At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Dual 3K lenses provide simultaneous, detailed views from two angles On-device AI detects people, pets, noise, and even a crying baby without a subscription Supports local storage up to 256GB, along with flexible cloud storage options Cons No automatic motion tracking Fire detection is still in beta and is not a substitute for dedicated sensors Our Verdict The Imilab C30 Dual is feature-rich indoor camera that delivers wide coverage, sharp video, and smart alerts—without charging extra for the essentials. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Imilab C30 Dual Retailer Price $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We’ve reached a point where most indoor security cameras offer the same basic mix of features—HD video, motion alerts, and cloud storage—wrapped in a similar-looking plastic shell. The Imilab C30 Dual sets itself apart with a different approach. It’s an indoor camera with a (literal) twist: two separate 3K (3072 × 1728 pixels) lenses that let you monitor two areas at once, in high detail, from a single device. One lens is fixed for wide-angle coverage, while the other pans and tilts to cover the entire room. But it’s not just about the hardware. The C30 Dual adds a layer of on-device artificial intelligence that can detect people, pets, loud noises, and even a crying baby—all without any requirement to pay for a cloud subscription. That’s still a rarity in this category, where advanced detection features are usually locked behind a paywall. And with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, plus local storage up to 256GB, it offers a surprising amount of flexibility without asking for monthly payments. Design and features The Imilab C30 Dual’s most compelling feature is right there in the name. One lens provides a fixed wide-angle view, giving you a consistent overview of the room. The other is motorized to pan 355 degrees and tilts 60 degrees, and it offers up to 6x digital zoom, letting you zero in on specific spots when needed. You get two perspectives at once, with no blind spots and no need to toggle between angles. The C30 Dual’s PTZ camera can pan 355 degrees and tilt 60 degrees to follow subjects or zoom in on specific areas. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Another feature you don’t often see at this price is a “virtual fence” that lets you draw activity zones within the camera’s view and receive alerts only when something crosses that boundary. Another setting, called Family Guard, sends a notification if no motion is detected during scheduled periods—useful if you’re keeping tabs on an elderly relative or latchkey kid. Fire detection–currently in beta, is an unusual feature that can send an alert if the camera sees flames or smoke, although you’d be wise to treat it as reinforcement to dedicated safety devices such as smoke detectors. The Imilab C30 Dual is easy to recommend, because this security camera delivers more than you’d expect for its price. You have two options for storing the camera’s recordings: You can provide your own microSD card—up to 256GB in capacity—for local storage (follow our advice for choosing the best microSD card for security cameras), or if you prefer the convenience of the cloud, you can use the Xiaomi Home app to sign up for a paid plan from Xiaomi (Imilab is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem). Two plans are available: Basic costs $4.99 per month and gives you 7 days of event video history and up to 50GB of storage, while the Pro plan bumps that to 30 days of rolling storage with unlimited space for $24.99 per month. A 90-day trial is available to test the service, but all core camera functions work fine without it. Setup and performance Getting the Imilab C30 Dual up and running is a simple process. The USB-C-powered camera can connect to either your 2.4- or 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and it also supports Wi-Fi 6. This enables it to handle high-resolution streams without bogging down your network. You can place it on a tabletop or mount it to the ceiling using the included bracket, depending on your space and what angles you want to cover. Physical installation takes just a minutes. Once it’s powered on, setup continues in the Xiaomi Home app, which walks you through connecting the camera to your network. The Xiaomi Home app is clean and well-organized, with quick access to live feeds from both of the camera’s lenses and all its settings. From there, you can adjust motion-detection zones, review event clips, and receive alerts when something’s happening in the camera’s field of view. The Xiaomi/Mi Home app gives you quick quick access to live feeds from both lenses and all your camera settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The camera performed well in my day-to-day testing. Both lenses deliver sharp, detailed video with minimal delay. The motorized lens moves smoothly and can be steered using the app’s pan and tilt controls to follow subjects as they move across the room. AI detection is generally accurate; people and pets were flagged correctly, and notifications arrived in real time without a flood of false alarms. The C30 Dual also performed well after dark. In low-light conditions, the it uses enhanced color night vision to capture full-color footage. When the room goes completely dark, it switches to infrared mode, using 10 built-in IR LEDs to deliver clear black-and-white video. That visual clarity is matched by solid audio performance. Two-way audio is clear enough to talk with someone at home or to get your pet’s attention when needed. The mic picks up sound well, and the speaker’s message gets across without distortion. The C30 Dual offers a couple of ways to protect your privacy. You can enable a built-in privacy mode to shut off the camera feed when you’re home. Imilab also says all video data is encrypted, which adds a layer of protection for anyone concerned about digital snooping. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of he best home security cameras. Should you buy the Imilab C30 Dual? The Imilab C30 Dual isn’t just a novelty, it expands your coverage without the need for a second device. And it’s rare to find key features like local storage and smart detection without needing to pay for a subscription. For everyday indoor monitoring—kids, pets, or general peace of mind—it’s an easy recommendation. The C30 Dual delivers more than you’d expect at this price, without nickel-and-diming you to be useful. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Powerful chip that brings the Switch 2 up to the level of a PS4 (Pro) Better frame rates and faster loading times Useful improvements such as HDR and 4K support Light and handy despite larger screen Cons Low battery power No OLED screen and therefore no real HDR in handheld mode Console edges are slightly sharp-edged and uncomfortable Our Verdict The Nintendo Switch 2 is a smart and meaningful upgrade, offering better graphics, faster load times, and modern features like HDR. But weaker battery life, an LCD screen, and a high price make it more suitable for hardcore fans than casual players. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched on June 5th and aims to win over both longtime fans and newcomers. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Nintendo has opted to modernize the familiar concept of the original Switch. With significantly better hardware and detailed improvements, the Switch 2 feels like a thoughtful upgrade. But much like the PlayStation 5 Pro, the big question remains: Is it worth it and who is it really for? We break it down in our review. Nintendo Switch 2: A big boost in performance This time around, Nintendo installed more powerful hardware in the Nintendo Switch 2. Together with Nvidia, Nintendo installed a specially customized processor and GPU, which together deliver around ten times more power than the original Nintendo Switch. Both old and new titles benefit from this and now run more smoothly and with shorter loading times, even if not always at 60 fps. While titles such as Mario Kart World definitely reach the golden frame rate mark, other titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 are even more demanding, which means they tend to run at 30 to 40 FPS. However, the fact that Cyberpunk runs so well on the Switch 2 is a success in itself. And even with games like Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the higher FPS figures work wonders to significantly enhance the gaming experience. The use of DLSS plays a large part in making such performance possible on the Switch 2. Nvidia’s upscaling technology can generate more frame rates with the help of AI. However, image artefacts do occur from time to time as a result of the AI calculation, but these usually occur in the background and aren’t noticeable. The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the console itself, two joy cons, a controller holder, the docking station and a power supply unit including charging cable.Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry In terms of resolution, the Switch 2 now delivers 1080p in handheld mode, which also ensures that you can feel a significant improvement in quality. In TV mode, however, it depends on the game which resolution is possible. While titles such as Mario Kart World run natively at 1440p, other games are only upscaled to this value. For the first time it’s possible to upscale titles up to 4K resolution. This is a significant improvement compared to the first Nintendo Switch, which reached a maximum of Full HD. This is remarkable, especially as the Switch 2 also supports HDR, which makes for really beautiful scenes in TV mode. Nintendo has also given the Switch 2 a full 256 GB of internal memory, which is significantly more than the meagre 32 GB of the first Nintendo Switch or 64 GB of the OLED Switch. This should give most people enough space to transfer their game library (or fill it with new titles). If required, the memory can also be expanded with a microSD card. Incidentally, not all microSD cards are now compatible with the console. With the Switch 2, the memory card must fulfil the microSD Express standard. The Nintendo Switch 2 is larger than its predecessor, and also larger than the OLED Switch (not pictured).Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry In terms of battery life, the Nintendo Switch 2 takes one step forward and two steps back. Even though the battery now delivers 5220 mAh instead of 4310 mAh, the battery life is noticeably shorter due to the higher performance. For demanding games, the console lasts just two hours, which can be a major disadvantage when traveling. At best, the console lasts six and a half hours, which is still not too much. The Nintendo Switch OLED, by comparison, managed four and a half to nine hours of battery life. So if you often play in handheld mode, you’ll get significantly less playing time here. Of course, this is less relevant in docked mode on the TV, but it still feels like a step backwards. The Switch 2 makes perfect sense as an upgrade, as it delivers many improvements that Nintendo titles urgently need… Unfortunately, the Switch 2 has not become a must-have despite some useful improvements. Nintendo Switch 2: Build quality and handling As usual from Nintendo, the workmanship of the Nintendo Switch 2 is of a very high standard. Everything looks very high-quality and the console feels really good in the hand, despite the larger form factor. Not much else has changed compared to the first Switch. In terms of design, the Switch 2 is very well done.PC Welt / Foundry The joy cons are also very similar, apart from the fact that they are now magnetically attached to the console. This works very well. However, be careful not to accidentally pinch a finger because that hurts like hell. If necessary, the joy cons can either be released at the touch of a button or you can pull them off directly with a little force. This is only recommended if you have a firm grip on the console, otherwise it will quickly end up on the floor. Conveniently, it’s also possible to put the joy cons on upside down. They then work just as well and the console simply rotates with them. Apart from that, there are only a few changes to the familiar design. The console is less colorful, as there are only a few blue and red accents instead of the completely colored joy cons on the first Nintendo Switch. However, we hope that Nintendo will release a few chic special editions in the future to spice things up a bit. Incidentally, Nintendo has not changed the sticks on the Nintendo Switch 2, which can still lead to the infamous stick drift. An omission that many rightly criticize, as the problem has been known for years. Nintendo Switch 2: The screen falls short We were somewhat disappointed when Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would only have an LCD screen and not an OLED screen like the Nintendo Switch OLED. This was a real highlight and made games on the console look even more colorful and stylish, not to mention the better contrasts. Although Nintendo has installed a really good LCD screen (which at 7.9 inches is also significantly larger than on the first Switch), it still can’t keep up with a good OLED screen. The colors look good, but in a direct comparison you can tell that the OLED Switch is still ahead. The differences between the Switch 2’s LCD screen and the OLED screen aren’t easily visible, but they exist. The grass looks rich and green in both, though the Switch 2 is weaker in contrast.Foundry Anyone who played with the OLED Switch for a long time will notice the difference. It’s a real shame because Nintendo could’ve simply launched a more contemporary OLED version straight away. This would have at least justified the price of the Switch 2. In dark scenes, the picture lacks depth.Foundry However, the biggest weakness of the LCD screen becomes clear when you realize that one of the Switch 2’s functions is no longer available. This is because the highly praised HDR support is not guaranteed in handheld mode. While it’s certainly possible to use the technology in TV mode to achieve a wider range of color values and brightness levels, the latter in particular fall completely flat in handheld mode, as independent analyses show. In docked mode, the Switch 2 can receive and output HDR signals, but these simply cannot be displayed on the LCD screen. Ultimately, this means that good black levels and brightness values aren’t possible in handheld mode, especially where games have to support HDR in the first place. This only applies to a handful of titles. The Nintendo Switch 2 may therefore benefit from somewhat richer colors, but when it comes to contrasts, which are only achieved through deep black and white values, it cannot keep up with the almost four-year-old OLED Switch, which is an incredible shame. Nintendo Switch 2: Game lineup highlights At least Nintendo doesn’t let itself down with the selection of launch titles and presents its own releases such as Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza, which will be released in July, to show what the console is capable of. Mario Kart World is probably the Switch 2’s most important launch title.Foundry We’ve already had the chance to test Mario Kart World extensively, and the game looks simply fantastic. The new worlds are