Over the past few years at LDShop, we’ve been watching something subtle but important happen in the background of the games industry. On the surface, it’s the same mix of new seasons, fresh banners, and limited-time events—but underneath, the way players pay, the tools they use, and the risks they face have all started to shift. Drawing on what we see in our own data, combined with public reports from payment providers and security researchers, we’ve identified a few key trends that are quietly reshaping how global top-ups actually work in 2025 and beyond. Shifting player spend patterns Players aren’t exactly tightening their belts; they’re just spending in a much more scattered way. That’s the clearest thing we see, looking at LDShop’s orders every day. On the surface, the market still looks healthy. In 2024, global games revenue sits at around $187.7 billion, up about 2.1% from the previous year. PC and console together make up roughly half of that, while mobile remains the single biggest slice of the pie. So the crowd of people willing to pay for games is still growing. The market hasn’t exploded, but it definitely hasn’t shrunk. LDShop What has really changed is how that money is sliced up. Not long ago, plenty of players had “one main game”. You’d lock into an MMO, a big gacha, or a favourite sports title, and most of your money went there: big bundles, expansions, season passes. Now it looks very different. One month of spending might be: a pity chase in a gacha RPG a battle pass in a competitive or sports game a couple of event packs in another title plus one or two ongoing subscriptions quietly renewing in the background Once spending is spread out like this, “Where do I top up?” stops being a one-off question. It turns into, “Which place am I okay using across all these games, all year?” That’s why aggregators like LDShop or Razer Gold keep showing up in comparison posts: one login covers multiple titles, regions, and denominations. Instead of rotating between four or five unfamiliar stores, people lean toward a single platform that fits into their existing routine. The thinking has shifted from “How much can I shave off this one order?” to “Over a whole year of small purchases, how do I keep costs and hassle under control?” When you look at it on that timescale, multi-game platforms naturally have an edge over the old model of “one official store plus a random mix of third-party sites”. Digital wallet shift The bigger change, though, is in how people pay. By 2022, digital wallets already handled close to half of global e-commerce transaction value. In China, mobile and digital wallets made up about 67.3% of e-commerce payments in 2023, with Alipay and WeChat Pay leading the charge. In the US, roughly 72% of consumers were using services like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or Cash App in 2023, and that share is still creeping up. If you think about your own day, it makes sense. Food delivery, ride-hailing, streaming, online shopping – it’s all wallet-based now. Pulling out a physical credit card for a small cross-border game top-up almost feels old-fashioned. Banks don’t love those transactions either: they’re low value, foreign, and often flagged as risky. People run into extra one-time passwords, random declines, or “please call the bank” moments. After that happens a few times, they simply stop using that card for games. LDShop has been built around that reality from the start. The goal is simple to say but tricky to execute: global game coverage, local payment habits. That doesn’t just mean pasting more logos on the checkout page. In Taiwan, for example, LDShop supports LINEPay, MyCard and can issue local e-invoices. In Russia, players can conveniently pay using ??? (SBP) and Tinkoff Pay. The point is that when a player reaches checkout, the experience should feel like any other familiar local e-commerce site, not like learning a new financial product from scratch. And that familiarity matters more than any “fast and secure” tagline. When people see payment options they already use for groceries or transport, the decision to reuse the same platform next time becomes almost automatic. Escalating account threats As volumes grow, risk has stopped being a niche concern and turned into a daily one. You don’t need insider data to see it. Microsoft’s Digital Defense Report mentioned blocking roughly 450 million cyber-attack attempts per day, with a notable share pointed at digital goods, small payments, and login credentials. For attackers, small game top-ups are ideal: frequent, cross-border, and historically lighter on verification — a pattern that also explains why even a few basic security tweaks can make a noticeable difference for everyday users. The problem is that the damage rarely stays small. A compromised payment method or account can link out into other games, platforms, and cards. So the question “Is this top-up channel safe?” is no longer a throwaway line. It has become a very real issue that can directly affect account reputation, virtual assets, and even the exposure risk of your payment methods. When users choose a platform now, they’re looking much more closely at how much information they have to hand over, how transparent the platform’s processes are, and whether real-world cases and resolution records exist for them to reference if something goes wrong. In this environment, LDShop’s strategy is to put itself in a position where it can be examined, rather than limiting users to one-way official messaging. We keep our Trustpilot page open and active, where the platform currently holds a 4.8/5 rating with around 2,800 reviews. The feedback isn’t a wall of perfection—it looks like a real operating business: Some users highlight stable pricing, fast delivery, and the fact that they don’t have to hand over their game passwords. Others point out that there can be slight delays during peak periods, or that extra checks may be needed when risk controls are triggered. To many players, that mix feels more like a real business than a sales brochure. Things mostly work; sometimes they don’t; and there’s a transparent history of both. Combined with LDShop’s connection to the LDPlayer ecosystem, it paints a picture of a long-term operation rather than a fly-by-night site that could vanish or rebrand overnight. Real trust doesn’t come from saying “we are safe” in a banner. It comes from giving people enough information to decide for themselves what level of risk they’re comfortable with. Choosing trusted platforms: LDShop LDShop So, what actually drives the choice of a top-up platform now? Most players are quietly managing a small personal bundle of games and launchers. Almost nobody wants to learn a new payment flow every time they chase a limited banner or renew a battle pass. Saving a small amount on one order feels less exciting if it comes with extra verification steps, dispute emails, and a nervous chat with the bank. From what we observe, people are effectively rating platforms on four broad axes: 1. CoverageDoes this place support the few games and regions I truly care about, all in one account, or only look impressive on a long list? 2. Fit with daily payment habitsCan I pay the same way I already pay for other online services, or do I have to dig out a rarely used card or method just for this? 3. Comfort around security and frictionAre the rules consistent? Is sensitive data kept to a minimum? Do I get hit by random checks every other purchase? 4. Outside reputationAre there public reviews, discussions, and past cases that I can look up in a few minutes, beyond whatever the platform says about itself? LDShop’s place in that landscape is fairly clear. We’re backed by the LDPlayer brand, we position ourselves as a global professional top-up platform with clear product lines (UID direct recharge, gift cards, game cards) on our official site, we work to make local payment and invoicing feel like normal e-commerce, and we put our reputation on public platforms knowing it will be scrutinized over time. For LDShop, the key has always been on the user’s side: everyone’s game library, payment habits, and risk tolerance are different. The more useful question is not “who is the cheapest for this one transaction,” but rather: “which platform can I rely on month after month without thinking twice?” LDShop’s aim is straightforward — to be the go-to top-up service players trust all year, no matter the game or device. Read...

