX/64GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,099.99 (30% off on Dell)
Allow us to remove some of the questioning and doubt. Below are the best mechanical keyboards we've reviewed, in a variety of categories—best overall, on a budget, for gaming, wireless, et cetera. Not everything makes the list — for example, though G.Skill's KM250 is a shockingly good deal, we can't say the same for the larger and very different KM360 design. Though they excel in different areas, each mechanical keyboard pick is absolutely the best in its class, and well worth both your attention and your hard-earned dough.
Be sure to check out some of our most recent reviews, like the Happy Hacking HHKB Studio and the Razer Huntsman V3.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been the go-to name for personal computer news and reviews for over 40 years. And as the writer of this roundup, and the reviewer of most of the keyboards on this list, I can assure you they've been thoroughly tested by people who are absolutely obsessed with keyboards.
When determining the best VPNs for Android, we consider several criteria. First, it's crucial that it's a top performer on the OS. Also, since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent at times, we test these apps over multiple days to look at speed and consistency of service. Finally, we considered the Android app itself and its ease of use, as well as other things such as pricing and the number of simultaneous devices allowed per account. All of these factors help us determine the very best Android VPNs presented below.
Why you should trust us: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We're 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. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out our article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you'll find our favorite VPNs and additional information about how we test these services as well as helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.
For that, you get access to both the desktop app and a browser extension that can offer new layers of security.
With them in place, you won't just be able to surf in anonymity, unlocking geo-restricted sites and services as you go. You'll get unprecedented control over your cookies, OpenVPN configurations, and ad blocking that can make your online experience faster as well as safer.
From May 6 through 12, you can get a three-year subscription to the Windscribe VPN Pro Plan for $69.97 (reg. $207).
This bundle includes five training courses from IDUNOVA, a leading online IT services provider with more than 20 years of experience. You'll get study materials to help you pass certification exams from CompTIA, NIST, ISC, and more leading certifying bodies. From understanding how to perform risk assessment and identify vulnerabilities to determining how to patch those vulnerabilities, these courses will give you the skills you need to pass each of these five certification exams on your first try.
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And gaming keyboard makers have catered to the desire to go untethered. Though they generally carry a price premium, wireless gaming keyboards boast the latest features and capabilities, from fancy RGB lighting to cutting-edge adjustable actuation. Here are the best on the market.
For more tips about what to look for in a wireless gaming keyboard, scroll to the buying guide below this list of recommendations.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been the go-to name for personal computer news and reviews for over 40 years. And as the writer of this roundup, and the reviewer of most of the keyboards on this list, I can assure you that our picks have been thoroughly tested by people who are absolutely obsessed with keyboards.
Every single keyboard on this list has been used by an expert, put through its paces for features and reliability, and carefully considered against the alternatives. We've tested every facet of the boards, even programming and complete disassembly for those that support it. And there are plenty that we review that don't make the cut, like the expensive but underwhelming Asus ROG Azoth.
For a more in-depth look at how we test keyboards of every kind, check out our dedicated article covering our keyboard review process.
Why you should trust us: Hey, it's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and 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 great laptop deals? Check out our regularly updated list of the best mainstream, gaming, and 2-in-1 laptop deals.
Updated May 9, 2024: We added the Acer TravelMate P6 and the HP Dragonfly G4 as alternative options underneath our Best Ultraportable pick. The Acer TravelMate P6 is physically lighter than our current pick and has a bigger battery, but it's more expensive and doesn't have an OLED display. The HP Dragonfly G4, which stands as a more high-end option, offers snappy performance as well as an LTE connection. We've also updated our list of recent laptop reviews and added a new "at a glance" section below.
This durable speaker is equipped with DualBass subwoofers and TWS technology, delivering immersive 360º HD sound even in the most wide-open environments. It's built for outdoor use, with an IPX6-rated waterproof design and shockproof protection — all while remaining portable enough to pack up easily. You can stream music via Bluetooth 5.0 or plug into the AUX port, giving you optimum versatility. Plus, with a 5,200mAh battery, you'll have up to 20 hours of playtime so you won't have to worry about it running out of battery in the middle of a beach day.
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For a one-time payment, you'll get lifetime access to Curiosity Stream, the Emmy-winning service that specializes in creating an avenue to discover new documentaries and docuseries. Founded by Discovery Communications visionary John Hendricks, Curiosity Stream offers thousands of hours of content from creators like Sir David Attenborough, Michio Kako, Stephen Hawking, and others. Whether you're interested in history, culture, astronomy, nature, or practically anything else, you'll find something interesting and the app will continue to recommend even more content that's right up your alley.
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That's the eyebrow-raising scenario that a new driver from Intel suggests. Phoronix, which has been monitoring Intel's development of a PCI Express driver for Linux, noted that the latest revision allows limiting the PCI Express link speed in case of thermal pressure. The key term is "bwctrl."
That suggests that even a properly-cooled GPU or SSD might not be able to access as much as data as it normally would because the PCI Express link itself would slow down. Even worse, there is a possibility that the drivers could shut down some of the PCIe lanes themselves if necessary, to keep everything running cool. In other words, a PCI Express x16 connection could throttle down to a slower speed, then start turning off lanes — turning it into a x8 connection, possibly.
The notice on kernel.org notes that the latter won't be possible until PCI Express 6.0, however — though that's not too far away.
