JLL NZ managing director says New Zealand looks like a good place to invest given more accommodative government policies and falling interest rates. Read...

The Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds is being accused of staying silent on fast-track projects which affect the environment. Read...

National`s Penny Simmonds has commented on only eight of the 43 fast track projects she has been sent invites for. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Inoffensive design includes a VESA mount Good sharpness and brightness for a budget monitor 100Hz refresh rate enhances motion clarity Cons Design is a bit too simple Doesn’t ship with a height-adjustable stand Modest contrast ratio and color gamut Our Verdict Though certainly drab, the MSI Pro MP275Q provides solid image quality for an office productivity monitor, and does it at an appealing price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: MSI PRO MP275Q Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Are you shopping for a basic productivity monitor that won’t disappoint? The MSI Pro MP275Q might be what you need. Though it has a ho-hum design and barebones feature set, it delivers high brightness and sharpness on a budget. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best home office monitors for comparison. MSI PRO MP275Q specs and features The MSI Pro MP275Q’s specifications are firmly targeted at office productivity. It provides a 27-inch panel with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, which is a nice bump from 1,920 x 1,080. It also has speakers, a VESA mount, and supports both HDR and Adaptive Sync. Display size: 27-inch Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: IPS-LED Refresh rate: 100Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync HDR: Yes, “HDR Ready” Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x 3.5mm audio-out Audio: 2x 2-watt speakers VESA Mount: Yes, 100x100mm Price: $179.99 MSRP, $139.99 typical retail Buying the MSI Pro MP275Q will set you back about $180 at MSRP but, like most monitors, it is often on sale and often for less than $150. That’s a decent price for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, but I wouldn’t call it a deal. MSI PRO MP275Q design The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t make much impression out of the box, and I suspect that’s the point. It’s a “Pro” monitor and, in this case, the professional could be anyone from a work-from-home administrator to a retail clerk ringing up an order. The Pro MP275Q looks fine, and it feels reasonably durable for a budget monitor, but it’s nothing special. However, the monitor’s function doesn’t live up to its branding. It has a simple stand that only adjusts for tilt. It’s not a tall stand, either, so tall users will find themselves looking down at the screen at an uncomfortable angle. The monitor does include a 100x100mm VESA mount, at least, so it’s possible to add a third-party stand or monitor arm. Matthew Smith / Foundry MSI PRO MP275Q connectivity MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities. We’re talking two HDMI 2.0 ports, plus one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. This is the expected range of connectivity for a monitor around $150. It’s neither better nor worse than usual. USB-C would be nice, but it’s not common south of $250. MSI PRO MP275Q menus, audio Menu navigation is provided with a joystick tucked around the right flank of the MSI Pro MP275Q. Many monitors offer a joystick (which is often the easiest, most responsive way to navigate a monitor’s menus), so this isn’t unusual. The monitor’s menu options are easy to navigate, but barebones. There are some image quality presets, a few color temperature options, and an EyeCare mode for reduced eye strain, all of which is normal for a monitor in this price bracket. You can also adjust monitor features using MSI Display Kit, a desktop software utility. It provides easy access to most monitor options and is often more intuitive to use than the on-screen menu controls. Display Kit is not the most visually appealing example of such a tool—I think those from Asus, BenQ, and Dell look a bit better. Still, it gets the job done. Matthew Smith / Foundry The only unusual feature is an “Eye-Q Check” feature, which displays an Amsler Grid that’s supposed to help you determine if you’re experiencing eye strain. Does it work? Probably not. While I was able to find medical studies on using an Amsler Grid to detect problems like macular degeneration, I couldn’t find studies suggesting it’s useful for general eye strain.A pair of 2-watt speakers are included. They provide modest volume and no hint of bass but, as budget monitor speakers go, they’re not bad. The speakers are fine for listening to podcasts or ambient music at low volumes—which is more than I can say for most budget monitors. MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities: two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. MSI PRO MP275Q SDR image quality The MSI Pro MP275Q is the type of monitor that will frequently be used for spreadsheets, web browsing, PDFs, and other office productivity. These tasks don’t require incredible image quality but benefit from good results in brightness, accuracy, and sharpness. Fortunately, the Pro MP275Q delivers. Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is definitely a highlight for the MSI Pro MP275Q. A maximum brightness of nearly 400 nits is extremely high for any monitor in the sub-$200 price bracket. This level of brightness isn’t required in most situations, but it’s helpful if you’re planning to position a monitor near bright windows or in an office environment without light control. The monitor also has an anti-glare finish to minimize reflections, which further helps with usability in bright rooms. If you want a bright, readable office monitor, the MSI Pro MP275Q is a top choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is an unsurprising weakness. The MSI Pro MP275Q uses an IPS display panel and doesn’t have a fancy dynamic Mini-LED backlight. Because of that, its contrast ratio is just 1190:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness.That’s not a terrible result, and it’s typical of budget IPS monitors. However, technologies like IPS Black and VA panels (like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30) can achieve a contrast ratio of 3000:1 or better, and OLED’s contrast ratio is effectively infinite. On the other hand, monitors with those technologies are often twice the price. While the contrast ratio isn’t great, it’s arguably not that important for an office monitor. Text-based workflows rarely benefit much, if at all, from a very high contrast ratio. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut isn’t the Pro MP275Q’s strength. It’s okay, with a color gamut that covers 99 percent of sRGB and 78 percent of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB. However, these are not impressive figures in 2025, and many alternative monitors do better. The color gamut will be a limitation if you need to do photo or video editing, or digital art, as many colors visible on more capable displays won’t be visible on this monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the Pro MP275Q’s color gamut doesn’t impress, color accuracy is more in its favor. The monitor’s color accuracy is solid, and most people won’t notice any issue. Color inaccuracy is highest in cyan and blue tones—a fairly common result for an IPS-LCD monitor—but even there, it didn’t come across to me in subjective viewing. Again, I wouldn’t recommend using this monitor to edit professional photography for, say, National Geographic. But that’s to be expected at this price point. The Pro MP275Q’s color temperature and gamma results were fine for a budget display. It displayed a gamma curve of 2.3, off the target of 2.2, which means content looks a tad darker than it should. But this is often hard to notice. The color temperature came in at 6600K, also just a shade off the target of 6500K. I didn’t find that difference noticeable. Sharpness is a strong point. The Pro MP275Q’s resolution of 2560×1440 works out to about 110 pixels per inch across the 27-inch screen. That’s a respectable pixel density. Speaking personally, I find it sharp enough—and a big upgrade over 1080p. With that said, shoppers should keep in mind that 4K monitors aren’t much more expensive. Even MSI has one priced at $200. Overall, the MSI Pro MP275Q’s image quality is good for a budget monitor. Its brightness and sharpness make it ideal for its target use case, which is office productivity. The monitor’s color performance and contrast are less impressive, and make it a less appealing choice for entertainment. However, at $150, you’ll be hard pressed to find alternatives that clearly defeat it in SDR image quality. MSI PRO MP275Q HDR image quality and motion The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t advertise HDR support, but its specifications list it as “HDR Ready.” This is, I think, a fair way to market the monitor. It can technically support an HDR signal, but its image quality is entirely insufficient to do much with HDR. It’s not bright enough, doesn’t have a wide enough color gamut, and doesn’t have enough contrast. However, this is true of all budget monitors. I actually like that MSI doesn’t advertise this feature. Some budget monitors do, which annoys me, because their claims of HDR support can be misleading. In reality, you’ll need to upgrade to a much more expensive OLED or MiniLED monitor if you want good HDR. Adaptive Sync is also technically supported, but the Pro MP275Q lacks AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync certification. My AMD video card did detect it as a variable refresh rate display, however, and I saw smooth motion in games. The monitor also has a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz. Though that won’t make headlines in 2025, it’s high enough to provide a noticeable improvement in motion clarity. The Pro MP275Q will look a bit less blurry in fast motion than 60Hz competitors. Note, however, that it is fairly subtle—your mileage will vary depending on how sensitive you are to motion clarity improvements. Gamers should note that budget gaming monitors like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 and Pixio PX248 Wave will provide a higher refresh rate of up to 240Hz for less than $200. However, you’ll often have to make a trade-off in either display size or resolution. Should you buy the MSI PRO MP275Q? The MSI Pro MP275Q is a workmanlike monitor meant for, well, work. It provides good image quality in SDR with high brightness and sharpness. The monitor’s build quality is simple and notably lacks a height-adjustable stand, which is its only significant flaw. Still, the Pro MP275Q is a good option if you want a 27-inch 1440p monitor for just about any work environment, from a home office to a corporate bullpen. Read...

