
Search results for 'General' - Page: 13
| PC World - 12 Dec (PC World)I can’t go a week without someone illegally calling me about a small business loan or car insurance, and despite coming from a local phone number, I’m fairly certain they aren’t from around here.
Such spammers are usually using Voice over IP (VOIP) to fake phone numbers, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is as fed up as the rest of us. It’s threatening to shut down thousands of VOIP services.
In a press release issued yesterday, the FCC says 2,411 of these providers “failed to properly file in the Robocall Mitigation database, and must now show cause why they should not be removed.” In other words, these VOIP companies are lightning rods for spammers using their services to spread illegal calls, and they’ve ignored federally mandated action to stop spammers from pestering and scamming Americans.
The FCC’s authority over conventional phone calls is basically absolute, and this action was taken in partnership with attorneys general from every US state and Washington DC. If you’re a company providing call service, whether over standard networks or Voice over IP, you have to comply with the STIR/SHAKEN protocol for caller ID verification and you have to send the FCC a robocall mitigation plan. The FCC alleges that these companies have failed on both counts and missed multiple deadlines for compliance checks.
The press release also outlines new proposed rules to create stricter fines for fake or outdated info in the call provider database, among other administrative actions. Given the typical timeframe for new rule implementation, it seems unlikely that they’ll be put in place before the second Trump administration affects its own business-friendly changes to the federal agency.
Even if the FCC had 10 times its current capability, it couldn’t completely stop spam calls, especially since most of them originate from other countries where its jurisdiction is limited. But making it harder for spammers to use US-based services is an effective deterrent, if only because it makes trivially easy robocall campaigns that much harder.
At the very least, shutting down domestic businesses that profit off the scummiest of practices — annoying and scamming their fellow Americans — seems like the right thing to do.
Further reading: The FCC takes aim at broadband data caps Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 12 Dec (PC World)Microsoft regularly changes the functions, options, and display of the Start menu in Windows. There are innovations such as a tile layout for the “All” tab. However, the menu also hides important functions, making them more difficult to access.
Windows 11 Pro
In this article, we look at the settings options for the Start menu and how you can customize it to suit your requirements.
Customize the Start menu with Windows settings
By default, you will find the on-board settings options for the Start menu in the Windows settings under Personalization > Start or via Start settings after right-clicking on the Start menu. You can access the settings for the taskbar via Personalization > Taskbar or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Taskbar settings.
Foundry
In the upper area, you can define the general layout and control how many icons should appear in the Start menu. In the Start menu settings, you can use sliders to specify what Windows 11 should and should not display.
The unsolicited tips and adverts are particularly annoying. You can switch these off by deactivating the option Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more. The same applies to the display of the most recently added apps and most used apps. You can also hide these again by deactivating the corresponding options directly from the Start menu.
If you also do not want to see the most recently opened documents in the Start menu, simply deactivate “Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists.” The jump lists are the menus that Windows 11 displays when you click on an app icon in the taskbar. Here you can see specific options, such as directly accessing the most recent web pages in Google Chrome or opening the most recently edited documents in Word.
The Start menu also has a jump list. You can call this up by right-clicking on the Start button in the taskbar.
Foundry
Via the menu item Folders, at the bottom of Personalization > Start in the Windows settings, you can make further adjustments to which items Windows 11 should display in the Start menu. For example, you can specify here that the Windows settings, Explorer, or a shortcut to the storage location of your documents should appear directly in the Start menu.
Customize the taskbar to your own requirements
The taskbar settings also affect the Start menu itself in many places. Firstly, you can specify how the search field should appear in the taskbar settings (right-click on the taskbar).
If you search frequently using the Windows search function, it may be useful to activate the Search field option under Taskbar items > Search. If you only search occasionally, then Search icon only is also sufficient. If you do not use the search at all, you can create space in the taskbar by activating Hide.
Foundry
You can also deactivate the display of widgets in Windows and the view of currently launched applications at this point. If you want to display these, you can use the Windows key+Tab key combination instead.
Under Other system tray icons, you can also specify which of the applications you have installed are displayed in the taskbar when they are started.
