Taking a laptop with you when you travel means you have the convenience of your work or entertainment with you wherever you go. But there’s no doubt that having such an expensive and important device with you can also be a logistical and security challenge. So, here are some tips to help keep you and your laptop safe. 1. Use a VPN and antivirus software Using public Wi-Fi is a necessity for most people travelling with a laptop, unless you have an LTE connection, that is. Unfortunately connecting to public Wi-Fi can compromise your laptop security. These networks are often unsecure, without password protection or encryption, and many have been compromised with malware that malicious actors can use to steal information or passwords. Information breaches via public Wi-Fi happen more often than you might think. A Forbes Advisor survey of 2,000 working Americans that used public Wi-Fi found that four out of every 10 had their information breached while on public Wi-Fi. The survey also found that the most common places that breaches occurred were cafés, airports, and hotels. That’s why you should always use a virtual private network (VPN) and have an antivirus program running when on public Wi-Fi. A VPN acts as an intermediary that encrypts the data you send between your device and the public router, making it a lot harder for cybercriminals to steal your data. If you have to download any files, a good antivirus program can detect and stop malware before it can damage your PC. Pexels: Kevin Paster 2. Have tracker software loaded Tracking software can often be your best bet for getting your laptop back if it goes missing on a trip. Find My Device is one utility that you can use to track a lost laptop. If you have Windows 10 or 11 and a Microsoft account, you have access to this feature and can turn it on in your Microsoft settings. As well as basic tracking of your lost device, it lets you lock your laptop and reset the passwords on it remotely to prevent others from accessing your personal data. The catch is, your Microsoft account has to be an administrator account; you need to have location settings enabled; and the laptop has to be connected to the internet for these features to work. Some savvy travelers prefer to use more sophisticated tracking software than Find My Device. One example is Absolute’s Home and Office software. It gets integrated into the laptop’s BIOS once installed, so even if your laptop’s operating system is changed or the storage drive is replaced, you can still track it down. Chris Hoffman / IDG 3. Label it for easier recovery It may seem like an obvious nugget of advice but having a label on your laptop that specifies your name, phone number, and either your residential or work address can be the one thing that gets you your laptop back when it’s found. The people who found it need to know who it belongs to. Add a sticker on your laptop’s underside as a discrete identification tag. You can buy writable and printable adhesive tags on Amazon for just a few dollars. Otherwise, slip a note into your laptop bag as a less intrusive identification method. You should also record your laptop’s make and model and serial number before you go, in the event it is found, and you need to make a report about it. Also jot down any other distinguishing features that will help you describe your laptop’s appearance, like its color, or any stickers on the chassis. Pexels: Brett Sayles 4. Apply common sense protection strategies The number one protection strategy you can apply is to always keep your laptop in your line of sight wherever you go. But if you do need to travel light and leave it in your hotel when you go out, be sure to store it in your room security safe or have the hotel staff store it in a secure place if you don’t have a safe in your room. Travel insurance is also a must when traveling with a laptop. The right kind of insurance will cover you for the complete cost of the device in the event it’s lost or stolen. If your laptop has a Kensington lock port, you should use a Kensington lock to prevent grab and run theft. Otherwise, buy a cable lock before you go that will work with your laptop’s ports. When it comes to physical protection against damage, ensure your laptop bag is either a hard case or has sufficient padding to protect it in the event it is dropped. Buying a bag made from waterproof material is also a sensible idea. As a rule, you don’t want to leave your laptop in the overhead compartment of an airplane where it can be squashed or battered by other luggage. Instead, keep it with you in your seat. If your laptop bag is deemed to be checkpoint friendly, that can prevent you having to remove it from your bag every time you go through airport security. Pexels: Markus Winkler 5. Bring your own safe laptop accessories Always bring a universal travel adapter and a wall charger to use with your laptop when you travel. The universal travel adapter should have the correct plug shapes for the country or countries you are visiting, if you intend on travelling overseas. The adapter should also support a voltage range of between 100 to 240V. Make sure you have surge protection too, either built into your adapter or as a standalone accessory, because you can never rely on unfamiliar electrical outlets. Unexpected power surges can and will fry your laptop’s circuitry. The reason you want to bring a wall charger and always plug it into a wall socket is so you can avoid using public USB chargers, which are used by hackers for Juice Jacking. This is another cyber-theft tactic used by cybercriminals, whereby they load malware onto public USB ports to infect and maliciously access user devices. If you do ever have to use a public USB port, be sure to use charge-only cables with data blocking functionality. These cables deliver power but prevent any data (and therefore any malicious files) from being downloaded to your computer. Pexels: ready made Related content Best laptops: Our experts pick the top 11 models 23 travel gadgets you need for your next trip How to find lost gadgets (and avoid losing them) Read...

