The DIY smart home and home security specialists at Abode Systems have released their first Apple TV app, along with an upgraded version of the company’s existing Android TV app. The new software promises to make it easier for Abode users to control their self-installed systems from their couch, using their TV or set-top box remote. The company already has apps for smartphones, smart watches, computers, and tablets. Users will be able to manage their security system and control their smart devices (lights, thermostat, from the Abode dashboard, but the primary attraction will be the ability to view live feeds from up to four Abode security cameras and/or video doorbells on their connected TVs. You can also watch recorded clips, and with AC-powered cameras that have 24/7 recording enabled (more on this in a bit), you can scrub back and forth along a 10-day timeline and jump to specific events. Abode Systems Abode is one of the few home security developers with products–specifically, the Abode Smart Security Kit and the Abode Iota All-in-One Security Kit–that support Apple HomeKit as well as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Its cameras, however, do not support Apple’s HomeKit Security Video platform. You can find out more about Abode smart home integrations at the preceding link. Abode has also released a revamped version of its existing Android TV app, which offers a similar set of features. Abode says the Android TV menus and general layout will look slightly different from the Apple TV app, but that users will have the same camera features. They will also be able to control their Abode system and the devices connected to it directly from their Android TV. Abode says it’s not developing apps for other TV operating systems–such as Amazon Fire TV, LG’s WebOS, Roku OS, or Samsung’s Tizen OS–at this time, but didn’t rule out doing so in the future. Abode Iota All-in-One Security Kit Read our review Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Amazon Further reading: TechHive’s highest-rated smart home systems As is typical of DIY home security systems, Abode offers free and paid service plans, but a paid plan is required to get security camera recordings (you get only a live view without one). The company has two paid plans that include up to 10 days of event-based camera recordings: Its Standard plan costs $8 per month ($75 per year), while its Pro plan that adds professional monitoring and cellular backup in the event the system loses its primary connection to the internet costs $26 per month ($240 per year). Either a Standard or Pro plan is required to get 24/7 recording for an unlimited number of AC-powered Abode security cameras, a service that costs $10 per month ($110 per year) on top of either of those subscriptions. Read...

Like millions of people around the world, I work from home. And doing so means I need to create a healthy work environment that encourages productivity. Working on a PC all day can cause health issues — not just physical ones, but mental ones. Everyone understands the need to maintain good PC work habits for physical health, yet many ignore the mental aspects. Here are some practical things you can do to tweak your home office so that it’s more conducive to better mental health and overall happiness. Avoid relaxing in your office space In my view, the most important thing you can do is keep your work environment separate from where you spend your time relaxing. If you want good work/life balance, then you have to take steps to keep work and life apart, especially when working from home. If you’re lucky enough to own a big house, you probably have lots of options for this, with plenty of other rooms where you hang out in the evenings and while on break. If you live in a smaller dwelling, like an apartment? Separating work life from home life can be tricky. Ross Helen / Shutterstock.com Tricky, but doable. One thing you can do is cordone off a very specific section — maybe even just a corner — of your living space. Use dividers to give it some physical boundaries. Only use that laptop or PC for work-related purposes and keep a separate device for personal stuff. Only sit at that desk when you’re working. That desk is your “work mode” desk. If you want to take a break or relax, physically move yourself elsewhere. For a more drastic solution, if you have a backyard, consider building or commissioning a “home office shed.” These can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000+ depending on size and features. Expensive, I know, but if you’re serious about working from home and you just don’t have an extra room, this could be worth it. Establish (and keep) your office clutter-free You might enjoy living with a lot of “stuff” around you, but there’s evidence that clutter isn’t good for mental health. You’ve heard people say things like “Tidy house, tidy mind”? It’s true, and you should extend that truth to your office workspace. Undrey / Shutterstock.com Get rid of the