With so much of our lives now lived online, security is becoming an increasingly important consideration when using a browser. You don’t want third parties watching what you do and tracking where you go, but that’s almost certainly happening already. Thankfully there’s an easy way to combat this intrusive behaviour, by using Surfshark VPN. Not only does it encrypt your online activities and block annoying ads, it also works in the world’s most popular browser via its Chrome extension. So, if you want to beef up your online privacy without the inconvenience that often comes with increased security, Surfshark VPN could be just the thing.  How does Surfshark VPN keep you safe online? When you’re online, especially on a public Wi-Fi network, all the data that travels between your device and the websites you’re accessing is transferred in an unencrypted format. This means that it’s vulnerable to hackers and other snooping techniques which can record the sites you visit and what you do when you’re there.  Surfshark VPN stops this by creating an encrypted tunnel through which your information flows, making it extremely difficult for cybercriminals or third parties to collect your data. There are also advanced features like Dynamic MultiHop, which sends your data through two VPNs for twice the level of encryption, a camouflage mode that makes sure even your Internet Service Provider can’t see which sites you’re visiting, and a cookie pop-up blocker that stops ads and other interruptions while you’re online. Surfshark VPN dramatically increases the security and anonymity of your time on the net, which is perfect if you work remotely, frequently access unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks or just want a bit of privacy when you’re online.  Surfshark Use Surfshark VPN to hide your location and identity Another excellent feature of Surfshark VPN is the ability to disguise your location. This is great if you don’t want anyone to know where you are, plus it can bypass region-locked content filters so you can access websites and other content. For example, say you’re on holiday and want to catch up on your favourite show, but when you go to the streaming service you’re told that the content isn’t available in your current location. You can either wait until you get home or turn on Surfshark VPN, change the server location to your normal country with a single click, and immediately access the site. Easy.  Surfshark VPN doesn’t just let you hide your location, it also has the ability to create alternative identities and emails you can use online to sign up to services or competitions without revealing your regular account. All messages are forwarded to your normal email address, but it’s never revealed to the sender. Then, when you’re finished with that service, just turn off the alternative email and you’ll never hear from them again.  Stay secure while using the Chrome browser Surfshark One of the problems people often come up against when trying to increase the level of security on their system is that it can be inconvenient. Either you have to use a particular browser or jump through other hoops to make sure the protective app is running. With Surfshark VPN this isn’t an issue as it works seamlessly within the Chrome browser via an extension. Simply install it from the Chrome Web store, log into your account, select the VPN server you want and you’re good to go.  The lightning-fast encryption keeps your data hidden, while stopping the slow-downs in performance that can be common with some other VPNs. Surfshark blocks ads, pop-ups and cookies so you can enjoy the internet without the annoyances that seem to get worse each year. There’s also a handy feature that warns you of any reports of data leaks on sites that you use regularly, so you know when it’s time to update your passwords.  So, you can still use your Chrome browser as normal, with the added knowledge that your identity, data and activities are being protected from any unwanted observers.  Start your Surfshark VPN journey with a huge discount There’s never been a better time to try Surfshark VPN, as you can take advantage of the excellent limited-time deal of a 2-year subscription for only $1.69p/m. That’s a massive saving of 86% off the normal price, plus you get an extra three months thrown in for free. Best of all, the service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’re not risking anything by signing up. If you’re worried about privacy online, but don’t want to move away from the Chrome browser, then Surfshark VPN has you covered. All the freedom and convenience, none of the hassle. Read...

