DJ Software for Windows 10 & 11 [2026 Updated List]

DJs are among the most essential people at gigs who mix the recorded music as it plays. Today laptops that hook up to other controllers are among the most essential hardware for DJs.

The laptops include virtual DJ software that effectively emulates the effects processing DJs use to mix and match songs and enables users to create mixes before or during a gig. They’re programs that replace vinyl turntables with digital music. This is some of the best virtual DJ software to get your parties started with!

Zulu DJ Software

Zulu is an ideal software for novice DJs with its intuitive drag-and-drop UI and automatic beat detection. This program is compatible with Windows and Mac OS X, and there are also Zulu apps for Android and Kindle devices. The software has a Home and Masters edition that usually retail at $50 and $60, but is currently discounted on the NCH website. You can add a freeware version of Zulu to Windows by clicking Download the free version here on the software’s home page. It also works on Windows 7.

Zulu includes two decks with which to play selected tracks. The software provides you with a range of effects to apply in real-time, which include reverb, distortion, amplify, compression, delay, echo, and chorus. As the program has VST plug-in support, you can even add your own extra effects.

As mentioned, the software has unique automatic beat detection that automatically scans loaded tracks and assigns a beat per minute to synchronize decks. Zulu boasts widespread compatibility with all the major file formats, such as WAV, MP3, AIF, AVI, MPG, MPEG, WMV, ASF and more besides. NCH also provides comprehensive technical support for the software through its website.

⇒ Get Zulu 

PCDJ Dex 3

pcdj dex 3 interface

PCDJ Dex 3 software allows you not only to mix music but also videos and karaoke. This is a strong feature for software compared to SVM 1000 from Pioneer (hardware) which costs around 7 k dollars.

It gives you full control over your media in order to boost your mixing experience. All traditional DJ features (loops, hot cues , etc.) are highly responsive. You can try that directly with your keyboard and mouse – you’ll be very surprised. The grid-based BPM sync system allows you to focus on other aspects of the mix with a big ‘fourchette’ of effects and controllers.

If you have iTunes playlists – they can be easily imported into PCDJ Dex 3 and mixed right away. Another great feature is that you can select the type of files you want to work with: this allows you to manage your sound quality during the mix (for example only FLAC or 320kbps tracks). This is a great product that is easy to use and good enough for both novices and advanced DeeJays.

⇒ Get PCDJ Dex 3 free edition

Serato DJ

Serato DJ is software chosen by many club DJs that has numerous state-of-the-art tools and options for gigs. The software is retailing at $99, but you can subscribe to Serato with a $9.99 monthly subscription. There’s also a freeware Serato DJ Intro you can add to Windows 10, macOS Sierra, and Mac OS X platforms from this web page.

Serato DJ consists of four virtual track decks that enable users to mix four channels simultaneously for more creative remixes. Each of the track decks has full-color waveforms with red representing bass, green mid-range and blue treble audio frequencies.

The waveforms have several alternative view modes for you to select from. The software enables users to set up to eight-cut points to mark songs with, and it also includes quick sync controls so that you can instantly beat-match.

Serato provides users with an extensive set of customizable DJ effects that include creative noise synths, filters, echoes, and delays. In addition, this software comes with full digital vinyl system support to emulate the feel of traditional DJing, a comprehensive library integrated with iTunes and Pulselocker and recording and sampling tools. Note that you can only use this software with a limited range of compatible hardware that include DVS, non-DVS and MIDI controllers.

⇒ Get Serato

Mixxx 2.0

Mixxx is perhaps the best open-source DJ software for Windows, Mac , and Linux. It has almost all the DJ tools you’ll need with advanced controls for playback, sampler decks, live broadcast streaming, timecode support, a great mixing engine and a customizable UI you can select alternative skins for. You can add Mixxx 2.0 to 32 or 64-bit Windows platforms from the this home page.

Mixxx 2.0 incorporates four virtual turntable decks to combine tracks with, which are held together with the Master Sync engine that keeps them aligned. Each of the decks have red, green and blue waveforms so that DJs can visualize audio changes in the tracks. Beat looping, vinyl emulation, hot cues and pitchbend are a few of the mixing engine’s advanced controls.

Mixxx includes a range of built-in effects to select from, such as flanger, echo, reverb, bitCrusher, bessel and biquad. DJs can apply up to four chains of effects to a single mixer channel. The software boasts a music library database that integrates with iTunes, Traktor and Rhythmbox for quick access to playlists in those external libraries. Mixxx also has fairly extensive hardware compatibility as it supports more than 85 controllers, but as it isn’t tiered to a specific company some configuration will be required to get your hardware working with the software.

⇒ Get Mixxx

VirtualDJ

VirtualDJ is another of the foremost DJ programs that the publisher’s website boasts has had more than 150 million downloads, which is more than any other DJ software. The software is freely available for home users, albeit with a few ads included, but you’ll need the Pro Infinity package to use it with multiple external hardware controllers. VirtualDJ Pro is available at $299, or you can become a Pro subscriber with a $19 a month subscription fee. Alternatively, you can use VirtualDJ Plus with one USB or MIDI controller.

VirtualDJ V8 is the latest version of the software that has a fresh engine, lots of new tools and extra novelties. VirtualDJ V8 now supports up to 99 decks, which is more than you’ll ever need. The software has a multitude of effects for you to select from, which include echo, flanger, slicer, loop-roll and beat grid. The developers have added a new Sandbox to V8 that enables DJs to prepare the next mix while the current song is still playing. Furthermore, VirtualDJ is also widely compatible with most DJ controllers, which you can configure with VDJScript.

One of the best things about VirtualDJ is that it’s not just limited to playing audio as users can also hook it up with projectors and other screens for karaoke and videos. As such, you can add video tracks to audio-only songs with segments from other video clips. With the AutoMix editor, DJs can apply video transition effects for mixes and pre-edit automix sequences. The software’s built-in sampler is also a handy tool that you can use as a sequencer and produce complex remixes with.

⇒ Get VirtualDJ Pro

Traktor Pro 3

Native Instruments’ renowned Traktor Pro DJ software provides users with an extensive assortment of creative tools for gigs. There’s only one version of Traktor Pro retailing at about $99, but you can try out a demo that closes after 30 minutes. The program is compatible with Windows and Mac OS X, and it requires a fairly hefty one GB hard drive storage, 4 GB RAM and 2 Ghz CPU.

Traktor Pro 2 is flexible DJ mixer software with an intuitive and customizable UI. The software provides users with 4-deck control, which includes a remix deck that you can capture loops, load sounds in extra slots and trigger samples with. Another great thing about the remix deck is that it can handle up to 64 samples, and you can run it independently of the main deck to adjust samples.

This software has more than 30 customizable studio effects to apply to the decks. Traktor’s built-in mixer has a good selection of EQs and filter types for DJs to choose from. In addition, the software has a great music library that’s integrated with iTunes and displays extensive track details.

Traktor Pro 2 is compatible with a wide range of Native Instruments gear, and the company has tailored its hardware specifically for the software so that minimal configuration is needed. Note that Native Instruments bundles Traktor Pro 2 with some of its hardware. However, the software is also compatible with all third-party MIDI controllers; and there are some Traktor Ready controllers and soundcards that the software is already configured for with preset MIDI mappings.

⇒ Get Traktor Pro

Those are five of the best of virtual DJ software for Windows and other platforms. Which is the best package might depend largely on your own DJ setup requirements with regards to hardware compatibility and software options and tools. Serato DJ, Traktor Pro 2 and VirtualDJ are the industry standard virtual DJ software included at gigs the world over; but Mixxx and Zulu are good value alternatives.

FIX: Oops your selected image failed to load

Many users use Gmail as their preferred webmail service, but sometimes you might encounter Oops your selected image failed to load message. This message can appear due to various reasons, and in this article we’ll show you how to fix it.

Oops your selected image failed to load message can cause various problems on your PC, and speaking of this error, here are some similar issues that users encountered:

  • Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail – This problem usually occurs due to certain extensions, but you can easily fix it by finding and disabling those extensions.
  • Oops your selected image failed to load Windows 10 – If this error appears on Windows 10, you should be able to fix it using one of our solutions.

Oops your selected image failed to load message, how to fix it?

  1. Check your antivirus
  2. Try running Chrome in Incognito mode
  3. Remove the problematic extensions
  4. Make sure that your browser is up to date
  5. Consider using an email client
  6. Clear the cache
  7. Remove any unwanted or suspicious applications
  8. Reset Chrome
  9. Reinstall Chrome or try a different browser

1. Check your antivirus

In some instances, Oops your selected image failed to load message appears due to your antivirus. Your antivirus can sometimes interfere with your system or your browser and that can lead to this and many problems.

To fix this problem, many users are suggesting disabling certain antivirus features and checking if that helps. If the issue is still there, you can try disabling your antivirus completely. In the worst-case scenario, you might even have to remove your antivirus.

Several users reported that Avast can cause this problem, but another antivirus can cause this issue as well. After you remove your antivirus, check if this problem is still there. If the issue doesn’t appear, it’s certain that your antivirus is the cause.

Having a reliable antivirus is important, and if you’re looking for a new antivirus that will provide maximum protection, you will be happy to know that many Windows 10 compatible antiviruses provide full protection without causing any issues.

You will certainly find a very good and reliable replacement for your current antivirus. Many security utilities come with great threat databases, online privacy features, parental controls, webcam protection, and more.

2. Try running Chrome in Incognito mode

According to users, sometimes your extensions or cache can cause Oops your selected image failed to load message to appear. To fix the problem, it’s advised that you start Chrome in Incognito mode. In case you don’t know, this mode won’t save any cache or browsing history, and it also doesn’t have any extensions enabled, so it might be suitable for troubleshooting.

To start Chrome in Incognito mode, you need to do the following:

  1. Click the Menu button in the top right corner.
  2. Choose New incognito window. Alternatively, you can use Ctrl + Shift + N shortcut to start Incognito mode instantly.
    Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail

A new window will now appear. Visit Gmail in the new window and check if the problem is resolved. If the issue doesn’t appear in Incognito mode, it’s possible that one of your extensions is the problem.

3. Remove the problematic extensions

As we already mentioned in our previous solution, Oops your selected image failed to load message can appear due to problematic extensions. To find out which extension is the problem, you should disable all extensions and try to recreate the problem.

This is rather simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Click the Menu icon in the top-right corner and select More tools > Extensions.
    Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail
  2. List of available extensions will now appear. Click the little switch next to the extension’s name to disable it.
    Oops your selected image failed to load Windows 10
  3. Repeat the previous step for all extensions on the list.

Once you disable all extensions, restart Chrome and check if that solves your issue. Once the Chrome restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, it’s certain that one of your extensions is causing the issue. To fix the problem, enable all extensions one by one and try to recreate the problem.

Once you find the extension that is causing the issue, remove it or keep it disabled and your problem should be permanently resolved.

4. Make sure that your browser is up to date

According to users, sometimes glitches in Chrome can appear, and if that happens, the best way to fix them is to make sure that your browser is up to date. Chrome usually installs the missing updates automatically, but sometimes you might miss an update or two. However, you can check for updates by doing the following:

  1. Click the Menu button in the top right corner and select Help > About Google Chrome.
    Oops your selected image failed to load Windows 10
  2. When a new tab opens, Chrome will check automatically for updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded automatically.

Once Chrome is up to date, the problem should be resolved and the error message should be gone.

5. Consider using an email client

If Oops your selected image failed to load message appears only in Gmail, you might avoid this problem simply by using an email client. Email clients can be quite useful, and we already made a comparison between email and webmail in one of our older articles.

Luckily, there are multiple good and stable email clients for Windows. You will certainly adjust quickly because they typically have familiar designs. 

On top of that, third-party email clients let you connect to multiple accounts from one unified UI. This will help you navigate throughout your inbox with more ease.

Additionally, dedicated email clients typically include powerful encryption to make sure your information stays private. Some of them may also help you stay organized with built-in calendars and task management tools.

6. Clear the cache

Your browser stores all sorts of temporary files on your PC, but sometimes these files can get corrupted and that will cause Oops your selected image failed to load message to appear. To fix the problem, users are suggesting that you clear your cache and check if that solves the issue.

To remove the cache, you just need to do the following:

  1. Click the Menu icon and choose Settings from the menu.
  2. When the Settings tab opens, scroll down and choose Advanced.
    Oops your selected image failed to load Windows 10
  3. Now click Clear browsing data.
    Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail
  4. Set Time range to All time and click the Clear data button.
    Oops your selected image failed to load Windows 10

Wait for a couple of moments while your PC clears the cache. After the cache is cleared, check if the problem is still there. This might not be the most reliable solution, but several users reported that it works, so be sure to try it out.

7. Remove any unwanted or suspicious applications

According to users, sometimes certain applications can interfere with your system and cause Oops your selected image failed to load message. To fix the problem, it’s advised that you find these applications and remove them.

Some of these applications can be malicious while others can install junk files that can interfere with your browser. To fix this problem, you need to find and remove any suspicious applications that you don’t remember installing.

There are several ways to remove an application from your PC, but the most effective one is to use specoalized software such as CCleaner. This software will remove the selected application from your PC, but it will also remove all files and registry entries associated with it.

By doing so, the selected application will be completely removed and there won’t be any leftover files available that can interfere with your browser.

8. Reset Chrome

In some cases, Oops your selected image failed to load message can appear if there are problems with your Chrome profile or one of your settings. If that happens, you might be able to fix the problem simply by resetting Chrome to the default. This is simple to do, but you can do it by following these steps:

  1. Open the Settings tab scroll to the bottom and click Advanced.
  2. In the Reset and clean up section click Reset settings button.
    Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail
  3. When the confirmation dialog appears, click the Reset button to confirm.
    Oops your selected image failed to load in Gmail

After a couple of moments, Chrome will reset to the default and all your settings, history and extensions will be removed. Of course, you can restore them if you have the syncing option enabled.

9. Reinstall Chrome or try a different browser

In some cases, your installation might be corrupted, and that can lead to this problem. To fix it, it’s advised to reinstall your browser. If that doesn’t help, you might want to consider switching to a different browser. Firefox is a great alternative, but Opera and Microsoft Edge can also do the trick.

Oops, your selected image failed to load message can appear while using Gmail, and in most cases, the problem is related to your browser or your antivirus. However, we hope that you’ll manage to fix the issue using one of our solutions.

FIX: Windows Defender Protection definition update failed

Windows Defender is slowly but steadily getting a lot more trust from users. On the other hand, a lot of errors from the current and previous Windows 10 major releases, are still an issue.

One common issue comes with a variation of the error codes and is accompanied by the Protection definition update failed message.

Today we’ll try to help you address this. In case you’re stuck with the error at hand, make sure to check the steps we provided below.

How do I fix the Protection definition update failed error?

  1. Delete temporary files
  2. Restart Windows Defender service
  3. Install a third-party antivirus software
  4. Update Defender manually
  5. Run SFC
  6. Reset your PC

1. Delete temporary files

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type Disk and open the Disk Cleanup tool.protection definition update failed
  2. Choose the System partition(C:) and click OK.
    protection definition update failed
  3. Click on the Cleanup system files.
    protection definition update failed
  4. Check the Temporary files box and click OK to clean them completely.protection definition update failed
  5. Now, boot into Safe mode and navigate to the following path and delete the content in the folder: C:\Windows\Software Distribution
  6. Restart your PC and look for changes in Defender’s behavior.

The corruption within the system files, especially the ones concerning update distribution and storage is a rather common occurrence.

In this scenario, the previous iteration of the Windows Defender virus definition might be corrupted. In order to address this, we recommend clearing all temporary files and restarting the update procedure.

Windows Defender usually updates its definition automatically on a frequent basis and stores it in a dedicated folder. Deleting the content of the folder might help, as well.

After this, just restart your PC and make sure that it is connected to the internet. Windows Defender should do the rest.

2. Restart the Windows Defender service

  1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run command line.
  2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
    protection definition update failed
  3. Navigate to the Windows Defender individual services.protection definition update failed
  4. Right-click on it and open Properties on every service respectively.
  5. Make sure every single one is set to start Automatically.

On the other hand, if the Defender itself shows signs of stalling or misbehaves in an unusual manner, there are additional steps to take.

Even though Windows Defender is the built-in part of the Windows 10 shell, it can be disabled, and it also automatically turns off in presence of a third-party antivirus.

Now, even if you uninstalled the third-party antivirus prior to the occurrence of the update error, we encourage you to install one.

3. Install a third-party antivirus software

The worst thing that can happen to you while you’re using the Internet is being infected with malware or virus that will screw things over, steal your data, or cause other errors.

Therefore, you can’t rely solely on your Windows Defender to protect you, especially since the tool is ill-equipped to keep harmful software away.

Additionally, you’ll encounter errors such as the Windows Defender Protection definition update failed or the error code 2145107924.

To avoid such things from occurring, you could install trustworthy third-party antivirus software that utilizes machine learning and other security methods to protect you.

For instance, TotalAV provides comprehensive protection for your PC against malware, cybercrime, snail-mail, and hackers.

To keep out threats, it makes use of the cloud’s power and many levels of detection. As a result, all possible attacks are blocked and you are shielded while you are working, social networking, playing online games, or exchanging data via removable storage.

If you have sensitive information and need to access potentially dangerous websites on a regular basis, you may require specialized software like TotalAV.

⇒ Get TotalAV

4. Update Defender manually

  1. Press the Windows Key + S and search for Windows Update.
  2. Select Windows Update, then select Check for Updates.
  3. Wait for your Windows to check and install any updates available.

Furthermore, updates aren’t Windows Update exclusives. Namely, you can download the recent definition for Windows 10 manually and install it just like any other program.

We all know how Windows Update for Windows 10 frequently causes issues of different kinds. That makes this nothing new.

5. Run the SFC scan

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type CMD, right-click on the Command Prompt, and run it as an admin.protection definition update failed
  2. In the command line and type the following command: sfc /scannowprotection definition update failed
  3. When everything is done, close the elevated command line and restart your PC.

If the built-in, essential part of Windows 10 won’t work as intended, you can’t reinstall it. What you can do is run the System File Checker and hope for the best.

This built-in system utility runs through the elevated Command Prompt. Its main purpose is to check for corruption within the system files. Once it gets what’s wrong, SFC will try to repair the affected files.

6. Reset your PC

  1. Firstly, backup your data.
  2. Once you’ve done that, press the Windows key  + I to open the Settings app.
  3. Open the Update & security section.protection definition update failed
  4. Select Recovery in the left pane.
  5. Click on the Get Started button under the Reset this PC section.protection definition update failed
  6. Choose to Keep your files and click Next.protection definition update failed

Finally, if you’re still unable to resolve the issue at hand, we can go as far as recommending to reset your PC to factory settings.