Fifteen projects are shortlisted for a chance of winning the top £1m prizes at next month`s environmental awards ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Read...

It comes after the company committed to new conditions to mitigate the project`s adverse effects on cultural and recreational values. Read...

Microsoft Flight Simulator X is a lot of fun, but the game isn’t cheap. If you don’t want to pay for your flight simulator, you might just want to try GeoFS instead. It’s a free flight simulator with a global environment generated by satellite images and digital geographic data. The simulator runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. There are more than 30 aircraft to fly and navigation charts with 40,000 referenced runways. You can even run it in your web browser without anything to install. Dominic Bayley / Foundry I really dig the realistic physics and the fact you can fly a wide variety of planes—everything from single engine biplanes to giant jumbo jet Airbus A380s. It’s worth noting, though, that it’s a little tricky to get the hang of at first, so you’re really going to want to personalize the controls before you fly. That’s a wrap for this Try This. If you want more recommendations like this one, be sure to sign up to our Try This newsletter. Read...

Screens with OLED panels are increasingly being used in laptops and PC monitors. The reason: The prices for OLEDs have fallen, and this is likely to continue in the future. A laptop with an OLED display is currently available for as little as $750, such as the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. You won’t find top equipment here, neither in terms of components nor the screen. However, the 60-hertz display offered in this device class masters most everyday tasks without any problems, as long as gaming is not involved. A monitor with an OLED panel is often aimed at special application scenarios. It either supports creative work with outstanding detail or gaming on the computer with ultra-fast switching times. An OLED gaming monitor with a 27-inch diagonal, QHD resolution and 240 hertz refresh rate is priced at a good $700 — such as the LG Ultragear OLED 27GS95QE-B. A 4K 32-incher such as the Dell 32 Plus (S3225QC) costs upwards of $800. This means that OLED monitors are still no bargain, but their prices are increasingly moving into affordable regions. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLEDMatthew Smith / Foundry Stumbling block: Burn-in due to static image content Just like OLED televisions, OLED monitors also impress with their outstanding contrast. As they can dim with pixel precision and switch off the pixels completely, they display true black. The self-illuminating pixels also impress with their rich colors, very short switching times, and extremely stable viewing angles, where colors hardly change at all, even when you look at the screen from the side. What curbs the enthusiasm for OLED screens in the computer environment is the risk of burn-in. These effects can occur if image content is displayed statically for a long time. In the case of televisions, this applies to channel and program logos, for example. There are far more possibilities when working on a desktop monitor or laptop display on a daily basis. This is because many applications involve the display of static content — for example, tables, texts, or the Windows taskbar, which always remains visible in the default settings of the operating system. Even if the OLED panel is not yet a bargain for PC monitors, many gaming screens, such as the LG Ultragear OLED 27GS95QE-B shown here, are now quite affordable. LG There are different levels of burn-in effects: image sticking, image retention, or ghost image is a temporary effect. A slight shadow image or outline remains visible even though the image signal has already changed. The effect is caused by the fact that OLEDs react very sensitively to changes in the current voltage. If the threshold voltage of the pixel transistors shifts, the faulty picture can occur. Proper burn-in or image retention, on the other hand, is permanent in OLEDs. Static content that is displayed repeatedly over a long period of time leaves permanent traces on the panel. You then see them as shadow images in the background that no longer disappear. Burn-in occurs because OLED panels wear out during operation. They age and lose luminosity in the process. However, this is a very slow process. For this reason, genuine defects caused by burn-in are covered by most manufacturers’ device warranties. In addition, the panel can compensate for a deficit in luminosity by increasing the power supply to precisely these pixels. OLED maintenance support For both desktop monitors and most laptops with OLEDs, the manufacturers offer built-in maintenance measures. You should definitely carry them out in order to maintain the panel quality. In the case of monitors, you will find the integrated routines for OLED maintenance in the on-screen display (OSD). They are often located under the menu item “Other.” Laptop manufacturers often integrate the functions into the manufacturer’s own maintenance tools. Asus, for example, has added the “Asus OLED Care” section to the MyAsus utility program for laptops with OLED panels. In many cases, there are also additional apps for both device categories that support you with OLED care. However, the offer depends very much on the specific device. Lenovo, for example, limits the Lenovo Display Refresh utility to the Thinkpad X1 Fold. At the same time, an update of the respective tool does no harm. In our experience, some OLED maintenance functions are only enhanced by an update. Pixel refresh: Basic maintenance for the OLED screen A common maintenance routine that is intended to prevent the risk of burn-in from the outset is the pixel refresh, or pixel update. This measure checks and corrects the threshold voltage on the pixel transistors. This can shift in the course of OLED operation — especially when many bright areas are displayed. This is where the most current flows and the highest temperature is generated as a result. The aim of the routine is to restore the threshold voltage that was set when the panel was produced. The correction also eliminates any display errors. The pixel refresh starts automatically on most devices after a certain number of operating hours. Some monitor models, such as the Dell 32 Plus S3225QC, indicate in the OSD that a pixel refresh is necessary after just four hours. Visually, a green dot at “OLED screen status” changes to yellow. In this case, however, we