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|  | | PC World - 24 Dec (PC World)PCWorld executive editor Gordon Mah Ung, a tireless journalist we once described as a founding father of hardcore tech journalism, passed away over the weekend after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Gordon was 58, and leaves behind a loving wife, two children, older sister, and mother. Please consider contributing to a GoFundMe campaign in support of Gordon’s family, which was left with considerable medical bills and financial strain.
With more than 25 years’ experience covering computer tech broadly and computer chips specifically, Gordon’s dogged reporting, one-of-a-kind personality, and commitment to journalistic standards touched many, many lives. He will be profoundly missed by co-workers, industry sources, and the PC enthusiasts who read his words and followed him as a video creator.
Gordon studied journalism at San Francisco State University and then worked as a police reporter for the Contra Costa Times in the late 1990s. In 1997, he joined Computerworld (a PCWorld sister publication) before I recruited him to join boot magazine (later re-launched as Maximum PC), where he would ultimately lead hardware coverage for 16 years.
At Maximum PC, Gordon developed his trademark voice that blended a hardcore passion for PC tech with non-sequiturs, deadpan humor, and occasional bursts of outrage. As a very early podcaster in the tech space, Gordon’s “Rant of the Week” segment on the Maximum PC pod became so legendary, someone made a soundboard of his best sound bytes. (Caution: It can get a bit NSFW in the finest Gordon tradition.) As I listened to his rants from my office, he always had me guessing, “Is he really that angry, or is he playing us?”
And that was part of Gordon’s genius. His number one commitment was to investigating the story, informing the public, and helping people make the best technology decisions. But layered on top of all of this was a master showman who effortlessly connected with like-minded enthusiasts.
During much of his time at Maximum PC, Gordon was the lead designer, builder and dreamer behind the magazine’s annual Dream Machine project, which entailed creating the most outrageous, high-performing PC possible. Throughout these building endeavors, he cemented his relationships with Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and other hardware manufacturers too numerous to mention.
Gordon’s goal was to get the newest, best, most high-performing parts before anyone else. And it didn’t end with CPUs and GPUs. If a piece of technology went into a PC build, Gordon had an encyclopedic knowledge about all of it—memory, storage, PSUs, cases, cooling, and beyond.
Gordon was also the unnamed author of Maximum PC’s consumer-advocate “Watchdog” column. As the mysterious Watchdog, Gordon responded to reader complaints about fly-by-night companies and failing products, and applied all his investigative skills to help readers reach a resolution. It was a perfect merger of consumer service, deep reporting and tech smarts that only Gordon could own.
Sort of like Star Trek’s Scotty who preferred sticking to his technical manuals, Gordon resisted taking the helm of Maximum PC, but eventually agreed to become Editor-in-Chief in 2014. Flash forward to later that year, when I once again asked for his help—this time to join PCWorld as executive editor in charge of hardware.
At PCWorld, Gordon immediately began imprinting his knowledge and personality on our articles and video. His deep-dive CPU reviews were epic, and continued a legacy of no-BS chip coverage that nonetheless earned the trust and respect of the companies he covered. Some of his first segues into video took the form of our Hardcore Hardware series where he married his deep wealth of knowledge with trademark Gordon theatrics.
Some of Gordon’s first forays into PCWorld video were for his “Hardcore Hardware” series, which was shot in the bowels of our San Francisco office space.
A master showman, Gordon always knew how to connect directly with his YouTube audience.
Gordon’s infectious personality always kept The Full Nerd crew in stitches. Here he’s leading the viewer Q&A segment, in which live stream participants lined up to tap Gordon’s deep wealth of PC knowledge.
But it wasn’t until we launched The Full Nerd video podcast in 2016, and set Gordon loose on many more video formats, did he come full circle as a creator. As the host of The Full Nerd, Gordon was able to deliver all his knowledge and analysis at a much faster pace—and if you’ve seen The Full Nerd, you know just how much he loved everything the PC scene has to offer.
Through his expanded presence on The Full Nerd, Gordon developed deep relationships with not only other YouTube creators, but also with dedicated followers. You could almost hear his fan base cheering him on via the comments feed during live shows. I have often thought that the way Gordon shared his reporting in print and on podcasts served as model for what PC hardware YouTube would become—unapologetically nerdy, opinionated, and full of attitude. But Gordon always delivered a crucial additional element: a legit journalism background and all the rigor it entails.
Gordon continued to shoot video and appear on The Full Nerd until weeks before his death. Talk about a commitment to beat coverage. He was following the story to the very end.
I met Gordon in journalism school and spent a lot of time with him in the trenches—sharing cubicle spaces, and hearing him riff. I’ll remember his endless debates with co-workers (his bob-and-weave rhetorical style was as maddening as it was entertaining). I’ll remember his two-hour long phone interviews with sources (he interrogated them like a pro, but played the long game in cultivating trust). I’ll remember his reliability in always asking about the TPS reports when some bureaucratic email landed in our inboxes. I’ll remember him slyly trolling me by calling the series “Star Track” even though I’m 99 percent sure he knew that’s not how it’s pronounced.
He might have been the staff curmudgeon, but he was also our most fun co-worker, bar none.
I’ve long held this romantic notion, maybe foolishly, that journalists are immortalized by their canon. And of all the tech journalists I’ve personally known, no one has a deeper canon, and has touched more followers, and has earned more respect from industry heavyweights than Gordon. From his earliest days on Maximum PC to his last days on PCWorld and the Full Nerd, Gordon touched people in a way I just haven’t seen anywhere else. He’s leaving a gaping hole in the hearts of those who loved him, but what he’s given us lives forever. – Jon Phillips, editorial director, PCWorld
Gordon Mah Ung, remembered
Here are more reflections from those who knew Gordon well. If you’d like to share some thoughts on what Gordon meant to you, please email Brad Chacos, PCWorld executive editor, at bchacos@pcworld.com. Unfortunately, we will not be able to add all submissions to this article.
‘The journalist and person I wanted to be when I grow up.’
Here’s something Gordon never knew. He was the beacon for my career before I even had my career. I was born in the early 80s. I was a wide-eyed teen when Gordon was blazing trails in boot and Maximum PC in the late 90s. This was my introduction to enthusiast PC culture, long before the Internet exploded.
After spending years unloading trucks and working in factories, I eventually took the plunge into tech journalism. I had $2,000 in the bank and a 6-month-old daughter, but I wanted to do what Gordon did. I ground out endless $15 articles on a content farm called Demand Media. I was eventually added to the tech vertical, which Salon syndicated. And those Salon clips got me a freelance gig with Maximum PC’s nascent Web Blog. YES!
The first time I got an email from Gordon with insights on something I was working on, I swooned—and listened, and hustled. Eventually I was fortunate enough to work alongside Gordon at PCWorld, then become his co-host on The Full Nerd, and loooong after that, his boss. (WUT!) I learned so much from him. Gordon always remained my inspiration; the journalist and person I wanted to be when I grow up. He still is.
He never knew that. I wish he did, because Gordon literally changed my life. Follow in the footsteps of greatness, kids. And Gordon was the GOAT. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld executive editor and Gordon Mah Ung stan
‘He remembered who came before him, and created space for those who would follow’
I may write for a living, but I can’t do justice to Gordon in words. But I know he would nudge me, as he always has, to go for it. See where it takes me.
PC building is what led me to cross paths with Gordon—I first met him while sneaking peeks at the wild and wonderful PC builds on the other side of my cubical wall. At the time, I was a video games journalist, covering a platform I’d later get mercilessly razzed about on The Full Nerd.
But I liked tech, and I liked learning about PC hardware. It was a trait that Gordon encouraged, nurtured, and transformed into an entire new branch of my career. Gordon was the kind of guy who did that casually, too. His deep love for PC hardware made him open and generous, always actively keeping seats open at the table for others. He remembered who came before him, and created space for those who would follow him.
In every capacity I’ve known him—boss, mentor, colleague—he taught me to stay humble, lead with curiosity, and remain fair in coverage. Combined with his laser-sharp precision and analysis, his example forever motivates me to think deeply and thoughtfully. The industry will not be the same without him. —Alaina Yee, PCWorld senior editor and Maximum PC alumni
‘He welcomed me in and let me know I belonged’
Newsrooms attract characters. Misfits, hopeless optimists, unrepentent goofballs, anti-establishment types, lovable weirdos, and willful contrarians. Gordon was all of those things, but most of all, he was kind.
He was always first in line to help a friend in need. When there was an emergency, he ran toward it. I don’t think he was a Boy Scout, but he was always prepared.
When I was the new guy at Maximum PC, I knew all about computers and nothing about magazines. Gordon didn’t care. He welcomed me in and let me know I belonged there. He answered all of my stupidest questions, helped me when I needed help, and let me make mistakes when I needed to mess up. And he made sure that we all got into good trouble on the reg.
He taught me that our job, as editors, is always to serve the reader. It didn’t matter that advertisers paid the bills; the people who trusted us to give them advice and guidance were always our number one priority. It was his guiding principle and he lived it every day. He was never afraid of speaking truth to power in service of the reader. And he taught so many young journalists to do the same.