clutter and tidy things up. If you need it, add more storage space with things like drawers and filing systems. Buy some boxes to keep tucked away in your closet if you need to. Organize your cables so they aren’t strewn all over the place. When you’re done with something, don’t just put it down — put it away. It’s one thing to go clutter-free. It’s another to maintain it. Set yourself up for success by doing the little things as you can instead of letting it all build up into a mess. A disorderly desktop may not seem like a big deal, but it’s a subconscious drain on energy. Keep it clean. Soundproof your home office space Visual clutter isn’t the only thing wearing down on your brain. Loud sounds, distracting hums, and noise pollution from outside can prevent you from being fully focused and stress-free. More than that, the buildup of frustration and anxiety can take a toll on your mental health. insta_photos / Shutterstock.com The simplest and lowest impact thing you can do is to get yourself a pair of noise-canceling headphones or earbuds. For example, the Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Earbuds are solid, but you can go cheaper with the EarFun Air Pro 3 Earbuds or opt for full-on budget-level affordability with the Anker Soundcore P30i Earbuds. Don’t want to wear stuff in your ears all day long? Look into physical soundproofing options. If you own your home, insulate your walls. If you don’t, consider hanging up soundproofing blankets over your door and windows (which is how most sounds get in). A speaker playing brown noise can also help drown out background distractions. Bask in as much natural light as you can Commercial offices rely far too much on artificial lighting for reasons of practicality. If you’re working from home, you can do the opposite — strive to let in as much natural light as possible. Natural light has positive effects on mental health, with numerous studies consistently proving it year after year. Of those many benefits, exposure to sunlight boosts serotonin production, which helps improve mood. (That’s why it’s often referred to as the “feel good” chemical.)  ShotPrime Studio / Shutterstock.com Natural light also helps regulate the internal body clock, leading to better sleep patterns. More sleep (and better quality sleep) itself can boost your mental wellness. Last but not least, natural light can help alleviate symptoms of depression, especially during the winter months. So, whenever possible, set up your workspace in an area with windows and sunshine. Skylights are also helpful. And if natural light simply isn’t an option for whatever reasons, you might try using a UV-free sunlight lamp that mimics sunlight using an LED source. Keep the temperature comfortable Work is stressful enough as it is even when you aren’t shivering in your seat or melting into your chair. When ambient temperatures are too high or too low, it can harm productivity — and when you struggle to finish your tasks on time, it can bring down mental health. Maridav / Shutterstock.com Nobody likes to “waste” money on heating and cooling, I know. But it might help to think of office comfort as an investment. In the winter, raise your thermostat a few degrees and get an electric blanket. In the summer, run a fan and get a portable AC if you need to. With how much time you spend in your home office every day, a quality-of-life boost like this can work wonders for mental health. Suffering through hot and cold isn’t worth it if you can afford otherwise. Use nature to bring your home office alive As humans, we’re instinctively drawn to nature. That’s why so many people find hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities so beneficial to mental health. But unless you’re fortunate enough to have a home office in the middle of the woods, nature likely evades you. Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com To get the same benefits, you need to bring the outdoors inside. There are two main ways to do this: Opt for natural (and natural-looking) materials when building and/or furnishing your home office. A desk with a natural wood finish would be the most obvious example of this. Populate your home office with plants and flowers. Position them so they don’t get in the way of you working but remain visible. Hanging plants are particularly nice as they don’t take up desk space. Cycle in fresh air on a regular basis Fresh air is crucial for anyone looking to enjoy a healthy, happy life. While conditioned air is welcome during the sweltering summer months, it can’t replace the freshness of outdoor air. Sure, there will be days when the weather demands you shut your windows, but when the weather permits, try throwing open those windows more often. Andrey Popov / Shutterstock.com You can kill two birds with one stone here, combining this with the above tip on letting in natural light. All of this assumes you have windows, of course, and that you live in an area that isn’t ruined by excess pollution. Still, you have to get fresh air sometimes. Working from home in stale air day after day will take its toll on your mental wellness. Further reading: The best work-from-home tech products Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Enjoyable keyboard  Vivid, high-contrast OLED display  High-resolution webcam and good microphone Strong processor and integrated graphics performance Lots of Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C connectivity Cons Modest audio quality Battery life falls behind the pack Expensive Our Verdict The HP Elitebook X G1a makes up for mediocre battery life with solid all-around performance, an enjoyable keyboard, and future-proof connectivity. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Premium business laptops are an unusual slice of the broader laptop arena. They tend to fall behind consumer laptops on performance-per-dollar, then make up for it with premium design and forward-looking connectivity. The HP Elitebook X G1a doesn’t stray too far from this path, but its overall performance is strong for the category. HP Elitebook X G1a: Specs and features The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the star of this show, and not only because it provides a 12-core GPU. It also has AMD’s Radeon 890M integrated graphics and an NPU that offers up to 55 TOPS. The model I reviewed also had 64GB of RAM, which is a ton. CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 Memory: 64GB LPDDR5x-8533 Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon 890M Graphics NPU: AMD NPU up to 55 TOPS Display: 2880 x 1800 OLED Multi-touch up to 120Hz, 16:10 aspect ratio Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 solid state storage Webcam: 1440p 30fps camera with IR 3D camera for Windows Hello, physical privacy shutter Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (with USB-C 4, DisplayPort, Power Delivery), 1x USB-C (with DisplayPort, Power Delivery, 10Gbps data), 1x USB-A (10Gbps data), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm audio Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition, fingerprint reader Battery capacity: 74.5 watt-hours Dimensions: 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.72 inches Weight: 3.3 pounds MSRP: $2,749 The HP Elitebook X G1a has a fantastic keyboard that’s among best features. It offers a spacious layout with large keys—among the largest you’ll find in the 14-inch category. This is the most expensive Elitebook X G1a configuration and retails at $2,749. HP also sells a $1,999 entry-level model with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360 (which still provides Radeon 890M graphics). It scales back the memory to 32GB and halves the solid state drive to 512GB. HP Elitebook X G1a: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The HP Elitebook X G1a doesn’t make a strong first impression. Designed for a corporate environment, it features a simple, understated chassis adorned only by a small HP logo. But the details matter, and they hold up well. I appreciate that the HP Elitebook X G1a incorporates rounded corners and beveled edges, giving the laptop a softer and more approachable feel. The shade of silver used is also appealing, and the materials feel premium to the touch. While it may not stand out as unique, it feels durable and expensive. Which is good, because it is, in fact, expensive.  HP’s online store lists the Elitebook X G1a’s height at up to 0.52 inches, but that measurement is, shall we say, a bit optimistic, as it doesn’t include the rather thick rubber feet on the bottom of the laptop. The materials HP provided to me as part of the review clarified that the laptop’s full thickness is up to 0.72 inches at the rear, which more accurately represents how the laptop feels. That’s a bit thick for a 14-inch workstation laptop with discrete graphics, but it’s mitigated by its weight of 3.3 pounds. Though certainly heavier than some alternatives like the Asus Zenbook S14, the Elitebook X G1a won’t feel like a burden when stowed in a messenger bag or backpack. HP Elitebook X G1a: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith The HP Elitebook X G1a has a fantastic keyboard that’s among best features. It offers a spacious layout with large keys—among the largest you’ll find in the 14-inch category. Key travel is generous, and each key activates with a satisfying, tactile feel. It’s not a mechanical keyboard, to be clear, but it feels crisp and responsive. I also appreciate that HP uses a large font on the keycaps. This makes the keys easier to read, which is especially helpful if your vision isn’t perfect. A keyboard backlight is included, too, and because the backlight shines through the large-font keycaps, it remains easy to see after dark. The touchpad is less impressive. It measures a tad under five inches wide and about three inches tall, which is average for a 14-inch laptop. And while I found it responsive, the look and feel of the touchpad didn’t stand out. There is, however, one feature some users will no doubt appreciate and that’s the right or left click at the bottom of the touchpad reveals significant physical travel. HP Elitebook X G1a: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Most HP Elitebook X G1a configurations, including the one I reviewed, have a 14-inch OLED touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2880 x 1800 resolution.  