TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Bright, high-quality lighting (in white or in color) You can daisy-chain up to 10 light bars Easy to install and configure Excellent app Cons You lose all the great features of the GE Cync app if you connect the light bars via Matter Connecting via Matter is the only way to add the light bars to Apple Home Onboard Wi-Fi adapter is 2.4GHz only Our Verdict These beautiful undercabinet light bars deliver both excellent task lighting and fabulous lighting scenes, but they’re better suited to smart homes that revolve around Alexa or Google Home, because using Matter to connect them to Apple Home entails giving up the excellent GE Cync app and all the control features it has to offer. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light (18-inch) Retailer Price $45.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I’m not ready to remodel my (very) small galley kitchen, but my family desperately needed more space for storing some of the bowls, cups, and glasses we use every day. The least expensive solution I could think of was to install a floating shelf on the only empty wall. Problem solved, but also, problem created: The 10-inch-deep shelf cast an objectional shadow on the counter below. Given the small amount of counter space in our kitchen, we utilize every square inch for food preparation. I needed those shadows to be gone. Enter the GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light. These under-cabinet lights can be hardwired to your home’s electrical system or plugged into a standard AC outlet. And if your cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling, you could also mount them on top to cast light up the wall and onto the ceiling. The GE Cync undercabinet light bar can produce 34 “light shows” that involve not just colors but also animations. The lights come in white enclosures rated for installation in damp locations. They measure 4.8 inches deep, 1.8 inches thick, and are available in three widths: 12-, 18-, or 24 inches. You can daisy-chain up to 10 of them. I went the plug-in route and mounted two of the 18-inch models under my floating shelf. Voilà! No more shadows. An 18-inch GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light, unboxed.Michael Brown/Foundry The lights are exceedingly easy to physically install, thanks to captive self-tapping screws that you can drill into the bottom of your cabinet or shelf with just a screwdriver. This neatly avoids the need to pre-drill pilot holes that inevitably end up being just a bit off when you go to screw in the light itself. As I’ve already mentioned, you can wire the lights to your home’s electrical system or use the provided cable with a 3-prong plug at one end to power the lights. If you go the plug-in route, the cord emerges from the bottom of the plug at a rightward angle, allowing you to plug it into either the top or bottom of a duplex outlet, even if the outlet is occupied. Pro tip: Using a cable chase to hide the excess electrical cord looks a lot better than just letting it dangle. The cleverly angled plug can fit in either the top or bottom of a duplex outlet, even if the other socket is occupied.Michael Brown/Foundry Each bar has one button for toggling the lights on and off (or you can dim the LEDs by holding this button down) and a second one for changing the color or color temperature. Special stub cables are provided for daisy-chaining the lights—again, up to 10—after which either set of buttons will control both lights. Specifications Once the lights are set up, you can control them individually or configure multiples to operate in sync. They can be controlled via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (2.4GHz networks only), with the latter method being the best approach to take if you want to use Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands to control them. The lights are also Apple Home compatible, but only via Matter over Wi-Fi (there’s no Thread support), and adding them to your Wi-Fi network in that fashion prevents you from using the Cync app to program and control the lights. You can make many—but certainly not all—settings changes and schedules using the Apple Home app, but you won’t have full control over them if you go that route. You also won’t be able to access any of the lighting effects that the GE app offers. My home revolves mostly around Alexa, so I didn’t enroll the lights in Matter. You daisy-chain up to 10 of the GE Cync Reveal light bars using the provided stub cables.Michael Brown/Foundry The LED light bars can produce colored light from a palette of 16 million colors, or you can choose a tunable white light (ranging from a very warm 2,000 Kelvin to a cool 7,000K). You can also set them to use GE’s own Reveal HD+ setting, which promises white light with higher contrast. I like it. The 18-inch light bar tested here produces up to 1,150 lumens of white light at a color temperature of 3,000K, but note that using the Reveal setting reduces the bar’s maximum brightness to 900 lumens. The 12-inch light bar delivers up to 750 lumens (630 with Reveal), while the 24-inch model delivers 1,500 lumens (1,200 with Reveal). Light shows The GE Sync Reveal app offers a host of lighting options in both color and various white color temperatures, depending on your needs.Michael Brown/Foundry The Cync app is so rich with features that you’ll want to think twice about going the Matter and/or Apple HomeKit route that will deny you access to it. Or you might decide that these lights are just not the right solution for your home if you’re striving for a homogenous smart home. In any event, going far beyond the usual color wheel for picking colors from a palette of 16 million shades, you can also choose from nine white color temperature presets: Sunlight, Early Morning, Candle Light, etc. There are also 34 “light shows” that involve not just colors but also animations. The app divides these between 10 presets and 24 other categories under the heading Explore. Each preset is labeled with an evocative name, such as