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro brings modern security, smoother multitasking, AI tools, and a fresh UI—and it’s only $9.97 for a limited time. There’s upgrading your operating system—and then there’s finally leaving Windows 10 behind now that Microsoft has officially stopped supporting it. If you’ve been putting it off, this deal makes the timing almost impossible to ignore: Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 (MSRP $199). Windows 11 Pro brings a noticeably smoother, more modern experience from the moment you boot up. The interface feels fresh and clean, multitasking gets a major boost thanks to Snap Layouts and improved desktops, and the built-in security features—like TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and biometric login—create a far safer environment for work, gaming, and everything in between. DirectX 12 Ultimate takes visuals to a whole new level, squeezing every drop of performance out of your hardware. And for professionals, features like BitLocker encryption, Hyper-V, Azure AD, and Windows Sandbox make Windows 11 Pro feel like a true step up—not just a facelift. Then there’s Copilot, your AI-powered sidekick built right into Windows. It can summarize web pages, help with writing, suggest code, handle settings, and even generate images from your ideas. In short, better security, better features, better workflow—and a price so low it feels like a glitch. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to upgrade, this is it. Get Windows 11 Pro while it’s just $9.97 (MSRP $199) for a limited time. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Seamless 180-degree panoramic view Reliable PoE connection No subscription required for smart features Cons Requires PoE switch or a PoE-capable NVR to operate Slight lens distortion near frame edges No cloud storage option Our Verdict The Annke FCD800 delivers sharp panoramic coverage, smart detection, and solid deterrence at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for anyone who needs to monitor a large area with a single, reliable camera on a tight budget and has the required infrastructure in place (or plans to add it). Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Annke FCD800 Retailer Price $94.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Not long ago, panoramic security camera coverage required installing multiple units and you’d still end up with blind spots. Then dual-lens models came along and promised to fix that by stitching two views into one wide shot. The results haven’t always been pretty, though, sometimes producing visible seams, awkward distortions, and mismatched lighting in the stitched-together image. Annke’s new FCD800 aims to change that. This 8-megapixel power-over-ethernet camera (PoE) blends the feeds from its two lenses into a seamless 180-degree view, offering a viable replacement for multi-camera setups. Design and features The FCD800 is a turret-style camera housing two wide-angle lenses side by side (it’s also available in a bullet form factor for the same price). The metal camera enclosure is attached to a plastic mount, and connects via power-over-ethernet (PoE), in cable carries both electrical power and data. A separate mounting bracket allows both wall and soffit placement, making it easy to position the camera for full yard or driveway coverage. The Annke FCD800’s high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible stitching that plagues some dual-lens cameras. It’s rated IP67 for protection from the elements—meaning it’s dustproof and can withstand immersion in up to one meter (about 3.3 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes—it’s built to handle year-round exposure. Its industrial look won’t blend into every home’s exterior, but it suits garages, side yards, and any scenario that prioritizes function over subtlety. Want to know about IP codes? Check out TechHive’s IP code guide. Each of the camera’s two 1/2.4-inch CMOS sensors captures video with 4096×1860-pixel resolution. These are stitched into a continuous 180-degree panoramic image without the warping or fisheye effect you often get from single-lens wide-angle cameras. Nighttime performance is handled by a smart hybrid lighting system that uses both infrared and white LEDs. The FCD800 automatically switches between these two light sources based on the available ambient light, providing up to 30 meters of illumination. According to Annke, that’s about a 50-percent jump from the FCD600’s 20-meter range. In full darkness, it can run in discreet IR mode or switch on the white lights to flood an area with color night vision. The FCD800 stitches footage from two seaparate lenses into one seamless panoramic image. Annke Annke’s Motion Detection 2.0 adds AI to that wide field of view. The system can distinguish between people and vehicles, ignoring distractions like swaying branches or passing animals. If the camera does spot trouble, it can double as a deterrent with a built-in active defense system that combines a 97dB siren, flashing white strobes, and custom voice warnings that can be triggered automatically by motion or manually from within the app. The FCD800 gives you several storage options. A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording depending on bit rate and motion settings. The camera also works with Annke NVRs and other ONVIF-compatible recorders, letting you integrate it into a broader PoE system. If you prefer network storage, you can point the camera to a NAS. It appears Annke hasn’t introduced a subscription service for this model, so recording