lovingly designed, with action happening everywhere on the tracks, and the characters and their animations look great. On some maps, high waves build up when a player’s blue tank crashes into a waterway, players behind can even feel the impact. Elsewhere, you speed over sand dunes, surrounded by sandstorms that impair visibility. Mario Kart also has an open world for the first time on the Switch 2, which is a special innovation for the racing game and probably wouldn’t have been possible on the original Switch. Just like the option to compete with 24 players instead of just 12, which is chaotic but fun. In the new Free Roam mode, you can explore the open game world of Mario Kart World, complete smaller missions and practice for the next race.Foundry In Donkey Kong Bananza, you can unleash your destructive fury and smash most of the map into its individual parts, which then fly around and have to be calculated accordingly by the console. Players who prefer less family-friendly titles will also get their money’s worth. Cyberpunk 2077 is an example of this, appearing directly as a launch title for the Switch 2. Other titles include Hitman, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter, and Yakuza. However, Switch 2 games are notably more expensive. Mario Kart World costs up to $80, for instance. Nintendo will also offer free updates for some games you already own on the original Switch, allowing them to benefit from the Switch 2’s improvements. For other titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, this will require an additional charge (unless you already have the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass). Nintendo Switch 2: GameChat online function The new GameChat function is aimed specifically at online gamers and is designed to allow them to communicate with others directly via the console. No separate microphone is required as this is already built into the console. That said, a camera is required, which Nintendo also offers for for $54.99. GameChat can be selected via the new C button on the Switch 2 joy cons or the Switch 2 Pro controller. You can invite friends to join the chat and then play games like Mario Kart or Mario Party together in online multiplayer, which is a lot more fun as you can also see your fellow players. Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry The implementation of this function still seems rather rudimentary. You do have the option of blurring the background so that only the person themselves is clearly in focus. Even apps like Teams can do this much better. The console also provides little help on how to start an online game with the camera. The noise filtering during the game itself works quite well, which is why you have no problems hearing all participants in the conversation over their game sound. Nintendo has also deliberately chosen to blur the gameplay of the other participants so that you are less distracted. However, the blurred and choppy images are more distracting than less in our eyes. It’s also important to know that GameChat can only be used free of charge until March 31st, 2026. After that, it requires a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. But the real question is: How much added value does GameChat bring? You can just use Discord or Teamspeak for free. This makes it seem like more of a gimmick than a real improvement. Nintendo Switch 2: How effective is mouse control? Another new feature of the Switch 2 is the ability to use the new, magnetic joy cons like a mouse with the help of special sensors. All you have to do is lay the joy cons flat. Although this mouse control works in principle with all games, it’s not always useful. In our preview of the Switch 2, which was created at an event, we were able to try out the function before release and felt it was more of a gimmick than a real selling point. High-caliber titles such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are said to make particularly good use of mouse control, but the game has not yet been released. Other titles such as Drag X Drive or Super Mario Party: Jamboree are already benefiting from the new technology, but these are only smaller mini-games. After all, shooters like Cyberpunk 2077 or strategy games like Civiliation7 can now be controlled properly on the console. Another use case for the function is the Nintendo eShop itself. Here you can use the mouse control to search for specific titles, which is much more practical than the normal input via the controller. Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry To use the joy cons as a mouse, you need a smooth surface with plenty of space–something not everyone has readily available. According to Nintendo, you can simply place the joy con on your lap, but this doesn’t work in practice. You also shouldn’t have sensitive wrists, especially if you already spend a lot of time on a PC. Your hands rest very uncomfortably on the joy cons when playing, which can lead to fatigue and pain after just a few hours. Nintendo does offer a solution (for an extra charge) in the form of grips where you can place the joy cons to make them feel more like a mouse. However, even this isn’t truly ergonomic and therefore not really recommended. To put it in a nutshell: The mouse control of the joy cons is clear and precise, as it should be. But it’s not a real game changer. It doesn’t turn the Switch 2 into a PC and feels like a quirky idea that offers real advantages for a few select titles, but no major added value overall. Nintendo Switch 2: Specs SpecsValueSize116 mm x 272 mm x 13.9 mm (with joy cons connected)Weight401 g (with connected joy cons: approx. 534 g)DisplayCapacitive touchscreen / 7.9 inch / resolution 1920 x 1080 / LCD screen with wide color spectrum and HDR10 support/VRR up to 120 HzCPU/GPUCustomized processor from NVIDIASystem memory256 GB (UFS)Communication functionsWLAN (Wi-Fi 6) / BluetoothVideo outputMaximum resolution: 3840 x 2160, 60 fpsSupports 120 fps when 1920 x 1080 / 2560 x 1440 resolutions are selectedAudio outputSupports linear PCM 5.1, output via HDMI cable in TV modeSpeakersStereoMicrophoneIntegrated microphone (monaural)ButtonsPOWER button / volume buttonsUSB ports2 USB Type-C portsHeadphone socket4-pin 3.5 mm stereo mini plug (CTIA standard)Card slotBoth Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch software cards can be inserted.microSD Express Card slotOnly compatible with microSD Express Cards (up to 2 TB)SensorsThe acceleration sensor, the gyro sensor and the mouse sensor are located in each Joy-Con 2 controller. The brightness sensor is located in the console.Operating environmentTemperature: 5 – 35°C / Humidity: 20 – 80%Internal batteryLithium-ion battery / battery capacity: 5220 mAhBattery life2 – 6.5 hoursCharging time3 hoursPower consumptionTV modeActive gaming: 19 W*2*3HOME menu: 8 W*3Sleep mode (WLAN is connected, wired LAN connection is not active): 0.5 WSleep mode (wired LAN connection is active): 5 WSwitched off: 0.5 WEstimated annual energy consumption*4: 14 kWh*5 / 50 kWh*6Data according to the manufacturer (Nintendo) Nintendo Switch 2: Conclusion If you’ve been itching to get the Nintendo Switch 2 since it was first announced, you’ve probably already pre-ordered or plan to buy it anyway. The Switch 2 makes sense as an upgrade, with better frame rates, faster loading times, 4K support, and more memory. While it’s not on par with the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, it holds its own. Still, it’s not a must-have. The LCD screen, weak battery, and underwhelming features like mouse mode or game chat hold it back. If you’re unsure, it may be worth waiting for a Lite or OLED model to address its biggest shortcomings. Read...

