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| PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)Quick Answer: Can You Screen Record on Peacock?
Yes, you can. Peacock Premium enables Premium or Premium Plus to watch hit movies, full seasons of iconic TV shows, Peacock’s original series, the latest hits from NBC and Bravo, live sports, daily live news, etc. Unsubscribed users cannot enjoy the service provided by Peacock.
To record Peacock live sports and shows on Windows or Mac, try this reliable third-party screen recorder: EaseUS RecExperts.
iPhone and Android users can use the corresponding built-in screen-recording feature to record on Peacock.
Peacock is an online streaming platform with a wide range of content, and PC and phone users can record videos after subscribing to the service.
Record Peacock live sports and shows on PC and Mac
Compatibility: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/macOS 10.13 or later
Operational difficulty: Easy
Best for: Cash-strapped users or video content makers who want to record and edit Peacock live sports, shows, or news on Windows and Mac
With the boom of the Olympics and Paralympics, many sports fans ask how to record the Olympics on Peacock or if they can record shows on Peacock for offline viewing. Professional screen recorders like EaseUS RecExperts can help you screen record protected videos without a black screen on copyrighted streaming platforms such as Peacock Premium, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime – provided it’s for personal use. Here are some other highlights of the tool:
Its schedule recording feature can set up regular video-recording tasks, recording time, duration, etc.
Its microphone noise reduction feature ensures a better recording experience by reducing or eliminating background noise.
Provides video/audio editing and video/audio file import features.
Here’s a quick guide on how to screen record Peacock content on PC:
Step 1. Download, install and launch EaseUS RecExperts. Select the Enhanced mode.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 2. After launching Peacock in the web browser, click on the content you wish to record.
Step 3. In the EaseUS RecExperts interface, double-click the Peacock icon. You will be automatically led to your selected Peacock webpage.
Step 4. Click the REC button to start recording. You can then edit your captured Peacock video if required.
Screen record Peacock on iPhone
Compatibility: iOS 11 or later
Operational difficulty: Easy
Best for: iPhone users with iOS 11 or later who want to screen record Peacock on their iOS devices
As the mobile user population grows, more and more people want to screen record Peacock on their smartphones. Let’s start with iOS devices. iPhone includes a screenrecording feature, allowing users to capture videos or record audio from a website on their iPhone.
Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone. Click Control Center, then tap the Add button next to Screen Recording.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 2. Open the Peacock app and choose the content you want to record. Click Start Recording.
Record Peacock on Android Phones
Compatibility: Android
Operational difficulty: Easy
Best for: Android users who want to screen record Peacock TV on Android
Android users also ask how to screen record on Peacock. If you want to watch recorded Peacock sports or shows on your Android phone, you can use its built-in Screen Recorder. Alternatively, use the AZ Screen Recorder to screen record Peacock, screen capture Peacock sports or shows, edit captured videos, etc.
The following steps explain how to record Peacock using a Samsung phone’s screen-recording feature.
Step 1. Swipe down to access Quick Panel, then select Screen Recorder.
Step 2. Select the Sound settings, then tap on Start Recording. At the end of the process you should stop the recording.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
About Peacock
Peacock is an American over-the-top subscription streaming service. NBCUniversal studios and other third-party content providers, such as WWE and Hallmark Channel, offer most of the service’s content, including TV shows, movies, news, and sports.
In January 2023, Peacock stopped offering a free trial. If you want to watch, download, or record Peacock programs, you must subscribe to the Premium (with ads) or Premium Plus (ads-free) service.
Monthly subscription priceAnnual subscription pricePeacock Premium$8$80Peacock Premium Plus$14$140
Many Peacock users will want to download videos from Peacock for offline viewing, but there are restrictions on who can download content, how much and what type of content they can download, and for how long it will remain available.
Only Premium Plus subscribers can download videos from Peacock to supported mobile and tablet devices.
Premium Plus customers can download a maximum of 25 pieces of content across all devices at one time.
Downloaded videos will automatically expire in 30 days.
Only a portion of all video content is available for download through the Peacock app.
Given that Peacock Premium customers are not permitted to download videos, and Peacock Premium Plus users are limited by the above restrictions, a growing number of Peacock subscribers seek reliable screen-recording software to record DRM-protected videos on Peacock for offline viewing. It’s important that any screen-recorded video is not used for commercial purposes.
To Sum up: Choose the best way to record on Peacock
How to record on Peacock? After reading this article, you’ll discover a simple way to record Peacock sports, shows, movies, or news on your Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. EaseUS RecExperts is a screen recorder that provides PC users with unparalleled features and ease of use. Don’t hesitate to download this third-party tool and unlock its full potential.
FAQ
1.
Does Peacock offer DVR recording?
No, it does not. Peacock does not offer DVR. However, Peacock Plus subscribers can download Peacock videos or save certain items for offline viewing. It also suggests that the only way to watch the Olympics or other major sporting events on Peacock is to use the live channels and tune in at the specified time.
2.
Can you watch live shows later on Peacock?
Yes. Peacock allows you to save your favorite movies and TV series and select live events to ‘My Stuff’ for later viewing – as long as you’re a subscriber.
3.
Can you replay Olympic events on Peacock?
Theoretically, yes. If you’re a Peacock member and scroll over to the Olympics hub in the app on your TV, laptop, iPad, or mobile phone, you can see Olympics replays, live streams, etc.
But, in practice, it’s not that simple for all users. Only the Peacock World Feed has replays of the Olympics; the US Feed does not. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)Back in March, Valve launched a new feature for Steam Beta users called Steam Families, a collection of features that can come in handy if you aren’t the only gamer in your family. Today, Steam Families is now out of beta and available to all Steam users.
Steam Families combines and replaces both Family Sharing (used to lend games to family members) and Family View (now known as Parental Controls, used to limit a family member’s access to certain Steam features and content), and also makes it possible for restricted family members to make purchase requests for approval.
The big change is that Steam Families now allows up to six people to play games simultaneously from a shared game library. However, if two or more people want to play the exact same game at the same time, multiple copies of that game will be needed. It’s also possible to play games offline as long as the game in question supports Family Sharing.
Note: Not all Steam games support Family Sharing. Developers may opt out on a per-game basis for any reason. Visit the Steam Store listing page for any game to see if it’s eligible to be shared with family members.