"This series adds PCIe bandwidth controller (bwctrl) and associated PCIe cooling driver to the thermal core side for limiting PCIe Link Speed due to thermal
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 gaming laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Update May 10, 2024: We added the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 as an alternative option underneath our Best Connectivity Features pick. Not only does it offer great connectivity options and strong performance, but it also has a bigger screen. We've also updated our list of recent laptop reviews and added a new "at a glance" section below.
If you're a typical American, Eurovision seems like a fever dream. It's a bunch of largely European countries sending singers and artists to compete in a sort of Euro World Cup of odd, artsy performances. Will Farrell's Netflix hit Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga nailed the vibe, and Windows95man's No Rules feels very much in the spirit of it — the guy emerges from a giant egg, for crying out loud.
Since Eurovision is Europe only, there's always a bit of regionalism; Americans can't watch the finals live without a VPN. (Our list of best VPNs has you covered there!) But you can watch all of the performances that got them there, and there's really no difference from what I can see where Windows95man is concerned.
I like weird music. This is weird. But very, very fun. Give it a listen — and if you want even more, here's the list of all of the 37 Eurovision finals songs, from Albania to the United Kingdom.
While any of these would be a great reason to pick up an external drive, the advantages of having reliable backup is the number-one reason your setup isn't complete without one. Why? Chances are you have important data on your PC that you can't afford to lose. To protect that data you'll want to do two things: store it off-site on the cloud if possible and back it up to an external drive. This way you ensure your data is completely safe should anything go wrong with your computer.
While we highly recommend that you consider cloud storage as a backup option, restoring from local storage is generally far, far faster than pulling your data down from the cloud. Therefore, an external drive should be your primary hedge against disaster.
Why you should trust us: We're PCWorld. We've been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. We've seen it all and we know how to root out a drive's strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. Below we offer our expert recommendations on the best external drives for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.
We're not suggesting that PC security software is fool-proof, but it does a great job of protecting your computer against harmful malware and ransomware. Most systems come with security software baked into the OS, but this is often the bare minimum you need. Choosing to purchase more robust antivirus software will provide you with features such as an advanced firewall, sandbox environments for suspicious programs, and multi-device protection, among other things.
How do you choose a good antivirus? We've tested a multitude of offerings, including all the big names, so you don't have to! When testing antivirus software, we look for products that strike a balance between excellent protection, a worthwhile selection of features, and minimal performance impact on your PC. For more information, you can read about how we test antivirus software below our picks.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been deep in the trenches of testing computer hardware, software, and services since 1983—including security suites. For antivirus apps, we continually evaluate popular or noteworthy software. We consider the user experience, strength of protection against threats (online and offline), and how well it addresses the ever-expanding types of attacks. Our guide on how we test antivirus software at PCWorld gives the f
As BleepingComputer reports, this is the fifth time in 2024 that Google has needed to issue an urgent update for Chrome, following no less than three zero-day exploits discovered at the Pwn2Own contest in March. For those of us without a compsci degree like yours truly, a zero-day exploit is a means of attacking software that takes advantage of an unknown flaw. Two of the other 2024 issues were also use after free errors, which occur when a program incorrectly uses dynamic memory after an operation is finished.
And just to make you a little more anxious, remember that these are the issues we know about and that Google has fixed. The very nature of zero-day exploits means that there are almost certainly more out there, which may or may not be known and in use. Google isn't sharing the full details of the latest one until a greater percentage of people are running the latest version.
That being said, Chrome is a huge priority for Google now
This isn't the kind of thing that can power my main desk on its own, but it's great for adding some extra power in a small space, like behind my TV. In addition to six standard AC outlets, you get two USB-A ports and a USB-C port, though at 2.1 amps total across the three they won't be powering any big laptops.
Note that this isn't just a cheap outlet extender, it's rated for 1800 joules of protection. That should be enough to protect your laptop and a bunch of mobile gear from anything up to a direct lightning strike on your house. It also has extra-wide spacing on the outlets, great for oddly-shaped plugs and "wall warts."
Normally $15.99, the gadget is on sale for a generous 38 percent off in a "limited time deal," bringing the sticker price down to just $9.99. You can click the check mark coupon on Amazon for an additional 5 percent off, bringing the final checkout price to $9.49. Grab a couple of them if you want…just don't use Amazon's 2-pack on the actual listing, which turns out to be more expensive.
In his review (which is the exact same configuration, hey neat), Robert Strohmeyer praised the Aspire 3's long battery life, decent performance, and surprisingly good webcam, while noting that you're not gonna get tons of gaming done with basic integrated graphics and a 128GB SSD. Ports are surprisingly generous with HDMI, USB-C, and double USB-A. You can read the full review here.
The biggest draw for the Aspire 3 is probably its 15-inch 1080p screen and keyboard with a full number pad — both are definite plusses if you're doing a lot of Excel work. The AMD Ryzen 7320U is a good pick for a budget model, but 8GB of RAM is the minimum you want for running Windows 11. And sadly that RAM is soldered into the motherboard, so there's no upgrading even if you crack this sucker open.
Even so, if you absolutely must have a laptop with a pretty sizable display and Windows, this is pretty much your only choice from a reliable brand at this price level. The upgraded model, with 16GB of memory and a much roomier 1TB SSD, is $500 with no discount.