In today’s online age, antivirus software isn’t just a good idea — it’s a necessity. With cyberthreats like malware and viruses lurking online, a strong antivirus acts as your first line of defense. It detects, blocks, and removes harmful software, protecting your devices and data from further harm.  You may have heard about Surfshark VPN — the product that Surfshark is most well-known for. But did you know they also have their own antivirus software, Antivirus? In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what Antivirus offers and why getting it might be a good idea.  Tested and reliable security  When it comes to choosing your antivirus software, it is always good to have one that has been tested and approved by independent organizations. Surfshark Antivirus received a nearly perfect score of 6/6 for protection, 5.5/6 for performance, and 6/6 for usability from AV-test, demonstrating its effectiveness across key areas.  Real-time Protection and Surfshark Cloud Protect  Surfshark Antivirus allows you to protect up to five devices simultaneously. With its Real-time Protection, your devices are continuously shielded from viruses, malware, and spyware. Antivirus actively scans apps and files as you download, install, and use them, promptly alerting you to any potential threats.  A standout feature is Surfshark Cloud Protect, which boosts security by tackling emerging zero-day threats. It works by automatically and anonymously uploading hashes of suspicious, unidentified files for online analysis. The system then checks for the latest security updates, even those not yet released. If the threat is still unidentified, the file is compared against known virus signatures. If a match is found, a new threat entry is created, benefiting all antivirus users.  This ensures that with Surfshark Antivirus, you’re safeguarded against even the latest types of malware and viruses.  Webcam Protection  As personal data becomes increasingly valuable and new privacy risks emerge, making sure your webcam is also protected has never been more crucial. Cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to your camera, potentially invading your privacy and compromising your security. That’s why having a webcam protection feature in your antivirus software is very important.  Surfshark’s Webcam Protection actively monitors applications attempting to access your camera and blocks any unauthorized attempts. Moreover, it empowers you with full control, allowing you to approve or deny access whenever a new application tries to use your webcam. This ensures that your privacy remains intact and safeguarded when you use your computer.  Web Protection  Web Protection is a great Antivirus feature designed to safeguard you from malware and phishing websites before you download files or enter your information online. It works by examining every URL in your browser and any other program with internet access, identifying which links are safe and which pose a threat. Operating quietly in the background, Web Protection scans all links on your device, including those you might not notice, to prevent malware from infiltrating your system. If it detects a malicious link or software, it automatically blocks it, providing users with enhanced protection against web-based threats.  Customizable scans  Another excellent feature of Surfshark Antivirus is the flexibility to select the scan type that best suits your needs. You have several options:  ? Quick scan: Targets the most vulnerable areas of your device, checking for malware and risks;  ? Full scan: Conducts a comprehensive scan of your entire system, searching for any malware or threats;  ? Drag and drop scan: Allows you to drag specific files or folders for a targeted threat scan.  Additionally, you can set up automatic scans for when you’re away from your device. It’s simple to choose the type of scan you prefer and schedule a specific day and time for the scan to begin.  Antivirus — part of Surfshark One  Surfshark Antivirus is integrated into Surfshark One, a comprehensive online security bundle. This bundle includes a VPN, Antivirus, data leak detector Alert, email masking tool Alternative ID, and a private search engine Search. While it may not cater to those seeking standalone antivirus software, this suite addresses a wide range of online security threats, offering a convenient and effective solution for enhancing your online security.  View Surfshark antivirus Step-by-step guides to using Antivirus and its features  If you’re new to antivirus software and need a straightforward guide to get started, Surfshark has you covered. Visit Surfshark’s Help Center for articles on using Antivirus and its features, complete with helpful screenshots and easy-to-understand instructions.  ? How to use Surfshark Antivirus on Windows ? How to use Surfshark Antivirus on macOS Read...

There are many reasons you might want to “delete yourself” from the internet. From receiving frustrating amounts of spam to protecting yourself from carefully crafted scams fueled by the availability of personal data. But it goes much deeper than that. Having your personal information floating around online leaves you more vulnerable to identity theft, a type of fraud that can lead to criminals opening lines of credit in your name. Stalkers can use location and other data to commit their crimes. Even the seemingly more mundane uses of personal data can be enough to make you want to delete yourself from the internet. You might find loan applications being inexplicably rejected, insurance premiums going up or job searches getting drawn out. Companies checking your credit rating is one thing, but these effects could stem from inaccurate, outdated or irrelevant information being used in decision-making processes that affect you in very real ways. What it means to “delete yourself from the internet” We’re not talking about completely disappearing from the internet. For one, this is very difficult if not impossible to do, even if you were to throw near-unlimited resources at the problem. It’s also probably not something you’d want to do even if you could. There’s a way you can keep making use of all the benefits the internet has to offer—like the unparalleled shopping, communication and information-sharing opportunities—without leaving yourself needlessly vulnerable to all the downsides. The key is getting your personal information under control. You don’t need to delete yourself entirely, it’s often enough to remove