The Surface Hub isn’t a device that receives a ton of updates, and for good reason, as it’s designed mostly for communal use where sudden changes in UI, functionality, and features can become detrimental to expediency and productivity.
Perhaps, even worse than getting new UI and features that can disrupt a well-oiled productivity flow, is getting an update that breaks things, like the Windows 10 Team 2020 Update for the Surface Hub 2S.
On October 27, 2020, Microsoft made its Windows 10 Team 2020 Update for the Surface Hub available. The W10T 2020 Update was intended to help admins “manage installations using Windows Update for Business rings, similar to your standard Windows 10 update rings.”
However, since its release, Surface Hub 2S users have been complaining and sending feedback to Microsoft about the update causing various issues on the device. Microsoft hasn’t divulged the list of specific complaints, but today, it acknowledged the groundswell of Surface Hub users who are experiencing bugs and issues due to the new update rollout.
To date, we have 70% of all eligible devices in Phase 1 and 2 regions updated. While the majority of these devices were updated successfully, we have received feedback from a small number of customers who have encountered post-install issues. To ensure that we deliver an updated experience of the highest quality, we have taken two important actions:
We have created a summary of the current list of known issues, solutions, and remediations for transparency and to assist your team in diagnosing and resolving issues.
We have paused the Windows Update phased releases. Phase 1 and 2 were released per the schedule below and Phase 3 and 4 will be paused for the remainder of 2020.
In the same press release, Microsoft also offered workarounds for users that include using Bare Metal Recovery images to get around installation issues. In addition, Microsoft also noted that those who are “in a state of transition between Window 10 Team Edition version 1703 and 20H2,” by extending support through March 16, 2021.
Microsoft is currently working on a new set of translation capabilities for Outlook for Windows that will make it easier for users to translate their emails. The translation features will be coming in January 2021, according to an email sent out to Office 365 subscribers.
With this new translation experience, users will be able to automatically translate words, phrases, and full messages on their Windows PCs. More specifically, when a user receives a message in a language that is different than the user’s default mailbox’s language, the app will automatically provide a translation suggestion.
Microsoft says that there’s also an option for users to opt in to automatic translation, where the Outlook app will automatically translate all messages received in other languages. It is important to note that translation is an optional experience, and it will comply with the privacy settings of your respective organization.
The translation functionality is a useful feature that will hopefully make it easier to communicate and collaborate across different languages. As of this writing, it is under development and it’s available for Office Insiders. If you want to get early access to this new Outlook feature, you need to join the Office Insider program before it officially begins rolling out in mid-January.
The Outlook web app comes with handy convenience features to reduce context switching and help keep you focused. One relatively recent addition is the ability to view notes and tasks from within the web app, avoiding the need to maintain multiple browser tabs or alt-tab across apps.
Looking at notes first, click the “N” (OneNote) icon in the top-right toolbar to open the “OneNote feed” pane. Here, you’ll see any existing quick notes you’ve made in Sticky Notes or Outlook Notes.
Click the “Add a note” button to create a note. A note authoring page will appear, complete with rich text editing capabilities. This is based on Microsoft’s Sticky Notes app. Once you’ve done creating the note, it will show up back in the OneNote feed and within the Sticky Notes app on the web, Windows and mobile.
Despite its name, the OneNote feed doesn’t actually support regular OneNote notes yet. At the time of writing, a flyout at the bottom of the pane explains that support for OneNote pages will be added “soon”. Microsoft’s also planning Samsung Notes integration, further extending its support for Android mobile devices.
To view your calendar and tasks, click the Calendar icon in the top-right toolbar. The pane opens to a calendar agenda view. You can change which calendars are displayed and switch to a Daily view using the three dots icon next to the month header. To add a new calendar event, click the “New event” button at the bottom of the pane.
Microsoft To-Do tasks are accessed by clicking the “To Do” tab at the top of the calendar pane. Here, all your existing To Do tasks will be displayed, allowing you to quickly check them off or edit their details.
Click “Add a task” and start typing to create a new item. You can rearrange tasks and mark them as important. Right-click a task to see more options, such as the ability to set a reminder and due date.
All-in-all, these Outlook flyout panes are handy when making quick notes and tasks while browsing your inbox. As with everything connected to Outlook, changes are fully synced back to your Microsoft account, so events, notes and tasks will show up in Outlook Calendar, Sticky Notes and To Do respectively, irrespective of what you use to create them.
Finding the perfect laptop for your needs can be troublesome, especially when you must go through so many options.
There are many offers out there, and all of them seem great at first glance. In this article, we will explore some of the best 13-inch laptops with 16 GB of RAM to help you select the one that best suits your needs.
