At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros High-quality feel and stable Construction Modular T-channel system for flexible customization Quiet and efficient electric height adjustment Large work surface with integrated cable tray Simple assembly thanks to pre-sorted components Cons High price Expensive accessories Cable eyelets poorly made and difficult to mount Our Verdict The Corsair Platform:4 is a well thought-out, versatile, and customizable desk system that appeals to both gamers and productive users. The workmanship is high quality, the design is clearly structured, and the modularity offers many expansion options. The table top and the stable aluminum frame system ensure long-lasting usability. The Elevate version with quiet and efficient electric height adjustment (reviewed here) makes for a long-term and flexible solution. However, it does come at a price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Corsair Platform:4 Elevate Retailer Price $899.99 View Deal Corsair $899.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket With the Corsair Platform:4, Corsair is launching a modular desk system that’s interesting for both gamers and home office users thanks to its flexibility, high-quality workmanship, and well thought-out ergonomics. The standard version of the Platform:4, which sits at a fixed height, costs $699.99. We tested the Elevate version with electric height adjustment. The desk promises a high degree of adaptability that goes beyond the basic requirements of a conventional work or gaming desk. Corsair Platform:4 design and workmanship The Corsair Platform:4 has a robust table top made of black laminate. If you prefer a natural look, the tabletop is also available in a light wood surface for the fixed-height model, or a dark wood for the Elevate, each at a $100 premium. With dimensions of 47 inches wide and 30 inches deep, it is quite compact, but still offers sufficient work space for monitors, peripherals, and other accessories. The surface is pleasant to the touch and resistant to scratches and stains. Thanks to the solid workmanship, the desk shows hardly any signs of wear even after intensive use. Friedrich Stiemer The highlight of the design is the aluminium T-channel system, which makes it easy to attach and adjust accessories such as monitor arms or lighting. This system allows the use of numerous extensions, including customized ones, which can be retrofitted as required. In terms of stability, the Corsair Platform:4 was completely convincing in the test — even under dynamic load, the table was always stable. Friedrich Stiemer Assembly and scope of delivery Corsair delivers the Platform:4 in a single large and heavy box, which requires two people for transport. In addition to the parts for the table, the package also includes a flexible monitor arm with a gas pressure spring and VESA mount. There are also connection adapters for Elgato accessories, numerous plastic and Velcro cable ties, cable guides, cable eyelets, and a small bag with spare parts such as additional screws and T-nuts. A particularly positive feature was that the assembly materials were sorted for each assembly step and packed in labelled bags. These bags contained precise information on the number and labelling of the respective parts, which made assembly much easier. Corsair even supplies tools! Friedrich Stiemer The assembly itself was quite straightforward and for the most part even self-explanatory. The threads, drill holes, and materials were flawless throughout, which further emphasized the impression of high-quality workmanship. The general feel of the table should also be emphasized positively, as the surfaces appear pleasant and stable. On closer inspection, we only noticed very small imperfections in the edges — but nothing of any significance. Precise information on the number and labelling of the respective parts, made desk assembly much easier. Corsair even supplies tools! Friedrich Stiemer Nevertheless, you should allow around two hours for assembly. It is helpful to have enough space available for the boxes and packing materials so that you are not hindered during the assembly process. A second person should also assist with turning over the assembled table to avoid damage and injury. Friedrich Stiemer There were no more problems worth mentioning when setting up the Elevate version. The cable remote control could be fitted without any problems as the screws were the right length and there were enough of them. In other media reports on the Corsair Platform:6, there was talk of difficulties when screwing on the remote control due to the screws being too short. These problems seem to have been solved with the Platform:4. The other assembly steps went smoothly. A tip for assembly: The cable eyelets supplied make it easier to lay the cables neatly along the underside of the table, even if there is no special cut-out for cable routing. With a little skill, all cables can still be stowed away safely. The only point of criticism: The eyelets are not only difficult to press into the holes, but are also poorly finished as there are numerous burrs on them. Friedrich Stiemer Functionality The most outstanding feature of the Corsair Platform:4 is its modularity. The T-channel system enables a wide range of customizations. We fitted a table extension in the test, which extended the width of the table by a further 11.8 inches. This addition was easy to install thanks to the T-Channel system on the sides and proved to be very stable. Corsair specifies the load capacity of the extension at 50 pounds, which is sufficient even for larger gaming PCs. However, the gaming desk is dominated by the T-channel system