You can hide apps whose icons you do not want to keep constantly in view by deactivating the respective option. These icons appear when you click on the small arrow at the bottom right of the tray area of the taskbar. If you do not want to see this arrow either, deactivate Hidden icon menu.
You can use Taskbar behaviors to specify where the Start menu should appear. With Left selected under Taskbar alignment, the Start menu appears on the left-hand side of the taskbar, as in previous versions of Windows 11. With Automatically hide taskbar, the taskbar disappears downwards and only reappears when you move the mouse to the bottom of the screen.
Foundry
You can also create more space here with Combine taskbar buttons…, as the individually launched apps do not take up as much space.
Quit crashed programs faster with developer options
The End task option in the context menu of applications in the task list is interesting. If an application crashes or no longer responds properly, you can end its process here.
Previously, this was only possible directly in the Windows 11 Task Manager, which you can also start via the context menu of the taskbar or with the key combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc. However, the option only appears if you switch to System > For developers in the Windows settings and enable the End Task option here. This allows you to end the process directly if the app is no longer working properly.
Foundry
Customize the Start menu directly
If you open the Start menu by left-clicking, you can make further customizations. Firstly, you can remove the icon from the Start menu by right-clicking on individual apps with Remove from Start. The app remains installed and can still be opened via the search and the display of all apps, but no longer appears in the Start menu.
You can also move the app to the front of the Start menu, uninstall, it or call up the app’s settings if it supports this. If the app is also linked in the taskbar, you can remove this icon with Remove from taskbar.
Conversely, you can display apps that do not appear on the main page of the Start menu or the taskbar by right-clicking and selecting Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar in the Start menu and in the taskbar. You can customize the order of the icons displayed in the Start menu using drag-and-drop.
This allows you to move the applications to the position where you want them.
Tools for the Start menu: StartAllBack, Start11, and Classic Shell
With the StartAllBack tool, you can customize the Start menu with an external tool and align it with the Windows 7 design. The Start menu reappears on the left-hand side of the taskbar and is reminiscent of the Windows 7 design. If you want to use the tool permanently, you will have to expect to pay $5 per PC. However, you can use the tool completely free of charge for 100 days.
Another tool in this area is Start11. This also activates the classic Windows 7 view and offers more setting options. After the test phase, the tool costs $10 per PC. You can use Start11 free of charge for 30 days, but you have to register with your email address.
StartAllBack
If you are keen to experiment, you can also use the Classic Shell tool known from Windows 10 in Windows 11. However, the tool has not been released for Windows 11 and is no longer being developed further. However, you can experiment with the free tool at your own risk. It generally also works in Windows 11 24H2, but should only be used by experienced users, as it can also cause Windows to crash. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 12 Dec (PC World)Some people can hardly remember the time before YouTube. The video host was founded in 2005, and year after year the platform got bigger and bigger. As early as 2006, around 100 million clips were viewed there every day. By 2010, this figure had risen to more than two billion per day. Today, users upload around 500 hours of video material every minute.
No wonder, really. The largely free service offers almost endless entertainment, how-to and tutorial videos, music, and much more. Of course, users also have the opportunity to upload videos themselves, collect followers, and earn money with them.
However, even passionate users often don’t know all the tricks for an optimal streaming experience. You can find such tips in this article: How to use YouTube perfectly on your PC, smartphone, smart TV and co.
Further reading: I block every ad on YouTube and I’m not ashamed to admit it
General YouTube tips
These settings and tricks promise a better YouTube experience across all devices.
Create GIFs from YouTube videos
You can create GIFs from YouTube videos free of charge – flexible settings included.Foundry
Did you know that you can create a compact GIF from a YouTube video with just a few clicks or swipe gestures? It’s even free: Visit the GIF generator at makeagif.com and insert the YouTube link to the relevant video. You can then specify the desired output quality (maximum medium for free use), determine the GIF length, and adjust the playback speed.
Note: Free users must tolerate watermarks and a lower resolution.
Use dark mode
A small setting with a big effect. Dark mode makes YouTube more enjoyable, and not just in the late evening hours. It is particularly pleasant and useful to switch to dark mode when using the app for long periods of time, as it reduces eye fatigue and saves battery power.
