Back at CES 2025, Samsung revealed their latest monitors including the much-anticipated 27-inch 4K 240Hz OLED display as well as the more niche—but still exciting—Odyssey 3D-without-glasses monitor. Samsung wasn’t ready to talk details at CES, but now they’ve lifted the veil and I was able to go hands-on with their newest gaming displays, including the Odyssey 3D (G90XF) and 27-inch 4K Odyssey OLED G8 (G81SF). These are the flagship monitors in the company’s 2025 line-up. So, do they hold up? Here’s what I found. Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF Samsung actually first teased the Odyssey 3D G90XF all the way back at CES 2024. The company didn’t say much about it after that, so I’d figured it would never see store shelves. But it’s no myth! In fact, it’s now available for pre-order from Samsung or Best Buy at $1,999.99. The “3D” in the model’s name calls out the monitor’s lenticular glasses-less 3D technology. This new tech uses a specialized display panel layer to redirect light in a way that creates a 3D effect without 3D glasses. But how does it look? Fantastic! The Odyssey 3D G90XF is a 27-inch 4K (3840×2160) monitor, so it looks rather sharp. Lenticular displays like the G90XF have, in the past, suffered a distracting moiré pattern. However, modern lenticular displays like this one solve the problem with higher resolutions. It also has 3D cameras that keep track of the user’s eyes, which allows the lenticular display to make subtle adjustments to maximize the 3D effect. The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF, front side.Matt Smith / Foundry And I must say, the Odyssey 3D G90XF has really nailed the core technology. Samsung didn’t want to spill its secret formula and wouldn’t tell me the specific hardware partners or tweaks it made. Whatever the details of their approach, I do think this is the best glasses-free 3D display I’ve tried yet (and I’ve tried dozens over the years). Speaking practically, the Odyssey 3D G90XF delivers a crisp, attractive glasses-less 3D image with a convincing sense of depth and few image artifacts. The 3D effect was obvious. At full strength, I perceived that the “back” of the image was about 4 or 5 feet away while the “front” felt about a foot away. The image itself was sharp and smooth with no hitching or image artifacts. That’s not to say it was perfect, though, and some of the traditional glasses-less 3D problems are still present. The 3D effect only works within a limited range. (Samsung recommends a range of approximately 22 to 38 inches.) The 3D effect also works best within 25 degrees of center, can degrade if you rapidly move your head, and might not work if a friend sits beside you (as eye-tracking is an essential part of the tech). This is one for true fans of 3D, then. The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF, back side.Matt Smith / Foundry But what can you play on it? At the moment, not much. The Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF promises compatibility with just 12 games. I tried The First Berserker: Khazan, Grand Theft Auto III, and Palworld. Khazan was the standout. Samsung’s reps said the company worked with the game’s developer, Neople, to master the effect, and the game did provide an outstanding sense of immersion that genuinely enhanced the gameplay experience. Palworld looked fantastic in brighter scenes where its colorful characters could pop from the environment. But in darker scenes with less contrast, the 3D effect wasn’t obvious. Grand Theft Auto III‘s low-poly graphics gave the game an interesting “pop-up book” look, which I found charming, but the 3D effect felt overdone in some scenes. Other supported games include additional GTA remasters like Vice City, plus a roster of lesser-known games, like Unstop and Zero Protocol. I liked what I saw, but it must be said: a launch slate of just 12 games isn’t much. Perhaps knowing this, the Samsung Odyssey G90XF includes an AI algorithm that can convert some 2D video content into 3D. It only works with video—not games—that isn’t DRM restricted. Unfortunately, that means Netflix and Hulu are off the table, but it will work with YouTube videos and local files that aren’t DRM-protected. Interestingly, it also provides support for “side-by-side” 3D videos meant for VR headsets. I watched clips from Spider-Man: Far From Home and The Matrix. The Spider-Man clip, which was originally meant for VR headsets, looked amazing with the 3D conversion adding real depth to action sequences, and the sharpness and motion clarity were better than I remember from past displays. However, the original Matrix movie clip, which wasn’t intended for 3D, didn’t always show the 3D effect convincingly. It was fine, but it didn’t do as much to enhance the experience. Foundry And by the way, Samsung says the Odyssey 3D G90XF requires beefy Nvidia hardware, with the RTX 3080 as the recommended minimum. Yes, that means the 3D effect isn’t available on AMD hardware, no matter how powerful your particular card might be. In short, the Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF is the best version of the glasses-free 3D effect I’ve seen so far. It offers an excellent sense of immersion, lacks the obvious moiré patterns of past displays, looks reasonably crisp in motion, and is otherwise tack sharp. Yet despite all these perks, it’s hard to see it as more than an impressive tech demo. That’s mostly due to the limited game roster. Samsung says they plan to support 50 games by the end of 2025, but I still don’t think that’s anywhere near enough. Content support has hampered past efforts to offer glasses-free 3D, including 3D televisions and Acer’s SpatialLabs 3D monitors. I suspect Samsung will run into these familiar problems.  Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF While the Odyssey 3D G90XF was the highlight of my time at Samsung’s office, the company also showcased a more practical display: the Odyssey OLED G81SF. Priced at $1,299.99, the G81SF is Samsung’s flagship 27-inch 4K 240Hz OLED gaming monitor. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF, front side.Matt Smith / Foundry Though I only had half an hour to review the monitor, I feel like I’ve already reviewed it before. It has the same svelte, swooping design as other Odyssey monitors, and has the same Samsung QD-OLED panel that I’ve tested in other monitors, like the Alienware AW2725Q. Samsung’s panel is spectacular with incredible contrast, a super-wide color gamut, and spectacular motion clarity. Sharpness is great, too, at 166 pixels per inch. HDR content looks vivid and bright. The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF, back side.Matt Smith / Foundry In short: it’s a great panel, and I expect that means the Samsung Odyssey G8 G81SF will be a great monitor. But the price is a problem. At $1,299, the Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF is going to look uncompetitive in today’s market. I asked Samsung’s reps what they thought about this and they mentioned extras like the 3-year warranty and the monitor’s advanced cooling system. But many competitors make similar—even identical—points while offering comparable displays at lower prices. Samsung Odyssey G9 G91F There was a third new monitor in Samsung’s line-up, though it wasn’t available for me to try out personally: a new 49-inch ultrawide display called the Odyssey G9 G91F. Priced with an MSRP of $999.99, the Odyssey G9 G91F is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the other 49-inch Odyssey displays. It looks a bit more basic, has a lower VESA DisplayHDR certification (DisplayHDR 600, down from its predecessor’s DisplayHDR 1000), and it provides 5120×1440 resolution. But, importantly, the panel isn’t OLED and doesn’t have a Mini-LED backlight. That means it won’t have the incredible contrast of other current Odyssey G9 monitors. To be honest, I can see why Samsung didn’t want to show it. A VA panel monitor just wouldn’t look great placed next to a glasses-free 3D monitor and a 27-inch 4K OLED panel. Impressive monitors, unimpressive pricing Let’s recap launch prices for these monitors: Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XF: $1,999.99 Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G81SF: $1,299.99 Samsung Odyssey G9 G91F: $999.99 This is where Samsung stumbles. At these prices, Samsung’s line-up simply isn’t attractive. The G90XF carries the same MSRP as Acer’s Predator SpatialLabs View 27, but $1,999.99 is a lot to ask for a monitor that currently supports only 12 games. The G81SF is almost certain to be excellent, but the nearly identical Alienware AW2725Q is $899.99. Samsung is sweetening the deal with special offers: the Odyssey 3D includes a $200 Samsung Credit and a JBL Quantum ONE Headset, while the OLED G8 model comes with a $300 Samsung Credit. These pre-order bonuses might help offset the premium pricing for early adopters. Pricing aside, both monitors look excellent—the Odyssey 3D G90XF is the best glasses-free 3D monitor I’ve tried and the Odyssey G8 G81SF is sure to provide a spectacular 4K gaming experience. They’re worth your attention if you’re in the market for a new monitor… and you’re willing to burn through a large wallet of cash. Further reading: The best 4K, HDR, and gaming monitors Read...

PC users who want to relive the nostalgia of an older Windows interface can download the free Linux distribution Q4OS and install the XPQ4 G UI. The GUI makes it possible to activate different interfaces within the Debian-based distribution Q4OS. In addition to Windows XP, you can also choose interfaces that mimic Windows 2000, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. While you can install and use Linux applications, the system offers a familiar graphical user interface that behaves like Windows, making it easier to navigate. Thomas Joos You can also run the system as a live installation using a USB stick. Since it’s available as an ISO file, it’s also possible to test the distribution in a VM. The Q4OS interface is already similar to Windows. By installing XPQ4, the aforementioned Windows interfaces can be activated. The developers of XPQ4 also offer a ready-made live environment with Q4OS in which XPQ4 is already installed and ready to use. Using Windows XP with Linux (even without installation) To use Windows XP via Q4OS/XPQ4, download the ISO file for XPQ4 as FreeXP from the developers. The best way to do this is to use the ‘FreeXP live CD image’ option under ‘Downloads.’ If you want to use Windows 10 with Linux on the basis of Q4OS and XPQ4, you can also use the ‘Free10 live CD image.’ The Windows 10 interface is available here, but without the option of activating older versions such as Windows XP. If you start this image, you’ll receive a Windows 10 interface based on Q4OS and XPQ4. Thomas Joos To start a PC with Q4OS, whether you’re using the Windows XP or Windows 10 interface, you can use tools like Rufus or balenaEtcher. Using Rufus as an example, connect the USB stick to your PC, start Rufus, and select the USB stick under ‘Drive.’ Under ‘Startup type,’ click on ‘Selection’ and pick the desired ISO file. You can leave the other settings as default. Click ‘Start’ to begin creating the stick. If you boot a PC, FreeXP or Free10 will start directly with the stick. Thomas Joos Logging on to Windows XP under Q4OS The default login for Q4OS utilizes the user name “adminq” and a blank password. You can also customize the language of the user interface during startup. After logging in, the operating system will automatically activate the Windows XP interface if you’ve started the FreeXP version. With the Windows 10 version, the Windows 10 interface will start instead. The functionality of FreeXP resembles Windows XP or whichever Windows version you’ve selected. Customize the Windows interface You can customize the displayed Windows version at any time using the ‘XPQ4 Desktop Styles’ tool. The different Windows versions are available for selection in the ‘Themes’ column. These include Windows XP with the classic view, Windows XP with the familiar colorful Luna interface, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 2000. Thomas Joos Click on a theme and select ‘Apply Theme.’ Next, select ‘Logout now.’ After logging out, log in with the user ‘adminq’ without a password. Working with Windows under Q4OS The operation of the respective Windows interface is similar to that of Windows. There are, of course, a few differences, as the system is based on Debian Linux with Q4OS. The Q4OS welcome screen enables the installation of programs via the ‘Install programs’ button. More features can be activated with ‘More options’ such as various graphical effects. The interface and general display can be customized via ‘Desktop Profiler.’ Thomas Joos Installing Q4OS with XPQ4 Instead of just testing the FreeXP live CD, you can also install the operating system. To do so, click on ‘Install Q4OS,’ which will launch the installation wizard directly in the user interface. This allows you to select the language, the keyboard model, and the Q4OS variant. It makes sense to select ‘Q4OS Desktop’ at this point. You can also specify the partitioning here. As part of the setup, you can set up your own user account with a test password. If desired, you can enable automatic login for FreeXP. Once the wizard is complete, the installation will begin. The operating system will be available on the PC when the installation finishes. After restarting, the user can log in with the new user name and password. Read...

