For the past few years, I’ve made sure I always have a power bank with me when I leave the house because it’s something that gives me peace of mind. If I end up running late and my phone’s battery fails on me while I’m out, I can still keep it charged and stay connected. Of all the power banks I’ve used, the Anker Zolo is the one I carry with me most often—and right now, it’s on sale for $34 on Amazon. View this Amazon deal One of the best things about this power bank is that it’s fairly compact, measuring just 4.72 x 2.90 x 1.24 inches and weighing 0.78 pounds. This means it’s easy to slip into a pocket (even my tiny pockets, thanks women’s fashion) or toss into a bag. It also doesn’t hurt that it comes with a built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a carrying strap when not in use. If you need to charge multiple devices, that’s no problem—you’ll find two extra charging ports, one USB-C and one USB-A. That built-in cable is sooooo good, though, because I can’t count how many times I’ve realized entirely too late that I’d left the house without a charging cable! The 20,000mAh capacity is enough to charge your phone fully about four times over, although that’ll vary depending on your phone model and whether you’re using it while it charges. At this price, it’s a no-brainer. Get this Anker Zolo power bank for $34 while you can! There’s no buyer’s remorse here. Trust me. Fast-charge 3 devices while on the go with Anker`s tiny 20K power bankBuy now at Amazon Read...

At the launch of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which can be seen as Microsoft’s semi-official answer to Valve’s smash-hit Steam Deck, these two devices are set up as sort of de facto rivals. And if we’re talking value, the Steam Deck absolutely wins. But with the retirement of its cheapest version and a $100 discount on the Ally, down to $499.99 today, the Windows handheld is now technically cheaper. Specifically, this is the white version of the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, which uses AMD’s Ryzen Z2 chip. The black version (with the added X for 100 percent more Xbox) has a faster chip, more RAM and storage, and a couple of other goodies…but it’s still a cool one grand, no discount offered. At $500, the cheaper white version is now $50 below the middle model of the Steam Deck OLED, despite running a much newer APU at its core, having a faster, higher resolution screen, bigger battery, and faster charging. Other specs, like 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a MicroSD card slot, are pretty similar. The Steam Deck is getting pretty old in terms of hardware, but the $550 model still offers an OLED screen that’s slightly larger, dual touchpads for finer control, and, of course, it’s loaded with SteamOS (a Linux derivative that plays Windows games shockingly well through a compatibility layer) instead of Windows 11. Even with the work Microsoft has put into the streamlined handheld interface specifically designed for these devices, the consensus seems to be that SteamOS is the superior platform for gaming, compatibility issues notwithstanding. But if you want to be able to play more Windows-based games (especially multiplayer games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat), the Xbox is the better PC. Huh, that’s a weird sentence. Best Buy is offering the $100 discount on the ROG Xbox Ally, and there’s no indication of how long it’ll stick around. If you’re trying to make a decision, I suggest you do so quickly. Get an Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld for just $500View Deal Read...

Google has fixed 10 security vulnerabilities in Chrome versions 144.0.7559.59/60 for Windows and macOS and 144.0.7559.59 for Linux. According to Google, none of these vulnerabilities have been exploited for attacks in the wild so far. What’s new in Chrome 144? In the Chrome Releases blog post, Srinivas Sista lists the 10 security vulnerabilities that have been fixed, all of which were reported to Google by external researchers (with Google apparently counting itself among them in two cases). Google classifies 3 vulnerabilities as high risk, 4 as medium risk, and the rest as low risk. Google prominently advertises the ability to have text read aloud on the web, but this was already a new feature in Chrome 143. The same applies to the feature for splitting the browser window to display two pages side by side in the same tab. AI integration continues to advance in Chrome, albeit less intrusively than in some other browsers. Chrome usually updates automatically when a new version is available. You can manually trigger the update check via Help > About Google Chrome. Google has also released Chrome for Android 144.0.7559.59 and Chrome for iOS 144.0.7559.85, with the Android version addressing the same vulnerabilities as the desktop versions. The Extended Stable Channel for Windows and macOS now also includes Chromium version 144.0.7559.60. Google plans to release Chrome 145 in early February. Other Chromium-based browsers The manufacturers of other Chromium-based browsers are now required to follow suit with their own updates. Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi are at the security level Chrome was at prior to this update. Opera caught up with the others a week ago with the release of version 126 based on Chromium 142, but is still one Chromium update behind. Once the Extended Stable Channel for Chromium 142 comes to an end, Opera will be on its own again. Read...

Catalogic refreshes DPX with browser-based tape management, richer hybrid reporting and streamlined scheduling for mixed environments. Read...