What are the best 13-inch laptops with great RAM capacity?
Dell XPS 13 is a reliable laptop with premium features and design, making it worth its price range.
Thanks to its 10th Gen Intel CPU, the laptop offers excellent performance, and the keyboard and touchpad make it the perfect choice for long work hours.
Moreover, the XPS 13 webcam has some nice improvements. It’s smaller and has a new 4-element lens, which is more than a typical camera’s, which delivers great video quality.
The Dell XPS 13 Touch Laptop is made of premium materials and has an aluminum chassis, which offers an elegant overall design.
The laptop is fast, strong, and reliable. It’s also easy to open, use, and carry anywhere.
Don’t let the size of the laptop make you think this is not a powerful one, as the 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and up to Intel® Iris® Xe graphics make it fast, smooth, and accessible.
In case you’re looking for something different, why not check Lenovo Thinkpad L15 Gen 4 specs and see if the device suits your needs?
Epson Stylus C88+ is an inkjet color printer, that can print borderless photos at a maximum resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi.
You can print up to 23 ppm (page per minute) for black & white pages and up to 14 ppm for color. Furthermore, the input paper tray holds put up to 120 sheets at a maximum paper size of 8.5×14 inches.
With Epson Stylus C88+ to is possible to connect 2 computers at the same time, one using the parallel port and the other to the USB port.
This color printer, small and compact, is the best option for use at home, with an older PC and even with a newer one.
Epson LX-350 is ideal for front and back office environments needing continuous paper or multi-part stationery.
With this printer, you get speeds up to 347 cps (characters per second), allowing you to print bulk amounts of documents in a short time interval. It has a work capacity without failure for up to 10.000 hours, making it very reliable.
If you need a durable printer, easy to integrate with your system, Epson LX-350 is a great choice.
Zebra ZD500t is another great thermal printer, used for labels, that comes with additional connectivity options.
It works exactly like its sibling, Zebra GX430t, but you can integrate it on your network due to its ethernet port. This is a great feature because multiple users can print labels at the same time.
Except for the ethernet port, it also has a display which gives you some additional configuration options directly from the printer.
If you think that in a near future you’ll connect the printer to your enterprise systems, Zebra ZD500t is the best printer for labels that you can buy.
The Lexmark MS310DN printer is an affordable monochrome laser printer that has a lot to offer.
As for print speed, you can print up to 35 ppm thanks to the fast dual-core 800 MHz processor. It is also guaranteed to print 2500 pages per month without breaking.
If you need a printer for your small office, MS310dn is a great candidate because it creates high-quality prints.
Zebra GX430t is a monochrome printer used for printing labels, barcodes, receipts, and wristbands.
The printer uses thermal transfer technology, which means that you don’t have to install a toner because it doesn’t use ink to print. It uses a ribbon of either resin or wax, making the cost of printing almost zero.
Due to its small size, it is compatible with media rolls that have a one-inch core, a maximum diameter of 5 inches, and a maximum width of 4.25 inches.
If you want to create labels only, then this printer is one of the best with a parallel port.
The parallel port interface has almost completely been replaced by the newer communication standards like USB, ethernet or Wi-Fi.
However, if you have an older device, this guide will certainly help you to buy a printer that suits your needs.
If you have any suggestions don’t hesitate to contact us by using the comment section below.
Some of the projects the modern day engineer is expected to deliver are very sophisticated. It’s therefore imperative that engineers first assemble the right tools.
In civil engineering, many professionals believe that project success begins with choosing a dazzling civil engineering design tool.
But matters aren’t that straightforward because the market is currently flooded with civil engineering software.
On one hand, this can be a blessing since it’s hard to lack a befitting tool. Conversely, it can be a curse seeing that engineers have to spend more time comparing the avalanche of software.
So, which of these software is best for civil engineering?
What To Look For In A Civil Engineering Software
Civil engineering software incorporates a collection of tools to assist civil engineers during every stage in a project’s execution- from design to final construction.
Thus, at a bare minimum, the program should have each of these tools plus they should be running without bugs. The program is also supposed to run faster design iterations in addition to streamlining time-consuming tasks.
Additionally, the software should use visualization and simulation to improve project deliverables and decision making.
Lastly, programs with an intuitive interface are easier to use and help deliver projects smoothly regardless of their scale and complexity.
As mentioned, there are myriad civil engineering programs to help with the design, control, and completion of civil works such as bridges, roads, canals, and more.
Here is a brief look into the proven champions of civil engineering.
What is the best Civil engineering software for Windows 10 PCs?
