Amazon’s second Prime Day sales event of the year is finally here, but Amazon isn’t the only one with hot deals. Consider this incredible deal on the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 — a lightweight 2-in-1 laptop with an OLED touch-enabled display and powerful hardware — for a stunningly low price of $700 at Best Buy, an enormous savings of $550. So, why should you believe anything I say? Fair question. In addition to overseeing laptop coverage at PCWorld, in which I edit every laptop review to publication, I also update our best laptop deals page on a day-to-day basis. I know how to spot the good deals in a sea of bad ones. As for the deal I’m highlighting today, it’s so good that I immediately shared it with my colleagues. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 comes with an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, so it’s fast enough to handle office work, school work, general web browsing, and more. The 13.3-inch 1920×1080 OLED touchscreen display has a refresh rate of 60Hz and a brightness level of 370 nits. It’s not the fastest or brightest display in the world, but it’s an OLED so you can expect inky blacks and vibrant colors. $700 is a good price for the hardware and features in this laptop. The 2-in-1 form factor is just the cherry on top. You can rotate the screen around 360 degrees, which lets you use your laptop in tent mode or folded all the way back for tablet mode. (This is useful for working in cramped spaces, like an airplane seat.) It also weighs just 2.56 pounds, so it’s surprisingly light and portable. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 is perfect if you need a capable laptop for office work or school work, especially when it’s down $550 from its original price. If you’re looking for other laptop deals, make sure you check out the other laptop deals we found this Prime Day. Save $550 on this Samsung 2-in-1 productivity laptopBuy now at Best Buy Read...

If you’re looking to save some dough on a computer display, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, starting today, is a great time to do that. PCWorld constantly reviews the latest monitor models with the newest tech. We also hunt for the best values if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. You can trust us to not just find the biggest discounts, but the discounts on the monitors that are actually worth buying in the first place. Read on for the best monitor deals at the best prices I could find, and check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories.Last updated on October 8th, 2024. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on OLED monitors Samsung 49-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $1079.99 ($720 off at Amazon) Corsair 45-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $1199.99 ($800 off at Amazon) LG 39-inch ultrawide OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $824.99 ($675 off at Amazon) Samsung 34-inch ultrawide OLED 175hz gaming monitor, 699.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Corsair 27-inch QHD OLED 240Hz gaming monitor, $599.99 ($400 off at Amazon) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, and at the moment you can’t get any bigger than Samsung’s 49-inch super-duper-mega-ultrawide. It’s easily the best bang-for your-buck on the list. But for something a little less unwieldy, I’d go with the MSI 34-inch ultrawide and its more manageable 3440×1440 resolution. If you want to upgrade to OLED for as little cash as possible, Corsair is offering a 27-inch QHD model that’s great for gamers for just $600. That might also be the best choice if you’re interested in competitive gaming — its lower resolution and 240Hz refresh rate is a great compromise if you’re hoping to keep those framerates up. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on gaming monitors Samsung 55-inch Ark 4K 165Hz gaming monitor, $1799.99 ($1300 off at Amazon) Samsung 43-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitor, $569.99 ($330 off at Amazon) Acer 27-inch QHD IPS 240Hz gaming monitor, $222.99 ($177 off at Amazon) Asus 27-inch 1080p 165Hz gaming monitor, $134.00 ($66 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide 144Hz gaming monitor, $329.99 ($70 off at Amazon) Once again Samsung offers both the biggest monitor and the biggest discount in the gaming sector, this time on the humungous, curved, and rotatable 4K Ark design. But that one’s beyond most people’s budgets (and their desk’s weight limit). For an easy recommendation I’d once again go with the ever-reliable Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide, already a good deal at its regular $400 price, a steal at $70 off. For something more general for a home office, check out that Acer 27-incher. It’s QHD with a speedy 240Hz refresh rate, a cut above the usual, and uses a high-quality IPS panel. That makes it great for both competitive multiplayer