After many years of complaints, Microsoft is finally listening to user feedback and changing the default behavior when pasting in Word. From now on, the source's formatting will no longer be automatically retained. Instead, "Merge formatting" will be the new default for everyone, as Microsoft explained in a blog post this week.
This means that after the update, newly pasted text will take on the font size, font type, and color of the text written in Word. However, special features such as lists or italicized elements will be retained. If you want these elements to be automatically adapted to the Word text, you must select the option "Keep text only".
How do I change the default behavior for pasting in Word?
To change the default behavior in Word, go to "File," then "Options," and finally "Advanced". There you go to the sub-item "Cut, copy, and paste" and find the option "Paste from other programs."
I haven't even beaten the game's final boss once (it'll take far more than that to actually get to the end, if the first game is any indication), but one of the other bosses completely blew me away. And here's where I warn you that reading any further will absolutely spoil parts of Hades II. Abandon hope (of being pleasantly surprised by a really cool bit in the game), all ye who enter here.
Spoilers for Hades II below! I warned you, dagnabbit!
So in Hades II, you're Melinoë, little-known Greek goddess, sister of Zagreus from the first game, and long-lost daughter of Persephone and the titular Hades. Your Titanic grandpa Chronos has busted into the underworld, kidnapped your family, and started a war with the Olympian gods. It's your job to break into the house of Hades (a nice inversion of breaking out of said house in the original), rescue your father, mother, b
What is vishing?
Vishing is a combination of the words "voice" and "phishing" and refers to fraudulent activities in telecommunications. The perpetrators pretend to be trustworthy persons or organizations in order to obtain sensitive data such as bank account information, credit card details, or passwords. Like many other scams, vishing falls under the heading of social engineering.
How to recognize vishing
Typical signs of vishing are calls requesting urgent action or contact from organizations that you do not normally interact with.
For example, the caller claims to be an employee of your bank and says that there's a problem with your account. You may be asked to provide your account information or credit card details in order to resolve the problem. The caller may also threaten you with consequences such as freezing your account or other penalties if you do not cooperate.
In other cases, fraudsters pretend to be Microsoft technicians after secretly infecting and locking the victim's computer via a malware link. The person called is
If you haven't worked on Windows 11 yet, you can expect the clean interface that Windows is known for, augmented by a time-saving AI assistant (Windows Copilot) and new security features like biometric login. And of course, Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows includes includes Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote.
Altogether, this bundle is rated an average of 5/5 stars by verified purchasers in the PCWorld Shop.
Trusted by IT experts, EaseUS Fixo has earned a 4.7/5-star rating on Trustpilot, and Macworld's Chris Wiles writes, "EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard… is packed with features and very configurable, though, and well worth having around just in case of accidents."
EaseUS Fixo is an all-in-one file repair toolkit that mends videos, photos, and files with a very high success rate. You can fix media from all kinds of storage devices, including cameras, dash cams, and smartphones. Videos, photos, and files in virtually any format can be repaired in a matter of minutes, giving you additional peace of mind and helping you recover irreplaceable memories and important documents.
Stop losing files to corruption. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to EaseUS Fixo for a big discount.
Mercury Research issued its report after the market closed on Thursday, noting that this was the first "normal" quarter since the pandemic.
All segments in the market (client, server, mobile) saw decreased shipments for the first quarter, which is normal after what are usually seasonal highs during the fourth quarter. System-on-chip shipments decreased, primarily due to a slowdown in AMD SoC chips — which was itself caused by a slowdown in this generation of game consoles.
Intel did have a victory: It gained a percentage point of market share in mobile, as its Core Ultra shipments began ramping, Mercury said. (Shipments were hampered, though, by assembly problems in Intel's fabs.) Intel is also succeeding in selling the "Intel Processor" N100 and N200 entry-level CPUs, outpacing AMD. AMD's share dropped by the same amount in what is essentially a two-horse race, though it was still up by 3.1 percentage points compared to a year ago, at 19.3 percent. Intel owns 80.7 percent of the mobile PC processor market.
Comcast's NOW service is a new brand for the company. It's wired Internet, at affordable, all-inclusive rates: $30-45 per month, including taxes, fees, a router, and unlimited data. Is there a catch? The service maxes out at 200Mbps per month — which is still much faster than most people's basic connections, to be fair — but otherwise, not really. It's a seemingly customer-friendly service from a company that has never really been seen as customer-friendly for more than a decade.
You know the routine: You receive your bill. Your eyes pop, you gasp, your blood pressure rises. You book an hour or two on your schedule to call, complain, wheedle, yell — all part of the Comcast Xfinity negotiation we advised you to perform a decade ago. After threatening to leave, you end up on the cheaper promotional plan.
Now, Comcast NOW actually promises to change that. Two plans are available: a $30/mo NOW Internet plan that offers 100Mbps speeds, and the more expensive 200Mbps plan for $45 per month. Want TV on top of that? NOW TV offers a $20 package that includes "40 live channels, more than two dozen integrated FAST channels, and Peacock Premium," — all streaming, however, and on the Xf
When choosing the best dash cam for your needs you should first consider if you want a front, front/interior, or front/rear model. Additionally, you'll want to decide on how wide a viewing angle you'll need. Then there are special features to take into account, such as voice control or parking assist. Since there are a number of reasons to use a dash cam, we understand that there isn't a one-size-fits-all model. With that in mind, we've curated a list of the best dash cams of all types with various features and prices below.