your personal information from circulation. “Personal information” includes things like your: Current and past names, and any aliases Current and past addresses Email addresses Phone numbers Educational background Work history Income bracket Licenses Certifications Marital status Sexual orientation Financial information Criminal record Court records And much, much more. Not exactly the kinds of details you’d want shady companies to package and resell behind your back, or put on Google Search so that anyone can buy access to them for as little as a dollar. There are two ways to tackle this problem, and you’ll need to do both to see long-term results: Figure out how you’re putting personal information online and bring it down to a level with which you’re comfortable Put a stop to companies grabbing and publishing or otherwise disseminating what personal data you do end up generating down the line. Just going about your day-to-day business generates personal data that can then be scooped up by companies that know how to monetize it at your expense. Everything from doing some online shopping to selling a house or vehicle leaves traces. Stop any personal information that’s already out there from being spread around We’re starting here because you’ve already got personal information doing the rounds online—pretty much everyone does. So the first thing you’ll need to do is interrupt the flow of what’s already out there. There are a couple of things you can do to make this happen. Stop companies packaging and selling your personal information online and off There are companies—called data brokers—that specialize in collecting, organizing and selling personal information. They get your personal data by scraping the web, purchasing or otherwise acquiring ready-made profiles, or a combination of the two. The most visible data brokers are commonly known as “people finder” or “people search” sites. You can see examples of these sites, and the information they have on you, simply by performing a web search for your full name, address or phone number. These sites will likely show you a free “teaser” of your profile, with the full records being locked behind a paywall. It gets worse: people search sites are just the tip of the data brokerage iceberg. Many data brokers operate in the background, selling personal information to other businesses and organizations rather than putting it on websites aimed at individuals. You won’t find these companies by simply searching for your details, but they’re out there. Hundreds of them. People search sites sell your data to anyone who’s willing to pay for access, including unscrupulous landlords, curious neighbours, nosy coworkers, stalkers, even scammers. Other data brokers will sell your data to: Advertisers Marketers Government agencies Insurance companies Banks Employers And many more. Thanks to state privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you can do something about this. To comply with laws like this, data brokers have to have an opt-out procedure in place to give people caught up in their personal-data dragnets a clear way out. You can track down these companies one by one and submit an opt-out request to each one. Some are just a matter of a couple of clicks and take 5 minutes to complete, others can be a real nightmare and can take 45 minutes or more. Add the time it takes to find them in the first place, and you’re looking at hundreds of hours in total. Or, you can sign up for an automated personal information removal service, like Incogni. These services already know where to find some of the most connected brokers and how to submit opt-out requests in line with their requirements—because virtually every one has a different procedure to follow. Incogni makes it easy for anyone to remove their personal information from being searched online. Subscribers get a 30-day moneyl-back guarantee on automated data removal services, including recurring removal from 220+ data broker sites. With flexible plans for just $7.49/month for one person (billed annualyy) or $16.49/month for the family plan, Incogni offers privacy protections against identity theft, scam robocalls, and exposure after breached data. Get Incogni Remove your personal information from Google Search results You’ve seen how a search engine can reveal your personal information to anyone who knows your name, address, email or phone number. With the latest “face-search” technology, they don’t even have to know that much, a surreptitiously taken photo is all it takes. Google Search, with its monopoly over the search market, is likely the first place most people will look. Google won’t always agree to remove links from its search results and, even if it does, it can only remove links from Google Search: it can’t affect the content itself and it can’t stop that content from showing up on other search engines. To have content taken down at the source, you’ll need to contact the relevant webmaster. Here’s a quick rundown of your options on Google Search: Use this form to remove outdated content Use this form to remove harmful or illegal content (as long as it violates Google’s terms of service) Finally, use this form to remove content that contains “select personally identifiable information (PII) or doxxing content.” Stop new personal information from getting out into the wild Stopping data brokers from buying and selling your data and getting Google Search to remove your personal information from its search results can only do so much if you keep allowing new personal information to appear online. “Allowing” might be a bit harsh, given that you might not be aware of how some of your data is getting out there. We’ll get to that. Stop publishing personal information online Social media platforms are careful to use words like “share” when encouraging users to publish content, including personal information. “Sharing” makes it sound like you have some control over who sees what you post. But “publishing” is more accurate: social media posts are public by default. The best advice is as predictable as it is inconvenient: delete your social media accounts to protect your privacy and delete yourself from the internet. Short of doing that, here’s a list of things you can do to limit the damage: Switch from mainstream social media platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) to decentralized and open-source platforms like Mastodon. Set any social media profiles you decide to keep to private mode, so