on the tabletop, which is primarily used for mounting monitor and microphone arms. Friedrich Stiemer Another positive feature is the optional perforated panel that can be mounted on the sides. Corsair supplies several hooks and brackets for this purpose, which can be used to securely hang headsets or rucksacks, for example. Users can therefore customize the desk to suit their individual needs. Friedrich Stiemer Electric height adjustment The Elevate version of the table that we tested has electric height adjustment with two presets. The motors work quietly and smoothly, with a lifting speed of 1 inch per second. Particularly practical: The height adjustment can also be used unnoticed during video conferences, as the noise level remains below 50 decibels. This ensures undisturbed use, even in noise-sensitive environments. Friedrich Stiemer Another highlight is the integrated cable tray, which is large enough to neatly store a multiple socket and cable bundles. Thanks to numerous attachment points for cable ties, even large quantities of cables remain tidy. There is also a coverable storage compartment with USB-A and USB-C charging ports for smaller devices. This is particularly helpful when using multiple devices, as chargers no longer need to be placed separately on the table. Friedrich Stiemer Monitor arm with gas pressure spring A central element of the whole package is the monitor arm supplied. This arm is equipped with a gas pressure spring that enables infinitely variable height and tilt adjustment. Thanks to the VESA mount, the arm is compatible with monitors with a load capacity of up to 27.5 pounds. We mounted the monitor arm on the main T-rail on the top plate. No T-nuts or screws were required here. Instead, the clamp of the arm had to be opened by loosening a screw and loosening the set screw. This adjusting screw also allows the arm to be moved flexibly sideways on the rail, which is particularly practical for optimum positioning of the monitor. Once mounted, the arm offers a high degree of stability, even with repeated adjustments. Friedrich Stiemer The integrated cable channels and clips along the arm are practical, ensuring neat cable routing and preventing cables from hanging down. This keeps the workplace tidy and functional. Friedrich Stiemer Practical use In everyday use, the Corsair Platform:4 impressed us with its high level of ergonomics and adaptability. The tabletop offered enough space for a multi-monitor setup and additional peripherals. The ability to adjust the desk to the optimum ergonomic sitting or standing height proved to be a real advantage for longer working or gaming sessions. Users with changing working positions benefit from the flexible height adjustment. Friedrich Stiemer The high load capacity of up to 264.5 pounds offers enough leeway for extensive setups. Even with intensive use, the table showed no instability. Even large-format monitors or heavy audio setups could be positioned securely. The cable management proved to be useful for keeping the desk tidy and avoiding tripping hazards caused by hanging cables. Friedrich Stiemer Another advantage is the versatile customizability of the workstation. Users who often switch between different activities, such as creative work and gaming, can quickly change their individual configuration. The modular system also enables long-term expansion without having to replace the entire desk. Friedrich Stiemer Read...

Your PC will die, someday. Or it will slow down, generate error messages, or — worse still — get hacked. While you could always call a professional, why not solve the problem yourself? And you can, just by learning some basic Windows tasks yourself. You’ve learned how to take care of yourself in the real world. Your PC is no different. You’ll need to maintain it, protect it, and keep it fed with data at all times. Nothing in this checklist is particularly complicated or even hard. But it’s basic knowledge that you should already know. And if you don’t, we’re here to help! Manage Windows Update Windows Update governs all of the changes Microsoft brings to your PC. Some of these are critical updates to Windows itself, needed to solve some unexpected vulnerability or bug. Others are new features that Microsoft wants to add to your PC. Finally, Microsoft periodically adds new virus signatures and other improvements to the Windows Defender anti-malware system, allowing you to surf the web without fear. Windows Update.PixieMe / Shutterstock Most of the time, Microsoft’s Windows Updates take place in the background, without your intervention, as a convenience. But it’s important to know where to look (inside the Windows Settings menu, then in the Windows Update submenu) to understand what Windows Update can and can’t do. Would you like to try out the latest updates as soon as they’re available? Conversely, would you like to pause updates for a certain period, like during an end-of-quarter reporting period or exams? Or even roll them back? Would you like Windows Update to manage other Microsoft products, too? Windows Update is one of the least intensive tasks within Windows. But it’s also critical to the safety of your PC. Dig deep into Windows Settings For that matter, there’s more to the Windows Settings menu than just Windows Update. It’s here that you’ll find all of the features and functionality within Windows, organized into separate categories. Do you want to increase the size of the text because you forgot your glasses? See Settings > Accessibility. Want to pair a new set of earbuds? You’ll find that in Settings > Bluetooth & devices. Windows 11 Sound settings for a specific microphone.PCWorld The number of Windows Settings options