TL;DR: Save over 80% on Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office 2019, the Microsoft upgrade your PC’s been wanting. If your rig’s running outdated software or you just built a new PC and need to load it up with the essentials, this bundle is a killer steal. Right now, you can score Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and Windows 11 Pro for the price of one software—grab lifetime access to these Windows-friendly performance and productivity upgrades for only $45.97 (reg. $428). Windows 11 Pro isn’t just a reskin. It’s built for power users, with pro-level features you won’t find in the Home version. You get BitLocker device encryption, Hyper-V virtualization, Remote Desktop access, and advanced tools for productivity and security. Whether you’re gaming, coding, or running multiple VMs, Windows 11 Pro gives you more control under the hood. You’ll even get Copilot, an AI assistant powered by GPT4 Turbo, to make your workday go more smoothly. Pair that with Office Pro 2019, which arrives with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and more, and you’ve got the software foundation for serious work and multitasking. Ready to upgrade your PC with this two-for-one Microsoft duo? Grab your lifetime licenses to Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office 2019 for just $45.97 while downloads are still available. This offer only lasts a little while longer. The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

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You spent a lot of time on a crucial Word document and, just when you save, your machine either shuts down or stops functioning, leaving your work unsaved. You may wonder whether can you recover an unsaved word document. The good news is you can. Here, you will learn why this happens and how to recover unsaved Word documents. Common Causes of Unsaved Word Files Losing an unsaved Word document can be frustrating, but it usually happens due to a few common reasons. Understanding why your document didn’t save properly can help you avoid this situation in the future. Unexpected power outages or Word/system crashes before saving. Manually closing without saving the document. If AutoSave/AutoRecover features are disabled, changes won’t be backed up automatically. Bugs or file damage can stop documents from saving properly. Disk errors, USB problems, or full drives can block saving. Saving can fail due to file type mismatches or plug-in conflicts. Unsaved Word Document Recovery Method Comparison MethodSuccess RateDifficultyTimeLimitationsData Recovery ToolHighEasy3-5 MinPaid or free, best used immediately before data is overwritten.Word AutoRecover FeatureMediumVery Easy30 SecOnly functions if AutoRecover is enabled.Manual Backup SearchMediumModerate6-8 MinRequires navigating hidden folders, functions only if backup options were enabled.Temporary FilesLowModerate6-8 MinMay not always contain complete documents, temp files are often deleted quickly. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Recover Unsaved Word Documents Hereare four options for retrieving an unsaved document in Word: Option 1: Recover Unsaved Word Document Using 4DDiG When Microsoft Word crashes, it often leaves behind temporary versions of unsaved documents in a hidden AutoRecovery folder on your computer. A specialized unsaved Word document recovery tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery can retrieve them. It checks both the default AutoRecover folder and other possible locations to find unsaved Word document. Here’s what more this tool offers: Reclaims corrupted, deleted, unsaved or formatted MS Office files with just a few clicks. Offers an impressive success rate and a free trial. Shows a preview of files before you restore them. Recovers unsaved word document from various storage devices, including PCs/Laptops, USBs, SD cards, etc. Fully compatible with Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. No tech skills required. Here’s a guide on how to recover unsaved Word file with the help of 4DDiG: Step 1: Install and launch the tool on your Windows machine. Then, select the drive where your unsaved Word documents were lost (in my case, it’s the C: drive). Click “Scan” to proceed. Tenorshare Step 2: Once the scan is complete, click on the “Type” tab in the left panel. Then, select “Unsaved Documents” to locate your unsaved files. Tenorshare Step 3: Preview and select the files you wish to restore. Finally, click “Recover” to save them to a secure location on your computer. Tenorshare Option 2: Recover Unsaved Word