gaming and office or media production work. Prime Big Deal Days 2024 deals on office monitors Samsung 32-inch 4K Smart Monitor, $229.99 ($130 off at Amazon) Dell 32-inch 1080p curved monitor, $149.99 ($50 off at Amazon) LG 27-inch 4K USB-C IPS monitor, $269.99 ($110 off at Amazon) Acer 27-inch 4K USB-C IPS monitor, $209.99 ($60 off at Amazon) Asus 24-inch 1080p IPS monitor, $84.99 ($30 off at Amazon) Sceptre 24-inch 1080p monitor, $69.97 ($40 off at Amazon) Asus 15.6-inch OLED portable monitor, $249.99 ($100 off at Amazon) MNN 15.6-inch USB-C portable monitor, $64.99 ($25 off at Amazon) For a general office monitor, I’d recommend Acer’s 27-inch 4K model. It’s got tons of resolution on a high-quality panel, and a USB-C connection for easy laptop support. Samsung’s 32-incher doubles as a smart TV (including streaming apps) if you want to watch an episode on your lunchbreak. For the absolute cheapest deals possible, check out the Sceptre and Asus 24-inch 1080p models. On the portable side we’ve got two choices: a gorgeous OLED from Asus that’ll look great next to any laptop, or a similar panel from MNN for a fraction of the price. Choose according to your budget. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers a wide range of tech deals every Prime Day, so make sure to check out some other best deal roundups that may be of interest, and see our top picks for the best monitors of 2024 for more PCWorld insights.  Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Day (aka Prime Big Deal Days) is officially here! That means there’s no better time than now to take the plunge and take advantage of those delectable laptop deals. Not sure where to begin your quest? Don’t sweat it. I’ve gone ahead and curated a list of the best discounts below. Why should you listen to my recommendations? Valid question! I oversee PCWorld’s laptop review program, so I handle everything from assignment to publication. I also carefully maintain our best laptop deals roundup on a day-to-day basis as well as our best laptops of 2024 roundup on a weekly basis. Since I spend a good amount of time every day searching the web for the best laptop deals, I’m tuned in to popular trends and able to pluck the good deals from a sea of bad ones. To assemble the list below, I looked at everything from graphics and storage space to design and form factor. I also checked out Amazon’s pricing history with CamelCamelCamel. Don’t forget to check out our Prime Big Deal Days 2024 hub for more great deals in other tech categories. Best Prime Big Deal Days deals on budget and mid-range laptops HP Chromebook 14, includes an Intel Celeron N4120 CPU and 224GB of storage, $229 ($70 off at Amazon) Acer Aspire Go 15, includes an Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and 8GB of RAM, $219.99 ($80 off at Amazon) Acer Aspire 3, includes an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U CPU and 8GB of RAM, $299.99 ($22 off at Amazon) HP Stream 14, includes 16GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron N4120 CPU, $262.65 ($136.35 off at Amazon) Asus Vivobook Go, includes an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U CPU and 8GB of RAM, $299.99 ($90 off at Amazon) Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, includes a 1080p display and 1TB of SSD storage, $499.99 ($180 off at Amazon) HP Envy x360, includes a convertible form factor and an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU, $583 ($417 off at Amazon) Acer Swift Go 14, includes an OLED display and an Intel Core Ultra processor 155H, $799.99 ($200 off at Amazon) The HP Envy x360 is a great laptop with a powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor and a versatile convertible form factor. It’s zippy enough for general browsing and productivity tasks, and the convertible form factor means you can fold the screen all the way back. Being able to use a laptop in different positions is useful if you’re a frequent traveler, especially when using the device in a cramped space like an airplane seat. The 15.6-inch 1080p display is also nice as it has touch capability. This is good news if you’re a regular doodler or note taker. Best Prime Big Deal Days deals on premium laptops Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro, includes an OLED touchscreen and an Intel Core 7 Ultra CPU, $1,302.07 ($197.92 off at Amazon) Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, includes Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and a Snapdragon X Elite CPU, $1,525 ($174.99 off at Amazon) The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro offers a lightweight form factor, a stunning OLED display, and a good keyboard. In our review, we called it an “elegant all-rounder for business professionals” and awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars and an Editors’ Choice badge. Although we liked the laptop’s low weight and 1080p webcam, the 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED display is the real star of the show. It has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz as well as high contrast and amazing color reproduction. Not only is this display perfect for office work and day-to-day activities, but it’s also great for watching movies on. Best Prime Big Deal Days deals on gaming laptops Acer Nitro 16, includes 1TB of SSD storage, an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $1,159.95 ($140.04 off at Amazon) Asus ROG Strix G16, includes a 165Hz refresh rate display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $1,099.99 ($200 off at Amazon) MSI Katana 17, includes 32GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $1,299.