To make use of these features, you must either create a Steam Family or join an existing one. If you create one, you can then invite up to five others to join you. Each member of a Steam Family retains their own save files, achievements, and Workshop subscriptions.
Who can join your Steam Family? Right now, anyone can join. However, Valve intends this feature to be for a “household” of “close family members” — even if there aren’t any hard restrictions yet, it’s reasonable to assume that Valve will introduce them if people abuse it.
Also, if someone gets banned for cheating while playing your shared copy of a game, you will ALSO be banned for that game. For this reason, you should only join Steam Families with whom you trust.
Further reading: Steam tips to level up your PC gaming Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)AMD appears to have forked its Ryzen Master software, essentially placing support for its older Ryzen and Threadripper processors into a separate release that contains fewer features.
Visit AMD’s Ryzen Master page, and you’ll see two versions of the software: one for “Ryzen 3000 processors and newer,” and a second version that’s optimized for “Ryzen 2000 series processors and older.”
AMD’s Ryzen Master software is AMD’s version of other third-party utilities that provides a summary of a Ryzen system’s basic system parameters, including the CPU clock speed and temperature, the integrated Radeon graphics, and more. It also allows users to overclock their system, and store personalized performance profiles for various scenarios.
But AMD is clearly de-prioritizing the older systems, as VideoCardz notes.
AMD’s Ryzen Master download page, with both versions.
AMD’s Ryzen Master download page, with both versions.Mark Hachman / IDG
AMD’s Ryzen Master download page, with both versions.Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
If you explore the release notes for both releases, the differences are clear: the older version (currently at 2.13.1.3097) basically currently lists a single feature, resolving incorrect CPU parameters. The separate release for the Ryzen 3000 lineup (2.14.0.3205) include numerous additions, including support for the Ryzen 9000 series, tweaking memory tuning parameters, manual clock speed controls, and more. The latest release was also updated in August, while the version for the Ryzen 2000 series was last updated in May.
One of the reasons AMD has won so much support has been its extensive, prolonged support for its older processors. That remains in place. However, AMD appears to be quietly putting its older, venerable Ryzens out to pasture. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)In Windows, you have options when it comes to viewing photos and videos, but you probably just use the default photo-viewing app Microsoft Photos, which comes pre-installed with Windows.
Recently, however, it’s come to light that Microsoft Photos has been causing computer slowdowns for many users.
There are two main reasons for this: first, Microsoft migrated the Photos app from UWP to Windows App SDK back in June, and second, Microsoft has been adding new AI features to the Photos app.
As a result, the app has grown sluggish and takes longer to start than it used to — which can be a real problem when the Photos app automatically starts on its own when Windows boots up.
Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap
Windows 11 Pro
This doesn’t affect every Windows user (yet). As of this writing, only Windows 11 users on version 2024.11050.3002.0 are affected. But more will be affected over time, especially after the new Photos app is integrated into Windows 10, according to this Windows Insider blog.
Unfortunately, the Photos app can’t be completely uninstalled because it’s an integral part of Windows. However, you can prevent the app from launching automatically at startup:
Option 1: Navigate to Settings on your PC, then to Apps, and then click Startup. Scroll down until you see Windows Photo Display and simply toggle the switch beside it to Off.
Option 2: Open Task Manager using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut. Then, click on the Startup apps tab in the left navigation. Scroll until you see Windows Photo Display, select it, then click the Disable button in the top toolbar to disable automatic startup.
Is there a downside to disabling Photos from automatically launching at Windows startup? Not really. You might have to wait a little bit when you do need to use it and manually launch it, but that’s it.
Further reading: The best free Photoshop alternatives for Windows Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsThe RGB accents are neatSupports both dual wireless and wired connectivity and easy charging via a USB cableYou get access to a total of 21 commands via the Easy-Shift [+] buttonConsThere’s not a lot of space for your thumb to restThe battery life is shorter than its predecessorIt’s quite expensive compared to the Roccat Kone AirOur VerdictThe Turtle Beach Kone II Air features a list of nice upgrades over the Roccat Kone Air that make it both quicker and easier to use. With 21 programmable commands and a comfy ergonomic design, this mouse is just ideal for MMOs.
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The Roccat Kone Air gaming mouse was a looker, but since it had no RGB it wasn’t great for playing with in the dark. The Turtle Beach Kone II Air changes that up with flashy, well-placed RGB that really revs up the styling.
It also gets a sensor upgrade to 26,000 DPI that provides a nice uptick to speed and tracking. The winning design that made the Roccat Kone Air so comfy makes a comeback but now there are two buttons behind the mouse wheel that make settings changes on the fly much easier.
Additionally, the Kone II Air gets easier charging than its predecessor. A USB cable does the job, with no need for AA batteries. The price tag hurts a little though: Right now you’ll pay $119.99, that’s more than double the price of the Kone Air.
If you like to hit targets at the farthest corners of maps, like I do, this mouse is ideal for that…
Turtle beach Kone II Air design and build
Some Roccat mice (now Turtle Beach mice) make big impacts with their all-in RGB styling. They’re the kind of mice that make me switch off the lights to get the gaming vibes happening. The Kone II Air is one of those mice.
Sporting two RGB light strips on the top and one in its scroll wheel, it’s remarkably bold and flashy. The RGB comprises two programmable zones, which are tweakable in the Swarm II companion app, so you can flex your creativity.
The mouse’s overall shape looks clean, and fresh. The design is almost a replica of the Roccat Kone Air except there’s now an extra button behind the scroll wheel above the DPI switcher. This switches scroll-wheel modes.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming mice to learn about competing products.
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Turtle beach Kone II Air is a large mouse that easily fits a large or medium hand.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
These two buttons combine with five more to make a total of seven, while a four-directional mouse wheel adds left/right functionality to the usual up/down you see in most other mice.
The chassis is really big even by MMO mouse standards. It measures 5.20 x 3.23 x 1.69 inches, which gives you plenty of space to relax your hand and stretch out. A quick comparison with the Razer Naga V2 Pro (4.7 x 2.97 x 1.72 inches) gives an indication of just how big it is.
That size difference makes it ideal for large hands, although everything is still within reach if you have more of a medium-sized hand.
A weight of 3.88 ounces (110 grams) bestows a hefty feel, which has advantages. It means the Kone II Air feels powerful and tangible — unlike the feeling you get from ultra-light esports mice.