is strictly local. Setup and performance Setting up the FCD800 takes a little more planning than a typical Wi-Fi camera, but the process is simple once you understand how PoE works. Instead of plugging into a wall outlet, the camera gets both power and data through a single ethernet cable. That cable connects to a PoE switch or a PoE-capable NVR, which supplies electricity and network access at the same time. (If you prefer, you can power the camera with a 12V DC adapter, but you’ll still need to hardwire it to your router with an ethernet cable—it doesn’t have an onboard Wi-Fi adapter). It’s a clean, reliable setup that also eliminates worries about weak Wi-Fi signals. The camera connects smoothly to Annke’s own NVR systems, which might be the best bet for newbies, and is managed through the Annke Vision app. Once connected, you’ll scan the bar code sticker on the bottom of the camera to add it to the app. Then the app prompts you through the steps to connect the camera to your network. Once the camera is added, you can view live video, review a timeline of recorded clips, and manage camera settings in the app. The interface is clean and responsive, and the connection remained solid in my testing. A built-in microSD slot supports cards up to 512GB, enough for several days of continuous recording. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Video from the FCD800 looks crisp and evenly exposed. The high-resolution image sensor produces a wide, detailed panorama without the visible stitching that plagues some dual-lens cameras. I did notice a little curvature near the edges of the frame, a mild lens distortion from the ultra-wide lenses. It’s common with panoramic cameras and most noticeable when the camera is aimed sharply downward as mine was. Mounting it level with the horizon keeps this to a minimum. The hybrid night lighting was impressive, as well. In IR mode, you get strong black-and-white visibility, with decent edge sharpness and minimal flare. Switch to the white LEDs and the scene fills with bright, balanced color. You can choose one or the other let the camera’s intelligence decide which to use on the fly. The camera’s AI detection is pretty accurate distinguishing people and vehicles from background motion. I didn’t receive any nuisance alerts during my testing, but if you find environmental activity is triggering the camera, dialing back sensitivity or shrinking the detection zone in the app usually solves it. You’ll want to make sure these settings are tuned optimally for your environment because the camera’s active defenses get attention. The siren is loud—97 decibels is enough to startle anyone nearby—and the strobe flashes are hard to miss. They’ll quickly wear on your neighbors’ patience if they misfire frequently. The Annke Vision app gives you access to live video, a timeline of recorded clips, and camera settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Should you buy the Annke FCD800? At $139.99, the FCD800 delivers a lot for the money. It’s a great fit for anyone who wants to cover a wide area like a driveway or yard without juggling multiple cameras. You’ll need a PoE connection, so be sure to factor in that cost if you don’t already have the required hardware (a router or ethernet switch that supports PoE, a PoE injector, or a PoE-capable network video recorder). If you’re OK with that, it’s a solid, no-nonsense upgrade that performs as advertised. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Read...

Scrolling through Instagram while watching TV? Now, you can veg out on Instagram reels on your TV, provided you’re an Amazon Fire TV user.  Available now on select Fire TV players and TV sets, Instagram for TV marks the arrival of a native Instagram app on the big screen, just a few months after the ubiquitous social app finally made the leap to iPad.  Instagram for TV is focused on Instagram reels, with the app organizing reels into personalized channels “based on your interests,” including music, sports, travel, trending, and more.  Click on a channel, and the reels with start playing with full sound, allowing you to “lean back and watch without having to scroll for what’s next,” Meta said in a press release.  The new Instagram for TV app supports up to five accounts, and you’ll also have the option of creating a separate Instagram account just for TV viewing.  Aside from searching for Instagram creators, the app (which is still in an “early” testing phase) will let you like specific reels as well as browse for comments and reactions. Other features being considered include using your phone as a remote, shared feeds with friends, and more “intuitive” ways to “channel surf,” according to Meta.  Since Instagram for TV is designed to be viewed on a big screen in a shared environment, the reels played on the app will “generally follow the PG-13 rating system,” while teen accounts will get additional safeguards.  For now, the Instagram for TV app will work only in the U.S. and only on “select” Fire TV devices, including the Fire TV Stick HD, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st and 2nd generations), Fire TV 2-Series, Fire TV 4-Series, and Fire TV Omni QLED Series.  The app should land on other devices and in other countries “as we learn from this test,” Meta said.  Instagram isn’t the first social app to make the jump to big screens. Tik Tok already has an app for Android TV, Samsung, and LG TVs.  It’s also possible to mirror Tik Tok—and Instagram, for that matter—on your TV from your Android or iPhone, via either Chromecast or Apple’s AirPlay casting protocol. Read...