I already miss my friend terribly, but I’m profoundly grateful that I got to share a small part of his journey with him. The world is a worse place without him. —Will Smith, Full Nerd regular and former Maximum PC editor-in-chief
‘Gordon was always at the center of it’
I hardly need to list Gordon’s many great attributes—he was a beloved legend in the PC community for a reason. But I’m among a smaller number of people who had the privilege of working with him day to day on a team, first at Maximum PC and then PCWorld. Despite being a larger-than-life figure for both of those brands, Gordon was the consummate team member—always willing to patiently explain something, always down to riff and collaborate, always kind and respectful of others. He seemed to genuinely thrive on the group effort.
My favorite work memories are of the Maximum PC bullpen where the staff would banter and laugh seemingly all day—it’s amazing we ever got anything done. Gordon was always at the center of it. He was a truly outstanding individual who I’m proud to have worked with and know as a friend. —Katherine Stevenson, PCWorld managing editor and Maximum PC alumni
‘Gordon was the newsiest nerd I’ve ever known’
It’s fair to say Gordon helped define what PCWorld is today, from our mission to especially our voice. I grew up in a newsroom, and Gordon was the newsiest nerd I’ve ever known: utterly dedicated to depth, accuracy, and context, but with a cynical, collegial sense of humor. He also cared deeply about understanding how tech worked and unearthing its deep, dark secrets that manufacturers glossed over. The man simply loved his job. We all loved him. – Mark Hachman, senior editor, PCWorld
‘We are fortunate to have had someone so genuine fighting for us’
Gordon Mah Ung is an irreplaceable force of good for this industry and for consumers. His background in police reporting and journalism afforded a strong foundation to his work and a unique perspective not found anywhere else in the computer reporting business. Like many others, Gordon’s work in Maximum PC inspired me long before I was ever in the industry.
Back when I was in high school, I would buy magazines Gordon wrote for every month. In particular, his “Watchdog” consumer advocacy columns inspired our own similar content. He knew when and how to push back to protect consumers, and Gordon served as a mentor for me.Gordon was kind enough to regularly listen to my rambling as I sought his advice and experience, navigating complicated issues of ethics and conflict. He always brought grounded, sobering advice. I still can’t believe that I have been fortunate enough to have worked alongside a hero of mine, and still cannot believe his passing.
Gordon and I got along from day one, and I will forever keep his perspective in mind. His presence at events will be greatly missed. Gordon Mah Ung has long been my favorite co-host in videos for his “real” demeanor and his candor; he is exactly who he presents himself as on camera, and we are fortunate to have had someone so genuine fighting for us in this industry. Gordon, thank you for everything you have taught me, and thank you for unwaveringly looking out for consumers. —Steve Burke, editor-in-chief, GamersNexus
‘If Gordon praised my system, it felt like I’d won an Oscar’
Gordon reviewed our PCs for 25 years, and he has written more kind words about my company than anyone. It’s a bittersweet honor to offer a few words about Gordon in return.
For the first decade I knew Gordon, I learned little about him personally. He was like a test we had to pass. At Maximum PC, he was the ultimate authority on whether the systems we were building were worth anyone buying. If Gordon praised my system, it felt like I’d won an Oscar. But he never let a missed detail get by him, and trying to impress Gordon has become a constant of my career. I would not be where I am today without Gordon’s approval.
But over the years I was fortunate enough to get to know Gordon a bit personally. I always felt privileged when he’d call me for long off-the-record talks about the latest PC industry intrigue, and we’d inevitably tangent off to talking about Aliens or Star Trek, or “the kids building PCs these days who don’t know how easy they have it.” Gordon was a kindred spirit: an O.G. sci-fi and computer nerd who loved tech, and always remembered the point of the hobby was having fun with cool toys.
But the biggest impression he made on me was when he and his family stopped by my shop a few years ago. Such wonderful people, and I was so impressed by his children: kind, smart and funny—exactly whom you’d expect Gordon to have made the world better with. Meeting them, I learned his legacy was not just in what he wrote, but in who he taught, and who he loved. Thank you, Gordon.—Kelt Reeves, Falcon Northwest
‘A truly inquisitive journalist, he sought the stories behind the stories’
Most of us know Gordon as a long-time tech journalist, as one of the best and the most passionate in the industry. Gordon was a truly inquisitive journalist, he sought the stories behind the stories by taking a real interest in the products, companies, and the people behind them.
I was lucky enough to know Gordon as a friend. We checked-in often with one another. I would ask about his health, and he would ask about my flying. Occasionally, we’d talk industry updates but most of our conversations were about family, friends, life, and the things that matter most. He was so proud of his family, not too long ago sending me Halloween Ghostbusters pics and the amazing photos his son took at an air show last year. I will miss our conversations and my friend. He was one of the best and forever will be. —Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions, AMD, and Alienware co-founder
‘Any good work I do reflects at least in part on Gordon’
If you’ve ever done research on anything technical, chances are you’ve read something Gordon wrote. His keen intellect and razor-sharp wit helped him connect the dots on both the technology and the people that make up our modern world. His talent for investigation was honed over a long and storied career; he was a force in our industry. I will miss his advice and insight, as I am sure will many others.
Often one can infer a lot about a person from their writing, and while I’m sure a kind reasonableness comes through clearly in Gordon’s writing, his was a type of kindness and patience that is exceedingly rare. Gordon always loved to chat, find out what you were up to, and was always kind and thoughtful. While his writing and insights have become a part of computing history, any good work I do reflects at least in part on Gordon because of his positive influences. So, in that way, he will live on in the work of others.
I will forever have fond memories of our many chats, and while I’d love to have just one more chat, I am thankful that he is able to rest for a while. —Wendell Wilson, Level1Techs
‘Gordon was uncannily skilled at demystifying complex technology’
Gordon Mah Ung wasn’t just the most talented tech journalist of his generation; he was one of the best tech journalists of all time. Brutally honest, yet eminently humble, Gordon was uncannily skilled at demystifying complex technology for readers of every stripe. Both in writing and during live podcasts, Gordon schooled and entertained us with his wicked sense of humor. – Michael Brown, executive editor, TechHive and boot magazine alumni Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 24 Dec (PC World)2024 has been a big year for on-device AI in consumer electronics. Both Microsoft and Apple took swings with their respective operating systems, with Microsoft debuting its “Copilot+ PC” branding for AI-capable laptops and Apple releasing Apple Intelligence.
These early examples offered mixed results. Some features, like real-time translations and on-device speech-to-text, can be useful. Others, like Microsoft’s Windows Recall, have yet to prove themselves.
All of this hype for AI has important implications for the new year. 2025 looks set to become the year when mainstream developers make their attempts to add on-device AI to their Windows apps, and that means you’re going to want to pay even closer attention to the AI performance of modern Windows laptops before you buy a new one.
I spoke with two experts in AI research and testing to probe their brains for insights on how Windows on-device AI will grow in 2025.
Big gains are coming for NPUs
If you’re curious about Windows laptops’ AI performance, you’ll likely end up comparing the “TOPS” promised by each laptop model. TOPS (“Trillions of Operations Per Second”) is a measurement of an NPU’s ability to perform matrix multiplications for on-device AI tasks. (Learn more about what an NPU is and why it matters for AI.)
2024 saw big gains in the TOPS performance available from Windows laptops. To qualify for Microsoft’s “Copilot PC+” branding, a Windows laptop must have at least 40 TOPS of NPU performance. For reference, Qualcomm’s first Copilot+ PCs quoted about 45 TOPS — that’s a four-fold uplift over Intel’s “Meteor Lake” Core Ultra 7 165H, which had only quoted 11 TOPS of NPU performance.
Windows Recall on a Copilot+ laptop by Samsung.Microsoft / Samsung
“I think Qualcomm really woke everyone up,” said Karl Freund, founder and principal analyst at Cambrian AI Research. Freund has noted that AMD and Intel have been quick to respond with their own chips, which delivered a similar uplift.
By the end of 2024, shoppers looking for a premium Windows laptop — like a Microsoft Surface, Asus ProArt, or Dell XPS — can expect a roughly three- or four-fold increase in NPU performance compared to similarly premium laptops that were available at the end of 2023. That’s a huge bump up. But will that trend continue into 2025?
Ryan Shrout, president of performance testing lab Signal65, thinks it could. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we see double again, and triple again wouldn’t surprise me.” However, he expects those eventual gains to be weighted more towards the end of next year. “My guess is it will be late 2025, and probably into 2026, when we see the most significant NPU improvements.”
TOPS may not stay on top for long
A potential two- to three-fold improvement for on-device AI performance is significant. However, Freund and Shrout warned it’s best not to give too much credence to the TOPS performances that chip makers quote.
“TOPS really stands for ‘Terribly Overused Performance Stat,`” said Freund. “It doesn’t have a lot of value.”
Shrout agreed, comparing TOPS to the TFLOPS figures that AMD and Nvidia often quote when marketing GPUs. These numbers, which point to a GPU’s maximum possible computation speed, offer surprisingly little insight into actual real-world performance.
Real-world AI performance is currently a bit of a wild card, in part because Windows has yet to coalesce around a single API for tapping an NPU’s AI capabilities. That’s a problem for owners of Copilot+ laptops that lack a Qualcomm chip inside.