Turtle Beach Kone II Air connectivity
Unlike the Roccat Kone Air which lacked wired connectivity, the Kone II Air has a full set of connectivity options, and these are very easy to use. The lowest-latency wireless option is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, accessible via a small USB-A dongle.
Bluetooth connectivity is easy enough to switch to, requiring just a flick of a toggle on the underside.When you’re finished playing you can store the mouse’s USB dongle in an open compartment underneath if you wish, which can help save it from getting lost.
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air features large PTFE feet and a dongle storage compartment.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
You can also tether the Kone II Air to your PC with the flexible USB-A to USB-C cable, which has the benefit of charging it at the same time. Once fully charged, you get approximately 130 hours in Wi-Fi mode and 350 hours in Bluetooth mode, which is a lot less than the Kone Air’s 800 hours. But on the plus side, you no longer need to replace AA batteries.
Turtle Beach Kone II Air performance
The Kone II Air is powered by a 26K Owl-Eye optical sensor. Among its technical specifications are a maximum resolution of 26,000 DPI, maximum speed of 650 inches-per-second (IPS), and maximum acceleration of 50 g. Suffice it to say, it tracks like a dream and is both quick and sensitive.
The mouse’s ergonomic design gives it great handling. I got excellent leverage from the high back that allowed me to drive quickly from the center of my palm but slow down just as fast so that I didn’t overextend shots. It proved equally maneuverable in a palm, claw, or fingertip grip.
On the left flank is a thumb rest. It’s more of an alcove really, since there’s a paddle — the mouse’s Easy-Shift [+] button — at its lower border that prevents you fully resting. Pressing this paddle down allowed me to access extra programmable commands: Seven commands became 21, which was plenty for accessing a smorgasbord of abilities in WoW.
Using the alcove did take some getting used to, though. That’s because my thumb was wedged between three buttons. I soon found a good workaround to this was to simply adopt a lighter grip.
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The alcove where you rest your thumb. The Easy-Shift [+] button is at the bottom.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Kone II Air may be a little heavier than some mice, but its big PTFE feet save it from being sluggish. The glide feels remarkably fluid. Tackling micro movements is surprisingly easy for a mouse this size, too.
The mouse’s weightiness is an advantage when making large sweeping movements. It provides just the right balance between acceleration and stopping. So, if you like to hit targets at the farthest corners of maps, like I do, this mouse is ideal for that.
The buttons, which feature Titan Optical switches, feel very soft. They have a distinct clickiness that you can hear above your game sound. For me that sound became an ever-encouraging reminder of the shots I fired, attacks I blocked, and spells I released.
Should you buy the Turtle Beach Kone II Air?
The Turtle Beach Kone II Air embodies a bright and flashy RGB look that distinguishes it from the Kone Air.
It forges new ground with its wired connectivity, and a rechargeable battery too. Its current price tag of $119.99 does make it more than double the price of the $50 Roccat Kone Air, however.
Regarding performance, this mouse is a real gem. It’s both fast and precise, and with a total of seven buttons and 21 commands accessible via its Easy-Shift [+] paddle, it’s just ideal for games where you want quick access to a revolving list of abilities. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsExcellent motion clarity at 360HzGreat sharpness at 4K resolutionAttractive designConsLow contrast ratioModest color performanceNo USB-C video inputOur VerdictThe Alienware AW2725QF’s dual-resolution mode can offer 4K resolution at up to 180Hz, or 1080p at up to 360Hz. That makes the monitor more versatile, but mediocre image quality makes the monitor hard to recommend.
There’s a new trend in gaming monitors: “dual-resolution” displays. These monitors advertise support for two resolutions with differing maximum refresh rates. The Alienware AW2725QF has a maximum resolution of 4K with a refresh rate up to 180Hz, but can also handle 1080p at up to 360Hz. That means the AW2725QF is a monitor that can deliver both excellent sharpness or top-tier motion clarity as required. However, the AW2725QF relies on an IPS panel without a Mini-LED backlight, which is bad news for its contrast and color performance.
Alienware AW2725QF specs and features
The AW2725QF’s specifications highlight its dual-resolution functionality. 4K resolution on a 27-inch monitor is the highest common resolution for Windows computers, as only a small handful of 5K monitors exists. However, when in 1080p resolution mode, the AW2725QF can achieve a refresh rate of 360Hz.
Display size: 27-inch ultrawide 16:9 aspect ratio
Native resolution: 1920×1080 / 3840×2160 dual-mode
Panel type: IPS
Refresh rate: Up to 360Hz at 1080p, up to 180Hz at 4K
Adaptive sync: VESA Adaptive Sync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified
Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 (upstream), 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (downstream), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (downstream)
VESA mount: 100x100mm
Speakers: No
Price: $599.99 MSRP
Display panel aside, the monitor’s specifications are typical for the category. It supports HDR and Adaptive Sync and has three video inputs. It can also function as a USB hub with multiple downstream USB-A ports, though its range of USB functionality is not impressive, and it lacks a USB-C input with DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to learn about competing products.
Alienware AW2725QF design
The Alienware AW2725QF is immediately identifiable as an Alienware monitor, and that’s a positive. Alienware embraced its current retro sci-fi “Legend” design language in 2019, and it hasn’t looked back since. Though no longer novel, the AW2725QF’s swooping panels and attractive RGB-LED lighting deliver an eye-catching look.
It’s a well-built monitor, as well, with good material quality across the panel. With that said, though, new OLED monitors (including those from Alienware) are a step ahead of the AW2725QF. OLED monitors don’t require a backlight behind the display panel, so they’re much thinner at the edges. The AW2725QF does require a backlight, so it looks a bit bulky when compared to 27-inch OLED alternatives.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The monitor ships with a sturdy stand that adjusts for height, tilt, pivot, and swivel. It has a small, hexagon-like base that doesn’t take up much room on a desk. It’s not entirely flat, but close to it, so some items can still be placed on the stand. That’s an advantage over competitors that use a wide, tripod-like stand, as the AW2725QF will fit comfortably on small desks. The monitor also has a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor arms and stands.
Alienware AW2725QF connectivity and menus
Alienware provides three video inputs for the AW2725QF: two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. All three video inputs can handle the monitor’s full refresh rate and resolution at both 1080p and 4K. There’s no USB-C with video input, however, so the monitor isn’t a great choice for connecting a laptop or tablet with USB-C. That’s a bit of a disadvantage in 2024, as some gaming monitors, like recent Gigabyte Aorus and MSI MPG models, have USB-C ports with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Power Delivery.