may seem overwhelming. On the left-hand side of the Settings menu, however, is a small search box that can help find what you’re looking for. Unfortunately, the search box is looking for specific query topics. (Some alternatives are programmed in: In Windows, your monitor is called a “display” but the search box will recognize both terms.) It’s perfectly fine to complain about how Microsoft or Windows does certain things. But you owe it to yourself to at least see if you can solve the problem yourself. The Windows Settings can help. Stay safe online and within Windows Simply protecting yourself from bad guys is a combination of anonymity, smarts, luck, and common sense. Windows Defender is a solid though not totally foolproof way of protecting yourself online from downloadable malware, and thankfully Microsoft’s app pretty much manages itself. Chris Hoffman/IDG But protecting your digital keys — passwords — via a password manager or some other method is an absolute must in this day and age. The best VPNs hide and encrypt your digital identity, so you can slip surreptitiously past criminals and companies who have no rights to watch you as you surf online. Windows has tools like Windows Sandbox to provide even more protection. Finally, you need to bank on your experience and common sense not to click on every provocative link and email that you see, minimizing your online risk. best vpn overall ExpressVPN Read our review We’re not here to dictate that you must use a VPN or password manager. But there are risks to surfing online, and you should know what Windows provides, what it doesn’t, and what additional options are available to secure your PC — even if you don’t use them. How to back up and restore data Of late, Microsoft Windows has begun pushing hard for you to back up your PC into its OneDrive cloud. For some of you, this is a huge annoyance, as Microsoft has begun flipping on automatic backup by default: on your Desktop, Photos, Documents, and Video folders. That backup process can rob you of available bandwidth and impact the broadband data cap your ISP imposes. Foundry But knowing how OneDrive and backup works, and even restoring that data on a new PC, may save you enormous time and effort as Microsoft simply performs those tasks in the background. Likewise, understanding what apps and data might not be backed up should be something that you take time to learn about, too. Apps typically are not backed up; neither is their associated data. But many games are. To its credit, Microsoft has quietly simplified the process. Autosaving a Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365) document is almost automatic, and you can basically log on to any new PC and automatically provision it to authenticate you to Microsoft 365 and keep working. But it’s still worth knowing what works and what doesn’t. How to install and uninstall software and services These days, “installing” software doesn’t even require you to insert a disk or a DVD-ROM. You simply click an “installer” and the whole process proceeds from there. Windows generally allows installed updates to be uninstalled manually in the event of problems. However, this does not apply to all updates. Microsoft There’s nothing wrong with that. But understanding the nuances of software and services is a must. If everything on phones is an app, much of the PC’s “software” is a subscription. Understanding the difference between the “perpetual” version of Microsoft Office versus the Microsoft 365 subscription that enables it could save you literally hundreds of dollars. Likewise, there’s a difference between installing the “same” game via the Windows Xbox app and Steam; the latter offers timely updates, and the former sometimes doesn’t. You also need to know what apps are automatically backed up to the cloud (Microsoft apps, basically) and what isn’t (everything else). Finally, knowing how to search for and uninstall an app will get rid of space-clogging programs you don’t use, and save storage space that you can put to something else. How to reset your PC Resetting your PC is sort of the culmination of some of these tasks. If your PC is inexplicably slowing down, that may be due to any number of things, including just the accumulation of all the digital flotsam and jetsam from years of work. If all of your files have been backed up to the cloud or a backup drive, resetting a PC basically allows you to start over with a fresh install of Windows. All the clutter? Gone. Jared Newman / Foundry Resetting your PC isn’t something that needs doing every month. And doing so is pretty easy: It’s yet another Windows Settings option (System > Recovery). The process doesn’t take especially long, perhaps 20 minutes or so, depending upon your system. But knowing when to reset, what you’ll need to back up, and the benefits of doing so is knowledge you need. Access your PC’s BIOS/UEFI I doubt that you’ll have to access the BIOS of your PC more than once or twice. It’s the nitty-gritty interface between the operating system and the internals of your PC, a pre-boot environment that allows you to make some basic changes. I myself only used it recently to tweak some UMA frame-buffer settings to boost some performance in an AMD Ryzen system, but normally I leave it alone. Knowing how to tweak your BIOS is a slightly more advanced function, but you should at least know that it’s there, how to access it, and what it’s used for. BIOS on an Asus PC.Mark Hachman / Foundry Understanding browsers and plugins A large portion of our digital lives is lived on the web. On your phone, most providers encourage you to download an app. (Too many, in my opinion.) On Windows, a lot of what you need can be found