On the PC, we simply click on our profile picture and then on “Display.” Here you can now select the dark design. Dark mode is also available in the official YouTube app (Settings->General->Display).
Variable playback speed
In the playback options (gear icon), you can gradually adjust the playback speed of YouTube videos. This allows clips to be played back at twice the speed or up to four times slower. This is super handy if a YouTuber doesn’t want to get to the point in their videos, or if you want to watch a step in a tutorial in detail.
Show subtitles
If you’ve ever watched a video from the American South or a Seitenbacher advert, you’ll know the problem. Sometimes you can’t understand a word. However, the solution to such language barriers is easy to find, you can simply activate subtitles in many YouTube videos. The button for this can be found directly next to the small cogwheel below the video when using the browser, for example.
More fun with YouTube on your smartphone or tablet
These tricks and tips make YouTube even more fun on mobile devices.
Play YouTube videos in the background on your mobile device (with Android or iOS)
You can also play videos in the background on your smartphone with Firefox if you install a free plug-in.Foundry
There is one small restriction on YouTube that can be really annoying. If you watch videos on your smartphone where you are only interested in the audio track (such as music or radio plays), you always have to keep the display activated and play the video in the foreground. As soon as you switch to another tab or deactivate the display, the playback also stops–quite annoying.
The workaround for Android: A free plug-in is available for the Firefox mobile browser (Android | iOS): “Video playback in the background.” You can find this in the browser menu (three dots) and then under “Extensions” (see image).
It also works on iPhone: First, start the video in the browser and then switch to the desktop version of the website in the settings. (You can skip this step on the iPad). Now, leave the website using the iPhone’s home button and open the quick settings using the usual swipe gesture (top right corner). Here you can now simply restart the video with the play button, it will then play in the background and you can hear the sound normally, even if the display is off.
Tips and tricks for better YouTube on your PC
MP3 download, keyboard shortcuts, or editing playlists together. If you enjoy browsing YouTube on your PC, you should know these practical tricks:
Download YouTube music and save it locally as an MP3
You can convert YouTube videos to audio files (MP3) in a flash.Foundry
Even beyond YouTube Music, the classic video host has plenty of music to offer from all genres and pretty much every decade since the invention of the sound carrier. And although YouTube itself doesn’t like it that much, you can convert such tracks with various web services in no time at all and save them locally as MP3s. You can do this here, for example.
Use keyboard shortcuts
There are many practical keyboard shortcuts available for YouTube videos, which promise more convenient operation and can save a lot of time, especially for frequent viewers. Note: If the shortcuts do not work, click on the video once (this will bring the player back into focus).
ShortcutsShortcut functionSpace barPlay / PausekPlay / PausemMute videoleft / right arrow keyfast forward or rewind 5 secondsUp / down arrow keyVolume up or down (5 % each)jrewind 10 secondslfast forward 10 seconds.With paused video to the next frame,To the previous frame when the video is pausedShift key .Accelerate playbackShift key (Shift) ,Slow down playbackNumbers 1 to 9Jump to 10 to 90 % of the videoNumber 0Jump to the beginningfFull screen modecSelect subtitles (if available)Shift key (Shift) nNext videoShift key pPrevious videoPOS1 keyJump to the beginning of the videoEND keySkip to the end of the video
Link to the exact playback position of a video
You can quickly create a link to any playback position.Foundry
You want to show a friend a funny moment in a YouTube video, but the clip is 15 minutes long? No problem. You can easily create a link to the exact position of the current playback. To do this, simply rewind to the point you want to link to and right-click on the video.
Then click on “Copy video URL at this point” in the small window. The link will then be copied to the clipboard and can be inserted at any time by right-clicking and pasting or by pressing CTRL V.
Edit playlists together with friends
You can invite friends to edit playlists together.Foundry
If you would like to allow friends or acquaintances to collaborate on your YouTube playlists, this is not a problem. First, open the playlist that you would like to share for editing. Note: If the list is not yet public, you still need to select/set this.
Now you can select the “Invite employees” function via the Share button and generate a link that you can then forward to contacts. Make sure that the “Edit together” and “Allow new collaborators” functions are activated in the window.