that only people you know and trust can see your posts. Check and double-check anything you decide to post publicly for personal information, this will become second nature sooner than you might think. Turn location services off on mobile devices before posting, many social media platforms will grab this information from your device, some will append it to your posts. Check photos for anything that could reveal personal information, look out for reflections, documents, screens (that show private information), and unique identifiers like car registration plates. Strip photos of metadata—metadata is text that’s automatically attached to photos and contains a lot of information about the location at which the photo was taken as well as the device on which it was taken. Apply the same level of caution when uploading video and audio recordings. The same holds true for any blogging or vlogging you do, the comments you leave on various platforms, and anything you post on forums. Stop your devices from leaking personal information The above best practices come into play when you’re actively publishing information online, but a lot of personal data leaves your devices when you’d least suspect it. Here are just some examples: Apps and programs Mobile apps and computer programs that have been granted access to location data, device information, microphone and camera inputs, and files (including documents, photos, videos and audio recordings) can leak personal information while you’re not even using them. Such apps and programs might have been set up to “dial home” periodically and upload your data. This might be necessary to support their features, or it might be to harvest data that’s then sold to advertisers in order to generate revenue—free apps are often monetized in this way. Even apps developed with the most honest of intentions and collecting only the bare minimum of data can be hijacked by malicious actors (think: hackers) and have any data they have access to stolen (“breached”). Delete any apps and programs you haven’t used in a while. For particularly data-hungry apps like Facebook, Amazon, and so on, consider using the respective websites instead. Web browsers Browsers are a special category of app or program, mainly because we do so much through a browser. They have access not only to hardware (like cameras and microphones), but also information (in the form of files) and—perhaps most importantly—to users’ behaviour and movements across the web. And no, “incognito” or “private” mode doesn’t do anything to help you here. Diligently research any browser you decide to use. Options like Google’s Chrome are very secure but not private, whereas something like Mozilla’s Firefox is both secure and private. Stick to well-known and trusted browsers, avoid new browsers that don’t have an established track record, and watch out for browsers that had a good reputation in the past but have since changed hands. Browser-based games Games can take a lot of resources to develop and maintain, so you might wonder how so many impressive-looking browser-based games can be offered for free. Often, it’s by collecting and selling or otherwise monetizing personal information. Avoid free online, especially browser-based, games. Be particularly wary of games with development teams from countries like China and Russia. Again, even games produced by the most trustworthy and well-intentioned developers can be breached by third parties. Any stockpile of personal data is going to be a target for hackers and other bad actors. Operating systems This is one that’s more for the technically minded, but it’s worth keeping in mind for everyone. The operating system on your device (whether Windows, macOS, Android or iOS) has access to everything you do on that device. Both Microsoft and Apple harvest personal data from their users, and both have business interests in protecting that data from competitors and bad actors. There are two problems here: Microsoft and/or Apple having vast stores of your personal data is a bad thing in and of itself, and neither company is able to guarantee the security of that data—both have suffered and continue to suffer data breaches. Alternatives exist, mainly in the form of Linux and the BSDs. These operating systems are open-source, meaning that anyone can review their source code to look for security vulnerabilities and privacy threats. As a result of this transparency, and the general absence of corporate interests, these systems are both more secure and more private. The catch is that these operating systems are unfamiliar to most people, and can take some getting used to. Although the Linux operating system in particular has many extremely user-friendly “versions” (called distributions) available, and almost all of them are readily given away, free of charge. Stop your online accounts from leaking personal information We covered how publishing personal information online can jeopardize your privacy, but you don’t have to actively post things yourself for the information to get out there. If you’re active online, and especially if you do a lot of online shopping, you can easily have hundreds of online accounts out there. Many of which you probably only used once, to grab that Black Friday deal, for example. Apart from the fact that you’re effectively trusting dozens if not hundreds of companies to not misuse your data, you’re also trusting that they won’t leave that data unsecured, that they won’t be bought out by less scrupulous companies, and so on. The solution is simple, but it might require some tedious work: delete any accounts you don’t need anymore. If you’ve been using a password manager (like Bitwarden), this shouldn’t be too difficult. Otherwise, search through your emails for keywords like “welcome” and “verification” to ferret out evidence of old accounts. Protect your data with Incogni Read...

TL;DR: You can get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for $30 for a limited time (reg. $229). Why are you paying for the whole Microsoft 365 suite if you only use Word and Excel? The subscription-based apps may be fancy, but if you aren’t taking full advantage of them, you’re basically paying $10 a month for, well, nothing. You should grab the lifetime version of Microsoft Office instead. This way, you can pay $30 only once instead of $10 monthly—and endlessly. While there are a few differences, the most important part is that you’ll get your favorite apps, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, for life. While Microsoft 365 gives you cloud storage and mobile app access, are you really using those features? We’ve found that only advanced users do, and everyone else is overpaying. And, if you want to work offline, you’re probably running into issues. This version gives you easy offline access, even if you can only access them from your PC. Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $30 for a limited time (reg. $229). No coupon is needed to get this price.   Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