The AW2725QF does offer some USB connectivity, which is driven by a USB-B upstream port. This includes three downstream USB-A ports and one USB-C port. The USB-C port does include power charging, but only up to 15 watts.
A joystick centered on the monitor’s low bezel provides access to Alienware’s on-screen menus. The joystick is responsive and the menus feel logically arranged — though, like many monitors, the font size is a bit smaller than would be ideal. I also noticed that the text of the menu did not contrast well with the dark background, as the text was a dark hue of gray instead of near white. This would be easy to fix in a firmware update, I think, and I’d encourage Alienware to do so, because I think many people will find the current menu system difficult to read.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The menus provide an acceptable but not outstanding range of adjustment. There’s a custom color mode, which includes adjustment for color hue, gain, saturation. However, the monitor does not have a standalone color temperature mode to target specific color temperature values. Also, both the sRGB color gamut mode and gamma adjustment controls are only accessible in the monitor’s “Creator” mode. A variety of gaming-centric features are available, too, such as a dark stabilizer to increase the brightness of dark areas of screen and on-screen timer and framerate counters.
The AW2725QF doesn’t include speakers, which is typical for a gaming monitor. Most don’t, and few that do provide passable audio quality. Strangely, though, the AW272QF also lacks a 3.5mm audio output. That means you can’t connect speakers or headphones to the monitor and must instead connect directly to the audio source, which might be inconvenient if you have multiple video inputs connected and frequently switch between them.
Alienware AW2725QF SDR image quality
I’ll be honest: The Alienware AW2725QF immediately struck me as a strange, and perhaps disappointing, monitor. 4K resolution at up to 180Hz looks sharp, and the dual-resolution versatility is appreciated, but in exchange the AW2725QF sticks with a conventional IPS display panel. This type of panel tends to offer a lower contrast ratio and (without Quantum Dots) a more limited color gamut than OLED competitors. Unfortunately, testing the AW2725QF revealed the limitations I expected, though the monitor does have some strengths.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Brightness is among those strengths. I measured a maximum SDR brightness of 518 nits, which is excellent for any monitor and way more than a typical gaming display. This level of brightness is excessive if you’re planning to game in a dim or dark room (and I usually used the monitor at 35 to 40 percent of its maximum brightness), but it’s good news if you want to use the monitor in a very bright room.
The monitor is brighter than its competitors, as well, and roughly twice as bright as the Gigabyte Aorus FO27QS, which has a QD-OLED panel.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Contrast completely changes the narrative, however, as the AW2725QF had a contrast ratio of just 1150:1. That’s the worst contrast ratio of the competitors I chose for comparison, falling behind even the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS, which also had an IPS display panel.
The lack of contrast is an issue when viewing darker, more atmospheric games, movies, and photos in a dim or dark room. The dreaded “IPS glow” — a hazy silver-gray cast to dark scenes — is apparent. It also noticeably lacks uniformity, which only adds to the distraction. Whether this matters depends on what you use the monitor: It’s often not a major issue on the Windows desktop and in productivity apps, but a major downside in games and other entertainment.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
It feels a bit odd to say the Alienware’s color gamut is limited, as a gamut like this would’ve been excellent five years ago. But times have changed, and many modern monitors offer a comparable, or better, color gamut.
Gamers don’t need to worry about this too much, as the AW2725QF’s color gamut is still more than adequate to deliver a vivid and saturated image. Colorful games tend to look bright, attractive, and punchy.
However, the color gamut might turn off content creators who want to create or edit digital art, photo, video, and other media, as the AW2725QF can’t display as many colors overall as some competitors can.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Color accuracy is also a modest result. This level of color accuracy is still good, and I don’t think most people will see anything wrong, even when looking critically. Still, it’s clear that competitors have an edge in out-of-box color accuracy. All else being equal, that could lean some shoppers away from the AW2725QF.
However, while the AW2725QF didn’t have the best out-of-box color accuracy, it did well in color temperature and gamma tests. It had a default color temperature of 6500K and a gamma curve of 2.2. Both figures match our preference. In the real world, these numbers mean the AW2725QF’s image doesn’t look too warm or cool, and content is displayed with accurate luminance. Most monitors in this price range tend to be slightly off in at least one of these two metrics. OLED monitors, for example, often have a gamma result of 2.3, and look a bit darker and dimmer than I would prefer (though this can usually be corrected with the monitor’s on-screen menu options, which typically provide alternative gamma modes).
The Alienware AW2725QF is a rare miss for Dell’s gaming brand.
Sharpness is another highlight. The AW2725QF is a dual display monitor meant for use at 4K resolution up to 180Hz or 1080p resolution up to 360Hz. At 4K, the monitor provides excellent sharpness with a pixel density 163 pixels per inch. 27-inch OLED monitors are still stuck at 1440p resolution, so they won’t look as sharp as the AW2725QF.
One final point: While the AW2725QF has an anti-glare coating, it’s more of a semi-gloss finish than matte. Glare is diffused somewhat but can still appear rather concentrated at times. In general, I’m not a big fan of how this particular anti-glare finish looks; it seems like a poor compromise between matte and glossy.
Overall, the AW2725QF’s image quality is solid, but it seems like a bad match for its intended purpose. The monitor’s high brightness and excellent sharpness (at 4K resolution) make it a great monitor for productivity, but its low contrast ratio and modest color gamut make it less appealing for games and entertainment. That’s a problem, because the AW2725QF is meant to be a gaming monitor.
Alienware AW2725QF HDR image quality
The Alienware AW2725QF is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That’s a notch above the entry-level VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, but the AW2725QF isn’t a good HDR monitor.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
I measured a maximum sustained full-screen HDR brightness of 614 nits. The monitor also reached a near-identical brightness of 616 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning just 10 percent of the display was active, while the rest was entirely dark. As the graph above shows, the AW2725QF has a higher full-screen HDR brightness than an OLED monitor, but falls behind the best OLED monitors in a 10 percent window. Mini-LED monitors, meanwhile, beat the AW2725QF in both areas.
Brightness aside, the AW2725QF’s contrast ratio remains a problem. As mentioned earlier, the monitor had a maximum contrast ratio of 1150:1 when at 50 percent of SDR brightness. That figure slightly worsens to a ratio of 1130:1 at maximum HDR brightness. The low contrast ratio means that dark areas of the screen suffer from elevated brightness, which compress luminance detail. Put more simply: The HDR image looks flat and dull.