Play adverts 16 times faster with Chrome or Edge
Gone again: This Chrome extension allows you to play adverts 16 times faster.Foundry
If you’re sometimes annoyed by adverts on YouTube, we can understand that: The provider regularly places intrusive adverts in front of us before a video and often in the middle of it. Added to this is YouTube’s increasingly rigid approach to ad blockers.
The solution (at least for Chrome users) is called “Ad Speedup – Skip Video Ads 16X Faster” and is available as a free extension for Chrome and Edge. It automatically plays ad sequences at 16x speed and skips them in no time at all.
Useful YouTube tips for your smart TV
Naturally, YouTube really comes into its own on the TV. The large display offers space for all the details and you can sink into the couch and relax while watching. These tips will make the video service even more fun on your Smart TV.
Show or hide subtitles
If you don’t know how to show or hide subtitles for YouTube on your Smart TV, it can be quite annoying. Fortunately, the function is very easy to access: Firstly, we pause the video and press the up button on the TV remote control. Here we now select the settings (usually on the far right; cogwheel symbol). In the following window, we can now select subtitles if they are available.
In case of playback problems: Use an Ethernet cable
This is not just a tip for YouTube, but a useful solution to problems when streaming is jerky or clips are slow to load (and also helps with problems with Netflix and the like). If you connect your smart TV to the internet via Wi-Fi, you sometimes have to deal with connection problems or slow data transfer, depending on the distance to the router.
The solution? Lay an Ethernet cable from the router to the Smart TV, then the full bandwidth and unclouded video enjoyment is available there.
Avoid adverts with YouTube Premium
Google doesn’t exactly make it easy for us to install ad blockers with the app for the Smart TV – after all, this contradicts the business model of the free service. The remedy is to switch to YouTube Premium. This currently costs $13.99 per month (for individuals), deactivates all adverts, and allows uncomplicated background playback and offline music.
More options: Stream to the TV via smartphone instead of the YouTube app
There are a few advantages to streaming YouTube to your TV using your smartphone. You can also display comments or post them yourself (writing only on your smartphone). You can read how to set up such a stream here.
For families: Activate parental control
To prevent children from watching inappropriate content on YouTube on the TV (of which there is plenty), you can filter such content directly in the app. To do this, first go to the app settings on the smart TV, search for the “Restricted mode” entry, and activate the function. The majority of content that is not suitable for children should then no longer be accessible via the TV. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | BBCWorld - 11 Dec (BBCWorld)The car making giant says it will refocus on self-driving technology for personal vehicles. Read...Newslink ©2025 to BBCWorld |  |
|  | | PC World - 11 Dec (PC World)OpenAI has now launched its new AI model called Sora, which can generate realistic videos from text-based prompts. The tool is available to both ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro subscribers via sora.com.
ChatGPT Plus subscribers can generate up to 50 priority videos in 720p resolution up to five seconds long in duration, while ChatGPT Pro subscribers can generate unlimited videos with up to 500 priority videos in 1080p resolution up to 20 seconds long in duration. ChatGPT Pro users can also generate up to five videos simultaneously and download generated videos without watermarks on them.
All videos generated via Sora will have C2PA metadata to indicate that they’ve been created using AI. Users cannot generate videos that contain explicit content, violence, or people under the age of 18.
Sora is currently available in the US and most countries worldwide, but according to OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, it may take a while before the AI video generator is made available in Europe.
Even if you’re in the United States, you might not be able to get in. Sora has temporarily frozen signups, according to a note on their site. In other words, unless you previously signed up for Sora, you won’t be able to sign into the site (even with a Google passkey) and won’t be able to create videos. It’s unclear when OpenAI and Sora will open the site up to general use.
Updated at 8:53 AM PT with reporting from PCWorld’s Mark Hachman.
Further reading: Are premium AI chatbots worth paying for? Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 10 Dec (PC World)Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have already come and gone in a flash, but there are still plenty of VPN deals from top providers to be had this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for something that will give you the privacy you need or access location-restricted streaming content, we’ve got you covered with the very best VPN deals currently available. But not all deals are worth it, so we only highlight those offered by reputable providers that we’ve personally reviewed and recommend.