TL;DR: Streamline your workday by letting WordPop AI generate copy, translate content, and more for $49.99 (reg. $1,170). Generating unique, compelling copy on a regular basis can be tiring and time-consuming. Instead of spending hours drafting social media copy or trying to SEO-optimize an article, let this content creation AI tool help. For only $49.99 (reg. $1,170) for life, you can get WordPop AI and get assistance with language translation, content generation, and so much more. Want to streamline your workday and save time writing copy? WordPop AI is here to save the day with its content-focused features. Check out what you’ll get from this platform: 100 ready-to-use templates for smooth content generation, whether that’s a poem, script, marketing copy, or an article. SEO content optimization tools so you can boost your website’s organic traffic. An AI writing editor that can rewrite live content, generate new ideas, swap the tone and style of your copy, etc. Document management tools that let you extract text from different document types. The ability to translate your content into 120+ languages. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to use your 250,000 monthly AI credits (aka your in-app currency) to have WordPop AI rewrite content, generate copy, or summarize text. Your credits automatically renew each month. Content generation can be done in minutes when you grab lifetime access to WordPop AI, now just $49.99.   WordPop AI: Lifetime Subscription Only $49.99 at PCWorld StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Wonderfully faithful to the original Can run custom games from USB HDMI and multiple USB ports Cons No power adapter included Difficult controls for some Games can be difficult Our Verdict The Spectrum faithfully recreates the 80s original with its rubber keys and classic games, delighting older gamers, while younger players may face a steep learning curve due to tricky controls and tough gameplay. However, modern features like save and rewind help mitigate that frustration. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today 1982 saw the arrival of the ZX Spectrum, a British home computer from Sinclair that was both small and cheap. It was made with as few components as possible and connected easily to the TV. Programs ran from compact cassettes, some of you may remember listening to music from these before the advent of CDs. It was possible to program in Basic and play some games. The ZX Spectrum’s competitor was the Commodore 64, a popular machine that Retro Games had already recreated. Nowadays we’ve got The Spectrum, which is ready to take you back to the 80s (but with a modern twist). The Spectrum: Feeling true to the original The Spectrum is incredibly similar to the original. Best of all, Retro Games has managed to recreate the feel of everything from the rubber keys to the gaming experience. However, I wouldn’t recommend playing on a large modern TV, as it just feels wrong. Go for a smaller screen with HDMI instead. The cables that come with it aren’t long enough to sit comfortably with the computer on your lap on the sofa anyway. The press release comes with a thick and comprehensive manual, which is gratifying. It describes all the games, including their controls, as well as explanations of the missions. I was able to navigate more difficult games thanks to this manual. I’m also grateful that The Spectrum has modern features like the ability to save (four slots per game). There’s even a feature that lets you rewind 40 seconds to correct mistakes. Note the faithfully recreated details. The rubber keys give just the right 80s feel and the Basic commands are printed at every key.Ida Blix You get 48 classic games built into the machine, but you can also run your own from USB sticks. The Spectrum supports USB hand controllers (though you may have to program the buttons yourself), but everything can be run directly from the keyboard. I was a little to young to have experienced this machine when it first came around, so the controls were an adventure to master. In the box you’ll find an HDMI cable (provides 720p at 50 or 60 Hz) and a USB cable (power adapter not included). It may look modern with USB-C, but you need to choose a simpler power adapter with 5V and 1A. My modern GAN charger did not work, but an older iPhone charger did. On the back are the home and power buttons along with HDMI and USB for charging and connecting controllers or USB sticks.Ida Blix The Spectrum: Not for everyone As with all retro consoles that are re-launched as a new edition, The Spectrum isn’t for everyone. For new users, there’s a steep learning curve. I don’t have any memories of Sinclair’s wonderful little home computer, but my first gaming memories have the same graphics and feel, so it was a pleasure to take on this experience. For those who had a ZX Spectrum and want to experience it again, The Spectrum is a fun purchase where you get a lot for your money. Specifications: The Spectrum Product: The SpectrumManufacturer: Retro GamesTested: February 2025In the package: Console, HDMI cable, USB cableConnections: 1 USB-C (for power), HDMI, and four ports for hand controllers or USB sticksNumber of games: 48Price: Rating: 4 out of 5 Included games Alien Girl: Skirmish Edition Ant Attack Army Moves Auf Wiedersehen Monty Avalon Bobby Bearing Cosmic Payback Devwill Too Exolon Fairlight Firelord Football Manager 2 Freddy Hardest The Great Escape Head over Heels Highway Encounter The Hobbit Horace Goes Skiing Jack the Nipper Knot in 3D The Lords of Midnight Manic Miner Match Day II Movie Nodes of Yesod Penetrator Phantis (Game Over II) Pheenix Pyracurse Quazatron Robin of the Wood Saboteur! Remastered Shovel Adventure Skool Daze Snake Escape Spellbound Starquake Starstrike II El Stompo Stonkers TCQ Target: Renegade Technician Ted – The Megamix Tenebra Trashman The Way of the Exploding Fist Wheelie Where Time Stood Still Read...

