By now, most users can use both the classic Outlook and new Outlook apps together for email. Either way, the Outlook calendar is accessed as needed via the calendar tab in the left-hand navigation. But what if you want to see your emails and calendar at the same time? Joel Lee / Foundry In the new Outlook app, click the My Day button at the top right of the window. It looks like a calendar icon with a checkmark in front of it. With My Day selected, a new panel appears on the right-hand side of the window, where you can see all calendar appointments for today and the following days in chronological order. My Day also has a To Do tab where you can see all your tasks. Joel Lee / Foundry Meanwhile, in the classic Outlook app, you can do something similar by navigating to the View tab, clicking the To Do Bar button, then selecting Calendar. This brings up a right-hand calendar panel where you can click on specific days and see all events for that day and upcoming days. Further reading: Tips for using the new Outlook app Read...

If you’ve been using Windows for a long time, you’ve probably been told to periodically reinstall the operating system to keep it fresh. I remember I used to reinstall Windows XP every few months back in the day to keep it zippy. But is this necessary in 2025? Will Smith ran the numbers in a deep dive investigation—and they might just shock you. In short, the answer is no. Based on Will’s personal Windows 11 video editing and gaming desktop, a Ryzen 9800X3D machine with 64GB of RAM, there was almost no difference between a PC that’s heavily customized and running for over a year versus a clean installation. He also tested it on the even more powerful 9950X3D. The benchmarks showed a difference of about 3 percent for single-core tasks, and maybe a tiny bit worse for multi-threaded applications. In fact, some benchmarks showed an improvement in the “dirty” setup, with an SSD full of Will’s games and personal projects and RAM buzzing with background programs like Dropbox. Adobe Premiere ran 8 percent faster on the older setup. WHAT? Gaming tests were a little more demonstrable. Cyberpunk 2077‘s built-in benchmark showed a 2.5 percent improvement on the refreshed machine, with an even better improvement for 1 percent lows. But once you turn up the visual settings with path tracing to really tax the graphics card, once again, the “dirty” machine showed a tiny advantage over the fresh install. It’s approaching the margin of error for a lot of these tests. F1 2024 and Rainbow Six Siege showed dramatic improvements on a fresh machine… with frames so high your monitor probably can’t actually display them. Foundry So, these results might be shocking if you’re used to the idea that a fresh Windows install is always better for performance. Adam and Will point out that this isn’t an exhaustive scientific test, though, and Will is a power user who knows how to keep Windows running well. But unless you’re loading up your computer with a million startup programs and dozens of Yahoo Toolbar-style crudware, it seems that a Windows refresh won’t give you the dramatic performance improvements you might have seen 10 or 15 years ago. For more deep dives into the PC stuff that matters to you, subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube and check out our weekly podcast The Full Nerd while you’re over there. Read...

There’s no such thing as too much RAM—ask anyone who’s trying to find a good deal on an Nvidia graphics card. But you might not need to drop a month’s rent on a new GPU to free up some VRAM! Just wait a little while for the newest graphics card driver. The latest version of the DLSS SDK uses significantly less video memory for upscaling graphics. The latest version of the software development kit indicates that programs taking advantage of Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling tech—so most of the 3D games released in the last few years—will be able to do so with an approximately 20 percent reduction in video RAM usage. That’s according to VideoCardz.com, quoting the reduction at various resolutions from 1080p all the way up to 8K. In layman’s terms, once these changes are applied to games via updates, you’ll be able to run DLSS optimizations with a lower graphics overhead on GPUs going back to the RTX 30 series, possibly even the 20 series. And with DLSS applied, you can put in more shiny graphics stuff while hitting the same frame rates, or just feel smug as your frames go up without any changes at all. Exactly how long it’ll take game developers to implement the changes will vary from game to game, of course. Note that a 20 percent reduction in VRAM usage to implement DLSS doesn’t mean 20 percent VRAM freed up for any particular game. We’re talking about a 20 MB savings on a 1080p implementation, and a little over 1 GB at 8K. That’s a chunk of memory saved on the top end… but that’s a situation that only applies to $3,000+ setups. Even so, every little bit helps when it comes to graphics. Read...