We’ve also included some helpful answers to common questions about VPN shopping at the bottom of this article. Before you decide on a new VPN, be sure to check out our roundup of the best VPNs to help you choose the right service for your needs.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it’s possible some of these VPN discounts will have expired before this article’s next update.
Best VPN deals
ExpressVPN, now $4.99 per month for 24 months + 6 free months (61% off at ExpressVPN)
Surfshark VPN, now $2.49 per month for 24 months + 4 free months (86% off at Surfshark)
NordVPN, now $3.89 per month for 24 months + 3 free months (74% off at NordVPN)
FastestVPN, now $23 for lifetime plan (93% off at FastestVPN with coupon)
Private Internet Access, now $2.03 per month for 36 months + 3 free months (83% off at PIA)
Norton Ultra VPN, now $4.17 per month for 12 months (54% off at Norton)
Proton VPN, now $4.49 per month for 24 months (55% off at Proton VPN)
PrivadoVPN, now $1.48 per month for 24 months + 3 free months (87% off at Privado VPN)
IPVanish VPN, now $3.29 per month for 24 months (64% off at IPVanish)
Our Editors’ Choice and top overall VPN pick, ExpressVPN is offering a great deal on its long-term 2-year plan for $4.99 per month (61 percent off). The real kicker, though, is the extremely generous six extra months thrown in for new subscribers. That means not only are you getting the best VPN on the market at a steep discount, but you’ll also enjoy the service for an additional half a year without paying an extra cent.
Surfshark is another of our top picks here at PCWorld, and this one’s on sale for just $2.49 per month for two years (86 percent off). It also provides an additional four extra months for free when you sign up. Alternatively, you could opt for the NordVPN deal that’s currently $3.89 per month for two years (74 percent off). Both services come with a stacked line-up of privacy and security features. Personally, I think the Surfshark deal is a bit better — it comes with fewer features and the speeds are just a tad slower, but the price can’t be beat.
FastestVPN also has an outstanding deal going for its unique lifetime plan. Using the coupon code BFCM24, you can get a lifetime subscription to the service for a one-time charge of only $22.90. On top of all of the basic protections you would expect from a VPN, FastestVPN’s lifetime plan also includes 15 simultaneous device logins and access to its password manager service for free.
FAQ
1.
When’s the best time to shop for a VPN?
Typically you’ll want to time your VPN shopping around a prominent sales period. The biggest sales periods are Black Friday/Cyber Monday in late November . The best sales often occur leading up to and during these two events and they are great times to snag a VPN subscription for cheap. Many VPN providers have even begun extending these deals past Cyber Monday and through to the end of the year.
2.
What should I look for in a VPN deal?
There are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for a good VPN deal.
The first thing to consider is, of course, your budget. How much are you willing to spend each month? How much can you afford to drop on a longer-term plan with an upfront payment? You’ll also need to determine how long you intend to use the VPN. Do you just need it for a short trip? A few months? Or forever? The very best VPN deals are generally on longer-term plans for two or three years.
After you decide on your budget and how long you’ll use the VPN, next you can start comparing features. Look at the number of servers and locations for each VPN. A good starting point is to look for services that have at least 1,000 servers and 30 or more country locations.
The next thing to consider is VPN speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without first paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons for a more accurate picture.
Finally, compare each VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these are critical and you’ll want to go with a VPN that has clear and transparent data collection policies.
3.
What is a VPN?
A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your PC and the internet. You connect to a VPN server, which can be located in the United States or a foreign country (like France or Japan). Your web traffic then goes through that server to make it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location and not from your actual location.
When you’re using a VPN, it’s difficult for others to snoop on your web-browsing activity. Only you, the VPN service, and the website you’re visiting will know what you’re up to.
A VPN can be a great solution to a variety of concerns, such as online privacy, anonymity, greater security on public Wi-Fi, and, of course, spoofing locations. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 10 Dec (PC World)It looks like it’ll soon be easier to quickly see how much battery you have left on your Windows 11 laptop. Neowin reports that Microsoft has hidden a new battery indicator in Build 26120.2510 of Windows 11, currently only available to Insiders on the Dev Channel.