The Picochess chess program already has a long and storied history behind it—something you should be aware of if you’re looking to download and use it to play chess with on Raspberry Pi. After years of development, version 1.0 was released in 2019, but only offered minor improvements compared to 0.9N. This was followed by version 2.01 at the beginning of 2020 and 3.0 towards the end of the year. Version 3.3 has been available since May 2024. You can download these newer versions at github.com/tosca07/picochess. However, this is only Picochess. To be able to use the tool, you must first set up the Raspberry Pi OS operating system. The prototype of the upcoming version 4 of Picochess has also been available without Raspberry Pi OS since May 2025. Anyone looking for ready-made images with Raspberry Pi OS and Picochess on the web will almost inevitably end up on github.com/jromang/picochess. However, the last change there was more than six years ago—so it’s not recommended. Not much is happening elsewhere either: for example, the “DGT Pi Chess Computer” with integrated Raspberry Pi comes with the ancient Picochess version 0.9L. On the DGT website there is only a reference to a YouTube video explaining how to update to a more recent version. A poor service. However, if you have to do it yourself, there are better ways. Instead of paying around $400 for the DGT Pi Chess Computer, you can use a Raspberry Pi and a DGT-3000 chess clock for around $100. Or you can build your own chess computer by giving the Raspberry a touchscreen. It’s also possible to play with the Raspberry on a tablet as Picochess has an integrated web server. Enter the IP address that your router has assigned to the Raspberry. If a touchscreen is connected directly to the desktop version, the address is 127.0.0.1. Picochess 3.3 Desktop and Lite As of September 2025, there are two 3.4 versions of Picochess—a desktop and a lite version. The desktop version is, as far as Picochess is concerned, the same, but unlike the Lite version, it has a desktop environment and some extra software. Picochess desktop: Apart from the graphical user interface and a few other programs, there are hardly any differences to the Lite version. The Lite version is therefore ideal for Raspberry Pis without their own display.Foundry The Lite version is ideal for older Raspberry Pis, such as the 3 series models. Both images can be downloaded from the Picochess Google group, each on the current Bookworm version of Raspberry Pi OS. The image of the Lite version is 5.7GB in size (unpacked 10.5GB), that of the desktop version 7.1GB (unpacked 16 GB). You should use at least a 32GB micro SD card for the desktop version, as otherwise no further updates are possible. You should also create a larger swap file on a Raspberry with less main memory. Writing the image to the SD card There are several ways to write the image to the micro SD card. First install the Raspberry Pi Imager (under Ubuntu) with sudo apt install rpi-imager Then open Raspberry Pi Imager. Select the Raspberry model and the entry Use custom as the operating system at the bottom. Then select the previously downloaded and unzipped image file, followed by your SD card and Next. RPI imager: The image is selected here, which is then written to the SD card. At the bottom of the list is the entry “Use custom”. This allows you to select a ready-made image that already contains the chess program.Foundry In the next step, edit the settings. On the “Services” tab, switch off Enable SSH. Under “General”, uncheck Hostname and Set username and password. Then set up the Wi-Fi (“Configure Wifi” with SSID, password and Wi-Fi country) and specify the language settings. Save the settings and then select Yes in the next dialogue window and the one after that. Under Ubuntu, you must then enter the root password to start the write process. You can then start the Raspberry Pi with this image. After booting, the partitions are enlarged to cover the entire SD card. If you have set up WLAN, you will have to wait a little longer due to a compatibility problem. The system will shut down again and you’ll need to unplug the power cord briefly to restart. The Raspberry Pi restarts several times. Finally, the desktop image appears (or a prompt in the Lite version). The user name is “pi” and the password is “picochess”. Marginal: The web server of the desktop version looks a little different from that of version 3.3, but the difference is negligible. Foundry Changes in the “picochess.ini” At the prompt—in the desktop version in a terminal—change to the “/opt/picochess” directory. There, edit the file with nano picochess.ini The content is very well explained and you only have to change a few things. Set the standard playing time below the “Time selection” line. Change the line “board-type = dgt” to board-type = noeboard if you want to play against the engine via the web server. There are also many other options. For example, you can send yourself games by e-mail or have Picochess automatically check for updates. Just have a look at the “picochess.ini” file. Menu navigation: Use the arrow keys as well as ” ” and “-” to navigate quickly or slowly through the Picochess menu. Foundry Other engines The image contains box64 and Wine to be able to use x86 Linux and Windows chess engines. This requires a 4k pagesize kernel on a Raspberry Pi 5. If you don’t have a Pi 5, you can remove the entry “kernel=kernel8.img” with sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt (“#kernel=kernel8.img”) and then reboot the computer with sudo reboot There are two folders under “/opt/picochess/engines/ aarch64”: “linux64” and “windows64”. One folder is for x86_64-bit Linux systems, the other for Windows chess engines, which do not run as reliably. The freely available versions of Komodo Dragon, Komodo 14.1, and Stockfish run on both Windows and Linux. You must first download the Komodo engines from the homepage and add them to the appropriate folder. Set the files to executable and adjust the required entries in the “favorites.ini” in the aarch64 folder. There are ini examples in the corresponding directories. Read...

The Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, which set out a new system putting more emphasis on property rights, passed their first readings Tuesday afternoon. Read...

Minister Chris Bishop says currently much of the government`s reform work spans multiple agencies. Read...