Autodesk’s stranglehold on the engineering software market won’t end soon if they continue releasing high-quality programs like the wonderful Civil 3D software.
First, it supports BIM (Building Information Modeling) so professionals are assured of enhanced designs and construction documentation.
Then, it uses advanced simulation, visualization, and water analysis tools to improve decision making so that the end product will be of the best quality.
With its well-constructed collaboration features, Civic 3D expertly eliminates teething team coordination plus workflow challenges and could be a dream for teams in massive civil infrastructure projects.
Amazingly, they keep adding new features.
For example, the latest release has more accurate offset profiles, expanded corridor capabilities, and outstanding 3D virtual views of objects.
Others include automated parcel design, Geotechnical modeling tools, and an ability to produce annotated production plans.
One can download civil 3D for a 30-day free trial then choose to either subscribe for the monthly, annual, or 3-year plans.
Extend your BIM (Building Information Modeling) with Revit. You can use it to plan, design and construct buildings and infrastructure elements.
Instead of creating just a drawing of the elements in your projects, with Revit you are building 3D models. For each element in the model, you can attach a lot of information.
Learning how to use Revit, it means you will have the confidence of manipulating the data from a BIM model and you can easily see how one change to one object in a model will automatically impact the rest of the design.
The first version of Revit was released in April 2000 and, since then, it has been developed rapidly.
Now it is a piece of software much more data-intensive than AutoCAD but also less flexible because of its stricter rules necessary for constructing something safe and in coordination with other stakeholders.
Revit
Download Revit to create higher-quality, coordinated, model-based designs in 3D with integrated automation of repetitive tasks.
If you’re not interested in simple house and building designs and are looking to help with projects that are of a more macro scale, such as a city’s infrastructure, then AutoCAD InfraWorks 360 is what you need.
It has the same familiar AutoCAD design although the toolset and built-in templates and features are made to help with projects such as roadway, bridge and drainage designs.
It doesn’t matter whether you are at the transportation phase or if you’re already into the engineering, design and management phase of a large-scale project, InfraWorks has everything you need.
You work can also be shared in real-time using cloud technology, so getting hold of contractors and getting their live feedback has never been easier.
Besides, last minute changes and even new projects can be modified and sketched incredibly fast because InfraWorks lets you create the existing environment using vector data, raster data, and data from other global sources.
All in all, if you work in construction at a much larger scale and need to be in constant contact with your employers, AutoCAD InfraWorks 360 is what you need in your life.
AutoCAD InfraWorks 360
Design the infrastructure of a neighborhood, block, or even an entire city with the help of this incredible CAD tool.
MicroStation is another genius civil engineering software and closely rivals civil 3D when it comes to modeling different infrastructure projects.
The software actually edges the rest on several fronts.
Users looking at a program that doesn’t hog system resources like RAM are the first winners since Microstation typically runs pretty light. The system is also a favorite for engineers searching for speedy modeling, viewing, documentation, and visualization of projects.
Microstation is lately very simplified and the interface made so easy that total engineering newbies get the hang of it pretty fast.
Civil engineers need as many technologies as possible to meet the expectations of demanding clients and the program doesn’t disappoint.
It comes with a raft of traditional CAD capabilities supported by a horde of revolutionary inventions including 3D parametric modeling making it a versatile choice for varied infrastructure projects.
The quality of the paper plots, i-models, 2D/3D PDFs, reports, and 3D physical models is up there with the very best.
Unsurprisingly, the software application isn’t that affordable!
Because of their diversity and power, not many potent civil engineering applications come cheap.
And therein lays the biggest surprise about Sketchup! Sure, it’s one of the most complete 3D visualization programs for civil works yet, one can virtually do all site modeling with the free Sketchup version.
On the same note, there’re fantastic possibilities in SketchUp and its powerful extension warehouse.
For example, one can utilize pre-built assets from fellow users to speed up the foundational design process. Plus it makes the drawing and design forthright.
One simply draws shapes and lines. Then engineers just push and pull the surfaces to convert them into crisp 3D forms.
It additionally, stretches, copies, orbits, and paints to easily and quickly make anything desired. Better still, it has super-fast rendering performances for even complex designs.
In a nutshell, this could be the real deal for a civil engineer striving to grow into 3D visualization on a shoe-string budget.
Still, from Autodesk, AutoCAD is a reputable 2D/3D CAD program for civil engineers and one of the most widely used commercial design software.
The program intelligently creates basic geometry representing real-life information and is a great software for drawing inch-perfect lines and detailing of elements.
This software also features an impressive array of professional documentation tools not to mention that it supports an awesome drafting workflow, where individual drawings are edited independently.
