What is the GPT protective partition? Why is my disk showing as GPT protective partition in Disk Management? How to fix a GPT protective partition without losing data and regain access to it? In this article, EaseUS Software explains what this means and offers two ways to repair a GPT protective partition. Before fixing GPT protective partition, it is necessary to understand what it is and what causes this error. What is GPT protective partition? A GPT protective partition is a partition protected by a GUID partition table. It is primarily used on servers to restrict users from manipulating sensitive data or to provide redundancy for critical files. This is different from a regular partition: GPT protective partitions are not assigned unique drive numbers. GPT protective partitions typically can’t be deleted or reformatted in Disk Management. MBR-based operating systems can’t read GPT protective partitions and users can’t access them. So what causes a GPT protective partition? It usually happens when the operating system or hardware does not properly recognize or support GPT disks. See the table below for more possible explanations: ?? Causes?? DetailsIncompatible with older versions of Windows32-bit Windows (such as Windows XP) doesn’t support GPT partitions. Systems with traditional BIOS firmware may not support GPT partitions.GPT disk errorsCorrupted or damaged GPT partition table may cause GPT protective partitions.Manual creationSome users or administrators might manually create GPT protective partitions to shield sensitive data or to maximize partition size. GPT protective partitions are usually caused by compatibility issues or intentional configuration to protect data. Although they prevent normal users from accessing certain partitions, they may also waste memory and affect overall system performance. With that in mind, let’s learn how to fix a GPT protective partition. How to fix GPT protective partition without losing data If you disk suddenly turned into a GPT protective partition, do not worry. Follow the instructions below to remove it. Stage 1. Recover data from the GPT protective partition When the HDD or SSD turns into GPT protective partition, the most important thing is to use a data recovery software (such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard) to restore the data from the GPT protective partition to another partition to avoid data loss. Stage 2. Fix GPT protective partition error The two methods provided in this section are suitable for removing a GPT protective partition from Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista and reaccessing it. ??EaseUS Partition Master is relatively easy to use due to its simple and friendly interface. ??Diskpart is more complicated because of the command line input, but it still can be a quick fix. Fix 1. Use EaseUS Partition Master After recovering the data, the simplest, most direct way to fix a GPT protective partition is to format it to NTFS or another file system. Disk Management doesn’t allow you to directly format a GPT protective partition, but EaseUS Partition Master can help. You can use this tool to format a GPT protective partition without needing to type in any command lines. Key features of EaseUS Partition Master: Compatibility: Works smoothly on Windows 11/10/8/7/XP/Vista Operational difficulty: Easy to use with a well-organized interface File systems supported: NTFS/FAT32/exFAT/ext2/ext3/ext4 Here’s how to format the GPT protective partition and restore it to normal status: Step 1. Run EaseUS Partition Master on your PC and navigate to the Partition Manager section. Step 2. Right click the GPT protective partition and select Format. Step 3. Set the Partition label, File system, and Cluster size and check the Quick format box–or leave them at their default settings if you are happy with things as they are. EaseUS Step 4. Click OK to continue, then click Yes when you a warning about data loss pops up. Finally click Execute Task. Fix 2. Use Diskpart You can also use Diskpart to restore the GPT protective to a normal partition. Back up the data on any other disks you are using before you begin in order to avoid unnecessary data loss that might happen if you accidentally enter an incorrect command. Here is how to gain access to the GPT protective partition: Step 1. Press Windows + R, type cmd in the Run box, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator. Step 2. Then, type diskpart in Command Prompt and press Enter to launch Diskpart.exe. Step 3. In Diskpart window, type the following command lines in turn, and press Enter to confirm after each: list disk select disk 1 (Replace 1 with the number of the disk where the GPT protective partition is) clean convert mbr exit After this, Diskpart will successfully convert the GPT disk into MBR. In Disk Management, you can see the disk is shown as “Unallocated”. You will need to create partitions to use the disk. Here’s a quick guide on how to create partitions: Step 1. Open Disk Management > Right click the unallocated disk > Select “New Simple Volume”. Step 2. Click Next to continue in the New Simple Volume Wizard. Type the volume size (in MB) and click Next. Step 3. Assign the drive letter, select the file system, allocation unit size, and volume label. Make sure you check the “Perform a quick format” box. Then, click Next and Finish. Conclusion In this article, we have discussed two effective methods for repairing the GPT protective partition error. However, before attempting any repairs, it is crucial to recover data to prevent potential data loss. Additionally, when connecting a GPT disk to another computer, ensure that the target system supports GPT disks to avoid compatibility issues. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Many display quality options, software, and bundled remote Excellent color accuracy and gamut performance Lots of Thunderbolt and USB-C connectivity Great motion clarity for a work/productivity display Cons Limited contrast ratio HDR is supported, but not great 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors are stiff competition Our Verdict The BenQ PD3226G is a monitor for creative professionals, but it’s not bad in PC games, either.   Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Monitors meant for gaming and entertainment have traditionally existed in a separate realm from monitors for professional and creative productivity. That, however, has started to change with the rise of remote work and the proliferation of independent creative professionals who work for themselves—and, as a result, find themselves at the same desk both on and off the clock. The BenQ PD3226G is a monitor built for this modern vision of work, as it combines an accurate image and great color performance with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and adaptive sync for smooth PC gaming. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. BenQ PD3226G specs and features The BenQ PD3226G is a 31.5-inch widescreen monitor with 3840×2160 resolution. However, unlike many high-end monitors meant for professional creative work, the PD3226G has a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and supports adaptive sync. Display size: 31.5-inch 16:9 widescreen Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: 10-bit IPS LCD Refresh rate: 144Hz Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium HDR: HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with 90 watts of USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort, 1x Thunderbolt 4-out with 15 watts of USB Power Delivery, 1x Thunderbolt 3-out for daisy chain video connection, 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 upstream 10Gbps data only, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 downstream with 10Gbps data and up to 4.5 watts USB Power Delivery, 1x USB-C Gen 2 downstream with 10Gbps data and 4.5 watts USB Power Delivery, 3.5mm headphone jack VESA mount: 100x100mm Audio: 2x three-watt speakers Warranty: 3 years Additional features: Wireless remote, KVM switch Price: $1,099.99 MSRP (U.S.) It also leans heavily into Thunderbolt. Though it lacks the extensive connectivity of some recent Dell monitors, which include Ethernet, it can connect to a PC over Thunderbolt and provides both Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C downstream ports. It also has a Thunderbolt 3 port for daisy-chaining a video connection to a second monitor. BenQ asks $1,099.99. That’s expensive but not uncommon for a high-end 32-inch monitor. It places the BenQ PD3226G in the same price range as 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors, however. BenQ PD3226G design The BenQ PD3226G is part of the company’s Designer series. That word—“Designer”— speaks to its target audience, but also describes the monitor’s look and feel. It’s a slick, elegant, well-built monitor that uses silver and white materials for a modern look. The design is subtle and doesn’t immediately grab attention, but the plastics used feel sturdy when handled. Looks aside, the BenQ PD3226G is functional. It has an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and can pivot 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. While many 32-inch monitors in this price range can adjust for the first three, pivot is less common and sets the PD3226G apart from less expensive competitors. Matthew Smith / Foundry The stand has a small, flat base, which means it doesn’t take up excessive desk space, and the space it does occupy can still be used. The stand also provides cable management in the form of a clip-on cable guide, though it’s a bit finicky and may not be enough to handle every cable if you end up using all the monitor’s many ports simultaneously.  A 100x100mm VESA mount is available and makes the display panel usable with third-party monitor stands and arms. BenQ PD3226G connectivity The BenQ PD3226G’s video connectivity includes one HDMI 2.1 port, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort. That makes for a total of three video inputs. I would have liked to see a fourth, but three video inputs is enough for most people. Thunderbolt connectivity is a key feature, and the monitor uses it in several ways. The Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort also includes 90 watts of Power Delivery, so it can be used to power a connected laptop. There’s also a Thunderbolt 4-out port for data that handles up to 15 watts of power, which is enough to charge a smartphone and many tablets. A Thunderbolt 3-out is included, too, for daisy-chain connections to a second display. If you connect a laptop to the monitor’s Thunderbolt 4-in, for example, you can connect a second monitor to the BenQ PD3226G’s Thunderbolt 3 port. It’s a handy feature that most monitors don’t provide, though competitors like the Dell U3225QE also offer it. Additional connectivity includes USB-C upstream and downstream ports and three USB-A downstream ports. A KVM switch is included, as well, for easy swapping between multiple connected PCs. BenQ PD3226G menu and features The BenQ PD3226G’s menus and features can be controlled with a responsive joystick behind the lower-right bezel. You might never touch it, however, because the monitor also ships with BenQ’s unique puck controller. This dial-shaped control (which, with the PD3226G, is wireless) provides full access to menus and settings. You can also bind it for use in Windows software (to scroll, for example). It’s incredibly useful if you’re the type of user who needs to dig into the options to customize and calibrate the image or frequently use features like the monitor’s picture-in-picture/picture-by-picture modes. The monitor’s features can also be controlled with Display Pilot 2, a software utility for Windows and Mac. Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor’s image quality options are extensive and include color temperature values in specific degrees kelvin (like 6500K), specific gamma modes, 6-axis color hue and saturation controls, a luminance uniformity mode, and sRGB, DisplayP3, DCI-P3, and Rec.709 presets, among other features. These features mark the BenQ PD3226G apart from monitors that target more general professional productivity, like the Dell U3225QE, and from monitors that target both entertainment and professional use, like the HP Omen Transcend 32. You’ll also find support for a range of software utilities designed to help users target specific color accuracy targets and conform to a specific color gamut. These include Palette Master Ultimate (which is used for image calibration with a hardware calibration tool) and ColorTalk (which is used for color matching without a calibration tool). As I’m not a professional designer or artist, I can’t judge these tools in much detail. Even so, they’re another feature that sets the PD3226G apart from a more general-use productivity monitor, which won’t include such software. What about audio? The BenQ PD3226G includes a pair of three-watt speakers that provide acceptable sound at lower volumes but, like most monitor speakers, they sound hollow and tinny when the volume is turned up. Most people will want to use external speakers or headphones, and the monitor has a 3.5mm audio jack for passing audio through to these devices. The PD3226G comes with a unique puck controller that provides full access to menus and settings, and can also bind to Windows software (to scroll, for example). BenQ PD3226G SDR image quality SDR image quality is important for the BenQ PD3226G. Shoppers planning to buy this monitor don’t just want a display that looks nice, but one that objectively achieves high scores and has great color performance. The PD3226G delivers, though its competitors are right there with it. Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is brightness, which is a strength of the BenQ PD3226G. The monitor can achieve a maximum brightness of up to 468 nits, which is high for any monitor in SDR, and better than most competitors. Brightness this high isn’t usually required and, in fact, many users will prefer to use the monitor at a much lower level of brightness. I’d even recommend leaving the brightness at a low level, as an overly bright display can cause eye strain. However, a high maximum brightness means the PD3226G remains usable in brighter rooms and lighting conditions. That’s handy if your room has poor light control, or if the monitor will be used in an office with bright lighting. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is a weakness for the PD3226G. It achieved a maximum measured contrast ratio of 1180:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness. As the graph shows, this is low for a monitor in this category. It’s not that the PD3226G’s IPS LCD panel performs poorly. On the contrary, it’s good for a conventional IPS LCD panel. However, competitive panel technologies, including IPS Black and OLED, deliver much better contrast performance. Both the BenQ PD3225U and Dell U3225QE have an IPS Black panel. In practice, the PD3226G’s limited contrast is noticeable. The image can look dull and flat next to some alternatives with IPS Black and OLED panels. I also noticed significant “IPS glow,” which caused a grayish sheen to appear across darker images. This is a trade-off, however. The IPS display’s contrast doesn’t hold up, but going for this panel allows the display to provide better motion clarity, which I’ll touch on later in this review. Matthew Smith / Foundry The BenQ PD3226G strikes back in color performance. It provides color that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 99 percent of DCI-P3, and 92 percent of the AdobeRGB color gamut. As the graph shows, this is towards the upper end of what’s typical for even high-end monitors. The PD3226G’s performance in DCI-P3 was particularly strong, as very few monitors have ever achieved 99 percent of DCI-P3 in this test. On the other hand, the HP Omen Transcend 32’s QD-OLED panel might be preferable if you intend to work with the AdobeRGB gamut (or Rec.2020). Matthew Smith / Foundry The BenQ PD3226G also does well in color accuracy. While the graph might seem to show a loss, in truth an average color error below 1.0 is effectively indistinguishable to the human eye and considered an extremely good result. As the graph shows, many high-end monitors can now achieve this level of accuracy. The Asus ProArt PA278CFRV is the only monitor that falls much behind the pack, but it’s also by far the least expensive monitor in this comparison. Importantly, the BenQ PD3226G’s great color accuracy is matched with great gamma and color temperature performance. I expect a gamma curve of 2.2 and color temperature of 6500K, and the PD3226G hit both targets. However, different people may expect different targets. Here, too, the PD3226G again does well, as it provides both image quality controls and calibration software to finely tune the image for your needs. It’s not uncommon for price-competitive monitors to offer at least some of these features, but the PD3226G hits all the marks. BenQ PD3226G HDR image quality The BenQ PD3226G supports HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 certified. However, it’s not a great display for enjoying HDR. This is not only because of its brightness, which in my test didn’t exceed the monitor’s SDR brightness while in HDR mode, but also its contrast, which isn’t any better in HDR than in SDR. As a result, the PD3226G can’t provide the extra luminance detail that HDR is meant to offer, and HDR content tends to look flat and dull compared to a more capable HDR monitor. However, this flaw is rather common to monitors in the PD3226G’s category which have an IPS LCD panel, including monitors with newer IPS Black panels (like the Dell U3225QE and BenQ PD3225U). You’ll need to opt for a Mini-LED or OLED monitor for better HDR performance. BenQ PD3226G motion performance BenQ doesn’t come out and say that the “G” in PD3226G stands for gaming, but it’s an easy connection to make. The monitor’s 144Hz refresh rate is the highest I’ve yet seen from a monitor meant for creative professionals, beating Dell’s IPS Black alternatives, which reach up to 120Hz. BenQ’s marketing pitch says the refresh rate is optimized for “game development and animation,” among other tasks. The PD3226G also provides official Adaptive Sync and AMD FreeSync support, which is notable, because many monitors in this category omit it. A refresh rate of 144Hz already puts the PD3226G ahead of most competitors, which typically have a refresh rate of 60Hz to 120Hz, but it’s not the whole story. The PD3226G also quotes gray-to-gray pixel response times down to 1 millisecond. By comparison, monitors like the Dell U3225QE quote response times of 5 to 8 milliseconds. Put simply, a lower pixel response time means pixels can change color more quickly, which reduces ghosting behind fast-moving objects. The benefit is obvious. While displays like the Dell U3225QE offer good motion clarity compared to a 60Hz office monitor, they still look a bit blurry. The PD3226G’s motion clarity provides a lot more detail to moving objects and significantly reduces ghosting behind moving text. Reading text that scrolls on the PD3226G is often quite comfortable, which isn’t true on many competitive monitors. This is the silver lining to the PD3226G’s modest contrast ratio. IPS Black panels in monitors like the Dell U3225QE and PD3225U offer much better contrast, but I’ve yet to see an IPS Black panel that quotes a pixel response time below 5 milliseconds. So, the PD3226G has an advantage in motion clarity. Of course, there’s an elephant in the room: OLED. An OLED monitor like the HP Omen Transcend 32 can provide a refresh rate up to 240Hz and pixel response times down to 0.03 milliseconds. Because of that, 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors will clearly defeat the PD3226G in motion clarity, which makes OLED preferable for PC gaming. Even so, the PD3226G’s motion clarity is great for a professional monitor. Should you buy the BenQ PD3226G? The BenQ PD3226G is another strong option in the company’s line-up for professional artists, designers, and content creators, and it stands out from the competition in several areas. It has a wide range of connectivity, good motion clarity, many image quality features and options, and top-tier color performance. These strengths are balanced, though not outweighed, by the monitor’s lackluster contrast and so-so HDR, which are noticeable downsides when compared to 32-inch 4K QD-OLED peers. Even so, the PD3226G is a great choice for people who want a monitor for professional creative work that also holds up in gaming and entertainment. Read...

The WF-C710N earbuds are packed with great sound quality, new stylish colourways with a versatile design, and offer a range of easy-to-use features, putting everything listeners need into a small and affordable design. Read...

One of the most hyped new features Apple announced last year was the potential to use the existing Apple AirPods Pro 2 to perform a hearing test - and that feature is rolling out in Australia today. Read...