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Dell is confirming a data breach that reportedly covers "49 million customer records," according to Bleeping Computer. While Dell is confirming that a breach occurred, the scope of the breach hasn't been confirmed. A hacker on the Dark Web is reportedly claiming that the breach involves the 49 million records, with information that dates back seven years ago to 2017.
What Dell is telling people, according to the report, is that name, address, and hardware, service, and order information was leaked. If you've purchased anything from Dell, or engaged with customer support for a service or warranty request, that information is likely available to whoever wants to buy the information.
So far, Dell is not saying that any financial information was breached, including credit cards or payment information, or even your telephone number or email address.
That's good, but as Bleeping Computer points out, it does leave you potentially vulnerable to a physical attack — i.e. someone sending a letter and using your Dell service history as "proof" that the contact is legitimate. Such a followup could include asking for financial information, however, or some other attack that tries to extract personal information.
Right now, Dell doesn't believe that there is "significant risk," and they're probably right if the initial scope of the breach is accurate. If you have purchased a Dell PC or peripheral, though, keep an eye open
If you're not up on the sim scene, Fanatec sells seriously pricey racing wheels, pedals, shifters, and even full racing chairs and "cockpits" for building a dedicated simulation rig. It's the kind of stuff you see in the office-slash-gaming den of someone who's poured multiple thousands of dollars into an amazing racing game setup. It fits in with Corsair's ambitions of delivering everything a high-end gamer wants, from monitors to mice to manual gearboxes.
Corsair made the announcement in a press release, quoting both its own CEO and the CEO of Endor, owner of the Fanatec brand. The deal is in "exclusive negotiations" at the moment, and not finalized, because Endor has 70 million euros (about $75 million USD) in debt that needs to be addressed. But that sh
The Xbox app, you'll recall, is Microsoft's attempt to unify your gaming interface across PC and consoles…assuming you only use Xbox as a console. (And based on sales data, that's a pretty small slice of the market. But I digress.) Microsoft introduced a "compact mode" for the app last year, which seems to be little more than a bit of menu shrinking based on my impressions.
The only catch is the price. Most monitor arms worth buying will set you back close to $200, and heavy-duty arms capable of holding two large displays are even pricier. The good news is that if you buy a good-quality monitor arm, you'll likely never need to replace it. That's why it's important to choose wisely with your first monitor arm purchase, so you have confidence that it's money well spent.
To help you in that endeavor, we've put several popular monitor arms through their paces to find the best of the bunch. Below you'll find our curated list of recommended monitor arms, with thorough explanations of what qualities made them stand out. And below that, we point out some arms that we weren't so keen on — to provide a point of comparison.
If you're still on the fence about whether a monitor arm is worth the money and the time it takes to set up, read our article that answers why a monitor arm is most definitely worth it. From the flexibility to the increased desk space to the professional aesthetic, you'll wonder why you've been settling for the limitations of a standard-issue monitor stand for so long!
We're going to highlight a few of our favorite Samsung monitor deals here, but the full sale has something for everyone (including monitors for pros and with smart TV capabilities built-in) if these don't catch your eye.
At the bottom end is this 22-inch 1080p LCD monitor, going for just $99.99, $20 off the retail price. It's nothing fancy — in fact it's still rocking an old-fashioned VGA port, in addition to a more modern HDMI. But it is an IPS panel, which has better color accuracy than the cheaper VA designs usually found in this price range. It's also ever-so-slightly faster than most budget monitors at 75Hz, and includes a headphone jack. Grab three to go with this ultra-discounted triple monitor arm and you'd have an amazing multi-monitor setup for way cheaper than usual.
"Ask someone if you should continue [on]," says Amy Hogan-Burney, general manager and associate general counsel for Microsoft's Cybersecurity Policy and Protection team, who spoke with PCWorld during the 2024 RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco.
Scams and other social engineering attacks expect you to fall down the rabbit hole placed in front of you—bad actors hope panic will take over, driving you to follow instructions without questioning them. Getting an outside opinion counters that tunnel vision. It serves as a strong front line defense, too.
Take the three examples above. For the first scenario, a level-headed advisor would remind you to always contact your bank directly. The second? They'd tell you to fire up your antivirus software and run scans for malware (which might be the very source of a "PC hacked!" alert). Finally for the third, you might get nudged to first call or text your kid.
Example: If a PC has 32GB of DDR5/4800 and you say the RAM is running at 4,800MHz, you'll immediately hear a million nerds suddenly cry out in unison: "It'S NoT MeGaHeRtZ!!!"
That shriek has apparently finally caught the ear of Microsoft, because the company looks to be ready to use the correct nomenclature in Windows Task Manager when referring to the system's RAM. You can see the current verbiage travesty in the screenshot below of a laptop outfitted with 16GB of LPDDR3/2133 RAM where it's called 2133MHz in Windows 11! Oh the humanity!
The triple-arm setup comes from Huanuo, a well-known budget brand, and works with all standard 100mm VESA mounts. (That's the usual rear connection for anything smaller than a TV.) And because we're dealing with a lot of space and weight on that center column, the left and right arms come with three segments instead of the usual two, with four points of articulation and height adjustment in both the center column and the left and right gas springs. You can use a clamp mount or a bolt that goes right through the desk (or a pre-cut cable hole, if you're lucky).