ChatGPT still hasn’t fulfilled the most grandiose promises of its early days, and that’s something I’m mostly grateful for—largely because it has yet to replace me and my entire profession. But over the last few years, it has evolved more and more into the virtual personal assistant it always had the potential to be. Scheduled tasks are part of that. A scheduled task is an automated prompt that’s performed in the future and/or in a recurring pattern. You can do things like have the AI pop up and remind you to do certain tasks on certain days at certain times, give you a topical news briefing every morning, scrape and analyze data once per week, and more. And I’ve found it impressively useful. It’s only available through the o3 and o4-mini models, which means you’ll need to pay for ChatGPT Plus or higher—but scheduled tasks makes the price of a sub easier to swallow. Here’s how ChatGPT’s scheduled tasks helped me develop a healthier daily routine. Setting the stage for a successful day As a freelance writer, I’m blessed with work-life autonomy. No one expects me to clock in at a certain time every morning, nor am I expected to be on the clock throughout the day. I write mostly what I want, largely when I want, and as long as I get the work done within a reasonable time frame, I get paid for it. That suits me very, very well. And like most independent contractors, that leaves me at the mercy of my own self-motivation and ability to concentrate. I’ve long struggled with procrastination, though, and that’s why I loved scheduled tasks. My scatterbrain style somehow adores routine—if I can sink into one, I find it hard to stop. Scheduled tasks help me sink into routine. These email reminders are sent by ChatGPT as scheduled tasks. I appreciate that every alert uses a slight variation in text. It keeps me from glossing over them.Jon Martindale / Foundry For example, I struggle to just get started every day. With no hard schedule to stick to, it’s easy to let the work day slip away from me. What starts as a 9 AM morning becomes 9:30 AM start after a quick school dropoff, then 10 AM after a quick scroll of Reddit, then 10:30 AM after a quick dog walk, then 11 AM… you get the idea. So my first foray into ChatGPT being my virtual assistant was to establish a strong start to my days. I now have a daily 10:30 AM reminder: “If you haven’t started yet, it’s time to.” I should probably move that earlier, but I know myself—if it’s too aggressive, I’ll just ignore it. Better for it to be a last resort nudge than an obnoxious provoker. The results so far have been mixed. If I haven’t started work and I see the email come through, or the notification pops up within the app, it’s usually enough of a kick in the rear to put down whatever I’m distracted by. And the slight variations in the reminder messages make them harder to ignore than standard alarms and calendar events. But I’ll be honest: sometimes I just don’t care what ChatGPT wants me to do and prefer to keep wasting my time. Other days I’m already working when the alert comes through, to which I feel a bit smug. Eat that, ChatGPT. Keeping me consistent with my habits Where scheduled tasks are more useful, I think, is in the small things. The tiny habits we wish we could be more consistent with. The small-effort tasks that only take a minute or two but keep slipping your mind. I’ve had chronic back pain for years, so I rely on various tools and tricks to fix it and prevent flare-ups. ChatGPT’s scheduled tasks are the latest addition to that toolbox. I now have it toss me reminders twice a day during the work week to stretch and do some quick back and posture exercises, like holding a primal squat for as long as I can. A true-to-life model of what I look like without all my posture efforts.Igor Omilaev / Unsplash I’ve seen others use similar reminders to drink more water, to check in with friends or family, to let the dog out for a wee, etc. Others use it for less regular but more engaging reminders, like weather forecasts in the morning or suggestions for what to do every weekend. The point is, regardless of your particular needs and what you want to remember, ChatGPT’s scheduled tasks work pretty well for that—especially if you already use the app or web service for other stuff. I love it because it’s so easy to do Indeed, it’s the simplicity of scheduling reminders with ChatGPT that makes me continue using it. I don’t need a separate app and I don’t need to navigate calendar months. I just spin up a new chat, spit out what I want, and ChatGPT largely understands. Creating a scheduled task is so easy. There’s no reason not to.Jon Martindale / Foundry I can get a flash of inspiration in the middle of the night, throw out a garbled request to ChatGPT full of typos—though making sure to get the time and date of the prompt right, at least—and I know it’ll do a decent enough job of reminding me of what I’ve asked. And with email integration, I don’t even need to keep the ChatGPT app running. When I spot the email drop into my inbox, I scan the subject and I’m instantly reminded of what I needed to do. It doesn’t feel as intrusive as desktop notifications but it’s just as effective. How to start using scheduled tasks ChatGPT’s scheduled tasks are easy, but not quite as easy as it used to be. For some reason, OpenAI has hidden the feature behind opaque model names. It’s not available in the default 4o model. ChatGPT-4o might say it can schedule tasks, but if you try to get it to schedule something, it’ll tell you that it can’t (or that the feature is disabled for now). Instead, you’ll have to switch to either the o3 or o4-mini models (but not o4-mini-high), and then make your scheduled task request. Both o3 and o4-mini should be able to handle it no problem, and both will give you confirmation the scheduled task request is in place once complete. For scheduled tasks, you need access to o3 or o4-mini. That means you’ll need a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Team subscription.Jon Martindale / Foundry As for the scheduled task request itself, you can pretty much word it however you want in classic ChatGPT style. “Set me a reminder to start work at 10 AM. Include a quick motivational quote to give me some pep.” is just as valid as “Remind me to work at 10.” The usual warnings of what you should never say to ChatGPT apply here. It probably won’t replace any productivity apps or services you already use, but if you’re already paying for ChatGPT’s other features and feel like you could benefit from these flexible reminders, you should definitely try ChatGPT’s scheduled tasks. They’ve been refreshingly effective for me. Further reading: I tried the $200/mo ChatGPT Pro so you don’t have to Read...