This is a common 14-inch display found across dozens of Windows laptops, but it’s popular for a reason. The OLED display provides vivid color, rich contrast, and excellent motion clarity with support for refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s one of the best laptop display panels available, defeated only by a rare few OLED alternatives with a higher resolution, like the 14.5-inch 3200 x 2000 panel in the Dell XPS 14.  Brightness is the only potential issue, as the display hit a maximum measured SDR brightness of 403 nits. That’s typical for this panel but, because of the display’s glossy finish, it can seem dim when it’s used near a sunlit window or outdoors. A pair of upwards-firing speakers line each side of the Elitebook X G1a’s keyboard. They provide good volume and clarity but can sound boomy and harsh at higher volumes as the weak speakers try to overcompensate for the lack of bass. Still, the speakers worked well when watching YouTube or listening to music at lower volumes. HP Elitebook X G1a: Webcam, microphone, biometrics Business and productivity laptops like the Elitebook X G1a are often used for video calls and HP leans into that by bestowing the laptop with an excellent 1440p webcam. It provides a crisp, sharp image with good color reproduction. A physical privacy shutter is included to block the camera when it’s unwanted.  The dual-array microphone is solid, too. It captured my voice easily even when I spoke quietly and readily removed background noise caused by a nearby space heater. The audio can still sound a bit distant and hollow, but it’s great for video calls. HP provides two forms of biometrics. Windows Hello facial recognition is supported via the webcam, while fingerprint recognition is supported by a fingerprint reader in the power button. Both worked flawlessly in my testing, though the same is also true of most competitors with these same features. HP Elitebook X G1a: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith The HP Elitebook X G1a takes a modern approach to connectivity. It has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one USB-C port, all of which support up to 100 watts of USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort. One Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C line the left flank, while the second Thunderbolt 4 is joined by the laptop’s lone USB-A port on the right flank. This setup means there’s limited support for connecting older USB-A devices. On the plus side, however, this configuration provides access to gobs of data and video bandwidth, as well as USB-C charging across three ports.  I also like that the Thunderbolt 4 ports are split with one on each side of the laptop, instead of both on one side, as that provides more versatility when connecting a Thunderbolt 4 dock or hub. Many competitors offer similar Thunderbolt and USB-C connectivity, but some place both Thunderbolt ports on one side—which is annoying if that’s not the side on which your dock or hub is located. The included 100-watt power adapter can charge the laptop over any of the Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C ports and has a lengthy, durable six-foot braided cord. HP Elitebook X G1a: Performance The HP Elitebook X G1a configuration I received for review is a powerful model with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processor that packs 12 cores and 24 threads, as well as AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics. It had 64GB of LPDDR5x memory, too, plus a 1TB PCIe solid state drive. These are solid specifications, and the Elitebook X G1a’s performance lived up to expectations.  IDG / Matthew Smith The HP Elitebook X G1a got off to a weak start in PCMark 10, where it lagged behind the competitive set. The exact reason for this result isn’t clear, as the specification sheet suggests it should defeat the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, but repeated test runs showed no difference.  