Eufy is teeing up a pair of networked security video recorder and camera kits that will—eventually—use AI agents to warn you of possible threats in real time.  The ProSecure NVR system and its bigger brother, the HomeBase Professional S1, pack in oodles of local video storage—2TB for the former, 33GB for the latter, with both units expandable to 16TB of storage, good for storing weeks or even months of 24/7 video footage without need of the cloud.  Both systems offer connections for PoE (Power over Ethernet) cameras, with the ProSecure NVR arriving in various packages that combine 4K bullet Pan/tilt/zoom and turret-style cameras with color night vision, cross-camera tracking (a Eufy feature that stiches together video events from different vantage points), and up to 8X digital zoom. The ProSecure NVR supports a total of 16 connected cameras. The ProSecure NVR arrives in various packages that combine bullet PTZ and turret-style cameras. (The author is pictured in an unsuccessful attempt to boost a package.)Ben Patterson/Foundry In addition to PoE cams, the Zigbee-enabled HomeBase Pro can connect to everything from Eufy keypads and smoke detectors to video doorbells and water leak sensors. During a presentation in New York on Wednesday, Eufy ticked off such compatible devices as the Keypad E10, the Entry Sensor E20, and the Motion Sensor E20; whether other legacy Eufy devices will connect to the HomeBase Pro remains to be seen.  The HomeBase Pro also features 4G cellular connectivity and 24-hour battery backup power, good for keeping the unit running and connected to the internet during broadband and/or power outages.  The HomeBase Professional S1 4G cellular connectivity plus 24-hour battery backup power.Ben Patterson/Foundry But what Eufy is really touting for these new security systems is their AI abilities, including a “private” local AI agent that not only processes what’s happening on your live feeds but also proactively warns you if it suspects a crime is in progress.  The AI agent considers factors such as whether a detected person is doing anything “suspicious,” such as shining a flashlight in your car window or checking handles for unlocked doors. The agent can also differentiate between a “friendly’ delivery person and a porch pirate by checking their clothing and “posture,” Eufy says.  If the AI agent thinks there’s a sufficient threat, it can take a range of actions, from sounding the camera’s onboard siren to calling or texting the user.   On the HomeBase Pro, the local AI agent can also be paired with ExpertSecure, which Eufy is billing as the first 24/7 professional monitoring service to combine human responders with AI. In other words, given a high enough threat level, your AI agent could contact a flesh-and-blood ExpertSecure responder with details about a security event.  If the AI agent thinks there’s a sufficient threat, it can take a range of actions, from sounding the camera’s onboard siren to calling or texting the user.Ben Patterson/Foundry There is a catch to the AI functionality of the ProSecure NVR and HomeBase Pro, however; the advanced AI agent abilities won’t be available at launch. Instead, they’ll arrive later this year in the form of a self-installable Qualcomm Snapdragon AI chipset upgrade.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. The ProSecure NVR is up for pre-order now in configurations ranging from $999 to $1,299. Pricing and availability for the HomeBase Professional S1 and the ExpertSecure service will be announced at a later date, Eufy says. Read...

Microsoft has updated its Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant with several new features, The Verge reports. The redesigned Microsoft 365 Copilot app now has access to OpenAI’s impressive GPT-4o model, which was released last month, via Copilot Create. This means you can now generate cutting-edge images, videos, and other content. Another big feature update is Notebooks, which are project-based notebooks for organizing information like files, pages, and links, which can then be shared with Copilot. This gives Copilot a more focused collection of context to work with, which then informs its answers when you use Copilot for aid in a given project. Microsoft Other improvements include a better AI search that integrates with third-party platforms like Google Drive, Slack, and Jira; an improved chat interface that now remembers past conversations and can customize responses based on your work patterns and preferences; and an Agent Store for quick access to AI agents from both Microsoft and third parties. Note that Microsoft 365 Copilot is not the same thing as regular Copilot. The former is intended for business use cases while the latter is for personal use by individual consumers. The two are different, but this update does bring the user interface of Microsoft 365 Copilot more in line with what you’ve likely seen in Copilot itself. Further reading: ChatGPT’s advanced AI is free for Windows users Read...

Last week I spent a few days watching the Asus and Best Buy websites like a hawk, waiting for that slinky little Zenbook A14 to start shipping. It’s a really cool, lightweight laptop with battery life for days, literally. But it has one design problem that I see all too often on otherwise good laptops: The USB-C ports are only on one side. This sucks. Allow me to use several hundred words to explain why. There are a lot of great things about USB-C. Access to incredibly fast data transfers. Video capabilities on a (somewhat) universal standard. But the greatest for me, by a wide margin, is that you can use it to charge up almost any device with the same cable. I want every single device that I own with a battery to allow charging via a USB-C port. And we’re almost there. My phone, my tablet, my laptop, my headphones, even my portable batteries that I use to charge all of them on the go, each one uses USB-C. All of this is good. But for most of the time, a phone, a tablet, headphones, et cetera only need one USB-C port. That’s all that’s practical for these devices. A laptop needs multiple USB-C ports. At least two, if only so you can charge it up and use one extra device like a flash drive without needing to bring along a dongle. And at least one of those should be on both sides of the laptop. Further reading: Buying a USB-C cable? Beware these 6 crucial gotchas Flexible charging is important In my case, this is specifically so that you can charge it up from the left or the right. And it’s important for laptops in particular, because laptops are mobile devices, and mobile devices that are bigger and bulkier than phones and tablets. My ThinkPad X1 Nano, pictured above, was considered pretty premium when it came out three years ago. It’s super lightweight and designed for business travel. And yet both of its USB-C ports — its only ports — are on the left side. Extremely frustrating! Pexels/Thirdman When you’re on the go and you need a charge, you can’t always find an ideal spot for it. Maybe you’re in a cafe and the charger is on one side of the table against the wall. Or in a hotel where it’s only on one side of the bed. A bus where the outlet beneath your seat is busted and you have to ask your fellow passenger if you can politely invade their space. (Fix your busses, Martz, the Wi-Fi hasn’t worked in years.) The point is that if you can only charge on one side of your laptop, you’re going to be put in an awkward position up to half of the time. You can twist yourself into an uncomfortable pretzel, or just get a super-long charging cable and carry it with you. And I’ll point out that both of those were solutions from the Before Times, when every brand had its own barrel port or proprietary charger. But you shouldn’t have to — laptops should be designed with this basic use case in mind. Some are, but many aren’t, even “premium” designs like that aforementioned Zenbook A14, which only features a lonely little USB-A port on the right (which can’t charge up the device). Even Apple, a company that proclaims its meticulous design process in its advertising, has USB-C ports on only one side of the MacBook Air. If you want the basic creature comfort of charging on either side, you have to step up to the MacBook Pro. Foundry Here’s what really steams me. When I’m travelling I often carry a USB-C monitor, specifically a ThinkVision M14. This is made by Lenovo, the same company that made my laptop. And it has USB-C ports on both sides, specifically to make it easier to charge, both for itself and its pass-through laptop charging feature. Why are laptops like this? I’ve spoken about this little pet peeve with many of my fellow tech writers, and plenty of regular laptop users too. I’ve never met one who didn’t agree with my viewpoint. So I’m absolutely certain that laptop makers are aware of our desires here. In fact, I know it: I spoke to a former tech writer person I’d worked with, who now works for a PC manufacturer and asked them if they’d raised the point with their new employer. They said that yes, they had in fact spoken with the engineering teams that decide where to put laptop ports and told them that people want USB-C charging on both sides. The engineers responded that it added expense to the design, so it doesn’t make it into some models. Mattias Inghe I’m sure that’s