It might seem discouraging at the first glimpse, but your files and apps won’t get affected whatsoever. In addition, the procedure is simple and quick – much better than the last resort.

This is, of course, a clean system reinstallation. After you reset your PC to factory values, the Windows Defender update error should be gone.

That’s it. We hope at least one of the aforementioned solutions was helpful in addressing the Protection Definition update failed error in Windows 10.

We also recommend checking out this article containing antivirus software with lifetime license. Take a look at the products and choose one that fits you best.

In case you’re aware of some alternatives or have a question regarding the ones we enlisted, make sure to tell us in the comments section below.

11 Best Multiplayer Emulators for PC [2026 List]

Whether you miss your favorite old school arcade games or just want to play the new versions of the games released on the new gaming consoles, being able to play multiplayer split-screen/same-screen, or online multiplayer or co-op games is a very exciting feature for all gamers.

People play games to explore the uncharted worlds the game developers created from scratch, but we tend to enjoy it more when we can share the experience with friends or family.

Because of the competitive nature of human beings, multi-player games started to increase in popularity in the 90’s.

After their initial burst, which took almost 10 years, split-screen multiplayer games began to dwindle in popularity, so the market obviously adapted to it.

One of the main reasons for which split-screen/same-screen multiplayer games started to be produced less, was because of the rapid evolution computer graphics and character biomechanics.

These two factors increased the strain put on your computer’s hardware, and not all people could afford to keep up with the latest advancements in computer tech.

Fortunately for us, there are many games with beautiful graphics today that can be played in multiplayer mode, by the use of the internet.

In order for you to play your favorite old school split-screen games, or games that allow online multiplayer or co-op, you will need to use specialized emulator software.

This software works by creating a virtual simulation of the platform for which the game was originally created, and then allows you to play ROMs.

ROMs, much like the emulator software we mentioned above, is a virtual image of the original game.

ROMs can be created from any gaming platform, but it is worth mentioning that the emulators we will explore in this article do not come with pre-installed ROMs.

There are some free old-school ROMs available online for you to download free, you can also create your own ROMs from your original cartridges, discs, etc., or buy them and emulate them with ease.

In this article, we will explore some of the best emulator software options on the market that allows you to play multi-player games, both in split-screen/same screen mode, and also as an online multiplayer.

Which are the best emulators with split-screen/same-screen multiplayer support

LDPLayer

Topping off our list of best Android emulators with split-screen/same-screen multiplayer support is none other than LDPlayer, an emulator that is also marketed as being the fastest and most resource-efficient emulator on the market.

Well, the main reason this tool landed on our list is it’s native ability to support multiple sessions of the same game, so basically you can run the same game as much as your PC can handle, just as long as the accounts differ.

It supports all of the most popular games from the Google Play library, and while it would be admittedly impossible to play a game using two mice, you can still use different set of keyboard keys to play multiplayer games.

Play arcade games or racing games in your own makeshift split screen environment, or play single-player games or separate games altogether, as it is all up to you.

Most importantly, this amazing tool is completely free, with no hidden premium features locked behind a paywall or a subscription, so anyone can enjoy the best games online with their friends!

LDPlayer

LDPlayer

Play games together with your friends, each in your own window, all thanks to LDPlayer and its amazing capabilities!
Free downloadVisit website

RetroArch

RetroArch - multiplayer emulators

RetroArch is a very useful emulator software that can run a wide range of classical games on your Windows PC. It has a great array of features and compatibilies, but the user interface of this software is not very user friendly for begginers.

There is an alternative GUI that can be installed to improve the interface, called RGUI. You can find out more information about this alternate UI by clicking here .

RetroArch allows you to emulate and play a wide range of classic games in split-screen/same-screen multiplayer mode.

You can use this software to emulate an incredible range of gaming consoles – PlayStation 1 (PS1), Super Nintendo (SNES), Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Master System/Sega Game Gear, GameBoy/Gameboy Color, Nintendo 64 (N64), etc.

RetroArch’s most notable features:

  • Can record and stream your screen to YouTube
  • Allows you to customize every aspect of your UI and Joypads
  • Quick reaction times so you can play games without trouble
  • Built-in core updater and a great app library
  • Supports shaders for better quality rendering of your games
  • Can also host and join network gaming sessions

If you want to know more information about how to use RetroArch or how to download ROMs, you can visit the Official RetroArch FAQ page.

⇒ Download RetroArch

NoxPlayer

NoxPlayer - emulators without lag, emulators for low end pcs, emulator for multiplayer

NoxPlayer is a great emulator software that allows you to emulate any Android game, and gives you the power to customize the perfomance and look of the app from the settings.

The user interface of this program is very intuitive, and you can figure out how to use it if you’ve ever used a touch screen phone.

Although NoxPlayer can use a lot of your computer’s resources when playing multiplayer games, that doesn’t mean that this software doesn’t work on low-end PCs as well.

This adaptability was ingrained by the developers to the very core of this software, making it one of the most versatile emulators on the market today.

You have the possibility to run as many instances of Nox as you want, can also run as many games and application as you want, but that will dramatically increase the amount of resources used.

So, if your computer is either low-end or medium-end, it is recommended that you only run the software once, in order to get the most out of your gaming experience, without any lag or interruptions.

This software comes with root-access pre-enabled, making it one of the few emulator software that do that by default.

When access to the root partition is enabled, you can install apps and games that change information in the :/C partition of your virtual device, and can also control more aspect of Nox.

This will automatically install an app called SuperSU, which is the control panel of all games and apps that require root access to install/run.

You can customize the power NoxPlayer uses, by going into the settings tab, and modifying settings relating to DirectX and OpenGL, and also CPU speed and allocation of RAM to your virtual device.

⇒ Get NoxPlayer

BlueStacks

Emulators to play multiplayer games

BlueStacks is another great Android emulator that can run a wide range of multi-player games on your PC. This software contains a large amount of features that make running a virtual android device on your PC easier than ever.

BlueStacks 4 is said to be 6 times more powerful than the latest top of the range Samsung phone, and up to 8 times faster than the previous version of this software.

You can customize every aspect of how this emulator runs, how it looks, how many resources it’s allowed to access, etc.

One of the best features of this software is the fact that you can map custom keys no matter what kind of controller you are using.

You can use the classic keyboard + mouse style, touch-screen, or you can opt for one of your favorite console gamepads, and customize what each button does in specific types of games.

You can set custom controls for shooters, RPG, driving games, etc.

⇒ Get Bluestacks

NullDC

nullDC - multiplayer emulators

NullDC is a great Dreamcast emulator that allows you to play your favorite old school games in same-screen multiplayer. Depending on the game you’re playing, it can also support split-screen multiplayer.

This software is built on a plug-in architecture and gives you the ability to play games with great graphics and sound, even better than the original games, and can read games from CDs as well.

In order to run your games at best quality possible , you can go into the Options panel, click on PowerVR and choose the largest resolution available.

Even though this software has not been updated since the latest release in 2011, it should run on your Windows PC without any issues.

⇒ Download NullDC

CeMu Emulator

CeMU emulator - multiplayer emulators

CeMu is a great emulator software that allows you to play multiplayer games in split screen, same screen, and also online multiplayer. You can emulate both Nintendo Switch, and Wii U games with ease.

Depending on the game you’re trying to play, CeMu will need your computer to have at least 4GB RAM, compatibility with OpenGL 4.1, and at least a medium-range processor and graphics card.

Even though this software is compatible only with 64bit processors, it allows you to run games in 4K quality. Works perfectly with both Nvidia and AMD GPU’s, but doesn’t support Intel GPUs.

When it comes to the way you can controll the games, you have a great list to choose from, being compatible with Wiimotes, keyboard and mouse, USB controllers, etc.

This allows you to always be comfortable with the controller you chose and you also have the possibility to do key-mapping if necessary.

Check out the official CeMu FAQ page if you want to find out more information about this software.

If you’re curious about what games can be played with this emulator, CeMu offers you a great games compatibility webpage. This webpage give you information not only about what games can you played, but also tells you how well the games will work.

⇒ Download CeMu Emulator

MAME

Mame emulator - to play marvel vs capcom, and other multiplayer games

MaMe is another very good emulator software for Windows PCs, and offers you the possibility to play great arcade or old school games with multiplayer gaming modes.

This software can easily emulate an incredibly wide range of arcade and old gaming consoles, and it is worth mentioning that it doesn’t contain any pre-installed ROMs.

You can find a few game options on their official website ,available for free download.

Because of the fact that Mame’s user interface is not very friendly, you can replace with another more good looking that has user-friendly features.

This alternative is called QMC2 GUI, and it offers regular updates and a better experience while using the MaMe emulator. You can download it from the official website.

⇒ Download MAME


Next, we will explore some of the best emulators

that run games on Windows PC with online multiplayer/co-op features.

MeMu Play

MeMu Play - Multiplayer emualators

MeMu Play is another great Android emulator that lets you play the most popular multi-player and co-op android games on your Windows PC.

This software was designed with gaming in mind, making it a fierce competitor for NoxPlayer and BlueStacks.

MeMu offers great performance gaming, no matter how powerful your PC is, but it might become a bit slower when you’re playing multi-player games.

This software should work well enough to multi-player games on a medium-end PC, but it is recommended that you run only one app at a time to achieve good fps in-game.

As most of the other emulator software options we talked about in this article, MeMu Play offers great customization options that cover a wide range of topics.

You can customize the buttons that you use in order to control the interface ,on your keyboard or gamepad, or even on touch screens.

This software also comes pre-rooted, and allows you to set up a custom resolution in order to fit the size of your preferred screen.

⇒ Download MeMu Play

RPCS3

RPCS3 - ps3 emulator for playing marvel vs capcom, and multiplayer games

RPCS3 is a great open-source PlayStation 3 emulator, that works incredibly well on PCs, even though it requires powerful hardware in order to do so.

Because of it’s open-source status, RPCS3 is constantly being improved by developers across the globe, allowing you to have a great PS3 experience on your Windows PC.

⇒ Download RPCS3

GenyMotion

Genymotion

GenyMotion is another powerful Android emulator that allows you to play your favorite multi-player games from the comfort of your own PC.

This app is very easy to install and use, and when it comes to its performance, it doesn’t fall short from the performances of BlueStacks.

One of the biggest differences between these two software options, is the fact that BlueStacks targets app users and gamers alike, while GenyMotion is designed specifically for gaming.

Once you’ve installed this program, you can choose from a wide range of virtual devices of all sizes and brands.

On the right hand of the screen, GenyMotion offers you access to a powerful and easy to use toolbar with great features.

You can control GPS data, activate flashlight, change volumes, record the screen or take screenshots, and many other useful features.

⇒ Download GenyMotion

Xenia Emulator

multiplayer emulators

Xenia is a great Xbox360 emulator that can run your favorite games from this platform on a Windows computer.  This application is able to run about 90 different Xbox games, and offers you the possibility of saving games to your hard-drive.

Because of the high-level system requirements that Xbox 360 games need to run on PC, you need to have a 64-bit version of Windows installed, a Vulkan or D3D12 compatible GPU, and a 64-bit processor that supports AVX and AVX2.

⇒ Download Xenia Emulator


In this article, we explored some of the best emulator software on the market that allows you to run both your favorite old-school arcade games as well as the latest releases on your Windows PC.

We split this article into two sections, the first deals with emulators that allows multiplayer by using split-screen or same-screen techniques.

In the second part of this article, we explored some of the best emulators that allows you to play multiplayer/co-op styles on the internet.

Feel free to let us know what your experience was when trying out these emulators in the comment section below.

How to recover data from a Hard Drive

Hard drives are a core component of any PC and laptop, since that’s where everything is stored, both system-related data and personal data, and they are becoming bigger and bigger with each year.

Of course, hard drivers don’t just get bigger, they also become safer and harder to corrupt, hence our tendency to store more and more data on them without thinking of backups.

Unfortunately, safer and harder to corrupt are not the same thing as incorruptible, and hard drives can become damaged and unreadable, either because of hardware or software errors.

The biggest issue is when there’s plenty of data on those hard drives, data that, as we’ve mentioned earlier, you may not have thought about backing up somewhere else either, so recovering that data becomes your priority.

Today we will be looking over several methods through which you can recover your data from your hard drives, providing you with step-by-step solutions and pictures so you can see exactly what needs to be done.

How can I recover data from a Hard Drive?

1. Boot in Safe Mode

This process differs based on what version of Windows you are using, as follows:

  1. If you are using Windows 7 press F8 upon startup
    • Select Safe Mode from the menu.
  2. If you are using Windows 8 or above press F8 or Shift + F8 upon startup
    • Select Safe Mode from the menu.
  3. Use the Windows File Explorer to find the data you are looking for
  4. Save them to a different storage device

Once the transfer is done, clean your PC with a third-party PC optimizer and cleaner, or an antivirus, or simply give it a complete reset so whatever caused the initial problem will be fixed.

2. Try recovering your data manually

As mentioned in the previous solution, there are ways of recovering data from a corrupted hard drive without the use of dedicated third-party software, and we’re going to cover that in the steps below:

  1. Remove the hard drive from your PC or laptop.
  2. Connect your old hard drive to a new system by replacing its existing hard drive.
    • You can also slot it into an additional port.
    • If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to buy an enclosure that matches your hard drive’s specs.
  3. After you put the HDD into an enclosure you’ll be able to connect it to another PC via USB cable.
Tip icon Tip
Note: If the original PC or laptop was password-protected, the new PC will deny you access to the newly installed HDD, so additional steps need to be taken.

Here’s how to recover data from a password-protected HDD:

  1. Depending on what version of Windows you are dealing with, right-click on one of these two folders:
    • Users Folder
    • Documents and Settings
  2. Access the Security tab, and go to Advanced
  3. Go to the Owner tab, and select Edit
  4. Click on Administrators and check the box labeled Replace owner on sub containers and objects
  5. Press OK, and then Yes when prompted with a confirmation message.

3. Use a third-party data recovery tool

The fastest and most efficient way to recover data from an HDD or SSD, regardless of why it got corrupted in the first place, is to use dedicated third-party data recovery software.

Besides, regular methods of data recovery, such as the ones described after this solution, require a certain degree of experience using a PC, so beginners pretty much lack an alternative.

Nonetheless, Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is a completely free data recovery tool that will return all of the data to you, even if the HDD went through a complete PC reset.

  1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.
  2. Select the type of data that you want to recover.
  3. Select the media from which you want to recover your data.
  4. Choose whether to perform a normal scan or a deep scan.
  5. Press Scan, and wait for Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition to find everything there is that can be found.
  6. You will then receive a message that lets you know how many files have been found, and how much data is recoverable.
  7. Choose what data you wish to recover.
  8. Select a location on your PC to store the recovered data.
  9. Wait for Stellar Data Recovery Free edition to perform the recovery.
Tip icon Tip
Note: Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition is indeed completely free without any kind of limitations, although you must know that there is a 1 GB recovery limit, so if you have more data to recover, you should opt for one of their paid plans.

4. Use the help of your local PC repair centers

This is probably the most costly of all of the solutions mentioned above, but since we’re talking about handing over your HDD to a third-party PC repair establishment, at least you know that your hardware will be handled by experts.

So, simply take your desktop or your laptop to the local repair service, tell them what you want to recover, and wait for them to contact you again.

By following these steps, you should be able to efficiently recover the data from your hard drive. However, keep in mind that if the hard drive is severely damaged physically, chances are there are very few things that can be done, even if you take it to a PC repair shop.

Know of another way you can recover data from a hard drive? Let us know about it by leaving your suggestions in the comments section below.

4 best SNMP OID generator/exporter for network monitoring

SNMP is short for Simple Network Management Protocol which is being used by IT administrators to detect and manage devices.

SNMP is also widely used for gaining more insight into the availability and performance of the network in order to ensure it’s health.

Since it has such an important role, in this article we will present you the best SNMP generator for network monitoring you can use, so make sure to keep on reading.

Which is the best SNMP OID generator / exporter?

PRTG Network Monitor

network scanner for Windows 10

PRTG Network Monitor is the best network monitor solution out there thanks to the Network Management Protocol SNMP protocol.

The Network Management Protocol SNMP allows you to easily monitor network devices.

Moreover, the Network Reporting Tool incorporated in the PRTG Network Monitor will allow you to monitor your network with SNMP.

Thanks to the Simple Network Management Protocol SNMP you will be able to gather all the needed data regarding bandwidth and network usage.

Packet sniffing and NetFlow are additional monitoring methods supported by PRTG Network Monitor and you can use them for most standard situations.

PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor

Monitor all your network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications with the help of Network Management Protocol SNMP protocol.
Free trialVisit website

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) comes with unique features that makes it perfect for SNMP monitoring.

The automatic device discovery tool alongside the dynamic, interactive dashboards, mapping features, intuitive design are some of the most important features.

With the help of the automatic device discovery tool you can locate, map and configure the network nodes automatically.

Moreover, the tool comes with the best SNMP trap receiver that allow you to create customizable alerts, to fit the exact conditions you want.

Key features of Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor:

  • Intelligent network visualization maps.
  • Customizable and flexible alerts and notifications.
  • Intuitive and easy-to-use dashboard.
  • Detailed monitoring of F5 BIG-IP family of products.

⇒ Get Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor

ManageEngine OpManager

Trace SNMP traffic

With ManageEngine OpManager you can easily monitor packet loss, speed, latency and many more critical metrics.

You can also set alert parameters and thresholds for monitoring the network performance.

ManageEngine OpManager is a comprehensive SNMP tool as it extends the monitoring options to network mapping, traffic analysis, and even VoIP traffic management.

Moreover, the dashboard is also highly customizable and there are plenty of performance widgets you can choose from.

Key features of ManageEngine OpManager:

  • Integration with the mobile app for Android and Apple.
  • Network monitoring and data analysis.
  • Highly customizable dashboard.

ManageEngine OpManager

Set alerts and monitor network parameters in real-time with ManageEngine OpManager.
Free Trial Visit Website

NetCrunch

NetCrunch is a complete and agentless, out-of-the-box monitoring tool made for the most popular devices, systems,and applications, including fast network discovery, automatic maps, and network views.

Well, one of the highlights of NetCrunch is the fact that its core functionality is built on SNMP, supporting all protocol versions, traps and notifications receiving, as well as forwarding.

Because of this, NetCrunch does not need any additional agents or modules to be installed on the monitored devices, just SNMP profiles. Existing monitoring packs can be used, or you can add parameters for monitoring from the MIB library or OID.

NetCrunch comes with a built-in MIB Compiler and over 8700 pre-compiled MIBs, and there are several predefined monitoring packs available for monitoring most popular SNMP devices.