on the web. But the web often needs some taming. You should know where to go to find browser plugins and/or add-ons: the Chrome Web Store, for example, or Microsoft’s own Edge extensions. Did you know that since much of the web is built upon the open-source Chromium engine, some plugins will work on multiple browsers? Or for that matter, Firefox has its own browser ecosystem of plugins? Many people consider a basic ad blocker a necessity. (Learn how to whitelist, and then whitelist PCWorld.com, while you’re at it.) Extensions for Google Chrome can be flipped on or off, or removed altogether.Marshall Gunnell/IDG Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are certainly fine tools to browse the web. But you should at least have a nodding familiarity with other browser options, what they look like, and what they can do for you. Imagine if every car in the world was free, but you only used a Chevrolet. Wouldn’t you feel just a bit like you missed out? Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Great battery life Durable build Snappy day-to-day performance Skinny display bezels Cons Weak speakers Webcam leaves a little to be desired Uninspired design Our Verdict The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 checks off a lot boxes, sure, but at full retail price it’s expensive. Personally, I’d wait for a sale. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 gets it right where it counts. The transition from clamshell mode to tent mode is totally effortless. The battery life is also terrific and day-to-day performance is smooth and lag free. Sure, the design could be sexier and the speakers could be punchier, but I don’t have many earth-shattering complaints here. It certainly delivers in the right areas, but is it perfect? The answer is a bit complicated. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Chromebooks for comparison. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Specs The Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is Acer’s mid-range convertible Chromebook, but our review unit falls more in the entry-level category given the specs. You’ll find an Intel Core 3 100U 6 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of flash storage inside the machine I’m reviewing here. This configuration will cost you $549.99 retail, which is pretty pricey for a Chromebook, but it does go on sale often. Below you’ll find the exact specifications of my exact review unit: Model number: CP514-4HN-30UC CPU: Intel Core 3 100U processor (6 core, 1.20GHz) Memory: 8GB LPDDR5X RAM Graphics: Intel Graphics Display: 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS display Storage: 128GB universal flash storage Webcam: 1080p at 60 FPS Connectivity: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI Dimensions: 12.59 x 9.05 x 0.82 inches Weight: 3.45 pounds Battery: 53 watt hours MSRP: $549.99 You can also configure Chromebook Plus Spin 514 with up to 16GB of RAM, up to 256GB of SSD storage, and up to Intel Core 7 150Uprocessors. However, the price shoots up significantly with these upgrades.  The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is a well-made convertible laptop–that much I cannot deny. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: AI features The “Plus” models come with a slew of AI features, most of which I found to be unnecessary. I did use the Live Translate feature, though. This feature enables real-time translation of whatever’s playing on the screen, which I find useful because I struggle with auditory processing. The generative AI wallpapers and video backgrounds are fun to play around with, but it’s not very useful to me in my day-to-day life. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Design, build quality IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The design is fine, but it’s nothing remarkable–it’s just a gray rectangular shell with slightly rounded edges at the lid. In fact, it looks almost identical to the Acer Chromebook Spin 312. The only difference is that it doesn’t have the colorful Chromebook logo in the right-hand corner. Without this splash of color, the design is more understated. It won’t be turning any heads, that’s for sure, but some folks may prefer that.  Thankfully, the build quality is more impressive than the Spin’s blah aesthetics. When I first pulled the laptop out of its recycled packaging, I couldn’t help but notice how solid it felt in my hands. This thing feels like a tank and is kind of built like one, too. I noticed no flex in the keyboard deck and only a slight bend to the display when I gently twisted it. The bottom of the chassis, the palm rest, and the surrounding display are made of plastic. The top cover, however, is made of aluminum, giving it that premium touch. Still, for a mostly plastic machine, it held up great during daily use.  IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo Acer gets the 2-in-1 form factor right. The transition from clamshell mode to tent or tablet mode was seamless and the 360 degree hinge connecting the display to the keyboard was firm and secure. The weight distribution (when the laptop was in tablet mode) felt even and I was able to comfortably use it in both portrait and landscape orientations. Switching to tablet mode will automatically activate the tablet version of the operating system. My only complaint is that the laptop feels a bit thick when used as a tablet. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Keyboard, touchpad IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The keyboard is pretty comfortable to type on for long periods of time. I spent several afternoons using it to write this review and chat with coworkers on Slack or friends on Discord. I quickly adjusted to the keyboard’s layout, too–-similar to my experience with the Acer Chromebook Spin 312. The keys have a pleasant bounciness to them and they produce a nice clicking sound when depressed, which I love listening to as my fingers dance across the board.  