Document by Built-in Features AutoRecover is a Word feature that automatically saves temporary backups. It can help recover unsaved Word document on Windows 10/11, but only if it was turned on before the file was lost. If you’ve already activated it, here are two ways to use Auto Recovery to get back unsaved Word documents: Recover from the Document Recovery pane: Step 1: Reopen Word. A Recovery panel may show up with Word files marked [Recovered] or [Original]. Step 2: Click a file. Then, use “Save As’ to keep it permanently. If the panel doesn’t appear: Step 1: Head to “File.” Then, choose “Info.” Next, tap “Manage Document.” Step 2: Select “Recover Unsaved Documents.” Find and open the Word file. Then, click “Save As” to keep it. Tenorshare Option 3: Search for Backup Files Manually If Word’s AutoRecover feature doesn’t function, you can manually find unsaved Word documents. AutoRecover files have a “.asd” extension and are made while working on unsaved documents, whereas backup files have a “.wbk” extension and are created if the “Always create backup copy” option is turned on in Word settings. Here’s how to recover an unsaved Word document by looking for its backup manually: Step 1: Open “File Explorer.” Then type the following path in the address bar: C:\Users\UserAccount\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles Tenorshare Step 2: Find “.asd” and “.wbk” files. Then, to open the “.asd” file, execute Word > File > Open > Browse. Set file type to “All Files (.*).” Step 3: Select the “.asd file” you wish to recover and open it. Use “Save As” to save it as a “.docx” file. Step 4: To open a “.wbk” file, rename the file extension to “.docx.” Option 4: Recover from Temporary Files While you work, Word creates “.tmp” (temporary) files that you can manually search to find a copy of your unsaved document. If found, you can move and save it to restore your work. Here’s how to retrieve an unsaved document in Word from the temporary files folder: Step 1: Open File Explorer. Then, type the following path in the address bar: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Temp Tenorshare Step 2: Select and right-click the temporary files for Word. Then, press “Ctrl + C.” Step 3: Go to the folder where you want to save them. Right-click. Next, choose to press “Ctrl + V.’ Step 4: Once copied, open the Word files and continue working. Tips to Avoid Losing Unsaved Word Documents Again Let’s be honest—no one expects their computer to crash or Word to freeze right before clicking “Save.” That’s why is a good idea to set up Word’s built-in backup options ahead of time. These simple settings can save you a lot of stress down the road. Turn on AutoRecover Step 1: Open Microsoft Word. Step 2: Go to File > Options > Save. Step 3: Make sure “Save AutoRecover information every X minutes” is checked. Tenorshare Step 4: Also check “Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.” Enable Always Create Backup Copy Step 1: Open Word and go to File > Options > Advanced. Step 2: Scroll down to the Save section. Step 3: Tick the box for “Always create backup copy.” Tenorshare FAQ 1. Can I recover an unsaved Word document? Whether can you recover an unsaved Word document depends on certain factors like having the AutoRecover feature or backup enabled. In the case that the files are still on your disk but you can’t find them in the AutoRecover folder, use a specialized tool like 4DDiG to restore them. 2. How to recover unsaved Word document on Mac? To recover an unsaved Word document on a Mac, open Word and go to the File menu, then select Open Recent and look for the option to recover unsaved documents. If this method doesn’t work for your case, open Terminal and run open $TMPDIR to check temporary files in the TemporaryItems folder. You might find a recoverable copy. Check out this guide to learn more about how to retrieve an unsaved document in Word on Mac. 3. Where are Word AutoSave files stored? The exact location depends on your operating system and the version of Word you’re using. Here are the common places where Word AutoSave files can be found: On Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles On Mac: ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery/ Conclusion Hopefully, you’ve learned how to recover unsaved Word document from this post. You can try Word’s AutoRecover, search backup, or temp files to get back your lost document. Or, give 4DDiG Data Recovery a shot. It deep-scans the AutoRecovery or Temp folder to restore unsaved Word files and can also save data from numerous file-loss scenarios. Read...