Upgrading to a new SSD can significantly enhance your computer’s performance, whether upgrading to a larger SSD drive, a faster NVMe or M.2 SSD, or replacing an old SSD. For this reason, many users want to clone HDD to SSD for a better user experience. How do I transfer data from one SSD to another? Is it possible to transfer data from one SSD to another without losing data? This post covers three methods to copy data from an old SSD to a new SSD: Use professional disk cloning software to migrate a whole SSD to another Use Windows Explorer to manually copy and paste files between SSDs Use Windows Backup and Restore to create a backup image and then restore  How to prepare for a successful SSD data transfer Before diving into the methods, let’s see what you will need to do to enable a smooth and successful SSD-to-SSD data transfer: Ensure SSD compatibility. Confirm both SSDs use the same interface (e.g., SATA, PCIe, NVMe, M.2) and ensure the destination SSD fits the form factor of your device, such as 2.5-inch, M.2 2280, or M.2 2230. Ensure target SSD has enough space. When purchasing a new SSD, be sure to consider its storage capacity. It is acceptable if the target SSD is smaller than the source disk, but you must ensure it can accommodate all the data from the original disk. The target SSD disk should be larger than the used space on the source SSD drive. Clean up source SSD drive. The source SSD drive may contain numerous unnecessary or junk files, including temporary data, rarely used programs, duplicate files, caches, and corrupted files. The fewer files on the source drive, the shorter the time it will take for the data transfer. Connect destination SSD. You need to connect the target SSD drive to your computer for transferring data from one SSD to another. On a desktop, directly install the SSD alongside your old SSD. On a laptop, buy a SATA to USB cable or external hard drive enclosure to connect the target SSD via the USB port. Verify drive recognition. After connecting your new or larger SSD to your computer, ensure your PC can recognize it. To verify the recognition, go to Disk Management to confirm both SSDs are visible. Method 1. Clone one SSD to another without losing data Cloning is the best way to transfer all data, including Windows, programs, settings, and personal files, from one SSD to another. Some SSDs come with software to help transfer your data, such as those from Samsung, Seagate, WD, and Intel, which can assist in transferring data and Windows from one hard drive to another. For SSDs without a cloning solution, you must use third-party SSD cloning software to enjoy a safe and secure cloning process because Windows lacks built-in cloning features. Clonezilla can help you clone SSD to a larger SSD for data or Windows transfer, but you must run it on a USB drive, which requires a high learning curve and is thus unsuitable for beginners. Fortunately, this is no longer the case with EaseUS Disk Copy, a dedicated and professional disk cloning program with a highly streamlined interface for Windows computers. EaseUS SSD cloning software can move all data from one SSD to another without losing data or reinstalling Windows. EaseUS cloning software can migrate the OS from the first SSD to the new one, transfer C drive to a new SSD, and transfer data from one SSD to another with only one slot on a laptop or PC. Step-by-step guide on how to clone SSD to another SSD using EaseUS Disk Copy: Step 1. Connect the target SSD to your PC. Install the SSD on your desktop or connect it to your laptop via the USB-to-SATA cable. Step 2. Download and install EaseUS Disk Copy. Launch EaseUS SSD cloning software and click Disk Mode. Step 3. Select the source and target SSD drive. EaseUS Step 4. Adjust disk layout (optional). EaseUS “Autofit the disk” will change the target disk layout by default to optimize its performance. “Copy as the source” does not modify the target disk, and the disk layout remains the same as the source disk. “Edit disk layout” allows you to manually resize and move the partition layout on the destination disk. Step 5. Start the cloning process. Click “Proceed” to start cloning. The time required depends on the data size and SSD speeds. Step 6. Boot from the cloned SSD. To use the new SSD as your boot drive: shut down your PC, replace the old SSD, restart your PC, enter BIOS or UEFI settings (press F1/F2/DEL/Esc during startup), and set the SSD as the boot drive. Method 2. Manual copying and pasting files (for specific files) If you just want to move basic files–not system files or program files–from one SSD to another, the cut/paste or copy/paste method is the simplest and most direct way to transfer files from one SSD to another SSD. Use your mouse to select the files, right-click, and copy from C to D disk or from one disk to another in Windows File Explorer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to transfer data from one SSD to another on PC: Step 1. Connect the SSD. Connect the target SSD via USB-to-SATA cable to your laptop or install it internally on your desktop. Step 2. Copy and paste files Open Explorer and access the source SSD. Choose the files or folders you want to transfer. Copy (Ctrl + C) files. Go to the destination SSD. Paste (Ctrl + V ) files. Method 3. Back up and Restore data from SSD to another SSD If you prefer a built-in solution for transferring data, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) allows you to create a system image backup and restore it to a new SSD. This method is suitable for users with specific computer skills. However, you can’t restore individual files; only the entire image can be restored. You must also regularly recreate the image to ensure you have the latest version of your Windows environment and data. Here is how to use Backup and Restore to copy data from one SSD to another: Step 1. Create a system image backup on one external disk Connect the external disk via USB-to-SATA cable to your laptop or install it internally on your desktop. Go to Control Panel and select Backup and Restore (Windows 7). Click Create a system image and select the target SSD to save the system image backup. Choose which drive to back up, confirm your backup settings, and press Start backup. If Windows cannot boot on its own, you may also need to create a system repair disc or a recovery USB drive. Step 2. Restore the system image to the new SSD Ensure your backup media (external disk where the system backup is stored) and the new SSD are plugged in or inserted. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery and click Restart now under Advanced startup. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery and click Restart now near Advanced startup. When your PC reboots, you will enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Go to: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > See more recovery options > System Image Recovery > Select a system image > Use the latest available system image (recommended) > Select Format and repartition disks (for restoring to a new disk, you’d better enable this option) > Click Finish. Then, follow the steps to restore your PC with the system image. If your PC won’t boot at all, boot it with the system repair disc. You will be taken to the Choose an option window, and you can follow the same steps to restore Windows and your data to the previous state. If you don’t want to replace your old SSD or use the target SSD as your boot drive, directly back up data/files from the old SSD to the new one. What to do after transfering files/data from one SSD to another After you migrate data from one SSD to another, perform a thorough verification to ensure everything is working correctly. Verify that all files are transferred correctly and accurately. Confirm that all file types can be opened without issues. Verify whether the data is integrated correctly with your migration goals. Verify whether user experience and computer performance are enhanced. Run some apps to test system features or network connections. Verify whether the system’s functionality and usability are satisfactory. Format the old SSD in Disk Management for reuse. Troubleshoot common SSD data transfer issues 1. Drive not detected Ensure cables/connections are secure. Update SATA/NVMe drivers. 2. Cloning errors Close background apps to free up resources. 3. Cloned hard drive won’t boot Verify boot partition flags. Update BIOS/UEFI. Check BIOS boot order. Rebuild BCD. 4. Slow PC performance Update necessary drivers. Verify connection type (USB/SATA). Conclusion This article covers three methods to transfer data from one SSD to another, including performing SSD cloning, manually copying and pasting, and using Windows Backup and Restore. If you try the Backup and Restore, you must reinstall drivers and apps. Manual methods work for small data transfer sizes, but cloning is the best way to transfer everything from one SSD to another without reinstalling or losing data. If you want a hassle-free solution, try SSD cloning with EaseUS Disk Copy. It lets you migrate all the data from one SSD to another without losing data or reinstalling anything. EaseUS SSD clone software enables you to move data from one SSD to another with the time of a cup of coffee. Try it now! Read...

Former sub editor says RNZ management `created a dangerous environment of hysteria`. Read...

Tree planting efforts around Hawke`s Bay hill country farms are paying off, new data shows. A report presented to the Hawke`s Bay Regional Council Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee earlier... Read...

Virtual PCs have important uses, such as providing a dedicated environment for testing new applications or enabling the parallel operation of multiple operating systems. But the virtualization environment can only demonstrate its strengths in such scenarios if the virtual machine has sufficient hardware resources. The power required essentially depends on two factors: the purpose of the virtual PC and the hypervisor, or virtualization software, used. This is because the three virtualization environments: Microsoft Hyper-V, VMWare Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox differ in terms of their basic requirements. You will therefore find examples of VMs and the optimum configuration for your guest computer in the article. Which is better: Dual boot vs. Virtualization: Which is best for running multiple operating systems? The hardware requirements for virtualization programs On the websites of VMWare, Oracle, and Microsoft you will find the hardware requirements for the smooth running of the virtualization programs. In its online documentation, VirtualBox provides a rough rule of thumb for the main memory: According to this, you should populate your RAM so that the requirements for both the guest system and the host PC are met. In the case of Windows 11, this means at least 2GB of main memory for a 64-bit version, but 4GB is better. If you also want to install the operating system in the virtual environment, you will need an additional 4GB. The optimum amount of memory is therefore at least 8GB. For a powerful virtual PC, you need a CPU with four to six cores. Together with a graphics card with at least 4GB of memory, even more demanding virtualization is possible.IDG In the instructions, you will also find a principle that generally applies to all performance parameters: “The more the better.” If you follow the VM maker’s recommendations on hardware, you have met the basic requirements for operating the environment software and thus covered one side of the equation for smooth virtualization. Then there is the specific application, whereby there might be further requirements for the host hardware depending on the scenario. Crash course: How do virtual PCs actually work? Scenario 1: Standard PC for surfing or online banking We use Windows 11 as the host and guest system for the virtual PC. Microsoft recommends the following for the installation of a Windows 11 computer: a processor with at least 1GHz clock speed, 2GB RAM for the 64-bit version, and around 32GB hard drive space. With a PC equipped in this way, you can surf the internet virtually without any problems. However, if you notice slight limitations with more complex websites or when playing videos, you should also use a separate virtual graphics card to which you allocate sufficient memory. To virtualize such a computer, you therefore need at least 4GB of RAM and 40GB of free space on the hard drive per operating system — at least 80GB in total. You will notice a significant increase in performance if you make more memory available to the virtual PC. If you initially select a Windows 11 computer as the host for VMWare Workstation, the setup wizard suggests the following parameters as the minimum configuration: 2GB of main memory, two processor cores and 60GB of storage space. If you create a virtual machine for Windows 11 and 64 bit with VMWare Workstation, the wizard suggests a disk size of 64GB. With the option “Split virtual disk into multiple files,” only the space that is currently required is physically occupied.IDG However, the latter is allocated dynamically. This means that the space is only fully utilized when the virtual machine really needs it. Depending on your computer’s graphics card, a 3D accelerator is also available for your virtual machine. However, this function should not be absolutely necessary for normal internet surfing and your banking transactions. Instead, the following minimum configuration is sufficient: Your guest computer should have an Intel Pentium i3 or i5 processor or the comparable AMD model. A main memory of 4GB is sufficient, but with 8GB you will be much more comfortable. No more than 20GB is required for the pure virtualized Windows operating system. Scenario 2: Workstation PC for practical use The minimum configuration for a virtual Windows 11 computer described in scenario 1 is of course not sufficient for every virtualization project. You will need a significantly more powerful virtual PC if you not only want to run Office with high performance, but also want to use the image editing software Gimp or a 3D rendering program such as Blender at the same time, for example. Microsoft defines the following requirements for using Office under Windows in the VM: a processor with a clock speed of at least 