IDG / Matthew Smith Fortunately, the story changed when I ran Cinebench R23. This is a multi-threaded test with a modest duration that leans heavily on CPU performance and gives the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 a chance to strut its stuff. The CPU’s relatively performant cores provide a major advantage over Intel Core Ultra competitors, which can’t sustain the same level of multi-threaded performance. IDG / Matthew Smith Handbrake, another multi-threaded CPU test but with a longer duration, once again puts the HP Elitebook X G1a in a solid position. While it only lands mid-pack in these rankings, it’s worth noting that only AMD’s own hardware provides significant competition and that the differences between AMD-powered laptops are slim. Laptops relying on Intel Core Ultra, like the Asus Zenbook Duo and ThinkPad X1 Carbon, fall much farther behind. IDG / Matthew Smith As mentioned, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 includes Radeon 890M integrated graphics. It’s an extremely capable solution with a total of 16 graphics cores (up from 12 on Radeon 880M). That translates to great performance for integrated graphics. Up until recently, any score above 3,000 was considered a great result for integrated graphics, but AMD’s Radeon 890M regularly scores around 4,000. Intel hasn’t sat on its hands, however, and the 140V proves itself competitive, though it is a tad behind, at least when considering this set of business laptops.  The Asus ProArt PX13, housing RTX 4050 graphics, doubles the HP Elitebook X G1a’s performance, which is to be expected for a laptop that has discrete graphics. The ProArt PX13 is in the same price range, however, and it’s a better choice for a creative professional who might use 3D-accelerated productivity apps. While the HP Elitebook X G1a doesn’t set records, its performance is solid for a 14-inch business laptop. Its performance is led by the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 CPU, which delivers a big upgrade over similar laptops that have Intel Core Ultra processors. AMD’s lead in integrated graphics is much smaller, but the HP is still a fine choice for light-duty 3D acceleration including productivity apps and older or less demanding 3D games.  HP Elitebook X G1a: Battery life The HP Elitebook X1 G1a ships with a 74.5 watt-hour battery. That’s rather large for a 14-inch laptop, as most have a battery between 50 and 70 watt-hours.  However, the large battery didn’t translate to excellent battery life. The Elitebook X1 G1a endured our standard battery test, which loops a 4K video file of the short film Tears of Steel, for a tad under 11 hours. That’s a good result, but it’s still a long way from others. IDG / Matthew Smith My time using the laptop showed this was no fluke. I found the battery could drain quickly at times, losing up to half its charge in about four hours or less.  My use wasn’t light as I typically have many open windows, but most of my time is spent in Microsoft Word and the Microsoft Edge browsers, so I found the rate of battery drain disappointing. Even so, this level of battery life is fine in many situations, and could get owners through an eight-hour workday so long as demanding apps are avoided. Also, as mentioned, all the Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C ports support Power Delivery. The laptop is designed to consume up to 100 watts of power, but in most situations it will still charge when fed less power. That means you can more easily get away with leaving the charger at home, or pack a smaller, lower-wattage charger for emergencies.  HP Elitebook X G1a: Software & AI This HP Elitebook X1 G1a is considered a Windows Copilot+ PC and, to underscore that point, it also ships with a piece of software called AI companion. It provides access to a competent LLM that includes the ability to parse documents. However, the LLM does not run locally, and it doesn’t provide anything you can’t get from the free version of ChatGPT. I also installed LLM Studio and loaded several large language models, including DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 7B and Meta’s Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct. The Elitebook X1 G1a I received, with 64GB of RAM, can actually load Llama-3.3-70B-Instruct, but it generates at just 1.68 tokens per second, which is too slow to be useful in most situations. DeepSeek R1 Distill Qwen 7B, on the other hand, loaded quickly and generated text at about 14 tokens per second. Qwen2.5-Coder-14B also loaded quickly and output about 8 tokens per second, which is bit slow but usable for simple tasks.  In addition to its AI software, the Elitebook X1 G1a has a built-in IT management and security features, such as HP’s Wolf endpoint security. As I’m not running a corporate IT department, I can’t comment on its effectiveness, but it’s something for enterprise buyers to keep in mind.   HP Elitebook X G1a: Conclusion The HP Elitebook X1 G1a is a solid premium business laptop that sits between thin-and-light business laptops, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, and more focused workstations or creative professionals, like the Asus ProArt PX13. It’s not quite as portable as the former or as powerful as the latter, but offers a good compromise between the two extremes.  Like most premium business laptops, the Elitebook X1 G1a will struggle to reach a wider audience, as it’s priced similarly to consumer laptops with more powerful hardware. HP says it’s meant for “business leaders,” and the Elitebook X1 G1a’s performance and design will hit the mark with that demographic. Read...