In this digital age, sharing and editing videos can be challenging with format limitations and slow processing times. So, whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or video editor, converting, editing, and enhancing video files while maintaining high quality is essential. That’s where HitPaw Univd comes into play. This advanced AI video converter provides high-speed performance, an intuitive interface, and compatibility with numerous formats. Want to know more? Let’s explore the core features of HitPaw Univd for Mac and Windows, how to use it, and a few use cases. HitPaw What is HitPaw Univd? HitPaw Univd (previously HitPaw Video Converter) is a robust video converter, compressor, and editor that uses advanced AI technology to deliver exceptional results in just a few clicks. Designed for both novices and professionals, its primary goal is to provide a seamless and quick way to handle multimedia content without compromising quality. Known for its fast conversion speed, this is a worth-considering tool for YouTubers, filmmakers, or anyone dealing with multimedia files. Interface The interface of HitPaw Univd is designed with simplicity in mind. It is incredibly user-friendly, offering a drag-and-drop workflow that makes it easy for beginners. Also, there are no other complicated settings, just easy-to-understand tools, and options on the main screen. So, users without technical skills can also easily navigate the software’s features and get the job done. Formats and System Support One of the standout features of this video compressor and converter is its extensive support for different formats and operating systems. Whether you’re dealing with video, audio, images, or even documents, HitPaw Univd ensures seamless compatibility. SupportWindowsMacOnlineOperating SystemWindows 11/10/8/7 64-bitmacOS 10.13 and aboveAccessible via a browser, i.e., ChromeFormats1000+ formats, including MP4, MOV, MPG, MKV, DAT, TS, MP3, WMA, AIFF, WAV, FLAC, etc.20+ formats, including MP4, VOB, WEBM, ASF, MXF, OGV, MP3, WV, M4A, and OGG Top Features Here are some of the features of HitPaw Univd that make it appeal for multimedia conversion: 1. Ultrafast File Conversion: HitPaw Univd offers lightning-speed processing up to 120X faster than traditional converters. Whether you’re dealing with large video files or tight deadlines, it ensures instant conversions without compromising quality. 2. Versatile Media Formats Support: Its impressive compatibility with a wide range of audio, video, image, and document formats ensures smooth conversions of various file types, making it a secure choice for everyday conversion. 3. High-Quality Lossless Conversion: When changing file formats, this AI-powered software preserves original integrity with zero quality loss, making it valuable for creating high-quality videos for YouTube or preparing media for a professional project. Other AI Features HitPaw Univd is not just a video converter; its AI-powered features elevate it to the next level. Let’s dive into the details of each one: AI Video Enhancer This feature uses artificial intelligence to enhance video quality, providing clearer and sharper visuals without manual intervention. Whether you’re working with low-resolution footage, need to sharpen facial features, remove general noise, restore older content, or optimize new footage, this tool does the job efficiently. HitPaw Video Compressor The AI Video Compressor reduces the size of large video files to the highest quality without a watermark or size limit. Thus, it makes the videos easier to store, share, or upload on social platforms. It can simultaneously shrink multiple video’ sizes at a super-fast speed. AI Video Editor This tool helps users easily trim, cut, merge, crop, rotate, add a watermark, change video speed, and refine video footage. It supports various editing tasks, including transitions, effects, color correction, and stabilization, making it the perfect tool for both beginners and experienced editors. HitPaw Vocal Remover HitPaw Univd’s Vocal Remover separates vocals and background music from video or audio tracks without affecting the quality of the music. The AI analyses the track and intelligently filters out vocals, making it ideal for even novices to create karaoke tracks, remixes, or instrumental versions of songs. Audio Enhancer The Audio Enhancer by HitPaw Univd boosts audio quality by eliminating unwanted background noise and enhancing clarity. Whether you’re working with podcasts, voiceovers, or music tracks, this feature ensures your audio sounds professional by automatically adjusting volume levels, reducing distortion, and fine-tuning