This is not a surprise, given the AW2725QF’s IPS display panel, but it’s an issue. Both OLED and Mini-LED monitors can be purchased at a similar price, and both deliver much better HDR performance. The AW2725QF is a no-go for anyone who wants to watch HDR movies or play HDR games.
Alienware AW2725QF motion performance
Motion performance is arguably the reason to buy the AW2725QF. But, unlike some recent OLED monitors with refresh rates up to 360Hz, I’m not sure the argument holds up.
That’s not to say the AW2725QF’s motion clarity is bad. On the contrary, it’s excellent, and most owners are likely to be blown away by what they see. Games look clear and crisp even at 4K and up to 180Hz. At 1080p and 360Hz they look exceptionally detailed in motion. Only the smallest fonts and low-contrast UI elements are too blurred to make out.
The monitor’s dual-resolution feature has its uses, too. Gamers who want excellent motion clarity and low input lag in competitive games can obtain that from the 1080p/360Hz mode, but also have the option to switch to 4K/180Hz for better sharpness in single-player games. Also, it’s worth remembering that a high refresh rate is only useful when a game achieves a matching frame rate. Some games are incapable of a frame rate up to 360 frames per second, so opting for the 4K/180Hz mode makes more sense in those titles.
However, the AW2725QF faces stiff competition from OLED alternatives. Alienware’s own 360Hz QD-OLED monitors, the AW2725DF, is much more expensive at $899.99, but it’s often possible to find an alternative priced close to the AW2725QF. The MSI MPG 271QPX is currently $649.99 on Amazon, for example. Going OLED means you’ll have to trade a maximum resolution of 4K for 1440p, but I think most gamers will be happy to exchange that for OLED’s superior contrast and color performance.
Should you buy the Alienware AW2725QF?
The Alienware AW2725QF is a rare miss for Dell’s gaming brand. I can sort of see what Alienware was going for, as the AW2725QF’s dual-display capability and high refresh rate could appeal to competitive gamers. However, the rapid fall in OLED monitor pricing means that many models are just $50 to $100 more expensive, and some Mini-LED monitors also achieve similar pricing.
That makes the AW2725QF a tough sell, as it lacks the contrast, color gamut, and HDR performance of its competition. The AW2725QF is good for motion clarity, yes — but if you’re a gamer who spent over $1,000 to snag a video card capable of 4K at 180Hz or 1080p at 360Hz, I don’t think you’ll be happy with the SDR or HDR image quality this monitor can deliver. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | BBCWorld - 13 Sep (BBCWorld)The wife of French President Emmanuel Macron features in new episodes released by Netflix on Thursday. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | |
| | | PC World - 13 Sep (PC World)At a glanceExpert`s Rating
ProsFantastic thermal mounting of heatsinkVery good real-world Windows performerHandsomely styledConsExtremely pricey for a PCIe 4.0 host memory buffer (HMB) designSlow 4K performance with larger data setsHMB isn’t supported by the PS5Our VerdictOut of the box, the handsomely styled Lexar Play 2280 impresses. But it’s exorbitantly priced and uses DRAM-less, host memory buffer (HMB) caching technology — something the targeted PlayStation 5 doesn’t support. In a nutshell, it’s super expensive and won’t perform optimally in a PS5.
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Lexar is marketing its Play 2280 SSD at the PlayStation crowd, and it certainly looks the part as you can see from photos. But the drive is seriously overpriced for the technology involved and hardly the “perfect” match for the PS5 as Lexar claims.
What are the Lexar Play 2280’s features?
As you might deduce from the name, the Lexar Play 2280, is a 2280 form factor (22mm wide, 80mm long) NVMe SSD. It’s PCIe 4 x4, and uses fast, recent-vintage TLC NAND that’s controlled by a Maxio MAP1602A-FC3. That controller means the Play 2280 is a host memory buffer design — it uses your device’s system memory for primary caching.
Being a host memory buffer (HMB) design is not a bad thing per se. Indeed, HMB designs are highly competitive with DRAM designs in sequential transfers and usually far cheaper. Where HMB designs are generally slower is in random performance, but I still recommend them for the average user.
But there’s a huge sticking point when it comes to Sony’s gaming platform — the PlayStation 5 does not support HMB. That’s hardly “perfect for the PS5” as Lexar claims at its Amazon store. The drive will still function, and likely satisfactorily, but never to its full potential.
This is from Sony’s PlayStation website.
This is from Sony’s PlayStation website.
This is from Sony’s PlayStation website.
On a positive note, the Lexar features the most thorough thermal protection I’ve seen. There’s a layer of thermal tape on both top and on the bottom of the SSD for maximum transfer between the heatsink and the tray it screws into. Everything I’ve seen previously offers thermal material only on top.
A sexy shot of the Play 2280 sitting on top of a Macbook.
A sexy shot of the Play 2280 sitting on top of a Macbook.
A sexy shot of the Play 2280 sitting on top of a Macbook.
Lexar warranties the Play 2280 for five years, which is mitigated by a 800TBW-per-1TB-of-capacity rating. If you’re not familiar, TBW is like the miles in a whichever-comes-first automobile warranty. 800TBW is rather generous, with the average SSD only rated for 600TBW.
The Lexar features the most thorough thermal protection I’ve seen.
How much is the Lexar Play 2280?
Now here’s the crux of our complaint. Lexar lists the 4TB version of the Play 2280 at $380 (although Amazon currently has it for $350). According to Lexar, there is a 2TB version for $250 that will be available in October, and an 8TB version following that. Those prices are almost twice as much as the least expensive HMB designs, although those generally use QLC NAND, which is far slower when written natively than the Play 2280’s TLC.
Perfect? We don’t think an HMB SSD is perfect for a device that doesn’t support it.
Perfect? We don’t think an HMB SSD is perfect for a device that doesn’t support it.
Perfect? We don’t think an HMB SSD is perfect for a device that doesn’t support it.
But the Play 2280 also costs a lot more than what you’ll pay for a fast PCIe 4.0 DRAM design such as the Solidigm P44 Pro or Crucial T500. A DRAM design will provide much better performance (especially random) and is far more “perfect” for a PlayStation 5.