true. My own knowledge of the ins and outs of electronics design is just enough that I don’t doubt it. A modern USB-C port is complicated — it needs extra design work and electronics elements for battery charging, for video output, for standards like Thunderbolt and the fastest data. Every small adjustment, every tiny decision made in the design process has a cost that affects the final manufacturing and, thus the eventual retail price of a product. But I reject this as a definitive reason to make this choice. You can say the same thing about tons of other elements of laptop design — say, using a trackpad that supports multi-touch gestures or a keyboard that has LED backlighting. Asus told me it spent a huge amount of time and resources engineering the hinge on the Zenbook A14, to make sure it can easily open with just one finger. And the presenter was immensely proud of the “Ceraluminum” coating on the entire laptop — as they should be, it’s really nice! None of these elements are strictly necessary. You can operate a laptop without them. But all of them add to the overall experience of a product. Little things that we as end users barely think about, sometimes don’t even notice, can have a huge impact on our final impression of a device. It’s worth the extra work However much extra it might cost to get a USB-C port on both sides of a laptop, it’s worth it. Again, that’s according to me, every other tech writer who reviews laptops, and everyone else they’ve spoken to on the subject. Note that both the Framework Laptop and Intel’s new modular guidelines allow for full-power USB-C on both sides of the laptop, and these devices are made for sustainability with far more engineering necessary than a permanently soldered port. And while I don’t have a component breakdown to make my case, I’m pretty darn confident that it’s not an unattainable design goal for laptops, especially once you get out of the budget category. Allow me to illustrate. This is a Lenovo Legion Go. It costs $700. It has a USB-C port on the top and on the bottom. Mattias Inghe This is the Asus ROG Gaming Phone. It costs $849. It has two USB-C ports, one on the side and one on the bottom, and I’m pretty sure it takes a lot more engineering work to fit two ports on a phone than on a laptop. This is the Nintendo Switch 2. I don’t know how much it costs yet, but given Nintendo’s mass-market savvy and the price of the original, I’d be flabbergasted if it’ll launch at anything north of $500. It has USB-C ports on the top and bottom. Nintendo This is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, a small, cheap, ChromeOS-powered tablet, topping out at $399 for the most expensive model. How many USB-C ports does it have? I’ll give you three guesses, but you’ll only need one, because it’s two. Two USB-C ports, on two different sides. And again, this is the same company that made my laptop in the header image, equipping a cheaper device with this handy design feature. Michael Crider/IDG I think I’ve made my point. If all of these devices can fit a secondary USB-C charging port, into both their design and their budget, there’s no reason that manufacturers can’t do this for every laptop with USB-C capability. And they absolutely should. Further reading: The best USB-C cables for charging and data transfer Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent image quality in SDR and HDR Attractive yet functional design Thunderbolt 4 connectivity Many image quality modes and options Cons Just one Thunderbolt 4-in and two video inputs Limited downstream USB connectivity More expensive than other 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors Our Verdict The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM delivers excellent OLED image quality and high refresh rates, though limited connectivity holds it back. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today There’s no shortage of 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors available right now, and all of them are excellent for movies, games, and general use. But what about creative professionals? Though any QD-OLED can do the job, many such displays lack the design and feature set professional shoppers prefer. The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM fills that gap. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best 4K monitors for comparison. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM specs and features The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s spec sheet looks great, if a bit boring. It’s a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor with 3840×2160 resolution, a 10-bit QD-OLED panel, and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. It also supports Adaptive Sync and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. These specifications are more or less identical to other 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors, like the HP Omen Transcend 32 and MSI MPG 32URXW. Display size: 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: 10-bit QD-OLED Refresh rate: 240Hz Adaptive sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync with VRR HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Certified Ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4-in port, 1x Thunderbolt 4-out (for Daisy Chain), 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x USB-C with up to 96 watts of Power Delivery, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Additional features: Ambient light sensor Audio: 2x 3-watt speakers Warranty: 3-year warranty Price: $1899.99 MSRP The ProArt stands apart thanks to its connectivity, though not entirely in a good way. It has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, one for Thunderbolt 4-in and a second for Thunderbolt 4-out (to be used to daisy chain to a second monitor). This is rare for any monitor, and especially rare for OLED. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 hints at the monitor’s professional intent but, as I’ll discuss, also leads to the omission of ports many shoppers will expect. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM design The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is part of the ProArt line-up, obviously, but it doesn’t look like the ProArt devices you’ve most likely laid eyes on before. It ditches the simple black and charcoal look of more affordable ProArt monitors for an elegant, stylish silver look. And it’s not just a look. The ProArt makes extensive use of metal across both the display panel and the stand. This helps the monitor offer a sleek profile while delivering a robust feel that very few competitors can match. Of all that I’ve tested recently, Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 is the only one that’s equally attractive. Matthew Smith / Foundry Looks aside, the monitor’s design is functional. The stand ergonomically adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. It also has an extremely narrow base, which minimizes the monitor’s footprint on a desk. As with most monitors, a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount is available for connecting the ProArt to third-party monitor arms and stands. The PA32UCDM monitor offers a sleek profile while delivering a robust feel that very few competitors can match. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM connectivity The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM leans heavily on Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C. Perhaps too heavily. First, about those Thunderbolt ports. There’s two, but they’re not equal. One is the primary Thunderbolt port with support for USB-C, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. The second is a Thunderbolt-out port intended for daisy-chain connections to a second monitor. That means you can plug a laptop into the ProArt over Thunderbolt, then plug a second monitor into the ProArt. However, the ProArt otherwise doesn’t offer much opportunity to tap into Thunderbolt 4’s bandwidth. It has just two downstream USB ports (one USB-C and one USB-A) and lacks an Ethernet jack or audio-out connection. Though it can technically function as a Thunderbolt hub, the ProArt’s limited range of downstream connectivity is a big downside. Thunderbolt 4 aside, the monitor has just one additional display input: HDMI 2.1. Yes, that means DisplayPort is absent, and just two video inputs are available. I find that decision weird, as DisplayPort is the most universal video output for desktop video cards. In summary, connectivity is the ProArt’s most significant weakness, and one that I find surprising. I expect shoppers will compare the ProArt to other high-end 32-inch 4K displays, such as the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE and BenQ PD3226G. The Asus has far fewer ports than either. Even the HP Omen Transcend 32 has superior connectivity, and it’s hundreds of dollars less expensive. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM menus and features A joystick control tucked just behind the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s bottom bezel provides quick, responsive access to the on-screen controls. I also like the menu system. It’s easy to navigate and has a larger font size than many competitors. Alternatively, most monitor features can be changed with Asus’ DisplayWidget app, available for Windows 11/10 and MacOS. It’s no work of art, but it goes a bit beyond the bare necessities. For example, DisplayWidget automatically changes the look of the UI to match the branding of the Asus monitor you own.Either way, you’re likely to spend a bit more time in the menu than with other monitors, because the ProArt has a truckload of features. We’re talking 15 SDR presets (including sRGB, DCI-P3, AdobeRGB, BT.2020, DICOM, and Rec.709) plus five HDR modes (including Dolby Vision). You’ll also find color temperature and gamma adjustments that target precise values and six-axis color calibration. Asus has its own calibration software to help users fine-tune the monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry Other monitor features include picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture modes, an on-screen ruler to help measure the size of objects on the screen, and a uniform brightness mode that limits the overall brightness of the display to achieve better luminance uniformity. The monitor has an ambient light sensor that serves two functions. First, it can sync the brightness and color temperature of the display to fit your environment, which helps the monitor provide a consistent image quality experience. Second, it can dim the display when you move away from it to save power and reduce the likelihood of OLED burn-in. I think ambient light sensors are an underrated feature that improve day-to-day ease of use, so I’m glad to see one here.  Speakers are included, too, though they don’t impress. The speakers provide enough volume to fill a small office with tunes, but the audio is thin and can become distorted when it attempts to deliver bass.  Asus ProArt PA32UCDM SDR image quality The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is all about image quality. Yes, every monitor is better if it looks nice, but an expensive monitor like the ProArt must look amazing. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t serve its purpose (or justify its price). Matthew Smith / Foundry We start off with brightness, where the ProArt reached an excellent peak SDR brightness of 294 nits. That’s not as high as IPS-LCD monitors, which can exceed 400 nits, but it’s very bright for SDR on an OLED monitor. It’s also far more than adequate for its intended purpose. A display like the ProArt is best used in a room with light control, in which case the brightness is relevant. But if you do like to work with your shades drawn back, well, the ProArt will look more vivid than most 32-inch QD-OLED displays. Note, though, that the ProArt has a glossy finish. You should expect to see reflections when viewing dark images in a brightly lit room. Matthew Smith / Foundry OLED panels can reach a minimum luminance of zero nits and can do so per-pixel. That translates to an incredible sense of depth and immersion, as well as deep and inky black levels in darker scenes. Moody movies and games, like Resident Evil 2 Remake or The Batman, look superb on an OLED display like the ProArt. All OLED displays do well here, so the ProArt has no advantage (or disadvantage) against QD-OLED alternatives. However, as the graph shows, it comes out way ahead of IPS-LCD displays like the Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut testing looks at the range of color a monitor can display. The ProArt does well here, with coverage of 100 percent of sRGB, 97 percent of DCI-P3, and 94 percent of AdobeRGB. This is a very broad color gamut that’s well suited to professional creative work, but it’s not remarkable for a monitor in this category. That feels almost bizarre to say, because a color gamut this wide was hard to come by just five years ago. But, as the graph shows, most high-end monitors sold in 2025 offer a very wide color gamut. Matthew Smith / Foundry The wide color gamut is supported by excellent color accuracy. Most OLEDs do rather well here, but the ProArt is at the top of its class. It provides an incredibly realistic, lifelike image on par with the best monitor sold today. Image accuracy is further supported by the ProArt’s gamma curve of 2.2. That’s right on target, and it means content viewed on the monitor looks just as bright as it should, preserving good detail in both bright highlights and shadows. The color temperature came in at 6400K, just a hair south of the target of 6500K. I found the variance hard to discern. Sharpness is good, as well, thanks to the monitor’s native resolution of 3840×2160. That works out to be about 143 pixels per inch (ppi) across the 31.5-inch panel. By comparison, a typical 27-inch 4K monitor packs 163 pixels per inch, while a 27-inch 1080p monitor has just 81 pixels per inch. Overall, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s SDR image quality doesn’t disappoint. Although it’s like other QD-OLED monitors, it does have several small advantages when compared to other, less expensive displays. The ProArt’s out-of-box color is more accurate than usual, its gamma and color temperature results are close to ideal, and it provides a broad range of image quality adjustments for further calibration. These advantages won’t matter much when watching YouTube or playing PC games, but they make the ProArt a superior pick for those who want an OLED display for creative work like digital art, photography, and video editing. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM HDR image quality The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified, which is the level of certification most QD-OLED monitors achieve. However, it can become rather bright when small portions of the display are lit. Matthew Smith / Foundry I measured a maximum sustained brightness of 896 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning 10 percent of the display’s area was lit. That’s a strong result, though, as the graph shows, it’s typical for the latest QD-OLED displays. In the real world, I was impressed by the ProArt HDR. It delivered bold, yet accurate color and provided eye-searing HDR highlights. OLED used to be quite noticeably behind Mini-LED in HDR, but the latest OLEDs have closed that gap (and the lack of good Mini-LED monitors doesn’t help that technology’s case). The ProArt also provides an unusually wide range of HDR presets, which include presets for HDR BT.2020 and HDR Dolby Vision, among others. These also provide several clipping modes which change how luminance is handled in HDR. Overall, the ProArt’s range of HDR adjustment is much wider than typical, and those who plan to work professionally with HDR content may need these modes to check the accuracy and consistency of HDR video and images. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM motion performance Although obviously not targeted at gamers, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM can hit a refresh rate of up to 240Hz. It also has Adaptive Sync support. That means it should work with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, and I was able to use FreeSync with the monitor connected to my AMD Radeon 7800 XT video card. However, this is not official, so it’s possible (though not very likely) you’ll run into edge cases where FreeSync or G-Sync don’t work as expected. Of course, a 240Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync helps the monitor provide great motion clarity, and the ProArt looks as crisp in motion as QD-OLED alternatives marketed towards gamers. That’s good news if you want one monitor that’s great for work and play. The improved refresh rate is also relevant for work. Fast-moving text and images remain legible, so it’s possible to read text when scrolling through a document or quickly identify an image while rapidly moving through previews or thumbnails. This benefit isn’t often discussed, but it’s a noticeable advantage over a 60Hz or even 120Hz competitor, like the Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE. It has a fan This is a minor point, but one worth knowing before you buy. The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM has a fan, and you will hear it if you’re using the monitor in a quiet room. It’s not very loud, and the fan noise wasn’t grating, but it was noticeable. Should you buy the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM? The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is a great choice if you want a QD-OLED monitor for creative professional work. The PA32UCDM provides superb image quality, attractive yet functional design, and a wide range of image quality options. Unfortunately, the monitor could benefit from more connectivity (including more USB-A and a DisplayPort input). Competitors like the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE and BenQ PD3226G don’t match the PA32UCDM’s image quality, but they offer numerous extra ports. The ProArt’s lack of ports means some owners will still need a Thunderbolt or USB-C hub, which is a tall order, because the ProArt is already more expensive than its peers. That does limit the ProArt’s appeal. Unlike the Dell U3225QE, which is great for a broad range of white-collar office work and any home office setup, the ProArt is laser-focused on creative professionals, and especially those who want to work in HDR. If that’s you, though, the ProArt is a go-to pick. Read...