1.6GHz, 4GB of RAM, and 4GB of free storage space. There are no hardware requirements for Gimp that are needed to run the software. In general, the program can be run on a PC on which the current Microsoft Office version also runs smoothly. In the Workstation Player you can see how much RAM is theoretically available to you (blue arrowhead). In our example with 64GB RAM, up to 55.9GB can be allocated to the virtual Windows 11 system.IDG The Blender rendering software has the most demanding hardware requirements: on the website you will find three categories for the current version 4.3: minimum, recommended, and optimum configuration. For the minimum configuration, you need a dual-core processor with a clock speed of 2GHz, 4GB RAM, and a graphics card with 1GB RAM that supports OpenGL 3.3. Blender recommends a processor with four cores, 16GB RAM, and a graphics card with 4GB. The application with the greatest hardware requirements therefore determines the configuration of your guest computer. Blender uses the recommended configuration as a basis. As you also need to run the guest system with Windows 11, it is best to use a current Intel i5 or a comparable AMD model as the processor. For the RAM, 16GB should be sufficient for the guest system, with 32GB for the host you are always on the safe side. The same applies to the graphics card: a model with at least 4GB of memory is sufficient for the simultaneous operation of Windows 11, the virtualization environment, and the rendering software. The virtualization environments — in this case Virtualbox — allow you to allocate memory individually for each virtual machine.IDG There is one more point you should bear in mind: Match the requirements of your software to be virtualized with the performance of the virtual environment. VirtualBox, for example, does not support OpenGL 3.3, while Blender cannot do without the graphics library. With VMWare Workstation, you should always install VMWare Tools in order to use a 3D engine. Scenario 3: Two virtual machines in parallel operation Running two virtual PCs in parallel on a guest computer makes sense, for example, if one of the virtual PCs is to function as a Linux server while the other is to run an outdated Windows system that no longer receives updates, such as Windows 7. For such a scenario, you first need the right virtualization software before deciding on the optimum hardware configuration. This is because only VirtualBox and Hyper-V allow multiple computers to run in parallel. This is not possible with Workstation. With three parallel computers — one host PC and two guest PCs — the processor and the number of cores also become more important. You should calculate with at least one core per computer. Processors such as a 14th-generation Intel i5 have eight performance and 16 efficiency cores. For even more parallelism, the i7 and i9 CPUs offer a larger number of cores. For the other components such as RAM, graphics card, and storage, it is best to apply the principles from the previous examples again. We recommend at least 16GB of main memory for three parallel computers, but 32GB is better. A graphics card with at least 4GB of memory and a powerful processor is available at a street price of around $200 such as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.IDG In the case of the graphics card, consider which applications should run in parallel on the operating systems. As most cards already come with 8GB, you should not save money here. Inexpensive graphics cards are already available at prices between $200 and $250. Experience in dealing with virtual environments Some applications are difficult or even impossible to virtualize. This applies in particular to games or graphics-heavy programs. They usually require DirectX11 or DirectX12, which, with the exception of Hyper-V, is not possible in virtual environments. On the other hand, Hyper-V is very possessive. If you have installed the virtualization environment under Windows 11, the competitors Oracle VirtualBox and VMWare Workstation can only be operated with a handicap, depending on the version. For example, you have to do without nested VT-x. A processor with at least six cores is recommended for the parallel operation of two virtual machines. IDG In this case, you have two options: Either you uninstall Hyper-V in Windows via Control Panel > Programs and Features > Enable or disable Windows features. Alternatively, you can open a command line as an administrator and enter the following command: bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off After the following restart, VirtualBox and Vmware Workstation will work as desired. Another challenge that you will encounter when using the VMWare Workstation is the 3D support of the graphics card within the virtualization environment. This is not available as standard, but can be added via the free VMWare Tools. The tools must be installed separately for each virtual machine via Player > Manage > Install Virtual Tools and are then available with additional functions within the virtual environment as an additional drive — usually drive D. Call this up and start the installation. Additional 3D graphics settings are then available under “Display” in the virtual machine settings. Compensate for bottlenecks with additional hardware on the host PC If you want to upgrade the existing PC for virtualization, start with the RAM, storage drive, or graphics card. RAM can often be upgraded on a desktop PC or laptop by expanding or replacing it. In the case of the storage drive, 20- to 30GB of free space is usually sufficient to gain initial experience. If you do not have any free capacity on the internal memory, use a faster USB 3.x drive or a correspondingly large USB 3.0 memory stick for initial tests. Alternatively, you can use the portable (and older) version of VirtualBox for initial testing. VirtualBox Portable is actually intended for virtualization on the move. You will need a memory stick with a capacity of at least 64GB. The stick then contains the VirtualBox software itself and your virtual machine. Conclusion: Try out VMs first, then upgrade your PC in a targeted manner Most scenarios can be modelled in a virtual environment with a greater or lesser use of hardware. The requirements depend very much on the applications that are to be run in the virtual environments. In most cases, a virtual PC can be realized on a normal work PC without much additional effort. For all other scenarios, you may need to make selective upgrades or replace individual components. Our advice: Simply try out the environment and optimize the components one by one if necessary. With a new computer, it is best to plan the individual components for a virtual environment a little more generously so that you do not have to replace individual components such as the graphics card after a short time. Virtualization of games Running games within a virtual environment usually fails. Many games require DirectX11 or DirectX12 under Windows. The only virtualization environment that currently offers this is Hyper-V from Microsoft. However, it only works with the Pro and Enterprise versions of Windows 10 and 11. Read...