Chromebooks have been around since 2011, but they’ve undergone a serious transformation since the early days. They’re no longer the low-resolution, low-powered machines from the days of old. Now, in addition to the ones that fit the needs of casual users, a handful of them are capable of running games, a far-fetched idea at one point in time. Sure, you can probably do more on a Windows machine, but if you’re looking for something affordable and zippy enough for everyday tasks, a Chromebook might just be your best option — and a lot of the compromises these web-based laptops required in their earliest day no longer apply. Let’s dig in. Further reading: The best Chromebooks Chromebooks are more affordable With a couple of exceptions, Chromebooks are generally more affordable than their Windows counterparts. You’ll find most premium models in the $600 to $800 range. However, we’ve seen Chromebooks go on sale for under $200, albeit with some significant compromises. Most cost well under $500. You can point to two reasons right away. First, most buyers prefer a Core or Ryzen chip inside a traditional laptop, just to accommodate the additional performance Windows and its applications require (to run on the laptop, remember). Those chips cost money, more than the Intel Celeron or Arm chips commonly found in Chromebooks. Microsoft also charges for its Windows license, presumably (much) more than the Chrome OS that powers a Chromebook. Since Chromebooks are purpose-built for surfing the internet, they need less memory and storage than traditional laptops as well. PCWorld`s favorite budget chromebook Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Read our review Best Prices Today: $319 at Best Buy | Not Available at Lenovo Chromebooks are designed for everyday users Chromebooks are designed with day-to-day tasks in mind. So, if you use your laptop for just browsing the web and watching Netflix, then you should consider picking one up. As someone who regularly uses a Chromebook for work and leisure, I find that performance is zippy enough for the kind of things I do. The Chromebook Plus models — such as our current favorite Chromebook, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 — promise better performance and displays as well as new apps and AI capabilities for around $400. In a nutshell, you’re getting better hardware and software, which sets a higher standard for Chromebooks from the get-go.  Having tested most of the Chromebook Plus models for the last couple of months, I can confidently say that performance is pretty fast across all of the machines. Even with up to 20 tabs open at once, I didn’t notice any lag. The bootup times are lightning fast, too. PCWorld`s favorite chromebook overall Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Read our review Best Prices Today: $499.98 at Amazon Chromebooks are purpose-built for the web Chromebooks began life as little more than a web browser, in a world where the web was new and worth exploring. That still holds true today: Chromebooks often use the internet to access the same web services that live on your phone as dedicated apps. That’s perfectly fine. Web developers develop for both scenarios. On a laptop, yes, Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365 opens as a dedicated app, but the apps still encourage you to save to the cloud. However, you can still buy Microsoft 365 and work on a Chromebook instead. The difference is that you’ll be working in a browser instead, which is typically a cleaner interface. And because you’re working on the web, some of the latest features will arrive to you first, because they’re easier to deploy online. True, not every Microsoft 365 app works on a Chromebook. But these are typically the niche apps you can probably ignore: Visio, Project, and Publisher, among others. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook all work on the web, and thus on Chromebooks. You can game on Chromebooks now The first cloud gaming Chromebooks made quite the splash back in 2022. You can play the latest games by streaming them from the cloud. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE, for example, even has an RGB backlit keyboard with the WASD keys highlighted. Its Intel Core i5-1240P CPU and 16-inch 2560×1600 120Hz IPS display provide the beefy feel you expect from a gaming laptop. The ports: USB-A port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack offer essential connectivity. With this class of Chromebook combined with a GeForce Now account, you can get your game on, no problem. PCWorld`s favorite chromebook for cloud gaming Acer Chromebook 516 GE Read our review Best Prices Today: $569.99 at Amazon Chromebooks run apps just fine Chromebooks come with a hidden talent: Virtually all modern Chromebooks support Android apps. Many Android apps are designed for phones and tablets, particularly games, which might look a little odd when formatted to a Chromebook screen. But any productivity apps will undoubtedly be designed to also be used on a Chromebook. Some Chromebooks can fold back into a tablet-like mode, too—giving you the best of both worlds. For years, Windows users have become accustomed to pointing out that a laptop can run just about anything. And that’s true, though the need to run dozens of small helper utilities has, at least anecdotally, diminished. But now that web-based tools and apps are common, web-based Chromebooks can do virtually all normal everyday tasks, with Android compatibility a useful extra you have in your back pocket if it’s needed. Chromebooks are pretty darn rugged Originally, Chromebooks were designed for the educational market. That means mostly kids were using them. Whether you work with kids or have little ones of your own, you’re probably well aware that they can be messy as heck. That’s why Chromebooks were often built with durable frames and spill-resistant keyboards. That’s still the case these days. In fact, whenever I put a Chromebook to the test, the build quality is the first thing I observe, and I’m often pleased with what I find. Acer You can easily restore a Chromebook If you have a problem with the Chromebook, it can be restored to the factory settings within minutes. I’ve power-washed a number of Chromebooks and I can do it with my eyes closed at this point. All you have to do is open the settings app, scroll all the way down, click on the advanced tab, and select the reset button next to the powerwash option. You don’t worry about losing your data or bookmarks, as everything gets stored in the cloud. Nothing beats a clean slate, that’s for sure.  Chromebooks expand now, too Chromebooks have a reputation for being a single-screen device, since they’ve been used in the classroom on a child’s desk. Most ship with either a dedicated HDMI port for an external display connection, or a USB-C port, or both. The latter is certainly sufficient for a single 1080p display, and possibly a 4K display, too. An external display might not be a necessity, but it’s a luxury you’d probably like to have as an option, and a Chromebook can offer that. While most Chromebooks don’t yet support Thunderbolt, you can use a USB-C dongle if a Chromebook has a USB-C port. At between $20 to $40, a USB-C hub or dongle is far cheaper than a Thunderbolt dock anyway, and perfectly suited to adding ports for external hard drives and storage cards. Acer Chromebooks can print Historically, Chromebooks have had a reputation for being incompatible with printers. And while that’s sometimes true, the blame is more with the printer. Many printers ship with all sorts of unwanted utilities to reorder ink and manage print formatting. Chromebooks try and do away with all that, and just print the page. If your printer allows that (Google’s list of compatible printers is extensive), you’ll have no trouble printing with a Chromebook. Related content I switched from Windows PCs to Chromebooks and haven’t looked back A beginner’s guide to using a Chromebook Are Chromebooks good for gaming? No… but actually also yes Can Chromebooks get viruses? It’s complicated Read...

