PC World

TL;DR: Protect 15 devices with a lifetime subscription to FasestVPN, on sale for $32.97 (reg. $600) until December 22.  Online security might seem like a hassle, but staying protected doesn’t have to slow you down. FastestVPN is a reliable cybersecurity tool with more than 900 servers spread across 100 countries, and you don’t have to pay for it every month. ...

Live TV streaming services are a natural starting point when you’re cutting the cord. These services offer many of the same channels you had with cable or satellite TV, but deliver them over the internet to your smart TV or streaming device. ...

We just found the perfect way to level up your New Year’s party: this JBL PartyBox Encore Essential speaker is down to $200 on Amazon. That’s a whopping $100 off its original price (was $300). This party speaker is large and in charge, measuring 11.54 inches long, 10.87 inches wide, and 12.87 inches tall. ...

If you’re getting a new phone this holiday season — or a new tablet, action camera, security camera, dashcam, or anything else that needs a memory card — then this deal’s perfect for you. The 512GB Samsung Pro Plus microSD is half off right now, down to $38 from $76. With up to 180MB/s read speeds and 130MB/s write speeds, you can quickly transfer files between devices in a flash. ...

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Great, deep switches for low-profile Funky style Good software support Tiny footprint Cons No wireless Only three maximum game profiles Limited switch choices Our Verdict The Air60 HE is the best low-profile keyboard I’ve ever tried for pure, quality typing, something I wasn’t expecting for a gaming keyboard focused on adjustable actuation. ...

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Good 10Gbps performance Small form factor Rugged, weatherproof casing Cons On the slow side for 10Gbps Not IP certified Our Verdict Corsair’s Flash Survivor Stealth SSD marries a USB stick with 10Gbps/NVMe speed, then weatherproofs and ruggedizes the whole deal. We like it. ...

We’re always looking for fantastic deals on laptops, and we absolutely love this heavily discounted HP Envy at Best Buy. This RTX-powered laptop is only $1,000 right now, down from its usual $1,500. ...

Having a good gaming PC is only half the battle–you also need a screen that makes the action visible. Many people find it difficult to decide on the right dimensions. Gaming monitors are now available in such huge sizes that you might think that bigger is always better. However, other factors are just as important and large monitors can have disadvantages. ...

In recent years, the focus of crime has shifted. The increased security of our computers has made it harder to spread computer viruses and the absence of cash makes traditional robberies rare. Instead, a criminal’s new weapon is social engineering. ...

TL;DR: Edit videos in moments with VideoProc Converter AI, only $29.97 for life if you buy before 11:59 p.m. PT on December 22.  Editing videos is extremely time-consuming. It’s also pretty difficult, and the software usually isn’t cheap. Good thing you don’t have to do it yourself anymore. VideoProc AI is a video enhancement tool that does the hard part for you. ...

It’s getting late for online gift buying, and the holidays are almost here. If you’ve missed those shipping deadlines, you have one last resort – gift cards. Yes, yes, we know, they’re not as personal, but they’re better than being empty-handed when your friend or family member tosses you a gift. ...

Legacy machines run more of the world than you might think. Did you know that two Commodore C64s are still in daily use at the Hilligoss Bakery of Brownsburg, Indiana? One user recently posted some photos on X (formerly Twitter) showing two C64s next to each other and being used to check out an order. ...

It’s easy to think that all USB-C cables are the same, and that any claims to superiority are just a way to jack up the price. After all, it’s just a cable, right? Such skepticism is understandable, but the fact is, there really can be differences among cables. At PCWorld we’ve had experience using tons of USB-C cables and can say with confidence that not all of them are made the same. ...

A monitor that you can take with you anywhere? Imagine how much more productive you could be as you work on your laptop on the go. But a slim, portable monitor can also be a great addition for your mini PC, your Nintendo Switch, or even your phone. ...

As we head towards the end of the year, the Windows 11 24H2 update from October is still causing trouble for users. Microsoft has confirmed two new problems, and according to Neowin, one of them breaks audio output and the other breaks Auto HDR. ...

Chat GPT is not the only AI service in town. Google Gemini is a similar service where you can ask questions and get answers in plain text–no commands required. You can “converse” just as if the AI robot were a real person. If you’re familiar with Chat GPT, you’ll recognize it because the layout is similar. ...

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted the 8TB Samsung T5 EVO portable SSD for just $400 right now because that’s, by far, the best discount I’ve ever seen for it. (Before that, its best price was $430, so it’s quite the drop ahead of the holidays. ...

Many gaming laptops are entirely too expensive, but this particular Acer Nitro V 15 configuration isn’t just well-priced — it’s pretty darn powerful! It’s now available for $800 at Best Buy, so you’ll end up saving $300. ...