Eighty bucks is pretty cheap for a monitor, but not unheard of if you’re limiting yourself to a budget 24-inch 1080p panel. But with extra features thrown in, it becomes a great value. I’m talking a speedy 180Hz refresh rate that makes for a pretty good gaming display and an IPS panel for superior color accuracy. You can get such a deal on Amazon today: this Aopen by Acer monitor is on sale for $79.99. (That’s 38% off!) First, that brand name. “Aopen” isn’t a household name for PC gear, but it is in fact a subsidiary of Acer that’s mostly focused on B2B sales, and the “Fire Legend” label is Aopen’s attempt to break into affordable gaming monitors. So yes, this is an Acer design—at least nominally—and it should offer better support than most of the white-label gear on Amazon. Aopen has a three-year parts and labor warranty for all of its monitors, according to this US support page. This monitor earns a 4.3 star rating out of 5 from over 700 Amazon buyers, for whatever that’s worth. For just $80, I can’t overstate how great a deal this is. It’s a very basic design, sure, with only single DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 connections according to the specs. Zooming in on the rear shots, it looks like this thing has a VGA port (wow, been a while, huh?) and a headphone port. You don’t get any USB extras or fancy lighting, and at 24 inches and 1080p, it’s about as small as desktop monitors get in 2025. But a 180Hz IPS panel—not VA like most budget gaming displays—is nothing to sneeze at. I also appreciate that it has a VESA mount for using a monitor arm. (Again, not a given at this price point.) This is also a fantastic deal if you want to add one (or two, or more) displays to a multi-monitor setup for more screen real estate. In addition to Amazon, a poster at SlickDeals spotted the same discount for this Aopen 24KG3Y model at Walmart and Newegg. Keep your options open if this one sells out on Amazon. Wow! Get a 180Hz IPS gaming monitor for just $80Buy now at Amazon Read...

Nope, Sony isn’t quite done with Blu-ray yet.  Barely two months after announcing that it’s exiting the recordable Blu-ray business, Sony has revealed something of a surprise: its first new Blu-ray player in roughly five years. Just keep your expectations in check as far as features go. Slated to go on sale in Japan during the April-May timeframe, the Sony UBP-X700/K is 4K Blu-ray player that’s a variant of the older UBP-X700, the latter of which is a popular choice for budget-minded physical media aficionados. What’s different about the UBP-X700/K is what it doesn’t have, with FlatpanelsHD reporting that the player drops the bulk of the X700’s wireless networking abilities and services, including Spotify Connect, screen mirroring, and video streaming channels, such as Netflix.  The spec sheet for the X700/K says nothing about integrated Wi-Fi (a feature on the older player), but the new device does offer an ethernet port, likely for firmware updates. Otherwise, the X700/K has most of its predecessor’s video and audio features, including Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos, and DTX:X support.   It’s not clear if the UBP-X700/K will arrive in the U.S., but you never know. Curiously, FlatpanelsHD notes that the Japanese list price for the new player represents a 25 percent markup compared to the older X700. As a former owner of the UBP-X700, I can say from experience that losing the player’s networking abilities is no big loss. I never used them, instead opting for the streaming services on my Apple TV set-top box. And while I did (very rarely) update the player’s firmware via Wi-Fi, you can just as easily do so over ethernet.  A welcome (if unlikely) improvement on the UBP-X700/K would be automatic detection of Dolby Vision HDR on a UHD Blu-ray disc. The older UBP-X700 doesn’t auto-detect Dolby Vision, meaning you must remember to engage the setting before playing a Dolby Vision disc—or, conversely, turn it off before watching an HDR10-only disc. I can’t tell you how many times I’d forgotten to toggle the setting (or lost track of which discs offer Dolby Vision and which don’t), and getting the HDR setting wrong does make a different in image quality.  Another UBP-X700 issue that’s hopefully been addressed (again, don’t hold your breath) is how the player handles triple-layer UHD discs. My X700 player routinely froze when switching between the second and third disc layers—meaning, for example, my Top Gun: Maverick disc would always freeze on Tom Cruise’s eye as he lay in the snow after ejecting from his F/A-18 fighter jet. For that reason, I ultimately ditched the X700 for the much pricier Panasonic DP-UB820.  All that aside, the big news with Sony’s latest UHD Blu-ray player isn’t it’s feature set, but the fact that Sony is making a new Blu-ray player of any sort. Most of the other big players in this space, including LG, Oppo, and Samsung, departed the field long ago, leaving just Panny and Sony (which quit the recordable Blu-ray market back in January) as the lone big-name manufacturers still making Blu-ray boxes.  In other words, Blu-ray is still not dead. Long live Blu-ray! Read...