Diligent has enhanced its Entities software with AI tools for smarter governance, integrating features like AI report generation and Microsoft Teams access. Read...

Google just announced a slew of features coming to Google Home, and one of them will come in particularly handy for Google TV users with Nest Cams guarding their households.  Coming soon, Nest Cam feeds will get picture-in-picture support on Google TV devices, perfect for keeping eyes on your home while streaming your favorite shows.   The long-awaited feature will make it easy to see who’s at your door while in the middle of a binge-watching session, and you’ll also be able to check the backyard or other Nest Cam-monitored areas without pausing the video.  Google TV devices will soon get picture-in-picture support for live Nest Cam feeds. Google The new picture-in-picture mode is coming first to the Google TV Streamer, and you’ll need to be in Google’s public preview program. You can sign up for the Google Home public preview right here.  Support for picture-in-picture Nest Cam feeds isn’t the only feature coming to Google Home this spring, with Google ticking off a laundry list of new items.  For starters, Google Home on the web is getting new functionality; namely, you’ll be able to control a wider range of smart devices from a browser, including smart lights, thermostats, and smart locks. Again, you’ll need to be part of the Google Home public preview to test Google Home’s new web features, at least initially.  Favorites in the Google Home app are also getting a facelift, complete with new and pinnable tiles for indoor temperatures, Wi-Fi actions, and whole-home lights on or off.  Automations will be getting easier too, with Google adding new starters and conditions to the Google Home app that should allow for more specific smart routines. You’ll also be able to employ presence sensing to trigger automations, perfect for setting smart routines to begin when someone’s home or when everyone’s away.  Returning to security cameras, Google says it’s boosted performance for the Google Home app’s video timeline for smoother scrolling, while adding the ability to quickly jump forward or backward 10 seconds by double-tapping the left- or right-hand side of the screen.  Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms will also get more attention in the Google Home app, with the addition of a revamped “experience” that offers “critical” alerts and heads-up alerts, along with the ability to run safety checks and hush a blaring alarm. The recently discontinued Nest Protect smoke alarm will get those features first.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best security cameras. Then there’s smart locks (I did say Google gave us a laundry list of features), with the Google Home app adding support for Matter-enabled locks from third-party manufacturers. That means you’ll be able to manage who can unlock your door, edit existing passcodes, and get lock notifications via the Google Home app. For now, support for Matter smart locks is in public preview.  Finally, a Home Summary widget that offers a “bite-sized” summary of your smart home—complete with events and “insights,” along with access to “relevant” controls—is coming soon, on an invite-only basis. Read...

Mozilla recently announced the discontinuation of Pocket and Fakespot features in Firefox as the organization wants to focus its limited resources on higher priority features in the Firefox web browser. But Pocket and Fakespot weren’t the last of the cuts. We recently learned that the Deep Fake Detector and Orbit extensions are also heading to an early grave. Specifically, these two add-ons will be shut down on June 26th, 2025, per the notices on their respective pages. Deep Fake Detector is an add-on for Firefox that uses the Apollo DFT engine to determine whether a text has been written by a human or an AI tool. Orbit is an add-on that can summarize articles and answer questions without sending your data to third parties. In other words, if you still use either of these two Firefox extensions, then you only have a few weeks left to find suitable replacements. Further reading: Firefox now has native user profile switching Read...

One of our favorite features in a laptop these days is an OLED screen because there’s nothing better than crystal-clear images with vibrant colors and perfect blacks. The beautiful Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is one such laptop, and right now it’s on sale at Best Buy for $1,100. That’s a hefty $250 off its original price, making it an even better value. We reviewed the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and loved it enough to give it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award. We praised it for its impressive battery life, beautiful display, and overall performance—and we loved it even at full price. The lack of an audio jack and USB-A ports was a downer, and it isn’t as “bendy” as the Yoga name would suggest, but those are minor nitpicks in an otherwise excellent laptop. While this laptop has some light gaming potential, don’t get it if that’s a top priority. The 3K OLED touchscreen is best for streaming and productivity, and this is a proper AI-ready Copilot+ PC thanks to its cutting-edge Snapdragon X Elite processor and amazing 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Other nice features include a 1TB SSD, three USB-C ports (two of which are USB4), Wi-Fi 7, and a 1080p webcam. It’s also quite portable at 2.8 pounds and just 0.59 inches thick. If you need long-lasting battery life, solid performance, and a travel-friendly build, all at a fantastic price, and if you don’t mind the lack of gaming prowess, then you can’t go wrong with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x for $250 off at Best Buy. Get it while this deal is still hot! We love this Snapdragon 3K OLED laptop, especially for $250 offBuy now at Best Buy Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros High GPU and CPU performance Competitive price for the hardware Mechanical keyboard Lots of high-end touches Cons No HDR for games Copilot key is rather large “Liquid Teal” color scheme may be divisive Low battery life (obviously) Our Verdict The Alienware 16 Area-51 delivers serious gaming performance in an excellent package, complete with a mechanical keyboard and other high-end touches. It’s competitively priced for the hardware, too. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a high-end gaming laptop with a high-end Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics, which were both just recently released. It’s a beautiful machine with premium touches like a mechanical keyboard. While it’s no budget gaming laptop, it’s competitively priced compared to other laptops with similar hardware — and Alienware’s version may just be a better package. Alienware 16 Area-51: Specs The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a 16-inch gaming laptop that combines a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU along with an Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU. Our review model had an RTX 5080 GPU, but you can also get this machine with an RTX 5070 Ti or 5090 GPU. While the model we reviewed retails for $3,349, the base model starts at $2,999. That Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is worth highlighting! This Core Ultra (Series 2) processor is based on the Arrow Lake architecture and is screaming fast. In our benchmarks, this machine topped out the charts. However, it has a slow neural processing unit (NPU) and doesn’t meet the bar for Windows 11’s Copilot+ PC AI features, if those matter