Da Vinci Resolve running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptop.Mark Hachman / IDG
Though AMD and Intel have chips that qualify for Copilot+ branding, Qualcomm has enjoyed a favored status so far. Qualcomm machines were the first to receive support for Windows Recall and several popular apps, like Blender and Affinity Photo, which were recently announced to only work on Qualcomm Snapdragon X hardware.
That should change through 2025, however, as Microsoft rallies support for its low-level machine learning API (DirectML) and the Windows Copilot Runtime, which includes several task-specific AI APIs (some of which have yet to be released). For now, it’s clear that Copilot+ PCs leave a lot to be desired and have lots of room for growth coming up.
“I think Microsoft will have this solved in 2025,” said Shrout. “Once application developers attach to DirectML, like they did with DirectX, it will be a solved problem. And I don’t think it will be a problem for long.” Shrout compared it to the early days of 3D on the PC, which initially saw competing APIs but eventually consolidated around the leaders, with Microsoft DirectX becoming the most popular option.
Proving the case for Windows AI
Better NPUs and a unified API that makes it easier for Windows application developers to actually use an NPU’s full performance are both important steps forward, but they don’t necessarily guarantee that on-device AI will become commonplace.
That’s because developers still have the option to turn towards companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, who make their AI models and services available to any device with internet access. And their AI models are still more capable than on-device AI models, able to do more and generate those results far more quickly.
However, those AI models hosted in the cloud have a major downside that will become more relevant in 2025 — price.
“The fact we can have small language models run on an NPU continuously in the background to monitor what’s happening, that’s something the cloud can’t do, or at least would be much more expensive from an infrastructure standpoint,” said Shrout.
CKA / Shutterstock
OpenAI’s recent release of ChatGPT Pro, a new premium tier for power users, seems to drive this point home. ChatGPT Pro provides unlimited access to the company’s new o1 model and priority access to the Sora video generator, but it’s priced at $200 per month. The per-token price paid by app developers to make o1 available to users is similarly steep.
Users and developers who turn to a Windows laptop’s on-device NPU, on the other hand, can essentially use it whenever they want for free. That’s arguably going to be the final brick laid in the road towards on-device AI. Developers and users will have both the tools and incentives to rely on a Windows laptop’s NPU whenever possible to cut costs.
It remains to be seen how quickly the shift towards on-device AI will happen, and to what extent it will proliferate through Windows’ software ecosystem, but it’s likely that 2025 will be a huge turning point.
“I think Qualcomm had it right five years ago when they said AI would move on-device. At first, I was skeptical. But now I’ve become a believer,” said Freund.
Further reading: Free AI tools that run locally on your PC Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 21 Dec (PC World)Live TV streaming services are a natural starting point when you’re cutting the cord.
These services offer many of the same channels you had with cable or satellite TV, but deliver them over the internet to your smart TV or streaming device. They include cloud-based DVRs so you can record your favorite shows—and skip through the commercials—in many cases, they’re the only way to watch specific pay TV channels.
Still, the cost of live TV streaming services can get quite high, and in some ways they won’t be exactly like what you had with cable. Our top picks will help you avoid overpaying and get the TV features you most care about.
Why you should trust us
As TechHive’s resident cord-cutting expert, I’ve been reviewing live TV streaming services ever since the launch of Sling TV back in 2015, and I’ve been a cord-cutter myself since 2008. Beyond just product reviews, I write a weekly column about streaming and over-the-air TV for TechHive, and my Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter has more than 30,000 readers.
Updated December 20, 2024: We’ve updated this story with the most recent price changes (or should we say price increases) and performed a general refresh of this story.
The TV streaming services we recommend
YouTube TV — Best TV streaming service overall
Pros
Simple interface makes live TV easy to navigate
Unlimited DVR allows for a huge on-demand library (with skippable ads)
Broad selection of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels
Cons
Can’t delete recordings or mark them as watched on TV devices
One-off recordings only work for live sporting events
Menu doesn’t clearly separate DVR and on-demand video (with unskippable ads)
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
YouTube TV
$82.99
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Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
$82.99 at YouTube TV
Why we like YouTube TV
YouTube TV is the best drop-in replacement for cable or satellite TV. It’s not exactly cheap at $83 per month, but it offers a broad mix of the local stations, live news, national sports, and entertainment channels you’d get with a typical pay TV package, almost certainly at a lower price. Its interface is easy to comprehend, its cloud DVR lets you record an unlimited number of programs for up to nine months, and you even can bundle NFL Sunday Ticket at a discount.
Who should get YouTube TV
If you want to cut the cable cord without overthinking it, this is the easiest starting point to recommend. Still, other services may offer a better value—either by bundling other services or omitting popular channels—or by delivering more regional sports coverage.
Read our full
YouTube TV review
Hulu + Live TV — Best TV streaming service, runner-up
Pros
Excellent value for Disney bundle subscribers
Expansive on-demand catalog
Recommendations and staff picks make the app fun to explore
Cons
Live TV can be inefficient to navigate
Hard to figure out which programs allow ad skipping
Can’t watch on TV devices while traveling
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Hulu.com
$82.99
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Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
$82.99 at Hulu.com
Why we like Hulu + Live TV
The main thing that distinguishes Hulu + Live TV from YouTube TV is its inclusion of the full Disney bundle, so you get Hulu’s on-demand catalog, Disney+ (with ads, unless you were grandfathered in), and ESPN+ in the $83-per-month base package. Hulu’s cloud DVR service lets you save an unlimited number of shows for up to nine months, and while the interface can be busy, it ties everything together in a way that encourages discovery.
Who should get Hulu + Live TV
Hulu’s live TV package makes a lot of sense if you’re paying for any of Disney’s other streaming services. Disney+ and Hulu each cost $10 per month on their own (or $11 per month together), while ESPN+ is even pricier at $12 per month (also available with Disney+ and Hulu for $17 per month). With Hulu + Live TV, you get all those services at no extra cost.
Read our full
Hulu + Live TV review
DirecTV Stream — Best TV streaming service for sports fans
Pros
Excellent grid guide with useful sorting options
More sports (at least in its $100-per-month tier) than other streaming services
DVR is easy to navigate and has its own dedicated menu section
Cons
No visual preview when fast forwarding on Fire TV and Android TV
Sluggish performance on some lower-end streaming devices
Some national sports channels are pushed out to more-expensive packages
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
DirecTV Stream
$101.98
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Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
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$101.98 at DirecTV Stream
Why we like DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream’s starting price is $101.98 per month, but the main attraction is its $115-per-month “Choice” package, which includes more sports coverage than other live TV streaming services. In some markets, it’s the only way to stream certain regional sports channels that remain tied to pay TV bundles. The cloud DVR and grid guide are highlights as well, with an interface that will make cable or satellite converts feel at home.
Who should get DirecTV Stream
YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV only offer patchy regional sports coverage, and standalone streaming options are still limited. Sports fans who can’t stream their local baseball, basketball, or hockey teams any other way would be wise to consider DirecTV Stream despite its steep price.
Read our full
DirecTV Stream review
Sling TV — Best budget-priced TV streaming service
Pros
Lower entry price than any other streaming bundle
Simple menu system with easy access to favorites
DVR supports ad-skipping, partial recordings, and time-shifting
Cons
Price can quickly escalate to get certain channels
Most channels top out at 30 frames per second
Only supports one user profile
Best Prices Today:
Retailer
Price
Sling TV
$40
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Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
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$40 at Sling TV
Why we like Sling TV
Sling TV’s starting price of $40 per month is a lot lower than most other bundles, which it accomplishes by splitting its channels into two base packages and omitting local broadcasts in many markets. The DVR feels a bit stingy—you get 50 recording hours, or 200 hours for an extra $5 per month—but it’s still the cheapest way to access certain cable channels without a big cable bundle.
Who should get Sling TV
Sling TV is an invaluable option for those who can skate by without a full range of local channels. It pairs especially well with an over-the-air antenna for local channels, and you can even use an AirTV device to feed those channels into Sling’s app.
Read our full
Sling TV review
Philo — Best budget-priced TV streaming service, runner-up
Pros
DVR has helpful ad-skipping features
Easy to find your favorites and recently-watched shows
Integrates well with Fire TV, Google TV, and Apple TV devices
Cons
No sports, major cable news, or local broadcast channels
Channel guide layout is disorienting
No surround sound or adjustable streaming quality
Why we like Philo
For $28 per month, Philo offers lots of entertainment channels in an easy-to-navigate interface, and its cloud DVR even marks up commercial breaks to help you skip through them. Equally notable, however, is what’s missing: Philo doesn’t include any local channels, sports channels, or major cable news networks, which is a big part of why it’s much cheaper than other live TV streaming services.
Who should get Philo
Cord-cutters who favor reality shows, documentaries, and other forms of comfort food TV will find plenty to watch on Philo. Cheaper standalone services such as Max or Netflix might scratch a similar itch at lower prices, but they don’t have the same live TV and DVR features.
Read our full
Philo review
How we test live TV streaming services
Beyond just watching a lot of TV, we evaluate each service’s channel lineup to point out any important omissions, while also comparing basic features such as simulataneous streams and out-of-home viewing restrictions. We scrutinize each service’s DVR capabilities, including the ease with which you can access recordings, manage your storage, and skip through commercials. To evaluate video quality, we look for features such as 60-frames-per-second video support across a broad range of channels.