The new battery indicator will be larger than the current battery icon, and it will be a bit more colorful as well. Instead of the current black-and-white design with small symbols in the corners — a lightning bolt for charging and a heart for smart charging — the new design turns green when charging and yellow when Power Saving Mode is activated.
As of this writing, the new design is only seen in the taskbar whereas the old design remains on the lock screen. We expect the new design to hit the lock screen once it’s fully tested and approved.
It’s unclear when Microsoft is going to roll out the new battery indicator design to the general Windows 11 public. Build 26120.2510 also includes several other features, including new experiences for Copilot+ PCs running on AMD and Intel hardware.
Further reading: I like Windows Recall but I just can’t trust it Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 10 Dec (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
Pros
Includes USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery
Excellent contrast and color performance
Top-tier motion clarity at 1080p up to 480Hz
Affordable pricing relative to 4K OLED alternatives
Cons
Dull design
Stand is too large
Image quality, though excellent, doesn’t stand out from competitors
Our Verdict
The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a more affordable 4K OLED monitor that packs a nice bonus: USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery.
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The current crop of 32-inch 4K OLED monitors are a personal favorite. They offer gorgeous image quality in both SDR and HDR alongside top-tier motion performance. However, most 32-inch 4K OLED monitors have two downsides: high pricing and a lack of USB connectivity. The Acer Predator X32 X3 tackles both issues.
Acer Predator X32 X3 (X3BMIIPHUZX) specs and features
The Acer Predator X32 X3 has outstanding specifications. It’s also rather mundane. Both are true because, like its direct competitors, the Acer Predator X32 X3 relies on a new generation of LG WOLED panel that can support 4K resolution at up to 240Hz or 1080p resolution at up to 480Hz. Several other monitors offer this panel.
Display size: 32-inch 16:9 widescreen
Native resolution: 3840×2160
Panel type: LG WOLED
Refresh rate: 4K up to 240Hz / 1080p up to 480Hz
Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 Certified
Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode with 90 watts of Power Delivery, 3x USB-A downstream, 1x USB-C data downstream, 3.5mm audio out
VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm
Speakers: 2x 5-watt speakers
Price: $1199.99 MSRP / $879.99 typical retail
However, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s connectivity is a bit different from most. It has a USB-C port with 90 watts of Power Delivery, which is great to see and still not included on all premium gaming monitors.
The Acer Predator X32 X3 debuted with an MSRP of $1199.99, but was swiftly discounted to $879.99 (and, on Amazon, currently displays that as MSRP). That’s a big drop, and it’s significant to the Acer Predator X32’s standing against its peers. At MSRP, it’s a good choice but doesn’t stand out. At $879.99, it’s a great deal.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best 4K monitors to learn about competing products.
Acer Predator X32 X3 design
The Acer Predator X32 X3 has its strengths, but design isn’t one of them. From the front, the monitor appears rather generic, featuring slim bezels on the top and sides, a small bottom chin, and no visible Acer logo. The rear of the monitor is similarly unremarkable, with a simple matte black finish interrupted by a few textured panels. While it doesn’t look bad, it fails to stand out.
This subdued design does have its advantages, as it allows the monitor to blend seamlessly into a home office or professional environment. However, it lacks RGB LED accent lighting.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
While the Acer Predator X32 X3’s design is rather reserved, it strangely abandons that strategy with the wide, tripod-like stand. It’s nearly as wide as the panel itself and, because it’s not flat, the space it occupies can’t be used to place items on your desk. That’s a bit annoying if you want to use the monitor on a compact desk.
The stand allows the usual ergonomic adjustments, however, including height, tilt, and swivel. A 100x100mm VESA mount is included for use with third-party monitor stands and arms.
Acer Predator X32 X3 connectivity
The Acer Predator X32 X3’s design is a miss, but its connectivity is more promising. The monitor supports two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. That’s a total of four video inputs, all of which can support the monitor’s maximum resolutions and refresh rates.
The USB-C port also supports up to 90 watts of Power Delivery. That’s notable for a couple reasons. First, not all 4K OLED monitors bother to support USB-C upstream: the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B and Alienware AW3225QF are two examples. Second, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s particular arrangement of ports lets users connect two game consoles (over HDMI), a desktop PC (over DisplayPort), and a laptop (over USB-C) simultaneously.