Candle, Rainbow, Fireworks, and Aurora. The button on the left toggles the lightbar on and off, or you can hold it down to dim and brighten. The button on the right steps through light colors and white color temperatures.Michael Brown/Foundry Tapping a preset changes the lightbars’ behavior immediately, while the 24 Explore choices must be previewed before they can be sent to the lightbars. If that isn’t enough options for you, you can create custom light shows based on nine effect types: Wave, Flicker, Fill, Pop, Alternating, Erratic, Rhythm, Pulse, and Static. Each custom light show has adjustable parameters for color palette (with an option for random changes), brightness, fade and color duration (each on a scale of 0.1 to 5 seconds). These custom shows can be saved with names and called up later or scheduled. Lighting schedules It wouldn’t be a smart light if you couldn’t schedule it to turn on and off, so of course you can use the Routines section of the app to program the lights to turn on and off, either at defined times or on a sunrise/sunset (or sunset/sunrise) schedule (with padding before or after those events). This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting. The scheduling section of the app also lets you create lighting scenes, which are curiously distinct from the light shows I’ve already mentioned. Scenes give you the option of choosing a photo—or uploading one of your own—that will influence the illumination the light bars produce. Honestly, this feature seems like an afterthought, and it’s not one that I see myself using on a regular basis. The GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Light proved to be a problem solver in my kitchen.Michael Brown/Foundry Should you buy GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Lights? Unless you’re set on controlling everything with Matter and/or the Apple Home—or you don’t mind giving up the effects available in the app—these GE Cync Reveal Smart LED Undercabinet Bar Lights are a fabulous solution for smart task lighting in a kitchen or other workspace that has cabinets or shelves mounted over counters. The light bars are very easy to install and configure in the app, which offers a seemingly endless number of lighting colors, routines, and options. They produce high-quality task lighting when you’re cooking, working, or crafting; and their lighting scenes are great for entertaining or just relaxing. Read...

A new command-line application, Windows Edit, is coming to Windows 11 as part of a bevy of tools aimed at developers and enthusiasts. But is a new tweak to WinGet the real star of the show? It’s hard not to see Edit as a replacement for Notepad, the generally utilitarian interface that could be used for editing all sorts of things. Users also have access to Windows Subsystem for Linux, which allows access to text editors like vim — which can also be run within Windows. At Microsoft’s own Build conference, the focus is obviously on developers, and providing them tools to ensure that Microsoft’s own applications, platforms, and services win out. Many of those include AI, of course. But others are just more fundamental tweaks to the familiar Windows platform. Notepad, of course, is already a Windows application. But what appears to have drawn Microsoft’s attention is that it’s not natively integrated into the tools developers are already using. Notepad has been used for many purposes within Windows, including for software development.IDG Edit is currently in open source, Microsoft said, and will be added to Windows this summer. “Developers will be able to access this editor by running ‘edit’ in the command line,” Microsoft said. “This will enable developers to edit files directly in the command line, staying in their current flows and minimizing unnecessary context switching.” PowerToys and WinGet get interesting updates Microsoft has a history of taking third-party tools and integrating them, with permission, into Windows. PowerToys, the collection of free Windows utilities that is constantly being expanded, is a good example of this. Just before Build, Microsoft took PowerToys Run and added Command Palette. “PowerToys Command Palette allows you to easily access all of your most frequently used commands, apps, and development tools – all from a single solution that is fast, customizable to your unique preferences, and extensible to include your favorite apps,” Microsoft says. Another tool, arguably for developers, sounds right up the alley for power users, too. Windows Backup and Restore is aimed at consumers who want to move from PC to PC, but primarily use Windows apps. But WinGet debuted in 2021 as a command-line tool to quickly grab apps and any dependencies from the Internet. WinGet in action.Foundry Now, Microsoft says that developers will be able to essentially take a snapshot of their machine. “Users will be able to effortlessly set up and replicate development environments using a single, reliable WinGet Configuration command,” Microsoft said. Developers will be able to capture the current state of their device, including apps, packages and tools (available in a configured WinGet source) into a WinGet Configuration file.” It’s not clear where this WinGet configuration file will be stored, but being able to get your PC tweaked just so, and then move to a new, freshly-installed PC would be a big win for enthusiasts and developers alike. This feature will be added in “summer 2025,” Microsoft says, and will support Microsoft’s Desired State Configuration (DSC v3). Finally, Microsoft is moving to a list of advanced settings within Windows, also aimed at developers. Currently hidden behind “flags” that must be enabled to see them, the new features reportedly include longer path lengths and more modular settings for features like the Taskbar and Terminal. Microsoft Finally, Microsoft is also making its Windows Subsystem for Linux open source — the very first issue filed on the original repository, said Pavan Davuluri, corporate vice president of Windows + Devices at Microsoft, in a blog post. Read...