the sound. How to Convert Video Using HitPaw Univd Here is a step-by-step guide to converting videos using HitPaw Univd: Step 1. Add Video The first step is to download and complete the installation of this software. Now, launch it and open the “Converter” section. Click “Add Files”> “Add Video” to import the required video file. HitPaw Step 2. Choose the Output Format Next, expand the “Convert all to” drop-down menu and select the output format from different categories. Tap the pen to adjust the preferences and the quality. HitPaw Step 3. Start Conversion It’s time to enable the ultrafast conversion mode and choose the destination folder. Then, press the “Convert” button and wait until the conversion is done. You can check the “Converted” section for the output. That’s it! HitPaw User Feedback After learning about HitPaw Univd’s features and working in detail, let’s look at a selection of user feedback: Capterra: 4.8/5 I recently tested this video converter and am more than impressed with what I got. It is a widely usable tool, and I found no complications. Converting my videos, music, and images for any preferred format was a walk in the park. The quality of the converted files turned out to be excellent. Great customer supportJoshua R. (Capterra) Software Advice: 4.8/5 The selection of different devices is particularly ingenious if you don’t know very well which format is preferred for which device. This makes working with the program very easy, and you can better familiarise yourself with the problems of the different file formatsChristian (Software Advice) Pricing and Plans HitPaw Univd offers flexible pricing plans to suit different needs. A free trial with limited features is available, but here are the details of various pricing plans for the full version: PlansDurationWindows & MacDevicesIndividualsMonthly$19.951 DeviceYearly$39.95Perpetual$79.95TeamAnnual$119.955 Devices$259.9510 Devices$999.95100 DevicesBusinessAnnualContact Us FAQ 1. Is HitPaw Univd free? Yes, HitPaw Univd offers a free trial version with limited features. To unlock all functionalities, you need to purchase a subscription. 2. Can I use HitPaw Univd on Mac? Of course, HitPaw Univd for Mac offers the same features as the Windows version and can be installed easily on macOS devices. 3. Is HitPaw Univd worth it? HitPaw Univd is worth using for anyone who needs a fast, reliable, and user-friendly video converter. Its AI-powered features and extensive format support make it a top choice for everyone. Conclusion HitPaw Univd is an attractive video converter, compressor, and editor because of its 120X faster conversion speed, AI-powered tools, and compatibility with various formats. Whether you are using HitPaw Univd for Mac or Windows to handle multimedia content, this advanced software delivers performance and value for money. So, try it today and streamline your video editing workflow without sacrificing quality. Read...

A year ago, Microsoft hyped Copilot+ PCs as the next big thing. Twelve months later, it’s hard not to see them as one of the tech industry’s more significant flops. The question is whether they’ll stay that way. Many Copilot+ PCs began shipping on June 18, 2024, about a month after Microsoft announced the program at the company’s headquarters a month earlier. Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft’s own Surface division committed to shipping Copilot+ PCs, whose centerpiece was a processor with an embedded Neural Processing Unit — the engine of AI — capable of 40 trillion operations per second, or TOPS. A year later, the numbers are beyond grim. They’re abysmal. In 2024, shipments of Windows PCs with 40+ TOPS totaled just 0.5 percent of the total PC market, and 0.6 percent of all Windows PCs — 1.3 million units in total, researcher IDC found. In the first quarter of 2025, the firm says, that total nudged upwards to 1.9 percent of the entire PC market, and 2.3 percent of all Windows PCs sold during the period. That’s just 1.2 million units more. “I think it’s a case where [a Copilot+ PC] looks interesting, but there’s not enough for me to spend the money on.” Microsoft pitched a vision of the PC where AI would be the tool by which users would build, create, and search, using AI-powered apps like Paint Cocreator and Recall. “Today, we are bringing real joy and a sense of wonder back to creation on the PC,” Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the launch of the Copilot+ PC program at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash. Customers, however, simply haven’t bought in. Microsoft has used laptops and tablets like the Surface Pro 11th Edition, seen