The Raspberry Pi single-board computer and all its variants have captured the imaginations of DIY enthusiasts and budding hobbyists alike. With the latest model, the Raspberry Pi 5, the mini-PC is more capable than ever, with an upgraded four-core 2.4GHz system-on-chip (SoC) that’s up to three times faster than previous models. Much of the coverage you’ll see around the web focuses on the more fantastical projects—magic mirrors, portable gaming handhelds, intelligent drones, and so forth. Those maker masterpieces certainly show what sort of power the sub-$100 mini-PC is capable of in the hands of someone with a little imagination and a bin full of spare electronics.  But most people, particularly beginners, won’t use the Raspberry Pi to whip up crazy creations. There are near-endless practical uses for this bare-bones kit, from media streaming to extending the range of your Wi-Fi network, as the following 10 projects demonstrate. Time to put that lil’ computer to real work. Heck, many of these projects will even work with the $10 Raspberry Pi Zero. Further reading: I built a maxed-out Raspberry 5 PC with an SSD for under $200. You can too HTPC media streaming The original $35 Raspberry Pi may have been revolutionary to makers, but it took off with PC enthusiasts as well thanks to its ability to double as a dirt-cheap home-theater PC. That allure may have waned a bit in recent years as dedicated devices like the Chromecast hit the streets at similarly low prices, but using a Raspberry Pi as a media-streaming box still offers far more power than those streaming-centric sticks, especially if you have a sizeable local media collection. There are a slew of HTPC-centric Raspberry Pi operating systems out there, each revolving around slapping your HD videos on the big screen. OSMC is built around the popular Kodi media center software (formerly XBMC), while RasPlex transforms your Pi into the ultimate Plex streaming box. The $21 Raspberry Pi TV Hat accessory, meanwhile, can grant your mini-PC the ability to read over-the-air TV signals. Give a dumb TV smarts Likewise, if you have a dumb TV that you’d like to add web browsing and other basic computing abilities to, the Raspberry Pi does the trick without costing anywhere near as much as a proper home theater PC. You’ll want to use a Raspberry Pi 2, 3, or 4, though—the original Pi and the Raspberry Pi Zero are just pokey enough to be frustrating for general tasks. With the right case, the Pi can look downright stylish in your home theater, too. Bonus: If you’re connecting the Raspberry Pi to your TV, you can use it to stream web videos, too! File storage server You can also have your Raspberry Pi play wingman for the other devices in your house, serving as a centralized device that performs helpful tasks. Case in point: You can use the mini-PC as a cheap NAS box for general file storage if you connect an external USB hard drive to the machine. Hit those links for technical details, and one tip if you’re planning to convert the computer to a file server: Use a wired ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi if you’re able. Make sure you grab a solid external drive, too! Wireless network printer Printing isn’t as prevalent as it used to be, but the Raspberry Pi can help you transform that chunky old USB printer in your closet into a networked printer that every device in your house can use. You’ll need a power source for each gadget, obviously, as well as a USB connection between the devices, but setting it up is pretty straightforward. This MakeUseOf tutorial walks you through the process step-by-step. Extend your home’s Wi-Fi network Raspberry Pi doesn’t make the home networks you use, but it can make the home networks you use better if you configure the mini-PC as a wireless range extender, tapping into the device’s ethernet and USB ports. Doing so can help your Wi-Fi signal reach the farthest corners of your house and help wipe out dead zones. Configuring the device to bolster your home network will take a bit of time, and you’ll need to buy a USB Wi-Fi adapter to do it, but again, it’s relatively straightforward with a guide. Check out Adafruit’s reader-friendly tutorial. Old-school gaming emulator Gaming emulators are a legal gray area, but there’s no doubt that using the Raspberry Pi as a butt-kicking console emulator is a popular use for the machines. It can play games from a wide variety of consoles right on up to the PlayStation 1 era if you manage to snag some legal game ROMs, though the older the system being emulated, the better the performance. Curious? Check out PCWorld’s complete guide to turning your Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming console for the full scoop. A music streaming machine The Raspberry Pi’s media chops aren’t limited to video streaming alone. Numerous operating systems have also been released that transform the device into a high-fidelity music player when connected to a speaker, sort of like a more powerful, flexible version of Chromecast Audio. The various music-oriented OSes available offer different features; poke around the FAQs and features of each to see which is right for your needs. Here are tutorials on how to have your Raspberry Pi turn dumb speakers into smart music solutions with Volumio and Rune Audio (pictured), both of which offer mobile apps so you can control your tunes with your phone. Learn programming You could always use the Raspberry Pi as it was originally intended, too: As a low-cost introduction to programming and computer science. The mini-PC’s loaded with all sorts of software that encourages deep-level tinkering. Beyond the command-line terminal, you’ll need to wade in often, you’ll also find versions of Wolfram Mathematica, Python program creation tools, and Scratch, an animation coding IDE for kids, in the Raspbian operating system that the Raspberry Pi Foundation encourages new users to install. Get smart! Play Minecraft Or you could play Minecraft. There’s a free Raspberry Pi version of Minecraft that anybody can download at no cost. Even better, it’s designed to teach you how to use the Python programming language as you build out the world. (Hey, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella did say that part of the reason the company purchased Mojang was to lure kids into computer science.) Download Minecraft: Pi Edition and jump in. Affordable productivity PC With options of 2GB, 4GB, and now 8GB models, the Raspberry Pi 4 packs a heftier punch than previous RPi iterations—making it suitable for basic everyday tasks like web browsing, watching video streams, and document editing. Setting up one as a PC goes fast, too, with the bulk of the hour setup time devoted to waiting for the operating system installation to complete. As a starter or secondary computer, it’s hard to beat, especially given its build cost of $100 (or even less, if you opt for the 2GB version and not the 4GB). Check out PCWorld’s full guide in how to put together a $100 Raspberry Pi PC for everything you’ll need. Crazy awesome experiments Let’s finish where we began. Once you’ve wrapped your head around the Raspberry Pi’s potential, why not try your hand at one of those awe-inspiring inventive projects? PCWorld’s look at 10 insanely innovative, incredibly cool Raspberry Pi creations can help with the inspiration, while the project guides at Instructables, Hackaday, and the Raspberry Pi Foundation website itself are ready to walk you step-by-step through the really awesome stuff like the magic mirror above. Also check out our roundup of the best Raspberry Pi kits. Whether you’re a newbie who just wants to get all the basics with one purchase, or an experienced tinkerer looking to build a specialized project, a kit could be the way to go. Editor’s note: This article is updated periodically to include new info, most recently to resurface these projects for Pi day (March 14, 2024) and note the release of the Raspberry Pi 5. Read...