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Acer Predator Triton Neo 16, includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, $1,499.99 ($399.01 off at Amazon) MSI Katana A17, includes a 240Hz refresh rate display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, $1,830 ($169.99 off at Amazon) If you’re looking to get the ultimate gaming experience out of a laptop, the MSI Katana A17 is definitely worth checking out, as it’s stuffed to the gills with power. Between the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, this laptop should fly through most games on the higher graphics settings. The 1440p display is humungous at 17.3-inches and the 240Hz refresh rate should keep things looking nice and smooth in the heat of battle. It also comes with 2TB of SSD storage, which is more than enough to accommodate your massive games library. Best Prime Big Deals Day deals on gaming laptops under $1,000 HP Victus, includes an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, $579.99 ($120 off at Amazon) Asus TUF Gaming A15, includes a 144Hz display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, $599 ($100.99 off at Amazon) MSI Thin A15, includes a lightweight form factor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, $643.87 ($56.12 off at Amazon) Gigabyte Aorus 15, includes a 360Hz refresh rate display, an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, $949 ($150 off at Amazon) Acer Nitro V 16, includes a 165Hz refresh rate display, a AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $879.99 ($250 off at Amazon) The Gigabyte Aorus 15 deserves a call-out because of its wickedly fast 360Hz refresh rate display. That’s an incredibly high number, so this display should churn out silky-smooth visuals, which is important during more intensive matches. It also comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, meaning it has enough juice to run most games on the Medium or High graphics settings, but you may want to dial those settings back on more modern titles. The display, measuring a roomy 15.6-inches, is pretty spacious with a resolution of 1920×1080. It’s not the highest resolution we’ve ever seen, but it’s perfectly fine for most games. More awesome Prime Big Deal Days 2024 tech deals Our PCWorld editors have curated best deal roundups across all the major tech categories: Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals FAQ 1. What kind of laptop should I get? Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with others. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful internal hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine. 2. How can I tell whether a laptop is a good Prime Day deal? I always use Camel Camel Camel, which is a pricing history platform. You can make a free account and the interface is pretty easy to navigate. Let’s use the Asus VivoBook 16 as an example. Plug the ASIN, which is the part of the URL that starts with the letter B (B0BT6NKLQR in this case), into the search bar and hit search. Once the result generates, scroll down and you’ll see a graph of its price history. You’ll see a big dip in the price this month, the lowest price it has ever been in fact. That’s a big drop from the end of March when it was as high as $741.16. 3. Do laptop brands matter? Not particularly when you’re hunting for deals, as long as you stick to household names. All of the big manufacturers like HP and Acer make perfectly capable machines and they all offer pretty steep discounts on their online retail storefronts. You may have a personal preference, though. Dell, for example, has great customer service and their website is easy to navigate. As for HP, their back-to-school guide is laid out in a really straightforward way. 4. How much memory do I need in a laptop? I always tell my friends and family to shoot for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less than that and you may very well notice a slowdown. If you can go higher than 8GB, that’s great! The more RAM you have, the snappier your laptop will be, especially when it comes to general browsing or making spreadsheets. 16GB of RAM is better for productivity tasks and gaming, and 32GB of RAM is perfect for photo editors. Read...