We also examine every corner of each service’s interface, comparing features such as the grid guide, on-demand menu, and home screen. Our in-depth reviews include plenty of screenshots, so you can see for yourself what each service looks like.
Other notable live TV streaming services we’ve reviewed
Fubo prides itself on live sports and is only rivaled by DirecTV Stream on regional sports, but its lack of Warner-owned channels (including postseason sports staples TNT and TBS) leaves some serious gaps in its coverage. It costs $80 per month, including regional sports fees.
Philo offers a terrific live TV streaming service for just $28 per month if you’re not interested in watching live sports.
Frndly TV is the cheapest live TV streaming service by far, starting at $7 per month, with a channel lineup that leans heavily into classic TV reruns. It probably won’t fulfil many cord cutters’ needs on its own, but may be worth considering as a supplement to other services.
Frequently asked questions about streaming live TV
1.
How are live TV streaming services different from services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video?
On-demand video services such as Netflix (also known as SVOD (streaming video on demand) or direct-to-consumer services) offer original programming you can’t find on cable, along with catalogs of movies and shows licensed from Hollywood studios. Some of these streamers are dabbling in live sports—most notably, Max’s B/R Sports add-on offers every event that airs on its cable channels—but for the most part this coverage is different from what’s on cable.
By comparison, live TV services carry the exact same channels you’d find in a cable or satellite package, including major networks such as ABC and CBS, news channels such MSNBC and Fox News, and sports channels such as ESPN. They have similar grid-style channels guides and DVR features as well.
2.
How do I watch live TV streaming services?
Each of these services offer their own apps, which you can install on your smart TV, streaming device, smartphone, or tablet. You can subscribe to these services through their own websites, or in some cases directly through the app.
3.
What about DVR?
All live TV streaming services include some form of cloud DVR, allowing you to record live programming and skip through the commercials. The recordings are stored online, rather than on a box in your home, so you can access them from any of your devices—even while traveling.
4.
Can I watch live TV streaming services while traveling?
Yes, though some services have restrictions on what you can watch and how you can watch it. This article has more details.
5.
Are there equipment or activation fees?
No, live TV streaming services do not charge activation fees, and you can log in to watch on as many devices as you want at no extra charge. You may hit a limit on how many devices can be actively streaming at the same time—usually it’s two or three, depending on the service—and some services allow you to pay for more simultaneous streams if you need them. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 21 Dec (PC World)Having a good gaming PC is only half the battle–you also need a screen that makes the action visible. Many people find it difficult to decide on the right dimensions. Gaming monitors are now available in such huge sizes that you might think that bigger is always better. However, other factors are just as important and large monitors can have disadvantages. We take a closer look at what is important when choosing a size and how you can find the right monitor for your purposes.
Further reading: 2025 will be the best year to buy a monitor, ever. Here’s why
Consider the available space
When buying a monitor, you should of course also consider how much space you have available. A huge monitor doesn’t look good on a relatively small desk and you should always leave enough space for a keyboard, mouse, and speakers. You should also make sure there’s enough space between you and the monitor. A depth of around 60 centimeters should be sufficient.
For which genre?
You should consider what types of games you’re going to play on this monitor, as it plays a significant role in how large the display surface should be.
If you’re into cinematic, story-driven games that showcase characters with all their facets and emotions, then it would simply be inappropriate to display the action on a tiny monitor. It destroys the immersion. It’s also not a bad idea to use models with as few edges as possible, preferably with a slight curvature. This draws them more into the action. 27- to 32-inch monitors are recommended in this case, preferably in ultra-wide format.
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For shooters, especially multiplayer titles, the motto “bigger is better” applies. This is because the changed dimensions also give you a larger field of view. A lot can happen at the sides of the screen, so an ultra-wide format is more suitable here.
The situation is completely different for e-sports titles, especially with games like Starcraft or MOBAs. You’ll often see monitors that are almost square in shape or boast a 4:3 format. These screens aren’t very large, either. A 24-inch monitor is sufficient here.
Pay attention to resolution and refresh rate
In addition to the target size, the resolution also plays an important role. For maximum detail and sharpness, you should opt for 4K resolution. However, as already mentioned, UHD and WQHD monitors are also suitable for many games.
The refresh rate is important as well. If your monitor can only handle 60Hz, but you need fast reactions, then a larger screen won’t help. For shooters and demanding games, 144Hz is a must.
Really only for gaming?
You should also consider if you’re going to use the monitor for other tasks like streaming, watching movies, or web browsing. Even if you use the screen more often for work, you may still want to go a little bigger, especially when multitasking with several windows. However, it may also be a good idea to use a second screen.
Conclusion
When it comes to monitors, there’s no one size fits all. However, the most affordable ones fall in the 27-inch range. A larger model with a higher resolution can make a noticeable difference, but so can upgrading to an expensive CPU or GPU.
Further reading: The best gaming monitors we’ve tested Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 21 Dec (PC World)With a newly installed Windows PC, only a few system services and programs start. The resource requirements are correspondingly low and the operating system responds quickly.
This changes over time, which is mainly due to the additional software installed. Programs and services that start automatically after Windows logon lead to delays. The startup time of the system increases and it takes longer and longer for the desktop to respond to mouse clicks or for a program to start.
How noticeable the system slowdowns are depends on the overall performance of the computer and the performance of the hard drive or SSD.
As a general rule, a program that is only installed but does not start automatically cannot slow down Windows. However, this only applies if there is enough space available for temporary files or downloading updates, for example.
To avoid mistakes, you should therefore never fill drives close to their capacity limit. With both hard drives and SSDs, too little free space also affects speed for other reasons (see box “Making the most of hard drives and SSDs”).
Further reading: Make Windows 11 better: How to customize and expand the Start menu
As in real life, tidying up is also a regular task in Windows. Removing superfluous files ensures that there is always enough free space on the drive. You should also remove unused programs, move particularly large files from the SSD to an existing hard drive and deactivate autostart if it is not required.
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Windows 11 Pro
The Windows on-board tools can provide valuable services here, while additional tools offer more and advanced functions.
However, there is no simple one-click solution. Ultimately, the tools can only collect what you can possibly delete. After that, the responsibility lies with you. In this article, we provide decision-making aids and show you where you should be careful and what you should not delete.
Note: The tips in this article apply to Windows 11, but some of the functions are also available in Windows 10.
1. Check memory utilization
Call up Settings — for example, with the key combination Win+I or a search in the Start menu. Go to System > Memory. You will see an informative overview with the total utilization of the system drive as well as the storage space used by temporary files and installed apps.
Under Other, Windows displays the space occupied by files that cannot be specified in more detail. Clicking on Show more categories takes you to a list of other areas, such as Documents, Pictures and Videos. You can see how much storage space is occupied in each case.
Clicking on one of the categories shows detailed information:
Other shows some of the largest folders on the drive. You can open the folders by clicking on them in Windows Explorer and then decide whether something can be deleted.
Installed apps leads to Apps > Installed apps. The view can be sorted by size or installation date. You can use the three-dot menu to uninstall programs that you no longer need.
Temporary files shows a list of areas in which files that may no longer be required are stored. After a Windows upgrade, Previous Windows installation(s) appears in the list. This is the folder C:\Windows.old. You can remove this if everything is running smoothly and you no longer want to return to the previous Windows installation. Windows automatically deletes the folder after about a month.
Under System > Storage > Temporary files there is a tick in front of all entries that you can delete without hesitation. To do this, click on Remove files. You can also tick the boxes in front of Downloads and Recycle bin.
But be careful: Downloads relates to your personal download folder. If you do not want to lose the downloaded files, do not tick this box. For Recycle Bin, you should make sure that there are no unintentionally deleted files in the recycle bin. Open the recycle bin by double-clicking on the desktop icon and check the contents.
Only delete if necessary: You can delete everything under Temporary files, but this is not useful in every case. The “thumbnails,” for example, are preview images that Windows saves in db files in the folder C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer.
This allows Windows Explorer to load the preview images more quickly. After some time, the db files also contain preview images whose originals have long since been deleted. Regular cleaning therefore seems advisable.
On the other hand, the files do not usually take up much memory space and if you delete everything, Windows Explorer has to rebuild the cache of the preview images. Although this does not take long, it is unnecessary.
Further reading: 9 tweaks that turn off your Windows PC’s most annoying ads
The situation is similar with temporary internet files. Microsoft’s Edge web browser saves the elements of web pages in a cache, allowing it to display them more quickly. If the temporary internet files are deleted, it will take longer to load pages on regularly visited websites.
As a rule, the Edge cache does not occupy more than 1GB, which means that not much storage space can be freed up. Other web browsers use their own cache, which can be emptied in the respective programs (see point 7).
Storage overview: In the Settings under System > Storage you can find out how the hard drive is used. Click on the categories for further details.Foundry
2. Windows 11 cleanup functions
In Windows 11, go to System > Storage in Settings and click on Cleanup recommendations. You will see the storage space occupied by downloads and the recycle bin as well as Previous Windows installation(s), if still available.
Tick the areas in which you want to delete files and click on the [X] GB cleanup button. However, this will not only delete the selected files, but also other temporary files. Click on Advanced options to find out about the effects.