You typically have a choice between Windows fullscreen or Windows borderless viewing modes while gaming on PC, which begs the question: Which mode is better? The short answer that you’ll get from any AI chatbot and most tech websites, is that Fullscreen is better for gaming performance. Otherwise, if you need to jump between programs, multiple monitors, or other tasks on your PC, borderless window mode is better. But is that a blanket rule? Read on for a more personal answer. Benefits of Windows fullscreen mode Windows fullscreen mode is the default gaming mode running whenever I launch a game in Windows. In this mode my games are displayed across my entire display and Windows gives them full control of the screen’s output. I use fullscreen mode for almost all my games, but my reason for doing so hasn’t really got to do with performance. In fact, I’ve found there’s very little difference. For example, running Cyberpunk 2077 on my PC’s Ryzen 5 and RTX 2070 Super at 1080p yields an average of 77.6 fps, whereas I get an average 77.2 fps in borderless mode — so there’s no real performance gain to be had. That may come as a surprise to many gamers, but I’ve witnessed similar results across most of the graphically demanding games in my library. That’s not to say there isn’t optimization happening in fullscreen mode. Windows optimizes my resolution and will focus more resources on running these games, but this just doesn’t have a substantial impact on my frame rates. Further reading: The best gaming monitors we’ve tested There are several caveats to that. One is that those results are specific to my hardware and my gaming setup. Secondly, I’m not running anything too taxing in the background in borderless window mode — if you’re running applications that utilize a high portion of CPU/GPU resources, you may see a more substantial drop in performance with borderless. On the point about jumping programs, what you will read elsewhere is true. It is a lot harder to switch tabs and jump between multiple displays in fullscreen mode. For me it can take the good part of a minute while my PC allocates resources to the new tasks and takes me out of my game window. The upside to that, though, is that my cursor and other things that I need for my game to run smoothly are locked and secure in my game window, so there’s less chance that a prompt or cursor glitch will disrupt my game. When I will typically use borderless window mode Occasionally I’ll take the time to switch to borderless window mode when I’m super busy and I need to multitask. In case you’ve never used it, borderless window mode is designed to look like fullscreen mode, however in reality your game’s image is just stretched across the screen to mimic it. This mode allows you to move quicker through tabs and access applications outside of your game’s window using task switcher and commands like Alt + Tab, because you’ve never really left Windows. I’ll generally use this mode when I have a chat box open and I’m expecting messages, when I’m writing up observations about a game and want to quickly switch between Microsoft Word or Notepad, or when I’m watching a Let’s Play or walkthrough on a separate monitor and want to control the playback. In borderless window mode the game image is streched across the display to appear like Fullscreen mode.  Pexels: Jethro C The biggest benefit is that Windows won’t automatically minimize my game when I switch tabs, so I can easily control my apps and return to the game without any fuss. While it used to be the case that most games required fullscreen mode to run certain features, I’m finding that the number of games that allow seamless control of games in borderless window mode is now quite large thanks to developers utilizing DirectX 12. A small subset of games may have resolution or scaling issues in borderless window mode, but most game developers will try to resolve these when brought to their attention. I also have to occasionally watch settings for Nvidia’s graphics technologies, which need a little fine-tuning for some games, but other than that most just run smoothly. Rather than one being better than the other then — whether you use Fullscreen or borderless window modes, or like the idea of mixing it up — it really comes down to your personal choice. So, be sure to play around with both options to see what works best for you. Read...