As a former owner of a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (you know, the explodey one), I’m a little sensitive to exactly how much chemical energy I’m shoving into my jeans on any given day. Case in point: accessory maker Anker is recalling six of its popular USB power banks, which are at risk for “melting of plastic components, smoke, and fire hazards.” Oh dear. Here’s the full list, compiled from two different Anker alerts and spotted by 9to5Google: Anker PowerCore 10000 — Model A1263 Anker Power Bank (10K, 22.5W) — Model A1257 Anker Power Bank (20K, 22.5W, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1647 Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, 7.5W) — Model A1652 Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C and Lightning Cable) — Model A1681 Anker Zolo Power Bank (20K, 30W, Built-In USB-C Cable) — Model A1689 Anker says that it’s initiating a recall for these models “out of an abundance of caution.” If you have one of the affected devices, first of all, stop using it. Second of all, don’t throw it in the trash—a flaming bag of garbage is only marginally better than flaming pants. You can initiate the recall process with Anker even if you no longer have a receipt for the battery, simply using photos of the appropriate model number. Once you document your battery and submit the photos to Anker, you can dispose of it via an authorized recycling or waste disposal center (standard electronics recycling centers might not have the necessary safety equipment). You might want to call ahead to make sure they’re authorized to dispose of recalled batteries. That’s a bit of a hassle, sure, but it’s better than a house fire. Once you’ve submitted the documentation to Anker, the company says it will issue a replacement to you, or if no replacement is available, a gift card for the approximate value. Read...

A new pop-up from Meta is causing a stir. Facebook users who want to upload stories are prompted to share their photos for “cloud processing,” reports The Verge. But this also allows Meta AI to access images from their smartphones, even ones that haven’t been published to Facebook. This raises questions about data privacy. By agreeing to “cloud processing,” you enable Meta AI to analyze your private photos. Users who activate the feature can have their photos used for collages, photo themes, or AI-generated edits. However, this gives Meta access to all images in the smartphone’s storage. The feature is currently being tested and rolling out in Meta’s apps. Users must actively agree to use it. However, the idea of Meta AI being able to view private photos is dubious at best. On platforms such as X and Reddit, users are expressing concerns that Meta could use the photos to train its AI models, despite promises to the contrary. Meta doesn’t rule out use for training AI Meta has clarified to The Verge that the photos are not currently being used to train AI models. However, there was no clear answer to questions as to whether this is ruled out in the future. A Meta spokesperson pointed out that the feature is voluntary and that users are informed exactly what data is being used. Nevertheless, the concern remains that the unclear communication and far-reaching access rights could undermine user trust. To protect themselves, users should scrutinize the feature critically before activating it. If you have any concerns, you can deactivate the “cloud processing” option in Facebook’s app settings. It’s also advisable to only upload photos that you absolutely want to share, and to regularly check the app’s permissions. The new feature shows how close the link is between data privacy and AI development. Meta faces the challenge of offering innovative features without losing the trust of users. Until it’s clear how the data will be used in the long term, users should remain cautious and keep an eye on developments. Read...

Having a smart home doesn’t necessarily mean you need to spend tons of money on dozens of smart devices. A few smart plugs can change things up quite a bit, allowing you to remotely turn on and off “dumb” devices without replacing them. And right now, you can get started with a pair of Kasa Smart Plugs for only $11 (was $20) with discount code 4KASAPLUG stacked on top of the current 25% product discount. Kasa’s Smart Plugs are tiny enough that you can fit two snugly into a double outlet, which is pretty awesome and makes it easy to get started if you don’t have any smart devices at all. Anything you plug into the Kasa Smart Plug will be controllable via the app, allowing you to turn the outlet on and off remotely. It’s great for lamps, fans, Christmas lights, and more. These smart plugs are compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can easily integrate them if you already have a burgeoning smart home of either ecosystem. Use voice commands to shut off the lamp in the living room while you’re already nestled in nicely in bed. You can also use a timer or countdown schedules to automatically turn on and off any appliances plugged into these smart plugs. You’ll love how easy it is to control certain outlets right from your phone, and getting two smart plugs for $11 is a great deal! Get two Kasa Smart Plugs for 45% off right nowBuy now at Amazon Read...

It’s funny how as most electronics have become smaller yet more powerful, big-ass screens keep getting bigger yet more affordable. (Try to buy a phone with a screen smaller than six inches, if you don’t believe me.) Right now, you can get the biggest OLED monitor on the market for just $899 on Amazon. And unlike some alternatives, this Asus monitor pairs great with gaming laptops. The Asus ROG Swift PG49WCD uses the same 49-inch 144Hz panel that Samsung, LG, and other gaming monitor makers do. Honestly, they’re probably coming from the same factory. So it’s up to individual manufacturers to distinguish their designs beyond that 5120×1440 resolution, which is basically two QHD monitors squished together on one curved screen. Asus does this with some extra I/O prowess. In addition to the usual HDMI and DisplayPort options, you get a USB-C port with 90 watts of power delivery, which should be enough even for thirsty gaming laptops. An extra pair of USB-A ports lets the built-in KVM switch do its thing for multiple PCs at once. Other highlights include a beefy heatsink to protect the OLED panel, various software tricks like pixel cleaning and screen moving to do the same thing, and three years of warranty coverage for burn-in if that stuff isn’t quite enough. Oh, and according to the Amazon listing, buying this monitor will get you a free copy of Doom: The Dark Ages. Hell yeah! You can use the savings to get a VESA mount for a stylish upgrade, but keep in mind that you might need an upgraded model to handle its weight. If this monitor isn’t quite what you’re looking for, be sure to check out PCWorld’s picks for the best monitors. Save $300 on this 49-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor (and get a free copy of Doom: The Dark Ages with it)Buy now on Amazon Read...