The settings correspond to those under System > Storage > Temporary files, but the current selection is added, for example Recycle bin. If you consider it necessary, you can remove the tick from some areas before cleaning.
The list you get after clicking on Large or unused files is more interesting. You will see particularly large files and files used a long time ago that you may be able to delete. The list under Unused apps can also be helpful. However, only programs that you have installed via the Microsoft Store are displayed.
An alternative for Windows 10 and 11 is Iobit Uninstaller.
Under Programs, go to Rarely used to display the applications that are rarely used. The list can serve as a guide, but is usually not complete and sometimes shows inaccurate dates. However, it is not possible to do better than this because Windows does not reliably log the start time of a program.
What can be deleted? The “cleanup recommendations” point to obvious areas such as the recycle bin. However, you can also have large files and unused apps listed.
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3. Free up storage space
If you don’t want to do all the tidying up yourself, you can leave the task to Windows. In the Settings, go to System > Storage and set the switch behind Storage Sense to On.
The service can be configured by clicking on Storage Sense. A tick is already placed in front of Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files.
Automatic user content cleanup is also switched on, but is only activated when required due to the default setting During low free disk space (default). However, you can also set a schedule for the clean-up with Daily, Every week, or Every month.
An interval can be specified under Delete files from recycle bin if they have been there for over:. The default setting is 30 days. If you are worried that there may still be files in the recycle bin after 30 days that you would like to restore, it is better to set Never and empty the recycle bin manually.
The same applies to the setting for the download folder, where the default setting is Never. Only if you are sure that this folder will never contain files that you still need should you set it to 30 days or 60 days, for example.
Users of the Microsoft cloud storage Onedrive will find a useful setting under Locally available cloud content. With the default setting of 30 days, Onedrive automatically changes the status of the files in the synchronized folder to Available online if they have not been opened within this period.
This means that the files no longer take up any space on the drive. If you open one of these files afterwards, it will be available on the device again. Files that you have marked as Always keep on this device are not affected by this setting. If you do not want Onedrive to change the status of the files, set Never.
“Storage optimization” automatically creates more space on the system drive. You can specify what is deleted and when.IDG
4. Relocate standard storage locations
If your PC has an additional SSD or hard drive, you can use this as alternative storage. An external USB drive is also suitable, but must be permanently connected depending on how it is used.
Further reading: The best SSDs
You can simply move personal files to the other drive using Windows Explorer. However, Windows also offers options to change the storage location of default folders.
In the Settings, go to System > Storage, click on Advanced storage settings and then on Where new content is saved.
As the name suggests, the settings only apply to new files. To save space on the system drive, you can specify the second drive under New apps will save to:, for example E:\. Click on Apply for the setting to take effect.
You can also select the second drive under New documents will save to:, whereby Windows creates the folder E:[user name]\Documents. If you now save a document in a word processor or the Windows Notepad editor, the new storage location is preset.
However, this procedure has a disadvantage: In Windows Explorer, Documents still leads to the previous folder on drive C:\. An overview of files from both locations is provided by the libraries, which Windows Explorer does not display by default.
To change this, go to Options in the three-dot menu and switch to the View tab. Under Navigation pane, tick the box next to Show libraries. If you then go to Libraries > Documents, you will see the files from both folders.
Moving personal folders completely: Because of the disadvantage mentioned above, it makes more sense to move folders such as Documents, Pictures, and Downloads completely to another drive.
First create the destination folder, for example E:[username]\Downloads. Right-click on the desired folder in Windows Explorer, go to Properties and then to the Path tab.
Click on Move and select the previously created folder. After clicking on OK, confirm with Yes that Windows should move the existing files to the new location. In Windows Explorer, under Start or in the navigation area, open the folders with the previous content but with the new storage location.
5. Change storage location for apps
A conventionally installed desktop program is located by default in the folder C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86), which Windows Explorer displays as C:\Program.
If space becomes tight, programs cannot simply be moved to another drive, as the paths to components and settings in the Windows registry are then no longer correct. However, you can usually specify a user-defined destination on a different drive when reinstalling programs in the setup program.
This is particularly recommended for an SSD with little storage space and if a program requires a lot of storage space, for example a PC game. However, the loss of speed when starting from a slower hard drive must be accepted.
Apps from the Microsoft Store can also be moved to another drive without reinstalling them. In Settings, go to Apps > Installed apps and click on Move in the three-dot menu for the desired app.
Select the target drive and click on Move. If the menu item is not available, it is a desktop application. The pre-installed system apps cannot be moved, which is why the menu item is grayed out.
Apps from the Microsoft Store can be moved to another drive. This option is not available for pre-installed system apps.IDG
Making optimum use of hard drives and SSDs
Due to its physical structure, a conventional magnetic hard drive delivers data at different speeds. The average transfer rate of a current hard disk can be 200MB per second, for example.
In the outer area of the magnetic disk, the read/write heads can capture more sectors in the same amount of time than in the inner area due to rotation and circumference. With a freshly installed Windows, the system files are located in the fast outer area; what is added later is located in the increasingly slower inner areas.
The hard disk can reduce this effect by using a cache. The data first ends up in the fast cache and only then on the hard drive. The transfer rate is gradually reduced by the limited size of the cache as you copy many small or a few large files to the hard drive.
In the course of using a hard drive, files are deleted and new ones are created. The drive’s controller uses the next free blocks to store the data.
If a file does not fit into the area of a contiguous block, the next one is used, which may be a long way away. The read/write heads then require longer paths, which reduces the transfer rate and increases access times.
The performance of the hard drive can be improved by defragmentation. The files are reorganized in blocks that are as contiguous as possible, which speeds up access. The “Optimize drives” defragmenter from the Windows accessories (Win R, dfrgui) does this automatically once a week by default.
The Windows defragmenter seems to do its job perfectly, as it regularly certifies that the drives have a fragmentation level of “0%.” This may even be more or less true for PCs in average use.
However, large files are often heavily fragmented, which increases as the hard drive fills up because the contiguous, free blocks become fewer and fewer. This particularly affects games and the usually very large virtual hard disks of virtualization software.
If this applies to you, first make sure there is enough free space on the hard drive. Only then can a defragmenter work optimally. A suitable program for this is Defraggler.
After starting, select the hard drive and click on “Check.” If the program shows severe fragmentation, click on “Defrag.” As the process takes a long time for large hard drives, you can also selectively process individual files.
Switch to the “File list” tab. Click on the “Fragments” column header to sort the list by heavily fragmented files. The selected file can be optimized via the context menu item “Selected defragmentation.”
Special features for SSDs: SSDs do not need to be defragmented because the memory accesses are direct and the position of the memory cells is irrelevant. This results in short access times, which means that Windows and programs start faster.
The transfer rate is approximately 2 to 4 times higher than with hard disks, which also has a positive effect on overall performance.
However, you should also regularly free up storage space on SSDs. If the drive is filled to the brim, the controller on the device does not have enough free cells to organize the memory. The service life of an SSD increases if memory cells are not rewritten too often and there are enough spare lines.
With an average-use PC, however, there is no need to worry about the internal functions of the SSD. The manufacturers reserve an area for over-provisioning as standard, to which the user has no access.
Depending on the model and total capacity, this reduces the actual usable memory by 7 to 10 percent. This ensures that even with a well-filled SSD there are still free cells available.
On SSDs for server use with many write accesses, a larger area is usually reserved for over-provisioning. Some manufacturers also offer tools with which the reserve memory can be increased, for example Samsung Magican. However, this is only useful for servers.
Defraggler attempts to move files into areas that are as contiguous as possible. The function can also be used specifically for individual, particularly large files. IDG
6. Clean up discs
The disk clean-up function has been included with Windows 98, but the tool’s days are numbered. It is still included in Windows 11 24H2, but Microsoft already recommends using the functions in the Settings (see points 1 to 3).
However, if you wish, you can still use Disk Cleanup. However, this does not offer any particular advantage because the functions are now fully available in the settings under System > Storage.
If you still want to use Disk Cleanup, start the tool by searching in the Start menu or by pressing Win+R, entering cleanmgr and clicking on OK. If there are several hard drives, select the drive that you want to clean up, usually the system drive, C:. Click on OK to confirm.
After the analysis, tick the areas in which you want to delete something. For more information, click on a line and read the description. There is nothing you cannot delete without hesitation. However, the instructions for the recycle bin and temporary internet files from point 1 also apply here.
By default, Disk Cleanup only handles user files. If you click on the Clean up system files button and select the system drive, additional options are available to you. For example, Previous Windows installation(s) (if available), Log files for Windows upgrades, and Device driver packages.
On the More options tab, you can also click on Clean up under System restore and shadow copies. This deletes all restore points except for the last one, which can save several gigabytes.
Configure profile: If you want to use disk cleanup regularly for certain tasks, you can save the settings in a profile. If system files are also to be deleted, the configuration must be carried out with administrative rights, otherwise the rights of the standard user are sufficient.
With the saved settings, you can start Disk Cleanup without further configuration and delete everything at once.
Step 1: Use the Start menu to search for cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
Step 2: Type cleanmgr /sageset:1 and confirm with the Enter key. The number “1” is the serial number of the profile. You can enter any number up to four digits to save multiple profiles.