Strategic partnership with New Zealand`s largest telecommunications provider, Spark NZ, simplifies hybrid, multicloud operations to improve hybrid environment through HPE GreenLake cloud. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Very compact form factor with a fully-fledged i9 platform Many connections including USB4, 2.5 Gbit LAN, and triple 4K support Strong single-core performance also for development and light rendering 32GB RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD ex works, second M.2 slot for upgrades Cheaper than many current AI mini PCs with Core Ultra or Ryzen AI Cons CPU and GPU performance noticeably below the latest HX-370 and Core Ultra systems, especially for 3D and AI Chassis and cooling seem less high-quality and service-friendly than some competitors SSD somewhat slow for PCIe 4.0 level Our Verdict The Acemagic M1 with i9-13900HK is a very fast, surprisingly compact mini PC that brings classic desktop performance and near silent operation. Although it lacks an NPU and some GPU power compared to the latest AI mini PCs, it impresses with a powerful processor, many ports and an attractive price. If you mainly run office, development, and moderate media workloads, you’ll get a lot of computing power in a small form factor. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Acemagic M1 Retailer Price $599 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Acemagic M1: The specs Processor: Intel Core i9-13900HK, 14 cores (6 Performance 8 Efficiency), 20 threads, base 2.6/1.9 GHz (P/E), turbo up to 5.4 GHz, 24 MB L3 cache Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Memory: 32 GB DDR4-3200 (2 × 16 GB SO-DIMM from the manufacturer Kinsotin), dual-channel, expandable up to 64 GB Internal storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD Biwin M350 (PCIe 4.0 x4), an additional M.2-2280 slot is available (expandable up to 4 TB) Front connections: 1 × USB4 Type-C (40 Gbit/s, DP 1.4, PD output), 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × 3.5 mm audio, power button Rear connections: 4 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 × 2.5 Gbit/s RJ45 LAN, 1 × HDMI 2.0, 1 × DisplayPort 1.4, 1 × DC-In Connectivity: 1 × 2.5 Gbit/s LAN (Realtek RTL8125), Wi-Fi 6E (MediaTek MT7922), Bluetooth 5.2 Operating system: Windows 11 Pro (64 bit) Power: external 19 V power supply unit with 6.3 A (approx. 120 watts) Dimensions: 128.2 × 128.2 × 41 mm (W × D × H), 1.18lbs The manufacturer Acemagic is known for providing compact, powerful mini PCs that combine desktop performance and ease of use with an attractive price-performance ratio. On Amazon, Acemagic offers several models in the entry-level to mid-range segment, often with good ratings for price, features, and simple plug-and-play installation. Let’s see if the M1 can prove itself to be a good value in our review. The Acemagic M1 with i9-13900HK is a classic old-school performance mini PC: excellent single-core performance, very decent multi-core performance and a usable iGPU for everyday 3D and media acceleration. Acemagic M1: Design As soon as you open the box, it becomes clear where the journey is heading: as much notebook hardware as possible in as little volume as possible. The mini PC itself, the pleasingly compact 120 watt power supply unit, an HDMI cable, VESA mount with screws and a brief quick start guide are included in the box. In principle, the setup is as simple as with a notebook dock: connect the power, connect it to a display via HDMI/DP or USB-C, plug in the peripherals, and switch it on. With its housing, the Acemagic M1 with Intel Core i9-13900HK is more visually appealing than the often angular barebones from classic PC manufacturers. The flat, square housing measures 128.2 × 128.2 × 41 millimeters and weighs around 1.18lbs. This means that the computer disappears effortlessly under a monitor or on a VESA mount behind the display. The M1 is only slightly larger than the Sapphire Edge AI 370. Christoph Hoffmann The top is simply printed with the Acemagic logo. The rounded edges give the device a much less “gaming box” look in the office than you would expect from an i9 system. The chassis is made of plastic on the outside and a metal core on the inside. Although this structure reduces the weight, it does not make the surface look quite as high-quality as the milled aluminum blocks of a Geekom A9 Max or Minisforum AI X1 Pro. A USB-C port (USB4), two USB-A ports, the combined 3.5 mm jack and the power button are located on the front. The arrangement is well thought out: headphones, a USB stick, or an external SSD can be plugged in quickly without the desk becoming cluttered with cables. Christoph Hoffmann At the rear, the M1 offers the rest of the ports: four additional USB-A sockets, 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4 and the DC input. Large ventilation slots are located on the sides. The computer is clearly designed to be operated horizontally – therefore, anti-tilt rubber feet are only available on the underside. Christoph Hoffmann In practice, the computer remains relatively silent in idle mode, and in normal office operation the operating noise disappears behind any normal ambient volume. Under prolonged full load, the fan revs up and is then audible, but not shrill – more like the typical hissing noise of a compact notebook cooler. Acemagic M1: Features The centrepiece of the system is Intel’s Core i9-13900HK – a mobile high-end chip with 14 cores and 20 threads based on Raptor Lake (Intel 7), which reaches up to 5.4 GHz in Turbo mode. It was launched at the beginning of January 2023 and is therefore no longer the youngest member of the i9 series. Nevertheless, it still ranks in the upper class in practice – more on this later. Christoph Hoffmann In our configuration, it’s flanked by 32GB DDR4-3200 in dual-channel mode and a 1TB NVMe SSD (Biwin M350). Christoph Hoffmann It’s exciting that Acemagic accommodates two M.2 slots despite the compact 128 mm design: both in 2280 format – both support NVMe storage with up to 4 TB capacity. Mentioned in this article Sapphire Edge AI 370 Read our review The combination of 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD is sufficient for typical office and development workloads. Those who maintain large media databases, for example, can simply add a second SSD without an external housing – although access is somewhat more fiddly than with mini PCs with a magnetic lid such as the Sapphire