We often marvel at the user-friendliness and advanced features of the latest tech products, and don't consider how we got to this stage. Things were different just a few years ago, and it's taken years of evolution to get gaming monitors, wireless keyboards, and other hardware we now take for granted. Source: xda-developers.com … [Read more...]

After just over two decades of operation, 14 of which were under Microsoft's ownership, Skype is finally shutting down. At its height, it was the multimedia messenger app to be on, but years of Microsoft not quite knowing what to do with it had it lagging behind every other communications app. When it disappears in May, you'll never have to sit through advertising inside your messaging app. Just … [Read more...]

Microsoft adds powerful features to PowerToys almost every month along with bug fixes and improvements with a new version. And a lot of the time those changes come to people's attention before Microsoft officially adds them to PowerToys. One major highlighting feature in the last PowerToys release (version 0.89) was the transcoding feature, which the company announced well before making it … [Read more...]

Thunderbolt 5 is here, and we're starting to see new drives hit the external storage market. They're pricey, as is always the case with new technology, but you could enjoy speeds up to 6,000 MB/s, making it almost as fast as the best PCie 4.0 internal M.2 SSDs. But why should you be excited about Thunderbolt 5 for storage, and will it completely transform how we use storage on supported systems? … [Read more...]

A couple of days ago, we reported that a Windows update had resulted in printers printing gibberish for no apparent reason. These types of bugs are not entirely uncommon on Windows, which makes sense given that it's a monolithic piece of software with years-old code running on over a billion devices. Recently, multiple users also claimed that the operating system is falsely flagging some harmless … [Read more...]

For years, 4K gaming has been this elusive dream that budget gamers have been chasing every generation. Many powerful GPUs came and went, but building a gaming PC capable of smooth 4K gaming on a reasonable budget seemed impossible. Till last year, you had to pay at least $800 for the GPU alone (RTX 4070 Ti) to ensure a smooth 60+ average FPS (native) at 4K ultra/very high settings in the latest … [Read more...]

A staple in gaming, MOBA games have dominated the landscape, partially on PC, for years. With massive player bases that rival and often surpass other genres, there’s a ton of fun to find in these games. Source: xda-developers.com … [Read more...]

Gaming on Linux is now viable enough that there's little reason to keep Windows installed unless there's an app or service you absolutely must run on Microsoft's OS. The various Linux distros offer impressive gaming experiences, especially on AMD and Intel hardware. AMD recently launched the Radeon RX 90 series, and I played around with the RX 9070 XT using Fedora and version 6.13.5 of the kernel. … [Read more...]

After integrating a network-attached storage (NAS) into your work or personal life, the next big step is to secure your data. While there are plenty of ways to keep your data safe on your NAS, encryption may stand out as something that enables maximum security against various kinds of threats. After all, you hold the encryption key, so nobody else can access your data, making encryption a … [Read more...]

This is the TV you want if you're looking to go big but don't want to spend a lot of money in the process. TCL is known for its large TVs that are also affordable, and this 85-inch model of its Q7 series has just dropped to a new low price that now sits at $854. This is the best price we've seen on this model, which delivers when it comes to image quality and features. Source: xda-developers.com … [Read more...]

Before LLMs took the main stage, Google Assistant had been around, helping people set reminders and navigate their phone. Then came Google's LLM, Gemini. All of a sudden, the Assistant's days seemed numbered, as it didn't have the same reasoning and ability to decipher what a user wants as Gemini. Now, Google has confirmed that its newer, shinier AI will take over the reins from Assistant, and it … [Read more...]

From DIY weather and radio stations to a distro-hopping machine, there’s no shortage of fun projects you can build with a Raspberry Pi. That said, many of these ideas require some extra devices, sensors, or HATs for maximum efficiency. Having built dozens of practical, cool, and downright deranged projects over the years, here are some devices I always carry with my Raspberry Pi. Source: … [Read more...]

Ask any home lab enthusiast about the best way to self-host your favorite services, and you’ll hear the name Docker crop up now and again. While it’s undoubtedly the most popular containerization platform in the home server landscape, you’ve got several other options at your disposal. Source: xda-developers.com … [Read more...]

Ever since gaming PCs have been a thing, Windows has been the operating system of choice. However, Microsoft hasn't had the same success with handhelds. After the Steam Deck, SteamOS proved itself to be a better gaming system than Windows, and people began trying to get Valve's system onto their handhelds. Now, Valve has reportedly declared war on Windows by prepping a public release for SteamOS … [Read more...]

We've seen this SSD discounted before, and at $65 it was still a pretty good deal. But with this latest discount, Newegg is taking things to a whole new level. For a limited time, you can score Crucial's P310 1TB SSD for just $55 as it drops to its lowest price yet. While Newegg is offering a sizable discount, you're going to need to use the coupon code "CRUCDSFFTEN45" during checkout in order to … [Read more...]

When you see people comparing GPUs, things like FPS per watt aren't usually at the top. Users like to see how much performance they're getting for the price. Getting a more power-efficient GPU is always a bonus, but it's rarely a deal-breaker for gamers or enthusiasts. If you're a laptop user, however, things can look pretty different pretty fast. The same is the case with HTPC users or those … [Read more...]

Pre-owned PC hardware has always been the savior for both budget builders and those who want to maximize value for money even when buying high-end components. In today's GPU market, however, going pre-owned isn't just an optional way to build a PC; it has almost become a necessity. Saving money is just a side effect of buying a used GPU — most people don't even have the luxury of seeing GPUs in … [Read more...]

Whether it's a festival or an occasion, gifting is a common practice to show gratitude towards the people around you. While it's definitely a wonderful gesture, there may be times when you forget to pick up a gift for a loved one. It could be because you were too caught up with work, or you just forgot it was someone's birthday. That's not the situation you want to be in, especially with close … [Read more...]

A while ago, Microsoft rolled out an update that forced everyone's computers to upgrade to the new Outlook app. People weren't pleased, partially because it was done without their consent, but mainly because it was a pretty big step backward from the old app, with missing features and performance issues abound. Fortunately, there's a big "Go to classic Outlook" button in the client that lets you … [Read more...]

One of the cornerstones of any home lab is a powerful firewall to learn the ins and outs of traffic control, packet inspection, and other important security tools. While there are a ton of options for use, pfSense and its fork OPNsense are often used, partly because they're free to use, but also because there is a wealth of information out there to help guide you through initial setup stages and … [Read more...]