Step 3: Tick all the desired options. Click on OK to save the settings.
Step 4: Right-click on a free area on the desktop. Select New > Shortcut from the menu. In the input field, type
cleanmgr /sagerun:1
and click on Next. Enter a meaningful name and confirm with Finish.
Step 5: Right-click on the shortcut, go to Properties and switch to the Shortcut tab. Click on Advanced and tick the box next to Run as administrator. Click OK and then click OK again.
If you now start Disk Cleanup by double-clicking on the shortcut, all configured tasks will be processed automatically.
Disk Cleanup is considered outdated in Windows 11. However, it is still available in Windows 11 24H2 and can be used as usual.
Foundry
7. Delete browser data
One program that constantly generates data on the hard drive is the web browser. Browsers do not display websites, images, or videos directly, but first save the content, including images and JavaScript files, in the cache memory.
Depending on how a website is configured, data is preferably loaded quickly from the cache or updated via the internet connection.
As the cache improves the performance of the browser, it is not recommended to delete it. Browsers usually use memory space moderately and do not use more than necessary. However, you should delete the cache if there are errors in the page display, for example.
In Microsoft Edge, click on the three-dot menu at the top right and select Settings. Continue in the navigation area on the left-hand side and Privacy, search, and services.
Under Delete browser data, click on Choose what to clear. Under Time range, you can select a time period for which you want to delete elements. Under Cached images and data you can see how much memory the browser is using.
Remove the tick in front of the areas in which you do not want to delete anything. It is better to exclude Cookies and other site data. Cookies are required, for example, for navigation on websites and also for automatic login.
You should also be careful with Passwords and Autofill form data. If you have saved data via the browser, this will be lost if you tick the box here. After checking the settings, click on Clear now.
Other browsers offer similar options. Firefox users, for example, go to Privacy & Security in the Settings menu. Under Cookies and website data, click on Remove data. Remove the tick in front of Cookies and website data (recommended) and click on Clear to delete only the cache memory.
Browsers store numerous files on the hard drive, which makes websites load faster. However, in the event of errors or for data protection reasons, the files should be deleted.
Foundry
8. Optimize autostart
Many programs install services or nest themselves in the notification area next to the clock. This is practical for some applications — for example, if they regularly display important information or report available updates.
However, programs that you rarely use should be removed from the autostart. You can do this using Windows’ on-board tools via the Task Manager, which you can start most quickly by pressing the key combination Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
On the Autostart tab, programs can be removed from Autostart via the Deactivate context menu item. Nothing is deleted in the process. You can reactivate the programs at any time.
If you want to analyze all autostart ramps, use the Autoruns tool. You can deactivate services and autostart entries and reactivate them later.
The tool also offers an analysis via virustotal.com to determine whether malware is present.
If possible, you should uninstall programs that you do not use. This frees up space on your hard drive and improves security. However, the uninstall routines are often not thorough.
If you want to remove software with less residue, use tools such as Geek Uninstaller or Iobit Uninstaller.
9. Extra tools help
The cleanup functions in Windows 11 already do a good job. However, additional tools allow a different view of the situation and work more thoroughly. Sometimes too thoroughly, however. Therefore, familiarize yourself sufficiently with the functions before you delete something irretrievably.
Bleachbit is one of the tools that can be used to delete a great deal. Close all applications, especially the web browser, before starting the tool. For each category, such as Firefox, Microsoft Office or System, there is a brief description of the options. Only tick the options if you are aware of the effects.
If in doubt, click on Preview first. Bleachbit will then show you which files are affected. Only after this check do you click on Final cleanup.
Another tool for the same purpose is Ccleaner. It is somewhat clearer than Bleachbit, but offers more settings and explanatory texts.
You can also use the Ccenhancer extension, whose rule sets you can set up via Download latest. This will significantly extend the scope of the main program’s program recording.
Ccleaner is by far the most popular software for cleaning up the operating system and installed applications.
Among other things, it offers tools for clearing out the autostart, analyzing hard drive contents, searching for duplicates, managing browser plugins, and securely overwriting free hard drive space in order to delete any file fragments.
Treesize Free and Windirstat help to analyze the drives. These tools detect large files that you may no longer need and want to delete. Everything is actually a particularly fast search tool, but can also be used to sort the file list by size and thus identify space wasters.
Tidying up the registry usually does nothing. Nevertheless, you can use a tool such as Wise Registry Cleaner to analyze the registry. If you change anything here, you should first create a backup copy, for example with the Registry Backup tool.
Files or folders cannot be deleted if the access rights are missing. Use PC-WELT MyRights to add a new context menu item to Windows Explorer, which appears after a right mouse click while holding down the Shift key. Click on Take ownership to obtain full access rights.
Winsxs: The supposedly huge folder
When examining your hard drive, you may come across the “Winsxs” folder in the Windows directory. In the properties, Windows Explorer often shows a size of several gigabytes.
It contains important program libraries that are used by many applications, as well as system and exe files in different versions. Some of the supposedly numerous files are hard links, i.e. special file links that refer to the corresponding files under “Windows System32,” for example.
The actual size is therefore sometimes several GB smaller.
Never delete files from the “Winsxs” folder yourself. Doing so can permanently damage the function of the system or applications. Windows regularly cleans up the folder automatically via the task scheduler and removes files that are no longer required.
An overview of other helpful clean-up tools
Foldersizes
Foldersizes
Analyze partitions and search for large folders
When tidying up your hard drive, you often don’t know where to start. Foldersizes helps you by organizing folders by size and displaying this list as a pie chart, bar chart, or map. You can search for space-wasters down to file level with a click of the mouse.
In contrast to Windirstat, for example, Foldersizes offers a wider range of functions. The disadvantages: The tool is only available in English and must be licensed for 30 US dollars after a trial period of 15 days.
Largest File Finder
Largest File Finder
Compile a list of the largest files
If you are wondering where all the free space on your new SSD has gone, the freeware Largest File Finder will help you. You don’t need to install the tool, instead you can start searching for the 100 largest files on the entire disc or in the specified folder immediately after double-clicking on its EXE file. At the end, it compiles a list organized by size, which you can use as a guide if you want to create space as easily and efficiently as possible.
Duplicate Media Finder
Duplicate Media Finder
Find and delete all duplicate files
Despite its name, Duplicate Media Finder Free not only searches for media files such as videos, audio files, and images, but also for duplicate files in general. It also finds duplicates that have a different name than the original, which is referred to here as the “master file.” The free program is only available in the Microsoft Store. It is a slimmed-down version of a much more comprehensive, paid-for software, which is available for a good $40.
Clonespy
Clonespy
Find duplicate files and delete them individually
An alternative to Duplicate Media Finder is Clonespy. The English-language tool immediately indicates when it encounters a duplicate file and, if desired, marks the older versions or the versions with the longer file or folder name. Clonespy is also able to find files with the same name but different contents or to compare files in two folders — for example on a local and a shared network drive.
Revo Uninstaller
Revo Uninstaller
Remove programs cleanly and without leaving any residue
Revo Uninstaller is the reference in the category of free uninstall programs: The program works very reliably, first starts the uninstall routine of the respective software, and then scans the registry and file systems for any remnants.
The uninstaller also includes tools for cleaning up browsers, Microsoft Office, Windows, the registry, and Autostart. A special feature is the hunting mode, which allows you to remove programs without a functioning uninstaller.
Iobit Uninstaller
Iobit Uninstaller
Convenient uninstaller with many extras
Iobit’s uninstaller works in exactly the same way as Revo’s uninstaller, but offers a deletion mode for selected programs in one go without prompting. It lists apps from the hardware manufacturer, recently installed programs as well as oversized and rarely used applications, and can also delete browser extensions and Windows apps. You can use an install monitor to log the installation of new software and remove the programs cleanly later.
Privazer
Remove superfluous ballast
The free Privazer program carries out a deep scan for user traces on your drives, USB sticks, network drives, and much more. The first step is to select which storage medium is to be analyzed. Then specify which files you want to search for.
After starting Privazer, a wizard will help you with the configuration with recommendations. Then start the search by clicking on OK. In the search results, you can click on categories such as Internet activities or Cookies to obtain information on the files concerned. To be on the safe side, you should tick the box next to Create a restore point.
If problems occur, the deleted files can then be restored. Finally, click on Clean. The deletion of cookies, residual traces of old files, or temporary files is intended to counteract the slowing down of your computer due to data ballast.
The Spybot – Search & Destroy freeware scans the system for various types of spyware, malware, dialers, keyloggers, Trojans and other threats.
IDG
Spybot
Remove unwanted software
Spybot – Search & Destroy is a long-established product for searching for browser tracking cookies and unwanted software. This does not necessarily have to be malware in the true sense of the word. Sometimes, however, programs install additional software that you do not want to use.
After clicking on Scan system, the tool scans the drives and displays the findings. Check the results, uncheck the boxes next to entries that you do not want to delete, and click on Fix selected.
7-Zip
7-Zip
Archive files and compress them to save space
Spring cleaning is a good opportunity to go through your own file archive and move older or rarely used files to an archive. To save space, you should compress the files. If you want to protect confidential documents, the archive can also be encrypted and secured with a password.