Why does Windows have to nag me all the time? It’s a question many PC users ask themselves. If you’re tired of seeing those little speech bubbles pop up in the bottom right-hand corner (aka Message Suggestions), you can actually switch that feature off–it’s pretty easy to do. ...

I’ve been enjoying the lightning-fast speeds of SSDs (solid state drives) to store and restore data for a while now. For gaming they provide quick loading times, support the latest graphics, and as a bonus they produce less heat than the old-school mechanical drives I used to use. ...

If YouTube TV’s forthcoming price hike feels like a breaking point to you, you’re not alone. Over the last week, I’ve heard from a bunch of folks who say the rate hike—from $73 per month to $83 per month, starting January 13, 2025—is the last straw. They’re now seeking alternatives to YouTube TV that will provide comparable channel coverage for less. ...

A multi-monitor setup can significantly increase your productivity, as it allows you to multitask with ease. If you’re working with such a setup, you can actually customize things like the refresh rate and resolution within Windows. This is how you do it. To customize the display, right click anywhere on your desktop and select “Display Settings” from the menu. ...

TL;DR: Replace Microsoft 365 with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 for Mac or PC while it’s still $159.97 (reg. $249). Sale ends December 22 at 11:59 p.m. PT.  Software subscriptions are all over the place. They seem cheap at first, but they add up fast, and Microsoft 365 is no different. It’s a good thing that’s not your only way to get apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. ...

The Wall Street Journal reports that US authorities have begun investigating whether routers by manufacturer TP-Link pose a threat to national security and whether a ban should be imposed on them. ...

A loaded mini PC is often better than a laptop, providing more power and taking up less space on your desk at a cheaper price point, as long as you don’t need the portability that a laptop offers. Right now, this Acemagic F1A mini PC is available for the amazing price of $413.05 on Amazon for PCWorld readers with our exclusive promo code PCW12018. ...

Rumors have been circulating for some time that Elon Musk wants to create his own email service, one that would be a direct competitor to the world-popular Gmail. Musk has apparently confirmed such plans now, but concrete details about features and appearance are still missing. Musk published a short message on X (formerly Twitter): “That’s exactly what we are going to do. ...

I finally gave in this year and made sure Santa is bringing me a PlayStation VR2 because I absolutely need to play Beat Saber. And when you see this discounted PS VR2 with Horizon Call of the Mountain, you’re going to want one, too. It’s down from $600 to just $349, a whopping 42 percent discount and the best price we’ve ever seen for it. ...

If you’re still in need of stocking stuffers for your techie friends and family, then here’s something everyone will appreciate: a super-fast Anker Nano USB-C cable, now just $19 on Amazon with Prime. ...

If you’re an avid gamer, the best way to assess your PC’s gaming performance is to use an FPS counter. An FPS counter allows you to see the number of frames per second your computer is rendering. This is good for identifying performance issues like bottlenecking and low frame rates. Luckily, Steam and Nvidia offer FPS counters that are free to use. Let’s get into it. ...

Football and TV commercials go together like eggs and bacon, but NFL RedZone is — usually, at least — a weekly oasis from the relentless car, beer, and insurance ads. But this past Sunday, the NFL had a little surprise for RedZone streamers. ...

Neowin reports that tech giant Microsoft will be shaking up the user interface of its Microsoft 365 app early next year. In addition, the app will be getting a new icon and a small name change, henceforth to be called “Microsoft 365 Copilot” starting mid-January 2025. ...

We expect USB-C cables to perform a specific task: transferring either data or files between devices. We give little more thought to the matter, but malicious USB-C cables can do much more than what we expect. These cables hide malicious hardware that can intercept data, eavesdrop on phone calls and messages, or, in the worst cases, take complete control of your PC or cellphone. ...

In September 2018, it came to light that hackers had breached Facebook and gained access to data on over 50 million Facebook accounts. Around 3 million of those affected accounts were based in EU countries. ...

When the Nvidia App launched last month, it looked like a universal improvement over GeForce Experience. (Finally, no more login required for driver updates and game optimizations!) Unfortunately, it now appears that this new software has its own problems, with users reporting performance drops of up to 15 percent in games — and testing by Tom’s Hardware shows the issue really does exist. ...

A loaded mini PC is often better than a laptop, providing more power and taking up less space on your desk at a cheaper price point, as long as you don’t need the portability that a laptop offers. Right now, this Acemagic F1A mini PC is available for the amazing price of $413.05 on Amazon for PCWorld readers with our exclusive promo code PCW12018. ...

Smart home devices compatible with the Matter standard have garnered most of our attention lately, but the compelling features in the latest generation of Z-Wave chips convinced the IoT developer Shelly Group to build no fewer than 11 new products powered by Z-Wave technology. ...