I've used one of these all-in-one triple mounts before. It's great for getting the look and reducing the amount of actual hardware on your desk, but take a bit of advice. When the listing says "up to 27 inches," it's not kidding. I've tried to use a similar one with a 24-32-24 setup, and it had juuuuuust enough space to be kinda-sorta-okay. When I transitioned to a 34-inch center monitor, it just couldn't handle the horizontal spacing, and I had to switch to three separate mounts. So I wouldn't use this if any one of your monitors is larger than 27 inches.
While premium PDF editors include this feature, the easiest way to redact is to use the free PDF tools from PDF24. Go to https://tools.pdf24.org in your browser and then click on the "Redact PDF" checkbox.
On the following page, click on "Select PDF," select the PDF file in Explorer and click on "Open." As soon as the PDF is loaded, first select the page on which the area you want to cover is located in the small toolbar at the top left.
Now click on the "Add shape" icon in the toolbar and select a shape that can completely cover the area. The PDF tools will now display a corresponding black graphic. Drag and drop it over your area with the mouse and adjust its size using the handles on the sides.
That's a subjective question, of course. For a gamer it's probably how fast the keyboard communicates with a PC. For artsy types it's the keycaps matching the vibe of your workstation, or maybe attractive lighting. For someone with ergonomic issues, it's the layout, possibly necessitating a fancy split design. But for my own purposes, there's one feature I simply demand if I'm going to buy a pre-made keyboard instead of making my own.
I'll dispense with the foreplay: it's hot-swap switch sockets.
This clever platform is powered by OpenAI and Anthropic to help you repurpose audio, text, and video content into more bite-sized formats like tweets, social media posts, and newsletters. If you'd like, you could even turn that content into major blog posts that fit your brand's tone and style.
With Unifire, you'll use one unified workflow to scale content. Upload files or information, provide custom instructions, approve the transcript, and Unifire does the rest, allowing you to fully collaborate the entire time to ensure you get exactly what you want. It's a seamless way to turn one piece of content into several.
Get more content without breaking a sweat. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to a
STORI AI is a Golden Kitty Award recipient and a former number 1 Product of the Week on Product Hunt. This brand-focused AI platform gives you tools to not only develop core brand elements, but to scale your content creation and more. You can seamlessly manage multiple social media channels, create all types of content, and tell your brand story in an authentic voice — all with the flexibility and convenience of AI. It's like having a full marketing team at your disposal.
Elevate your brand with help from a STORI AI Essential Plan. For a limited time, you can get a 5-year subscription for just $149.99 (reg. $1,200).
512GB is a huge amount of storage for removable media, but you can find it cheaper elsewhere. What makes this deal so appealing to me is the speed. When inserted into a compatible USB 3.2 port, this thing can read at up to 130 megabytes per second. That'll let you copy, say, your entire 122-gigabyte Baldur's Gate III installation off the drive in about sixteen minutes.
It's more than three times faster than a USB 3.0 flash drive (which is also much larger) going for around the same price. Throw in the teeny-tiny size, and it's a fantastic deal — seriously, make use of that lanyard loop or you might just lose this thing in your bag.
Also note that while the read speeds are great, the write speeds are considerably slower, around 44 megabytes per second according to the user reviews. If you need something faster and more capacious, you might want to step up to a dedicated portable SSD like the Samsung T7 Shield, which is still on sale. And if you need storage for
And wouldn't you know it, there was another Johnston & Murphy site, almost the same one with "USA" added to the URL. It looks similar to the other site, but it had every single size of that shoe in stock, ready to buy. And it was half off the original price, what a deal! It must be an overstock outlet for the brand. So I put the shoe in my cart, and prepared to check out.
But for some reason, PayPal was the only payment option. No big deal, I often use PayPal and it has a purchase security program. So I went through the PayPal interface…and the very last step in the process, the one that would confirm the order, said "Agree and Subscribe" instead of "Purchase." It also asked me to pay someone who isn't Johnston & Murphy, but "Association Islamique Fulado." That name didn't return any useful Google results — Its address is somewhere in Luxembourg, assuming it's the same person or organization.
Why buy one? DisplayLink docking stations works great for normal day-to-day productivity, and in my experience the docks are cheaper and more stable than older Thunderbolt 3 desktop docks. They're an upgrade over our picks for the best USB-C hubs dongles, and cheaper than the best Thunderbolt docking stations for your laptop. They can even support more displays than a native Thunderbolt dock. They're just not suited for gaming.
If you need a fuller explanation of how DisplayLink works and what it offers, you'll find that directly under our two recommended DisplayLink docks, below. You'll also find a FAQ with answers to questions you might have. I base my recommendations on hands-on testing of the DisplayLink docking stations.
Why you should trust me: I've worked as a technology journalist for about 30 years, and at PCWorld for the last decade. I've tested dozens of USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt docks, and DisplayLink docking stations. I use a docking station in my daily work, connected to multiple 4K displays, and I typically review a handful of new products each month.
Updated May 2, 2024 with a more complete explanation of Display Stream
This PNY "Premiere-X" card is Class 10, U3, and V30. And if you're not a professional photographer or an obsessive follower of flash memory standards, that means that it's rated for up to 30 megabytes per second of write speed. That should be fast enough for the most intense DSLR or mirrorless camera and/or 4K video duties. PNY claims this one in particular can actually go faster than the minimum rating, 100 MB/s read and 90 MB/s write.