All this is done for you by the 7-Zip compression program, which is free open source software. You can also use it to copy or move the archives to new folders.
Faststone Image Viewer
Faststone Image Viewer
Manage and edit photos
Many users accumulate thousands or even more photos over time, which makes searching for a specific motif much more difficult. Faststone’s Image Viewer shows you all the images in a folder in a preview and offers to convert them into a range of other commonly used formats. The software also has simple editing tools on board, can create a slideshow, and copy and move the image files collectively to other folders.
Digikam
Digikam
Manage and search for photos professionally
Software for managing large photo collections is usually expensive and therefore only of interest to professional photographers. Digikam is an exception to this rule. The program is open source and free of charge. Digikam is based on a database engine that offers extensive search options according to the date and place the photo was taken as well as other Exif data. This additional information can also be edited. But beware: Digikam is a professional program, which is why it takes time to get to grips with its operation.
Powerlame
Powerlame
Search and convert MP3 files
As with photos, the problem with MP3 music is that hundreds or even thousands of files gradually accumulate. The desired song is then difficult to find, especially if you don’t have the title or artist on hand. In these cases, Powerlame can help.
The tool also reads large MP3 collections and offers a search mask for ID3 tags. It can also rip CDs, adjust the volume of all MP3s, and convert them into WAV files or search for the corresponding CD covers.
Media Monkey
Media Monkey
Add missing data to song files
For the search in the ID3 tags to be successful, the fields must also be filled in. This is usually not the case with self-ripped MP3s in particular. Media Monkey helps you to enter information about a song such as artist, title, album or composer. Among other things, the program automatically searches for the album, downloads the cover, and enters the data in the tag fields. The tool is also an excellent player that creates playlists and offers an equalizer.
Sumo
Sumo
Check installed software for updates
You should not only regularly clear your Windows PC of junk data, but also make sure that the installed programs are always up to date. Updates not only eliminate software errors and close security gaps, they often also bring new functions. The freeware Sumo scans the existing applications, lists the outdated programs, and takes you to a download site for the update. The paid Pro version can also take care of the installation for you.
Driver Easy
Driver Easy
Update drivers to the latest version
As a rule, Windows provides the appropriate drivers for all hardware components of the PC and also updates them. However, these are often slimmed-down versions without the extended functionality offered by the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Driver Easy makes it possible to check the existing driver equipment, point out newer versions, and install them. The free software version only allows manual installation and has a limited download speed.
Iobit Driver Booster Free
Iobit Driver Booster Free
Detailed driver information
There is also a free version of Iobit’s Driver Booster. This is limited in the display of outdated drivers and refers to other products from this manufacturer in several places. However, the installation of new driver versions works automatically and quickly enough after a mouse click. In comparison with Driver Easy, Driver Booster found more and more up-to-date driver versions for our test PC. The Pro version offers an automatic update and the automatic creation of restore points.
Core Temp
Core Temp
Measure and display CPU temperature
It’s not just in spring that you should take a look at your computer’s hardware. This also includes checking the processor temperature: If it’s too high, this is often a sign that the cooler is dusty, the fan has become loose, or the heatsink is no longer firmly attached to the processor.
Although a protective circuit prevents the CPU from burning out, this lowers the processor clock and slows down the computer. The freeware Core Temp shows you the current temperature of each individual CPU core.
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
All information about the graphics card at a glance
A PC’s graphics chip can also overheat and should therefore be checked regularly. The freeware GPU-Z is suitable for this purpose: It determines the model of the graphics card or chip during installation and retrieves the corresponding data from a database on the Internet. A click on Lookup takes you to the corresponding website. In the Sensors tab, you will find the current GPU measurement values, including the clock frequency, temperature, fan speed, memory utilization, and power consumption.
HD Tune
HD Tune
Check the temperature and status of the hard drive
If your computer’s hard drive or SSD fails, important data is often lost. You should therefore keep an eye on its condition and check it regularly. With the HD Tune tool, you can perform a benchmark test, check the sectors for errors, and read out the current temperature.
If the values deteriorate, you can intervene at an early stage, back up your data or transfer it to a new SSD straight away. The paid version HD Tune Pro provides further benchmarks and information. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 20 Dec (PC World)Legacy machines run more of the world than you might think. Did you know that two Commodore C64s are still in daily use at the Hilligoss Bakery of Brownsburg, Indiana?
One user recently posted some photos on X (formerly Twitter) showing two C64s next to each other and being used to check out an order. Granted, the photos are over a decade old, but it’s still shocking to see C64s in real-world use even in 2010.
Several of the keys on the two C64s are labeled in color, and the machines have obviously been modified for use as POS systems. Each of the two is connected to a flat screen, presumably for space-saving reasons as CRT monitors would simply take up too much room.
Tom’s Hardware contacted the bakery in question, who confirmed that these legacy systems are still in use today. Given that they aren’t connected to the internet by default, and there haven’t been any updates for them in ages, the two Commodore 64s have likely proven more reliable than any other modern internet-connected PC. (Can you imagine using a modern Windows or Mac for several decades?)
The Commodore C64 first went on sale in 1982. The two C64s in the photos are probably that original model, as Commodore later redesigned the casing of its classic machine. Incidentally, the original C64 was nicknamed the “bread box” — perfect for a bakery!
Further reading: How old Windows 95 PCs saved this company from the global CrowdStrike meltdown Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 20 Dec (PC World)Chat GPT is not the only AI service in town. Google Gemini is a similar service where you can ask questions and get answers in plain text–no commands required. You can “converse” just as if the AI robot were a real person.
If you’re familiar with Chat GPT, you’ll recognize it because the layout is similar. You’re greeted by a stripped-down screen with a text input field at the bottom. This is where you enter your prompts, i.e. questions and commands. The conversation itself doesn’t have to be about facts, Gemini can talk about anything. However, it’s important to remember that the answers aren’t always correct.
Further reading: How not to get bamboozled by AI content on the web
Gemini is capable of many things
Gemini is capable of creating new texts such as Christmas gift rhymes, wedding speeches, appeal e-mails, or anything else.
Gemini is the successor to Google Bard, which was the company’s first AI service. At launch, it performed so poorly that Google soon decided to rename it and now the company is going all in on Gemini.
Google Gemini is free, but there’s a paid subscription called Google One AI Premium. It costs $255 a month and includes many powerful tools such as the ability to upload documents. However, there are plenty of smart features in the free version too and we’ve collected the best ones here.
Get started
Getting started with Google Gemini is easy. Just go to gemini.google.com and log in with your Gmail account. If you don’t have one, go to Sign in > Create account. Note that you must be logged in to use Google Gemini.
Give commands
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
You communicate with Gemini by asking questions or issuing commands in the input field at the bottom. These kinds of questions and commands are called prompts in the Gemini world.
Gemini can answer questions in plain English such as What is the difference between Plopp and Centre? You can also give commands such as Write a wedding speech or start a conversation by asking How are you? Asking follow-up questions works well in Google Gemini, too.
If you want to start from scratch instead, select New Chat in the top left corner.
Search from the address bar
You can quickly start an AI chat by typing @gemini in your browser’s address bar. Tap the Tab key and type the question/command directly, then press Enter. Now the question will be answered in Google Gemini. This tip works if you are running Google Chrome.
Use extensions
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
Extensions allow you to search your own emails and Google documents instead of the web. You ask the question and add an ampersand (@) at the end. Learn how to activate this feature in our guide here.
Use your voice
If you don’t want to type your questions, you can use your voice. Just click on the microphone icon on the right, press Allow, and start talking. The answers you receive can be read out in the same way by pressing the speaker icon shown in the top right.
Trim the answers
If you’re not satisfied with the answer you get, tap Show draft in the top right corner to get more suggestions. You can get even more with the icon on the right. You can also select the Edit answer icon at the bottom to change the length and style of the answer.
Double-check the answer
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
When you ask a question in Google Gemini, you get a pre-written answer. If you want to know more, you can click on Double check it. This will highlight parts of the text and if you click on the highlight, you can open the original source.
Use the text
Google Gemini uses plain text that can be copied to and from other programs. The easiest way is to use your mouse and press Ctrl C to copy and Ctrl V to paste. You can also right-click if you’re more comfortable with that.
And share it!
You can use texts in your Gmail and Google Docs with Share and Copy. Tap Share, then click on Create public link to create a link that you can share via any channel and that anyone can access. You can choose to share the whole chat or just a section.
Translate between different languages
Google Gemini can translate texts between different languages in much the same way as Google Translate. To use this feature, type the prompt Translate this text into English and then paste the text you want translated. If you want to translate into a language other than English, type understand that language in the command line.
Summarize a text
Can’t be bothered to read a long text? Let Google Gemini summarize it! For example, you can type the prompt Summarize this article in five points and then paste the desired text.
Let Gemini work with texts
Translation and summarize are just two examples of how Gemini can work with existing texts. Write what you want to do and paste the text you want to use. You don’t have to use exact commands, but here are some examples of what you can type:
Translate the text into English:
Translate the text into Spanish:
Summarize the text in five paragraphs:
Shorten the text to 900 characters:
Write a heading for the text:
Highlight errors in the text:
Make the text more formal:
Identify images
IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
A cool feature in Google Gemini is all about identifying images. By clicking on the image icon in the input field, you can upload an image. You can then ask questions about it such as What is the image of? You can also give commands like Describe this image.