Microsoft has been making quite a few changes to the Windows 11 taskbar, but there’s still room for improvement. Despite the big Windows 11 2024 Update that just dropped and all the nifty features and improvements in that update, Microsoft is already looking ahead to the next update and what that one is going to bring. As noticed by Twitter user @phantomofearth and reported by Windows Latest, an upcoming version of Windows 11 that’s currently only available to Insiders on the Beta Channel shows that it’ll be possible to change the size of taskbar items. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro In the latest Beta version of Windows 11, there’s a new toggle in the Taskbar section of Windows Settings that lets you Show smaller taskbar buttons with options for Always, Never, and When taskbar is full. (As of this writing, the setting isn’t fully working as intended.) This particular option was already in Windows 10 but was removed for unknown reasons when Windows 11 launched. It’s a great way to reclaim just a bit more screen real estate, so a welcome change. If you aren’t a Windows Insider, you can expect this feature to release to the general public some time in November or December. Further reading: Is the Windows Insider Program worth joining? Read...

Your PC is capable of running not one, but two Windows apps designed to protect you and your system against online threats: Windows Security and Microsoft Defender. Telling them apart can be tricky, though. Thanks to a few name changes, what’s old sounds new and what’s new sounds old. If you haven’t kept up with the updates, it may not be clear which one you want — or if you actually prefer to run both.  To help you decide, I’ve broken down what each app does. Let’s dig in. What is Windows Security? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Previously known as Windows Defender, Windows Security is the most current name for the app that ties Microsoft’s basic antivirus and network protections together. Similar to third-party antivirus software, you get a unified interface to make changes to the app and access manual scans. Separate tabs break out various settings: Virus & threat protection: From this tab, you can run manual scans (Quick, Full, Custom, or Offline), change how your system screens for threats, and set up more stringent ransomware defenses. Account protection: Guard the Microsoft account tied to your PC, as well as strengthen Windows’ login process. Firewall & network protection: Refine your settings in order to tailor screening of incoming and outgoing traffic. App & browser control: Adjust how Windows screens apps for suspicious behavior, and if Edge runs in an isolated, sandboxed environment. Device security: Get information about your PC’s deeper security protections in Windows — core virtualization, security processor (TPM), and secure boot. Device performance & health: See a quick overview of the general “health” of your PC with regard to software issues or storage drive issues. Family options: Filter viewable content for users on the PC, as well as see breakdowns of device usage. You can manage your family group through the web portal. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see each tab in the Windows Security app. What is Microsoft Defender? PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld Confusingly, the Microsoft Defender app shares its name with the antivirus engine powering Windows Security’s malware protection — but they’re not directly tied. Instead, the Defender app offers additional defenses against online threats for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers. It works equally with either Windows Security (including the Microsoft Defender Antivirus engine) or third-party antivirus software. Privacy protection: You can funnel your online traffic through Microsoft’s encrypted VPN service whenever you’re on a network connection, like public Wi-Fi you don’t trust. You get up to 50GB of data per month. Microsoft Defender also can now detect unsecure Wi-Fi connections, and not just alert you to them, but automatically turn on the VPN too. Privacy Protection is available on all supported platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Identity theft monitoring: Through a partnership with Experian, Microsoft Defender will alert you to data breaches and any fraudulent activity on your credit reports. The service also provides up to $1 million in restoration costs and $100,000 in lost funds if you are a victim of identity theft. Device protection: You can watch to see if your devices (up to four) or those linked through your Microsoft Family Group have any suspicious activity occurring and be notified through this app. Notifications will be sent through Windows’ notification system, and you can also view them through the Defender app. Click on the arrows (desktop) or swipe (mobile) to see the different sections of the Microsoft Defender app. Windows Security vs. Microsoft Defender Windows Security and Microsoft Defender are complimentary apps, rather than competing.  Windows Security defends against online threats, including ransomware, and it’s included for free with a Windows license. (Heads-up: If you ever see a popup notification telling you to call a phone number or pay to renew, you’ve either visited a compromised website or your PC has been directly compromised — time to run an antivirus scan ASAP.) Microsoft Defender then rounds out those protections by letting you shield your online activity from other users on the same network, keeping you informed of data leaks and credit fraud, and monitoring your devices for vulnerabilities.  Should you use Microsoft Defender? Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions. Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Windows Security and Microsoft Defender paired together can rival basic third-party antivirus suite subscriptions.Alaina Yee / Foundry Alaina Yee / Foundry If you’re already a Microsoft 365 subscriber, having both Windows Security and Microsoft Defender set up and active is comparable to a very simple third-party antivirus suite subscription — and you don’t have to pay extra. However, if you’re not yet a paid Microsoft 365 user, want additional integrated features (like a password manager), or prefer a different interface, independent antivirus software will be a better fit for your needs. You can check out our top recommendations in our best antivirus software roundup, which covers all types of plans. Read...