Edge AI 370 due to the housing design. When it comes to connections, the M1 is surprisingly generous: six USB-A ports (two of them with 10 Gbit/s), a USB4 port with up to 40 Gbit/s and DisplayPort Alt mode, plus HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. In total, three 4K monitors can be operated in parallel – a scenario that is quite realistic in practice, for example for creative professionals or in the software development environment. On the network side, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a 2.5 Gbit/s LAN port are available. This puts the M1 slightly behind the latest AI mini PCs with Wi-Fi 7 and dual 2.5 Gbit LAN, but offers more than enough reserves for typical desktop use. A direct comparison with devices such as the Geekom IT15 or Geekom A9 Max clearly shows the difference in focuses: While these models shine with DDR5 RAM and partially integrated NPU, especially with AI PC features and ample upgradeability, the Acemagic M1 relies on a classic PC concept with a focus on CPU performance and many ports at a comparatively moderate price. For professional AI workloads and maximum future-proofing, enthusiasts are better off opting for the new HX-370 systems with Radeon 890M, while the M1 is easily sufficient for everyday office and creative work. Acemagic M1: Operating system The Acemagic M1 is supplied with Windows 11 Pro, which is automatically activated online after the first start. The basic setup is completed in a few minutes; we then update the system from Windows version 24H2 to 25H2. Christoph Hoffmann Before the benchmarks begin, we install all the latest Intel drivers for the Iris Xe graphics and the chipset (Intel Alder Lake-P) to ensure that the mini PC runs under optimum conditions and that all components can develop their full performance. Christoph Hoffmann Acemagic M1: Performance The Intel i9-13900HK is formally two CPU generations behind the current Core Ultra chips and Ryzen AI SoCs, but this is only noticeable at certain points in everyday use. In the PCMark 10 overall score, the M1 achieves 6,288 points, with 11,097 points in Essentials and 7,966 points in the Productivity category. In Digital Content Creation, the M1 is slightly lower at 7,633 points, but still clearly in an area where office, browser multitasking, light image editing and Full HD video editing run completely unproblematically. For comparison: a Geekom IT15 with Core Ultra 9 285H achieves 8,341 points, the Geekom A9 Max with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 achieves 7,976 points – the M1 is therefore around 20 to 25 per cent behind, without dropping noticeably in typical office workloads. Christoph Hoffmann The 3DMark CPU profile confirms this impression. With 6,172 points at maximum threads and 1,082 points in the single thread, the i9 in the M1 almost reaches the single-core performance of current HX-370 systems, which are around 1,160 points, but falls well short of their 8,300 to 8,800 points in the multi-core scaling. In practice, this means that interactive applications, compilation times, and scripts continue to benefit from the high peak performance of a single processor core, while long rendering jobs or 4K transcoding simply run faster on the new AI chips – in tests with 30-minute 4K material, a Core Ultra 9 285H sometimes only encodes for half as long as the 13900HK in the M1. Christoph Hoffmann Graphically, the Iris Xe graphics used here is in the midfield of the current iGPU landscape. With 1,467 points in 3DMark Time Spy (1,283 graphics points and 7,960 CPU points) and 863 points or 6.4 FPS in Steel Nomad Light, it’s clear that we are dealing with a machine that maxes out with eSports titles and casual games, not a replacement for an RTX or RX GPU. Measurements on mini PCs with Radeon 890M – such as Minisforum AI X1 Pro or Sapphire Edge AI 370 – show a GPU performance that is around 30 to 40 percent higher with 3,500 to 3,700 time-spy points and over 3,000 points in Steel Nomad Light; Intel’s Arc graphics in the Geekom IT15 even tops this with 4,244 time-spy points. If you’re aiming for current AAA titles with high settings, it’s therefore better to use a system with a Radeon 890M or a mini PC with a dedicated GPU; however, the M1 is sufficient for 1080p eSports in medium presets. The classification of the AI performance is interesting. Geekbench AI Pro certifies the M1 with 2,740 points (Single Precision), 1,085 points (Half Precision) and 5,213 points in the Quantised test. This puts it well below the values of modern AI platforms: Minisforum AI X1 Pro with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 achieves around 7,007 points in the Quantised score, the Sapphire Edge AI 370 is at 6,616 points, a Geekom IT15 with Core Ultra 9 285H even at 8,005 points. Christoph Hoffmann The reason is simple: The 13900HK does not have a dedicated NPU, all AI workloads run via CPU and GPU. This is still sufficient for occasional image upscaling jobs, transcription or local language models in the low-parameter range, but anyone who works with AI workloads on a daily basis will be more efficient with a current Ryzen AI or Core Ultra system. The SSD performance determined by CrystalDiskMark is solid, but not spectacular, at 3,425 MB/s read and 3,284 MB/s write. These values are roughly on a par with a good PCIe 3.0 SSD and clearly below the 5,000 to 6,000 MB/s that we measured in mini PCs such as the Geekom IT15, A9 Max, or Sapphire Edge AI 370. Christoph Hoffmann Subjectively, this is hardly noticeable: Windows starts up quickly, large applications such as Visual Studio or Lightroom load fast enough, but project folders with thousands of small files still feel a touch more responsive on some of the other competitors mentioned. Is the Acemagic M1 worth it? All in all, the Acemagic M1 with i9-13900HK is a classic old-school performance mini PC: excellent single-core performance, very decent multi-core performance, a usable iGPU for everyday 3D and media acceleration, but no specialized AI hardware and its SSD values are just below the high-end level. It clearly loses out to the latest mini PCs with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or Core Ultra 9 285H in synthetic benchmarks, but comes close enough in everyday office and creative work. The extra performance of its competitors should only be relevant for heavy users and professional AI workloads. Otherwise the M1 is a more than capable day-to-day or work mini PC. Read...