Save your history
If you want to use an old search, you can find it under Recent in the list on the left. Click to use it or press the three dots to get more options. You can pin (i.e. save) the search and rename it and you can also delete it.
Check your privacy
For even more control over your history, you can select Activity in the left-hand menu. Here you can make various privacy settings. For example, you can delete everything or just individual searches. You can also set everything to be deleted after a period of time or nothing to be saved at all.
Pay (if you want to)
Google Gemini is a free service, but if you want a tool with more power, you can get the paid version of Gemini Advanced for $19.99 a month. To find out more about what you get and how to update, click the Help button at the bottom left and select About Gemini Advanced.
Use your mobile phone
In the beginning, Gemini was only available via the web browser and if you wanted to use your mobile phone, you had to surf to gemini.google.com in your mobile browser, just like you do on your computer. Nowadays, you can download an Android app. Search for Gemini in the Google Play Store, tap Install, and open the app.
The layout is similar to that of the web interface and most of our tips work here too.
Please note that Google Gemini will replace your mobile phone’s regular Google Assistant app. To switch back to Google Assistant, tap the profile icon in the top right of the Gemini app. Select Settings > Google Digital Assistants and choose Google Assistant.
On iPhone, there’s no dedicated Gemini app. However, you can install the Google-only app from the App Store and select the Gemini tab. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | PC World - 20 Dec (PC World)If YouTube TV’s forthcoming price hike feels like a breaking point to you, you’re not alone.
Over the last week, I’ve heard from a bunch of folks who say the rate hike—from $73 per month to $83 per month, starting January 13, 2025—is the last straw. They’re now seeking alternatives to YouTube TV that will provide comparable channel coverage for less.
Unfortunately, that sort of easy escape hatch doesn’t exist. Like every other live TV service (including satellite and cable), YouTube TV keeps raising prices because TV programmers keep demanding more money for their channels. Unless the entire industry embraces cheaper, more flexible bundles, the bill for all of these services will keep going up.
This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best live TV streaming services.
The only alternative is to ditch your big pay TV package entirely. While this approach does involve sacrifice, the savings can be significant. Here are your options:
Consider an antenna
With an inexpensive over-the-air antenna and good-enough reception, you can watch the big four broadcast channels—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—for free, along with PBS and a smattering of rerun-centric subchannels. An antenna won’t entirely replace a bigger bundle, but it’ll give you a big head start. You can even set up an over-the-air DVR to record shows for later.
Antennas won’t work for everyone. Roughly speaking, you’ll want to be within at most 30 miles of local broadcast stations to use an indoor antenna, and within 60 miles for an outdoor model. Even then, obstructions and topography can impact the signal. Use the Antennaweb site to look up nearby stations for a sense of what you need, and be prepared for some trial and error. If you’re ready to experiment, we have a list of the best indoor and outdoor antennas available.
Stream (some) local stations
If an antenna isn’t feasible, you can stream some local stations instead, but it’ll cost you:
Paramount+ with Showtime ($13 per month) includes a live feed of your nearest CBS station, including NFL coverage, along with on-demand access to primetime CBS shows. The cheaper Paramount+ Essential tier with ads ($8 per month) does not include CBS, but does offer the NFL games. You can often get Paramount+ for free in one-month increments.
Peacock Premium Plus ($14 per month) includes a feed of your nearest NBC station, including Sunday Night Football, plus on-demand access to primetime NBC shows. The cheaper Premium tier with ads ($8 per month) does not include a local NBC feed, but does carry NFL games.
The PBS app includes live feeds of local PBS stations for free, along with on-demand PBS programming. An optional $5-per-month “Passport” donation unlocks additional content.
You can also use the free NBC and ABC apps to watch some network TV shows without a subscription, while the Paramount+ app offers some CBS programs for free as well.
Unfortunately, live feeds of ABC and Fox are unavailable without a large pay TV package, but you can watch primetime shows from both networks on Hulu, which starts at $10 per month.
Look for live news
The major cable news networks—CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC—are not available without a big pay TV package, but you can access some of their content in alternative ways:
Max offers an alternative CNN live feed with much of the same programming, but not in the same order as CNN proper.
MSNBC’s website and mobile app offer live audio of the cable network for free.
Some primetime Fox News shows are available on-demand via Fox Nation, but there’s no live feed.
In lieu of cable news channels, consider the many free options available for streaming the news instead:
Local news: Many local stations offer their newscasts for free if you know where to look. Check out NewsOn, Zeam, Local Now, Haystack News, or your local station’s own website. You’ll also find local news via Tubi, the Roku Channel, Amazon’s Fire TV News app, and the free channels on Google TV devices.
National and international news: Pluto TV, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Xumo, and Sling TV Freestream, all offer round-the-clock streaming news channels, even from major networks such as CBS and NBC. That may scratch the background TV itch you’d otherwise get from cable news.
Find favorite shows elsewhere
Outside of news and sports, it’s rare for cable channels to carry exclusive new shows that aren’t available on standalone streaming services. If there’s a show you like on YouTube TV (or cable), sites like Reelgood or MyBundle can tell you where else to find them.
And if by chance a show is only on cable—like Yellowstone, whose final season was exclusive to Paramount Network—you can always buy that show individually through stores like Amazon Video, Fandango, or Apple TV.
Sort through sports streaming options
Sports are where replacing a service like YouTube TV gets tricky.
Currently, there’s no way to watch ABC or Fox without a big TV package or an antenna. ESPN isn’t available on a standalone basis either—although that will change in 2025—nor are FS1, FS2, or college conference channels such as SEC Network and Big Ten Network.
So what can you get without a service like YouTube TV? Some options:
As I mentioned earlier, the ad-free tiers of Paramount+ and Peacock include live feeds of CBS and NBC respectively, including all sports coverage.
Max streams all sports coverage from TNT, TBS, and TruTV. This will eventually cost an extra $10 per month on top of a standard Max subscription, but is included at no extra charge for now.
Many regional sports networks are now available on a standalone basis. I’ve compiled the options for NBA and NHL teams.
MLB TV and NBA League Pass offer games that are not broadcast in your local market. ESPN+ offers the same service for NHL games.
NFL+ offers local and nationally-televised football games, but only on a phone or tablet.
Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and even Netflix are picking up more sports programming as well, but their offerings are fairly scattershot.
I’ve also compiled some additional tools to help sort through the sports streaming options, particularly if you’re trying to follow a specific team or league.
Not ready to unbundle? Some other options:
For now, the most complete live TV streaming service that’s markedly cheaper than YouTube TV is Sling TV. It offers a smaller bundle of pay TV channels, but still carries major sports channels, with three available base packages:
Sling TV Orange ($46 per month) is currently the cheapest way to access ESPN and other ESPN-owned channels, such as SEC Network.
Sling TV Blue ($46 per month) is the cheapest way to access FS1 and FS2. It also includes live access to NBC and ABC in some markets, and on-demand programming from all three channels everywhere.
Sling Orange + Blue ($61 per month) combines both of the above packages.
Unfortunately, Sling’s local channel coverage is lacking, with ABC, Fox, and NBC available only in select markets, and no CBS anywhere. For that reason, it pairs best with an over-the-air antenna.
Hulu + Live TV is also worth a look. While it’s no cheaper than what YouTube TV will soon cost at $83 month, it includes the full Disney bundle (Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu’s on-demand catalog) at no extra charge. If you subscribe to any of those services on their own, you’ll save money by switching from YouTube TV to Hulu + Live TV instead.
Lastly, you might take a look at some TV packages that don’t include sports or local channels. Because they omit the most expensive content on cable, their prices are significantly lower:
Frndly TV ($7 per month) offers Hallmark Channel and a smattering of other largely rerun-centric channels.
Philo ($28 per month) offers entertainment channels with a big emphasis on reality TV, but no sports, broadcast, or major cable news channels.
Comcast’s NowTV is a $20-per-month bundle of entertainment channels and Peacock, with an option to add Netflix (with ads) and Apple TV+ for $10 per month extra. It’s available to customers with Xfinity home internet or Comcast’s cheaper Now Internet plans.
Spectrum TV Stream is a $40 bundle of entertainment channels that also includes CNN and Fox News, available to Spectrum home internet customers.
Just let go
If you’re thinking that the cost of a la carte streaming adds up to more than YouTube TV or even cable, you’d be right. This has been the case for years, is not an original thought, and entirely misses the point.
Unbundling your TV options does not automatically save you money, but it does let you decide what’s truly worth paying for. For that reason, standalone services are also highly incentivized to offer seasonal sales, comeback deals, and other discounts. These can considerably defray the cost of having a bunch of services at the same time.
When you drop a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, you’re adopting a different mindset, in which you make peace with not having everything. The sooner you realize you weren’t going to watch it all anyway, the easier unbundling becomes.
Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...Newslink ©2025 to PC World |  |
|  | | ITBrief - 19 Dec (ITBrief) Ingram Micro has unveiled a multi-year agreement with Amazon Web Services, enhancing technology and services for global channel partners via Xvantage. Read...Newslink ©2025 to ITBrief |  |
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