The robust software provides native support for a DWG file and can easily identify graphical differences between different versions of drawings.
Moving on, it flaunts lots of 2D graphics enhancements such as two times faster zoom plus panning and changing draw orders.
Furthermore, users can import geometry, raster images, SHX font files, and even TrueType text into drawings from a PDF.
Collaboration is seamless now that drawings can be accessed from multiple platforms-desktop, online, and on mobile.
Since there are so many considerations to make, answering the question of which software is best for civil engineering isn’t easy.
Knowing exactly the types of tasks one will be involved in is crucial as is one’s skills and experience with modeling software.
That being said, prices for the commercial tools are a bit on the higher so the available budget may limit the number of options.
But all is not lost since some of the excellent civil engineering software like Sketchup are free. In the end, what matters is that one gets a program that suits your engineering needs.
Welcome back to our Windows 10 news recap, where we go over the top stories of the past week in the world of Microsoft’s flagship operating system.
Windows 10 Twitter app gains a variety of design and feature improvements
The latest update for the Twitter app has brought a number of improvements and fixes. Changes have been made across the app, including tweaks to the design, accessibility improvements, fixes for DM issues, and more. You can read the changelog here.
Copyright Marisa Allegra Williams (@marisa) for Twitter, Inc.
Windows 10 Xbox app adds ‘My Collection’ and Install Management Center with latest update
The Xbox app for Windows 10 has received a new update that aims to make it easier to manage your installed and owned games through a new “My Collection” feature. You’ll be able to see games you own, have installed, those in your Xbox Game Pass ‘Play later’ queue, as well as being able to manage the install queue and turn on or off automatic updates.
Windows 10 Your Phone now lets users delete their smartphone photos
This week has seen the Your Phone app on Windows 10 make it even easier to manage your smartphone photo library, now adding the ability to delete photos via the app on your Windows 10 PC.
That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Windows 10 news.
Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!
Microsoft makes privacy changes to its Productivity Score software as concerns arise
Microsoft’s Productivity Score software has come under flak recently, being claimed a “full-fledged workplace surveillance tool”. In response to growing concern over the tool, Microsoft is going to be making changes, including removing usernames from the data, making it more of an overall score of the entire organisation, rather than individualds.
Microsoft introduces new calling features for Teams
New calling features are being introduced in Microsoft Teams. Two of the main important new additions is call transfer and CarPlay support, among others. Call transfer allows for transferring a call between different devices, so that you can stay in a call whilst on the move, which is expected to launch in early 2021, whilst CarPlay support will allow users to make and receive calls using their vehicle, though no release timeframe has been announced.
Microsoft Flight Simulator to get a free VR update on December 23
Later this month, Microsoft Flight Simulator is to get a free update that adds Virtual Reality to the game. VR headsets from a range of manufacturers will be supported, including HP, Valve, and Oculus.
Microsoft Forms will soon allow users to collect survey responses from specific people
Overwatch is a great game, and many prefer playing it with a keyboard and mouse. While Overwatch doesn’t support keyboard and mouse natively on PS4, it might offer some limited support.
In theory, almost any keyboard and mouse should work with Overwatch on PS4 as long as you have the keyboard and mouse adapter, and in this article, we’re going to show you the best Overwatch PS4mouse and keyboard that you can use.
What is the best Overwatch PS4 mouse and keyboard?
HORI PlayStation 4 TAC Pro Type M2 is an officially licensed keyboard and mouse combo for PS4. The keyboard has LED-backlit, so it’s perfect for late-night gaming sessions.
The keyboard comes with a dedicated HORI Device Manager phone app that you can use to adjust the keyboard layout, DPI settings, and more. Speaking of DPI, the mouse offers up to 3200 DPI sensitivity, for maximum precision.
Regarding the compatibility, HORI PlayStation 4 TAC Pro Type M2 is compatible with PS4, PS3, and PC, and it’s a great OverwatchPS4mouse and keyboard combo.
This keyboard has 35 keys, and it’s made from ABS plastic. All the keys are backlit, so you can easily enjoy nightly gaming sessions. It’s important to mention that the keyboard has a wrist rest, so you won’t experience fatigue while gaming.
The keyboard also has a non-slip rubber on the bottom, so it won’t move even during intense gaming sessions. As for the size, the keyboard measures 6.7×8.6 inches.
MFTEK One Hand Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo is a decent PS4mouse and keyboard combo, so it might be worth checking out.
GameSir VX is an Overwatch PS4mouse and keyboard combo, and in addition to PS4, these devices can also work with PS3, Switch, Xbox One, and PC.