Microsoft is adding ways to make the Windows Photos app much more powerful, combining elements of the elegant Designer app and making Photos more of a centerpiece for visual editing. Microsoft is taking optical-character recognition capabilities that it developed several years ago and adding them to Photos, while pulling in design elements from Microsoft Designer, too. Finally, the company is beefing up File Explorer a bit as well, giving it a more robust visual search capability. Unfortunately, it’s also adding a Copilot button as well, which for now doesn’t really do much. Microsoft’s Windows Photos app languished for years, but it started enjoying a renaissance about two years ago with new AI-powered editing features. Today you can automatically touch up a photo and remove the background — even upscale it, if you own a Copilot+ PC with a supported NPU. Now, Microsoft is testing the ability to “read” documents that you import, something it first added as part of its mobile Office Lens capability five years ago. Microsoft said that it testing these new Photos features in an updated version of the Photos app, version 2025.11030.20006.0, which can be found in the Microsoft Store app. The company had previously released the feature, withdrew it, and then is rolling it out once again. Photos will be able to “read” your photos, too.Microsoft Essentially, the new Photos OCR capabilities places an overlay over the photo or screenshot, allowing it to “read” the text from the highlighted portion. You can then copy it elsewhere. Microsoft’s OCR capabilities were quite good even a half-decade ago, and presumably they’ve now been improved even further. The Designer integration is even more intriguing. Designer debuted in 2022 as a standalone service-as-an-app, similar to the Clipchamp video editing app. Designer played a dual role: as a creator of AI art, as well as a visual design app to integrate that art into layouts with fonts and additional graphics. It appears that Microsoft is trimming some of the design elements of Designer and placing them into Photos, so that you’re not creating art, but integrating your existing photo into a greeting card or graphic. Will Designer be a standalone app or just part of Photos? Or both?Microsoft What’s not clear at this point is whether the Designer aspect will be its own app. Microsoft said this week that you’ll be able to right-click a photo in File Explorer to “Create with Designer.” That and the screenshot above implies Designer will stand alone as an independent app. But last year, Microsoft more explicitly said that Designer would be integrated into Photos, Word and PowerPoint. Microsoft is also making some additional tweaks, allowing you to automatically show photos from subfolders rather than explicitly identifying which folders show up in Gallery mode. It will also display and edit JXL (JPEG XL) files, too. Read...

As winter drags on and Spring Training gets underway, I’m itching to start thinking about baseball again. Too bad watching the games can still be an ordeal. In 2025, Major League Baseball has yet to rally its teams behind a cohesive strategy for streaming local ballgames. While some teams are partnering with the league on distribution, others are going their own way, working with regional sports networks, or clinging to expensive pay TV bundles. Factor in all the nationally-televised games scattered across cable networks and streaming services, and there’s a lot for baseball fans to think about. As I’ve done with the NBA and NHL, I’ll survey the scene of local baseball streaming options so you know what to expect when the weather warms up. In-market MLB streaming options at a glance Here’s where things stand for in-market baseball streaming options as of February 20, 2025: TeamSports NetworkSupported streaming bundlesStandalone optionsArizona DiamondbacksDiamondbacks TVDTV Stream, FuboDBacks.tv ($100/yr) *AthleticsNBC Sports CaliforniaDTV Stream, Fubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $18/moAtlanta BravesFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Baltimore OriolesMASNDTV Stream, Fubo–Boston Red SoxNESNDTV Stream, FuboNESN 360 ($30/mo or $330/yr)Chicago CubsMarquee Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboMarquee Sports Network ($20/mo)Chicago White SoxCHSNDTV Stream, FuboCHSN ($20/mo)Free over-the-airCincinnati RedsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Cleveland GuardiansGuardians TVTBDCleGuardians.TV ($100/yr) *Colorado RockiesRockies TV–Rockies.TV ($100/yr) *Detroit TigersFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Houston AstrosSpace City Home NetworkDTV Stream, Fubo–Kansas City RoyalsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Los Angeles AngelsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Los Angeles DodgersDTV StreamSNLA+ ($30/mo or $200/yr)Free with Spectrum internet + mobileMiami MarlinsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Milwaukee BrewersFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Minnesota TwinsTwins TVTBDTwins.TV ($100/yr) *New York MetsPrimary: SportsNet NYSecondary: WPIXSNY: DTV Stream, HuluWPIX: DTV, Fubo, Hulu, YTTVSNY ($25/mo or $125/yr) *WPIX games OTA onlyNew York YankeesPrimary: YES NetworkSecondary: Prime VideoDTV Stream, Fubo (YES only)Gotham Sports ($20/mo or $200/yr)Prime Video: $140/yrPhiladelphia PhilliesNBC Sports PhiladelphiaFubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $25/moPittsburgh PiratesSportsNet PittsburghDTV Stream, FuboSNP 360 ($18/mo)San Diego PadresPadres TVDTV Stream, FuboPadres.TV ($100/yr) *San Francisco GiantsNBC Sports Bay AreaDTV Stream, Fubo, YTTV, Hulu Live TVPeacock sub required, plus $18/moSeattle MarinersRoot SportsDTV Stream, Fubo–St. Louis CardinalsFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Tampa Bay RaysFanDuel Sports NetworkDTV Stream, FuboFanDuel Sports Network ($20/mo)Texas RangersRangers Sports NetworkDTV StreamVictory+ ($100/yr)Free OTA on FridaysToronto Blue JaysSportsnet–SportsNet+ ($20/mo or $180/yr)Washington NationalsMASNDTV Stream, Fubo–* Can be bundled with MLB.TV for $100 more ($95 extra for SNY) Looking at the league as a whole, in-market coverage falls into a handful of buckets: In-market MLB.TV: Currently, five MLB teams (Diamondbacks, Guardians, Rockies, Twins, Padres) are partnering directly with the league to distribute local games at $100 for the season. Fans of these teams are the biggest winners, as MLB offers a polished app with features like live-game DVR, alternate audio feeds, and whiparound league coverage from MLB Big Inning. Out-of-market