Debian, Arch, Slackware? Ubuntu, Open Suse, Mint? Knoppix, Tails, Parted Magic? KDE, Gnome, Cinnamon? Anyone who deals with Linux has to process and categorize dozens of names. A few safe claims can help as landmarks. If you want to install Linux, you really are spoiled for choice: There are currently around 250 distributions available for end users, the vast majority of them free of charge. Do you have to know or even try out 250 distributions to find the right one? Certainly not: 80 to 90 percent can be filtered out in advance. In this article, I’ll present the best systems and work out the differences, advantages, and weaknesses. Main strains with Debian dominance The only thing that unites all Linux distributions is the Linux kernel. On this basis, there are five main strains on which the vast majority of distributions (derivatives) are based: Debian Linux: around 125 active distributions, including Debian, Raspbian, Knoppix, Ubuntu with numerous other derivatives such as Linux Mint RedHat/Fedora: around 25 active distributions, including Fedora, RHEL, Alma Linux Arch Linux: around 20 active distributions, including Manjaro, Endeavour-OS) Slackware: around 10 active distributions, including Porteus, Slax, and a handful more, if you still want to count Open Suse as Slackware-based Gentoo Linux: around eight active distributions, including Redcore Linux In addition, there are numerous independent distributions such as Solus-OS, Clear Linux, or Puppy Linux and — for the sake of completeness — the Android mobile system. Debian therefore has far more successors than all other Linux strains combined. The more than 50 Ubuntu derivatives alone add up to more systems than any other main Linux strain. The main reasons for the spread of Debian are its compactness, flexibility, and stability (in the most widely used “stable” branch) and the reliable package management with a huge selection of software. Many derivatives such as Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Bodhi Linux, Zorin-OS, or Bunsenlabs do not reveal their Debian or Ubuntu ancestry in their names. Knoppix, Raspbian, or the NAS system Open Media Vault are also based on Debian. This picture is only intended to convey the quantities. These are half of the Debian derivatives with the Ubuntu node. Foundry The user and desktop area is dominated by comfortable Debian systems such as Ubuntu, Mint, or Elementary OS. The bottom line is that Debian systems are the first choice for beginners, but also for many pragmatic Linux connoisseurs. The only disadvantage of Debian and others may be somewhat outdated software versions. Most Gentoo-, Slackware-, Red Hat- and Arch-based systems are not suitable for the majority, but are islands for Linux connoisseurs and for specialized areas of application. The Gentoo base is practically dying out after the end of Sabayon and the switch from System Rescue CD to the Arch base. However, there are some notable exceptions with Arch, etc.: Arch Linux: There are two particularly popular distributions here: Endeavour-OS is a very fast Linux with a graphical installer, but requires some Linux experience in everyday use. Manjaro with its graphical installer and package manager is probably the most convenient Arch Linux, but is also not a beginner’s system. Red Hat: Fedora Workstation is focused on innovation, less on stability. The “Anaconda” installer used here cannot compete with the simpler Debian/Ubuntu alternatives (Ubiquity, Calamares). Slackware: Porteus is designed as a live system (no installation) and is the first choice for a mobile and fast surfing system. Open Suse is basically based on Slackware, but is now considered independent. For more than a decade, it was almost the only Linux aimed at the PC desktop with graphical operation and configurability. The distribution has lost importance and now tends more towards innovation (e.g. BTRFS file system) and less towards beginner-friendliness. Nevertheless, Open Suse (“Leap“) remains a rock-solid choice. Package formats and containers A desktop user may not care whether their VLC player or Office program runs under Debian or Arch. The software is the same in both cases. However, as all the main strains mentioned use a different package format and different tools when obtaining the software, the choice of system for the software used plays an important role. Once you are used to the DEB package format (Debian, Ubuntu & Co., Linux Mint) and the apt terminal tool responsible for this, the changeover to RPM (Slackware, Red Hat, Open Suse), Tar.xz (Arch) or even Portage (Gentoo) is a significant hurdle and vice versa. Package management differs technically in terms of recognizing package dependencies and also in terms of operation. Graphical software centers of desktop systems should not be relied on exclusively, as they only offer a subset of the software sources. Fundamental knowledge of the respective terminal package manager is therefore important. The package format for installations and updates differs significantly between the main Linux strains. Anyone who is used to Debian or Arch will remain loyal for this reason. Foundry Apt (DEB packages under Debian/Ubuntu), Zypper (RPM packages under Open Suse) and Yum (RPM packages under Red Hat) can be considered relatively simple. You have to get used to the very concise syntax of Pacman (Arch), although only a handful of commands are required for the essentials (update, installation, uninstallation, search). Familiarizing yourself with Emerge and Gentoo’s Portage package format will be too much for normal users. The Snap and Flatpak container formats require independent management. This, their package sizes, and the increased system complexity are annoying or even off-putting for many users. If you want to avoid Snaps, you have to avoid all official Ubuntus (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, UbuntuMate/Budgie/Cinnamon/Unity). With Flatpak, the situation is more relaxed because here, as a rule, only the offer in the form of the management software is available, but no binding pre-installed Flatpak software. Candidates with a pre-installed Flatpak environment are Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Endless OS, Fedora, Tuxedo-OS, Zorin-OS. Different release models All Linux distributions provide standard package sources to supply the respective operating system with software and updates. There are clearly differentiated release models, which are essential for up-to-dateness and stability, but are not always communicated as clearly as they should be. Fixed: This is the regular and predominant release model with a quasi-static standard system. The fixed model is not only typical for Debian/Ubuntu/Mint, but is standard almost everywhere beyond Arch Linux. The kernel and system remain conservatively in their original state and updates only correct the current security problems. In the case of LTS long-term versions, function and kernel updates are carried out via periodic point releases. In general, this model guarantees high stability for the desktop, and even more so for server systems. However, the application software from the package sources can become relatively outdated over the years (with the exception of browsers). Rolling: This model is the rule for Arch-based distributions (Arch, Endeavour-OS, Manjaro), but can also be found elsewhere as an optional variant: Examples include Debian Sid, the Ubuntu-based Rhino Linux, or Open Suse “Tumbleweed”. The independent Solus OS is also a rolling release. Rolling releases do not recognize system versions, but