The card works great in mobile devices like phones, dashcams, and the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck. It could also help boost your laptop storage in a pinch. And in case you're wondering, yes it comes with a full-sized SD card adapter, just in case your laptop doesn't come with a tiny MicroSD card reader. The discount doesn't have an end date on Amazon, so there's no telling how long it will stick around.
Upgradeable RAM in PC laptops isn't a new thing of course, but Lenovo's new ThinkPad P1 (announced on April 23) appears to be the first to use Micron's LPCAMM2. LPCAMM2 is built to solve the problem that's vexed laptops for years now: RAM power consumption.
Laptops using DDR5 SO-DIMM RAM modules typically consume a lot of space and power. LPDDR5X RAM or low-power DDR5 can save significant active and standby power and offer even better performance but its performance and power requirements require it to be soldered directly to the laptop's motherboard as close to the CPU as possible.
After JEDEC, the organization that manages memory standards, adopted Dell's Compression Attached Memory Module as CAMM2 last year, an offshoot of it was also developed as LPCAMM2 as well.
Instead, it's the opposite: "Intel is not recommending motherboard manufacturers to use ‘baseline' power delivery settings on boards capable of higher values," an Intel spokesman said in an email.
Many reports have bubbled up that Intel's 13th- and 14th-generation Core chips have suffered from instability, with users experiencing crashes and Blue Screens of Death (BSODs) when playing games. Intel hasn't said how many processors have been affected or under what conditions the instability may occur, although a leaked memo appears to blame motherboard manufacturers and their choice of turning off of safety features. That same memo indicates Intel plans a more consumer-focused statement in May.
PCWorld asked for an explanation of what was going on in response to reports that Intel was supposedly going to enforce more stringent restrictions on turbo (PL2) clock speeds, which would effectively rob them of performance. Motherboard makers were reportedly being told that Intel would enforce "baseline" settings. As PC Gamer noted, Asus was one of the motherboard manufacturers to release an updated BIOS with an "Intel Baseline Profile" — but discovered that the p
You, friend, might need a temperature-controlled smart mug. The 10-ounce Smart Mug 2 from Ember is now selling on Amazon for only $99, a 24 percent discount. We haven't seen a cheaper price on Amazon since December 2023, when it was $85.
Me, personally, I have a bit of history with so-called "smart mugs." In 2014, I mercilessly mocked a smart mug prototype from Vessyl because it promised to do too much, like magically counting the calories of whatever it contained.
But these Ember mugs have the right idea. They have just one job: to keep your beverage warm. Your coffee and tea will thank you for respecting their intended temperatures.
Ember says the Mug 2 will keep your drink hot for up to 90 minutes on a full charge, or you can leave it on its coaster for full-day performance. You use an app (of course) to choose your preferred temperature between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Or you can eschew the app for 135 degrees out the box.
More than 17,000 Amazon users give the Ember mug a 4.4 rating, with one even promising, "Welcome to the next level of life."
OK… sure? Hey, man, I just want warm coffee. And this looks like the answer.
Microsoft released its 2024 Work Trends Index on Tuesday, reporting what workers outside the company are telling them about how they work. Obviously, the key topic was AI, the foundation of Microsoft Copilot and Copilot-powered applications like Microsoft 365. Microsoft said that its data was acquired by surveys with 31,000 people across 31 countries, alongside "labor and hiring trends" from LinkedIn and "Microsoft 365 productivity signals."
But the data wasn't all positive. While employers are seeking employees with AI skills, those workers aren't being offered training to use them. Instead, they're learning those skills on their own.
Here are the most (un)surprising bits of data from Microsoft's 2024 Work Index.
Workers aren't dumb…
AI, obviously, is hot. Sixty-six percent of leaders say that they won't hire someone without AI skills, Microsoft found. So Microsoft said that it also found that the number of workers who added AI skills like ChatGPT and Copilot to their list of LinkedIn skills increased at a whopping 142 times compared to the previous survey, with "content writers" (gulp), designers, and marketers using AI the most.
Microsoft said Wednesday that it's adding a rewrite feature to its Copilot prompts. You'll also be able to write shareable prompts that you can provide other members of your team, and a new Catch Up feature will recommend next steps to jumpstart your day.
Copilot's rewrite feature could be a powerful addition. Most people don't actually know how to write a good prompt. Brevity is not the answer; in fact, it can be the antithesis of getting things done, because it allows an LLM or AI chatbot some leeway in what it does. That's not always what you want.
Midjourney, a pioneer in AI art, recognized this early on. You could ask it to "draw a bee circling a flower." Instead of taking the command literally, Midjourney silently added related words to your own prompt, like "epic, narrow focus, spring meadow, golden hour" or something like that. The result tended to add drama, providing a greater degree of satisfaction to the final result. The idea was smart enough to be copied by other AI art generators, including my favorite local AI art tool, Fooocus.
There are all kinds of features you'll find in premium security suites. We'll use Norton 360 Deluxe as an example here, as it's our top antivirus security suite pick here at PCWorld. But all popular security suites from Avast One and AVG Internet Security to Avira Prime and McAfee Total Protection offer a variety of similar features.
Dark web monitoring
Security suites frequently include dark web monitoring for details like your e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and credit cards. The dark web is a place where people can better hide their identity and be anonymous. It may involve using software like the
UNUM has been named an Apple App of the Day winner for good reason. It has more than 20 million users worldwide who use UNUM to post to every channel efficiently. UNUM makes it easy to drive traffic to your sites and pages with a customized BioBar, provides AI tools to create content and streamline your workflows, and provides detailed analytics to better understand what is and what isn't working. It even comes with more than 500 overlays, filters, and more photo and video tools to elevate your creative process.