Are you getting used to Windows 11 but wish it was a bit faster? Do you feel like your computer has become slower or starts up unusually slowly? Follow along and I’ll go through various tricks that can speed up your system. Uninstall unnecessary programs Foundry If you’ve bought a new computer with Windows pre-installed, chances are that the manufacturer has included a bunch of programs, often completely unnecessary or pure junk. But even if you installed the system yourself, Windows 11 comes with a lot of programs you may never use. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, where you’ll find a complete list of installed programs (Microsoft, like Apple, has started calling common computer programs “apps”). Click the more button to the right of a program you want to remove and select Uninstall. Nowadays, the vast majority of programs shown here can be uninstalled, including the Edge browser. Foundry Microsoft also insists on adding shortcuts to various games and programs in the Start menu, which aren’t even installed but are installed via the Microsoft Store the first time you click on them. You can remove these too, and don’t need to go through Settings. Right-click on an icon directly in Start and select Uninstall. While you’re cleaning up Windows’ bundled programs, you can also take the opportunity to uninstall programs you’ve installed but never use. Some installed programs are running in the background all the time, and even if they don’t take up a lot of resources, it’s unnecessary work. You also reduce the risk that a program you haven’t updated for a long time will turn out to have a security flaw that can be exploited by hackers. Clean up other junk Foundry If you’ve updated to Windows 11 from Windows 10 and have had that system for a few years, it’s likely to have accumulated some junk. Take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning while you’re at it! There are plenty of third-party programs that claim to help with this, but I recommend sticking to Windows’ built-in tools and manual cleaning. Start by running the Disk Cleanup application. Here you can tick the options you want to empty, and you’ll see on the right how much space each category represents. Click on an option to see a description below. For example, Lifetime Optimization Files are files that Windows Update has downloaded and not used yet, but sometimes there may be unused files here even though you have installed all available updates. The next step is to open Explorer and go to the Downloadeds folder. If you’re like me and leave most of the files you’ve downloaded here without ever deleting older files, you can free up tens of gigabytes. Sort in order of size and delete everything you don’t need anymore. Windows also offers a way to remove old components via the command prompt. Type command prompt in Windows search, select Run as administrator, and enter the following command: dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /AnalyzeComponentStore After a while, the results will come up and you can see if the program recommends running the cleanup function, which removes duplicates and copies of some system components that can accumulate after updates. To run the cleanup function, type: dism /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup Once it’s done, you can run the first command again to see how much space it managed to free up. For me, it was almost five gigabytes, despite the fact that I installed a fresh copy of Windows 11 version 22H2 less than two years ago. Foundry An exception to the above rule about third-party software is a program that scans the disk and displays all files and folders in order of size, making it easy to find large files that you may not need at all. My recommendation is Wiztree. Foundry When you start the program and let it scan the disk, the contents are displayed both as lists sorted by size and as a color-coded chart. You can then go through the results from top to bottom and delete what you don’t need. But avoid folders like Windows and Program Files, and anything you don’t know what it is (if you’re not sure, do a web search). Choose what to start automatically Foundry When you start your computer and log in, a number of processes and programs start automatically. Some are completely in the background, others are visible in the Taskbar, and a few open with application windows. In most cases you can control this from Settings > Apps > Startup. Switch off the programs/processes you don’t want to start automatically. If you want to add a program to start automatically yourself, you can place a shortcut to the program’s .exe file in one of the following folders: shell:startup (for your user account) shell:common startup (for all users) Foundry Locate the application you want to autostart in Applications or Programs (x86) and copy it. Then type in any of the above shortcuts in Explorer to go to the folder in question. Right-click in the window and select Show more options followed by Paste shortcut. Many programs have a built-in setting to start automatically at startup, adding themselves to the registry instead. By minimizing the number of programs that start automatically, you will not have to wait as long for the system to finish after each restart. On a new computer with a fast SSD, this may not make much difference, but on older hardware it can make a big difference. Settings that speed up Windows 11 If you have a slightly older computer and find that Windows 11 feels a little sluggish from time to time, you can go through the system settings and trim the computer a little. Foundry Performance mode Open Settings and go to System > Power & battery. Click on Power Mode to display those settings, then select Best Performance from the drop-down menu to the right of Plugged in. If you have a laptop, there will also be a separate setting for when the computer is not connected to the mains, where you should select Balanced or Best power efficiency instead. In previous versions of the system, these settings were in the Control Panel, but as part of Microsoft’s efforts to move as much as possible to Settings, they appeared there in 24H2. If you want to fine-tune individual settings, you can still do so in Control Panel, but for most people, the new Power Mode setting will suffice. Efficiency mode Foundry Programs running in the background rarely take up a lot of computer resources, but if you’re running a really heavy program or game, such background processes can still lead to a drop in performance. Then you can take advantage of a relatively new feature that Microsoft added to Task Manager in 2022 called Efficiency Mode. With efficiency mode enabled, two things happen: The application’s priority is lowered to “low,” which means that other applications with higher priority take precedence over the processor, and something called Ecoqos is activated. The latter means that the program runs as energy-efficiently as possible. Exactly how this is done varies depending on the processor and other factors, but it can include running without turbo or only on efficiency cores. To activate it, right-click on a process in the list and select Efficiency Mode. A dialog box will appear warning that it can make some programs unstable, but if you encounter one, you can always turn it off afterwards. Switch off search indexing Foundry Another feature that is useful on newer hardware but can slow down an older computer is indexing. This is especially true if you have the system on an old-fashioned hard drive and not an SSD. Click on the magnifying glass in the Start search and type in index and you should find the Indexing Options control panel. Open it and check which locations the system is set to index for faster searching. Click Modify to change your choices. If you rarely search for anything outside your home folder, you can delete everything except that folder to make indexing faster. If your home folder is very full, you can go down to the next level and deselect individual folders in your home folder that you don’t need to search quickly. Switch off special effects Foundry If your computer doesn’t have a standalone graphics card and the processor is a few years old, the integrated graphics circuit may struggle to keep up, especially if you have a high-resolution screen. This can make Windows 11 feel slower than older systems like Windows 7 and XP. One thing you can try to speed up the interface is to turn off special effects like shadows and animations. Open Windows search and type sysdm.cpl, which will take you to the System Properties control panel. Select the Advanced tab and click Settings in the Performance pane. In the window that opens, you can change from Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer to Adjust for best performance (to turn off all effects) or Custom, which lets you tick off the effects you think you can do without. Switch off transparency Foundry A special effect found in many places in the system is missing from the above settings. Transparency effects can instead be found in Settings > Personalization > Colors. Switch it off and the graphical interface will be a little less cumbersome. Sometimes it’s enough to make the system feel like it used to be, and you can leave shadows and other effects enabled. Maximize gaming performance with these settings and tricks Windows 11 has been accused of being slower in games than Windows 10, and that’s not entirely off the mark. One reason it may feel that way is that the new system has several security features enabled by default that users previously had to actively go in and switch on, and which, when running, can contribute to lower performance in games, among other things. Foundry Memory Integrity is a feature that uses virtualization to protect Windows from certain types of attacks. It’s one of the reasons Microsoft has raised the system requirements for Windows 11 so much, but for those who mostly play games on their computer, it might be worth trying to switch it off and see if it improves gaming performance. Open Windows Security, select Device Security > Core Isolation and switch off Memory Integrity. Foundry The second feature you can experiment with turning off is called Virtual Machine Platform and you’ll find it in Windows Features, which you can easily find via Windows Search. Tick it off and click OK. Check the drivers Old drivers for various hardware components can also make your computer less stable or slower than necessary. This is especially true for the graphics card, especially if you’re playing newer games, but even drivers for simpler components can crash the system if they have bugs. For graphics cards, I recommend that you check which card you have and install the manufacturer’s latest driver for that particular card. That is, directly from AMD, Intel, or Nvidia. Windows can install working drivers automatically for many cards, but it is better to go to the source. Skärmdump Other drivers can be searched for by opening Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional Updates. After a fresh installation of Windows on a computer, a lot of drivers may pop up here for various components on the motherboard like audio circuit and control circuit. You can also manually update drivers for individual devices in Device Manager, but this is rarely needed nowadays. Switch off unnecessary Windows features Windows has a large number of built-in features that run in the background and handle various things. They are called services and are often used by the system or other programs to perform various tasks. For example, the Print Spooler service handles printing and the Sensor Service handles various physical sensors such as GPS and light meters. Foundry The Services application allows you to manually switch off services that you and your installed applications never use, which can make your computer feel a little quicker. This is a slightly more advanced intervention and you should check each service to make sure you don’t accidentally switch off something important that you actually need. Even if you can’t make your computer much faster, Services is a great way to learn more about how Windows works and if you’re curious, I highly recommend a deep dive. Try it out — if you find your system unusable, you can always restore from backup or reinstall Windows. Further reading: Every Microsoft Windows operating system, ranked Read...