keep the Linux kernel, drivers, system, and software permanently up to date — with certain risks of incompatible components. Rolling releases are suitable for users who tend to be competent, who always want to stay up to date and can fix any problems themselves. Semi-rolling releases such as MX Linux, Antix, KDE Neon, or Tuxedo-OS are hybrids between fixed and rolling. Immutable: The young, extremely secure release model “Immutable Linux” is more restrictive than the fixed model and strictly separates the core system and software. Apart from updates, the core system is static and unchangeable for both users and software. For application software, the container formats Flatpak and Snap are used, which do not interfere with the core system. Prominent candidates are Fedora Silverblue, Endless OS, and soon a variant of Debian 13. However, the immutable model is hardly recommended for normal users: The range of software is limited, the read-only system is too inflexible for server tasks, and the same applies to driver updates. Origin and sustainability In the mass of distributions on offer, some candidates may appear to be the perfect solution at first glance. However, typical desktop users or even Linux beginners should not get involved with exotics. Linux projects from small development teams may quickly become obsolete or have shortcomings that are not immediately recognizable even after trying out the live system. A lack of language support or a mixed-language system are among the most common, but by no means the most serious shortcomings. Distributions and desktops A user-friendly interface is at least as important to many users as the familiar package format or release model. However, distributions and desktops are a complicated subject. Although the well-established statement that the desktop under Linux is merely an interchangeable software application is technically true, it is still not correct. If you choose a distribution with the wrong desktop, you will regularly be disappointed by a “real” desktop installed afterwards. This also applies to distributions without a default desktop with Netinstaller (such as Debian, Open Suse, Parrot-OS), which install the desktop selected by the user. As flexible as this may seem, the result is always an unambitious standard desktop that requires reworking and possibly further installations. Desktop and distribution selection: The widest possible range of graphical management tools is important if terminal knowledge is lacking. Foundry Practically speaking: It is advantageous to choose distributions that are clearly or even unambiguously committed to a desktop. Here you can assume that the interface is optimized and delivered with all the associated components. Examples of distributions that clearly serve a desktop are official Ubuntu flavors such as Kubuntu (KDE), Xubuntu (XFCE), Lubuntu (LXQT), as well as Elementary OS (Pantheon), KDE Neon (KDE), Bodhi Linux (Moksha), or Bunsenlabs (Openbox). Most distributions avoid the restriction to one desktop and therefore offer several interfaces, but favor at least one standard. It is practically always best to choose this standard desktop — and if this desktop is not desired, it is better to choose a different distribution. Examples of distributions that clearly favor a specific desktop are Linux Mint (Cinnamon), Solus-OS (Budgie), or Parrot-OS Home (XFCE). The Linux desktops If you expect — without a terminal — the most complete graphical use possible for software installation, system configuration, drive management, and desktop customization, you cannot choose just any Linux desktop and therefore not just any distribution. The desktop for Linux systems is in principle freely selectable, as here with the Debian Netinstaller. However, you are better off with a distribution with a pre-installed standard desktop. Foundry KDE Plasma: With its configuration centers and system tools, KDE is the undisputed leader among Linux desktops. However, KDE is complex and not always beginner-friendly. Other obvious distributions would be Kubuntu, KDE Neon, or Opensuse “Leap”. Cinnamon: This desktop is probably the best Linux interface at the moment, combining a wealth of functions with (still) clear operation. Linux Mint, Ubuntu Cinnamon, and others offer the latest and most complete Cinnamon. Gnome: This desktop is unconventional, but functional and complete, although the administration area (“Settings”) is more confusing than KDE or Cinnamon. Typical Gnome distributions are Ubuntu, Fedora, or Pop-OS. Mate: The Mate interface still ranks among the complete desktops in that almost all administrative tasks can be performed graphically. Nevertheless, it only serves as the standard desktop under Ubuntu Mate, although many distributions offer it as an option. Budgie: The Gnome-based desktop makes Gnome more traditional again, but has the same confusing settings center and its own customization tools that take some getting used to. The traditional distributions are Solus-OS and Ubuntu Budgie. XFCE: The conservative desktop is easy to use and customize, but has slight deficits compared to the “big” interfaces when it comes to system tools. Model distributions are Xubuntu, MX Linux, or Voyager-OS. LXQT: This desktop is standard in Lubuntu alone, but optional in many distributions. Although LXQT borrows configuration tools from its big brother KDE, complete graphical system administration reaches its limits here. Pantheon: The desktop with a Mac look is attractive, but very reduced. System settings and customizations only offer the essentials. Pantheon is developed by the Elementary OS distribution and is standard there. LXDE/Moksha/Openbox/Fluxbox: These interfaces are representative of a number of others that a user can select specifically because they like them or because they need to save resources. They offer few configuration tools and delegate system administration to the terminal. Distributions that rely on such desktops are generally optimized for economy or live operation, such as Knoppix (LXDE), Bodhi Linux (Moksha), Bunsenlabs (Openbox), and MX Linux (Fluxbox). More hard facts about Linux distributions Wikipedia with hardcore information: The article “Comparison of Linux distributions” provides technical details on a large number of Linux distributions in several individual tables.Foundry The English-language Wikipedia website “Comparison of_Linux_distributions” shows information on all important distributions in sophisticated tables. For example, the existence of an installable live system or a graphical installer, the general orientation, the standard file system, the standard desktop or the number of software packages for each distribution can be researched here. These tables are excellent decision-making aids for a strategic distribution search. The Distrowatch website always provides up-to-date information on all Linux distributions — including servers, exotics, and extinct dinosaurs. In addition to basic data on origin and orientation, there is always a brief, rarely in-depth system characterization. A simple distribution search by name can be found at the top left of the homepage. The real highlight, however, is the search filter at distrowatch.com/search.php. Provided you have some knowledge of Linux, there is no other way to get a quicker answer to the question of whether there is an Arch-based distribution with Netinstaller and Budgie desktop. Advanced search filters on Distrowatch: The well-maintained database enables technical selection filters for a targeted system search. Foundry Read...