Microsoft is waiving the fee to sign up and publish to the Microsoft Store beginning in June, as the company tries to appeal to Windows app developers and their pocketbooks. It would make the Microsoft Store on Windows the first “free” store for publishing apps, Microsoft said at its annual Build developer conference. Although it’s difficult to determine how many apps Microsoft sells via its Microsoft Store app, most sources place it less than a million — and those numbers are from several years ago. Even Phil Spencer, now the chief of Microsoft Gaming, has said that the Store “sucks,” primarily owing to its poor design and lack of popular applications. Since then, Microsoft has revamped the Microsoft Store app, but the problems remain. Now, Microsoft is trying to lure more publishers by streamlining the process and lowering the price. Individual developers will be able to sign up and publish to the Store for free in June, Microsoft said. “This will make Microsoft Store on Windows the first global digital store to waive the fee for publishing apps,” it said. The new plan promises benefits to users, too. Today, even when a publisher publishes a new version of a Win32 app — the traditional .EXE file — there’s no guarantee that the latest version will appear on the Store. That has led to a frequent user complaint that Store apps are out of date. Now, not only will you able to find the updated version, the Store app page will actually list the last time that the app was updated. You’ll be able to download the latest version from the Store’s “Downloads” page or just from the app’s page, itself. Given that the Windows Store was announced in 2011, and shifted to the Microsoft Store in 2017, it’s kind of ludicrous that Microsoft is just now trying to address these issues. Individual app pages on the Microsoft Store still don’t do a good job telling you how large the app is or when the most recent update was. Microsoft is working to fix at least part of this. Mark Hachman / Foundry Microsoft is also promising developers additional features like improved privacy policy hosting, additional help and support, and a “policy change to allow a noninteractive progress bar for Win32 app installation.” The company is also promising that developers will be able to run app campaigns to promote their apps, and receive better “health reports” that will provide insights into the crash rates, hang rates, and affected device rates. It’s not clear what fees Microsoft is waiving What isn’t clear, however, is what fees Microsoft is waiving. Microsoft already charges a one-time fee of just $19 for publishing an app to the Microsoft Store, or about $99 for a company. Microsoft already allows developers to keep all of the revenue from non-gaming apps if they use their own commerce platform. For games, Microsoft charges 12 percent for games or 15 percent for apps if the developers uses Microsoft’s own commerce platform. Are these the fees Microsoft is waiving? We’re not sure, and we’ve asked Microsoft for clarification. By contrast, the third-party app Steamdb.com says that Steam currently hosts 394,779 games at the time of this writing. No matter how many fees Microsoft waives, the company will be hard-pressed to overturn Steam’s reputation as the main storefront for PC games. For apps in general? Well, maybe. At least Microsoft is addressing some of its issues. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Large server network Dedicated IP available Broad app support Cons Short-term plans are expensive Pushes you to buy extra features Dubious privacy record InConsistent streaming unblocking Our Verdict PureVPN offers a decent base set of features which can be extensively upgraded for a price. It boasts a large server network and is based in a privacy-friendly location. But previous privacy snafus, inConsistent streaming unblocking, and its pushy sales strategy means there might be better options elsewhere. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today PureVPN in brief: P2P allowed: Yes, on some servers Simultaneous device connections: 10 Business location: British Virgin Islands Number of servers: 6,500 Number of country locations: 78 Cost: $12.95 per month, $47.88 for 1 year, $51.36 for 2 years, or $129.60 for 5 years PureVPN is a service based out of the British Virgin Islands—formerly Hong Kong—that comes with a clean interface, broad server network, and large feature catalog.  The service might not offer any novel or revolutionary technology, but it tries to make up for this by striving to perfect the basics: privacy, security, and accessibility. I put the service to the test to see if it can stand out in a saturated market and whether it’s worth your time and money. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best VPN services for comparison. What are PureVPN’s features and services? PureVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous device connections. This is likely enough for most people, however there is a growing trend among top providers to provide unlimited simultaneous connections and that would’ve been more ideal. The service currently offers a total of 6,500 servers to choose from across 78 country locations. That’s quite good for any VPN, and is one of the best reasons to choose the service over other competitors. Unfortunately, unlike other services such as Windscribe Pro, which offers only physical servers, some of PureVPN’s server locations are virtual. VPNs typically employ these virtual servers in countries or regions where it would otherwise be difficult to safely maintain a physical server—think countries like China and Russia. Virtual servers are a kind of stopgap measure to offer these country locations without the physical infrastructure. Thankfully, PureVPN listened to its users and recently decided to scale back its use of virtual servers. While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with virtual servers, they are sometimes known to have reliability and speed issues compared to physical servers. A highlight of PureVPN is that it offers broad platform support including Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, browser extensions, and smart TVs. This, and its large server network seem to be the biggest draws for the service. PureVPN’s app is well designed, so long as you ignore the upgrade recommendations on the sidebar.Sam Singleton When you first open the Windows app you’ll encounter a pleasing white-and-purple user interface with a simple Connect button in the middle and a list of options on the left. It’d be a very slick interface if not for the addition of a side menu on the right unnecessarily serving you a bunch of upgrade recommendations. This type of upselling is actually one of my biggest gripes with the service. Not only can you seemingly not get rid of these recommendations, but the service also bombards you with marketing emails once you sign up. I personally counted eight unwarranted emails within the first few days of using the service. But I digress. Back on the home screen, along the left side rail you’ll find options for server locations, as well as (upgradable) data removal, dark web monitoring, and password manager tools, and the Settings menu. Broad platform support and a large server network seem to be the biggest draws for the PureVPN. PureVPN offers all of your basic VPN features, including ad- and tracker-blocking, a kill switch, and split tunneling.Sam Singleton Under the Settings menu there are personalization options along with standard VPN features. These include a kill switch to block internet traffic in the event of an accidental disconnection, auto-connect features, and an ad- and tracker-blocker. Here you can also change the connection protocol and enable split-tunneling, which allows you to pick and choose which apps you wish to run through the VPN and which to keep separate. That is about the extent of what is on offer for Standard plan users. Pretty cut and dry as far as VPNs go. I can’t say that I feel like I’m getting a lot of value for my money with the Standard plan considering it’s around the same price as other top VPNs such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN that offer way more features.  There are plenty of addons offered by PureVPN if you decide you want to upgrade the service. Sam Singleton It is worth noting, though, that PureVPN does offer a plethora of add-ons for various fees. There are the options for a dedicated IP, Port Forwarding, a dedicated server, residential network, and additional simultaneous device logins. You can also choose to upgrade to the Plus or Max plans if you’d prefer to have extra security features such as a password manager, data removal, or dark web monitoring. How much does PureVPN cost? PureVPN’s pricing is convoluted to say the least. Not only are there three different plan tiers, but also four different contract lengths to choose from: month-to-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year. Then once you finally decide on your plan, you’ll be offered a bevy of extra services that you can add on for extra fees. Those who love customization will revel in the options, but those who want simplicity are likely to come away feeling overwhelmed. The service offers Standard, Plus, and Max tiers. The Standard plan provides just the VPN and tracker blocker. The Plus plan adds a password manager in addition to those. Then the Max tier adds additional access to a data removal service and dark web monitoring. PureVPN’s Standard plan costs $12.95 per month, which is more expensive than most premium VPN services. The Plus plan jumps sharply to $17.95 per month and the Max plan is $19.95 per month. Thankfully, the service offers all of these plans for steep discounts if you opt for long-term subscriptions instead. The Standard plan drops to a much more reasonable $47.88 for one year at $3.99 per month, or $51.36 for two years at $2.14 per month. PureVPN also offers a 5-year plan but the Standard plan monthly rate curiously increases a bit, with additional savings only available on the Plus or Max tiers at this term length. PureVPN accepts payments via credit card, PayPal, Bitcoin, and some other cryptocurrencies. How is PureVPN’s performance? When testing a VPN’s speeds I measure connection speeds across its servers in different countries all around the world and then compare them to