Adobe’s Firefly generative AI service is evolving into becoming more of a front-end service for generative AI in general, as Adobe has made its text-to-video capabilities generally available as well as the option to use even non-Adobe AI models. Adobe announced its new additions as part of its Adobe Max conference in London, also using Firefly as inspiration for some changes to its Creative Cloud applications as well. The world first saw Adobe Firefly in 2023, when the service debuted in beta as an image and font generator. Firefly went live that September based upon a credit plan, allocated by how much you already paid Adobe for apps like Photoshop or a full-fledged Creative Cloud subscription. Adobe then turned to text-to-video earlier this year, with the available payment plans offering just a few brief snippets of video in exchange for a monthly fee. It’s this video service which has now launched via Firefly for the web, Adobe said. Adobe has stepped lightly through the ideological minefield that is AI art; some creators who use Adobe’s tools have spoken out quite loudly against the use of machine-generated art, but Adobe’s images come with a disclaimer that they were in fact produced by AI. Today, Adobe is launching a beta of a Content Authenticity app that allows creators to verify their identity, and to attach whatever information they would like to their profile and social media accounts. More importantly, they can include a tag that indicates that they don’t want generative AI to train on their work. Adobe Firefly’s drop-down menu allows users to select different generative AI models.Adobe Adobe said that Firefly now offers two new models, a hyper-realistic Firefly Image Model 4, and a detailed Firefly Image Model 4 Ultra. But users can also select non-Adobe models like GPT image generation and Google’s Imagen 3, and Veo 2 video models. Runway, Pika, Luma, Ideogram, and Fal.ai are coming soon, Adobe added. Adobe is also adding “boards” to Firefly, where users can drop in a number of visual ideas and use them as a source for their next creation. In a demonstration, an Adobe executive showed how two images on a board could be “mashed up” — Firefly sampled two images, then used AI to combine them. Users can mash up two different images in the new Firefly Boards, creating a hybrid prompt to generate something new.Adobe In Photoshop, Adobe is adding Composition Reference, a tool we’ve seen elsewhere; the tool uses how the objects in one scene are arranged as a reference guide for a second scene. Photoshop is also adding tools to Select Details like hair or facial features, and a new color adjustment tool, as well. Lightroom is adding a new Select Landscape tool, too. The Generative Extend features in Premiere Pro are also being rolled out, too. Generative Extend is like a Photoshop’s generative features that allow the user to “extend” the scene; in video, Premiere will add additional small AI-generated clips to prolong a shot. Caption Translation will provide captions in up to 27 languages, while a Media Intelligence tool provides better search capabilities in existing footage. Some improvements coming to Photoshop. Read...

Roku is still going strong with its smart home efforts, revealing on Wednesday a pair of new battery-powered smart cameras that are designed to weather the elements. More notably, Roku is flying solo with its latest security cams rather than partnering up with a third party.  While Roku had previously worked with Wyze Labs on its earlier smart home products, the upcoming Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus are “all specifically Roku-designed cameras,” a Roku spokesperson told me during a New York City press event. (The company also unwrapped new Roku streaming players, which you can read about here.) Asked for the strategy behind breaking with Wyze, the Roku rep explained that the move allows for “more control over the app and the experience and prioritizing what we want to do, versus Wyze.”  Reached later by TechHive, another Roku spokesperson offered an additional statement: “We’re glad to have worked with Wyze to initially bring Roku Smart Home to the market. We’re proud of our new Roku-designed Battery Camera and Battery Camera Plus and excited to bring it to our Roku users.”  We’ve also asked Wyze for more details.  Previously known solely as a streaming media device manufacturer, Roku surprised many in the industry with its 2022 announcement that it was moving into the smart home space.  The Roku Battery Camera and Battery Camera Plus both have a bottom USB-C charging port. Ben Patterson/Foundry The company did so with the help of Wyze, the maker of a popular line of budget security cameras as well as other smart home products. Roku ended up white-labeling a number of Wyze products, including smart light bulbs and light strips, smart plugs, video doorbells, and—naturally—security cameras.  Roku later released the Roku Home Monitoring System SE, a rebrand of the Wyze Home Monitoring Core Starter Kit, and it also sells an indoor 360-degree camera, an outdoor camera, and a floodlight cam.  The new Roku Battery Camera and Battery Camera Plus look very different from the company’s Wyze-developed products. Both of the 1080p cams sport boxy, rectangular shells with rounded corners. They offer IP65-level protection from dust and resistance to low-pressure water jets from any angle. Rear threaded mounting holes let you attach the cameras to walls, eaves, or other structures.  A rear threaded hole allows for mounting to a wall, eave, or other structure. Ben Patterson/Foundry The main difference between the two new Roku cams appears to be their battery life, with the Roku Battery Camera ($49) delivering up to six months of battery-powered operation, versus up to two years for the Battery Camera Plus ($59). An upcoming and optional solar panel (no pricing yet) should allow the cameras to run almost indefinitely without the need for manual charging via AC adapter.  Other features on the new cameras include an integrated spotlight, two-way audio, and motion alerts. Person, package, vehicle, and pet detection features require a Roku home security plan, which starts at $3.99 a month for a single camera (a second cam costs an additional $3.99 per month), or $9.99/month for all your cameras.  As with previous Roku security cameras, the Roku Battery Camera and Battery Camera Plus boast tight integration with the Roku app as well as Roku streaming players, with the latter capable of showing live feeds in a carousel on your big-screen TV. Expect the Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus to arrive this summer. We’ll have full reviews once we have a chance to test out some sample units, so stay tuned for that. Read...