Microsoft began testing Windows 11 version 26H1 for the first time with Insider Preview Build 28000. The version is only available in the Canary channel of the Windows Insider Program. Starting with this build, Windows officially displays “Windows 11, version 26H1” for the first time under Settings > System > About and via winver. Microsoft made it clear that this is not a feature update for Windows 11 25H2, but rather a new technical platform version. Here’s what’s new in Windows 11 26H1 and why you should be aware. The purpose of Windows 11 26H1 Windows 11 26H1 is preparation for new hardware platforms. Microsoft is gearing the operating system towards upcoming processors, such as Windows-on-Arm devices. Among others, that includes Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and X2 Elite plus Nvidia N1 and N1x. These processors differ significantly from traditional x64 CPUs, so Microsoft is making adjustments to key system components for compatibility. These include power management, process planning, driver architecture, and other hardware-dependent parts of the operating system. These changes are hardly noticeable to users in everyday use, but they’re necessary to ensure that new devices will later run stably, efficiently, and at full performance. Thomas Joos For existing x64 PCs, Windows 11 26H1 offers no functional advantages and Windows 11 25H2 remains the main branch for new features. Microsoft is sticking to its familiar update strategy here, with major feature updates released once a year in the second half of the year. What is the enablement package? Windows 11 26H1, similar to 25H2 before it, will be delivered as an “enablement package.” An enablement package is not a complete operating system upgrade—instead, it’s a small activation package that unlocks existing but previously disabled system components. Thomas Joos Microsoft integrates new or modified components into the system in advance via regular cumulative updates. The enablement package then activates the new version identifier and unlocks those existing features. For users, this means shorter installation times, smaller download sizes, and no major changes to interfaces or operation. Canary channel and early development The Canary channel serves as the earliest test environment in the Windows Insider Program. The builds published there aren’t assigned to any specific Windows version and may contain features that will later be changed or discarded. Microsoft expressly says that content from Canary builds won’t necessarily make it into a final Windows version. Another important point concerns channel switching. Leaving the Canary channel is only possible via reinstallation, as switching to channels with lower build numbers is not supported. New features in the Canary channel With the latest Canary builds—for example, starting with Build 28020.1362 (KB5073095) and onwards—Microsoft has integrated numerous features into the Canary branch that were previously available in Dev, Beta, and stable versions of Windows 11 25H2. Microsoft is aligning the feature set, which includes: The Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) is now available on more devices, including desktop systems. The interface is based on a console, prioritizes games, and reduces background processes. Click to Do has been redesigned on Copilot+ PCs. The context menu appears automatically for large images or tables and offers direct access to actions such as copying, saving, sharing, and AI-assisted processing. Learn more about why Click to Do is Microsoft’s next big AI move. The Windows Settings agent now allows direct changes from the search field on Copilot+ PCs. Recommended settings can be adjusted via inline action. If a setting can’t be changed further, Windows displays a corresponding explanation. Windows Studio Effects now also support external USB webcams. They can be activated via Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras or via the quick settings in the taskbar. The Drag Tray now supports simultaneous sharing of multiple files, automatically displays matching apps, and allows direct placement in destination folders. The feature can be enabled or disabled via Settings > System > Nearby sharing. Learn more about why Nearby Sharing is one of the best features in Windows. Thomas Joos File Explorer now has a more consistent dark mode. Copy, move, delete, progress, replace, and error dialogues now fully match the dark design. Chart and progress views have also been adjusted. When hovering over files in the Explorer start area, new quick actions such as “Open file location” or “Ask Copilot” appear, depending on the region and account type. There’s a new “Mobile Devices” page in the settings that can be used to manage smartphones. Windows can use mobile devices as cameras or display files directly in File Explorer. Desktop Spotlight adds options such as “Learn more about this background” and “Next desktop background” to the desktop context menu. Thomas Joos Additional settings have been moved from the classic Control Panel to the Windows 11 settings. These include the keyboard character repeat rate and cursor blink rate. Control of keyboard backlighting on supported HID keyboards has also been improved. Thomas Joos Pens with haptic support now provide tactile feedback for certain UI interactions, such as moving or docking windows. Microsoft has also fixed various bugs, including issues in File Explorer, Task Manager, Settings, Windows Update, Display and Graphics, and Sign-in. A known bug where Task Manager continued to run as a background process after being closed has been corrected. Known issues with Windows 11 26H1 Microsoft lists several known limitations in these early Windows 11 26H1 builds, which include unexpected scrolling in the new Start menu and issues with hibernation and shutdown on certain systems. Such bugs are typical for early Canary builds. Windows Home users can already test version 26H1 by registering for the Windows Insider Program free of charge and activating the Canary channel. This will let you try out new platform changes while they’re still in early development. Learn more about why you should or shouldn’t become a Windows Insider. Thomas Joos At the same time, it’s important to note that pre-release versions are not stable. Crashes, performance issues, faulty updates, or incompatibilities are possible. The Canary channel is therefore not recommended for systems that need stability and reliability. Should you use Windows 11 26H1? Windows 11 26H1 forms a technical basis for new hardware generations and paves the way for Windows 11 26H2, which is expected to deliver the actual innovations for all users in fall 2026. If stability is a concern, Windows 11 25H2 remains the better choice right now. However, those who are interested in upcoming hardware, especially Arm-based Windows devices, or who want to keep abreast of technical developments at an early stage, will gain deep insight into the future of Windows with version 26H1. Read...