Amplify your social media without breaking the bank. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to UNUM Pro for just $49.99 (reg. $719).
The team at Leviathan Security revealed their findings in a blog post on their website and dubbed the exploit TunnelVision. They say that it can allow attackers to bypass VPN protections and expose user traffic — essentially rendering a VPN useless.
VPNs are one of the most popular and widely used security tools on the market. They play a critical role in securing the traffic and data of users.
In recent years, VPN providers have become household names thanks to their promises of online privacy and anonymity. A survey done by NordVPN found that nearly 33 percent, or one in three, Americans regularly use a VPN.
With that many users just in the U.S. alone, there is major cause for concern if this TunnelVision exploit is being used. And that's entirely possible since, according to the security team, it's been around since as early as 2002.
As described in the blog post, if an attacker has administrative control over the local network that a potential victim is trying to connect to, they can manipulate the DHCP server that allocates IP addresses.
A setting known as option 121 then allows the DHCP server to override default routing rules that send VPN traffic through a local IP address, usually triggering an encrypted
MacPilot unlocks more than 1,200 features to optimize your Mac and streamline your experience. You can do things like display hidden files in Finder, add spacers and stacks to the Dock, run maintenance tools, toggle animations, and much more through an intuitive interface that puts you in the driver's seat.
Find out why MacPilot has earned 4/5 stars on MacUpdate. From 5/6 through 11:59 pm PT on 5/12, you can get a lifetime license to MacPilot for just $29.97 (reg. $99).
Why buy a Windows Hello webcam? Most laptops now include a webcam of some form or another, some with Windows Hello built in. Desktops don't, however. If you share an apartment with someone else (or just want to avoid typing in your password), Microsoft's biometric Windows Hello system uses a depth camera plus facial-recognition technology to log you in to Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a split second. And there's more: passkeys are hot, and they use Windows Hello as well.
Below, I've listed several Windows Hello webcams that I recommend. I start with 4K Windows Hello webcams first, if only because I really think that your appearance makes a difference in a video call. But the budget (and clearly the most popular) picks all use 1080p resolution instead. Want more information? I've included a buying guide and a FAQ after the best Windows Hello webcam picks. You can also review PCWorld's 1080p and 4K webcam buyer's guide for recommendations on webcams without Windows Hello support.
Why you should trust me: I've been a technology reporter and writer for 30 years, with 10 years covering consumer technology for PCWorld alone. I've written about Windows Hello and supported webcams since Windows Hello launched in 2015, and have authored a separate roundup of
Weirdly, Apple launched the new M4 chip inside the Apple iPad Pro, which will cost anywhere from $999 to a whopping $1,499. We assume that it will appear in an even more expensive Mac a bit later.
Macworld has a deep dive on the new Apple M4, which includes four performance cores, six efficiency cores and a 10-core GPU. (The GPU is the same as the existing M3.) In addition, there's a new Neural Engine, the Apple NPU which executives say delivers 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS) from 16 cores.
As you may be aware, AI is hot right now. And chip manufacturers have been feverishly measuring their AI TOPS performance compared to one another. Tim Millet, Apple vice president of platform architecture, claimed Tuesday that the M4 is "more powerful than any neural processing unit in any PC today."
And that's true. For right now.
Unfortunately, Qualcomm executives are already on record claiming that their Snapdragon X Elite's NPU delivers 45 TOPS. And while PCs with the Snapdragon X Elite inside them have yet to ship, they're expected to be announced in as little as two weeks, in a launch event on May 20. There, Microsoft is expected to show off the Microsoft Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with Snapdragon X Elite chips inside them. Asus, mean
While it's still tiny, the One i500 is markedly larger than the original design, stepping up from a Mini ITX motherboard base to a Micro ATX. (Yes, micro is bigger than mini in this context, don't look for consistency in PC part names.) Methinks the redesigned chassis is there to accommodate today's far larger GPUs. You can still see design elements from the original shine through, with big, in-your-face vents at the top and bottom. The 21.7-liter case is 39.1 centimeters tall, 30cm deep, and 18.5cm wide (or 15.39 x 11.8 x 7.28 inches).
The front panel is now adorned with two wood accents in either dark or light options, matching gray or white side panels, respectively. In addition to the addressable color logo and two lighting strips, you get two USB 3.1 gen 1 and a 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port. The rear motherboard I/O panel feature
Roland Wooster, a principal engineer for Intel who also chairs the VESA Display Performance Metrics group, described the new update as a "tightening" of the spec, while expanding the scope and criteria of the tests. The goal is to improve the visual quality of the monitors you'll buy, though one of the tests will also have an impact on how much power they'll consume, too.
You won't see the impact right away, however. VESA will preserve the DisplayHDR 1.1 specification and certification until 2025 (and 2026 for laptops) to preserve products that are currently under development.
High-Dynamic Range (HDR) can be an impressive visual effect, mimicking how your eyes adjust to bright lights, especially if you're emerging from the dark. But displays struggle with preserving dark portions of the screen and maintaining detail in dimly lit scenes.