MLB.TV games aren’t included, but you can add them for $100 extra, which is $50 off the regular price. MLB hybrids: In-market Dodgers and Mets games will also stream through the MLB app this year, but with Spectrum SportsNet and SNY handling the distribution, respectively. Pricing is higher than MLB.TV’s other in-market options, and there’s no mention of the usual MLB app perks such as Big Inning and live radio feeds. FanDuel Sports Network: Formerly known as Bally Sports (and, before that, as Fox Sports Networks), these are the channels operated by Main Street Sports Group (formerly Diamond Sports Group). This year, the network will offer standalone, in-market streaming options for all its teams, either through the FanDuel Sports Network app or as an add-on through Amazon Prime Video. The price is $20 per month in both cases. The lone rangers: Instead of working with MLB or Main Street Sports Group, a bunch of teams have either spun up their own distribution plans or formed bespoke partnerships. Those include the Boston Red Sox (on NESN 360), Chicago Cubs (on Marquee Sports Network), Chicago White Sox (on CHSN), the New York Yankees (on Gotham Sports), Pittsburgh Pirates (on SNP 360), and Texas Rangers (on Victory+). OTA oddities: Compared to the NBA and NHL, baseball is making fewer forays into over-the-air distribution. The only team offering all local games for free with an antenna is the White Sox, whose games will air on CHSN. Mets fans will get some games on WPIX, and the Rangers Sports Network will offer free over-the-air broadcasts on Fridays, but that’s it. Peacock bundlers: Peacock is offering in-market access to its regional NBC Sports in Boston, Philadelphia, and northern California at an additional charge. The heads-in-the-sand: As of now, four MLB teams are pretending that cord-cutting isn’t real, and they will require a bloated pay TV package to watch their games in-market. The hall of shame includes the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals (both on MASN); Houston Astros (on Space City Home Network); and the Seattle Mariners (Root Sports); Commissioner Rob Manfred told The Athletic that it’s “made clear to the clubs that blackouts were a problem and that reach should be a priority,” but apparently these teams missed the memo. A lot could still change by opening day. The Cincinnati Reds, for instance, originally planned to drop FanDuel Sports Network for MLB.TV, only to reverse course last month, so other teams could potentially follow. Rumors of Peacock distributing NBC’s regional sports networks will hopefully pan out, but haven’t yet. Meanwhile, the Twins and Guardians haven’t announced which traditional pay TV providers will carry their newly established channels yet. It’s a fluid situation and I’ll update this story as things happen. National baseball streaming As in years past, the in-market streaming options above won’t spare you from the occasional blackout for nationally-televised games, nor will they entitle you to playoff coverage should your team survive into October. Still, whether you’ll need a big pay TV package to watch these games is a question of timing. Here’s where we stand: Max already offers live sports from TBS, currently at no extra charge beyond its standard plans, which start at $10 per month (with ads). This should cover the channel’s Tuesday night games and postseason coverage. ESPN and Fox both plan to offer standalone streaming services later this year, but timing and pricing is unknown. Apple TV+ continues to stream select games on Friday nights as part of its $11-per-month subscription. The Roku Channel will offer Sunday morning games for free. Will anyone bundle it all up? There’s definitely an opportunity for skinnier TV packages focused on broadcast, national, and regional sports coverage, but none have materialized yet. DirecTV’s MySports package, for instance, is cheaper than its standard plans at $70 per month, but it excludes regional sports for now. Comcast has its own “Sports and News” package for $70 per month, but it doesn’t include regional sports either. Fubo, meanwhile, says it’s working on a “Sports & Broadcasting” package as part of its impending takeover by Disney, but it hasn’t announced any specifics. That leaves the usual live TV streaming options, most of which don’t carry regional sports themselves, and continue to get more expensive. I don’t want to be too sour about all this. Standalone MLB streaming options are more plentiful in 2025—here in Cincinnati, for instance, Reds fans can finally watch without an expensive pay TV package—and unbundled options from Fox and ESPN will help, especially if they’re here in time for the playoffs. But for a league that’s now preaching the value of reach, it’s hard to look at the cohesion with other sports—consistent NFL broadcast coverage on Sundays, Apple’s blackout-free MLS offering—and not see a missed opportunity. Further reading: These are the best live TV streaming services. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a proper discount on SK Hynix’s high-performance storage drives, so we rejoiced when we saw that Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event has slashed the prices on two of our favorites: the Beetle X31 and Tube 31 portable SSDs. Right now, you can get the 1TB SK Hynix Beetle X31 for $68 (was $90) and the 1TB SK Hynix Tube T31 for $64 (was $80). We reviewed and loved both of these external storage options. In our review of the Beetle X31, we gave it a near-perfect 4.5-star rating and found during testing that the golden beetle-style portable SSD delivered fast enough performance to place it among the top 10Gbps portable SSDs we’ve ever tested. We aren’t entirely sold on its shiny golden shell, but we understand SK Hynix’s direction—and it’s easy to overlook when you get this much storage with this much performance. In our review of the Tube T31, we also gave this one a 4.5-star rating with lots of praise for its design. This is a compact portable SSD that looks like a flash drive, with a USB-A connection that works with pretty much any device you have (if not, then adapters are cheap). “The T31 features NVMe and 10Gbps USB and performs more like the cable-attached external 10Gbps USB SSDs we review—i.e., it’s fast.” Take your pick, but don’t delay. This is a great time to grab a massive 1TB portable SSD at an affordable price, whether it’s the SK Hynix Beetle X31 for $68 or SK Hynix Tube T31 for $64! Save 24% on the SK Hynix Beetle X31 (1TB)Buy now at Amazon Save 20% on the SK Hynix Tube T31 (1TB)Buy now at Amazon Read...