Thus, instead of manual one by one configuration, adding even hundreds of SNMP devices to monitoring takes under 5 minutes altogether.

The program is available as a demo for anyone to try, although you do need to remember that it is limited to 10,000 nodes/interfaces.

⇒ Get NetCrunch

Thanks to the overall SNMP features included and their performance, these are the best tools that will allow you to best monitor and analyze your network status.

If you have additional recommendations or suggestions we would love to read them in the comments section below.

Epic’s court battle with Apple reveals Microsoft “hasn’t given up” on Game Pass on other platforms

Another day, another gaming related leak has emerged from the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit, this time regarding Xbox Game Pass for other platforms.

Yesterday, Epic Games and Apple’s discovery period revealed quite a bit of insider gaming news. Among the nuggets of info presented yesterday was that Sony seemingly went out of its way to prohibit Crossplay, despite being offered exclusives from the studio behind one of the biggest gaming franchises to-date.

Today, The Verge revealed communications between Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Xbox lead Phil Spencer that Microsoft had been considering removing the Xbox Live walled garden for Xbox gamers for some time. Thanks to a little pressure from Sweeney and his uber popular property Fortnite, the two had bandied about the idea of splashy announcement to coincide with Epic’s public battle with Apple.

In an email to Spencer, Sweeney pitched the following:

“Epic has certain plans for August that will provide an extraordinary opportunity to highlight the value proposition of consoles and PCs, in contrast to mobile platforms, and to onboard new console users. While I can’t share details with any third party at this point, I give you Epic’s assurance that our efforts will be positive and supportive of Microsoft, Xbox and Windows.”

Epic Games - Xbox Game Pass

Epic Games - Xbox Live - Game Pass

Obviously, things didn’t pan out quite on schedule, but Microsoft did eventually remove the Xbox Live gate keeping feature within a stones throw of their shared interest to open additional multiplayer features to more gamers.

However, it was also revealed that Microsoft was also looking to push its relatively popular subscription service Xbox Game Pass to other platforms.

Spencer passingly brings up to Sweeney xCloud on other platforms with a “haven’t given up” reference as late as August 6, 2020. A lot has happened since August of last year, but in many ways xCloud is still poised to Trojan Horse its way onto other consoles as makes its way to PCs and smartphones. Enabling cloud saves of gaming progress and a continued push for Crossplay seemingly makes Xbox Game Pass an inevitability for gamers who don’t want to purchase the same game for multiple platforms.

Naturally, Nintendo and Sony are resistant to the idea, but as studios such as Activision and EA further intertwine with Microsoft to distribute their games, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before gamers from other platforms find value in a recurring $20 subscription to the more traditional $70 per game.

How to Backup PS4 Save Data & Game Saves [Easy Guide]

You can have multiple reasons to back up PS4 save data and game saves. However, the most common reason is being responsible with your data to have a backup ready when something goes south.

Sony offers multiple ways to back up your PlayStation 4 saves. You can either use the cloud option that requires a PS+ subscription or go with the more traditional backup to the external drive method.

This article explores how you can back PS4 and save data and games easily.

?️  Quick Tip:

For a hassle-free experience, check out the useful AOMEI Backupper, as it allows you to easily create a complete backup of your PlayStation 4 hard drive on your external hard drive.

This powerful tool becomes essential if you plan to upgrade to an SSD from your old PlayStation HDD, so download it by clicking the button below.

AOMEI Backupper

Try this lightweight but powerful software that enables you to create backups of your PS4 hard drives with ease.

How can I backup saved data on PS4?

1. Backup PS4 save data to the cloud

backup PS4 save data
  1. From the PlayStation menu, open Settings.
  2. Next, scroll down and select the Application Save Data Management.
  3. Open Saved Data in System Storage
  4. Select Upload to Online Storage.
  5. Now select the game for which you want to back up the game save.
  6. Press the X button on your control to select the Saved Data.
  7. Once done, click the Upload button (bottom right corner).
  8. Now, repeat the steps for all the games that you want.

You can restore the game data by signing into your PlayStation Plus account on any PS4 console.

Note icon NOTE
Before proceeding with the steps below, ensure you have a PlayStation Plus membership. If not, follow the second step instead.

Setup automatic game data backup

backup PS4 save data
  1. Open the Settings
  2. Select Application Saved Data Management
  3. Scroll down and open Auto–Upload.

You can also select which game saves to upload from the Auto-Upload options.

If you set up the backup option for the first time, it may take a few hours to upload your game data.

Enabling the auto-upload option will allow the PS4 to automatically upload saved data while the PS4 is turned on or in rest mode.

Make sure you have enabled Stay connected to the Internet when in rest mode option for this feature to work. If not, here is how to enable it.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Power Settings.
  3. Open Set Features Available in Rest Mode.
  4. Make sure the Stay Connected to the Internet feature is enabled.

Upload saved data from the game’s menu

backup saved data on PS4
  1. From your PlayStation home screen, highlight any game.
  2. Press the Options button on your controller to bring up the context menu.
  3. Select Upload/Download Saved Data.

Proceed with the on-screen instructions, if any, to successfully backup the saved data for the highlighted game. You need to repeat these steps for other games as well.

2. Manually backup game saves to USB

backup saved data on PS4
  1. Ensure you format the USB driver to a FAT32 or exFAT protocol.
  2. Insert the formatted USB drive into your PlayStation.
  3. Go to Settings from the menu.
  4. Scroll down and select Application Saved Data Management.
  5. Select Copy to USB Storage Device.
  6. Scroll through and select all the games you want to create a backup.
  7. Click the Copy button (bottom right corner).

That’s it. You can upload the game files from your USB drive to your cloud storage device if you want to have a backup copy.

While storing your PS4 saved data in the cloud on PS Plus offers a convenient and hassle-free experience, the data is only accessible as long as you have a PS Plus membership.

However, having a game data backup stored in your external or USB drive allows you to restore them whenever you want, even if you don’t have internet access.

You can easily backup PS4 save data & game saves using the built-in backup option in your PlayStation 4 console. After you’re done with backing up, you can easily format the PS4 hard drive on Windows 11, if needed.

While uploading the data to the PlayStation cloud is notably easy, having a local copy works even if you don’t have an active PS Plus subscription, which is required to restore the data.

Screen Reading Software for Visually Impaired: 6 Best in 2026

Screen readers are computer software that assists the blind or visually impaired in using computers, by either reading the text that shows up on the screen or by presenting them on a braille display.

Essentially, it serves as a platform for the visually impaired to communicate with their computers. Screen readers can either be instructed to read the text on the screen out loud or to automatically speak out the changes that occur on the screen.

Each screen reader comes with its own unique set of command structures. They are able to perform tasks such as read a word, a line or even a full text, inform the user about the location of the mouse’s cursor on the screen, and tell them what item is being focused on.

Some screen readers can also perform advanced tasks such as reading pre-designated parts of the screen (useful when surfing the Internet), and even reading the items on the cells of a spreadsheet document.

There are several things one must consider before being invested in a particular screen reading software. Firstly, one must be sure that the screen reader is compatible with their computer’s operating system.

Also, since most visually impaired users find the use of braille displays very helpful, the screen reader has to be compatible with them.

One must also check if the software is compatible with the applications that the user most frequently uses. Finally, it is wise to check the command structures and keystrokes of the software beforehand, so as to be sure that they are easy to remember and not in conflict with existing keystrokes.

There are currently several different Screen reading software available for personal computers. Some are free while others can set you back as much as $1200.

What are the best screen reading software tools for PC?

JAWS (Job Access with Speech)

Job Access with Speech, commonly abbreviated as JAWS is the most popular screen reading software in the world. According to a 2015 survey of screen reader users, 30.2% of all users used it as their primary screen reader, while 43.7% reported having used it often. Developed by Freedom Scientific and Distributed by The Chicago Lighthouse, JAWS is able to convert the various components of the Windows operating system into speech, making it possible for the blind or visually impaired user to use the OS.

Here are some of the tasks the user can fulfill using JAWS:

  • Surfing the Internet
  • Reading text out loud from the computer screen
  • Reading e-books and other articles
  • Word processing
  • Telecommunications

JAWS supports all the versions of Windows since Windows Vista. In order to operate, it requires a minimum of 1.5 GHz of processor speed and 4GB of RAM. Also a Windows compatible sound card is a must. It supports Braille displays as well as speech synthesizers as it’s output devices.

There are two different versions of JAWS: the Home edition, which is for non-commercial use, and the professional edition, which is designed for commercial use. The suggested price for the Home edition is $900, whereas the suggested price for the Professional edition is $1,100. The product comes with a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee, and a limited 90-day warranty for manufacturing defects.

Download JAWS


NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access)

NonVisual Desktop Access, commonly abbreviated as NVDA, is a very popular free screen reader. Its developers claim that their goal is to enable the blind and the vision impaired to use computers with ease. It can either read out the text on the screen via a computerized voice, or convert and present it as braille, via a braille display. Users can control what is read by moving the cursor across the screen.

Users can either download the software to their PC or upload it on to a USB stick and use it with any computer they want.

Here are some of the unmissable features of NVDA:

  • Since it is free, you can use it at work with no cost to your employer
  • Makes operating email, messaging and social networking websites and apps easier
  • Helps with online tasks such as online shopping, banking and transport info
  • Supports word processing, Powerpoint, Excel and more
  • Helps with Internet research, news, online curriculum and e-books

NVDA supports all 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows since Windows XP, all the way up to Windows 10. This includes the server operating systems. NVDA required at least 1.0 GHz of processor speed, 256MB of RAM and 90 MB of storage space to run smoothly. That makes it pretty light-weight compared to the other entries on this list.

Unlike most screen readers, which are ridiculously expensive, NVDA is completely free to download and use. It’s developers claim that it’s been downloaded over 70,000 times, in 43 different languages. They encourage users with means to donate to the project. This donation helps support the developers who work to keep the system up to date, and also makes sure that the software remains free.

Download NV Access


COBRA

COBRA is another popular paid screen reading software. It allows the user to modify their desktops as per their needs, defining features you frequently need, in order to create a productive work environment. Customized functions also allow for a more efficient workflow. COBRA is currently available in two different versions: COBRA 11 for Windows 8 and 10 users, and COBRA 10 for Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows XP (32-bit) and Vista (32-bit).

Here are some of the features of COBRA:

  • Easy and intuitive operation
  • Supports MS Office 2016
  • Clean and natural-sounding speech synthesizer
  • Free updates for up to 4 years
  • Supports speech, braille, and/or magnification for output

In order to run COBRA you computer must have a minimum of 2 GHz of processor speed (with Dual Core or higher processing speed recommended), 4GB of RAM, at least 2GB of hard disk space and a Windows compatible sound card with the latest driver.

Each version of COBRA comes in three different avatars: COBRA Zoom, COBRA Braille, and COBRA Pro. COBRA Zoom is priced at $649, COBRA Braille at $749, while COBRA Pro is priced at $849.

Download COBRA


Dolphin Screen Reader

Dolphin Screen Reader, developed by Dolphin Computer Access Inc., is another popular paid screen reader. It was formerly marketed as SuperNova Screen Reader. Its speech and braille access makes it possible for the blind or visually impaired user to be in complete control of their computer.

Here are some of the notable features of Dolphin Screen Reader:

  • Has natural-sounding text-to-speech voice, that can read documents, articles, emails etc.
  • Its Dolphin Cursor and Item Finder makes it easy to know what’s on the screen.
  • Speak out characters and words as you type them, hence increasing accuracy.
  • They can scan and read (via OCR) various paper documents and PDFs.
  • Supports speech and braille for output

In order to run Dolphin Screen Reader, one needs a computer with a processor speed of 1.5 GHz or faster, a minimum of 2GB RAM, 5GB of storage space, and a Windows compatible sound card with speech output. It supports tablets, laptops and desktop computers running Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10.

Dolphin Screen Reader can either be bought under a single user license or a multiple-user license. The single user version of the software, which is ideal for personal use, costs $955. The multi user license costs $955 for the first user and $685 for each additional user. The multi-user license is ideal for organizations that are looking to provide access across single or multiple networks. Dolphin Screen reader comes with a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) for updates. The upgrades are delivered to your inbox.

Download Dolphin Screen Reader


System Access

System Access, developed by Serotek Corporation, is one of the more affordable screen readers for Personal Computers. It provides blind or visually impaired users full access to the Windows environment. It supports the numerous applications, including the likes of Adobe Reader, Outlook Express, Skype, and Microsoft Office.

Here are some of the notable features of System Access:

  • Makes it easier to browse the Internet
  • Natural sounding text-to-speech voices with NeoSpeech
  • Free software upgrade
  • Free technical support

System Access is relatively cheaper compared to the other paid screen reading softwares. System Alone Standalone sells for $399, whereas for $499 you can get System Access Mobile. System Access Mobile is also available for $21.99 a month.

Download System Access


ZoomText

ZoomText is a paid screen reading software for the blind or the visually impaired developed by Ai Squared. It is available in three different versions:

  1. ZoomText Magnifier: Enlarges and enhances everything on the computer screen to perfect clarity.
  2. ZoomText Magnifier/Reader: Does everything ZoomText Magnifier does, and also reads out text from the screen.
  3. ZoomText Fusion: Does everything Magnifier/Reader does, and also functions as a full screen reading software.

Here are some of the important features of ZoomText:

  • Free technical support, even for the Trial version
  • Touch screen support
  • Crystal clear magnification, from 1.25x all the way up to 60x
  • Reads everything on the computer screen out loud
  • Lets you customize your views (change colors, contrast etc.

There are three different versions of ZoomText available: ZoomText Fusion, which costs $1,200, ZoomText Magnifier/Reader, which costs $600, and ZoomText Magnifier, which costs $400. Ai Squared also offers paid in-person training, paid certification programs and free webinars on ZoomText.

Download ZoomText

You’ve reached the end of our list. The tools listed above are great for the blind or visually impaired, allowing them to use computers and connect to the world.

If you have used other screen readers that you think we should add to this list, let us know in the comments below.

Barcode Scanner for Windows: 5 Best to Use in 2026

When we want to decode the details of a barcode and do a search for the item, we often can’t find the right tool. You can now easily avoid such situations by turning your Windows 10 device into a barcode scanner.

What are the best Windows 10 barcode scanner tools to use?

QR Code and Barcode Reader

QR Code and Barcode Reader windows 10


QR Code and Barcode Reader is perhaps the most comprehensive barcode scanner software when it comes to reading barcodes. Using this app is very simple, all you need to do is point your computer webcam on a code and the details will show immediately at the bottom of the app bar. QR Code and Barcode Reader, as its name suggests also offers the possibility to read codes located on images and even save them in the “Catalog” if you need to use them later. You can also scan codes from images stored on your device.

Apart from barcodes, the tool also supports the following content types: URL, Windows Store URL, contact information and business cards (vCard, meCard, bizCard), email messages, SMS, WiFi, and SEPA Credit Transfer (Giro Code).

You can buy QR Code and Barcode Reader for $2.49 from the Windows Store.

One Scan QR Code

scan barcode reader windows 10

One Scan QR Code is a fast and user-friendly QR reader and barcode scanner. It’s easy to use, simply install it, turn on your computer’s camera and you’re ready to go. One Scan QR Code is a very reliable app, it catches even blurry barcodes, and it doesn’t bring any unwanted ads.

Scan recognizes all of the popular barcode types (UPC, EAN, and ISBN) and shows you pricing, reviews, and more. However, barcode scanning requires a high-resolution camera in order to work reliably as older devices don’t usually provide the resolution or focus required for barcode scanning.

One Scan QR Code also keeps the history logs and pictures of all of your past scans and allows you to customize how it works in Settings.

⇒ Get One Scan QR Code

BcWebCam

BcWebCam barcode scanner windows 10

This free barcode scanning tool instantly scans your barcode and displays the results online. You can simply install the app and use your webcam to scan the barcodes, there is no need to customize any settings. Start bcWebCam, place the cursor in the target field of your app, and hold the barcode in front of the camera. The barcode will be read automatically.

The only disadvantage of BcWebCam is the limited list of supported codes, which include only EAN 13 and EAN 8. However, you can use this tool to read QR codes used in magazines and web sites.

You can download BcWebCam for free from the tool’s official page.

Free Barcode Scanner & Reader Software

Free Barcode Scanner Reader Software

Barcode Scanner Software is a free barcode reader software that supports reading and scanning 10+ linear barcode types and QR Code, Data Matrix, and PDF417. It supports the following file formats: GIF, JPEG, PNG, and TIFF files.

Recognizing barcodes from images is simple: all you need to do is click on BarcodeLabelsScanner.exe to launch the app, choose your barcode type in your scanning image, then click on the button “Load Barocd Image” to open your reading image. The software will scan the image, and display the barcode value in the bottom text box.

You can download the Barcode Scanner and Reader Software for free from OnBarCode.

Scandit Barcode Scanner

scandit barcode scanner windows 10

The latest version for this tool, Scandit SDK 4.10 offers support for UWP apps, which means that you can use it on both Windows 10 PC and Mobile. Thanks to Scandit, you can now turn your Windows 10 device into an enterprise-grade barcode scanning and data capture tools.

This tool is very reliable, and is able to decode barcodes even in the low light environments. Skewed angles, blurry, damaged, and small barcodes are all decodable even on low resolution cameras. Scandit can also deal with barcodes in motion and multiple barcodes at once.

The tool uses a wide software data base, allowing it to support a plethora of barcode types inclusing: UPC-A / UPC-E, EAN-8 / EAN-13, EAN-2 / EAN-5, Interleaved-Two-of-Five, Code 39, MSI Plessey, GS1 Databar and more.

Of course, Scandit’s price tag reflects its value and reliability. You can purchase the tool for $199.00 for a monthly subscription, or $1,999.00 a year and you can install it on up to 100 devices.

FAQs

What is a barcode scanner for Windows?

A barcode scanner for Windows is a hardware or software tool that reads and decodes barcodes on products, documents, or digital screens. It sends the decoded data directly into Windows applications like Excel, Word, or inventory systems.

Can I use my PC camera as a barcode scanner?

Yes. Many apps allow you to use your PC’s webcam to scan barcodes. Simply install a Windows-compatible barcode scanner app, grant camera access, and point your webcam at the barcode to capture it.

Which barcode formats are supported on Windows scanners?

Most barcode scanners for Windows support popular formats such as UPC, EAN, QR codes, Code 39, and Code 128. Some advanced scanners also recognize Data Matrix and PDF417 codes used in logistics and ID cards.

How do I connect a barcode scanner to my Windows PC?

You can connect a barcode scanner via USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. Windows usually detects it automatically as an input device, so scanned data appears wherever your cursor is active (like typing text).

As you can see, the barcode reading apps listed in this article can be used for various purposes. You can install a free barcode reading tool if you’re planning to only use the software occasionally.