How fast is the Lexar Play 2280?
The Play 2280’s performance was a yin-and-yang type of deal. It was very fast sequentially, but ran out of steam in CrystalDiskMark 8’s 4K tests with our standard 64GB data set. AS SSD 2.0 (not shown) uses a smaller 10GB data set and turned in normal 4K numbers.
The Play 2280 did very well in CrystalDiskMark 8’s sequential tests. Longer bars are better.
The Play 2280 did very well in CrystalDiskMark 8’s sequential tests. Longer bars are better.
The Play 2280 did very well in CrystalDiskMark 8’s sequential tests. Longer bars are better.
When we knocked CrystalDiskMark 8 down to a 32GB data set, the 4K numbers soared. Alas, all the numbers we’ve gathered for the Play 2280’s competition are with the 64GB data set so that’s what’s shown and used for ranking.
Outside of the 32-queue read, the Play 2280’s 4K performance was weak. Even for HMB which is slower with random ops than DRAM designs. Longer bars are better.
Outside of the 32-queue read, the Play 2280’s 4K performance was weak. Even for HMB which is slower with random ops than DRAM designs. Longer bars are better.
Outside of the 32-queue read, the Play 2280’s 4K performance was weak. Even for HMB which is slower with random ops than DRAM designs. Longer bars are better.
The Play 2280 did quite well in our real-world 48GB and 450GB write, though bear in mind our real-world is Windows 11 on a PC, not the PlayStation 5, so I can’t say with 100 percent certainty how our results will translate.
Though not as fast as the P44 Pro, the Play 2280 turned in a good performance transferring 48GB files. Shorter bars are better.
Though not as fast as the P44 Pro, the Play 2280 turned in a good performance transferring 48GB files. Shorter bars are better.
Though not as fast as the P44 Pro, the Play 2280 turned in a good performance transferring 48GB files. Shorter bars are better.
Being a 4TB SSD gave the Lexar Play 2280 a small advantage writing our 450GB single file. Note that HMB SSDs tend to do very well in this test, and the Solidigm P44 Pro was unusually slow for a DRAM design. But again, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t support HMB, so that advantage is likely cancelled out.
Being a 4TB SSD gave the Lexar Play 2280 a small advantage writing our 450GB single file. Note that HMB SSDs tend to do very well in this test, and the Solidigm P44 Pro was unusually weak in this test. But again, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t support HMB so that advantage is likely cancelled out. Shorter bars are better.
Being a 4TB SSD gave the Lexar Play 2280 a small advantage writing our 450GB single file. Note that HMB SSDs tend to do very well in this test, and the Solidigm P44 Pro was unusually weak in this test. But again, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t support HMB so that advantage is likely cancelled out. Shorter bars are better.
Being a 4TB SSD gave the Lexar Play 2280 a small advantage writing our 450GB single file. Note that HMB SSDs tend to do very well in this test, and the Solidigm P44 Pro was unusually weak in this test. But again, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t support HMB so that advantage is likely cancelled out. Shorter bars are better.
I’m giving Lexar a hard time, and deservedly so in my opinion, but I do approve of the choice of fast TLC NAND. It sustains over 700MBps even when it runs out of secondary cache. Note that there was already 1.5TB written to the Play 2280 when I wrote this 900GB file.
While it may seem like I’m giving Lexar a hard time, I approve of the choice of fast TLC NAND. It sustains over 700MBps even when it runs out of secondary cache. Note that there was already 1.5TB written to the Play 2280 when I wrote this 900GB file.
While it may seem like I’m giving Lexar a hard time, I approve of the choice of fast TLC NAND. It sustains over 700MBps even when it runs out of secondary cache. Note that there was already 1.5TB written to the Play 2280 when I wrote this 900GB file.
While it may seem like I’m giving Lexar a hard time, I approve of the choice of fast TLC NAND. It sustains over 700MBps even when it runs out of secondary cache. Note that there was already 1.5TB written to the Play 2280 when I wrote this 900GB file.
While the PlayStation 5 does not support HMB, that does not mean the Play 2280 will not function if you install one. Its good secondary caching and native NAND write performance means it will likely do okay. The real issue is the price/performance ratio.
Should you buy the Lexar Play 2280?
No. At least not for your PlayStation. I admire the looks of the Play 2280, and there’s nothing wrong with the drive per se, other than its weak 4K performance with 64GB of data. But pricing an HMB design as if it has DRAM on board, then marketing it for the PlayStation 5, which doesn’t support HMB, is suspect — cool-looking heatsink or not.
If you want the best performance for your PlayStation, buy a DRAM design such as the aforementioned Solidigm P44 Pro or Crucial T500. If you want an HMB SSD (which will work, just not optimally) then buy something like the Teamgroup T-Force G50, which is half the price.
How we test
Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11, 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are integrated to the back panel and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro which also runs the OS.
Each test is performed on a newly formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This can be less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with far faster late-generation NAND.
Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 12 Sep (PC World)Key Takeaways:
No built-in tools on computers and mobile phones can replace video backgrounds if you don’t record them using a green screen.
To record videos with AI virtual backgrounds without a green screen, use third-party webcam screen recorders, such as EaseUS RecExperts for Windows computers, Vmaker for online, and ManyCam Lite for Mac.
Recording screens with virtual backgrounds on iOS and Android devices is more complicated. Because of the technology limits, you still need a plain chroma color to remove the background first and change the backdrop later.
Recording yourself with a virtual background for presentations, job applications, blog creation, live streaming, or online meetings can help to engage your audience and add professionalism to the video.
Sometimes, however, you may find it difficult to get a suitable backdrop to sit in front of, and changing the background using AR green screen technology can be rather complicated.
Fret not; if you want easy and free webcam recording software to record video with virtual background, read this article to learn how to change the video background even without a green screen. Let’s delve into methods for Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and online separately.
Tips for video recording yourself with a customized virtual background
Before we learn how to record a webcam with AI virtual backgrounds, here are some tips for best practice.
Choose the best webcam and microphone as the output device.
Stand or sit before a solid-color background to make it easier to remove the background later.
Consider the lighting in your location.
Prepare background pictures in advance if you want to personalize the backdrop.
Open the presentation, tab, window, or application you want to record beforehand.
Practice your narration skills.
Using an app to capture webcam and screen with virtual background on Windows PCs
EaseUS RecExperts is a robust webcam screen recorder that allows users to screen record Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7 with blurred backgrounds or customized wallpapers, without needing to use a green screen backdrop.