More and more users are being switched over to Windows 11 24H2, the latest version of Windows 11 that became mandatory this year. And with Windows 10 support coming to an end, anyone who’s still lingering on an older Windows PC will want to upgrade to Windows 11 soon. But maybe you want to hold off on Windows 11 24H2 for as long as you can because of all the issues we’ve been seeing, like broken Bluetooth audio, File Explorer bugs, and even system crashes. Maybe you’d rather wait for this year’s big 25H2 update instead. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro In a blog post, Microsoft has announced that the Dev Channel for Windows 11 will be moving ahead to “26200 series builds,” which are based on 24H2 but will be getting “behind-the-scenes platform changes” that cause it to diverge from the Beta Channel builds. According to Windows Latest, this could be interpreted as Microsoft starting work on this year’s 25H2 update, though it isn’t explicitly confirmed. Windows 11 25H2 remains unconfirmed In the official announcement, Microsoft only confirmed that the 26200 build series is based on Windows 11 24H2. There’s no explicit mention of a Windows 11 25H2 version or Windows 11 2025 Update. However, announcements like this in the Dev Channel are usually a sure sign that important changes are imminent. It’s unclear whether the presumed “Windows 11 25H2” update will be an enablement package (i.e., a cumulative update that turns on existing-but-hidden features) or an actual OS swap (e.g., similar to the jump from 23H2 to 24H2). The probability of the latter is relatively low. Enablement packages are preferable because they’re smaller in size, easier to roll out, and make it possible to maintain feature parity across two Windows versions. When will the 25H2 update be released? Microsoft hasn’t officially mentioned Windows 11 25H2 yet, which means no insight as to the version’s development and release schedule. However, going by past years, the major Windows 11 2025 Update is expected to release in September or October and will continue rolling out through the end of the year. With support for Windows 10 ending in October, that would be a great time for 25H2 to land—assuming it’s clean, stable, and improved. Further reading: What to expect with Windows 10 hitting end of life Read...

Based on a number of new features being rolled up within new “Release Preview” updates for Windows 11, Microsoft appears to be readying a push for AI-powered enhancements in the coming weeks. Although Microsoft typically reserves major feature releases for the fall, April 2025 is a key month for the software giant because it marks the 50th anniversary of the company’s founding. With two preview releases of Windows 11, Microsoft has tipped off what features your PC will be receiving soon—most likely in April. Both Windows 11 Build 26100.3613 and Windows 11 Build 26100.3624 are part of the Release Preview Channel for Windows 11 Insiders, meaning you can try them out early yourself by joining the Windows Insider program. If you do, note that Microsoft isn’t releasing all of these features in one fell swoop. Some of them will be released “normally” while others are rolled out in a “gradual” cadence. Optional non-security feature releases typically launch on the fourth week of every month, usually on a Tuesday. (In this case, that’d be April 22, 2025.) Those features then typically roll out to everyone else about two weeks later. Nothing guarantees this timeline, of course. It’s our best guess based on past releases and when they’ve occurred. Remember, though, Microsoft’s emphasis is on the “new”—and the sexiest new Windows features use AI. That means you’ll need a Copilot+ PC, and Copilot+ PCs mean NPUs. (But NPUs are only available on a subset of PCs, and even then certain features are only available for certain NPUs.) Basically, if you want everything that Microsoft has to offer, you should buy a laptop with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip in it, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition. New AI features coming to Windows 11 Right now, it appears that semantic search will be Windows’ flagship AI feature for the near future. Semantic search, which was first shown off back in January, allows you to forego the exact word or title you’re searching for and describe it instead. For example, you could search for “photo of children at school” without knowing the exact file name. For years, you’ve searched for “keywords” to find what you’re looking for. Microsoft wants you to break that habit.Microsoft Semantic search may also help offset Copilot’s inability to monitor and control your PC, something that was originally planned but fell by the wayside. In its place, you’ll be able to describe what you want Windows to do inside the Settings menu. Put another way, semantic search will be a part of Windows Search as well as Settings. Unfortunately, semantic search will only be available for Windows on Snapdragon PCs; users with AMD- or Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will have to wait. But since it will run locally on your PC, you won’t have to be connected to the internet for it to work. Microsoft is also kinda-sorta bringing semantic search to photos—but only in File Explorer, not the Photos app. The Photos app already allows you to search via words like “snow” to identify photos of snowy mountains. Going forward, File Explorer will now allow you to search using words like “summer picnic,” Microsoft says. Semantic search will apply to the Windows 11 Settings app, too.Microsoft File Explorer, like Photos, will now show photos stored on OneDrive in the cloud alongside photos stored locally on your PC. It’s not quite clear whether Microsoft is using the PC’s NPU to perform these searches… but it must be since this feature is reserved for Snapdragon PCs, too. It’s “coming soon” to Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel inside. That said, if you do own a Copilot+ PC powered by either AMD or Intel processors, here’s some good news: live captions and real-time translation are going to be available. Live Captions first debuted in the Windows 11 2022 Update, though it used the power of the CPU back then, not the NPU. Now, up to 44 different languages can be captured and translated into English on AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs via video calls, recordings, and streamed content. If you own a Snapdragon PC, the opposite is true: you can now translate English (or 25 other languages) into Chinese using real-time translation. Chris Hoffman / IDG Your voice can also be used to better effect in Voice Access, too. One of the issues I’ve had with Voice Access is that it’s unbearably rigid—you either know the commands or you don’t. Now, Microsoft is using AI to “loosen up” Voice Access by allowing you to describe what you want to do instead of using the exact syntax. Chinese support for Voice Access is being added, too. If you use an app with support for Windows Studio Effects, you should see an icon on the system tray that shows when Windows Studio Effects is in use. It’s a bit redundant since Microsoft already indicated that the icon would appear in a February Windows update. Other changes coming to Windows Microsoft is also changing how it monitors your