If you’re looking for professional barcode scanner software, then you should purchase the Scandit Barcode Reader.

If you’re looking to design and print your own barcodes, check out this guide on the best software to create barcodes. It covers powerful Windows tools that let you generate professional barcode labels quickly and integrate them with your existing inventory or retail systems.

Server Mirroring Software: 5 Best to Use [Out of 15 Tested]

Server mirroring is a network management process in which a full duplicate copy of a server is established for backup purposes. Organizations need to keep server backup copies in the event that something happens to their primary servers.

To do that, organizations need server-mirroring software, otherwise known as disk-cloning utilities. Disk-cloning utilities enable users to establish an exact image clone of hard drives.

However, standard edition disk-cloning software might not be enough for enterprise users with servers. Thus, some disk-cloning utilities have server (or advanced) editions that are more specifically tailored for enterprise users.

What is the best server-mirroring software?

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is a chock-a-block with handy backup and restore features. It doesn’t have a server edition, but the full disk-imaging options in the Advanced and Premium editions will be sufficient for business users.

One good reason to consider this tool is the enhanced protection offered by the antivirus functionality added to the back-up feature.

While not particularly marketed as an antivirus tool, Acronis still offers ultimate protection against any type of cyber-criminals.

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office Advanced and Premium editions boast a Duel Protection feature that enables users to replicate a disk image copy to the cloud for an online copy.

In addition to its clone disk tool, this software also incorporates handy disk clean-up, rescue media builder, SD storage and mobile device backup, and system restore utilities.

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

Intuitive and reliable back-up tool, combined with an efficient antivirus function.
Check price Visit website

AOMEI Backupper Server

software mirroring tools

This is the server edition of the AOMEI Backupper software that’s more specifically for Windows Server platforms from 2003 to 2019.

Although this is advanced backup software, it’s one of the most simple and straightforward utilities to utilize for various backup types.

You can choose from System Backup, Disk Backup, Partition, and File Backup options, depending on your needs.

AOMEI Backupper Server enables incremental & differential backups, and it also incorporates handy options for backup scheduling.

Using the Restore & Clone features, you’ll be able to retrieve the entire OS or only part of it in case of total damage. The cloning process is efficient and quick, with no impact on other active processes.

AOMEI Backupper Server

A complete solution for data protection, cloning, and recovery for small and mid-size businesses.
Check price Visit website

Paragon Backup and Recovery

OS mirroring tools

Paragon Backup and Recovery is among the most highly rated disk-cloning utilities. Enterprise users will need the Backup and Recovery Business edition that supports Windows Server.

With this utility, users can set up backup images for disc, secure hard drive partition, or network drive storage.

Being a flexible backup software, users can set up custom backup parameters such as one-time back-ups, separate, partial, or full back-up and more.

Paragon’s business package also includes additional features for virtual machine operations, such as migrating or backing up virtual systems.

The tool uses a Set & Run technology that allows for easy set and run automated backup jobs, with minimum intervention on your side. 

Paragon Backup and Recovery

Paragon Backup and Recovery

Create your own system back-up and restoration schedule with this intuitive and flexible tool.
Free trial Visit website

EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise

best server backup tools

EaseUS Todo Backup has had some rave reviews. This backup utility comes in four versions, which include the Enterprise edition for both small and large businesses.

With support for a wide range of server platforms and storage devices, this is one of the most comprehensive disk-cloning utilities.

EaseUS Todo Backup incorporates tools for system, disk partition, file, and even email backups along with a system clone utility.

Enterprise edition users can utilize the software for Windows Server, SQL Server, and Exchange Server backup and recovery.

The EaseUS Todo Backup commercial editions also incorporate virtualization tools for migrating servers to virtual machines.

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Macrium Reflect Server

Macrium reflect server

Macrium Reflect Server is another disk-cloning utility specifically designed for business server mirroring. This is a reliable utility that will eclipse the requirements of most organizations.

With Macrium Reflect Server, you can back up an entire non-virtual or virtual servers to an image file in just a few clicks. The utility wizards guide you through the process, only to add to the intuitive drag and drop UI design.

This software enables users to set up and launch Microsoft Hyper-V virtual machines with instant virtual booting, which is a great feature. Macrium Reflect Server also boasts Rapid Delta tech for both faster cloning and recovery speeds.

⇒ Download Macrium Reflect

These are some of the most highly rated server-mirroring software for Windows platforms. They’re ideal utilities for cloning hard disks that will also come in handy for more general folder and file backup purposes.

Home users who don’t need to mirror servers can also check out the freeware editions of those image backup utilities.


FIX: An old HDD is not showing up in Windows 10/11

Here’s the scenario: you added a brand new HDD or SSD and installed Windows 10 on that dedicated partition. You decided to keep the old IDE HDD as a storage drive.

This would be the standard, non-stress procedure but the old and sturdy HDD suddenly disappeared and it is nowhere to be found. It just won’t show up in Windows 10.

This seems to be a common problem for a lot of users that undergo exact or similar scenarios. Luckily, when there’s a problem – there’s a solution.

Or a few of them, to be exact. If you faced the same situation as many others, make sure to check the steps provided below.

What can I do if my old HDD disappeared after an upgrade?

  1. Format the HDD and create a new partition
  2. Check hardware
  3. Inspect BIOS and Disk Manager

1. Format the HDD and create a new partition

This might seem like a rather radical solution since it involves forgetting about the old HDD. But if you have a backup of your data on an alternative machine or device, you can transfer it later in no time.

At least, with the formatting, you’ll be able to use the old HDD just like before and increase the PC storage space substantially.

To make sure you’re getting all the steps right, we recommend a dedicated tool to help you with the process, namely AOMEI Partition Assistant.

AOMEI is a multifunctional assistant, that will manage, partition, and optimize your hard drive according to your needs.

If you have a backup, as mentioned, you can use AOMEI to split, move, resize and manage your partitions, without data loss, to make the most of your disk space.

On the other side, without a backup, the Partition Recovery tool would be the first to use, since it recovers lost partitions. Afterward, you can manage the data as mentioned.

Other useful features of AOMEI are Rebuild MBR, Windows to Go Creator, Disk Cloned Wizard, or Make Bootable Media.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

AOMEI Partition Assistant

Safe all-in-one partition assistant to recover lost partitions, or resize, optimize, or move them, to optimize your PC performance.
Check priceVisit website

2. Check hardware

why is my old hdd lost after upgrade

A basic check-up is always a good idea. So, confirm that the HDD is properly plugged in. Make sure that HDD is connected with both the power supply and motherboard data cable.

Also, make sure that you have the right means to run the 3.5-inch drive. If your motherboard doesn’t support IDE, you can always get a converter and plug it in as a USB drive.

Additionally, there’s also the health question. In order to inspect HDD health, you’ll be needing a third-party bootable drive with the diagnostic tool. In this article, we thoroughly explained the diagnostics and monitoring of HDD in the Windows platform. So, make sure to check it out.

If you’re positive that everything is spot on and your HDD is still not visible, try connecting it to an alternative PC. If you’re unable to access your HDD on a different PC configuration, we’re sad to inform you that it’s probably the end of the road for that HDD device.

On the other hand, if it works great on an alternative configuration, move on with the additional steps.

3. Inspect BIOS and Disk Manager

  1. Restart your PC and press repetitively Delete (F2 or F10) on your keyboard to access BIOS/UEFI settings. (These steps can differ so make sure to follow on-screen instructions or Google your motherboard and find out.)
  2. Navigate to the BOOT tab.
  3. If you’re seeing old HDD on the list of available boot devices, we’re good to go.

Furthermore, once we can safely say that the motherboard is recognizing the HDD, then the system is the problem. And that’s where the Disk Manager utility comes in handy.

Before we start meddling with this tool, we need to draw your attention that misusing this tool will cause more damage to your OS. So, follow the steps closely and we should be good to go:

  1. In the Windows Search bar, type Disk management and open Create and format disk partitions.old hdd not showing up
  2. Locate the troubling drive.
  3. Right-click on it and select Change drive letter and paths.
  4. Click on Add.
  5. Select Assign the following drive letter and grant any available letter to drive partition.
  6. Hit OK.

After that, you should be able to see the brand new drive in This PC. If that’s not the case and your HDD is identified as a drive that’s not initialized and without allocated space, formatting is the only solution.

So these are the solutions we propose to find the missing HDD on your Windows 10 PC. In case you have questions or alternative solutions, the comments section is just below.

FIX: Setup was unable to use the existing partition

I know that many of you tried to roll back to a previous Windows version at one point or another. In this case, we are going to talk a bit about rolling back from Windows 10 to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

In this article, you will learn what you can do in order to fix Windows 10 and get rid of the error message Setup was unable to use the existing partition because it does not contain the required free space.

Usually, the error message appears when you have additional hard drives connected to your device or the partition you are trying to install Windows 10 on is not completely blank.

First of all and most importantly, you will need to create a backup copy of your current files, folders, and any other important documents to prevent any future issues before attempting the steps below.

How do I fix an existing partition that cannot be used?

  1. Format the problematic partition
  2. Unplug all peripherals
  3. Remove all partitions
  4. Create a new boot partition

1. Format the problematic partition

1.1 Format the partition using the installation media

  1. Turn on your Windows 10 device.
  2. After the device started, insert your Windows 10 Installation Media into the CD or DVD ROM.
  3. Reboot your Windows device with the installation media inserted.
  4. It will ask you to press any key to boot from the CD or DVD.
  5. Follow the instructions and press any key on the keyboard to boot from the CD or DVD.
  6. In the first window that appears from the installation media, select your language.
  7. After you are done, click on the Next button.
  8. Select the Install Windows button.
  9. In the Enter the product key to activate Windows window, type the Windows 10 product key.
  10. The next page will be Please read the license terms
    • Simply need to check the I accept the license terms box and then hit Next.
  11. The system will now ask you which type of installation you prefer.
  12. Click on the Custom button.
  13. You will be prompted to provide the location where you want to install Windows.
    • Select the Drive options (advanced) feature.
  14. Select the partition where you want to install Windows 10.
  15. Click on the Format feature and keep following the on-screen instructions.
  16. After you are done, select the Next button.
  17. Follow the on-screen instructions and finish your Windows 10 install process.
  18. Reboot your device once more and you are done.

As explained, after you made the necessary backup copy of your important data, you will need to completely format the partition you wish to install Windows 10 on.

If you don’t know how to create Windows installation media, we have an excellent guide that will help you do that.

You can also use dedicated software to format your partition, just like the one recommended below.

Using this tool will be far much easier than following all of the steps mentioned above.

1.2 Format the partition using a dedicated drive management tool

  1. Download and install the software using the link below.
  2. Launch the program.
  3. Choose the troublesome partition and select Format Partition.
  4. Select the partition settings that include: Label, File system and The cluster size.
  5. Confirm your choices, and then select Proceed.

Ultimately, with this specialized partition management software, you get the opportunity to manage your hard drive securely before performing a restore or backup action, thus keeping all the information intact.

2. Unplug all peripherals

  1. Unplug any USB sticks and peripherals that might be connected to your device.
  2. Reboot your Windows 10 operating system without plugging in any of them.
  3. Try running the setup process again and see if you still get the same message telling you that you do not have enough free space.

Although it seems unusual, the connected peripherals can lead to this issue so unplugging them is a smart decision.

3. Remove all partitions

  1. Open the partition selection screen, disconnect the USB drive and select Next.
  2. The error message Windows is unable to install to the selected location should appear on the screen.
  3. Now, simply plug your USB drive back in and click Refresh, and then Next.
  4. The process should resume.

Some users confirmed they quickly solved this problem by removing all partitions on the drive and unplugging the USB drive so follow the steps above to do so.

4. Create a new boot partition

  1. When the setup error pop-up appears on the screen, go to Start, enter diskpart.exe, and press Enter.
  2. In the Diskpart window, type the following commands:
    • list disk – this will list all the disks available on your computerlist disk command
    • select disk=0 – keep in mind that disk 0 is your destination drive and all data stored on this drive will be deleted.
    • create partition primary size=x – Replace x with the actual size of the new partition.
    • select partition=1
    • active
    • format fs=ntfs quick
    • assign
    • exit
  3. Open your USB flash drive and copy the files from your USB drive to your C drive.
  4. Run the following commands to make your C: drive bootable:
    • bootsect /nt60 c:
    • bootsect /nt60 c: /mbr
  5. You can now remove the USB drive from your PC.
  6. Restart your machine and go to Windows Setup and click on the Install Now option.

If nothing worked, try creating a new boot partition manually. Although this method may seem a bit complicated, follow the instruction below and you should be able to solve the problem in just a few minutes.

That’s it, the error message Setup was unable to use the existing partition because it does not contain the required free space should no longer appear on the screen.

As this issue can be easily solved by correctly partitioning your drives, check out the best partitioning software tools that can help you quickly manage your drives.

If you need additional help, you can use the comments section below and we will help you further as soon as possible.

Automatic Music Organizer: 6 Best to Use in 2026

Because we all love listening to our favorite music, it is very important to be able to organize our music library. This task has become harder than ever in the 21st century because of ever-increasing storage spaces. Today, only one hard-drive can contain millions of songs, which can make sorting out those songs a hard task, even for those of us with great patience.

In this article, we will explore some of the best software options that allow you to organize your library in order to find the favorite songs with ease.

Top 6 best music organizer software

Audials One

Audials One organize music

Audials One is a really powerful and versatile software solution. You can use it stream music, charts, videos, movies, TV series, live TV shows and more in the best quality possible.

The tool offers one of the largest music database with 12,000,000 MP3s by 3,000,000 musicians! In other words, all the pieces of music that you always wanted to listen to, as well as the latest charts are at your disposal.

But navigating through all these files can sometimes be difficult. Don’t worry, Audials One has some very nice music organizing features that allow to quickly organize your music files so as to find them when you need them.

There are very few software solutions that offer so many additional features: podcasts, player, music management, music library, universal converter for all file formats and all devices, you name it.

⇒ Get Audials One

Magix MP3 Deluxe

Magix Mp3 Deluxe - Music organizer

Magix MP3 Deluxe is another amazing tool that allows you to organize your music library. This software can also convert audio files and create playlists.

This software has a wide range of great features. With Magix MP3 you can:

  • Organize your music easily
  • Transfer playlists to smartphones and tablets (Windows & Android)
  • Listen to over 6000 internet radio stations
  • Import and export audio files
  • Ability to rip CDs with automatic cover and title downloads
  • MP3 converter
  • Ability to find & delete duplicate tracks
  • Design CD covers – with quick print feature
  • Sleep timer – you can the timer to turn off Magix and your computer at a specified hour
  • AAC support

⇒ Get Magix MP3 Deluxe 19

MusicBee

MusicBee - Music organizer

MusicBee is a great software option that can be used to play and organize your music library with ease. Its simple user interface makes it accessible to any user, and the powerful features in this program allow you to simplify your listening experience. For detailed setup and compatibility guidance, check out MusicBee for Windows 11, which covers installation steps and optimization tips for the latest OS version.

This music player/organizer has the ability to play online radio, and also supports a wide range of add-ons including theater mode designs, skins, plugins, visualizers, etc.

MusicBee allows you yo adjust your sound with 10-band and 15-band equalizer and DSP effects, has an option for gapless playback, and also supports WinAmp plugins. This allows you to customize the program even further, to fit perfectly to your needs.

⇒ Get MusicBee

Clementine

Clementine - Music organizer

Clementine is a multiplatform music player that can also help you easily organize your music into folders, playlists, or based on bitrate and genre.

You can use Clementine to listen to the music on your PC, organize it using its tabbed playlists feature, search for metadata automatically, or you can stream radio from services like Spotify, Grooveshark, etc.

Key features include :

  • Listen to songs you uploaded to Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.
  • You can create smart playlists
  • CUE sheet support
  • You can download lyrics and artist biographies
  • Can transform music into MP3, FLAC, etc.
  • Automatically download missing tags from MusicBrainz
  • Can be controlled remotely by using an Android device or the command-line

⇒ Get Clementine

MediaMonkey

mediamonkey - Music organizer 2

MediaMonkey is a great piece of software that makes it easier than ever to sort out millions of songs from your PC. This tool has a powerful yet simple user interface that can help you organize your entire music library, add missing album artwork, find lyrics, etc.

MediaMonkey can manage both big and small collections of audio files from your hard drive, network and CDs. This software can also be easily customized with skins, plugins, visualizations, etc. You can also tag any audio or video format.

The free version of this software has some great features :

  • Manage a great number of music files
  • Record CDs, download music, podcasts, etc.
  • Automatic search for metadata — album art, lyrics, etc.
  • Can manage your library based on music genre
  • Can sync through Wi-Fi with Android devices
  • Ability to convert MP3s, M4A, OGG, FLAC, WMA, etc.
  • Find duplicate tracks and missing Tags

The Gold version of MediaMonkey bolsters all the features provided in the free version with some notable additions :

  • Accurate-rip database – allows you to accurately rip any media and match it to the database
  • Support for customized collections
  • Share to devices using UPnP / DLNA
  • Advanced searches and auto playlist creation
  • Unlimited MP3 encoding
  • Virtual CD / Previews & Sleep Timer
  • Automatic library organizer (as a background process)
  • High-speed conversion

    ⇒ Get Media Monkey

Helium Music Manager

Helium Music Manager - Music organizer

Helium Music Manager is another great software option that allows you to easily sort through thousands of music files and can also be used as an audio converter, cd ripper, or music player.

Helium offers you various ways to see your music library. This feature allows you to sort through your music fast and you can also use the search feature to shorten the time of searching even more.

Keyt features include:

  • Catalogue multiple database types
  • Can edit tags while listening to songs
  • Download album art, convert and automatically rename files
  • Vizualization plug-ins
  • Can be automated using Helium’s script engine

The free version of Helium Music Manager is limited in its powers. It can be used by one user, can provide basic searches and SQL databases.

The Premium version of this software can support up to 5 users, allows you to use its advanced search features, multiple database support, advanced dynamic statistics and also gives you access to client-server multi user support.

⇒ Get Helium Music Manager

Conclusion

In this article we covered some of the best software options that allow you to easily sort out your music library. The features these programs offer include a wide range of other features besides the managing of your music.

You can use this software to listen to your songs, play online radio, automatically download album art and lyrics, and, for a more visual experience, you can even use visualizations while listening to your music.

For easy listening on restricted networks, explore our guide to free unblocked music sites.

Use the comment section below to let us know which software you chose from this list and why.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Please insert the disk error on Windows 10/11 [Ultimate Guide]

Computer errors will occur on your PC sooner or later, and if that happens, you should know how to fix them. One error that users reported is Please insert the disk error.