The former Governor General confirms she will not seek to continue and wants the governance appointments process to be “robust”. Read...

The Linux desktop offers versatile possibilities for optimizing window management, making it an effective tool for multitasking. With window lists, tiling methods, virtual desktops, and active corners, Linux desktops have more to offer than the interfaces of other operating systems. Task switching with Alt-Tab All Linux desktops obey the Alt-Tab hotkey for task switching, but generally only offer the tasks of the current desktop. There are exceptions, such as LXQT (Lubuntu), which offer all windows. However, most desktops have a setting to extend the range to all panes, such as XFCE via Settings > Window management fine-tuning (“Window cycle through all panes”). Further reading: How Linux’s insanely customizable desktop works This can be configured in a very detailed but self-explanatory way in Cinnamon under System settings > Window > Alt-Tab, or somewhat confusingly in KDE under System settings > Window management > Application switcher. In Gnome, Alt-Tab is limited to the windows of the active area. However, Gnome offers the additional Win-Tab hotkey for comprehensive task switching, which Gnome users should get used to. Note: We always refer to the “Win” key here, which is often referred to as the “Meta” or “Super” key in Linux. Tiling windows Tiling and automatic window arrangement is a current desktop mode that Windows, KDE, Gnome (planned project), or the Gnome extension “Tile Windows” are forcing. Some Gnome distributions such as Pop-OS include this extension as standard. The most important hotkey here is Super-Y, which distributes all active windows appropriately on the monitor. KDE Plasma is currently the best example of what tiling methods can achieve: By pressing Win-T, a grid appears that fills the entire screen and can be further divided and arranged. Press Esc to return to the normal desktop. If a window is now moved with the title bar and the Shift key pressed, it is automatically scaled into the previously created grid. This is clever, but only really practical for very rationally organized work — for example when programming with defined code, debug, and terminal windows. Further reading: The best Linux software for Windows switchers All Linux desktops offer simple snap-in functions: Dragging a window to the right or left edge of the screen automatically scales the window to half the screen size. Dragging to the top of the screen enlarges the window to full screen. These are almost universal desktop standards. Users who feel disturbed by such automations can also switch them off. The option can be found in the general settings under “Windows” or “Window management” as “Snap to screen edges” or “Automatic docking.” KDE’s elaborate tiling editor can be deactivated under System settings > Workspace behavior > Workspace effects. Virtual desktops No matter which Linux desktop you use: Virtual desktops are available, although they are not activated everywhere. Virtual desktops multiply the screen area and are useful in almost any scenario — even on large monitors. XFCE has its own virtual-desktop option under Settings > Desktop, while LXQT hides this option somewhat in the configuration center under “Window manager Openbox.” Gnome and Budgie show the item “Desktop” under System settings > Multitasking. In KDE, only one desktop is configured by default, but this can be changed in the System settings under Desktop behavior > Virtual desktops. Active corners (here in KDE): This option should be