Bluetooth 5.0 was officially announced almost nine years ago. The wireless technology has undergone several updates up to the current version (5.4), but we had to wait a long time for the next big thing. Now the time has finally come: Bluetooth 6.0 is just around the corner. Read on to find out what’s in it for you and what capabilities the developers have given the new wireless standard. Ingenious new feature: Channel sounding We are particularly looking forward to one exciting new feature of Bluetooth 6.0: “Channel Sounding.” This technology lets Bluetooth devices locate each other with impressive precision. In the future, the direction and a fairly exact distance of one Bluetooth device to another can be determined. The distance measurement achieves an accuracy of up to 10cm. This means that lost Bluetooth headphones, for example, can be found quickly, even if they are small in-ear models that you would often have to search for a long time (or in vain) by eye. Bluetooth SIG Channel Sounding also brings improvements in terms of security. For access authorizations such as contactless unlocking of locks (e.g. on cars), the technology promises more protection — for example, against man-in-the-middle attacks. More reliability, less latency With the help of the Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL), Bluetooth 6.0 can split longer data packets (such as audio) into smaller data packets for transmission and then reassemble them. The waiting time between sending such data packets is now also variable and can be flexibly defined by the communicating devices themselves. Burst transfers (several contiguous data fragments) can be processed more quickly if a fast transfer is required. At the same time, the waiting time between fragmented data packets can also be extended if this makes sense for narrow bandwidth or small amounts of data. This should make transmission more reliable for sensitive or interference-prone applications. The optimized ISOAL also enables noticeable improvements in the latency of wireless transmissions. This is not particularly important for applications such as simply listening to music. However, when gaming with Bluetooth headphones or watching films, even small latencies between sound and image can be perceived as very annoying. With Bluetooth 6.0, such problems could soon be a thing of the past. Bluetooth Extended Advertising With the new “Bluetooth Extended Advertising,” related data packets are transmitted on both a primary and a secondary radio channel. The so-called “decision-based advertising” allows a scanning device to use the content of a data packet on the primary channel to decide whether it should also search for associated data packets on the secondary channel. This can improve the efficiency of scanning and reduce the time spent on such operations, as scans on the secondary channel can be carried out on a more demand-orientated basis. More efficiency and improved security In addition to striking innovations such as channel sounding or ISOAL optimizations, Bluetooth 6.0 also brings a few more mundane but no less important upgrades: These include a further improvement in energy efficiency, which can also implement demanding functions in a more battery-friendly way and extend the device runtime. In standby mode, the energy requirement is reduced again compared to Bluetooth 5.0. At the same time, the reliability and security of transmissions is improved. The transmission quality in densely populated regions or in areas where many devices communicate simultaneously should also be less susceptible to interference with Bluetooth 6.0. Switch more easily between devices In addition to technical improvements, the developers have also thought about the user experience and improved usability. Bluetooth 6.0 should make it easier to switch between connected devices. If you use the same Bluetooth headphones for devices such as your smartphone, hi-fi system, or laptop, you will no longer have to go through the hassle of switching manually. Further reading: 3 ways to quickly connect Bluetooth devices in Windows 11 When is Bluetooth 6.0 coming? The specifications have been finalized and manufacturers can start equipping smartphones with Bluetooth 6.0. However, only a few devices that already support Bluetooth 6.0 are currently available. But a whole series of new smartphones with the improved wireless standard are expected to be launched in 2025. These include the flagship series from top manufacturers such as OnePlus, Apple, and Google. Xiaomi Which smartphones will get Bluetooth 6.0? In the long term, all mobile phones will certainly be compatible with the new standard. However, only a few models are currently known to already support Bluetooth 6.0. Samsung and OnePlus also still rely on Bluetooth 5.4 for their current flagships (Galaxy S25, OnePlus 13), even though the Snapdragon 8 Elite installed in these models is generally compatible with Bluetooth 6.0. These smartphones already use Bluetooth 6.0: Xiaomi Redmi K80 Pro (availability in the EU has not yet been confirmed) Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 4 (will probably be launched as Poco X7 Pro in Germany) We assume that these models will have Bluetooth 6.0 on board when they are released in 2025: Apple iPhone 17 Google Pixel 10 Xiaomi 16 Honor Magic 8 Motorola Edge 60 Vivo X300 Galaxy S26 series (release expected in early 2026) Related: Oh, that’s why it’s called ‘Bluetooth’! Read...