Many things could cause this error message to appear, ranging from hardware problems specific to your CD or DVD readers to software problems related to your system.

The issue is prevalent in most Windows 10 PCs, and it is quite annoying, so today we’re going to show you how to solve this problem on your PC.

How can I fix Please insert the disk errors on Windows 10?

  1. Use a third-party partition manager
  2. Check for physical damage
  3. Update the USB drivers
  4. Run the Hardware Troubleshooter

How do I fix Please insert the disk into removable disk error?

1. Use a third-party partition manager

  1. Download and install Aomei Partition Assistant.
  2. Choose the partition and select Format Partition.
  3. Select the new partition settings.
  4. Confirm your choices, and then select Proceed.

While you could manage your PC’s partitions using Windows 10’s built-in tools, they are very clunky to use and you can easily get them wrong somehow.

However, if you use a dedicated partition manager, you can create, manage, format, delete, and pretty much do whatever you like with your partition without losing any data with just a click of a button.

In the case at hand, solving the error can be done by formatting the troublesome partition, which you can do as shown above.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

Keep your data intact, and use this dedicated tool to create and manage your partition more easily.

2. Check for physical damage

If your USB port is damaged, you obviously won’t be able to use it properly. So, if none of the software solutions got the job done, check if your USB port is physically damaged.

The same goes for the USB drive as well, since USB sticks can also get damaged. Check for dents, foreign objects, cracks, or anything that would signal possible problems.

3. Update the USB Hub drivers

  1. Go to Search, then type devicemngr, and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers
  3. Right-click the USB Root Hub, and go to Update driver.
  4. Let the wizard find new updates (if available) and finish the installation.
  5. Restart your computer.

If you haven’t updated your drivers in a while, there’s a chance your current USB Hub driver interferes with the current version of Windows 10, in which case you need to update the drivers.

Update drivers automatically

You can also approach the issue with a dedicated driver updater that will do all the job for you from the moment you launch it.

Not only will it fix the drivers automatically, but it will do so by itself, periodically scanning your hardware for newer versions so you don’t need to worry anymore.

⇒ Get Outbyte

4. Run the Hardware Troubleshooter

  1. Go to the Settings app.
  2. Go to Updates & Security > Troubleshoot.
  3. Select Additional troubleshooters. 
  4. Select Hardware and Devices, and go to Run the troubleshooter. 
  5. Wait for the process to finish, and follow further on-screen instructions.
  6. Restart your computer.

If none of the solutions listed above managed to solve the problem, we’re going to try Windows 10’s own hardware troubleshooter. This tool is actually multi-functional, but fortunately, it features a hardware department.

Here’s how to run the Windows 10 Troubleshooter to solve the Please insert the disk into removable disk error. If you’re having trouble opening the Setting app, take a look at this article to solve the issue.

How do I fix the Please insert the disk error?

  1. Edit your registry
  2. Change the drive letter
  3. Download the latest updates
  4. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
  5. Download and install a different chipset driver
  6. Use the default DVD driver
  7. Disable the USB device from Device Manager
  8. Repair the installation

1. Edit your registry

  1. Press the Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
  2. Press Enter or click OK.
  3. When the Registry Editor opens, in the left panel navigate to the following key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlWindows
  4. In the right panel, double-click the ErrorMode DWORD to open its properties.
  5. Enter 2 in the Value data field and set the Base as Decimal.
  6. Click OK to save changes.
  7. After making changes to your registry, restart the PC and check if the problem is resolved.

According to users, you can fix this problem on your PC simply by making a few changes to your registry.

Editing your registry can be somewhat dangerous, therefore we strongly advise you to create a backup of your registry before making any changes.

If you can’t edit your Windows 10 registry, read this handy guide and find the quickest solutions to the issue.

2. Change the drive letter

  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu.
  2. Select Disk Management from the list of options.
  3. When Disk Management opens, locate your SD card, right-click it, and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths.
  4. Click the Change button.
  5. Make sure that Assign the following drive letter option is selected.
  6. Now select a different drive letter from the menu.
  7. Some users are suggesting choosing a letter V, W, or X since those letters are almost never used by Windows.
  8. After you’re done, click OK to save the changes.

Users reported that this error occurs when you insert a card into a card reader, and to fix this problem, you need to insert the card into the card reader and change the drive letter.

This solution works for card readers, USB flash drives, and any other removable storage device that you might use.

3. Download the latest Windows updates

Many Windows 10 issues are fixed by installing the latest updates, and the same applies to this problem.

If you’re having Please insert the disk error on your PC, be sure to check if you have the latest Windows 10 updates installed. If not, visit the Windows Update section and download them.

4. Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows Key + S and enter troubleshooting.
  2. Select Troubleshooting from the list of results.
  3. When Troubleshooting window opens, click View all in the menu on the left.
  4. Select Hardware and Devices from the list.
  5. When Hardware and Devices Troubleshoot opens, click Next and follow the instructions on the screen.

You can sometimes solve Please insert the disk error simply by running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

This troubleshooter is designed to fix common problems, and sometimes it can be used to fix this specific problem as well.

After the troubleshooter scans your PC, the problem should be completely resolved. You can’t open Control Panel? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution.

5. Download and install a different chipset driver

According to users, sometimes you can fix this problem simply by downloading the appropriate chipset driver and installing it.

This is a simple procedure, and in order to do it just go to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download a different set of chipset drivers. After doing that, your issue should be resolved.

6. Use the default DVD driver

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager from the list.
    device manager
  2. When Device Manager opens, locate your DVD drive, right-click it, and choose Uninstall.
  3. When the confirmation message appears, click OK.
  4. After you remove your driver, restart the PC.

One way to fix Please insert the disk error is to use the default DVD driver. To do that, you need to uninstall your current DVD driver and let Windows 10 install the default driver instead.

After your PC restarts, the default driver will be installed and the problem will hopefully be fixed.

7. Disable the USB device from the Device Manager

Users reported that this problem can sometimes occur due to problems with their printers. For example, users reported this issue with a printer that has a USB port on it.

This port can be used to attach a USB flash drive and print pictures quickly. However, sometimes your computer might recognize that USB port on your printer as a USB port on your PC.

That can lead to all sorts of problems. One way to fix this problem is to open the Device Manager, locate this port, and disable it. While doing this, be sure not to disable any USB ports on your PC.

How do I fix the Please insert the disk 1 error?

  1. Repair the installation
  2. Run the proper setup file
  3. Copy the installation files to your computer

1. Repair the installation

  1. Press Windows Key + S and enter programs and features.
  2. Select Programs and Features from the list of results.
  3. A list of all installed applications will appear.
  4. Locate AutoCAD software, select it, and choose Repair from the menu on the top.
  5. Alternatively, you can click on AutoCAD and choose Repair.

Users reported this issue while installing AutoCAD software on their PC, and according to them, you can fix this problem by installing the 64-bit version of the software.

To do that, simply insert the installation CD, navigate to the 64-bit folder and run the setup.msi file. After that, you should be able to install the application without any errors.

2. Run the proper setup file

  1. Go to the following directory: cdrom/setup/x86/acad
  2. Locate the acad.msi and double click it to start the setup.

According to users, this error can occur while installing AutoCAD, and if you want to fix it you need to run the proper setup file.

Users reported that running setup.exe will ask you to insert disk 1, but you can avoid this problem by using the method above. If you’re trying to install 64-bit version, you need to do the following:

  1. Open AutoCAD ISO file using any ISO application.
  2. Locate setup.ini file, move it to your PC and open it in Notepad.
  3. Add the following under [SETUP]: USE_REMOVABLE_DRIVE=YES
  4. Save the file and replace it on the ISO.
  5. Now run setup.exe and try to install the software again.

If you don’t like Notepad and you’re looking for an alternative, take a look at this list with the best note-taking apps for Windows 10.

3. Copy the installation files to your computer

If you’re having this error while installing AutoCAD 2016, you can easily fix it simply by copying the installation files to your computer.

Copy the entire installer folder from the installation media to your computer and try to run Setup.exe again. After doing that, you should be able to install the application without any problems.

If you’re trying to install a different application on your PC, you can just copy the contents of the ISO file to your hard drive and run the setup process from there and the problem will be solved.

Please insert the disk error can be caused by incorrect drive letter or by your security permissions, but you should be able to fix this problem by using our solutions.

If you are having trouble managing the files on your HDD, take a look at this thorough list of the best disk management tools and choose one that fits your needs.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

How to fix Windows 10/11 Clipboard issues for good

clipboard issues on Windows 8

Copying a text file to clipboard either from a Word document or a Notepad document in Windows 10, Windows 8 usually can be done very easily. For those of us who don’t exactly know the principle, we will explain it in a few words. When you use the “Ctrl” and “C” key combination to copy a text and “Ctrl” and “V” to paste the text in another document,  the copied text is stored in the Clipboard feature.
Basically, if you copy a text to clipboard in Windows 10, Windows 8 and you don’t paste it somewhere else it will remain there as long as you do not restart the PC or copy another text to the clipboard.

Nevertheless there are some applications in Windows 10,Windows 8 where you might have trouble with the system clipboard and for this reason, I will explain a few methods below how you can solve your clipboard issue either for the whole system or for a specific app you installed.

Fix Windows 10, 8 clipboard issues

We are going to enumerate below some fixes for clipboard depending on the app you are trying to use.

1. Fix Clipboard issues on Skype in Windows 10, 8:

For repairing the Skype app to use the clipboard, we will need to uninstall the add-on for Internet explorer or Mozilla Firefox. Close any browser you have open.

  1. Go Windows 10,Windows 8’s Control Panel
  2. From the “Programs and Features”, you will need to remove the Skype “Click to Call” option.
  3. After this reboot your Windows 10, Windows 8 PC and see if you have the same issue.
  4. If it is still not working, you will have to completely uninstall Skype and install the newest version for your Windows 10system.
uninstall skype

2. Fix Clipboard issues on Internet Explorer in Windows 10, 8:

  1. Click on “Internet Options” situated in the upper side of Internet Explorer.
  2. Click on the “Advanced” tab in the upper side of the window “Internet Options”
  3. Under “Reset internet explorer settings” click (left click) on “Reset”.
  4. After this click (left click) on “OK” in the lower side of the “Internet Options” window.
  5. Reboot yourWindows 10, 8 PC and see if the clipboard works for you now.

For more than one browser (example: if you have installed Mozilla, Opera and Internet Explorer):

You will have to uninstall one browser and see if Copy/paste works, if it doesn’t try Uninstalling all the browsers and install the latest versions available for Windows 10, 8.

Comfort Clipboard Pro is a great clipboard manager that will help you get rid of these problems. By using it you will be able to classify your clipped content in order to access it in a systemized way whithout any problems. We recommend you to use it until you do not fix  Windows native clipboard issues.

⇒ Get Comfort Clipboard

3. Fix Clipboard issues in Windows Remote Desktop:

  1. You will have to open the task manager by pressing and holding “Ctrl”, “Alt” and “Delete” buttons on the keyboard.
  2. Go to the “Processes” tab and click (left click) on “RDPCLIP.EXE” or Remove Desktop Connection > click on “End Process” button situated in the lower right side of the “Task Manager” window.end remove desktop connection task
  3. Go to the “Applications” tab and click on “New Task” button in the lower right side of the “Task Manager” window.
  4. In the “Create new task” window that opened type in there “rdpclip.exe”
  5. Click (left click) on the “OK” button in the “Create new task” window.

4. Fix Clipboard issues on Adobe Acrobat in Windows 10, 8:

The only way to fix your clipboard issue with Adobe Acrobat is to uninstall the application by going to “Control Panel” and then reinstall the newest version of the app for Windows 10, 8.

Update the Adobe Flash Player to the latest version available for Windows 10, 8 when you get prompt by the browser you are using.

If you cannot find the clipboard issue you are having on the steps above follow the indications below.

Erase the Windows Clipboard:

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “R” button.
  2. In the box next to “Open” we need to type cmd /c “echo off | clip” (include the quotes in the text)
  3. Click(left click) on the “OK” button presented in the lower side of the Run window.

We will try here to edit the Windows Registry:
Note: you need to be signed in as Administrator to do this option.

  1. Press and hold the “Windows” button and the “R” button.
  2. Type in the box next to “Open” the word “Regedit”
  3. In the “Registry Editor” window double click (left click) on “HKEY_CURRENT_USER”
  4. Under “HKEY_CURRENT_USER” double click (left click) on “Software”
  5. Under “Software” double click (left click) on “Microsoft”
  6. Under “Microsoft” double click (left click) on “Windows”
  7. Under “Windows” double click (left click) on “CurrentVersion”
  8. Under “CurrentVersion” double click (left click) on “Internet Settings”
  9. Under “Internet Settings” double click (left click) on “Zones”.change internet settings zones
  10. In the “Zones” folder if you see a character out of the ordinary like an empty rectangle or an “L” we need to delete it. Note: Do not delete anything else and if you don’t have the character mentioned above don’t make any other modifications to this folder.
  11. Close the “Registry Editor” Window.
  12. Reboot your Windows 10, 8 PC and see if your clipboard is working now.

So, the solutions described above have the specific steps either for an app on Windows 10,Windows 8 or for the entire Windows 10, 8 system in order to resolve your problems regarding the clipboard. Write to us below for any additional information that you might need on the subject.

Rtl_ul Non Existent CD Drive: 4 Ways to Remove It

An extra drive letter might appear, for example, E:/ with the name RTL_UL after Windows updates.

The virtual CD drive is created by the Realtek USB wireless adapter driver software. When you plug in the Realtek USB wireless adapter, it automatically mounts the virtual CD drive as if it were a physical one.

Here’s how to remove it:

How do I remove the rtl_ul drive?

1. Assign a new drive path

  1. Press and hold the Windows+ X key.
  2. Left-click on the Disk Management option.
    Disk management - SSD drive won't format/SSD format error occured at offset
  3. Look under the upper and lower windows to see if the CD drive that appeared is detected.
  4. If you can see the drive in the Disk Management window, right-click on the drive and click Change drives letter and paths option.
    rtl_ul
  5. Next, assign a new path for the specific drive.
    rtl_ul

2. Use a restore point

  1. Press and hold the Windows + R key.
  2. In the run dialog box, write: rstrui and hit Enter.
    rstrui windows 10
  3. Click on the System Restore button.
    rtl_ul
  4. Select the Choose a different restore point option and click Next.
    rtl_ul
  5. If you don’t have the Choose a different Restore Point option, simply click Next.
  6. Select a restore point and hit Next.
  7. Click on Finish to initiate the restore process.
  8. Finally, Windows will restart the system after the system has been restored to an earlier state.

3. Eject your drive

  1. Open the File Explorer window by pressing Windows + E.
  2. Right-click on the drive that you have issues with.
  3. Next, left-click on the Eject option.
  4. After you successfully ejected it, reboot your Windows 10.

4. Use a partition Wizard

If the issue persists and the phantom drive remains, you can install and run the Aomei Partition Assistant.

This software lets you view and manage all the drives on your computer, including the mysterious drive we’re discussing.

After installing the software, you must select and format the newly found partition.

⇒ Get AOMEI Partition Assistant

That is as much as we will cover in this article. If you have read this far, the rtl_ul drive should no longer be an issue.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below.

9 best decryption software for Windows 10/11

Ransomware is probably the worst kind of malware that can infect your computer. This type of malware will encrypt and lock your files, and the only way to get access to them is to pay the ransom to the hacker.

Fortunately, today we have a list of the best ransomware decrypt tools for Windows 10 that can help you fix this problem.

What are the best ransomware decrypt tools for Windows 10?

In order to remove ransomware from your computer, you first have to find out with what type of ransomware is your computer infected with.

To do that, you can use services such as ID Ransomware to identify the ransomware. After you’ve successfully identified the ransomware, you can delete it by using one of the following tools.

HitmanPro (recommended)

This is another tool that will help you access your computer, even if you’re completely locked. All that you have to do is to put HitmanPro on a USB flash drive and boot your computer from it, and the program will automatically delete the ransomware.

hitman-pro

Decrypter for AutoLocky and Decrypt Protect

Decrypter for AutoLocky comes from Emsisoft and it is used to delete AutoLocky ransomware. If your computer is infected by AutoLocky, your files will be renamed to *.locky and encrypted. By using Decrypter for AutoLocky you should hopefully be able to remove this malicious software.

Emisoft has also released tool for removing Decrypt Protect, so you might want to try that one as well. Emisoft is rather devoted to fighting ransomware, and they have LeChiffre, CryptoDefense, HydraCrypt and many other ransomware decrypters available on their website.

decrypt protect

Jigsaw Decryptor

Certain ransomware, such as Jigsaw, will delete all your files if you don’t pay the ransom to the hacker, but with tools such as Jigsaw Decryptor you can easily remove this software from your computer.

Kaspersky Ransomware Decryptor

This tool comes from a famous antivirus company Kaspersky, and according to its creators, it can remove both CoinVault and Bitcryptor ransomware from your computer. It’s worth mentioning that Kaspersky released several other tools for removing following ransomware: XoristDecryptor, ScatterDecryptor, RakhniDecryptor, and many others. These tools are available for download from Kaspersky’s website.

coin-vault

RannohDecryptor

Kaspersky also released RannohDecryptor for CryptXXX ransomware, so if your computer is infected by this malware, make sure you try this tool.


If you’re interested in other anti-ransomware solutions, check out our wide collection of guides.


Kaspersky WindowsUnlocker

Certain ransomware will completely block access to your computer, but fortunately for you, there are tools such as Kaspersky WindowsUnlocker that can fix this problem.  To remove ransomware using this tool just download the .iso file and use it to create a bootable USB flash drive. After that, boot your PC from it and follow the instructions.

Trend Micro AntiRansomware Tool

Similarly to the two previously mentioned tools, Trend Micro AntiRansomware Tool can be used to access your computer and remove ransomware by booting from a USB flash drive.

trendmicro-ransomware

Cisco TeslaCrypt Decryption Tool

Cisco also released its decryption tool for ransomware, and this tool is designed to remove TeslaCrypt. TeslaCrypt Decryption Tool comes as a command line tool, and it can hopeful help you remove this ransomware from your PC.

Operation Global III Ransomware Decryption Tool

Certain ransomware will encrypt files and change their extensions to .exe. If you’re having the same problem on your computer, you might want to try using this tool.

Petya Ransomware Decrypt Tool

Sometimes ransomware will change your Master Boot Record thus preventing you to boot to Windows or Safe Mode. One ransomware that does this is PETYA, but you can easily remove it by using the Petya Ransomware Decrypt Tool.

Decrypter for HydraCrypt and UmbreCrypt Ransomware

If your PC is infected with HydraCrypt or UmbreCrypt Ransomware, you should try to remove it by using the Decrypter for HydraCrypt and UmbreCrypt Ransomware.