used in doses for one or two fundamental multitasking action(s). Active corners (here in KDE): This option should be used in doses for one or two fundamental multitasking action(s). KDE.org Active corners (here in KDE): This option should be used in doses for one or two fundamental multitasking action(s). KDE.org KDE.org Whether a toolbar applet (“desktop switcher” or similar) is useful in addition to the standard hotkeys for virtual desktops (see below) must be decided for each desktop. The optional “desktop switcher” for the system tray can usually be accessed by right-clicking on the tray and selecting “Add to tray” (or similar). While this is recommended for Mate, XFCE, and LXQT, for example, Cinnamon, KDE, or Gnome do not need this because they have their own desktop overview (Ctrl-Alt-Top for Cinnamon, Win-F8 for KDE, or just the Win key under Gnome). The most convincing solution is offered by Cinnamon’s large-area overview, where moving a window from one virtual desktop to another does not involve any fiddling. In addition to optional bar applets, preset hotkeys can also be used to switch between workspaces. Ctrl-Alt-Right and Ctrl-Alt-Left are predominantly standard, less frequently Ctrl-Win-Top and Ctrl-Win-Bottom. KDE always does everything a little differently, but of course has all options on board: You can get used to the standard hotkeys Ctrl-F1 (F2, F3 et cetera) for switching virtual desktops, as well as the aforementioned Win-F8 hotkey for an overview of all desktops. If you are coming from a Gnome-affined desktop, you can change the hotkeys in the KDE system settings under Shortcuts > KWin. The entries “One desktop to the left / right” are relevant for switching to the next desktop. Window list in the system bar The “Window list” bar applet (also “Window buttons,” “Grouped window list”) is one of the most important controls for accessing numerous open programs. A window list is active by default on almost all desktops, but it is not technically mandatory. If such a display of active tasks is missing or has been inadvertently deactivated, it should be added to the system tray by right-clicking. Ideally, the control should only display the program icons to save space, also combine multiple instances (e.g. of the file manager and terminal) in one icon to save space and, thirdly, represent all windows of all virtual desktops and all screens. All bar applets offer these options. The path to the applet configuration can differ, as can the description of the individual options. The image at the top left of this page shows the optimum configuration of the XFCE window list as an example. In Ubuntu’s customized Gnome, the dock takes over task control (configuration under Settings > Ubuntu desktop), in Mints Cinnamon the “Grouped window list” bar applet is recommended. These tools combine the window list of running programs with a favorites launcher. Active corners Active corners trigger a window action or a program by moving the mouse to a corner of the screen. Cinnamon, KDE, and Budgie offer this function, Gnome limits it to the “Activities” launcher. In fact, active corners next to click targets such as the main menu or window title are rather counterproductive, but with a system bar at the top edge, active corners can be focused at the bottom. A suitable action in terms of the multitasking overview would be “Show all workspaces” (Cinnamon) or “Show windows – all workspaces” (KDE). Cinnamon offers “Active corners” as a separate item in the system settings; in KDE the option can be found under Workspace behavior > Screen edges. Read...