Most of the long and thin smart floor lamps we’ve tried are all about casting bold splashes of color on the wall, perfect for setting a mood but not must help when it comes to reading, dining, or getting something done. But with its new line of Matter-enabled lamps, Govee hopes to bring the dazzle without forgetting the productivity.   Govee already has several floor lamps in its portfolio, including two that we’ve reviewed, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro and the Floor Lamp 2. We admired both lamps, which have long, thin, stick-light designs that cast multicolored and even animated light on your walls. But while both lamps can serve up eye-catching color scenes, they’re not really designed for illuminating your reading nook or dining table.  With its trio of new floor lamps, Govee is trying something different. The first lamp boasts a three-zone lamp head that casts light up as well as down; the second model comes with a torchiere design; and the third is a tree-style floor lamp with three adjustable arms. All three lamps are compatible with Matter, the smart-home unifying standard, and all are designed to cast white light as well as color, with the traditional lamp-head and tree-style lamps particularly well suited for reading or workspaces.  First up, the Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp ($179.99, available now) has an upper zone that can splash up to 20 square meters of multicolored light on the ceiling, while a middle RGBIC zone serves up a groovy decorative glow.   The Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp can cast cool ripple effects on your ceiling, but that’s not all it can do.Govee Crucially, though, the lower section can cast up to 1,000 lumens of white light, with temperatures ranging from a warm 2,700 Kelvin to a daylight-equivalent 6,500K. That means the Uplighter Floor lamp can either cast a nifty ripple effect on your ceiling or bathe your reading nook in warm white light—or do both at the same time, if you wish. We’ve had the opportunity to perform a full Govee Uplighter Floor Lamp review and we like it. The Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp ($149.99, available July 7) is the lone lamp of the trio that’s more focused on ambient light, with three curved lenses capable of splashing mulitcolored light on up to 16 square meters of ceiling space.   Thanks to those curved lenses, the three light zones can seamlessly blend to create rainbow effects or other colorful light scenes. When tuned to a daylight-equivalent 6,500K white-color temperature, the Torchiere Floor Lamp can cast up to 780 lumens of brightness.  The Govee Torchiere Floor Lamp has three curved lenses that can cast seamless rainbow effects on your ceiling, as well as a range of warm and cool white light.Govee Finally, the Govee Tree Floor Lamp ($169.99, available July 7) has a three-arm, tree-style design, with each arm capable of 350-degree horizontal and 90-degree vertical rotation. The light cast by the lamp heads can also be focused from 90 degrees to 30 degrees, allowing for either wide splashes of color or narrow cones of light.   Again, both multicolor and white light will be on tap, with white light temperatures ranging from a warm 2,700K to a cooler 6,500K. That means you could turn the top two lamp heads toward the wall for ambient splashes of color, while the third arm could be focused downward for use as a reading light. The three arms of the Govee Tree Floor Lamp can be adjusted indepedently, meaning they can wash colors on your walls as well as cast focused cones of white light.Govee Set to its coolest 6,500K white color temperature, the Tree Floor Lamp can generate up to 1,500 lumens of brightness.  All three of the new Govee lamps can sync with music with help from their integrated microphones, and all can be grouped using the Govee app, which also offers dozens of animated light modes along with the ability to create your own lighting effects.   Even better, the new lamps all work with Matter, the new standard that bridges the gaps between Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and other Matter-compatible smart home platforms. That means you can use your choice of voice assistant or smart home app to control basic features, although more complex functionality (such as creating your own animations) will require the Govee app.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lights. One feature that the new Govee lamps don’t have is an integrated Bluetooth speaker. The Govee Floor Lamp Pro has a Bluetooth speaker built into its base, making it easy to stream tunes from your phone and sync the music to the lamp’s LEDs. If you want Govee’s new floor lamps to sync with your tunes, you’ll need to supply your own music source. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Syncs across Mac, iPhone, and iPad Comprehensive editing and annotation tools Simple, intuitive interface Cons Requires annual payment Lifetime license enables use on Mac only Our Verdict PDF Expert is an excellent PDF editor that fits seamlessly in the Apple ecosystem. It’s our pick for Mac, iPad, and iPhone users. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices MacOS includes a capable PDF editor in its Preview app, but iOS devices don’t have any native PDF editing capabilities. That leaves users to seek out third-party solutions, and Readdle’s PDF Expert is one of the most popular. The editor allows you to create, edit, annotate, organize, sign, and protect PDFs whether you’re on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. In its latest version, PDF Expert adds an AI-powered chat assistant that can summarize documents, extract key points, and even generate hashtags, making it easier than ever to navigate and understand lengthy or complex files. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best PDF editors for comparison. PDF Expert features and design PDF Expert has a clean, intuitive interface that lets you get right to work. Tabs run across the top of the screen—Annotate, Edit, Export, Fill & Sign, Scan Tools and Measure—each revealing an appropriate set of tools when active. When you open a PDF file, it’s displayed in the main pane, and thumbnails of the document pages are displayed in a sidebar on the left. PDF Expert’s latest version adds an AI assistant that can summarize documents and extract key points directly from the PDF. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Whenever you select an annotation or editing tool to work with, its corresponding options display to the right of the page. Clicking the pen tool, for example, displays sliders to adjust the line width and opacity along with a selection of ink colors. Selecting the text tool opens a display of font settings and sizes. By putting the tools you need at hand instead of requiring you to hunt through menus for them, PDF Expert saves you considerable time on your editing jobs. PDF Expert offers a full slate of annotation tools, allowing you to highlight text and add marginalia, notes, stamps, and shapes. You can capture your signature using your Mac’s keyboard or trackpad, your iPhone’s camera, or an Apple Pencil on your iPad, and sync it across all your Apple devices to sign contracts, invoices, and other documents. The editor also supports forms, automatically detecting and highlighting fields that need to be filled. When you’re working with sensitive documents, you can redact text by erasing it or obscuring it with a black box. You can also protect access to the file by setting a password. You can drag PDF pages to reorder them.Michael Ansaldo/IDG By putting the tools you need at hand instead of requiring you to hunt through menus for them, PDF Expert saves you considerable time on your editing jobs. How much is PDF Expert? You can use PDF Expert across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad for $79.99 a year, which is considerably less than our top two picks, Adobe Acrobat DC and Foxit PDF Editor. A lifetime plan is available for a one-time payment of $139.99, but it only enables use of the editor on your Mac, not your Apple mobile devices. PDF Expert offers a fully-functional 7-day trial of the Mac version, no credit card required, and it’s worth taking advantage of to determine if this robust editor will meet your needs or if you’d be better served by one of the other options in our roundup of the best PDF editors. Is PDF Expert worth it? True to its name, the editor expertly handled every task I threw at it. It makes page management a simple affair, enabling you to reorder pages by simply selecting and dragging them to a new location and add or extract pages with just a few clicks. It can convert scanned documents into editable text with the click of a button, and it converts PDFs into Microsoft Office formats, plain text, or image files. PDF Expert’s new AI chat feature extends this ease of use even further, letting you ask natural-language questions about your document, surface key points, or get a quick summary without reading the entire thing. For Apple users, particularly those with multiple devices, PDF Expert can be a worthwhile investment for a comprehensive and easy-to-use PDF editing toolkit. I only wish the lifetime license covered the whole Apple ecosystem and not just Macs. Read...