There are all sorts of ransomware available along with many tools for removing the specific types of ransomware, so we hope that our list of decrypt tools was helpful to you. In order to protect your PC from ransomware, you might want to use tools such as Bitdefender BDAntiRansomware in the future.

READ ALSO: What to do if Microsoft Edge is hijacked

Facebook Live Streaming Software for PC

For most people who plan to start a Facebook live show, the things that stop them are usually fear and the right gear. People feel afraid to take the leap for fear of saying something wrong or something silly, and knowing social media, that one moment could go viral even before you can explain why it happened.

Other times, they’re just worried something will get spoilt, or the webcam will fall over, or just some other form of disaster will occur.

For those in business, especially the owners or the marketing team, who may or may not have technological challenges, they feel they don’t have the perfect equipment and setup to start, so they don’t do it at all until the moment is just right.

It is expected to be nervous, but the key is to channel that into your performance during the broadcast, and this is why doing warm-ups and voice tests before you go live is essential. Check out our top favorites to get you started with the best software to go live on Facebook.

Which software is best for Facebook live?

Crowdcast – Best Facebook live streaming software

Crowdcast does not only let you live-stream but also chat and highlight comments, which are all great for social media. With this tool, you can stream to Facebook Live, Periscope, and YouTube and also let people know where the conversation is happening.

It’s easy to get started, in fact, in just seconds, with no clunky downloads, from registration to the event and automatic recording. You can also send emails from the app, accept payments, engage your audience with Q&A and polls, invite them on screen, use automatic replays, and use analytics to strengthen your outreach or marketing efforts if it’s for business.

It is also interactive and powerful and does everything so you can focus on engaging and connecting with your audience.

Streaming is not delayed and is in HD resolution, so you can connect with your audience without technical distractions. You can invite anyone on screen, share screens, create multi-session events or duplicate them, and export all your data in one click.

Crowdcast

A platform for hosting engaging conversations, promoting your business, teaching online, and broadcasting events on Facebook!
Check price Visit Website

Wirecast – Multi-platform live stream

Facebook Live is the largest live streaming platform that brings people and brands together, which is why you need the best software to go live on Facebook to build a bigger audience through professional videos or broadcasts, which are rich in style and content.

Wirecast is another advanced software that lets you live stream on multiple platforms simultaneously, or simulcast as it is known in social media circles, to YouTube Live, Twitch, or Facebook Live among others.

While it also doesn’t come cheap, it is popular among professionals and beginners alike for live video switching needs. It also has a Facebook Live integration facility, and you can integrate it with multiple input sources for easy sharing, plus leverage its many editing tools for interactive services.

The downside is users cannot see live comments within Wirecast, but it is still flexible and operational which is why beginners love it, plus it is available for use with Windows computers.

Wirecast

A complex tool for both beginners and professionals that allows you to record audio and video, produce a show, and stream it live on Facebook!
Check price Visit Website

BeLive – Cloud-based software

This is one of the best-known streaming software to go live, and the good thing is it has a free trial, though it only works for Facebook Live, and your broadcast is branded with BeLive.

With BeLive, you can broadcast a maximum of two 20-minute live videos weekly, invite guests, and work with up to three people simultaneously in one broadcast on the screen.

If you want a non-branded version with more flexibility and features, you can pay and get the paid subscription to get the BeLive Lite, add your logo, and share your screen. Especially for how-to videos, highlight comments while they’re displayed on the screen, and use a green room of up to 10 guests waiting to appear on your live broadcast.

It is easy to use, keeps being improved, and is web-based, so it works on Windows computers. However, web-based apps are prone to glitches compared to installing one on your computer.

BeLive

Try this cloud-based multi-streaming studio with an intelligent assistant to broadcast from a browser, PC, or mobile device.
Check price Visit Website

Zoom – Popular choice

Zoom is more of a video conferencing and webinar software, with integration for Facebook Live. It is akin to Skype, and you can use it to chat with one or more people, share your screen, and even have several guests together, with better quality than Skype.

Its webinar add-on can be used to conduct a full webinar with a big audience, and you can live stream video to Facebook Live while saving your recordings in HD to use or upload later. However, you cannot add images, scenes, or videos to the screen.

The Facebook integration by Zoom features a simple and fast log-in without the need to create a password, and you can use an existing account. It is also integrated with Facebook IM, so you can see when your pals are online or offline and search for them by their names.

For video, you can meet up to 25 of your Facebook contacts, share documents, photos, and websites on your desktop screen (or even smartphone and tablet), or start an instant Facebook meeting or message with them.

Zoom also has an online 24/7 support system that lets you record your videos and use the split-screen layout if you host a guest.

The downside is it is a bit pricey, especially if you need the feature that lets you record your videos and do live Facebook streaming at a go, which is about $50 a month. Its setup is also complicated, with several steps to set up Facebook live streaming.

⇒ Get Zoom

OBS Studio – Impressive recording

This is one of the most advanced and powerful software to go live on Facebook. It is not only free and available for Windows 10 computers but also lets you broadcast to Facebook Live, YouTube, Periscope, and any other platform. However, it needs a powerful computer and has a steep learning curve.

Among its features is a scene set up (done in advance) so you can say to your audience something like ‘coming soon’ before you go live, with some background music for professionalism. Additionally, you can only broadcast to one platform simultaneously, compared to others that let you do more than one.

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) also records impressive videos from your computer’s screen and webcam, plus you can share content on different social media platforms.

The benefits of using OBS Studio include an interactive user interface, many advanced features, video formats to save your clips, rich video quality and size maintained; you can tweak settings and access shortcuts to start/stop Facebook live streaming and capture audio from a mic or soundcard.

⇒ Get OBS Studio

Tip: If you’re broadcasting on your desktop and want to display your mobile device screen, try Reflector 2, available for Windows computers, and connect your phone wirelessly then your screen will appear in your live video screen. It can be used with BeLive, OBS Studio, or Wirecast.

Is there software to go live on Facebook that you use and it works wonders for you? Let us know in the comments section below.

FIX: Something went wrong error on Twitter

Twitter is the social media platform used for distributing short messages across the world. A platform that allows us to tweet whatever we wish, be it the latest news or letting your peers know you’re on vacation.

Twitter also reaffirms its role as a tool for the spread of information. With high-profile users reaching out to literally thousands upon thousands of followers to get their message across be it a humanitarian cause or the latest trends.

Having millions of monthly active users, with numbers on the rise as time passes, Twitter is a growing network for everyone around the world. From the common user to aspiring journalists, and to companies whose social networking presence is part of their media strategies.

So you’re on your mobile device or computer, and in the mood for tweeting something, but all of a sudden you’re greeted by Something went wrong message. Fortunately for you, we have a few solutions that might help you fix this problem.

Fix: Something went wrong but don’t fret – it’s not your fault

  1. Clear the browser cache
  2. Edit your layout
  3. Use Incognito mode

1. Clear the browser cache

A simple method involves going to your browser settings and clearing up your cache and cookies. For a better sweep of Twitter cookies, you can use cookie cleaner software for better results. This should help with your login.

The tool scans your browser and detects all clutter that can safely be removed in order to get better performance. It can take care of history, cached files, cookies, and more.

2. Edit your layout

Another solution involves some quick editing to the page layout, found on a Reddit thread. This solution works for consent_violation_flow errors.

  1. When you open the page, right-click it and choose Inspect.
    inspect something went wrong twitter
  2. Open up the code and keep deleting elements until you’re left with just the header bar.
  3. After doing that, simply log out as usual.

3. Use Incognito mode

If previous workarounds didn’t help, try using Incognito mode, which disables local data from being stored on your machine. To open Incognito mode, do the following:

  1. Open your browser.
  2. Click the Menu icon in the top-right corner and choose New incognito window.
    incognito window something went wrong
  3. Check if the problem still persists.

If Incognito mode doesn’t work, you can try using a different web browser, and try to log in with it.

Remember, if you’ve had your account suspended, follow up on community guidelines.

Have you faced problems with Something went wrong Twitter error? Let us know in the comment section.

Windows Search Alternative Tools: 13 Best in 2026

If you tend to install many programs or create many files on your computer, finding a particular file can be a challenging task. If you don’t use dedicated folders for various file types, chances are you’ll never going to find the file you’re looking for.

When users are looking for a particular file, their first instinct is to use Windows’ search box. However, sometimes the native Windows 10 search box is not capable of delivering the best results.

In that case, you can also resort to a series of Windows 10 desktop search alternative tools that will do the detective work in your place and find the files you’re looking for.

Windows 10 desktop search alternatives

Editor’s choice: Copernic Desktop Search (recommended)

Copernic Desktop Search

Copernic Desktop Search is a brilliant alternative to Windows Search. This software allows you to centralize your document, file & email searches in one unique interface.You can search any documents on your computer, external and network drives with the full version.

This search solution is available in two editions: Free and Full. The Free edition fits for standard Windows users.
The Full edition is suited for professionals inside businesses and their teams.

Here are some of Copernic’s strongest points :

  • Faster searching speed for Microsoft Outlook
  • Performance-oriented search experience: our solution has the lowest memory footprint and computer resource usage.
  • Keep your information Private
  • User-friendly search experience
  • Once you have saved a file, let Copernic Desktop Search look for it on your PC

    ⇒ Get Copernic Desktop Search now 

Listary

This search tool is very fast and it suitable for both regular and professional Windows users. For power users, Listary integrates tools such as Total Commander, Directory Opus, XYplorer, Xplorer2, WinRAR, FileZilla and more. This tool will help you to find the long lost files, apps and games in a split of a second.

Listary is regularly updated for a better user experience and the latest version of the tool brings enhanced support for Windows 10, as well as many bug fixes.

Other features include:

  • Search the entire disk drive from any window or folder
  • Copy or move files to any folder from any folder with easy context menu commands
  • Open a file with a specific program from anywhere
  • Instantly jump from file manager to a target folder with a simple key command
  • Create a Favorites list of commonly used files and apps for fast access
  • Quickly browse your recent app and file history to continue working where you left off.

You can download Listary from the tool’s official website for free. The professional version of the tool cost $19.95.

Everything

Everything locates your files and folders by name instantly. Installing and using this tool is very simple: you download it, install it, launch it, and then wait for a couple of minutes for the tool to index your files and folders.

Once these stages are completed, you can simply type the name of the file you’re looking for and Everything will quickly show its location.

Everything doesn’t search file contents, it searhses only file and folder names, and monitors file system changes. For more information about this tool, you can check out the FAQ section of the tool’s official webpage.

Other features include:

  • Small installation file
  • Clean and simple user interface
  • Quick file indexing
  • Quick searching
  • Quick startup
  • Minimal resource usage
  • Small database on disk
  • Real-time updating.

You can download Everything for free from VoidTools.

Lookeen

 

Lookeen  is a reliable and accurate desktop search software for Windows 10 that will save you from clicking through individual folders. This tool was developed for search purposes only, and is one of the best Windows search alternatives.

Lookeen is available as a stand-alone Windows tool, capable of integrating itself seamlessly into Outlook. Using this tool is very intuitive as its interface is similar to the interface of Windows and Outlook.

Also, Lookeen uses a series of search filters that aren’t available in Windows search.

Other features include:

  • Scans Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server
  • Desktop search in Windows and on the entire network
  • Integrated directly into Outlook as a plugin
  • Compatible with virtual desktop environments like VMware, Citrix and Terminal Server
  • Supports all common file and graphic formats
  • No index or data limit
  • Clear presentation of search results
  • Advanced search query and filter functions
  • Editing text documents in preview mode
  • All data is stored locally
  • Lifetime single-user license
  • Free support.

You can download Lookeen from the tool’s official webpage. Lookeen offers you a 14-day free trail period, and you can buy the tool for $50.22.

DocFetcher

DocFetcher is an open-source desktop search tool for Windows 10 that supports an impressive number of file formats. According to the tool’s developer, DocFetcher is the Google of your files.

All matches in the files are highlighted in yellow, and you can also filter the results by file size, file type and location.

Other features include:

  • A portable version, which means that you can also use this DocFetcher on a USB drive
  • Unicode support: Unicode support available for all major formats, such as Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org, PDF, HTML, RTF and plain text files
  • Archive support: zip, 7z, rar, and the whole tar.* family
  • Search in source code files: you can use this tool to search in any kind of source code and other text-based file formats
  • Outlook PST files: DocFetcher allows searching for Outlook emails
  • Detection of HTML pairs: DocFetcher detects pairs of HTML files and treats the pair as a single document
  • Regex-based exclusion of files from indexing: you can use regular expressions to exclude certain files from indexing (use the expression .*.xls to exclude Excel).

You can download DocFetcher for free from SourceForge.

FileSeek

 

file seeker

FileSeek is a lightning fast, small and easy to use desktop search tool. For easy access, you can also integrate it into Windows Explorer’s right-click menu.

This tool doesn’t rely on background indexing, which means that your computer’s performance won’t be reduced when FileSeek is not running.

Other features include:

  • Lightning fast searching: FileSeek uses multi threading technology to improve the search speed.
  • Search profiles: you can save your search criteria as a search profile, and change these criteria anytime.
  • Tabbed interface: thanks to this feature, you can start a new search before the current search is completed.
  • Sync your settings: you can easily sync your search profiles between computers for easy access anywhere you are.
  • Search result actions: you can copy, delete, and drag the search results into other applications. Personalize the tool by choosing what FileSeek should do when you double-click on a search result by selecting from a number of pre-defined options.

You can download the free version of File Seeker, and you can also buy one of the Pro versions available for a price tag ranging from $9 to $599.

FileSearchy

filesearchy-windows-10-desktop-search

FileSearchy is a powerful and easy to use tool you can use to search files on your Windows 10 computer. This tool also supports instant file search, and searching by content string, date and size.

FileSearchy highlights the matching results in order for you to find information easier. If you need to make several searches and then compare the results, you can open several search tabs. File content search is supported as well with search through contents of plain text, office, PDF and more. For more accurate results, you can  skip binary files such as programs, music, or videos.

Other features include:

  • Search for multiple strings at one time
  • Exclude strings that shouldn’t appear in results
  • Invoke search using folder context menu in Explorer and other compatible applications
  • History of searched strings
  • Copy selected files to clipboard
  • Case sensitive search
  • Search contents of eBooks (EPUB, FB2, MOBI).

You can download FileSearchy for free from the tool’s webpage.

Search My Files

Search My Files

 

Search My Files is another reliable alternative for Windows’ native desktop search module. This tool allows you to use a series of search filters to find the files you’re looking for as soon as possible. You can search by last modified, created, last accessed time, by file attributes, file content and file size.

To launch SearchMyFiles, you can simply run the executable file. Then the Search Options dialog-box will be displayed, where you can select the folders or drives that you want to search, as well as the search options. Click on the OK button to launch the search, or on Stop to stop it.

Other features include:

  • 12 search options available
  • Duplicate search mode: SearchMyFiles also allows you to search duplicate files on your system
  • Summary mode: SearchMyFiles displays a general summary of all scanned folders, instead of file lists.

You can download Search My Files for free from NirSoft.

HDDB File Search

HDDB stands for Hard Disk Database and the first thing you’ll notice about this tool is its resemblance to Everything. Once you have installed the tool, it will notify you that your database is empty. HDDB doesn’t update its database automatically, which speeds up the loading process on start up.

When the database has been filled, you can launch the search. If you want HDDB to search the information in the entire database, don’t use any path information criteria.

Other features include:

  • Command line support
  • Windows Explorer context menu support
  • HDDB relies on manual database updates.

You can download HDDB for free from SnapFiles.

AstroGrep

astrogrep-windows-10-desktop-search-tool

AstroGrep is a powerful and compact desktop search tool for Windows 10. The tool is very easy to use as there’s no setup required and no indexing module, and the interface is very well designed.

AstroGrep is very small, about 800 KB and the search process takes quite some time because there is no indexing. Of course, you can help the tool to search faster by narrowing down the search path. Other than this, this tool offers a series of impressive features:

  • It can search individual folders, particular folder trees or entire drives
  • Recursive directory searching
  • A context feature is available, selecting the lines above and below your search expression
  • Versatile exporting and printing options
  • Store most recently used file names, file types, and search expressions
  • Match whole word only
  • File encoding detection (ability to turn off and override for individual files).

You can download AstroGrep for free from SourceForge.

UltraSearch

ultrasearch-windows-10-desktop-search-tool

UltraSearch is one of the fastest desktop search tools for Windows 10. It works directly on the Master File Table of the NTFS partitions which allows it to deliver the search results in a split of a second.

The first search results appear while you are still typing – yes, UltraSearch is that fast.

UltraSearch supports regular expressions and searches file content as well. Another advantage is the presence of the Explorer context menu inside the tool.

Other features include:

  • You can exclude folders, files or file types from searches via an exclude filter.
  • You can sort the search results, print or export them as text, RTF, HTML, CSV, and Excel files.
  • UltraSearch can suggest patterns or autocomplete manually entered patterns automatically.

You can download UltraSearch for free from Jam Software.

Launchy

As its name suggests, Launchy can quickly find and open the files and folders what you need. This free tool can successfully replace quite a few Windows 10 features, including the Start Menu, your desktop icons and your File Manager.

But how does Launchy do that? Once you’ve downloaded and installed it on your computer, it immediately scans and indexes all your programs and documents.

You can then open your files, folders and bookmarks just by typing a few letters.

Download Launchy 

MasterSeeker

MasterSeeker

MasterSeeker is one of the fastest file search engines for Windows 10. You can use it to search files, folders, documents and directories by file name or file size. You can then sort your files and directories if you need to filter information.

The tool supports NTFS, FAT, FAT32 and exFAT file systems and well as real-time NTFS drive updates. You can also use keyboard shortcuts and save or export the search results into a specific file.

Keep in mind that while MasterSeeker does not officially support Windows 10, but you can run it on your Win10 computer without any problems.

Download MasterSeeker

Have you already tried out some of these Windows 10 desktop search tools? Tell us more about your experience in the comment section below.

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Birthday Reminder App for PC: 5 Best to Use in 2026

A birthday signifies one’s first day in life and the joy that comes with living. It’s thus a momentous occasion and one of the biggest personal annual landmarks. But because of the hustle and bustle of daily life, one can easily forget their or a friend’s big day. And that’s where software for birthday reminder helps.

This is what these software do: You simply set up your annual important birthday dates and the software will take care of the rest.

Indeed, these software are quite comprehensive. They not only display daily countdowns but also send live reminders, notifications, and even send notifications to friends.

Now, there are a number of world-beating options in the market currently. Here is a preview of the best four.

Birthday reminders for Windows 10

Efficient Reminder (recommended)

efficient birthday software reminder final

Efficient Reminder is a professional, multi-purpose, and easy-to-use birthday software program.