The touchpad is a good size (not too big, not too small) and it sits in the center of the keyboard deck, giving my hands a comfortable place to rest. The surface of the touchpad feels like glass, but it’s actually made out of ocean-bound plastics. There were a few misfires here and there, but nothing major that I can recall.   Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Display, webcam, speakers IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS display is my favorite thing about this laptop. Not only does it produce a sharp-looking picture, but the bezels are also skinny (more screen!) and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio makes it easier to scroll through longer documents and web pages. I wouldn’t say it’s the brightest screen I’ve ever seen (Acer claims 340 nits), but it’s fine for day-to-day tasks and binge-watching your favorite Netflix shows. The touch capabilities on this display are very responsive as well–I didn’t notice much lag when swiping or tapping.  The one negative thing I have to say about the display is that there’s glare in direct sunlight, which is why I wouldn’t recommend using this laptop outdoors. It does have Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass as well as USI Active Stylus support, so at least there’s that. The webcam is fine for the occasional Zoom call, but not much else–the picture it produces is a bit fuzzy-looking. As for the microphone, my voice sounded more hollow than I liked but you could still make out what I was saying. I live in a quiet neighborhood, though. If you live in a noisy city or if you’re working in a busy café, the background sound may drown out your speaking voice. The one silver lining here is the physical privacy shutter, which you can slide over the webcam when it’s not in use.  I don’t love the upwards firing speakers, as they’re just not punchy enough for my taste. I like to listen to music while I cook dinner and, unfortunately, I had to keep bumping up the volume because I couldn’t hear Enya’s ethereal vocals or the sharp synthesizers of her music very well (I’m in an Enya phase, leave me alone). It’s nothing a pair of headphones or external speakers couldn’t fix, but I wish the speakers were better. Upwards firing speakers are generally better than the downwards firing kind, so I was a bit disappointed.  Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Connectivity IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 has enough ports to keep most folks happy. There are two USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 and one audio jack on the left side. The right side features one USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, one 1.4 HDMI, and one Kensington lock. No complaints here–it’s a great mix of ports for an entry-level laptop.  Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Performance Performance-wise, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is comparable to the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus ($699), as it has the same Intel Core 3 100U processor. The Intel Core 3 100U offers good single-threaded performance, so it’s designed to handle everyday computer tasks like basic text editing, video playback, and web browsing. CrXPRT 2: 169 Speedometer 2.0: 333 Basemark Web 3.0: 1213 Kraken: 404.7ms Jetstream 2: 295.228 In use, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 performs fine. I was able to jump from tab to tab with ease and the bootup times were pretty fast. Again, my daily work tasks mostly involve editing and writing, which aren’t very demanding to begin with. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 should breeze through lighter workloads, though you may need to temper your expectations or look elsewhere if your workload is more resource intensive. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Battery life The 53 watt-hour battery isn’t particularly big, but it chugged along well into the night and that alone surprised me. In our battery test, which continuously loops videos and various tasks, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 lasted for a little over 15 hours on a single charge–a phenomenal result! That’s better than the more expensive Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus ($699), which died at the 13 hour mark. However, that’s with the brightness turned down. At full brightness, you can expect about six or seven hours out of this machine. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Conclusion The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is a well-made convertible laptop–that much I cannot deny. The laptop folds easily (as it should!) and it’s fairly comfortable to use in either landscape or portrait orientations. It’s also a long-lasting laptop (as long as the brightness is turned down) and the display bezels are barely there, so you’re getting a lot of screen. That said, at full price ($549.99), it’s expensive, especially for an entry-level configuration with just 8GB of RAM and 128GB of flash storage.  Personally? I’d wait for a drop in price. It’s a good laptop, but it’s an even better one when it’s less money. Fortunately, this laptop tends to go on sale often–recently, I’ve seen it go on sale for $449 at Amazon. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 has a lot to offer feature-wise, but I’d expect slightly better specs at full retail price. Read...