Advanced features include:
AI-empowered background removal: Use an advanced algorithm to seamlessly remove video backdrops and record a video with a virtual background.
Different virtual backgrounds: Select supplied or customized pictures to change the video background freely.
High-quality videos: Capture webcam footage and screen activity on your computers in HD, 4K resolution.
Built-in editing tools: Trim and edit video with noise reduction, audio-to-text transcription, audio extraction, and more utilities.
Here is how to record video with a virtual background on Windows 10 or 11 without a green screen:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch EaseUS RecExperts on your PC.
Step 2. Go to Webcam (the camera icon) in the left panel, toggle on Remove Background, select AI Recognition, and download the AI module. (This may take a few minutes, please be patient.)
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 3. Set up the camera output device, sound recording options, and resolution, select a background picture (Blur, Scenery, Studio, Classroom, or any customized ones from your computer), and click the REC button.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 4. Confirm the webcam, system sound, and microphone settings in the pop-up, then click Continue. A three-second countdown timer will appear onscreen, and the recording will start once the timer has ended. You can pause, take screenshots, change the sound volume, and set up auto-stop options during the session.
Step 5. Click the Stop button or press F9 to end the session. You can play and edit this recording now.
Video record yourself with an AI background online for free
Vmaker has a free online camera recorder that lets you record videos from websites with various fake backgrounds. It also offers free frames and filters to help design your camera overlay.
Here are the steps for video recording with virtual background online using Vmaker.
Step 1. Visit the Vmaker webcam recorder with Chrome. Click ‘Start Recording Now’ in the banner.
Step 2. Follow the onscreen instructions to create an account.
Step 3. Click Record Video on the screen. This will ask you to add the Vmaker extension to your Chrome browser.
Step 4. Click Record Video again to bring up the recording plugin.
Step 5. Three recording options are available: Screen, Webcam, and Screen + Webcam. Choose Screen + Webcam. Select the Webcam, microphone, and audio output devices.
Step 6. In the button corner, you will see a camera feed. Click the rightmost icon to launch the virtual background options. You can select a virtual background offered herein.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 7. Click Start Recording to initiate the session. Click Stop Sharing to end the session.
Screen Record video with virtual background on Mac
ManyCam Lite is a compact version of ManyCam, and it packs multiple tools, such as recording, live streaming, and a virtual camera. This feature-packed tool allows users to replace backgrounds without AR green screen technology.
Note: You must be running macOS High Sierra (10.13.4) or later to use the virtual background feature.
Here’s how to record video with a virtual background on Mac:
Step 1. Download, install, and launch ManyCam Lite on your Mac.
Step 2. Turn on your webcam and audio output devices.
Step 3. Click Virtual Background (to the right of the Text icon) and toggle on Replace Background. You can blur your backdrop or choose another background image/video from the list or your device.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 4. Click the Start recording button (next to the Stream icon) to record everything you need. Click the Stop recording button to end the session.
Step 5. Click the arrow and click ‘Open video save directory’. All your recordings are located here.
How to record video with virtual background on iPhone/Android
Chromavid is a green screen chroma key app that lets you use chroma key effects in real time to change the background. It supports both Android (version 13.0 or later) and iOS (version 12.0 or later) devices.
Note: Prepare a chroma color using a background wall or curtain. You should use plain colors, such as green, blue, red, or yellow. Then, follow the steps to make a virtual background video on iPhone, iPad, Android phones, and tablets.
Step 1. Download Chromavid from Google Play or the App Store. Install and launch it.
Step 2. Click the solid-color circle from the upper left corner to select the plain color you are using as your backdrop.
Step 3. Return to the main interface, click the gallery icon from the bottom left corner, and select a background image you want to use.
EaseUS
EaseUS
EaseUS
Step 4. Click the red recording button to start recording or stop recording the session.
Step 5. View recordings on your phone or tablet. Share them if you need to.
Bonus: What is a good virtual background?
The standard for a good virtual background may vary depending on the context of the video scenes. Here are some tips for choosing your video recording background:
Professional settings: Light gray or soft blue; Bookshelf; Office space.
Casual or creative meetings: Nature scenes, Artistic backgrounds.
Personal and relaxed settings: Cozy room; Café settings.
If you want to stand out: Colorful patterns; Travel photos.
Avoid using a cluttered background, choose suitable lighting, and test it before recording. Use a virtual background that reflects your style appropriately.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to record video with virtual background. To sum up, you need to use reliable third-party webcam recorders to capture cameras and screens with different backgrounds. These tools can change your video background without using the chroma key.
However, a chroma key background is necessary if you want to screen record clips with fake or personalized backdrops.
The most straightforward way to record a video with a virtual background is to use a laptop or PC to replace the background. You can use EaseUS RecExperts to do this on your Windows PC.
FAQ
1.
What format is best for a virtual background?
The best formats for a virtual background largely depend on the platform you are using, but common formats that are widely supported include:
JPEG/JPG: A standard image format that can balance between image quality and file size.
PNG: Excellent for images that require transparency and have better quality than JPEG, especially for graphics and images with sharp edges.
GIF: This is for animated backgrounds on some platforms. However, the file size can be larger, and color limitations exist.
MP4: MP4 is the most common and compatible video format that works well on many video-conferencing platforms.
2.
How can I put a background on a video without using a green screen?
Using various video-editing techniques and software you can put a background on a video without using a green screen:
Use video-editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
Use online tools or mobile apps like Canva, Kapwing, and Camtasia.
3.
How do you get a virtual background on Zoom without camera?
To use a virtual background on Zoom without a camera, you generally need dedicated software that simulates a camera feed. Here are steps to set it up:
Step 1. Download and install virtual camera software like OBS Studio.
Step 2. Add a new source to the software and select Image or Media Source to import your virtual background.
Step 3. Choose Virtual Camera from the settings to enable it.
Step 4. Open Zoom and go to Settings > Video > Camera. Select the OBS Virtual Camera you created.
Step 5. Now, you can join or start a meeting, and your chosen background will appear in your video feed. Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
| | | PC World - 12 Sep (PC World)Want to experience the future of Windows right now? Microsoft offers a Windows Insider program that anyone can join.