my baseline internet speed. I carry out these tests across multiple days to establish a more consistent average. PureVPN’s speeds overall performed well. Testing with WireGuard connections produced the best results where the service was able to manage 61 percent of the base download speed. Upload averages were even better with an impressive average of 79 percent of the base speed. While these speeds were done over the WireGuard protocol, testing other protocols did slow down the connection to varying degrees. Regardless, I recommend that almost everyone use WireGuard as their default protocol for the best speed and security anyways. These results put PureVPN into the top half for speeds of all VPNs on the market. Users should find that they’ll have no issues with everyday browsing or streaming, and high speed torrenting or video chats should also work well while connected. When it comes to unblocking streaming content, PureVPN is a mixed bag. I found that even with the recommended streaming servers—listed under Shortcuts in the locations menu—I still wasn’t able to consistently access the sites they claimed to work with. For example, when trying to access Netflix U.S., I used the recommended server but was still met with the dreaded “connection blocked” screen. However, some of the other recommended servers unblocked streaming sites without a hitch. I even found that random PureVPN servers not specifically recommended for streaming could successfully unblock streaming sites. So all in all, the VPN’s unblocking capabilities felt very hit-or-miss and as a result I can’t truly recommend it for streaming. How is PureVPN’s security and privacy? PureVPN offers multiple protocols including WireGuard. Sam Singleton PureVPN offers three protocol options: IKEv2, OpenVPN (both TCP and UDP), and WireGuard. It also provides a feature called Connect to Fallback which, if turned on, will automatically connect to a different protocol should the original protocol connection fail to connect. While this feature seems like a good idea, I believe that users should always opt for WireGuard and I don’t particularly like the idea that a VPN would change the connection to a less secure protocol without a user knowing it. The potential issue here being that PureVPN might rely on this as a quick fix rather than a last resort. Regardless, this feature can be turned off, which I recommend. The app comes with a kill switch that will block all internet traffic in the event that your VPN accidentally disconnects. My kill switch tests found that the feature worked as intended, successfully blocking my internet when I needed it.  Also, DNS leak tests showed that while connected to PureVPN’s servers, there were no leaks of my original IP address.  In regards to PureVPN’s privacy policy, there are a few concerns. In the past, PureVPN caught some flak for cooperating with law enforcement. While the intentions were good in this instance, it doesn’t bode well for a VPN company in the business of user privacy to be breaching that trust. Additionally, according to PureVPN’s Privacy Policy, the service collects individual timestamps, dates of last connections, and individual bandwidth usage. However, the service does maintain a “no-logs policy” and it does not collect browsing activity, customer IP addresses, or identifiable connection logs, among other things. I do appreciate that PureVPN has undergone two independent audits on its no-logs policy in recent years. Unfortunately, it has yet to publish either of those audits publicly which is curious considering it’s common practice for most other VPN services. PureVPN has switched to an “always-on” open-door auditing system that allows security firms to drop in and conduct an audit anytime. Sam Singleton PureVPN provides regularly updated Transparency Reports detailing outside data request statistics. It also promotes what it calls an “always-on” approach to auditing where outside security auditing firm KPMG can conduct surprise audits of PureVPN without any prior notice—although beyond the two audits I mentioned previously, it doesn’t seem like they’ve been taken up on this offer. PureVPN has recently relocated from Hong Kong to its new homebase in the British Virgin Islands. This is good news as there are no mandatory data retention laws in the British Virgin Islands, nor is it a member of any international data sharing alliances such as Five, Nine, or Fourteen Eyes. Is PureVPN worth it? PureVPN is a worthwhile, if slightly underwhelming, VPN service that provides the basics for an affordable price. It has seemingly grown leaps and bounds in recent years, expanding its server network, improving its speeds, and updating the interface. It should also be commended for moving in the right direction to absolve itself of any privacy concerns. That all being said, I feel like there are other services out there that offer better value for the money and provide more consistent streaming unblocking capabilities. It isn’t a bad VPN, and there is an argument to be made that it could suit novice users well, but other services do the same things better. Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article. Read...