TL;DR Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97 until March 30 — Faster load times, improved graphics, and next-gen gaming features.If you’re still on Windows 10?! You might be holding your gaming experience back. Slower load times, inconsistent frame rates, and outdated drivers can make even the best games sluggish. Windows 11 Pro is built to optimize performance, enhance visuals, and introduce next-gen features that make gaming faster, smoother, and more immersive. You can now upgrade for just $14.97 until March 30. Act fast because these deeply discounted software codes will sell out quickly! Why Windows 11 Pro for Gaming? Less Waiting, More Playing – DirectStorage reduces load times by sending game data straight to your GPU. Sharper, More Vivid Graphics – Auto HDR enhances lighting, colors, and contrast for a more immersive experience. Better Frame Rates – DirectX 12 Ultimate enables ray tracing and advanced rendering for smoother, lifelike gameplay. Level up to Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97 before the deal ends on March 30. Make sure your PC meets Windows 11’s requirements: a 1GHz 64-bit processor with two or more cores, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, a DirectX 12-compatible GPU, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot enabled.   Microsoft Windows 11 Pro – $14.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Zoom and Mitel have unveiled a new hybrid communication solution that merges Zoom`s collaboration features with Mitel`s telephony systems, catering to enterprises` evolving needs. Read...

Intel has unveiled its expanded Core Ultra (Series 2) AI PC portfolio, aiming to enhance global business performance with advanced processors and features. Read...

With the recent Firefox 136 update, Mozilla’s web browser got several improvements and new features, including vertical tabs that sit in a new sidebar and provide a better overview when you have tons of open tabs. The update brings improved security via fixed vulnerabilities, which apply to Firefox ESR and Tor Browser as well. Mozilla’s 2025-14 Security Advisory report shows at least 15 fixed vulnerabilities in Firefox 136, with a “high” risk rating given to five entries for individual vulnerabilities reported by external researchers. For example, the CVE-2025-1930 vulnerability can be used to break out of the browser sandbox on Windows. In addition, there are three summarized entries on internally discovered vulnerabilities, which also have high risk ratings. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities leads to a “potentially exploitable crash” and the potential for arbitrary code injection and execution. Otherwise, Mozilla doesn’t provide information on the exact number of vulnerabilities covered. Mozilla plans to release Firefox 137 on April 1, 2025. What’s new in Firefox 136? In Firefox 136’s new sidebar, you can store and keep an eye on your bookmarks and history, plus have direct access to an AI chatbot as well as tabs from other synced devices. Browser extensions can also reside in the sidebar, provided the support is added by developers. The sidebar can be located either on the left or right side. The new vertical tabs feature is also located in the sidebar. If you enable vertical tabs, the tabs move from their usual position at the top of the browser to the sidebar and appear stacked, one below the next. This lets you see more tabs at once, and it’s clearer if you have tons of open tabs. To enable the new sidebar, go to Settings > General and scroll downn to the “Browser Layout” section. There you should see a checkbox for Show sidebar. Tick it and you’ll get a narrow sidebar on the left side of the browser window. Then, click the cogwheel icon at the bottom of the sidebar to open sidebar customization, where you can then switch on vertical tabs, move the sidebar to the right, and more. Firefox 136 also uses HTTPS-First by default now, which means Firefox always tries to open web pages using HTTPS first. If that fails, then it will fall back to the unencrypted HTTP. Controversy over changed Terms of Use At the end of February, Mozilla updated Firefox’s Terms of Use regarding its handling of collected data. You might’ve encountered irate users or even conspiracy theories on Reddit and other social media. But it’s all been blown out of proportion. It’s not as bad as it sounds. In a nutshell: basically nothing has changed. Mozilla has merely chosen clearer wording because the legal regulations in various US states made updated phrasings necessary. Updates for Firefox ESR and Tor Browser Mozilla has updated its long-term versions Firefox ESR 128 and ESR 115 with security fixes, addressing at least 10 vulnerabilities in Firefox ESR 128.8.0 and at least five in Firefox ESR 115.21.0. The updated Tor Browser 14.0.7, based on Firefox ESR 128.8.0, is now available. An update for Tor Browser 13.5 to version 13.5.13 is also available if you’re running Windows 7 or 8.1 or macOS 10.13 or 10.14. Mozilla recently announced that support for Firefox ESR 115 will be extended to at least September 2025. Mozilla will then decide whether to further extend support come August. For Tor Browser 13.5.x, which is based on Firefox ESR 115, it’s still unclear whether the Tor Project is willing and able to maintain an additional browser version. Further reading: Firefox adds AI to browser, surprising no one Read...