Zoom is still one of the best apps for video conferencing and video chatting with friends and family, but like all software tools, it needs a bit of personalization to work just how you want it to. Maybe you don’t want your webcam’s video feed mirrored, or you’d rather have a dark theme for the Zoom app’s interface, or maybe you want the thumbs-up emoji to match your real-life skin tone. If you want to elevate your Zoom experience, here are some key Zoom settings that are worth tweaking right out of the gate. Connect your calendar Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG There’s a reason why this tip is one of the first ones to show up on the “Get Started” checklist when you first launch Zoom. If you’re going to have regular meetings or video calls, having your digital calendar integrated with Zoom makes everything way easier. To do this, either click Connect your calendar in the Get Started list or click the Connecting your calendar link in the upper-right. Alternatively, log into your Zoom account on the Zoom site, then go to your profile page and scroll down to the Others section, then select Configure Calendar and Contacts Service and follow the on-screen instructions. Toggle dark mode I hate blinding white apps, browsers, and backgrounds, so I always enable dark mode in apps that support it — and that includes Zoom. (If you’re on a laptop with an OLED display, dark mode can also help extend battery life and reduce burned-in images.) To enable dark mode in Zoom, click your profile picture, then Settings. In the General section, scroll down to Appearance, then select Dark. Tweak audio settings Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Zoom works well enough out of the box, but a few audio settings tweaks can really improve the overall experience — not just for you but also everyone else you end up being on calls with. Open the Settings in Zoom and select the Audio section on the left-side navigation. Here, choose the right microphone input and speaker output, then test to ensure both are working correctly. (This is always a good idea with a new Zoom installation.) Other key settings worth tweaking in this section: enable Zoom background noise removal with background noise suppression set to Auto, and enable the Mute my microphone when joining checkbox to make sure you never accidentally disrupt a meeting as you join. Tweak video settings If you’re planning to show yourself on camera, it’s well worth tweaking the video settings so you look your best and maintain your privacy. Navigate to Settings > Video in the Zoom app and you’ll be able to tweak a range of video settings. Make sure your webcam is plugged in and turned on (assuming you’re using an external webcam and not one that’s, say, built into your laptop). Choose whether you want your webcam video to appear in its native aspect ratio and whether it should be in HD (if your webcam is HD). The mirroring setting can be comfortable, but you might want to disable it if you’re going to give presentations or frequently show text on screen (otherwise text will appear backwards). Consider ticking the Turn off my video when joining option so you can always double-check your surroundings before your webcam feed goes live. And if you’re the kind of person who gets self-conscious and ends up staring at yourself all throughout meetings, you should consider toggling the Hide self view option. Looking for a virtual background to use in your calls? You’ll find a range of options and filters in Settings > Background & effects. Tweak screen sharing settings I don’t know about you, but I always get a little nervous when I need to share my screen on Zoom. Am I going to accidentally reveal sensitive or embarrassing information and not even realize it? You can alleviate some of that anxiety by properly setting up screen sharing settings from the get-go in Settings > Share screen. Under the “When I share my screen in a meeting” label, make sure you’re set to Show all sharing options. This way your entire screen isn’t automatically shared and you can always choose what to show. Do the same under the “When I share directly to a Zoom Room” label. Also, under the “Share applications” label, pick the Share individual window option so you can be sure you’re only sharing one window at any given time, not all of them. Enable meeting security features “Zoom bombing” is a fact of life for some organizations and individuals, so locking down your meetings and calls is a great way to give you peace of mind against that, all while increasing your data privacy. Related: How to prevent Zoom bombing To do so, log into the Zoom website and navigate to the Settings section on the left-side navigation. On the Settings page, look for the Meeting tab (between General and Webinar). Within the Meeting tab, scroll down to the Security subsection. Now, look through all the options and tweak as applicable to you. For example, set up a waiting room so you can admit participants one by one, or require a passcode for new meetings, or limit meetings to authenticated accounts, etc. Disable file sharing in meetings You might trust the teams in your meetings to not send malware or unsecured files to each other. But can you be totally sure? What if they’re hacked or infected with viruses that try to send malicious files? Or what if an unauthorized user joins the meeting somehow? Unless you’re 100% sure that your meetings are locked down and inaccessible to outside parties AND that every single participant you encounter adheres to safe file sharing practices AND that they’re cleared of viruses and unauthorized access, then disabling the sharing of files in meetings is a good safeguard to have in place. Log into the Zoom website and navigate to