It's one reason why we've advised you to buy a higher-end DisplayHDR 1000 monitor rather than a cheaper, low-end display. HDR displays come in DisplayHDR 400, 500, 600, 1000, and 1400 specifications, referring to the amount of light in nits that they can produce. You'll need a GPU and display that can support HDR, plus content that's optimally encoded for the format.
One of the assumptions the new spec tends to make is that you own a MiniLED display. A standard LED display has a single
The M4 is made on an enhanced 3nm process and contains over 28 billion transistors and has the following advanced features in the iPad Pro:
Up to 4 high-performance CPU cores with improved branch prediction and wider decode and execution engines.
6 high-efficiency CPU cores with improved branch prediction and a deeper execution engine.
10-core GPU built on the same architecture as M3, with dynamic caching, mesh shaders, and ray tracing acceleration.
16-core Neural Engine delivering over 38 trillion operations per second.
After starting the small program, OFGB displays a selection menu (see the image above) that lets you select which Windows adverts you no longer want to see using checkboxes.
It's gonna be a party in the studio and wherever else our hosts and guests are streaming in from, celebrating three hundred episodes of the best dang tech roundtable show that's also a part of the website that you're reading right now. Oh, and if you can't watch live, don't worry — the episode will be available on YouTube and all the standard podcast platforms afterward, as usual.
Also note that starting today, The Full Nerd podcast will get its own dedicated YouTube channel at youtube.com/@t
These mounts are a pretty basic design you see just about everywhere, but usually at around three times the price. A steel bar attaches to a flat desktop, with either a sturdy clam or a drilled-through bolt (which can work great if you already have a cable organizer hole in your desk). Then you get a two-segment arm with three points of articulation for perfectly placing your screen, plus a hydraulic gas spring for even more height adjustment.
Any monitor compatible with standard VESA mounting (100mm by 100mm) will work, so long as it's under 20 pounds for the display. That means most standard monitors should be in the clear, though you might want to break out the scale if your screen is 32 inches or larger. My 34-inch ultrawide Acer is 21.4 pounds, for example.
To get the best price, head to the Amazon listing and make sure you click the 10 percent coupon before adding it to your cart. That'll bring the $23.99 sale price down to just $21.59 before tax. Not bad, not bad at all. If you need more options, be sure to check out PCWorld's roundup of the best monitor arms.
The truth is you won't lose much performance going for a cheaper option. In fact, you can get a top-performing mouse that — barring the sensor, which is usually more modest than in premium devices — is virtually identical in build quality and styling and with equally quick buttons.
That's not to say all budget gaming mice are alike. Admittedly, at the lower end of the market there tends to be more variation in the build quality, weight, and button configuration than at the top end, so you'll still want to do your homework before you buy.
Or, you could just peruse our list of best budget gaming mice (below). We've already done the research on your behalf by extensively testing a cohort of mice, sorting the wheat from the chaff, so that what's left is the best of the best. We'll keep updating our chart as we review more mice and find even better products.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld's gaming peripheral experts are hardcore gamers on a never-ending quest to find the best peripherals to improve their own gaming performance, so they know what works and what doesn't. As such, our reviews are raw evaluations, written in the voice of gamers. We want our readers to know the truth about products so that they can make informed decisions about which products to buy and which ones to skip.
For the criteria we use to review budget gaming mice you can read our article on
The Gigabyte Aorus CO49DQ is built for gaming from the ground up, with a 5120×1440 resolution that's basically two QHD monitors smooshed together. It's fast, though not the fastest, at 144Hz maximum refresh and .03ms of response time, with support for USB-C video in addition to DisplayPort 1.4 and double HDMI 2.1 for connecting multiple machines to the built-in KVM switch.
While 18 watts of power delivery won't exactly feed a gaming laptop's thirst, the monitor features a pair of extra USB ports for accessories, plus a headphone jack and two five-watt speakers that I will be personally offended if you use instead of a pair of budget dedicated speakers. (Seriously, I'm watching you.) The design incorporates a ton of gaming-focused software features like an integrated crosshair and timer, plus "[an] AI
This laptop wields Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4050 graphics as well as a sizeable, 15.6-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Although you may need to taper your expectations depending on the type of game you're playing, $749 is a damn good price for a gaming laptop. These often start around $1,000 and only go up from there.
The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 is packing an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. Depending on the graphic demands of the game, you may need to dial back the graphics on faster-paced titles. However, with older games, you should be able to bump up the graphics preset to High or Ultra. The 1080p display also has a maximum brightness of 350 nits. We've seen brighter displays, sure, but it's perfectly fine for most games. Besides, you can always plug into an external monitor if need be. Other cool features include a 1080p webcam for videoconferencing and dual 85-blade fans for when things get red hot.
Bottom line? You almost never see gaming laptops selling for this cheap — at least not new. Grab it before it's gone.
For more notebook options, check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available right now. We've got can't-miss picks for every use case and budget, putting our thousands of hours of hands-on testing to work for you.
Best laptop deals (at a glance)
Lenovo IdeaPad 1, $229.99 ($190 off at Microcenter)
Asus Vivobook 14, $249.99 ($180 off at Best Buy)
See, no matter how much of your system is fixed in place, eventually you just need a USB cable. As a huge fan of wireless gizmos I need to charge my keyboard, mouse, headset, gaming keypad thingie, and various other gadgets on a pretty regular basis, to say nothing of just transferring data or plugging in a microphone. There's no such thing as a cable-free desktop, not even if you've spent literally hours on cable management like I have.