Repairs, surfing, virus check, complete system? The fact that a large USB stick offers space for 50 live systems should not tempt you to use it haphazardly. It’s all about making the right choice! Given the number of suitable candidates, it’s important for every user to make a selection that covers their own requirements without creating unnecessary redundancies and overlaps. The recommendations in this article and in the associated table are deliberately limited in terms of quantity, but should cover all tasks. There are no fundamental restrictions: If the hardware is fast (USB stick and computer), then every Linux version runs perfectly on USB — live or installed. (If you are more of a Windows type, we have suggestions on how you, too, can use a flash drive to create a portable PC survival kit.) Further reading: 3 free Linux distros that look and feel like Windows Repair and service All of the tools presented in this section are pure live systems without installation options, that are only used when necessary. The tools, some of which are quite small, are classic candidates for a multiboot stick that you put together with Yumi or Ventoy. Persistence is not necessary, in most cases not even possible. IDG Super Grub2 Disk Super Grub2 Disk is the “lifeboat” for defective Grub boot managers. With the option “Detect and show boot methods,” the booted utility searches all drives for Linux and Windows systems, then displays their list and boots the selected system. This indispensable helper is tiny, weighing just under 16MB. The actual repair of the Grub environment then takes place with the following command in the running system: sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sdasudo update-grub Rescatux Rescatux offers a browser, file manager, terminal, and accessories on a Debian system with LXQT desktop and can also serve as a general emergency system. However, the graphically organized script collection Rescapp takes center stage. While Super Grub2 Disk only searches for and starts installed systems, Rescatux can restore defective Grub boot loaders. Under “Grub,” the repair option “Restore Grub” can write a new Grub boot loader and integrate all recognized operating systems (Linux and Windows) into a new boot menu. There is also Windows support: The section contains repair tools for MBR and UEFI environments. Rescatux was developed by the Grub developers, but there is no guarantee of successful repairs. Gparted Live Gparted Live is the very undemanding live system from the Gparted developers, which enables the Gparted partitioning program to run on any hardware. The live system is rarely absolutely necessary because Gparted is pre-installed in many live distributions or can be temporarily installed there. However, additional Gparted Live as a guarantee for an up-to-date Gparted can never do any harm. The partitioner is the tried and tested graphical classic for deleting, creating, enlarging, and shrinking hard disks and partitions. Apart from the core tool and a spartan browser, the live system offers hardly any other software. IDG Rescuezilla Rescuezilla is a cloning and backup tool for drives and partitions. In contrast to the more feature-rich Clonezilla, Rescuezilla is also suitable for beginners with its simple graphical wizard (basically just “Backup,” “Restore,” and “Clone”). It is a small Ubuntu live system which, in addition to the main program, comes with a useful mini-setup on the subject of storage drives: Gparted, Gnome disks, test disk (undelete), and browser. Clonezilla Clonezilla is the classic backup and cloning tool. The live system has no graphical user interface and is used in English-language, text-based menus. Clonezilla is only necessary instead of the more convenient Rescuezilla if extended network capabilities are required — for example, for backups via SSH/SFTP (Samba also supports Rescuezilla). Hardware Detection Tool Hardware Detection Tool provides a complete overview of a computer’s hardware. Any raw copier can transport the IMG file from the download DVD or from hdt-project.org to USB (dd, Win 32 Disk Imager, Etcher), but the multiboot tools Yumi or Ventoy cannot handle it. You can successfully get HDT into a multiboot collection if you use the functionally identical ISO image Core3 HDT from www.serverelements.com. Memtest 86 Memtest 86 performs thorough tests of the RAM. This is not often needed, but the mini-ISO is in good hands in a Ventoy multiboot collection and only requires 6MB of space. Specialized surfing systems Every Linux live and second system gets you securely online. With regard to a customisable browser via persistent memory, small Ubuntus are probably the easiest candidates. However, the following surfing systems offer particular specialities, the necessity of which you must judge for yourself. Tails As an extremely restrictive live system, Tails specializes in anonymized web access via the TOR browser. Customizable persistence contradicts this concept, but is possible in principle with the Tails persistence setup tool (vault symbol), which creates an encrypted Luks partition for this purpose. However, this only works on a USB stick that is set up exclusively for Tails — multiboot is not possible. The user can choose what the Luks partition should store — such as the options “Additional Software” (post-installations) and “Browser Bookmarks” (in the TOR browser). Parrot Home: This offshoot of Parrot OS focuses on the security interests of private users and offers access to the anonymous TOR network, among other things.IDG Parrot Home Parrot Home is an offshoot of Parrot OS that completely dispenses with the professional security tools of the core version. Instead, there is an installable all-purpose system that is tailored to the security needs of private users. This includes the anonymizing TOR browser, anonymous data exchange with Onionshare, and encryption tools such as Zulucrypt. Parrot Home is not focused on pure live operation. However, the Debian system is capable of persistence and is a convenient, universal system with a focus on web security, either on its own or in the Yumi/Ventoy multi-bootstick. Porteus Desktop Porteus Desktop is clearly specialized in fast internet access. It offers boot times of less than 15 seconds on USB and browser launches in 2 or 3 seconds. However, the investment here is higher than with Ubuntu or Parrot Home. The pure live ISO can be installed in any multi-boot stick, but in this form it does not even have a browser on board (which can be installed temporarily). If you want to use Porteus in a handy way, you have to transfer