The USB-C port connects to three additional USB-A ports and one USB-C downstream port, which makes the monitor a useful USB hub for adding wired peripherals. The USB-C port, and one of the USB-A ports, are found on the lip of the lower bezel for easy access. The USB ports conform to the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard.
The monitor lacks eARC support, however. Though uncommon among monitors as a whole, this can be found on 4K OLED monitors like the Alienware AW3225QF and might prove useful if you want to use a monitor with a soundbar.
Even so, I think the Acer Predator X32 X3’s ports are preferable to most of its competitors. Its arrangement of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C provides options for every computer and game console, from a high-end gaming desktop to a MacBook Air to a PlayStation 5.
The X32 X3’s arrangement of HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C provides options for every computer and game console, from a high-end gaming desktop to a MacBook Air to a PlayStation 5.
Acer Predator X32 X3 menu and features
The Acer Predator X32 X3’s menus are controlled with a joystick centered behind the monitor’s lower bezel. It’s responsive (as true of most such joystick controls), and Acer’s on-screen menus are logically arranged. The menu text is a bit small, though, so it can be hard to read. Acer also provides a software utility called Acer Display Widget, which can be used to control most monitor features from within Windows.
Image quality customization is extensive. The monitor provides several gamma presets which target specific gamma values. There are also several color temperature modes, though these don’t target specific values and instead use imprecise labels (like “Warm”). The monitor has six-axis color calibration, as well. The monitor’s color space presets include sRGB, Rec.709, DCI-P3, and SMPTE-C.
Importantly, the Acer Predator X32 X3 has a Constant Brightness mode. This minimizes the brightness swings that OLED panels can suffer when rapidly transitioning between bright and dark content. I recommend that owners use this feature when using Windows and desktop apps.
Streamers and content creators will appreciate the inclusion of a tripod mount on the top of the Acer Predator X32 X3’s stand. Strangely, Acer doesn’t seem to talk about this in the monitor’s marketing, but it’s a rare extra. Asus is the only competing brand that routinely provides it. The mount can be used to attach a camera, microphone, LED light, and anything else that you can screw into the mount.
A pair of five-watt speakers round out the features. They’re not amazing, but they’re okay to use for podcasts or listening to chill beats at low volumes. LG’s Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, which has a unique “pixel sound” system, easily defeats the Acer on audio—but most competitors, like the Alienware AW3225QF, lack speakers.
Acer Predator X32 X3 image quality
The Acer Predator X32 X3 has an LG WOLED panel that supports up to 4K resolution. It’s also a 10-bit panel, which means it should deliver great color performance in both SDR and HDR.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
We start off with sustained SDR brightness, which is a weak spot for OLED monitors. The Acer Predator X32 X3 is not different, as its maximum of 256 nits falls right in line with other 4K OLED monitors.
This level of brightness is fine for general use in a room with light control. If you can turn off the lights, or close the blinds, you’re likely to end up using the monitor at roughly half its maximum brightness, or less. But if your room has bright, sunlit windows, or you work in an office with lights you can’t control, then the Acer Predator X32 X3 could look a bit dim at times.
The monitor has an anti-glare coating. This is a topic of some debate among OLED enthusiasts. Some prefer a glossy finish for its perceived contrast and clarity, while others prefer matte for practical use in rooms with mixed lighting. I’m in the second camp, as an anti-glare coat makes the most of OLED’s meager brightness.
While the monitor isn’t especially bright, it delivers an effectively infinite contrast ratio that provides an amazingly immersive, alluring image. This is made possible because the OLED panel can reduce the brightness of each pixel to zero nits, which enhances realism in dark scenes and amplifies contrast between bright and dark pixels. It’s a huge benefit, but one shared by all modern OLED monitors, so the Acer Predator X32 X3 has no advantage over its competitors here.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The Acer Predator X32 X3’s color gamut highlights the difference between LG WOLED and Samsung QD-OLED panels. The QD in QD-OLED stands for Quantum Dots, a technology that allows monitors like the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED to achieve a wider color gamut than LG WOLED alternatives. That places the Acer Predator X32 X3, which has the LG WOLED panel, behind some of its competitors.