do not receive an active notification to intervene. If we start the correction, the process runs automatically and takes six to eight minutes. The display switches off at the end. For good reason, the setting in the OSD cannot be deactivated. However, you can select that the refresh only starts when the monitor is in standby mode. Taking a look at the OSD from time to time and performing the refresh will benefit the lifespan of your OLED monitor. Panel refresh: Self-calibration of the OLED pixels To prevent irreversible damage caused by real burn-in, all OLED panels have an integrated self-protection mechanism — panel refresh, also known as panel compensation. The protection process starts automatically after a specified operating time. The device manufacturers are keeping quiet about when exactly this happens. However, several hundred operating hours have probably already passed. The panel refresh starts as soon as the display is switched off. For this reason, you should not completely disconnect an OLED monitor from the power supply via a switchable power strip. During panel refresh, the screen uses a memory function. The internal controller saves all the data on light duration and brightness — for each pixel. Those OLED pixels that have been shining at high brightness for a particularly long time and have therefore already diminished in brightness are given a higher power supply. This works because OLED panels do not usually light up in the maximum range, but on the basis of the Average Picture Level (APL). This describes in percent how high the average brightness of a picture on the screen is. Further protective measures: Pixel shifting, logo dimming, and more. Especially with OLED monitors and laptops intended for gaming, manufacturers integrate additional protective mechanisms for the OLED screen. However, not every model has to feature all of these processes. Pixel shifting: This function is also known as pixel orbiter. If it is activated, the displayed image is shifted horizontally and vertically by a few pixels at predefined intervals — approximately every three minutes. This changes its position on the display. This is intended to prevent certain pixels from being overused and therefore ageing more quickly. Logo recognition can be activated on some devices with OLED screens. It detects the static image content on the screen and darkens it to protect the panel from burn-in. Foundry Logo dimming/logo detection: If the operating menu of your monitor offers this function, the display automatically recognizes logos and recurring overlays and reduces their brightness. You can usually determine how much this should happen yourself using several levels. This setting is a precautionary measure that is useful for toolbars in games, channel logos, or program names. Screen saver: To protect the entire display, you can activate a screen saver via the manufacturer’s tool. It starts as soon as there is no input signal — often after just two minutes. An activated screen saver — here on a Samsung OLED monitor — protects the display from damage caused by static content when the computer is not in use.Foundry OLED protection measures for everyone With these measures, you can protect the valuable OLED screen from burn-in effects and preserve the lifespan of the pixels. Hide the taskbar: On the computer, the Windows taskbar is one of those static contents that are always displayed. To protect the OLED pixels, you can prevent this by hiding the taskbar. In Windows 11, right-click on the desktop and select “Personalize.” In the “Taskbar” area, scroll down to “Taskbar behaviors.” Tick the box next to “Automatically hide the taskbar.” Screensaver: Even if your OLED device does not have a screensaver, you can activate it in Windows 11. Again, under “Personalize,” click on “Lock screen” and go to “Screen saver.” Ideally, you should choose a dark color. You can display it in the preview and set a waiting time in minutes. Foundry Dark mode: Dark mode is a suitable means of further reducing the bright areas on the OLED screen. It is not only easy on the eyes, but also on the OLED panel. It can also be switched on in the Windows “Personalization” area. Click on “Colors” and select “Dark” under “Choose your mode.” Full screen mode: Full screen mode is particularly recommended for watching films and videos, so that the video display is scaled to fit the entire screen area. Cinema fans should therefore pay attention to the 16:9 format at the time of purchase to avoid annoying bars on the sides. Brightness control: With desktop monitors, ambient light sensors often regulate the brightness of the OLED screen depending on the conditions at the installation site. Depending on the situation, the luminance is automatically reduced. For moving images such as films, it is advisable to use existing modes — such as film mode. If you use HDR settings, don’t forget to switch them off again. This reduces the peak brightness, protects the OLED pixels and also saves energy. Related content Best laptops: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1, and more The best monitors: 11 top picks for gaming, 4K, HDR, and more Are OLED laptops worth the extra price? Read...

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Visual Studio Pro 2022 for life on sale for only $9.97 (reg. $499). Big software projects call for tools that can handle serious workloads and keep teams connected. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 is a 64-bit integrated development environment built to manage large codebases and cross-platform development, and right now, a lifetime license is only $9.97 (reg. $499). Developers can use Visual Studio Pro to create web, desktop, and mobile apps using .NET MAUI or Blazor, and they can debug .NET and C++ code on Windows or Linux. Hot reload lets you see changes the instant you make them, so you can test new ideas without constant restarts. IntelliCode predicts the next lines of code based on context, while CodeLens shows authorship, test results, and commit history right inside the editor. Collaboration tools are built in. Live Share allows real-time pair programming and group sessions so teammates can edit and debug together from anywhere. Integrated Git support makes version control simple, and advanced testing tools help catch issues before release. Don’t pay monthly for an IDE when you can get Windows Visual Studio Pro for life on sale for only $9.97. Sale ends October 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

The scientist turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment. Read...