A virtual private network, aka VPN, is one of the best tools you can use to boost your online privacy and security. But in the vast ocean of available services, it can be incredibly difficult for most people to find the best VPN for their needs. Thankfully, we at PCWorld are VPN experts and we’re here to help. When looking for the best VPN, you’ll want to consider a few things: First and foremost, does it have a good privacy record; how are its average connection speeds; is it able to effectively and consistently unblock streaming services; and finally, does it have a large enough server network for your location needs? All of my curated picks below deliver these essentials and more. PROMOTIONSpecial deal: Save big on NordVPN today Up to 77% off NordVPN + 3 extra months! Secure your traffic and shield your IP for better privacy. Take your cybersecurity to the next level with Threat Protection Pro™, NordVPN’s solution that blocks phishing, malware, trackers, and ads. Experience cutting-edge digital protection with the world’s most advanced VPN. Get the Deal NordVPN – Best VPN overall Pros Loaded with tons of VPN configuration options Outstanding speeds Multiple independent no-logs audits Included antivirus and password manager Cons Expensive 2-Year Plan $3.09 a month1-Year Plan$4.99 a monthMonthly Plan$12.99 a month Who should use NordVPN? It’s difficult to select the best overall VPN. For many years we chose the best VPN based purely on privacy, but VPNs have evolved to be more than just tools to browse online anonymously. Privacy is still important, to be sure, but so are speeds, extra features, server network size, and ease of use. NordVPN has it all, and that’s why it’s my top choice for VPNs and a truly solid option for everyone. Nord is the most full-featured service on the market with tools that will appeal to power users as well as an easy-to-use app that is intuitive and straightforward even for beginners. The service also carries out regular independent audits and uses RAM-only diskless servers for increased security, so the privacy-conscious user can rest assured their data will remain anonymous. For those who deem speed a priority, NordVPN will impress as well. Speeds in my testing averaged 72 percent of the base internet speed across all servers — making it the fastest VPN I’ve ever tested. NordVPN: Further considerations NordVPN’s desktop app is very easy to use and offers a ton of different features including access to the TOR network over VPN, multi-hop connections, Meshnet file sharing network, a security suite complete with ad- and malware-blocking, and Nord’s latest password manager and link-checker safety tool. Also, there will be no problems accessing any streaming service while using NordVPN and it has an extensive server network to connect to all over the world. The only real downside is that NordVPN’s pricing can be more expensive than many other VPN services. Even with the discounts offered by long-term plans, it can still seem pricey. Still, you get what you pay for and in this case, it’s more than worth it. Read our full NordVPN review ExpressVPN – Best VPN runner-up Pros Excellent speeds Easy-to-use interface Unblocks all streaming services Great security and privacy practices Cons More expensive than many competitors Light on some features for a top VPN 2-Year Plan$4.99 a month1-Year Plan$6.67 a monthMonthly plan$12.95 a month Who should use ExpressVPN? Just like my other top pick, I think ExpressVPN is a great option for everyone. VPN novices will find that they can easily download the software, choose their server location, and connect — it’s as simple as that. But more advanced users will be able to choose from features such as split-tunneling, protocol optimization, kill switch, and more. Plus, ExpressVPN has one of the most expansive device support networks I’ve ever seen. So the VPN can be used across practically any and all platforms no matter what device you’re trying to protect — with up to eight simultaneous device connections. The only reason I placed it second is due to the slight edge NordVPN has in regards to features and speed. Still, you can’t go wrong if you decide to go with ExpressVPN as your VPN of choice. ExpressVPN: Further considerations ExpressVPN’s servers are all diskless, running everything in RAM so no data is ever stored long-term. The service also has wide device support, as well as a smart DNS feature for set-top boxes, consoles, and more. It’s even begun branching out to take a more holistic approach to security for users, adding ad- and tracker-blocking and, most recently, a password manager to the service, as well. It’s not the cheapest VPN out there, but you do get excellent value for your money, and the service is regularly bringing in third-party auditors to validate its privacy credentials. Read our full ExpressVPN review Surfshark – Best cheap VPN Pros Unlimited simultaneous device connections Works well with Netflix Built-in extras such as ad tracker and malware blocking Low price on long-term plans Cons Indicators for ping or server load are not readily available Based in the Netherlands and subject to government data sharing requests Starter 2-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$1.99 a monthStarter 1-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$3.19 a monthStarter Monthly Plan$15.45 a month Who should use Surfshark? Surfshark one of those VPNs that does everything well. It has blazing-fast speeds, a robust feature set second only to NordVPN, and excellent privacy credentials thanks to its no-log policy and multiple independent audits. A subscription comes with all of your standard VPN features, plus infinitely customizable dynamic multi-hop connections, identity protection alerts, and antivirus/malware protection. But the best thing about Surfshark is the price. Taking advantage of its 2-year plan offer will net you comprehensive protection for just over $2 per month. That’s basically unheard of for a premium VPN service. Surfshark is a great all-around VPN option for most people. That being said, those who don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for their VPN will find that Surfshark easily meets their needs without breaking the bank. If you want to save some money and get one of the best VPNs on the market, look no further. Surfshark: Further considerations While the price for a monthly subscription to Surfshark might be exorbitant, the long-term plans are much more affordable. I typically advise against long-term VPN plans as the market changes so frequently, but Surfshark is a rare exception. It’s an established company with a reliable track-record and consistently good service. The only other thing that potential users should be aware of is that Surfshark is based out of the Netherlands. The country itself has strong personal privacy laws, but it’s a member nation of the 14 Eyes Data Sharing Alliance, meaning the government could require Surfshark to share user data if asked. It shouldn’t matter due to the company’s no-logs policy, but it’s still something privacy-conscious users should be aware of before committing. Read our full Surfshark review Private Internet Access – Best cheap VPN runner-up Pros Multiple independently verified no-log audits Unlimited simultaneous device connections Vast server network Great extra features such as multi-hop and split tunneling Cons App is a little awkward to use Speeds are fairly pedestrian 2-Year Plan (+4 free months)$2.19 a month6-Month Plan$7.50 a monthMonthly plan$11.99 a month Who should use Private Internet Access? Private Internet Access (PIA) has been around for awhile and has demonstrated that it can continue to innovate and improve with each passing year. The latest version of PIA is no different. By putting itself through yet another independent audit of its no-logs policy it keeps proving that user privacy is its top priority. I think it can be a great VPN for all users. However, where PIA really shines is in its price and extensive customizable feature set. It has one of the least expensive subscription plans of any top VPN, both monthly and long-term. Plus, power users and those who like their apps to be customized to their individual needs will especially love all of the tweaking that this app allows you to do. Private Internet Access: Further considerations PIA also provides generous unlimited device connections and an absolutely insane server network that claims to have over 35,000 available servers, but with fewer country locations than other top competitors on this list. The service does have a rather outdated interface and I found a few awkward interface issues. It’s also not the fastest service I’ve ever tested, with speeds well below the fastest I’ve seen. But neither of these issues should take away too much from the great value PIA offers. Read our full Private Internet Access review Proton VPN – Best free VPN Pros Excellent free plan Great privacy tools Reliable and transparent no-logs policy Cons Expensive 2 years$107.76 ($4.49/mo)1 year$59.88 ($4.99/mo)1-device limited planFreeSee all plans & pricing at ProtonVPN Who should use Proton VPN? Whether you opt for the free or paid version, Proton VPN is a good option for anyone. The free version specifically will appeal to those on a tight budget, or those who just need a VPN to do the occasional online task safely and securely online. Many free VPNs come with either ridiculous limitations or annoying ads. Mercifully, Proton VPN has no ads and the restrictions are fairly tame compared to other services. For the low, low cost of nothing, you’ll get a one-device connection limit and access to five servers located in Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the U.S. In my testing I also found that speeds were very good even with the free version, ranking in the top 10 of all VPNs, paid or free. And since there are no monthly data limits on Proton’s free VPN servers, it’s also an excellent option if you want to stream videos while using a VPN — just be aware, the free servers don’t promise to work with Netflix like some of Proton’s paid servers do. Overall, you get a lot for paying nothing and this easily makes it our favorite free VPN. Proton VPN: Further considerations The VPN is from the same company behind