If you’re even vaguely paranoid about someone listening in on your conversations, you might be a little anxious about that phone sitting in your pocket going forward—if you use Bluetooth. Newly discovered flaws in Bluetooth security mean that your Bluetooth earbuds and headphones are a lot more vulnerable than you thought. Security researchers at ERNW presented vulnerabilities in widely used Bluetooth hardware, finding three crucial weaknesses and creating a proof-of-concept exploit. The implementation wasn’t all that sinister—just “reading” what media was currently playing—but the three bugs, one of which was rated as a “high severity issue,” could be expanded far beyond snooping on your racy audiobooks. It’s possible that they could be used to execute calls to specific phone numbers, scrape contacts or call history, or in the most extreme cases execute code remotely and fully compromise a connected smartphone. According to BleepingComputer, the affected Bluetooth headphone, speaker, and microphone hardware is used by at least 29 devices (and probably many more) from brands like Bose, Sony, Jabra, JLab, Marshall, and JBL, among others. Notable popular models include the Bose QuietComfort earbuds, Sony’s WF and WH headphone series, and Marshall’s Woburn and Stanmore speakers. That doesn’t mean you should immediately toss your gear in the trash. We’re talking about some pretty in-depth research from people whose entire job is to find and fix these vulnerabilities, and there’s no indication that these problems are actively being exploited “in the wild.” Furthermore, an attacker would need to get physically close to you while you’re using affected Bluetooth hardware to do anything with it. I suppose it’s technically possible that a hacker could, say, hang out in Times Square and just randomly try to drop malicious code on strangers’ smartphones while they’re listening to Brat. But a more likely scenario is a targeted attack on a specific, high-level individual, which is generally the purview of state-sponsored hacking campaigns. If you’ve never clapped eyes on anything with “TOP SECRET” in the header, you probably don’t have too much to worry about here. The affected companies were alerted to the vulnerabilities in May, and according to one German publication, some (less than half) have already patched firmware for affected devices. Read...