it to USB as a stand-alone system via the “System > Porteus Installer” menu. The root password will be requested (toor). A persistence file can then be set up on this Porteus instance with “Settings > Porteus Savefile Manager,” which permanently saves an installed browser and other settings. Fatdog 64 Fatdog64 is one of the numerous Puppy variants, all of which are specialized for pure live operation. The download sources for all Puppys can be found here. Puppy systems are small and fast and have their own persistence concept to customize the live systems. The ISO image of Fatdog64 booted from a Ventoy stick offers the option “Fatdog64 with savefile in USB device” in its boot menu. The “Create Save File” dialogue will then appear automatically when the system is later shut down. In this case, the Ventoy partition, where the Puppy ISO is also located, can be specified as the destination. The Puppy-Linux will then remember previously made keyboard settings via “Quick Setup,” desktop settings via the “Fatdog64 Control Panel,” or even the WLAN password. Of course, further installation or browser customizations are also possible. Puppy variants are not specialized as surfing systems, but are ideally suited for this purpose. Repair and special systems Any live Linux or Linux installed on USB can be used as a repair tool, as any repair software can also be installed there temporarily or permanently. Backbox Backbox is nothing more than an Xubuntu that has been upgraded to a “hacker system” using tools. It can therefore be installed on request or equipped with the familiar tools with persistence for live operation. The focus of Backbox is shown in the main menu by the categories “Auditing,” “Anonymous,” and “Services.” The latter is about web access to the anonymizing TOR network, as offered by Tails, Parrot Home, and Knoppix. The unique selling point are dozens of well-stocked hacking, analysis, and cracking tools and security scanners under “Auditing,” supplemented by data recovery tools such as test disc or wipe commands for data destruction. Most of these tools require prior knowledge or a willingness to familiarize yourself with them. System Rescue System Rescue is the classic live repair system for advanced users. Automatically logged in as root, you work mainly with terminal programs on an English-language desktop. The typical data rescuers Photorec and Testdisk are also included, as is the partitioner Gparted. However, if you want something more convenient, it is better to use MX Workbench. MX Workbench MX Workbench removes the installation option from MX Linux (the original system) and offers a pure live system for system repairs. A few settings are recommended at startup. Although persistence is offered, it should be prepared by a partition labelled “MXPersist.” This means that persistence can only be realized here if MX Workbench is written solo to a USB stick (“MX Live USB Maker”). A separate “Workbench Tools Launcher” starts for the tools collected in the distribution, which automatically presents the most important tools at system startup. Knoppix Knoppix can be categorized as a special system, but also as a live all-purpose system. Knoppix is always a recommendation for any large multi-boot stick, as it contains almost everything that repair systems or surfing systems bring with them (including access to the TOR network). The persistence option, which is called “overlay partition” in Knoppix, is only possible solo on a stick, however, as a USB stick must be formatted specifically for Knoppix with a running Knoppix using “Knoppix > Copy Knoppix to Flash.” After selecting the target data carrier, the “Installation on FAT32 with additional overlay partition” follows. With overlay persistence, Knoppix then allows all kinds of customizations. Virus scanner systems Live systems with virus scanners are a separate category of Linux-based special systems that are available from practically all AV software houses (Avira, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, etc.), such as the Ubuntu-based Avira rescue disc. Such live tools are only required by users who have Windows systems installed. The external system guarantees uncompromised scanner operation. What all live systems of this type have in common is that they require an internet connection in order to load the latest virus definitions. In addition, a browser is always on board, but these live systems are not sufficient as a general repair system. All-purpose and secondary desktops Pure live systems are not suitable for a mobile second system: One or two desktop or browser settings are sorely missed, and the supplied software lacks essential programs. A live system with persistence may be sufficient; you are only on the safe side with an installed desktop system on USB. If you can count on USB 3.x everywhere, an Ubuntu distribution is the best choice. Xubuntu/Lubuntu Xubuntu and Lubuntu are good candidates for combining desktop comfort and smooth working on the USB stick. If the system on USB also has to cope with older devices, there are even smaller and more economical candidates: A USB favorite for tidy installation: The Q4-OS distribution with a classic Trinity desktop has been visually modernized and is smaller and faster than any Ubuntu.Q40S Q4-OS Q4-OS with Debian substructure and Trinity desktop is fast and undemanding. The system boots on USB 3.0 sticks in 13 seconds for login and only takes up around 400MB of RAM after logging in for the system and desktop. The Trinity desktop is based on KDE 3 and has been thoroughly modernized visually in the latest versions. Q4-OS is not ideal for live operation because it has to reload packages from the internet after selecting the language localization. However, it is an ideal candidate for installation on USB. Repair system MX Workbench presents the tools particularly conveniently.IDG MX Linux MX Linux uses either XFCE or the particularly slim window manager Fluxbox on a Debian basis. The Fluxbox version is a slim choice for USB sticks, XFCE the more convenient one. MX Linux sees itself as a desktop system that needs to be properly installed, but it also positions itself for live use: As a live system, MX displays the “Persist” item in the boot menu, which can be expanded with F5. Of the options displayed, “persist_all” is the simplest. This enables a flexible MX Linux in live mode. With proper installation on USB 3.0, the boot time for desktop login is around 15 seconds. The RAM requirement is less than 500MB. All programs, including browsers and Libre Office components, are remarkably responsive. Read...