system. You may start seeing “cards” that show off your PC’s key specifications, such as the CPU, memory, and storage. This is a reorganization of sorts since the Windows Settings app already consolidates these features, but these “top cards” will simply pull this information out and put them at the top of the Settings > System > About portion of Windows Settings. Microsoft also says that it will track CPU utilization a bit differently in Task Manager, though it’s not clear how this will play out. A separate, hidden tab will show off the old way of measuring it. Microsoft You’ll see new ways of interacting with Windows, too. Laptops place a keyboard right under your fingers, but desktop PCs don’t. You might end up in a situation where your desktop’s keyboard is off to the side (perhaps if you’ve turned your PC into an arcade or virtual pinball cabinet). In that case, you can use a new Xbox gamepad keyboard interface, where you can use an Xbox gamepad to type just like on the console. A new emoji interface is being added, too. You might know that you can access the Windows emoji menu via the Windows key + Semicolon shortcut, but apparently no one else does given that Microsoft is adding a new system tray icon to the taskbar to highlight the emoji panel. Chris Hoffman / IDG Microsoft is also working with developers to add improved widgets, something that’s been promised for a while now. But one change you should see in this release, given what Microsoft has announced, is greater control over which widgets you see on your lock screen. How will that work? We’ll know soon enough. We’d like to think that features such as Windows’ new battery icons will be released soon—but those are still stuck in the Dev Channel, so they probably still have a ways to go. We also haven’t heard much about Windows Recall lately either, which has already been released for testing. Remember, there’s always more to come. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Helpful matte finish on screen Decent stabilization on keyboard Low price Accessible internals Cons SSD hotspot Limited memory Underwhelming speeds Battery doesn’t last all day Bland design Our Verdict The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2025) is another simply utilitarian machine, but even in that regard it’s starting to lag behind. Limited memory and disappointing battery life keep it from being very useful, and nothing about it goes beyond acceptable. There aren’t many machines that can compete with it at MSRP, but it’s worth waiting for a far superior alternative to go on sale — they always do. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Acer has a knack for churning out new machines with minor updates to prior models almost to the point where it’s hard to tell the difference. Such is the case for the Acer Aspire Go 15, which updates some of the insides of the 2024 Aspire Go 15, but not much you’d notice from a cursory glance at the outside. Unfortunately, the internal upgrades have come with a bump in price that sees this new model start at $429. It’s still decidedly a budget PC, but it verges on the dangerous $500 mark where I’ve seen many more exciting laptops dip down to with deals. Acer may have the low-end market cornered with its MSRP, and it at least has a usable computer on its hands with the Acer Aspire Go 15, but anyone with time to wait for a discount will probably want to do just that and reel in a better alternative. Acer Aspire Go 15: Specs and features Model number: AG15-51P-51OU CPU: Intel Core i5-1334U Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 Graphics/GPU: Intel UHD Graphics Display: 15.3-inch 1200p IPS Storage: 256GB PCIe Gen4 SSD (Kingston OM8SEP4256Q-AA) Webcam: 1080p with Windows Hello facial recognition Connectivity: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 , 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 or higher Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition Battery capacity: 53 watt-hours Dimensions: 13.6 x 9.6 x 0.78 inches Weight: 3.72 pounds MSRP: $429 as-tested ($429 base) The Acer Aspire Go 15 is an affordable machine aimed at users who have minimal needs from their computer. At the time of writing, there was only one configuration of the Acer Aspire Go 15 available. It’s a simple, low-end system fitted with an older CPU, a paltry 8GB of memory, and little storage. It lands with an MSRP of $429, which feels a little steep for some of the components and build quality, but it may be the result of tariffs. The storage on this model is an upgrade over last year’s UFS storage, as it’s a user-upgradeable M.2 SSD. That said, the memory is not upgradeable and likely to severely limit the long-term utility of this laptop.  Acer Aspire Go 15: Design and build quality IDG / Mark Knapp Nothing about the Acer Aspire Go 15 is shaking things up for the product line. This model has all the classic looks of its predecessors — thicker plastic bezels, the up-firing exhaust just below the display, a black and gray colorway, and an odd mix of hard angles and gentle curves. It’s not an exciting machine to look at, but it’s not terribly objectionable either.  This is undeniably a budget, utilitarian machine, so it’s no surprise that it gets a plastic chassis, which exhibits a fair bit of flex here and there. It doesn’t feel too cheaply built, but it’s not premium in the least. On the bright side, Acer claims to use 30 percent recycled plastic in the chassis.  The Acer Aspire Go 15 is a little weighty, tipping the scales at 3.72 pounds. That’s not absurdly heavy for a 15-inch laptop, but remembering that this is a low-end model without much high-performance hardware going on, there’s less reason for it to be so heavy since it doesn’t rely on a big cooling system. Between the display and larger bezels, the Acer Aspire Go 15 ends up a little large as well. At least Acer kept the depth to just 0.78 inches, which is thin enough to still slip easily into laptop sleeves.  Acer Aspire Go 15: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Mark Knapp You get the basics when it comes to inputs for the Acer Aspire Go 15, giving you all that you need to interface with the system but not doing anything extra. The keyboard is beyond underwhelming. It’s functional, with satisfactory stabilization, but the almost convex keycaps give little in the way of useful tactile feedback to help guide finger placement. It’s simply not a pleasant keyboard to use. On the bright side, it does include a thin number pad off to the side, but it’s a little cramped and doesn’t include the arithmetic keys in their usual place, so it will take some adjusting if you have muscle memory for a normal number pad. The keyboard is easy enough to see in daylight with its black keys and white keycaps, but there’s no backlighting, so it’s a struggle to use in the dark.  The trackpad is centered below the main portion of the keyboard, but this results in it actually being skewed to the left of the laptop itself. If you mouse around with your right hand, this makes it an awkward reach to use and, in my case, has led to me often right-clicking when I intend a left-click.  