Even if Jensen spent his entire keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show jawing about anything and everything except consumer electronics, Nvidia still had something to announce: the latest version of DLSS. Team Green’s upscaling tech is now at version 4.5. It’s now available to try out (at least in part) via the latest version of the Nvidia Windows app. Before you boot up your benchmarks, be aware that not all of the goodies announced at CES are immediately enabled. That 6x frame gen and dynamic frame gen — which only enables the controversial tech as much as necessary to hit your framerate targets — are notably absent. The only major addition currently enabled in DLSS 4.5 is updated models for Super Resolution, the more basic upscaling tech that Nvidia has been using for a while. Enabling the new models via the DLSS Override features in the Nvidia app gives you access to: Model M — standard optimized DLSS Model L — optimized for 4K resolution Preset K — new default for “remaining DLSS modes” For the time being you’ll need to enable this DLSS override on a per-game basis, so it’s best to give it a shot on high-performance games for which you have a specific target in mind. To that end, the latest Nvidia App update also turns on DLSS override support for 77 new games, notably including Arc Raiders, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Europa Universalis V, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2. The update is available in the app right now, or you can always download it manually. Read...

What do you use the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in your laptop for? If you’re like most folks who bought a new laptop in the last couple of years, the answer is “not much.” The NPU is supposed to be used for local “AI” processing tasks… but since most people just use cloud-powered AI tools instead, it kind of seems like an electronic appendix—an appendix that might be costing you battery life on your laptop. Thankfully, that might be fixed with the latest Windows update. According to the patch notes for Windows 11 update KB5074109 (for 25H2 and 24H2), there was an “issue” with NPUs remaining active while laptops were idling, causing notable battery drain. It’s been fixed as of yesterday for Patch Tuesday, at least as far as Microsoft reckons. Other updates include the usual smaller bug fixes and updated drivers, new Secure Boot certificates, and an updated version of the WinSqlite3.dll file. You can see the full list over on Microsoft’s support page, and the new version should automatically download via Windows Update for most users. Read...

Google launches a Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agent tools as it bets on AI agents to drive the next era of online shopping. Read...

I just found the perfect gaming laptop deal! I’m patting myself on the back for this one because you never really see a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti going for just $1,550. If you’re an avid PC gamer and you’re looking to upgrade before prices spike too high from RAM shortages, this Best Buy deal might be your last chance in a while! View this Best Buy deal Normally available for $1,900, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S is a steal with this $350 discount for several reasons. The main one is that the RTX 5070 Ti tends to make laptops expensive because it’s a fantastic GPU. In our review of the desktop version, Brad Chacos points out that “DLSS turns a beastly GPU into a gaming monster,” earning that card a stunning 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award. The mobile version has less performance, but it’s still great for a laptop in this price range. There are other components on this laptop, too, right? Well, yes! The Predator Helios Neo 16S runs on an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and a hefty 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, a superb combo that’s more than capable of handling Windows 11, your daily tasks, your gaming needs, and more. There’s also a 1TB SSD on board—a lot of fast storage space for quick system boots, instant app launches, and short file transfers. I can’t forget the 16-inch OLED display on this laptop, either. Not only will you enjoy visuals in 2560×1600 resolution at up to 500 nits of brightness, but you’ll also have stutter-free frame rates thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate. Connectivity-wise, you’re looking at Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C 3.2, triple USB-A 3.2, a microSD slot, and 3.5mm audio. Don’t sleep on this deal because the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S for $1,550 is an absolute win! This Acer Predator with RTX 5070 Ti is a steal for $350 offBuy now from Best Buy Read...