Settings, then Meeting, then scroll down until you find Send files via meeting chat. Toggle that option to Off to disable file sharing. (Alternatively, you can set limits on file sizes and/or file types that can be shared.) Manage meeting recordings Recording your meetings can be a great way to maintain archived footage of important discussions or demonstrations. But before you start recording, make sure your settings are what you need them to be. First, adjust the recording settings in Settings > Recording to tweak where the footage gets saved, whether you want audio to be separated or not, and whether you want shared screens to be recorded. You can further adjust recording options on the Zoom website by logging into your account and navigating to Settings > Recording. There you can set who can record within your meetings, who gets notifications when a recording is ongoing, and other advanced settings. Tweak accessibility settings Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Zoom has some excellent accessibility settings that can help make text more legible, auto-enable closed captions in meetings, minimize flashing images and patterns, and customize screen reader alerts. If any of that sounds useful to you, make sure you head over to Settings > Accessibility and play around with these options. Choose your emoji skin color The default yellow skin color for emojis is relatively inoffensive, but maybe you don’t want to be represented by a Simpsons character. Zoom has a number of different skin color options to pick from, which will show up in chats and reactions during meetings. To do so, navigate to Settings > General and scroll down to the Reactions section. There you’ll see a number of thumbs-up emojis with different skin tones. Choose the one you want to use. Enhance your meetings with Zoom apps Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Jon Martindale / IDG Zoom apps are a great way to make meetings more dynamic and automated. You have Group Photo, Music, and Timer apps installed by default, which you can enable by navigating to Settings > Zoom apps and toggling the ones you want. For a much wider array of options, visit the Zoom App Marketplace to explore over 2,700 apps currently available for use within Zoom. Examples include automated AI note takers, interactive games, meeting enhancements, custom text overlays, integrated cloud storage, a way to enable easier remote support for your teams, and more. Read...

Israel said it was because Antonio Guterres had not `unequivocally` condemned Iran`s missile attack on Israel. Read...

Yesterday, Microsoft started rolling out the major Windows 11 2024 Update to the general public who are on devices considered “safe” for the upgrade. However, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. As it turns out, the Windows 11 24H2 update is causing issues for numerous users and has even been resulting in Blue Screens of Death (BSODs). What’s most frustrating, though, is that there doesn’t seem to be one single cause to point to. For example, installing the Windows 11 2024 Update on an Intel PC with outdated audio drivers (Intel Smart Sound Technology) can cause the system to start crashing. The Easy Anti-Cheat tool that’s supplied with games like Fortnite and Asphalt 8 is also causing problems. Same goes for the Safe Exam Browser and with fingerprint sensors. The update also disrupts functionality in many popular wallpaper apps, which could lead to crashes or problems with virtual desktops. What can you do about it? This is mainly a problem of compatibility on a software-by-software basis, so you can’t really do anything except wait for each software’s developers to issue their own updates that address their respective faults. The silver lining is that if your PC could possibly be affected, the update probably won’t be rolled out to you until things are clear. If the update was rolled out to you and you’re affected by crashes or instability, see our article on rolling back problematic Windows updates. How to install Windows 11 24H2 anyway All of the above aside, there are some cool changes in the Windows 11 2024 Update — cool enough that maybe you want to make the upgrade ASAP and you’re tired of waiting for the rollout to hit you. In that case, there are ways for you to force install the update. However, do so at your own risk! (If you start blue screening, that’s on you.) Still want to proceed? Then you have two options for manually installing the Windows 11 2024 Update: Using Windows Update Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. Type “Check for updates” and press Enter to open Windows Update. Make sure the Get the latest updates as soon as they are available checkbox is ticked in Windows Update. Click Check for updates to check for updates. If the Windows 11 24H2 update is available, click Download & install, then restart your PC when prompted to do so. If the official Windows Update method doesn’t work, you still have the alternate option of using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant Visit the official Windows 11 download page. Under the section titled “Windows 11 Installation Assistant,” click the Download Now button to grab the installer file. Double-click to execute the downloaded installer file. Click on Accept and install, then follow the on-screen instructions. After installing the update, your PC will restart. Post-update check After the Windows update is installed, open the Start menu, then type “winver” and press Enter. This will run a check to see what your current Windows version is. If you’ve successfully installed the Windows 11 2024 Update, you should be on Build 26100 and version 24H2. Further reading: Windows 11 24H2 removes these apps and features Read...