The main draw of becoming a Windows Insider is that you get access to Windows updates before everyone else does. But there’s no point in sugarcoating it: getting to try out the latest Windows features before they become publicly available does come with some quirks and risks.
get windows 11 pro for cheap
Windows 11 Pro
Fortunately, there are actually a few different “Windows Insider channels” that you can tap into, with varying degrees of risk associated with each channel. As of this writing, you can opt into the following Windows Insider channels: Release Preview (pretty stable), Beta (reasonably stable), Dev (rough and potentially unstable), and Canary (very unstable).
But before you do, here are several things to consider before you join the Windows Insider program. It may or may not be right for you.
Related: How to become a Windows Insider
You should join Windows Insider if…
You love testing new features ASAP
As part of the Windows Insider program, your PC will often get new features months before other people get them. If you’re a Windows enthusiast who wants to play with new stuff, that’s pretty appealing.
It’s also fun because some features that arrive on your PC may get substantially changed or even altogether removed by the time everyone else gets the update. That can really make you feel like an “insider.”
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Windows Insider is also useful for IT people and application developers who need to know how the next version of Windows is going to work in order to tweak in-house software. Rather than waiting for the final release, you can run an Insider build of Windows to test out future changes.
The Insider program is also a boon to online content creators of various sorts. If you want to make YouTube videos, put up social media posts, or write online articles about things that are coming soon, you’ll want to have a PC running an Insider version of Windows.
Microsoft posts changes on its Windows Insider blog, but they’re not always complete — and people are always digging into them to find new and partially completed features that Microsoft hasn’t announced yet.
You need a specific new feature or fix
Maybe your system is bogged down by a particular issue or bug that’s been addressed but still remains in testing. If you don’t want to wait several more weeks or month for the patch to release, you can get it right away by becoming an Insider.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
Or let’s say you have a Copilot+ PC with Snapdragon X hardware and you’re interested in the Recall feature that Microsoft originally announced but then delayed right before the release of Copilot+ PCs.
Well, Microsoft says a preview version of Recall is coming to Windows Insiders in October 2024. If you’d like to use this feature on your Copilot+ PC as soon as possible, you can opt into the Insider program to get it.
You love guiding development
Microsoft says that the Insider program isn’t just for trying new features — it’s also for gathering feedback. You can use the included Feedback Hub app (located in the Start menu or launched with the Windows key + F shortcut) to give feedback to Microsoft about Windows.
Your feedback as a tester is most needed when updates are in the Beta stage. If you like giving your opinion and want to guide the development of Windows, that’s a great reason to use Insider builds of Windows.
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
While Microsoft’s famous “ninjacat” meme is no more, Microsoft pitches the Insider program as a fun “community” experience. The Feedback Hub even has a whole system of quests and achievements to encourage Insiders to test various features and provide feedback.
Still, it’s unclear exactly how much feedback Microsoft actually takes into account, and it may depend on the feature. If someone high up at Microsoft wants to see a new ad integrated somewhere in Windows, don’t expect the Feedback Hub to stop it.
You don’t mind reinstalling Windows
If you ever want to leave the Insider program, there isn’t a quick and easy way out of it — you may have to reinstall your entire Windows operating system to get back to a stable version of Windows.
Fortunately, Microsoft offers a guide to leaving the Windows Insider program. If you’re on a Release Preview or Beta build, you can wait until it officially releases, at which point you can jump off the Insider track. But if you have a Dev or Canary build, you’ll likely have to reinstall Windows to get back to a stable build.
You have a spare PC you don’t rely on
The Windows Insider program is best experienced on a computer that isn’t mission critical. As Microsoft warns, you may run into crashes or instability — especially on the most bleeding-edge channels.
If you turned on your computer one day and it blue screens so badly that you’re forced to roll back to a previous build, would that be a big deal? If not, then you’ll be okay as an Insider. Ideally, the computer with the Insider build should be a spare that you can live without.
You shouldn’t join Windows Insider if…
You hate frequent updates and reboots
The Windows Insider program is designed to get you the newest features before everyone else. Naturally, a lot of Windows PC users don’t really want new features; they just want a stable system that doesn’t have to reboot for updates very often.
In fact, for many people, the stable version of Windows 11 already gets too many updates. If you feel that way, then that’s a good reason to avoid the Windows Insider program and stick with stable releases.
You don’t want to deal with bugs
While the Dev and Canary Insider channels are the most unstable, bugs can still slip into the Beta and Release Preview channels. After all, if the build was known to be completely stable, it would’ve left Insider testing and already been released to the public at large.
Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash
Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash
Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash
When you opt your PC into Insider builds, you’re signing up for the possibility of bugs, including blue screens and other system instabilities. You may have to troubleshoot your PC at times, rolling back to older builds of Windows when things go wrong.
If you aren’t willing to deal with these sorts of headaches from time to time, you should skip the Insider builds on your PC.
You’re on Windows 10, not Windows 11
Microsoft recently restarted Windows Insider builds for Windows 10 PCs, which means you can experience new features ahead of time even on Windows 10 via Insider builds, too.
But let’s be honest: Microsoft wants everyone to switch over to Windows 11, meaning Windows 10 is no longer a high priority. You won’t be seeing many new features added to Windows 10 at this point.
Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com
Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com
Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com
So, it probably isn’t worth the trouble to run Insider builds of Windows 10. It’s much more interesting to run Insider builds of Windows 11, as those are getting the most love from Microsoft right now.
You don’t like providing feedback
Part of Microsoft’s vision for the Windows Insider program is that its army of free beta testers — sorry, Windows Insiders — provides feedback and bug reports about all the problems they find.
If you aren’t particularly interested in providing feedback or sharing issues about Windows, that’s a good reason to avoid Windows Insider builds. (Of course, many Windows Insiders never provide feedback, and that’s okay. But it’s missing one of the points of the program.)
You need utmost stability for your PC
Here’s the biggest and most important reason why you shouldn’t opt into Windows Insider: you have one computer and you depend on it for day-to-day use, which means you need reliability and stability.
Windows Insider builds are best experienced on secondary PCs that you can use for testing. You don’t want to end up with your primary PC out of commission during a workday or even in your downtime when you don’t want to troubleshoot PC problems.
Sure, you could install Insider builds of Windows in a virtual machine, but it’s worth noting that some features may not function the same in a virtual machine as they would on a “real” computer.
Further reading: Tweaks that make Windows 11 more productive Read...Newslink ©2024 to PC World | |
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