While wandering the show floor at CES 2026, I was struck by the future of living room gaming. What was once the realm of gaming consoles seems to be turning into PC territory. Handheld gaming PCs are now a mainstay in PC showcases alongside laptops, and lots of companies have third-party docks for TV gaming (à la the Nintendo Switch). Just as Valve’s Steam Deck kicked off the age of handheld PC gaming, Valve’s forthcoming Steam Machine will probably kick off another battle over living room gaming, with future Xbox hardware widely expected to be based on Windows. Meanwhile, Intel and AMD are also squabbling over handheld gaming hardware. And GeForce Now ensures that even if you don’t have a PC in your living room, there’s a good chance your smart TV can stream PC games from Nvidia’s cloud servers. We know that PCs are the future for living room gaming. The question is whether Windows or SteamOS will emerge as king. Handheld PCs and docks everywhere When you see all the new hardware from companies like Asus and Lenovo, you’ll find handheld gaming PCs right alongside their gaming laptops. It’s awesome. Handheld gaming PCs are everywhere now, even in demonstrations showing off fanless cooling technology. But they’re also sneaking into the living room. This year, in the far corners of the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor, I saw quite a few docks intended for machines like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Xbox Ally, and other handhelds. They’re a hot product. Chris Hoffman / Foundry According to Valve, 20 percent of Steam Deck owners use the official docking station with their Deck, and that number doesn’t count all the other Steam Deck owners who use third-party docks. I own a Steam Deck and the official docking station, and it delivers a nice living room gaming PC experience, albeit with some quirks. Learn more about how I turned my Steam Deck into a living room console. GeForce Now brings PC games to TVs Back at CES 2015, Razer announced the Razer Forge: an Android-based living room gaming console. With Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo absent from CES 2015 and not showing off their consoles, this was the type of machine you found in those days. Indeed, back then, the future of living room gaming seemed to look toward mobile platforms. Apple has its Apple TV hardware, which can install games from the App Store. With smart TV platforms running operating systems—both the Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire Stick run Android-derived operating systems under the hood—it seemed like living room gaming on smart TVs might hit their peak with Flappy Bird-style hypercasual games from mobile app stores. But that never even took off. Instead, we’re now seeing Nvidia make big inroads with GeForce Now. Your future smart TV won’t have powerful PC gaming hardware built into it—rather, it’ll connect to Nvidia’s servers and stream PC games directly from the cloud. Nvidia At CES 2026, Nvidia brought GeForce Now to Amazon Fire TV devices. On the show floor, I walked by a variety of smart TVs that proudly advertised built-in GeForce Now support. With a Bluetooth controller, a smart TV, and a fast internet connection, you can now play high-end modern 3D PC games directly on a TV. I prefer running PC games locally on my gaming PC, but if I was going to game on a smart TV in my living room, I’d rather play “real” PC games running in the cloud than Candy Crush Saga running on the TV. The Steam Machine vs. future Xbox The one thing that still isn’t common is serious desktop PC hardware that plugs into the TV, console-style, delivering a living room gaming experience with more power. Valve’s forthcoming Steam Machine will deliver that gaming PC experience that’s optimized for the living room. Meanwhile, rumor is that Microsoft’s next Xbox will be a Windows PC. Forget the customized Xbox system and proprietary hardware. Microsoft already feels like it’s giving up on the Xbox as a console platform, with Xbox hardware sales at an all-time low. Microsoft wants the Xbox to be a cross-device gaming platform, not a console like a PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. I’m surprised no PC manufacturer has leaped ahead of Valve and Microsoft with their own console-style machine that runs Windows. But competition is ramping up. There’s a new full-screen Xbox experience that’s coming to all Windows PCs, and Lenovo has delivered a full-screen gaming interface optimized for the Legion Go since 2023. PCs are the future of living room gaming Sony’s PlayStation 5 owns the traditional console market now that Microsoft no longer seems interested. And as long as Nintendo keeps its games exclusive, there will always be a place for Nintendo’s own consoles like the Switch 2. But aside from that, where are the alternatives? Apple has never been interested in gaming, so it’s no surprise that the Apple TV hardware isn’t a particularly interesting gaming platform, despite stronger hardware than the average living room streaming box and integration with the Apple Arcade subscription service. For smart TVs, the dream of simple mobile games on the TV has been dead for years. TV manufacturers would rather wow you with PC games on GeForce Now than show off mobile games on their 4K TVs—and for good reason. Meanwhile, docked handheld PCs are all the rage now. But I bet there are a lot of desktop PCs and gaming laptops plugged directly into TVs out there, too. For more than a decade, I’ve plugged gaming laptops and desktops right into my TV and had a great experience in the living room. Now, everyone is realizing how awesome PCs are as a living room gaming platform—and I’m excited to see where this goes. Read...