It’s designed to help manage you and your friend’s birth dates and related events such as anniversaries.

Efficient reminder helps you catch up with friends D-days and amaze them with your ‘unfailing memory’ as you’ll never miss a single one of the events.

You can even synchronize the dates across all the PCs, laptop, and your mobile phone to help you schedule reminders anywhere, anytime.

It also provides multiple calendar views so you can access a summary of daily, weekly, and monthly birthdays.

Uniquely, the program incorporates an efficient document editor so you can easily write your comments about your mom’s birthday or any other event.

Lastly, it includes a recycle bin so deleting past events is a breeze.

Overall, Efficient reminder works wonderfully!

(Note that the complimentary mobile version is 100% free).

— RELATED: 7 best online e-card maker sites for the perfect invitation card

TimeLeft Birthday Reminder Software

timeleft final

TimeLeft is one of the most customizable birthday software and comes with an interesting combination of powerful features.

For a start, it displays messages in advance to give you sufficient time to prepare for the important activities like buying presents.

Besides, you can program it to show a countdown on your desktop so you will always be aware of which of the important birthdays comes first.

You can also configure it to remind you minutely, hourly, daily, or weekly for birthdays which are very close.

There is also the option for monthly reminders useful for the distant birthdays.

Additionally, you can set TimeLeft functions to alert you about an important activity as part of the countdown by playing an alarm.

TimeLeft uses the lively Winamp skins to display digits and text.

Then, set up is quite easy while all the features run without bothersome bugs.

— RELATED: Best Greeting Card apps for Windows 10, 8 [2018 List]

Zhorn’s Birthday Reminder

zhorns birthday reminder final

Zhorn’s birthday reminder is a straightforward application but very dependable.

This birthday reminder software shows the birthdays of those you have previously added to its database sorted from the earliest to the latest.

It can also display this information according to the number of days remaining as you had set beforehand.

And that’s not all. It also counts and religiously shows how old all your buddies (or you) will be coming birthday.

You just click the options button you to start managing the birthdays and set how far ahead you want it to notify you for each person.

And like all the best software for birthday reminder, you can minimize the reminder window or maximize the date entry control when typing to make everything visible.

Best of all? The software is totally free!

— RELATED: Set up a new calendar with personalized calendar software

SS Birthday Reminder

birthday and anniversary reminder software

This has a built-in birthday manager to help you organize all your friends’ birthdays so the embarrassment of forgetting your partner’s birthday will be a thing of the past.

It’s a slick option and lets you store all the details about the people who you hold close to your heart in a customized way for recognizable reminders.

For example, you can set the contact using their nicknames so the birthday alerts are issued as per the hard-to-forget nicknames each time you boot your PC!

The software is widely recognized as among the best reminder software and it’s easy to see why: To begin with, you can insert additional fields to better sort the birthday data.

Secondly, it’s light and fast so it saves your PC storage and memory.

Moving on, it allows you to import your friend’s details from Yahoo, Outlook, and Google instead of adding each record manually. Plus, the easy-to-use interface makes it a dream for non tech-savvy users.

It’s free to use for 5 pals but you have to purchase a license for unlimited use.

— ALSO READ: 5 best reminder software to never forget anything

Birthday Lab

birthday reminder website Used by thousands of people, this excels in sending birthdays and events alerts via emails/SMS.

In essence, you get an email every time an important birthday nears to make sure you won’t miss the fun.

One of the features to win a lot of praise is the web-based application manager because of how easy it simplifies the process of entering dates and the rest of the details.

The other attractions include the intelligent estimation of remaining periods and the fact that you can easily import birthdays from Facebook.

You can even choose to share the dates (and invitation) with family members, your company team, and all your friends.
Additionally, you set your time zone and the hour you want to send/get notifications and the number of days in advance to get additional reminders so there’s no way to miss.

And it’s not just about birthdays: the software recognizes that you may forget a meeting, an anniversary, or an item in your daily to-do things so you can as well configure them.

You can download Birthday Lab Desktop application or use the online version

Conclusion

Forgetting your buddy’s birthday (or worse still, your own birthday) definitely raises eyebrows.

But it may happen especially considering today’s busy life so it could be wise of you to obtain software for birthday reminder.

And you don’t even need to have the budget: Even the free ones are as good as their licensed counterparts.

We have given you the best option so you only need to click the download button!

RELATED STORIES YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT:

6 best DJ software to use without a controller

In the past, DJs used to carry large crates of vinyl records and spent hours at the records store choosing their music one vinyl at a time. Next came the DJ that used CDs and USB sticks to store their music.

Nowadays, with the rise of digital technology and the increased power and portability of laptops, DJs use specialized software to play and mix their songs — this has quickly become the norm.

DJ software allows you to mix and perform music the same way the traditional vinyl DJ does but at a lower cost and with a lot more convenience and flexibility.

In this article, we will explore some of the best options of DJ PC software that can be used without a controller or any other external device.

What are the best DJ software to use without a controller?

Zulu DJ is a complete DJ blender software that uses intense elements in a simple-to-use interface, allowing you to blend your music easily.

Your music will remain tuned to the beat, because of the programmed beat identification feature. Once you load a track onto the virtual deck, Zulu DJ automatically checks for the beat (BPM) of the track to synchronize it with the rest of the mix.

Zulu DJ can cross blur between tracks and allows you to hear the tracks by using earphones. This program also has programmed beat recognition, continuous pitch, rhythm control and console hotkeys.

Zulu DJ from NCH is ideal for beginners because of its simple interface and works perfectly with various configurations including WAV, MP3, WMA.

Key features and capabilities include:

  • Easily cross-fade between tracks
  • Real-time pitch and tempo adjustment
  • Auto-play mode for hands-free, seamless music mixing
  • Beat synchronization between the decks
  • Apply effects in real-time, includes all popular effects like distortion and reverb
  • Record DJ mixes and saves as an audio file
  • Loop sections within a track and synchronize to the BPM
  • VST plugin support for additional effects
  • Add loops and samples to the sample bank
  • Safe live mode prevents accidents for flawless shows
Zulu DJ Software

Zulu DJ Software

Zulu DJ is so simple to use but it’s so advanced that even a beginner will look like a pro DJ.
Check priceVisit website

DEX 3 – PCDJ

The DJ Mixing Software from PCDJ was designed for any possible level and needs of a DJ. Actually, there are three options you can go with featurewise.

If you’re a beginner or you just want to test the software you can go with DEX 3 LE (limited edition) which is free. DEX LE is ideal if you want to learn how to DJ because it’s equipped with the same mixing technologies found in the full version.

The DEX 3 LE skin and transport controls look just like the most common DJ equipment. You will even have the mixing controls that you can usually see on physical DJ mixers.

The dedicated buttons for hot cues, effects, beat-sync, pitch-bend and the quantized automatic looping will add to the overall great DJ feel you would expect from such software.

If you’re happy with the LE version you can go up to the more advanced DEX 3 RE version which comes with added features like the fully automated auto-mix, a one-click beat sync function, or a mix-now button for quick cross-fade and plays.

If you want to go all the way you can op for the DEX 3 full version which is an audio and video mixer but also has full Karaoke features. This version has a 4 deck, DJ controller support (from over 100 supported). And DEX 3 also comes with Beatport and Beatsource LINK Streaming support.

DEX 3

DEX 3

Whether you start with the limited edition version or you go all the way to DEX 3, you are bound to have the best DJ experience.
Check priceVisit website

Traktor Pro

Traktor Pro is another great software option designed to be used by professionals. This tool can edit and create new sounds easily. Perhaps some of the two best features of Traktor are its creative mixing system, and the powerful looping tools.

The user interface of Traktor is designed to be simple to utilize, giving you a better focus on the task at hand and not wasting time searching for the effects you need.

This DJ program allows you to zoom in on your waveform keeping in mind the end goal to be as exact as could be expected under the circumstances. Traktor Pro programming has a remix deck, or test deck includes, that is remarkable.

The example decks have four openings each and are intended to handle the greater part of your circles and one-shot specimens by playing them in a state of harmony with your fundamental track decks.

⇒ Download Traktor Pro

Mixmeister Fusion

Mixmeister Fusion is another great tool that allows you to create custom party and DJ music. In addition to creating mashups or mixing songs, you can also burn CDs.

You can use Mixmeister for mixing, mashups or to stream over websites and use it for live performances as well.

This program uses its automatic sync abilities to ensure a smooth playback while also giving you the ability to combine up to eight melodies and the capacity to stack tests and sound impacts over it.

⇒ Download Mixmeister Fusion

DJ Mixer Pro

DJ Mixer Pro is a great tool to use for your DJ blending no matter what your level of proficiency is. Its simple UI has virtual blending devices that allow you to control every aspect of your song to the smallest details.

This program has four decks and it automatically coordinates your beats. It also has real-time impacts, sampler, consistent circles, key lock, pitch moving, MIDI controller bolster, vinyl reproduction, blending, in addition to numerous more awesome elements.

⇒ Download DJ Mixer Pro

In this list, we explored some of the best DJ software options on the market right now. The software presented here cover all your DJ-ing tasks, no matter if you’re just starting out or if you are a professional DJ. Moreover, if you need software for older systems like Windows 7, we can help out!

The wide range of features supported by these tools will surely take your DJ-ing experience to the next level.

Let us know which software you chose in the comment section below.

Lenovo’s ‘Show Mode’ finally brings Amazon’s Echo Show display to Windows 10 PCs

Today, Lenovo announced its rollout of Alexa Show Mode support for its Windows 10 PCs. Back in January of this year during CES, Lenovo debuted its Alexa Show mode on its flagship Yoga Slim 9i laptop and set a roadmap for release in Q2 2021. Well, here we are in the first week of May and for many companies their Q2 fiscal year.

As a refresher, Alexa Show Mode will begin rolling out on Lenovo’s Yoga IdeaPad and ThinkPad lines and effectively turn those Windows 10-powered devices into Amazon Echo Show-like displays.

Alexa Show Mode

For anyone with an Amazon Echo Show, today’s rollout of supported features should seem familiar as it includes support for:

  • Ask for information on a wide range of topics
  • Play music and games
  • Set reminders and create to-do lists
  • Ask Alexa to read your favorite audiobook from Audible
  • View popular recipes
  • Watch news highlights
  • Easily control compatible smart home devices, or use Drop In to instantly check-in with approved contacts with just your voice
  • View the weather at a glance, and more

As powerful as a mouse click or keystroke, Alexa for PC lets you get more done with your PC with just your voice. Ask Alexa to play music from Amazon Music, favorite apps, and local radio and glance at song titles and album art from across the room or up close; your PC mics with far-field technology help Alexa to hear your voice commands clearly even while music is playing.

You can also set reminders and control your smart home while multitasking on your laptop. Students learning remotely can ask Alexa questions to help them with their homework. Or simply view rotating interesting updates and content such as the weather forecast for the week, things to try with Alexa, recommendations for music to listen to, and more as you move through your day.

Starting today Alexa Show Mode will be enabled on select ThinkPad and IdeaPad’s in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, India, Ireland, Austria, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Lenovo plans to support more of its Alexa-enabled PCs with Show Mode later this year.

Microsoft Teams is getting Live Transcription support for unscheduled and channel meetings

Microsoft is planning to expand the AI-powered Live Transcription feature to unscheduled and channel meetings in Teams. Indeed, the company recently added new entries to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, indicating that these updates are coming to Teams meetings in July (via Neowin).

Microsoft Teams launched the new Live Transcription with speaker attribution feature for meetings in March this year. Currently, the transcription capability is only supported on the Teams desktop app, and it is available for scheduled meetings. It identities each speaker, captures audio in near real-time and then generates a transcript of everything that’s said by the participants. The transcription can be accessed both during and after the meeting.

Next up, Microsoft Teams is adding Together Mode for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) this month. This means that users using the Teams desktop client in virtualized environments will be able to enable Together Mode during meetings. The feature uses AI to segment the face and shoulders of the participants and place them together with other people in a virtual space.

Finally, the desktop version of the app is set to receive new Power Automate templates. It will enable managers to create teams quickly with predefined channels and preinstalled apps for effective collaboration. This update will begin rolling out to all users at some point later this month.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 video game launches on Xbox consoles and Windows 10

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is now live and ready to download and play on Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X console families and Windows 10 PCs via the Microsoft Store online store. The game can also be played for free on console or PC for those that have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a roleplaying game spin-off from the main Dragon Quest video game series that incorporates block-building mechanics, an open-world to explore and build in, and support for online multiplayer with up to four players.

Here’s the official game description and trailer:

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is the critically acclaimed block-building RPG from Dragon Quest series creators Yuji Horii, character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama.

Embark on an epic journey and become the master Builder! Customize your character and set off to revive a forsaken world alongside a mysterious companion named Malroth. Then, take your builder online and join your friends to collaborate and create something truly magnificent.

Don’t let the name fool you, despite the 2, this is a completely standalone experience featuring new characters, an expansive world, unlimited building combinations, and a storyline that’s sure to satisfy long-time fans and newcomers alike!

This version includes: Hotto Stuff Pack, Modernist Pack, Aquarium Pack, Designer’s Sunglasses, Historic Headwear, Dragonlord’s Throne, and more!

Dragon Quest Builders 2 originally launched on the Nintendo Switch and Sony’s PS4 back in 2018 before coming to Windows via the Steam storefront in late-2019.

Let us know which platform you’re planning on playing Dragon Quest Builders 2 on in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter and Pinterest for more Xbox gaming content.

DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2
DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2
Developer:
SQUARE ENIX
Price:
$49.99

FIX: Malware detected Windows Defender is taking action

If you just received a system pop-up from Windows Defender saying malware detected Windows Defender is taking action to clean detected malware but nothing happens, you need to make sure that everything is still secured.

A virus or malware might be causing all these problems, though, on the other hand, it might be only a compatibility issue between Windows Defender and another third-party antivirus program.

So, before taking any action you need to make sure that Windows Defender is properly running on your Windows 10 system.

How do I get rid of the Malware detected alert?

1. Use Windows Defender

The first thing you should do when encountering the Windows Defender took action against threats message is to verify its scanning history.

The default Windows antivirus might have found infected files but it is not able to properly remove them, especially when you get repeated alerts.

If the Windows Defender keeps saying threats found, then identify these files and manually remove them. You can also run the Microsoft Safety Scanner in order to extend the tool’s functionality.

Note icon NOTE

2. Run a System Scan

  1. Press the Windows Key + S and open Run.
  2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
  3. Select the Boot tab, and toggle Safe Boot.
  4. Press Ok and select Restart.
  5. Now your computer should restart in Safe Mode.
  6. Next, press the Windows Key + S and type cmd.
  7. Run Command Prompt as an admin.
    scannow
  8. In the cmd box, type the following and press Enter: SFC /scannow

You can also initiate the system scan through Safe Mode – in safe mode, third-party apps and processes are disabled by default

Therefore, certain malware won’t be able to interfere with the scanning and removal process, so you can get rid of the Windows Defender taking action on threats taking too long alert.

3. Use a third-party antivirus software

If the history log isn’t showing any infected files it might be because Windows Defender detects the same virus but in different locations, and so it does not make a history entry.

However, some viruses are too clever for the basic Windows Defender. Perhaps, the software can detect suspicious activity, but it cannot remove it, so you’re stuck in a loop.

If that’s the case, you should consider choosing a different antivirus solution that can perform a more complex scan and remove anything suspicious or dangerous.

In that matter, we recommend installing security software that uses advanced AI and machine learning to find threats ranging from simple spyware and adware to Trojans.

The tool is easy to install, the UI is intuitive, and it is lightweight, so it won’t consume your system’s resources. And that’s not all. This program can also keep your sensitive information private.

It has proven its capability of detecting multiple types of malware and completely cleaning the system if you choose to do so

During the installation process, Windows Defender should be automatically disabled. If it’s not, you need to perform this operation manually:

  1. Press the Win + R keys and enter gpedit.msc.
  2. From there, navigate to Computer Configuration, then Administrative Templates.
  3. After, go to Windows Components, and Windows Defender.
  4. Select Turn off Windows Defender from the right panel of the main window.
  5. Choose Enable – this will actually disable the default Windows Defender software.
  6. In the end, run the software and initiate a full scan.

Once you make sure that your Windows Defender is disabled, and after you finished installing the antivirus tool, perform a scan using it. If malicious files will be found, they will be removed.

TotalAV

A strong antivirus software that will secure your information, keep your identity private, and remove any threat from your device.
Check Price Visit Website

So, now you should know how to react when noticing the malware detected Windows Defender is taking action to clean detected malware pop-up message displayed by Windows Defender.

In the same manner, if you’d like to see more similar products, take a look at our list of antivirus tools with lifetime licenses, and use it to choose a third-party antivirus that suits you.

Tell us how these solutions helped you, and give us any other feedback regarding the subject in the comment section below.

Steam is disconnected by VAC on Windows 10/11 [Fix it now]

Steam disconnected by VAC: You cannot play on secure servers error occurs if the game files have been modified or have become corrupted for any reason.

Usually, this happens because a third-party software tried to modify the files associated with Steam.

It is worth mentioning that there are some software options that can alter the way Steam runs, and can even cause the error we mentioned above.

In order to avoid any further issues, it is recommended that you close those applications while using Steam. Here are a few examples:

  • CCleaner
  • Powershell
  • Sandboxie
  • Cheat Engine
  • IObit Start Menu 8
  • Process Hacker
  • DLL Injectors
  • Hypervisors
  • Steam Idlers

Fortunately for you, there are a few methods that have helped other users deal with this issue. Our team at WindowsReport chose the best and most efficient ways to do this. Read on to find out more.

What to do if you’re disconnected by VAC for no reason?

  1. Close all Steam processes and restart
  2. Repair the Steam Service
  3. Repair system files

1. Close all Steam processes and restart

Steam disconnected by VAC: You cannot play on secure servers message can appear if there’s a glitch with Steam. To fix it, do the following:

  1. Right-click on your Taskbar, and choose Task Manager.
  2. In the Task Manager’s Processes tab, search for any Steam running processes, select them one by one and hit End Task for each of them.
  3. Click on Startup tab, and remove Steam from the list of applications that run at startup.
  4. Now restart your computer.
  5. After the process is completed, you can try to open up Steam again and see if the problem persists.

2. Repair the Steam Service

  1. First, make sure you exit Steam.
  2. Use the following keyboard shortcut: Windows + R.
  3. Type the following command: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\SteamService.exe/repair
  4. Retry opening up Steam and connecting again

Another way to fix Steam disconnected by VAC: You cannot play on secure servers is to repair the Steam Service. To do that, follow these steps:

Note icon NOTE
Replace the directory provided above with the location of your Steam installation.