Acer Aspire Go 15: Display, audio IDG / Mark Knapp Even with machines twice the cost of this, I’ve seen displays neglected. So it’s little surprise to see that the Acer Aspire Go 15 has an underwhelming screen. It’s sharp enough with a 1920×1200 resolution at its 15.3-inch size and the 1,200:1 contrast helps maintain that sharp look. But beyond that simple utility, it is not a looker. The display only covers 69 percent of the sRGB color space — I’d call 95-100 percent coverage the minimum you’d want for a good-looking display. It’s hard to ignore how many OLED laptops are on the market offering up substantially greater visuals, and how often I see them on sale for around $500. The display also only reaches 289 nits at its brightest. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to run at full brightness to be visible as the matte finish on the display helps prevent severe glare.  The speakers on the Acer Aspire Go 15 are also just enough to get the job done. They emphasize the vocal range, which can make for pleasant enough music and clear sound for podcasts or presentations. They’re loud enough to hear from nearby or in a quiet room, but they don’t go beyond that.  Acer Aspire Go 15: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The webcam on the Acer Aspire Go 15 is fine. It bumps up to 1080p, giving it an edge over the 720p models still common in budget laptops. But that resolution won’t mean too much if lighting conditions aren’t exceptionally bright, as the webcam footage will appear grainy. The camera at least balances lighting well, avoiding crushed shadows or blown out highlights. The biggest perk of the camera is that it integrates Windows Hello facial recognition, which allows for quick sign-ins without a password. The mics on the Acer Aspire Go 15 aren’t particularly good. Even speaking directly at them in a quiet room from less than an arm’s length away, my voice sounds fairly distant. At least it sounds clear, but it could be much better. Acer Aspire Go 15: Connectivity IDG / Mark Knapp You’ll find modest connectivity on the Acer Aspire Go 15. While it’s unfortunate that there’s no USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 for high bandwidth transfers, the system at least has a decent variety of ports. The left edge includes two USB-C ports that offers 10Gbps transfer speeds and charging for the laptop. There’s a USB-A 5Gbps on either side of the system. Acer also includes a full-size HDMI 2.1 port on the left edge and a 3.5mm jack on the right. These would have been nicely complemented by a microSD slot for extra storage.  For wireless connections, the Acer Aspire Go 15 gets Wi-Fi 6, which has provided fast and stable connectivity in my testing. But it doesn’t make the leap to Wi-Fi 6E for access to the 6GHz band or to Wi-Fi 7 for better future proofing. Acer Aspire Go 15: Performance The Acer Aspire Go 15 gets some under-the-hood upgrades that have improved performance considerably over its Core i3-N305-powered predecessor from 2024. That said, it’s still not a very speedy machine. It offers modest performance that can keep up with casual use browsing the web, and its PCMark 10 score of a little over 5,000 points lines up with that type of performance. However, its lack of memory can quickly become an issue. Even just a handful of tabs open in Chrome is enough to fill up its small 8GB capacity, and there’s no upgrading that soldered-on memory down the line.  The CPU itself isn’t a terrible performer. It combines two fast cores and eight efficient cores, which gives it both high single-core speeds and decent multi-core speeds.  It doesn’t lag too far behind the Acer Aspire 14 AI‘s Intel Core Ultra 5 226V in any of our Cinebench tests, and it shows a nice lead over the Acer Aspire 3 15’s AMD Ryzen 5 7520U. But it’s not much competition for the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS in the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED. It even has the advantage over the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-42-100 found in the Dell Inspiron 14 5441 when that CPU relies on emulation.  Unfortunately, it falls apart in the graphics department. Between its limited memory, which is split between the system and integrated graphics and its reliance on older Intel UHD Graphics, the Acer Aspire Go 15 simply doesn’t keep up with more modern graphics solutions. It can stay ahead of Qualcomm’s chip in some cases, leading in 3DMark’s Time Spy test but falling behind in Night Raid. But it doesn’t stack up to AMD’s Radeon 780M graphics or Intel’s Arc 130V graphics, neither of which are the most impressive integrated graphics options.  Despite the lower power components, heat is still a concern, and not even where I’d expect it to be coming from. In casual use, browsing, the left edge of the laptop had an unpleasant hotspot that sat right on my left leg. Popping open the lid, this hotspot corresponded with the location of the SSD — a component you don’t want failing.  Acer Aspire Go 15: Battery life The Acer Aspire Go 15 leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to battery life. Even though it’s running a lower performance processor, it’s not conserving much power. Intel, Qualcomm, and AMD have stepped things up recently when it comes to power efficiency, but the dated 13th Gen Intel Core processor in the Acer Aspire Go 15 isn’t the beneficiary of any of those upgrades.  With a runtime of just a little over seven hours, the Acer Aspire Go 15 falls way behind its contemporaries in our video playback battery test and even shaves off runtime compared to the 2024 model. Aside from Acer’s own alternative in the Aspire 3 15, the competition here offers up more than double the battery life of the Acer Aspire Go 15. While the processor likely bares some of the blame, the display may also be a culprit. To reach the brightness level of our test, the Acer Aspire Go 15 had to run its display at 88 percent brightness. It may not be running very efficiently at that level, as many electronics suffer diminishing returns when dialed up to the max. That said, because the Acer Aspire Go 15 has an anti-glare display, it is a little easier to use the laptop with its brightness at lower levels to conserve power. Still, in day-to-day use, the Acer Aspire Go 15 struggles to reach 6 hours of runtime even with the display brightness reduced. Acer Aspire Go 15: Conclusion The Acer Aspire Go 15 isn’t something to get excited about. In fact, it’s simply a more affordable machine aimed at users who have minimal needs from their computer. Most of the system hits the mark of being “usable” but no element of it reaches greatness. While its price certainly lands it in budget territory, it’s not necessarily offering as much value as it would need to stand out. While we haven’t tested many laptops at this price point that can beat the Acer Aspire Go 15, there are plenty of more expensive systems that see frequent, major discounts. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED mentioned above, for instance, is a little dated and likely will see some discounts from time to time, much like its own predecessor has. A slightly lower-spec version of the Asus Vivobook S 14 we recently tested was on sale for just $449 (down from its usual $949) at Best Buy and would offer marked upgrades over the Acer Aspire Go 15 in just about every respect. So, if you can wait for a deal, you can land a much better system for your money. Read...