YouTube Premium ain’t cheap at $13.99 per month for ad-free streaming, especially since it seems like YouTube is intentionally making itself worse to get you to pay up. How does $7.99 sound instead? Starting today, YouTube is offering its Premium Lite paid tier to users in the US after having tested it out in a handful of other countries. You pay less for fewer features, but you still get to block ads… mostly. According to the announcement, YouTube Premium Lite offers a mostly ad-free experience for watching videos on desktop and mobile apps, but there are a few provisos and quid-pro-quos. First, you don’t get to play videos in the background or download them for offline viewing — that’s a big kick in the teeth compared to the full-fat version of Premium. You also don’t get YouTube Music Premium, which is half the draw of Premium. Premium Lite also doesn’t completely banish ads altogether. “For Premium Lite, ads may appear on music content, [YouTube] Shorts, and when you search or browse.” So you’ll still see occasional advertisements when using YouTube… in addition to the sponsored ads that creators put directly into their videos. (“Use my coupon code to get 20 percent off at Gamer Supps,” etc.) Even as someone who stubbornly refuses to pay for YouTube Premium on the principle that Google is clearly inundating free users with annoyances to get them paying up, I admit I’d be tempted by an $8 monthly plan that was truly ad-free. But that isn’t the case here. The mere existence of a cheaper option implies that Google understands YouTube Premium is too expensive for many users… but the compromises on Shorts and downloads means they’re not ready to deliver enough value. I think I’ll continue using my combo of ad-blocking on desktop and Revanced on Android to blissfully experience YouTube with zero ads until Google delivers a better deal. Since I see ads for ad blockers on YouTube every time I watch without these tools, even though ad-blocking is explicitly against the Terms of Service, I’ll do it with a clear conscience. Read...

As announced last week, Microsoft is officially discontinuing the Skype messaging service on May 5, 2025. Apparently, there wasn’t enough user interest to keep the once-iconic video call app alive. If you’re one of the dwindling few who still uses Skype in 2025, you might be wondering what you can do going forward. Naturally, Microsoft recommends switching to Teams, which is free to use and conveniently installed on every Windows PC with Microsoft 365. But if you don’t want to use Teams, you have other options, too. Switching from Skype to Teams Microsoft plans to offer the ability for Skype users to log into Teams using their existing login details, which would automatically transfer all chats and contacts. As of right now, though, this is not yet possible. Other migration conveniences coming soon include the ability to seamlessly chat and make calls between Skype and Teams. If you still have a Skype subscription, you can keep using it until the end of the next renewal period. If you have Skype Credits, you’ll be able to keep using them via Teams’ Dial Pad feature. To move your contacts from Skype to Teams: Open Microsoft Teams. Select the three-dot menu > Settings. Select People. Under Synchronize contacts, select the Manage button. From there, you have the option to synchronize Skype if you use the same Microsoft account for Teams. You can also back up your Skype data: Sign into Skype and go to My Account. In the settings page, select the Export contacts option. Skype will offer you all your contacts for download. You will then receive a CSV file that you can open and edit in Excel. For chats and media, log in at go.skype.com/export and select everything you want to download (messages, pictures, videos, recordings, and other files). Confirm and wait for the export to finish. You’ll then get a download link under Available exports. It’s not yet possible to delete your Skype account without closing the associated Microsoft account, as explained on this support page. Starting May 5th, however, Microsoft is expected to offer the option of deleting just your Skype account without touching your Microsoft account. Alternatives to Skype and Teams If you’re looking for another messaging app besides Skype and Teams, the following options are available: Zoom (offers meetings, calendar, chats, and calls; good for overall organization and planning of communication) Google Meet (formerly Google Hangouts; offers video calls, meetings, and conferences via PC, tablet, and phone) Slack (offers chats, group communication, video meetings and calls; optimized for remote teamwork) WhatsApp (offers chats, group communication, video calls, and many other features; better for private use) Cisco Webex (offers web and video conferencing; mainly for professional use with optional paid subscription features) Discord (offers chats, calls, and group communication; best for public and private communities) Further reading: Do you really need an encrypted messaging app? Read...