Proton Mail, a privacy-focused email service, so it’s very easy to integrate the VPN into the whole Proton ecosystem if you so wish. The company has undergone multiple independent audits confirming its no-logs policy — including the free VPN, as well. The monthly price for the premium version does come in at the expensive side though, so I would recommend trying out the free version first before you upgrade. Read our full ProtonVPN review Mullvad – Best VPN for privacy Pros Good speeds Inexpensive monthly plan Unrivaled anonymity Open-source Cons Struggles with unblocking streaming services Smaller server network Lacks some extra features that other VPNs offer 1 month€5/mo ($5.26)1 year€5/mo ($5.26)1 decade€5/mo ($5.26)See all plans & pricing at Mullvad Who should use Mullvad? Mullvad is the undisputed king of privacy and anonymity. I’ve never seen another VPN that actively resists knowing who you are the way Mullvad does. Mullvad doesn’t ask for your email address, name, or anything else. Instead it assigns a random account number that acts as your identifier and login. The service accepts payments using standard methods such as credit cards and PayPal, but you can also mail your payment in cash to remain as private as possible. Mullvad has a no-logging policy and doesn’t collect any identifying metadata from your usage. The name of the game with Mullvad is privacy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a more than capable VPN for any user. But the ultra-privacy conscious will find the most to like in its anonymized payment system, commitment to not collecting metadata, and strong privacy promises. Mullvad: Further considerations Mullvad is also fast, ranking among our top five for speeds, and offers a standardized fee across all plan lengths. While this makes it very affordable month-to-month, it does lose value compared to other top VPNs that significantly reduce their prices in the long-term. I also found some hiccups when trying to access streaming services, so users who want their VPN to bypass location-restricted content may want to take that into consideration before subscribing. Read our full Mullvad review Hotspot Shield – Fastest VPN Pros Very fast Large country selection and plenty of servers Cons Domain visits are recorded, though not tied to you Expensive Monthly rate$9.99/moYearly rate$79.99 ($6.66/mo)BasicFreeSee all plans & pricing at Hotspot Shield Who should use Hotspot Shield? Hotspot Shield is for those looking to maintain the fastest connection possible with the minimum loss of base speed. While other top picks on this list boast above-average speeds, Hotspot Shield is on another level. No other service (beyond NordVPN) comes close to hitting the speeds I’ve seen with Hotspot Shield. This isn’t just a one-off occurrence either; Hotspot Shield has consistently been at the top with speeds that are 12 to 15 percentage points above the competition. In my tests, Hotspot Shield maintained around 66 percent of the base speed. That’s substantially faster than you’ll see with most VPN services — with the obvious caveat that your experience may vary on a number of outside factors. Regardless, it is still one of the best around if connection speed is your main concern. I also found that it can access location-restricted content on most major streaming services. This, combined with its excellent speeds, makes it a good option if you mainly use a VPN to access streaming content. Hotspot Shield: Further considerations Hotspot Shield comes with a smaller feature set that some of the other top VPNs and its privacy policy may not sit well with some. It has also unfortunately never undergone an independent audit so those who are concerned with privacy, may want to look elsewhere. Also, while Hotspot Shield in the past was far and away the fastest VPN on the market, in recent years other services have been catching up. It’s worth it to weigh how much speed means to you before committing to the service. If you’re unsure then I recommend trying out the free version to take it for a spin. Read our full Hotspot Shield review CyberGhost – Best VPN for travelers Pros Independently verified no-log policy Seriously impressive server spread Generous 45-day money-back guarantee Cons Server speeds can be hit-or-miss Lacks some extra security features offered by competitors 2-Year Plan (+ 2 free months)$2.19 a month6-Month Plan$6.99 a monthMonthly Plan$12.99 a month Who should use CyberGhost? If you travel frequently then you want variety and wide coverage in the server locations from your VPN. CyberGhost provides both by offering a staggering 9,000+ servers for users to connect to, which is more than twice as many as most other VPNs on this list. Unlike some competitors, these servers aren’t all concentrated in the U.S. or Europe, either. The server spread totals 120+ countries all across the world. The service even recommends optimized servers to users for various needs such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. Due to its plethora of servers and locations, CyberGhost is one of the best options for finding a server no matter where you are in the world. For those who travel a lot or just need access to a diverse and vast server spread, CyberGhost is definitely worth consideration. CyberGhost: Further considerations CyberGhost also has a well-designed Windows app that is intuitive and easy to use, even when tweaking settings. It lacks some of the power-user features that other VPNs on this list provide such as multi-hop and IP rotation, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker for the average user. In my testing I found that some of the servers were faster than others, with servers located in Europe having excellent speeds and servers in Asia not fairing as well. But overall, the speeds are good enough to do most of what you want to do with a VPN — web browsing, streaming, etc. Read our full CyberGhost review Other VPNs we liked While we believe that the above VPNs are currently the best money can buy, there are a few other noteworthy services that deserve attention: PrivadoVPN is a strong overall service, but the free version of the VPN really stands out and is second only to Proton VPN. Windscribe Pro is not only very affordable, but it’s also really easy to use and offers great security, with both a Windows client and browser extension that work in tandem to keep your browsing private and pop-up free. Hide.me is a well-rounded service that ticks almost every box and the fantastic array of configurable settings make it a power-user’s dream. U.S.-based IPVanish nails all of the basics: good speeds, a large server network, and privacy promises backed up with independent audits. TunnelBear is an undeniably charming VPN that is extremely easy to use, and doesn’t overwhelm with too many features or country options, which makes it ideal for VPN novices or those who aren’t the most tech-savvy. I’m continuously evaluating new VPNs and reevaluating services I’ve already tested on a regular basis, so be sure to come back to see what else we’ve put through their paces. Can I get a better VPN deal? Here at PCWorld, we are regularly hunting down the best VPN deals to help you get the most bang for your buck. VPN services are frequently running deals throughout the year, so you should have a few chances to snag your favorite VPN on a steep discount if you can time it right. While the prices for all VPNs on this list are updated daily, they do not account for special deals or offers. It’s best to keep checking our deals article to see what new limited-time discounts are on offer each week. Additionally, sales events such as Amazon Prime Day in mid-July and Black Friday at the end of November provide excellent opportunities to find even cheaper VPN deals. How we test VPNs We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on our evaluation process, check out PCWorld’s comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services. Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. We average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues. Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but we try our best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. And finally, we compare the value of the service based upon its price and additional features to the industry average to help you gain an accurate picture of what you’ll get for your money. Why you should trust PCWorld for VPN reviews and buying advice Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. As reviewers and users of PC hardware and software, we put every product through its paces using rigorous benchmarking and hands-on evaluation. We’d never recommend something we wouldn’t want for ourselves. Who curated this article? Sam Singleton is PCWorld’s VPN beat reporter and jack of all trades. When he’s not on the hunt for the best computer deals he’s covering VPNs, productivity software, laptops, and a wide gamut of consumer-grade hardware and software. How to choose the best VPN One of the first things you should look for when shopping around for a VPN is the number of servers and locations. It’s difficult to judge any VPN by just one feature, but a semi-reliable way to tell if a VPN is even worth your time is to look at the server network. Anything with 1,000 or more servers and 30 or more country locations will do. Speed The next thing to consider is a VPN’s speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons, for a more accurate picture. Privacy You’ll also want to read up on a VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is transparent with its data collection policies and if it’s subject to government data sharing requirements. Price As with all subscription services, you’ll want to review the price of a VPN service. Do you want a monthly or yearly subscription? Some top VPNs might be pricey month-to-month, but actually become quite affordable with long-term plans. Additional features Other factors you’ll want to take into consideration are the overall ease-of-use, user experience, and any additional features. Some of these features, such as split-tunneling and kill switches, can be extremely useful for certain purposes and might sway your subscription decision one way or the other. FAQ 1. What is the best VPN? NordVPN is our pick for the best VPN. Not only does it have the fastest speeds and a large server network, but it’s also the most full-featured VPN on the market. There is currently no other VPN on the market that provides as much value or as extensive a feature-set as NordVPN and that’s why it’s our top pick. 2. What is the best cheap VPN? Surfshark is our pick for the best cheap VPN. Not only does it provide great speeds, but it also comes with a robust feature and excellent privacy credentials. If you opt for a long-term plan, Surfshark offers all of this for pennies on the dollar compared to many other VPNs. In terms of budget-friendly services, Surfshark simply can’t be beat. 3. What is a VPN? VPNs create a secure tunnel between your PC and the internet. When you connect to a VPN your web traffic is routed through the chosen VPN server to make it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location, and not from your actual location. The VPN app will also encrypt your data so that any third parties such as your ISP can’t see your specific online activities. A VPN can be a great response to a variety of concerns, such as online privacy, anonymity, greater security on public Wi-Fi, and, of course, spoofing locations. 