Firebase has launched Firebase Studio, a new cloud-based development environment designed to streamline the creation of AI applications for all user levels. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely affordable Long list of features includes energy monitoring Matter support Cons App can be slightly confusing First-time setup results in a ton of emails Our Verdict The price is the primary attraction of Linkind’s full-color, tunable-white smart bulbs, which include energy monitoring and Matter support. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Linkind Matter Smart RGBTW A19 Smart Bulb Retailer Price $22.19 ($5.55 / Count) View Deal $29.99 ($7.50 / Count) View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Let’s be frank: Linkind’s smart bulbs won’t blow you away with their unprecedented feature set, amazing color quality, or even their support for Matter. What will impress is their biggest selling point: Their price tag, which at the time of this review was an amazing value at a less than $20 for a pack of four. While you’ll occasionally see other brands on sale at around that point or even a few cents less, that’s about as cheap as it gets for a full-color, tunable-white Wi-Fi bulb right now. The bulb hardware itself offers zero surprises, presented as a standard A19 bulb with a large white heat sink beneath an Edison-style globe. The bulb features RGBTW LEDs—red, green, blue, and tunable white—with a white color temperatures ranging from an exceptionally warm 1800 Kelvin to a very cool 6500K. The bulb draws a maximum of 9 watts while putting out 800 lumens, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. Linkind’s light quality looks fine, the bulb dims smoothly, and the cost per bulb is amazingly low. Need other form factors? The bulbs are available in additional shapes and sizes, including BR30 floodlights and slightly taller A21 Edison bulbs, as well as light strips. Tunable and dimmable white-only bulbs are also an option if you don’t need color and want to save even more cash. Linkind’s A19 smart bulbs deliver higher quality light than you might expect for the bargain-basement price.Christopher Null/Foundry Installation and setup Configuration is done through an app called AiDot (the name of Linkind’s parent company), and smart lighting users will find this to be a fairly familiar tool, albeit one with a slightly quirky interface. Bulbs are added by scanning a QR code printed both on the manual and the bulb itself, with the former being much more convenient if you’ve already socketed the bulb. Note that this QR code is labeled as a Matter code, but it works for both Matter connections and in AiDot’s own ecosystem. I had only one slight hiccup during initial configuration, as the app could not locate the bulb; but this turned out to be because I did not have the appropriate Bluetooth permissions turned on in iOS. A close reading of the error message received during the setup process will alert you to this. Oddly, it’s something I’ve never encountered previously. You’ll find all the color-tuning settings you’d expect in the AiDot app. Christopher Null/Foundry With Bluetooth permissions properly enabled, I was able to quickly onboard the bulb to the AiDot app, bridge it to my 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (5GHz networks are not supported), and begin managing it normally, though you’ll need to deal with a minor barrage of email messages to set up your account. The AiDot app has the usual features, though the layout again can be a little unintuitive. You’ll find white light settings confusingly under the “Color” menu item, for example. A full color wheel lets you choose your ideal shade, or you can move over to the “Presets” menu to choose from dozens of dynamic color-shifting modes. As with most color-shifting systems, some of these are more interesting than others, so you’ll need to experiment to find the ones that look the best in your environment. As well, a “DIY” mode lets you choose your own colors and effects if you want to get deep into tinkering. The Linkind bulb includes a final mode—“Music”—which uses your phone’s microphone to shift color and brightness in tune with ambient sound. Again, this is highly tunable based on how bright or kinetic you want the color changes to be. A bevy of dynamic color modes are preloaded, though some are more intuitive than others. Matter support makes it easy to incorporate these bulbs into any smart home ecosystem.Christopher Null/Foundry Full support for automations is built into the app, and not just schedules (including effects that gradually dim or brighten). For example, you can set the light to change color if rain is in the forecast or be triggered based on your location via a geofencing feature. The AiDot app also has a final feature that tracks energy usage, including running time and power consumption in kWh by day and by week. Bar graphs let you monitor power use at a glance. With all these features in the AiDot app, it might seem superfluous to connect the bulb to another ecosystem, but the bulb’s Matter support meant I had no trouble onboarding the bulb to iOS Home via Matter through a quick QR code scan with my phone, though as with many Matter devices, you’ll lose access to some of the features available in the AiDot app if you choose to bypass it. Further reading: This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting Should you buy Linkind Matter Smart RGBTW A19 Smart Bulbs? Linkind’s light quality looks fine, the bulb is quick to respond, it dims smoothly, and of course it costs very little per bulb. As brand names go, Linkind is as anonymous as the next—I’m not even sure how to pronounce it—but it’s hard to argue with the results. Read...

A funny thing that happened to me recently was that I accidentally dunked the end of a USB cable in my coffee cup when I was moving it over my desk. “My coffee’s going to give me a little extra energy boost today,” I thought as I pulled it out and examined the connector for drips of delicious, amber-colored goodness. But as funny as it was, it raised an interesting question for me, that being: Could I simply use my USB cable right away as I had intended to do, or was my cable now roached? I wasn’t sure, so I investigated. Here’s what I found out… Wet USB cables: The lowdown While most USB cables are water resistant, it’s important to note that this is the kind of water resistance you can expect from a knockoff 1980s analog wristwatch, meaning you can splash them a little bit without there being much of a problem, but you generally don’t want to submerge them in water — they’re simply not made for that. The most vulnerable part of a USB cable is the connector, since it’s open to the environment and not bound by plastic or rubber. Regardless of where your cable gets wet, you should shut down the device you’re using quickly and then unplug it if it’s plugged in. You also shouldn’t use the cable right away but wait an hour or more until it dries out first. This ensures that you’re not transferring the corrosive water (or coffee as it may be) to your USB port or allowing the liquid to damage the cable itself. You can also help dry out your cable with a few carefully applied techniques. How to dry your cables If your cable gets wet, you can use a cloth to dry it off, running a closed hand down its length. If the connector gets water inside it, give it a little shake to get any droplets out first. Then use the end of a tissue or a microfiber cloth to carefully poke inside and soak up any remaining droplets that remain there. I used the above techniques on my USB cable connector and found it worked perfectly once I plugged it in again. Want a quick solution? Try this… A hairdryer can speed up the process of drying out a connector if it has water inside it, but there are a few steps you’ll want to take to protect your cable from being melted by the hairdryer’s powerful heat. First, you should always switch the hairdryer to the lowest heat setting. You’re also going to want to keep your cable at a safe distance from the hairdryer’s nozzle, to ensure you get a constant flow of hot air that won’t start to burn the cable or connector — a distance of 14 inches should do the trick. A wet USB cable can be dried and used again.  Pexels: Liza Summer Drying with a hairdryer should get your cable dry enough to reuse in just 15 minutes rather than several hours, but just be sure to check that it’s completely dry before plugging it in. So, in summary, while most cables do have some level of water resistance and will survive being splashed or momentarily dunked in water (or other beverage), you should still apply caution before using one again and dry it out completely to keep your devices safe from harm. Read...