here, to show off its AI applications. Mark Hachman / IDG A cascade of negative events Pick whatever reason you’d like about why Copilot+ PCs have been so slow to take off — there’s been quite a few of them. For one, PC makers have attached premium price points to Copilot+ PCs, said Bob O’Donnell, the president of TECHnalysis Research, which makes them less attractive than a cheaper model. Another? A slow rollout. “One of the biggest issues has been that Copilot+ features have shipped much more slowly than anybody anticipated,” Tom Mainelli, a group vice president at IDC, said. Microsoft’s “banner” feature, Microsoft Recall, was itself recalled — or at least put on hold several times until Microsoft secured it, Mainelli pointed out. “They didn’t do themselves any favors,” he said. Microsoft Recall uses the PC’s NPU to quickly search archived snapshots of information on your PC, which are secured by Microsoft’s biometric security, Windows Recall.Mark Hachman / IDG Microsoft also didn’t draw a sharp line between which features needed a Copilot+ PC and which didn’t. Microsoft’s none-plus Copilot chatbot — and ChatGPT, and Google Gemini — use the cloud, including for their ability to generate AI art. But similar features on Copilot+ PCs, like the Cocreator art feature in Paint, require a Copilot+ PC with its own NPU. Others, such as the ability to use AI to remove backgrounds in Photos and Paint, are available for all PCs. Copilot Vision, which is now live, was announced for all Windows 11 PCs but seemed to run better on a laptop with an NPU. Microsoft also was forced to launch its Copilot+ features first on the Qualcomm Snapdragon platform, delaying formal support for Copilot+ processors from AMD and Intel until they shipped and could be tested by Microsoft. O’Donnell noted that Microsoft is working on Windows Machine Learning, which allows a software developer to write AI applications for WinML APIs, not the individual GPU or CPU. But Microsoft still characterizes the Windows ML APIs as “experimental” and “not supported for use in production environments.” Intel, in particular, didn’t launch its commercial versions of the Core Ultra Series 2 (“Lunar Lake”) Copilot+ PC processor until CES 2025, putting the largest PC processor vendor months behind Microsoft’s timeline. “I think it’s a case where [a Copilot+ PC] looks interesting, but there’s not enough for me to spend the money on,” O’Donnell said. “And so if I’m going to get a new PC for now, maybe I’m better off going with something else.” Meanwhile, powerful GPUs like Nvidia’s GeForce series are being snapped up in record numbers, with AI capabilities that far outstrip NPUs. Microsoft, however, is ignoring discrete GPUs for its Copilot+ program. So far, gaming PCs, even with their powerful GPUs, have been excluded from Copilot features.IDG So do consumers need Copilot+ PCs? Maybe not right now — most current Copilot+ features feel like tech demoes at best. Mainelli, reached at an AMD event on AI, noted that “everybody’s really asking people to buy systems today for use cases that they promise are coming.” “I think that both IT decision makers and consumers are still a little confused about what an AI PC is and why they should buy one,” Mainelli added. PCWorld reached out to Asus, Acer, Microsoft, and Lenovo for comment. Only Acer replied by press time, declining to comment. Are AI PCs inevitable? The numbers suggest that the PC market is increasingly adding AI to its portfolio, though Copilot+ PCs still trail far behind. Remember that a Copilot+ PC is really the second wave of what the PC industry was terming “AI PCs” a year or two back. Those earlier PCs had embedded NPUs, but the NPUs aren’t powerful enough to meet the minimum performance Microsoft requires for a Copilot+ PC: 40 TOPS or more. Intel’s Core Ultra Series 1 (“Meteor Lake”) includes about 11.5 TOPS from the NPU itself. AMD’s Ryzen 8000 mobile chips, which predated today’s Ryzen AI 300, included an XDNA NPU that was capable of 16 TOPS of AI performance. Laptops built upon those two chips fell into the category of AI PCs, but not Copilot+ PCs. AI PCs, and their successors, Copilot+ PCs, seem likely to take over productivity laptops.IDG According to IDC, the takeup of AI PCs was far higher. In 2024, the PC market sold 28.2 million Windows AI PCs, IDC’s Mainelli said, or 14 percent of the Windows PC market. In the first quarter of 2025, 12.2 million AI PCs were sold, which was 27 percent of the Windows PC market for that specific period. If you include the Apple Mac, basic AI PCs sold during 2024 were 49.7 million, Mainelli said, with the Copilot+ capable “generative AI” category