to you. (Unless this is something you know you care about, I wouldn’t worry about it — especially since Microsoft is signaling it may one day roll out these features more widely. But they aren’t here at launch, and that may matter to some people.) Model number: Alienware 16 Area-51 AW30 CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Memory: 32GB DDR5 RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 NPU: Intel AI Boost (up to 13 TOPS) Display: 16-inch 3200×1800 IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate Storage: 1 TB SSD Webcam: 8MP 3840×2160 camera Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 5 (USB Type-C), 3x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio jack, 1x SD card slot Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello Battery capacity: 96 Watt-hours Dimensions: 14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 inches Weight: 7.49 pounds MSRP: $3,349 as tested This thing looks like it’s about to blast the thrusters and head to outer space. Alienware 16 Area-51: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware laptops I’ve reviewed have had solid build quality, and this laptop is no exception. The “Liquid Teal” color has a lid that looks a lot like forest green in some lighting. Dell describes it as “a dark iridescent finish on the anodized aluminum [that] gives the system a dynamic sheen.” At about seven and a half pounds, it’s no thin-and-light laptop, but it is very reasonable for a machine this powerful. With a glowing Alienware logo on the lid, a light bar on the bump at the back, and black used throughout the rest of the machine — including on the keyboard tray and lid, so you aren’t looking at that Liquid Teal all the time — this is very much an Alienware design. I like the look and how the color stands out. It doesn’t look like just another gaming laptop, but you’ll have to decide whether it’s the right look for you. I know not everyone is looking for this type of color scheme, and there’s a reason why so many gaming laptops are a traditional black or a sharp and clean white. IDG / Chris Hoffman On the bottom, there’s a “thermal bump” with gorilla glass that isn’t just about airflow intake: it lets you look inside the bottom of the machine. This is the kind of high-end touch you’ll find on this machine. It does look cool! The anodized aluminum finish does pick up fingerprints a little more than I’d like — something you’ll see in a few of the photos. That’s not unusual, but since we’re talking high-end touches, it’s worth noting. Alienware 16 Area-51: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Area-51’s keyboard is absolutely excellent. Our review unit had a Cherry MX ultra low-profile mechanical keyboard. A mechanical keyboard in a laptop is almost unheard of — I think the only time I’ve ever used a mechanical keyboard built into a laptop was when I reviewed another Alienware machine. It’s definitely a tiny bit louder than the usual non-mechanical keyboards, but it’s fairly quiet. There’s not much room to complain, although I will say that many gamers would probably prefer that the Copilot key wasn’t so large. Located just to the left of the arrow keys, it’s bound to get in the way. Sure, it seems laptops must have a Copilot key these days — but why does the key have to be so wide? Luckily, you can disable it or remap it to another function. The laptop’s keyboard also has per-key backlighting you can customize. Even the touchpad is an RGB touchpad that lights up when you touch it — and shortly after, so it’s not on all the time. The touchpad itself feels great to use, with a smooth surface, a crisp mechanical clicking action, and a good position below the keyboard. Alienware 16 Area-51: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Area-51 has a 16-inch IPS display with a QHD+ resolution (that’s 3200×1800) along with a fast 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync, and 500 nits of brightness. On paper, these are great specs — and they look great in real life, too. It’s an awesome display that makes games look great, and the fast refresh rate and response time are part of what makes it feel so good. Combined with the speedy hardware, this laptop delivered excellent performance in Doom: The Dark Ages, rendering high detail settings at a high frame rate. The downsides are the same ones you see on paper. There’s no support for HDR in games here, and the resolution comes short of 4K. This isn’t an OLED—some people will prefer the more vivid colors of an OLED display, even if it comes with a lower refresh rate or lower response time. But, if you aren’t itching for HDR or an OLED display, I think you’ll be happy with this display. The speakers are also unusually good for a laptop. Many gaming laptops — even expensive ones — cut corners on the speakers. Audio sounded great and punchy in games like Doom: The Dark Ages. Music was unusually good for a laptop, but I’ll be honest: when it came to the clarity of the instruments in Steely Dan’s Aja and the bass in Daft Punk’s Get Lucky, the speakers didn’t wow as much as the other components on this laptop. The experience is always best with a good pair of headphones or external speakers — no surprise there. Alienware 16 Area-51: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Alienware 16 Area-51’s 8MP 3840×2160 camera sounds impressive on paper. And it looks fine in the real world, but it doesn’t wow. Look at a good external webcam. This is more than good enough for online meetings and video chats. But, this being a gaming laptop, I’d plan to get an external webcam if you plan on streaming. There’s no physical camera privacy shutter, which I know many people like to see. The microphone setup also just sounds fine to me — it can pick up clear enough audio, but you won’t be getting the kind of crisp, high-quality audio you would with an external microphone. It’s fine, but you’ll always have a better gaming experience with external audio. When it comes to biometrics, this machine has an IR camera for Windows Hello so you can sign in with your face. As usual on Windows 11 laptops, it worked well. There’s no fingerprint reader here, however. Alienware 16 Area-51: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman The Alienware 16 Area-51 has a solid collection of connectivity options. On the left side, you’ve got a combo audio jack as well as a full-size SD card reader. You’ll find most of the ports on the back — which is where I prefer to see them, as it gets them out of the way of your mouse and minimizes annoying cable clutter on your desk. On the back of the machine, you’ll find two Thunderbolt 5 (USB Type-C) ports, three USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a place to plug in the power adapter. Thunderbolt 5 has been missing in action, so it’s impressive to see it at all — although configurations with an RTX 5070 and below get those ports in Thunderbolt 4 form. While it’s always nice to see higher-end hardware, it likely won’t make a difference in the real world. On the other hand, that’s it. If you were looking for an Ethernet port, for example, you’ll have to add it via a dongle. Wireless connectivity is good now that Intel’s hardware has caught up — this laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless standards, and I had no problems with the Wi-Fi. Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance The Alienware 16 Area-51 delivered screaming-good gaming performance, and I was tearing through demons in the just-released Doom: The Dark Ages on the highest “Ultra Nightmare” settings with smooth performance. Dell has a lot to say about the “cryo-tech cooling technology” and this laptop’s increased airflow, quieter fans, and all-around improved cooling performance. While gaming, the cooling worked well, with the keyboard staying reasonably cool and the machine blasting most of the hot air straight out of the back where it won’t bother you. As always, though, we ran the Alienware 16 Area-51 through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. With an overall PCMark 10 score of 8,768, this Alienware machine beat other recent gaming laptops we tested with Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs. It noticeably outpaced the HP Omen Max 16, despite both machines having the same CPU. IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. With a Cinebench R20 multi-threaded score of 14,145, the Alienware 16 Area-51 topped out the charts once again, narrowly scraping ahead of the Asus ROG Strix G16 and its AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. (Although, to be fair, the results are basically within the margin of error here.) IDG / Chris Hoffman We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load. The Alienware 16 Area-51 completed the encode process in an average of 434 seconds, which is just over seven minutes. The only other machine even within spitting distance was the HP Omen Max 16, which has the same CPU. (HP’s machine was ahead here for some reason, but we can put it down to the margin of error.) The results show just how powerful Intel’s 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU is for multithreaded performance. This thing is a beast. IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, getting to gaming performance, we start with a standard graphical benchmark. We run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. With a 3DMark Time Spy score of 20960, the Alienware 16 Area-51 delivered high performance — coming second to the HP Omen Max 16. Both have the same Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU. Again, this may be the margin of error, or the HP Omen Max 16’s cooling may be a bit more effective. Both machines beat the Razer Blade 16 despite that machine having a faster RTX 5090 GPU. That machine lags in performance, sacrificing it for a sleeker design. This shows how important benchmarks are instead of just on-paper specs! After that, we run the benchmarks built into some standard games. First, we use the benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider to test all the gaming laptops we review. It’s an older game, but it’s a great way to compare graphical performance across different PCs. IDG / Chris Hoffman With an average FPS of 213, the Alienware 16 Area-51 delivered high-end performance and left many similar systems in the dust. Finally, we run the benchmark in Metro Exodus. This is a more demanding game, and we set the benchmark to 1080p resolution at the extreme detail setting. IDG / Chris Hoffman With an average FPS of 92 in this high-end Metro Exodus benchmark, the Alienware 16 Area-51 topped all its competitors — even the Razer Blade with its RTX 5090 GPU couldn’t outpace it, which just goes to show the downsides of packing such powerful hardware into such a thin machine. Overall, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is an absolute monster that squeezes an incredible amount of performance out of its high-end Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU. There’s not much room to improve here — outside of splurging for an upgrade to an RTX 5090 GPU in this machine or getting a desktop gaming PC instead! Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a gaming laptop designed for maximum performance, not for long battery life. However, Dell has put a huge 96 watt-hour battery in this machine — it couldn’t be much larger or the U.S. Transportation Security Administration wouldn’t allow it on an airplane. IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled at 250 nits screen brightness until the laptop suspends itself. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. The Alienware 16 Area-51 ran for an average of 253 minutes before suspending itself — that’s just over four hours. It’s lower than some of its competitors, though not by much. And that doesn’t really matter if you’re looking for a beefy gaming laptop to use while plugged into an outlet. In other words, you can use this laptop away from an outlet for a few hours in a pinch, but you won’t want to. Also, it’s worth mentioning that, for serious gaming performance, you need to have the laptop plugged into an outlet anyway. Alienware 16 Area-51: Conclusion The Alienware 16 Area-51 is an amazing 16-inch gaming laptop. Yes, it’s a good amount of money — but it’s competitively priced with other high-end gaming laptops with similar hardware, and you also get an amazing package. I love having a mechanical keyboard in a laptop. If you’re looking for a capable PC with the latest high-end hardware and this fits your budget, you’ll be happy with this machine. It’s excellent. But not everything is for everyone! Be sure to consider what type of display you want — if you want an OLED screen, the HP Omen Max 16 may be a better pick. That greenish “Liquid Teal” may give some people pause, too — I like the look, but I imagine it’s not everyone’s style. It’d be nice if Dell offered multiple color options for this laptop. Read...

One of the best things about search engines is the fact you can increasingly search for a term without needing specific keywords. Microsoft is applying the same concept to the history function within the Edge browser built into Windows. Microsoft’s notes on the current release beta for Edge, as noticed by The Verge, indicate that the company is using what it calls an “AI-powered History search.” If you turn this feature on, you’ll be able to search your history of sites stored in Edge without ensuring that your search query is typed just so: Edge will accommodate “synonyms, phrases, or typos,” Microsoft says. Interestingly, this improved search is one of the functions that Microsoft is using local AI for. “An on-device model is trained using your data, which never leaves your device and is never sent to Microsoft,” Microsoft notes. Microsoft isn’t saying what local model will be used, but it seems fairly likely that it will be the Phi Silica model Microsoft began talking about last year. Whether this means that you’ll need a Copilot+ PC to enable this isn’t clear, either. You do need Copilot+ hardware to take advantage of Recall, the tool that snapshots your PC periodically to improve search. (Recall is protected via encryption and Windows Hello, though I still think Recall is too risky in the current political environment.) Microsoft also says that it will be adding a media control center to Edge, though I think that feature is already here as part of the stable version. Loading our post-show Computex coverage, for example, brings up a small “music note” icon next to the URL bar inside Edge. Clicking it brings up media controls (though a volume control or mute button would be nice, too.) This is what the media controls within Edge look like on my PC. Edge is also adding a Copilot chat summarization option to the context menu which will allow users to ask questions of the current page. If Edge slows down unexpectedly — say, with dozens of open tabs — you may see a notification in the Edge settings, too. These are what Microsoft calls “controlled feature” rollouts, so they may not be available to everyone. Note that you may not see these features if you’re not part of the Microsoft Edge beta program. Chances are, however, that they’ll be pushed to the stable version of Edge before long. Read...