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” So, let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Read...

In terms of chips, Qualcomm didn’t really have anything to announce at Computex 2025. That will have to wait until the Snapdragon Summit, which takes place at the end of September. “Nobody expected Qualcomm, the cellular company, to have the leading performance on an SOC for a laptop in the PC space,” Cristiano Amon, chief executive of Qualcomm, in a keynote address at Computex. “We’re going to do that again, and it’s going to be even bigger.” “You’re going to see the next thing that we’ve been working on, the next chip for PC, and we’re going to provide another breakthrough in performance,” Amon added. “I promise you, you will be impressed.” Amon used his Computex presentation to laud the success of the Snapdragon platform, which has enjoyed stellar reviews, including from PCWorld, and won me over. Over 85 different PCs now feature members of the Snapdragon X platform, and Amon said over 100 should be in users’ hands by next year. To its credit, Qualcomm has moved quickly to shore up any holes in what it offers. App compatibility has been a concern, but Qualcomm seems to have mostly solved that problem. Growth in native apps have grown by three times, Amon said, and user time in native experiences has increased by 93 percent. Over 50 features take advantage of the Snapdragon’s NPU, which has forged close ties with Microsoft in rolling out new Windows features. Qualcomm hopes that the future of AI will flow through its Snapdragon chips.YouTube Qualcomm representatives have indicated that they are attacking Intel hard in retail and in the consumer space, placing kiosks in key retailers and launching a number of commercials. Qualcomm is pushing the fact that it delivers about the same performance running on battery and while plugged in, while the performance of Intel’s Core Ultra drops substantially while on battery. (Our own tests of Intel’s Core Ultra “Lunar Lake” chips bear that out.) Qualcomm has a weaker case to be made regarding games, but it’s addressing that issue, too. Amon reiterated that Fortnite is coming to Snapdragon PCs, along with Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat. He also showed off a surprisingly smooth gameplay video of Kingdom Come II: Deliverance, though it was impossible to tell what graphics settings or resolution the game was being played back on. In all, Amon claimed that over 1,400 games are running on Snapdragon. Qualcomm’s Amon also spent considerable time talking about agentic AI, and about how a shift to that model would benefit the Snapdragon platform and its NPU. Microsoft has begun talking up the concept, sending out autonomous AIs, or agents, to pursue specific tasks without user control or direction. Finally, Amon pledged that Qualcomm and its Snapdragon platform have another trick up their sleeve: targeting the data center, and the premium revenues that commands. Read...

Alongside the latest security fixes, Microsoft just added a number of new features to Windows 11 via the KB5058411 update. The new Copilot+ AI feature known as Windows Recall and the ability to use Phone Link in the Start menu have been mentioned in previous articles, so we don’t need to mention them again. One of the best improvements in the update is that Windows Search now supports AI, which means—among other things—that you can now use “natural language” in your search queries to find documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and images. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro File Explorer also got some boosts, like how it’s now possible to view Microsoft 365 content directly in File Explorer (but requires you to pay for the service). File Explorer should also open files and unpack ZIP archives much faster, and as for the colors in the bars, the shades of blue and green are now darker than before. Other goodies in the update include Microsoft removing the blue-colored background for shortcuts on the desktop, which users complained about, as well as numerous bug fixes, which should mean that the risk of running into “blue screen” crashes has gone down. Update KB5058411 should automatically download and install to your system, assuming you’re on Windows 11 24H2. If it hasn’t yet, you should be able to jump-start it with a manual check in Windows Update. Further reading: Windows 11 24H2 is now auto-downloading on PCs Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent full-color night vision Sharp 3K video resolution Smart motion detection with human and vehicle filtering Cons No included microSD card No AI-driven features beyond basic smart detection Our Verdict The Annke NightChroma NC500 is a rock-solid budget camera that delivers sharp, full-color surveillance–including at night–and smart detection where it counts. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly security camera that doesn’t skimp on nighttime clarity, the Annke NightChroma NC500 is worth a look. This wired 3K PoE (Power over Ethernet) camera captures full-color video even in total darkness, something you don’t typically get at its modest $64.99 price point (that was the sale price at the time of this review; MSRP is $99.99). That combination of sharp imaging and vivid night vision makes it an appealing option for DIYers setting up their own security systems–especially those who are also looking for a local networked storage option–as well as homeowners looking to add reliable coverage without blowing their budget. The Annke NightChroma NC500 doesn’t try to dazzle with extras; it focuses on doing the basics really well, and that’s what makes it such a strong buy. Design and features The Annke NC500 is available in both bullet and turret styles; I tested the bullet version. It has the no-nonsense look of a classic security camera—long and cylindrical, with a sturdy mounting bracket that makes it easy to aim exactly where you need coverage. The housing is made of aluminum and feels solid and well-built, with an IP67 weatherization rating that protects it against dust and rain (it can withstand being immersed in up to 3.3 feet of water for as long as 30 minutes). It can also operate in extreme temperatures, with an operating range of -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees F (-30 to 60 degrees C). (To find out more about how well devices are protected from the elements, read our informative guide to IP codes at the preceding link.) Whether it’s scorching summer heat or a winter freeze, the Annke NC500 is built to hold up outdoors. The compact bullet-style camera supports Power over Ethernet, meaning power and a network connection are supplied by a single cable, simplifying outdoor installations. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Beneath its rugged exterior, the camera is more impressive than its price might suggest. It captures video with 3K resolution (3072 × 1728 pixels), providing a significant leap in detail over standard 1080p (1920 x 1080). That’s especially useful for identifying faces, license plates, or small movements at a distance. But what really sets this camera apart from the competition at this price is its low-light performance. The Annke NC500 uses a large f/1.0 aperture and a backside-illuminated (BSI) image sensor, both of which help it gather more light after dark. Combined with Annke’s Acme Color Night Vision technology, the camera can deliver full-color footage even in near-total darkness. A built-in soft supplement light discreetly activates in 0 lux conditions, boosting low-light performance without the harsh glare of a spotlight or the grayscale fallback of infrared night vision. Other useful features include a built-in microphone for audio capture and support for local storage (up to 256GB via a microSD card that you’ll need to supply your own. Video is compressed using the efficient H.265+ codec, which helps reduce file sizes without sacrificing image quality. Setup and performance Support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) means both data and power travel over the same ethernet cable, simplifying wiring and delivering added flexibility as to where you install the camera–you’re not limited to locations near an electrical outlet. As long as you have a PoE-capable ethernet switch or a PoE injector you can use with your existing switch or roouter, one cable from your router or NVR (network video recorder) is all it takes to power the camera and get it online. The NC500 is designed to work seamlessly with Annke’s own NVR systems; if you’re using a third-party recorder, you’ll want to confirm compatibility before purchasing. The Annke Vision app has a spare, intutitive design that makes it easy to control the camera and customize its settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Once connected, setup is handled through the Annke Vision app, which offers a relatively smooth user experience. You can view live footage, play back recorded video, adjust camera settings, and set up motion detection alerts. The motion detection feature allows you to fine-tune sensitivity levels, helping reduce false alarms from wind-blown trees or passing cars. In terms of performance, the NC500 punches well above its weight. Its night-vision capabilities are particularly strong—footage is captured in full color and is impressively clear even when the ambient light drops to near zero. This gives it a significant edge over traditional IR-based night-vision cameras, which often revert to grainy black-and-white imagery when operating in full darkness. During my testing, the camera maintained sharp image quality in both rainy and bright conditions, and the sturdy build showed no signs of stress during a spring downpour. The onboard microphone also did a decent job picking up conversation, handy for capturing more context in your recordings. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. The camera’s smart detection capabilities are a clear step up from basic motion alerts. It can distinguish between people and vehicles, which helps cut down on false alarms from things like swaying branches or neighborhood pets. In my testing, motion alerts were timely and mostly accurate, with only the occasional missed detection or unnecessary ping. You can tweak sensitivity and set motion zones in the app to further reduce noise, making the alerts more useful and less disruptive. Should you buy the Annke NightChroma NC500? The Annke NC500 doesn’t try to dazzle with extras; it focuses on doing the basics really well, and that’s what makes it such a strong buy. You get sharp video, reliable full-color night vision, and motion detection that’s smart enough to tell a person from a passing car. That’s more than enough to stand out in a crowded budget security camera market. Read...