selling 3 million units. In the first quarter of 2025, 88.6 million AI PCs were sold, and 58.4 million “generative AI” PCs. (IDC characterizes Macs with an Apple M1, M2, or M3 processor as an AI PC. IDC gave M4 Macs and their 38 TOPS an exception, allowing them to be considered as generative AI PCs, which includes Copilot+ PCs.) Put that way, the numbers increase significantly. “I think it’s safe to say that within two years, we will be running lots of AI workloads locally on PCs,” Mainelli said. “But it’s very hard to convince somebody to buy something when you can’t show them a use case today.” PC productivity processors are turning toward AI Beginning this October, PC makers will have another card to play in trying to convince customers to buy Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has repeatedly notified customers that Windows 10 will be phased out in October, leaving a big window for Copilot+ PCs to replace them. The Copilot+ champion has been Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon X Elite platform provides the most powerful NPU, long battery life and even light gaming.Mark Hachman / IDG Laptops are showing a strong tendency toward AI, with all three PC chipmakers favoring more powerful NPUs. What the Copilot+ numbers hide is the likelihood that Copilot+ PCs may win out, simply because of the prevalence of Copilot+ processors in laptops. Here, Intel has an outsized presence. Intel still ships about 75 percent of all PC CPUs, including about 77.5 percent of the laptop market, where the vast majority of Copilot+ PCs live. (There are virtually no gaming laptops or desktops with Copilot+ NPUs.) Laptops with Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 (“Lunar Lake”), with Copilot+ capabilities, will give way to the upcoming “Panther Lake” chip in the fall, with what some believe will be an “NPU 5” inside it. “[Panther Lake] brings all the fantastic features everyone loves in Lunar Lake and just raises the bar,” said Michelle Johnston Holthaus, then co-chief executive of Intel, last fall. Still, it’s not clear Intel customers are currently buying in. In April, Intel told Wall Street that it sold unexpectedly high volumes of what it referred to as “n-2” processors — older chips like Intel’s Raptor Lake — rather than its most advanced chips. Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner suggested that was because customers preferred older chips already stockpiled in United States warehouses that would not be subject to tariffs. It’s not known whether that’s true, or whether customers shied away from Intel’s latest chips because of their poor performance instead. AMD hasn’t indicated what it intends for the successor to the Ryzen AI 300 or “Strix Point,” but presumably it, too, will house an NPU. Intel is betting big on its Panther Lake chip. Historically, laptops based upon the new platform debut at CES in January.Mark Hachman / IDG Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon platform has been at the forefront of Microsoft’s Copilot+ development efforts though it lags behind Intel and AMD on sales, has trumpeted its market-leading NPU capabilities since the Snapdragon X Elite platform debuted in October 2023. Every PC processor Qualcomm now ships includes an NPU, and that’s extremely unlikely to change. It’s almost certain, then, that NPUs and their AI capabilities will simply find their way into your PC in the months and years to come, especially if you’re buying a productivity laptop. “Eventually, yes,” O’Donnell said. “Everybody will eventually have an NPU that’s 40 TOPS or higher. There was a day when they didn’t have integrated GPUs. A GPU was a discrete part. That eventually went away, and integrated GPUs weren’t that big of a deal.” But for gaming? And desktops? That might be a different story. AMD’s Ryzen AI Max will appear in desktops as well as laptops, and the niche Ryzen 8000 series does include a basic NPU. But Intel’s Core Ultra 200S (“Arrow Lake”) swung and missed at delivering lower performance with lower power, and we have yet to see a dedicated Copilot+ PC desktop program. It might be why Microsoft now seems to be positioning Copilot+ PCs as just “premium” PCs, and downplaying their AI characteristics, O’Donnell said. The point, though, is that right now users have had a choice between buying a Copilot+ PC or a traditional PC. They’ve spoken loud and clear, turning up their nose at what the PC industry has told them is the next big thing. Read...

SentinelOne has partnered with Amazon Web Services to enhance cloud security by integrating AI-powered threat detection with AWS Security Hub`s new features. Read...