ServiceNow has launched its Yokohama platform, introducing AI-driven enhancements to boost automation and observability, promising increased efficiency for enterprises. Read...

Battered by a botched update to its flagship app last year that left its users howling for blood, Sonos badly needed a win for 2025—a new product that would finally turn the page.  The solution? A $400 streaming video player, if the rumors were true.  Pretty much every observer, myself included, thought that was a disastrous idea for Sonos, a company that made its name with high-quality networked speakers. But the company, stunned by the backlash to a revamped app that was—at least initially—riddled with bugs and missing key features, appeared to have lost its way.  Well, cooler heads seem to have prevailed, with The Verge reporting that Sonos has cancelled plans for the long-in-development streaming player, code-named Pinewood.  Sonos isn’t saying anything on the record, but according to The Verge, Sonos execs announced during a company all-hands that it had nixed its Pinewood plans.  The move, which comes two months after Sonos’s longtime CEO stepped down, likely means Sonos won’t have any splashy new product launches for the rest of 2025, or at least none that would involve new product categories for the brand.  But Sonos’ decision also means it won’t wander into well-trod territory with a too-expensive product, something it arguably did with the indifferently received Sonos Ace headphones, which the company launched shortly after its app fiasco.  Pinewood, if the leaks are true, was to be yet another boxy black streaming box, complete with an integrated HDMI switch that would have allowed users to connect game consoles, Blu-ray players, and other video sources.  The streaming box would also have worked with your existing Sonos speakers, allowing you to set up a wireless home theater without the need for a soundbar.  While the streaming player and its built-in HDMI switch would have helped to alleviate the lip-sync issues that occasional bedevil home theater aficionados, it also raised eyebrows with its rumored price range: anywhere between $200 and $400, making it much pricier than the already premium-priced Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Sheild players.  Contributing to the concern was word that Sonos collaborated on Pinewood with The Trade Desk, a digital ad firm, leading to worries that the streaming player’s interface might serve advertisements or track its users’ viewing habits.  It seemed an odd move for Sonos to plunge into a unfamiliar and saturated category with an overpriced device, rather than doubling down on one that it pioneered and soon dominated: mid-priced multi-room audio.  An about face like this is never fun, but it’s a better idea than marching toward a cliff. Now maybe Sonos can get back to the basics, and—with time—win back the trust of its customers. Read...

In order to take full advantage of all the features of Windows 11, you need a Microsoft account. (It’s possible to use Windows 11 without a Microsoft account, but the company doesn’t want that and is trying their darndest to get users onto Microsoft accounts.) And when you’re using a Microsoft account, it’s imperative that you remember your password. But what do you do when you accidentally forget that so-very-important password? Normally, with any other digital account, you just click the “I forgot my password” link and get a password reset email. But you can only do that if you have a backup email or phone number registered. That’s why Microsoft is adding push notifications in Windows 11 to remind you to add an email address or phone number to your account if you haven’t yet. This way, if you do ever forget your password, you’ll have a backup method for password recovery. The new push notification reminders are currently being tested in update KB5053660 for Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels, reports Windows Latest. The feature will likely roll out to the general Windows 11 public later this spring. Further reading: You can now use passkeys with Microsoft accounts Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros PCIe 4.0 host memory bus performance Heatsink-less S93 is a super bargain Five-year warranty Cons One of the slower drives in its class Our Verdict The Addlink A93/S93 is a solid-performing PCIe 4.0, DRAM-less NVMe SSD that can save you a few bucks. But the A93 with its heatsink faces heavy competition from many similarly priced and often faster SSDs. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today PCIe 4.0 host memory buffer (HMB) SSDs like the Addlink S93 / A93 (heatsink) are all the rage these days. Without the cost of DRAM primary cache added to the mix, the modules are cheaper to produce and can still match DRAM-designs in most performance areas. That said, the 1TB version of the S93/A93 I tested ranks low among a list of very fast SSDs — primarily due to a very slow time in our 450GB write compared to the 2TB competition. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs to for comparison. What are the Addlink S93’s features? The S93 is a 2280, PCIe 4.0 x4 (four lane) NVMe 2.0 SSD sporting a Phison P27T controller and 162-layer TLC NAND. It’s a host memory buffer design, which means in lieu of DRAM, your device’s memory is used for primary caching duties. When it first showed up, HMB designs were slower than DRAM in most areas. Now they regularly compete well in terms of sequential throughput, though DRAM still rules when it comes to random 4K operations. The gap seems to be slowly closing though. Addlink warranties the S93/A93 for five years and the drives feature a 300TBW per every 1GB of capacity rating. That’s a bit on the parsimonious side — actually, half of what we normally see from TLC drives. The S93 is bargain, the A93, not quite so much. The back of the S93 NVMe SSD. TBW indicates the amount of data that may be written under warranty. Note, that you may be able to write a lot more than that before the drive turns read-only. This is basically a vendor risk calculation. How much is the S93/A93? The S93 we tested is very affordable at $68.44 for the 1TB, $133.44 for the 2TB, and $268.44 for the 4TB. The heatsink on the A93 adds more bucks than I was expecting, making the 1TB version $84.44, the 2TB $149.44, and the 4TB capacity $312.44. The S93 is bargain, the A93, not quite so much. It’s a nice heatsink, but few users need one and the graphene heat spreader/label on the S93 dissipates a fair amount of heat. How fast is the Addlink S93? The 1TB S93 Addlink proved mostly competitive performance-wise, if not up there with the best we’ve seen. What dragged down its overall performance to 24th out of 29 PCIe 4.0/HMB/TLC SSDs that I’ve tested was its miserable 450GB write time. That’s primarily thanks to having only half the NAND of its competitors available for secondary caching. All three PCIe 4.0/DRAM-less/TLC competitors listed in the chart — the Lexar Play 2280, WD Black SN7100, and the Teamgroup T-Force A440 Lite — are 2TB models. As you can see, CrystalDiskMark 8 rated the S93’s sequential transfer abilities highly when queues were in play. But the single-queue performance was more than a bit off the highly ranked WD Black SN7100’s. As you can see, CrystalDiskMark 8 rated the S93’s sequential transfer abilities highly when queues were in play. But the single-queue performance was a bit off the competition. Longer bars are better. Random performance in CrystalDiskMark 8 was better, and actually comparable with a single queue in play. The Lexar’s tragic numbers in these tests were largely a matter of subpar caching, as they turned competitive when we reduced the CrystalDiskMark 8 data set to 16GB. Random performance in CrystalDiskMark 8 was a bit better, and actually comparable with a single queue. Longer bars are better. I have nothing to complain about with the A93/S93’s 48GB transfer times. It’s good in common real-world scenarios. I have nothing to complain about with the S93’s 48GB transfer times. Shorter bars are better. The 450GB is where being only 1TB in capacity hurt the S93/A93 — there’s simply less NAND to treat as SLC secondary cache. However, the slowest write speed was still a SATA-like 600MBps, so this isn’t quite as tragic as you might think in the grand storage scheme. The 450GB is where being only 1TB in capacity hurt the S93 compared to the competition — there’s simply less NAND to treat as SLC secondary cache. Shorter bars are better. Again, in its 2TB flavor, the S93/A93 would likely have ranked a good deal higher. Note that originally I was set to test the heatsink-clad A93 that Addlink also provided. Alas, to use the SSD in my upside-down secondary PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, the heatsink had to go. Rather startlingly, the two NAND chips came off the PC board along with the heatsink and its thermal coupling material. This should not happen, and was a first for me after performing numerous other similar operations. Make sure you opt for the bare S93 if you don’t need or can’t use a heatsink. Should you buy the Addlink S93/A93? The S93/A93 is hardly a barn burner in the category, but it will do the job, and in its S93 incarnation it’s outstandingly affordable. That said, I recommend the 2TB version and looking for it on sale. How we test Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11, 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are integrated to the back panel and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro which also runs the OS. Each test is performed on a newly NTFS-formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This can be less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with far faster late-generation NAND. Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know. Read...

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It features artworks created on the TV show Extraordinary Portraits, hosted by Bill Bailey. Read...

Mecalux has introduced generative AI to its Easy WMS system, enhancing user interaction and streamlining logistics across 1,100 warehouses worldwide. Read...