With that said, though, the Acer Predator X32 X3 can still display up to 96 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 87 percent of AdobeRGB. These are solid results that deliver a vibrant, saturated image.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The Acer Predator X32 X3’s color accuracy is solid across the board. Though it’s not the most accurate LG WOLED monitor I’ve tested, it’s competitive with the alternatives.
The monitor also did well in gamma and color temperature testing. The gamma curve came in at 2.3, which is only a hair off the target of 2.2. That means the image is a tad darker than it should be, but it’s hard to notice. Color temperature came in right on target at 6500K, which is our preference. That means the image doesn’t look too warm and rosy, nor too cool and sterile.
Sharpness is good. 4K resolution on a 32-inch panel works out to about 138 pixels per inch (PPI), which is much higher than a 1440p 32-inch monitor’s pixel density of 92 PPI. Small objects and fonts generally look sharp, though some pixelation and aliasing are visible if I lean in to view the monitor more closely. OLED monitors tend to suffer sub-pixel rendering issues that can reduce sharpness compared to an IPS panel monitor, but this problem is much less noticeable on a 4K 32-inch monitor like the Acer Predator X32 X3 than on a 27-inch 1440p monitor like the ViewSonic XG272-2K-OLED.
Overall, the Acer Predator X32 X3’s SDR image quality is excellent, though it doesn’t stand out from other 4K OLED monitors. It has an effectively infinite contrast ratio, a decent color gamut, good color accuracy, and reasonable SDR brightness. The monitor’s performance in all these areas is similar to other monitors that have the same LG WOLED panel, and a tad behind competitors that use a Samsung QD-OLED panel.
Acer Predator X32 X3 HDR image quality
The Acer Predator X32 X3 supports HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. Its overall HDR performance is generally in line with competitive OLED monitors—which is good news, as modern 32-inch 4K monitors are a solid choice for HDR.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
HDR brightness isn’t exceptional, but it’s solid. The Acer Predator X32 X3 generally wasn’t as bright as the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP and LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, but it’s not too far behind—I think it’s debatable whether this is a noticeable difference in real-world viewing.
It’s also worth mention that the alternatives are stiff competition. If the Acer Predator X32 X3 is compared to a less expensive 4K IPS monitor, like the Acer Nitro XZ320QK, the Predator is clearly superior.
Acer Predator X32 X3 motion performance
The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a “dual-mode” monitor, which means it is designed to accommodate two different native resolutions with varying refresh rates. To be specific, it supports 4K resolution at up to 240Hz or 1080p resolution at up to 480Hz.
While this might seem odd, it’s not just a gimmick. Want to get sweaty in Apex: Legends? Switch to 1080p/480Hz. Want to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum sharpness? Flip back to 4K/240Hz. Acer is not the first monitor to offer this feature, however, as alternatives like the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B and Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP also provide it.
The 1080p/480Hz mode arguably represents the upper end of motion clarity available from any modern display. Fast-moving objects look razor sharp and small text is generally readable even when it zooms across the screen. I personally find the improved clarity easy to notice. The 4K/240Hz mode isn’t as crisp in motion, but is also quite clear, and provides an obvious upgrade over older 4K monitors with a 60Hz to 144Hz refresh rate.
Adaptive sync is supported, though Acer only lists official support for AMD’s FreeSync Premium Pro. The monitor’s adaptive sync should generally function with Nvidia G-Sync and VESA Adaptive Sync compatible video inputs, as these standards are related, but I wasn’t able to test this first-hand.
Should you buy the Acer Predator X32 X3?
The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a great 4K OLED monitor that separates itself from the competition on two key points: connectivity and price.
Acer provides a USB-C port with USB Power Delivery alongside several downstream USB-A ports, which gives the monitor an advantage over its peers when it comes to connectivity (as most lack USB-C). Acer also hits a slightly lower retail MSRP which, at time of this writing, undercuts competitors by $30 to $130 dollars. The Predator X32 X3’s stand is a bit wider than it should be, and the monitor lacks RGB LED lighting, but I expect many shoppers will be willing to overlook those small design shortcomings.
That makes the Acer Predator X32 X3 easy to recommend so long as it maintains a slight price advantage over its peers. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
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