3. Repair system files

In some instances, you can fix Steam disconnected by VAC: You cannot play on secure servers by repairing your system files. Do that by following these steps:

  1. Exit Steam.
  2. Hit the Windows key, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, then choose to Run as administrator.
  3. In the opened window, type the following command, then press on Enter: sfc / scannow
  4. After the process is completed, restart your computer, and then try to run Steam again.

In this article, we explored 3 solutions that can help you fix the Steam disconnected by VAC: You cannot play on secure servers error.

Please feel free to let us know if these solutions solved your issue by using the comment section below.

Posted in Fix

Twitter update brings search, threads, and promoted tweet changes to Windows 10 and web

The latest release notes have been published for the web version of Twitter which powers both the official Windows 10 Twitter app and the web experienced accessed via web browsers.

The notes confirm that the new threaded conversations style that recently rolled out on the iOS and Android apps has now come to this version of the Twitter social network and that a new search and promoted tweets experience has begun rolling out to users.

Other updates made to Twitter over the past month or so include a variety of accessibility improvements, a stronger focus on Topics, and improved video playback.

Here’s the full release notes:

New

  • Promoting Tweets: An improved and simplified flow for promoting your Tweets is rolling out on Twitter.com. Keep an eye out for it through the Tweet activity screen!
  • Search: We’re experimenting with different ways of rendering typeahead search results to make it easier for you to quickly find and select what you’re looking for when searching.
  • Threaded Conversation Units: We’ve enabled threaded conversation units on the home timeline! This will help provide additional context and insight into conversations.

Updated

  • Accessibility: Improved screen reader detection of related elements within groups like drawers, modals, and popovers.
  • Accessibility: Screen readers will now be able to provide more context around checkbox controls.
  • Checkbox Controls: Improved responsiveness when clicking on checkbox control elements.
  • Interstitials: Reduced padding and improved visibility for interstitials on smaller screens.
  • Search: Attempting to add a new saved search when you’ve reached the maximum of 25 will now inform you of the limit via error message.
  • Topics: On Topics related pages, you’ll now see suggested Topics in the sidebar.
  • Video: Promoted video overlays have been updated to better address right-to-left languages.

Fixed

  • Accessibility: Fixed certain elements that were focusable even when disabled.
  • Composer: Corrected issues with line height and text visibility in the composer on certain browsers.
  • DMs: Fixed an issue where reporting a DM from the inline dropdown would show an error screen.
  • DMs: Resolved an issue where the DM composer was not clearing immediately after sending a message.
  • DMs: The “x” button on DM message requests will no longer open the conversation.
  • DMs: When scrolling back through a DM conversation, you should no longer fall into a state where the loading indicator displays, and the conversation is not loaded.
  • DMs: Resolved issues where the image preview in DMs wouldn’t display, or the overlay controls would overlap.
  • Image Cropper: Zooming within the image cropper should now work as expected.
  • Input Fields: Entering non-numeric values into certain input fields will no longer cause the description to overlap the input.
  • Search: The search field will no longer exceed the container height on mobile devices.
  • Tweets: Corrected instances where replying to a Tweet wouldn’t increase the reply count appropriately.
  • Video: Video playback on Safari should no longer be interrupted or paused due to hovering elements like labels and popovers.
  • Video: Addressed specific scenarios where multiple videos could playback simultaneously.

The web/Windows version of Twitter continues to update on a very regular basis. A recent update added support for Fleets while evidence of Twitter Spaces, the service’s voice rooms, being tested on the web has also been found.

Want more Windows app news? Follow us on Twitter.

How to update your Windows 10 virus protection

If there is one thing you should worry about, It is your Windows PC security state. Today, we will show you how to update virus protection on your Windows 10 PC.

Lots of malware, viruses, and the likes on the Internet can possibly infect your PC while surfing the web. It is extremely important that your antivirus software is up-to-date so as to keep your PC safe.

Windows 10 PC comes with Windows Defender, built-in antivirus software; you could probably use third-party antivirus software as well to avoid falling prey to malware and other threats. 

But it is very important that your antivirus program is updated so as to shield your PC from the latest viruses. Before you proceed, you need to check your virus protection state.

How do I check the virus protection state on Windows 10?

  1. Go to Start, then click on Control Panel.
  2. Select System and Security, then System.
  3. In the System window, locate Security and Maintenance at the lower-left corner.
  4. Select Security, head to display recent messages, and then click on it.
  5. Follow the prompts to resolve any detected issues.

You can check virus protection state by accessing the Security and Maintenance feature on your system.

Alternatively, you can access Security and Maintenance by typing security and maintenance in the search box on Windows, and then clicking on it.

How do I update my virus protection on Windows 10?

1. Run the Windows Update

  1. Go to Start and type update in the search box, then click on Windows Update to proceed.
  2. In the Windows Update window, check for updates and install all the available ones.
  3. After the update is complete, restart your Windows PC

If you are wondering how to update your antivirus in a Windows 10 PC or laptop, the simplest way is by running Windows Update. In addition, Windows updates can also protect your system’s stability and performance.

The latest Windows updates by Microsoft contain up-to-date components which are applicable for Windows Defender (built-in Windows Antivirus).

2. Update your antivirus program

  1. Go to Start, type Windows Defender, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Windows Defender window, locate the check for updates now option and click on it.update virus protection windows 10
  3. Wait for the update process to be complete and then restart your PC.

Meanwhile, we highly recommend that you regularly update your antivirus programs so as to keep your computer secure. If you do not have any antivirus program on your PC, it is ideal that you get one.

You should look for one that is known for being trustworthy and protecting users from all kinds of threats, such as malware, spyware, adware, data theft, and many others.

Additionally, third-party antivirus software would also protect your sensitive data and your identity when browsing the internet and making online payments.

⇒ Get TotalAV

3. Update via your antivirus website

If your antivirus program does not have the update option, you can update virus protection by downloading new virus definitions from the developer’s website.

However, it is recommended that you know basic information such as whether your Windows PC is 32-bit or 64-bit, the antivirus version on your PC, and other system information.

This will enable you to download the correct utility update on your PC before you upgrade.

We also comprised this useful list of the best antivirus software with a lifetime license to help you decide what tool you’d like to try out, in case you aren’t happy with your current antivirus.

In conclusion, frequent antivirus updates will protect your Windows PC from the latest malwares and viruses.

Do share with us any of your experiences after you update the virus protection on your Windows PC. Feel free to do so in the comment section below.

Download SpeedFan for Windows 11, 10 & 7

SpeedFan is a lightweight PC utility that regulates the speed of your PC’s fan speed, allowing you to increase or decrease its speed, depending on your needs.

Given the software’s utility, it is especially useful for those of you that are bothered by their nosy fans, or laptop owners that want a little bit of extra airflow into their device, especially if they lack a cooling pad to help them out.

SpeedFan’s system requirements

Because of the nature of this tool, there aren’t really any system requirements as with other types of software, meaning that you can have pretty much any CPU or amount of RAM, just as long as your PC is fast enough to run your supported OS.

That being said, SpeedFan works under the following versions of Windows:

  • Windows 9x
  • Windows ME
  • Windows NT
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows 2003
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 10

Additionally, this utility also works well under multiple versions of Windows Server:

  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2012

In both cases, SpeedFan works fine on 64 bit too, so you can run it regardless of PC architecture.

Keep your laptop cool, or make it run more silently

As mentioned above, and as you can notice from the above screenshot, SpeedFan is fairly simplistic in what it does and how you can use it, and that’s precisely why it is so great to use.

SpeedFan is a hardware monitoring software that is able to change fan speeds according to system temperatures. SpeedFan can read S.M.A.R.T. values (and temperatures) from your hard disks and change the FSB speed.

Clock control

Anyone that ever tried squeezing more power out of their PCs knows about the concept of overclocking, and SpeedFan lets you take advantage of that feature as well.

The Clock tab lets you set the right fan speed based on Motherboard type, and CPU needs. It comes with an automatic mode that can be extremely helpful for anyone that isn’t all that experienced using similar features.

Constantly developed, and completely free

SpeedFan is updated quite often, and it needs top, especially considering the speed at which new motherboards and other PC components are released on the market.

This also leaves room for a lot of software tweaking, with bug fixes being released constantly.

In great contrast to this active development policy, the software is still freeware and available for anyone to download, with no ads or hidden downloads included, which is nothing more than another bonus.

⇒ Get SpeedFan

Epic Games v. Apple case unveils Sony chose revenue over crossplay

In the court battle of Epic Games v. Apple over monopolistic App store practices, anti-gamer info regarding Sony’s position with Crossplay somehow surfaced.

While the industry’s eyes are peeled on how Epic Games’ lawsuit alleging Apple’s App Store of anticompetitive behavior shakes out, the early discovery portion of the trial is already fielding casualties of association.

As Epic Games builds its case against Apple, emails between itself and Sony were unmasked presumably as they relate to cross-platform gaming. Among the piles of communications, Epic Games had with partners, a particular correspondence between Epic and Sony has come to light. Several emails between Sony and Epic illuminate the rather anti-gamer/pro revenue position Sony maintained to keep Crossplay functionality from becoming a feature on its platform.

Sony-Epic Games Correspondance

Despite Epic dangling in font of Sony, exclusive promotions, conference partnerships, and various other ties in with one of the most profitable and culturally relevant games in Fortnite, Epic was unable to sway Sony’s decision to enable Crossplay between gamers on different hardware at the time.

Instead, Sony held onto the position that, “many companies are exploring this idea and not a single one can explain how cross-console play improves the PlayStation business.”

When Sony finally did warm to the idea, it was only in the context of revenue sharing and truncating potential revenue loss and not encouraging broader gaming experiences between already contentious console fans.

Sony Cross-Platform Revenue Share/ Epic Games

Documents show that as late as 2019, Sony devised a compromise to participate in Crossplay by introducing a “Cross-Platform Revenue Share” which would force publishers to pay Sony a royalty when PS gamers contributed more to a certain percentage of total cross-platform game profit. In effect, Cross-Platform Revenue Share would be put into place to prevent Sony from taking any potential losses in revenue that otherwise would have been had through exclusive play solely on the PS Network.

In addition to forcing publishers to pay out of pocket for continued gameplay, Sony’s CPRS also required a kill switch be baked into the Crossplay functionality that would disable all cross-platform interactions.

While all of the above seems clearly anti-gamer on the part of Sony, it’s unclear at this point, what stipulations and concessions were made by publishers to get Microsoft and Nintendo on board the Crossplay train.

It’s early in the Epic Games v. Apple trial and we expect to see more confidential industry news surface that’ll give more insight into the complex business of gaming. For its part, Microsoft seems to be backing Epic Games position both in spirit and practice as it recently lowered its own percentage share with publishers in its game store.

Verizon’s Yahoo deal proves Microsoft dodged an acquisition bullet

Verizon has sold 90 percent of its stake in its Yahoo holdings for $5 billion to the private equity firm Apollo Global, just $39 billion shy of what Microsoft was once willing to pay for it.

The year was 2008, and amid the burgeoning search advertisement wars, a struggling Microsoft sought to bolster its presence with a $44.6 billion bid to Yahoo to incorporate its relatively substantial search engine market share into its own portfolio.

Yahoo countered with an asking price of $57 billion, presumably undervaluing its own shares in China-based Alibaba, then Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer left the negotiating table defeated. At the time, some industry analysts called Microsoft’s failed acquisition of Yahoo a black spot in its portfolio as it continued to struggle against Google for mind and market share of advertising platforms.

Steve Ballmer Yahoo Verizon Deal

Eight years later, Verizon eventually sweet-talked then Yahoo CEO Marissa Myer into selling Yahoo for just $4.83 billion. At the time, Microsoft and Yahoo had reworked a continuous contract that, “required use of Bing results in Yahoo searches from 100% to 51%, and to allow Yahoo to kill the deal altogether “at-will” any time after October 2015.” Myers seemed eager to relinquish the Microsoft contract and the Verizon acquisition was a quick way to cut ties in her opinion.

Myers never got to officially end Yahoo’s contract with Microsoft and in an interesting twist, Verizon tapped Microsoft to become the exclusive search advertising platform for the network.

Fast forward 12 years, a few dozen new platforms and some questionable executive decisions from Yahoo, and the company is now being passed around for 90 percent less than what it once asked Microsoft for.

According to Verizon News Center, “funds managed by affiliates of Apollo (the “Apollo Funds”) entered into an agreement to acquire Verizon Media for $5 billion. Verizon will retain a 10% stake in the company, which will be known as Yahoo at close of the transaction and continue to be led by CEO Guru Gowrappan.”

Verizon 5g Ceo

While Microsoft’s early $44 billion Yahoo bid was a play for search advertising market share, Verizon’s later acquisition was more of a data-based ad play. Unfortunately for Verizon, Yahoo had already begun making investments in content creation under Marissa Myers that also continued into replacement Tim Armstrong’s tenure, ultimately choking the aging advertisement platform of financial resources to compete.

Neither Verizon nor Microsoft were able to affect their advertising market share via Yahoo, but only one company is really paying for that failed dream today.

 

Over 70 new Xbox One games now support FPS Boost on Xbox Series X|S consoles

Microsoft is adding FPS support to over 70 Xbox One games running on Xbox Series X|S consoles today. Free to play games like Paladins, Smite, Reams Royale, and Hyperscape can now run at 120 FPS on both the Series X and the Series S when connected to a 120Hz monitor, while other AAA games such as Far Cry 5, Anthem, or Assassin’s Creed are making the jump from 30FPS to 60FPS.

Overall, there are now 97 Xbox One games supporting FPS Boost on Xbox Series X|S consoles, and the full list is available on this page. Alien Isolation, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, Halo Wars 2, Mad Max, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Wasteland 3 are also getting FPS support today, though please note some of these games don’t support FPS Boost on the less powerful Series S.

FPS Boost is a system-level feature on Xbox Series X|S consoles that can double or sometimes quadruple the framerate on backwards-compatible Xbox One games. Along with Auto HDR, FPS is a feature that can really breathe some new life into these old games, and it really benefits games that were locked to 30FPS.

On the Series X, FPS Boost won’t be enabled automatically when the feature requires the game’s resolution to be reduced to ensure smooth performance. For games that support it, FPS Boost can be turned on and off under the Compatibility Options in the Manage game and add-ons setting, as explained in the video below.

It’s great to see FPS Boost support making its way to an increasing number of Xbox One games, and it’s definitely a killer Series X|S feature that Sony’s PlayStation 5 can’t match for now. Microsoft really deserves credit for its work on backwards compatibility, and many of the games supporting FPS Boost are currently available in Xbox Game Pass and EA Play.

Microsoft had plans to reduce its Xbox Store cut to 12%

If Xbox remains a challenger at the beginning of the 9th console generation, Microsoft was apparently planning to shake up the console market by reducing its cut on digital games sales on the Xbox Store to just 12%. That’s according to a confidential document from January filed in the Epic Games vs Apple case (via The Verge), where a table about Microsoft Store Standard Fees mention that all PC and Xbox games will move from the standard 30% cut to 12% in 2021.

Microsoft made headlines last week when it announced that the Windows 10 Microsoft Store would reduce its cut on game sales to just 12 percent in August 2021, matching what the Epic Games Store has been offering since launch. Adopting this same 12 percent cut for Xbox games would have been truly unprecedented, especially since console makers are used to selling consoles at a loss or with razor-thin margins while making big profits on games sales.

Confidential Microsoft Store Document 12% Cut On Xbox Games

However, Microsoft has now denied in two separate statements shared with The Verge that it’s planning to reduce its Xbox Store cut to 12%. Keep in mind that the aforementioned document was filed in January, and it’s not clear what happened since then.

A Microsoft spokesperson initially said “we have no plans to change the revenue share for console games at this time,” in a statement to The Verge on Saturday, before issuing a clearer statement on Sunday.

“We will not be updating the revenue split for console publishers,” says a Microsoft spokesperson. Microsoft still refuses to answer whether the document is inaccurate, or simply that plans changed.

If it makes sense for Microsoft to follow Epic Games’ lead with its PC games store and put more pressure on market leader Steam, the company probably didn’t have a real incentive to adopt a 12% revenue cut on its Xbox Store. The move may have put some real pressure on its competitors in the console market, though it’s possible the loss in revenue could have been too important for Microsoft, especially at a time when the company is spending a lot of money to acquire new studios and bring games to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.

“Console makers such as Microsoft invest significantly in developing dedicated console hardware but sell them below cost or at very low margins to create a market that game developers and publishers can benefit from. Given these fundamental differences in the significance of the platform and the business model, we have more work to do to establish the right set of principles for game consoles,” said Rima Alailyk, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Microsoft last year.

Xbox Game Pass adds Red Dead Online and 4 months of Spotify Premium in May

Microsoft has just unveiled the first wave of new games coming to Xbox Game Pass this month. After Grand Theft Auto V came back to Xbox Game Pass for Console in April, Red Dead Online will follow up this month on May 13.

For those unfamiliar, Red Dead Online is the standalone multiplayer experience that also ships with Rockstar Games’ critically-acclaimed Red Dead Redemption 2. While not as popular as GTA Online, Red Dead Online has some fun missions that can be played in co-op, and it remains one of the most beautiful open-world games released during the previous console generation. Just like GTA V, Red Dead Online will also be available via Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android, iOS, and PCs.

Red Dead Online will be joined by Just Cause 4: Reloaded, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Just Cause 4: Reloaded, and more this month. For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass for PC members, FIFA 21 will also be available via EA Play starting Thursday, May 6 (EA Play isn’t included with the standard Xbox Game Pass subscription).

You can find the full list of new Xbox Game Pass games with their release dates below:

  • Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Console and PC) – May 4
  • FIFA 21 (Console and PC) EA Play – May 6
  • Outlast 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox – May 6
  • Steep (Cloud and Console) – May 6
  • Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Console and PC) – May 13
  • Just Cause 4: Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC) – May 13
  • Psychonauts (Cloud, Console, and PC) – May 13
  • Red Dead Online (Cloud and Console) – May 13
  • Remnant: From the Ashes (PC) – May 13

If you have yet to subscribe to Spotify Premium, the new Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks for May 2021 also include 4 months of Spotify Premium in select markets, in addition to a MyTEAM bundle for NBA 2K21 and a Star Wars-themed cosmetic item for Apex Legends. All these free Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perks will be available starting tomorrow, May 4.

Last but not least, Microsoft announced today that Alan Wake, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2, Dungeon of the Endless, Final Fantasy IX, Hotline Miami, and Plebby Quest: The Crusades will leave the Xbox Game Pass catalog next week on May 15. That’s it for now, but stay tuned for the second wave of new Xbox Game Pass games coming later this month.