TL;DR: Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is down to just $27.97 (reg. $499), giving you access to premium development tools without the premium price tag. Whether you’re building your first app or managing large-scale software projects, having the right tools makes all the difference. Visual Studio Professional 2022 gives developers a powerful, flexible environment for writing, debugging, testing, and deploying code across multiple platforms, and right now, it’s available for a one-time price of just $27.97. This isn’t a trial or a watered-down version. It’s the full suite of Microsoft’s flagship IDE, ready to support Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and web development. You can work with .NET MAUI to create cross-platform apps, use Blazor to build interactive UIs with C#, and even run and debug C++ or .NET code on Linux. Speed up your workflow with modern features: Hot reload: apply code changes without restarting. IntelliCode: offers AI-assisted code suggestions and autocompletions. CodeLens: insights on references, changes, and test results without leaving your code. Live Share: collaborate with teammates in real time with no screen sharing required. If you’re looking to level up your development stack or need a reliable platform for professional coding projects, this deal is a no-brainer. Just don’t wait too long—licenses are limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 now for just $27.97 (reg. $499) while these codes last. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for WindowsSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

A few years ago, Microsoft introduced the Feedback Hub, an app that allows users to suggest various improvements for Windows 11. Those suggestions are public, and BleepingComputer took a closer look at them to identify the five features that users want most right now. First and foremost is the ability to move the taskbar to the top or side of the screen, a suggestion that has received 24,046 votes as of this writing. One user writes, somewhat resignedly: “The move taskbar feature is missing now for years. Why has this not been changed yet?” Currently, the Windows 11 taskbar is firmly cemented at the bottom of the screen. So far, Microsoft has remained silent on whether they might implement this change in the future. Second, there’s the desire to completely disable recommendations in the Start menu. Currently, it’s only possible to reduce the number of recommendations, not to disable them completely (although this option is already available in test versions). However, this obviously doesn’t meet the needs of many users, as one summarized: “No, I don’t want to reduce the size, I want to hide it, forever, for good.” Third is the proposal to change the default search engine in Windows 11. As of now, Windows still uses Bing as its preferred way to answer queries, and it opens those searches in Edge. This isn’t the case in the European Economic Area, where Microsoft has been forced to allow users to change the default search engine. So far, Microsoft has shown no intention to make the same change for US users. Fourth is a reduction in Windows 11’s system requirements, which would allow the operating system to run on older computers. This affects not only compatible CPUs, but also—and most importantly—the requirement for TPM 2.0. The strict hardware requirements currently prevent many Windows 10 computers from upgrading to Windows 11, which is becoming a real issue with Windows 10 reaching end of life later this year. Microsoft recommends users buy a new machine that’s capable of Windows 11, but that isn’t a viable choice for everyone. Lastly, users want more options for the taskbar icons, primarily for more efficient use of the space. Windows 11 already has a “never combine” mode for taskbar icons, but the mode’s behavior has quirks that annoy users. The Feedback Hub has dozens of posts about taskbar behavior. Four of the five suggestions could potentially become reality, but it’s extremely unlikely that Microsoft will ever lower Windows 11’s system requirements. Ultimately, users should upgrade to Windows 11 or find another way to safely keep using Windows 10. Read...

If you need an inexpensive productivity laptop and don’t care much about gaming, then here’s a solid deal for you: HP’s OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 model can be yours for $650 at Best Buy (was $1,000) right now, which is a stellar price for such a versatile device. Equipped with a gorgeous 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen, you’ll get vivid colors and deep contrast on a large display with plenty of screen real estate for your apps. And this is a 2-in-1 laptop, so you can use its 360-degree hinge to flip the screen back and use the device like a tablet, or turn it into a tent propped up for convenient video watching. The performance here is decent for the price, not to mention it’s one of those cutting-edge Copilot+ laptops that Microsoft wants you to start using. The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor is AI-ready, allowing you to access all the new AI features in (and coming to) Windows 11. And with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, it’ll handle Windows 11 with aplomb. The 512GB SSD is pretty standard—not huge, but large enough for most uses. Battery life is the standout feature on this laptop, with HP claiming that it reaches 23 hours of active use. Even if that figure ends up being wildly overstated, you’re still getting tons of life on a single charge. And this laptop also comes with Intel Arc 130V integrated graphics, powerful enough to handle creative tasks and some light gaming. Copilot+ laptops don’t come cheap, and we’re only just starting to see deals on them. If you’ve been eyeing one, then now’s a great time to snatch one. Get this HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 for $650 before the deal expires or stock runs dry! That’s quite a discount. But if this one doesn’t suit your needs, check out these excellent top-pick laptops. Save 35% on this 2-in-1 productivity laptop with long battery lifeBuy now at Best Buy Read...