Proton VPN is one of the very best VPNs on the market, and it’s currently offering a can’t-miss discount. Swiss company Proton is celebrating its 11th birthday right now, and for the next two weeks, from May 14 to May 28, you can snag a huge 70 percent discount on Proton VPN’s Plus plan. For just $2.99 per month for a two-year contract, you’ll enjoy great speeds, stellar privacy, and advanced security features. ProtonVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: $9.99 at Proton VPN In our latest review, Proton VPN earned a coveted Editor’s Choice rating for its abundant privacy and security features. It excels at just about everything you’d want a VPN service to do, plus some things you didn’t even know you needed. Aside from the great features, Proton VPN boasts a large server network, and all of its servers also work to unblock streaming services. Plus, its transparent, privacy-first approach to VPNs is positively refreshing when compared to other services just out to make a quick buck. In fact, transparency is so essential to parent company Proton that it has made it the guiding principle in everything it does. From all apps being open-source to regular independent audits of its no-logs policy, users can rest assured that their data is being protected to the highest degree. Be sure to sign up before May 28 to take advantage of the sale. Proton even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can cancel anytime beforehand should you decide it’s not for you. Get 70 percent off on Proton VPN`s Plus planSave now at Proton VPN Read...

Acer’s new Aspire notebooks for Computex 2025 offer the choice of all three processor platforms, with either 14- or 16-inch display options. But there’s one big problem that the company can’t do anything about. In a word? Tariffs. Acer’s Aspire notebooks typically are its most affordable, so America’s fluctuating import tariffs add a confusing wrinkle to anything Acer announces. As a result, Acer isn’t announcing either the pricing or the ship date for its six new Copilot+ PCs. It is, however, disclosing what European customers will pay. Acer’s new Aspires are easy to understand: the company is shipping two notebooks, each with Intel’s Core Ultra (Lunar Lake) series, the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, and the low-end Qualcomm Snapdragon X platform inside. In each processor category, Acer is shipping both a 14-inch and a 16-inch version. All qualify as Copilot+ PCs. Perhaps because of the price, Acer executives told us that the emphasis is on the Snapdragon-based Aspires. The 14-inch version will ship for 899 euros ($1,006) and will be available in June to European customers. Naturally, we just don’t know what tariffs will do to your wallet. Acer While there are slight differences, each of the 14-inch Aspires generally shares the same features as the others, and the same goes for the 16-inch Aspires, too. There are some slight variations, we’re told: for example, the Snapdragon PC platform includes a 1440p webcam, while the AMD and Intel versions include a more basic 1080p webcam. The Intel- and Qualcomm-based Aspires include Wi-Fi 7, while the AMD-based Aspire ships with a Wi-Fi 6e radio instead. The Intel variant also includes Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the others include the virtually identical USB4. Finally, the Intel-based Aspire ships with a 1920 x 1280 display option (and a 60Hz panel), while the others ship with a 1920 x 1200 display instead but nudge up to 120Hz. Qualcomm These are the specifications for the new 14-inch and 16-inch Aspire AI notebooks, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip inside. I had a chance to briefly check out the new Aspires in a press preview before Computex. The displays of the new Aspires are better than you might expect, with both OLED options and conventional IPS panels that can reach 500 nits and top out at 120Hz refresh rates — not what you would normally expect for a budget PC. Memory options climb to 32GB of LPDDR5X, with storage options of up to a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. In general, the 14-inch Aspires measure 12.28 x 8.89 x 0.63in. and weigh about 2.73 pounds, while the 16-inch versions measure 13.97 x 9.85 x 0.63in. and weigh about 3.28 pounds. There are some slight variations depending upon the processor. Acer Acer’s 14- and 16-inch Aspire AI notebooks, this time with an Intel Lunar Lake chip inside them. Again, the key is the price. Acer’s two Snapdragon Aspires, the A14-11M and A16-11M, will ship for 899 euros ($1,006) and 999 euros ($1,118) in June and July, respectively. The Acer Aspire A14-53M, a 14-inch Aspire with Intel’s Core Ultra chip, will ship for 999 euros ($1,118) in July and accompany the 16-inch A16-52M for 1,099 euros ($1,230), which will ship in August to the European market. Finally, Acer will ship its 14-inch A14-61M and the 16-inch A16-61M with Ryzen AI 300 processors inside to Europe in July and August for 999 euros ($1,118) and 1,099 euros ($1,230). As for the United States? Acer said that it will announce a ship date and price for the various models closer to when you can buy them. Read...