4. Can I be tracked with a VPN? While VPNs certainly offer you better privacy and security, they don’t make you completely anonymous nor keep you from being tracked entirely. A VPN will keep your ISP from seeing your traffic, but there are a mindboggling number of ways that other companies or sites track you across the internet. For example, when you sign into a website, your identity is still revealed to that website, VPN or not. Or when you log into your Gmail account while using a VPN, Google can now collect personalized cookies based on your browsing. 5. Will a VPN protect me on public Wi-Fi? Yes, a VPN can help protect you when using public Wi-Fi by encrypting your data and masking your IP address. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to hijack your online traffic and steal sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. Public Wi-Fi is often vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, where hackers intercept your data en route to the server. A VPN can protect against this by encrypting the connection, thereby making your data unreadable and all but useless to any potential snooping third parties. It’s worth noting however that VPNs can only protect you from certain threats and it won’t make your device or traffic completely secure. It’s always good practice to use strong passwords, enable extra layers of security such as two-factor authentication, and regularly update your apps and devices to patch any vulnerabilities. 6. Will a VPN slow down my internet? Most likely you will see a moderate speed decrease to your internet while using a VPN. This is mainly due to the process of your internet traffic being rerouted and encrypted through a VPN server before heading on to its destination. The amount of latency you will experience through this process is down to what country’s server you choose to route your traffic through. If you choose a server located on the other side of the world, then you will generally notice a much greater hit than if you were to connect to a server nearby in your same country. Thankfully, most modern VPNs should have the infrastructure to maintain high-speed, secure data transfer rates. So it’s likely you can still browse and stream without much of a noticeable impact while using a reliable VPN like those on this list. Related content PCWorld software reviews Should you use a VPN browser extension: What you gain, what you give up 9 things you realize when you first start using a VPN VPNs and the law: How often does law enforcement actually request VPN logs? 5 VPN features you need to start using today 14 VPN terms and features everyone should know Best VPN for streaming Netflix Fastest VPN Best free VPN Best VPN for Android Best free VPN for Android Best VPN for torrenting Read...

As we’ve noted before, Microsoft developers apparently love making changes to the Start menu. Sometimes it’s to add new features like an account manager, while other times it’s to inject advertisements. And now it’s time to make changes again. The big April update for Windows 10—known as update KB5055518—has apparently removed the convenient jump lists that appear when right-clicking on app tiles in the Start menu. This feature, which let you quickly access recent files relevant to the app in question, has been part of Windows 10 for years… but it’s gone now. Spotted by Windows Latest, it’s unclear why the recent file jump lists were removed from the Windows 10 Start menu, and Microsoft hasn’t mentioned making this move, so it’s possible that it’s just a bug. If you want the feature back, you can uninstall update KB5055518, but you’ll also lose the important security fixes in the update. Read...

It only took about ten years, but I’ve finally made Windows Task View part of my everyday workflow. Task View arrived with Windows 10 in 2015, providing an alternative to cramming all of your open windows into the space afforded by your screen. By clicking the Task View button on the Windows taskbar — or just pressing Windows key + Tab — you can see all your open windows and arrange them into separate workspaces, known as virtual desktops. It’s the kind of feature I should theoretically love, but my earlier attempts to use it always ended in failure. Too often I’d forget about those extra virtual desktops I had set up and would gravitate back toward opening all my windows in one place. By rethinking my approach to Task View — and by taking advantage of some new Windows features — I’ve finally made a habit of using it in a way that saves time and helps me focus. This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to get tech advice like this every Tuesday. Task View for layouts, not tasks Task View is right next to the Start button.Jared Newman / Foundry My light bulb moment with Task View was actually inspired by the Stage Manager feature in macOS. Stage Manager displays your most recently viewed windows on the left side of the screen. If you drag multiple windows onto the desktop, Stage Manager remembers that layout when you switch to another app, so you can bring it back with one click. Stage Manager comes in handy when I’m trying to focus on writing. I’ll put my writing/notetaking app (Obsidian) on one side of the screen and my web browser (Vivaldi) on the other, so I can research and write without being distracted by anything else. If a message comes in on Slack or I need to check my email, I can click over to those apps, then use Stage Manager to go right back to my split-screen setup. (Yes, macOS also has a separate virtual desktop feature called Spaces, but I find Stage Manager easier to work with in this scenario.) Stage Manager in macOS.Jared Newman / Foundry I realized that with Windows, I should be approaching Task View the same way, with split-screen layouts that correspond to specific tasks. My current setup now consists of four virtual desktops: Writing: Obsidian covers one half of the screen and Vivaldi covers the other. Communication: A three-column view with Slack, Gmail, and Proton Mail. Socials: Full-screen views for BlueSky, Mastodon, and Threads. Other: Everything else on an ad-hoc basis, like gaming or any particular app that requires a clean layout. Without Task View, these layouts would quickly fall apart as different apps overlapped and jockeyed for screen space. Assigning each layout to its own virtual desktop helps keep them intact. Task View isn’t a replacement for having multiple monitors (or an ultrawide monitor, for that matter). If anything, it’s more of a supplement, as you can quickly switch between layouts that span multiple screens (or one extra-wide screen). Getting more out of Task View Jared Newman / Foundry Having committed to using Task View, I’ve also made an effort to remember some of its extra features and shortcuts: Windows key + Tab, as I mentioned earlier, is the quickest and most convenient way to bring up Task View. Windows key + Ctrl + Left Arrow and Windows key + Ctrl + Right Arrow switches between virtual desktops. Hovering your cursor over the Task View icon shows all of your virtual desktops in a pop-up menu. While Task View is open, you can drag windows from one virtual desktop to another. You can also right-click an app and select “Show windows from this app on all desktops.” This is useful if you’re listening to music and want to control playback from any of the virtual desktops. In Task View, right-click any virtual desktop to reorder it, rename it, or give it a unique wallpaper. If you have a mouse with extra buttons on the side, you might also want to map those to Task View functions as well. With my Logitech MX Master 3S, I’ve mapped the two side buttons to flip between virtual desktops while the thumb button brings up the overall Task View. One other option worth considering: In Windows, under Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects, you may want to disable “Animation effects.” This turns off all the gliding and sliding animations, which can feel sluggish when switching between virtual desktops. Saving Task View layouts for later Saving my “Communications” layout with Workspaces.Jared Newman / Foundry Windows Task View pairs especially well with Microsoft PowerToys. PowerToys is a collection of helpful Windows utilities, including one feature called “Workspaces” for saving your favorite window layouts. I’ve used Workspaces to capture my Writing, Communication, and Social layouts, with quick-launch icons on my desktop for each one. If I need to reboot my computer, or if my layouts get messed up for any reason, this lets me restore them with one click. (You can read more about Windows Workspaces with this primer from Mark Hachman.) Of course, you can be perfectly happy using Windows without ever touching Task View — as I did for much of the last decade. But if you’re often juggling a few distinct tasks, it might be the organizational feature you’ve been missing. This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s weekly tech advice newsletter. Sign up to get tech advice like this every Tuesday. Read...