The mouse has 5 DPI levels, ranging from 400 to 12000, and you can also adjust the polling rate. The keyboard is wireless, and thanks to the 1000mAh battery, it can last for hours.
GameSir VX can also adjust HIP and ADS sensitivity, and there’s even a dedicated mobile app available for quick configuration, so it’s a perfect choice for gamers.
Another great keyboard for PS4 is BlueFinger RGB, and this model comes with 35 keys, and just like other keyboards, it supports multiple key presses.
The keyboard is backlit, and it has 13 different backlit modes. As for the mouse, it comes with 6 buttons, and it has four DPI levels, up to 2000. Of course, the mouse is also backlit.
BlueFinger RGB is completely plug and play, and it’s compatible with Windows, macOS, PS4, and Xbox One, so it’s a perfect choice if you want to play FPS games on PS4.
If you need an Overwatch PS4 mouse and keyboard combo, then ZJFKSDYX C91 might be just what you need. This set is compatible with PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Switch, and it should work right out of the box.
It’s worth mentioning that a keyboard and mouse converter is available, so you should be able to use this keyboard and mouse even with unsupported games.
ZJFKSDYX C91 keyboard and mouse combo has a mechanical feel and the mouse is ergonomic, so it’s a perfect choice for prolonged gaming sessions.
Using an Overwatch PS4 mouse and keyboard combo is easy, but make sure that you have the proper adapter beforehand to ensure maximum compatibility with the game.
VPN Unlimited is a highly-rated VPN service for various reasons. For instance, it’s one of the few VPNs with a lifetime subscription plan.
Plus, it has a native app that supports all popular platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
However, since it’s a piece of software, it might occasionally throw errors. A good example is the VPN service not started due to internal exception error found in VPN unlimited.
Normally, we would suggest contacting the tech team. But it might take a while until you get a relevant answer.
If you’re a hands-on PC user who prefers to troubleshoot software issues, keep reading to discover how to fix the VPN unlimited internal exception error in just a few steps.
How do I fix the internal exception error in VPN Unlimited?
Check your firewall
In the Windows Search bar, type Allow an app and open Allow an app through Windows Firewall.
Click Change settings (you must have admin rights).
Make sure that VPN Unlimited is allowed to access Public and Private networks.
Save changes and restart your PC.
If you’re using another firewall than the built-in Windows option, make sure to adjust the above steps accordingly and unblock VPN Unlimited.
Alternatively, you can temporarily disable the firewall to see if it’s responsible for the VPN Unlimited internal exception error.
But we can’t recommend it because you risk compromising your security even in that small timeframe.
Try using the wired connection (LAN) instead of Wi-Fi.
Flush your DNS and reset Winsock.
Make sure all network drivers are properly installed and configured.
Check router ports.
Reset router to factory values.
It’s critical to check the quality of your network connection and make sure that your Internet is stable enough.
Otherwise, it might be the reason why you keep receiving the internal exception error in VPN Unlimited.
Connect to another VPN server
Explore the multiple server locations provided by the VPN Unlimited app, regardless of your device.
If a specific server is down, it could result in connectivity issues. That’s why it’s a good idea to connect to VPN servers from different countries.
Reinstall VPN Unlimited
If VPN Unlimited didn’t install correctly, or if it was affected by a system option, then reinstall it. Perhaps the TAP drivers were not configured properly on your device.
And, if this solution doesn’t work either, you have no choice but to contact the support team and request assistance regarding the VPN Unlimited internal exception error.
Switch to an alternative VPN
We saved this step for last because we know how important it is to try and fix a software problem before dropping it and moving to a better alternative.
It’s possible that VPN Unlimited isn’t a good match for your Internet connection and devices.
If you got tired of dealing with various VPN errors, consider switching to an alternative VPN service, such as Private Internet Access (PIA).
PIA has more than 3,300 VPN severs across 48 countries. You can set it up on all popular devices, including Windows, Android, Linux, Mac, iOS, and even routers.,
When you are trying to edit a workbook shared with you, you may encounter the This workbook was opened in read-only mode error. This prevents the user from editing the workbook in Excel Online and desktop app.
This error can occur due to several reasons, including the original document being maintained in the desktop app on the creator’s computer. It can also be triggered if your company is transitioning to SharePoint.
If you are also troubled by this error, here are a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the This workbook was opened in read-only mode error when editing Excel files.
How do I stop Excel from opening in read only mode?
1. Disable Read-only mode
If you can download these workbooks to your local computer, download a copy.
Right-click on the downloaded copy and select Properties.
Check if the Read-Only attribute is checked. Uncheck the Read-Only attribute and click OK to save the changes.
Next, open the Security tab. Make sure you have full control of this file.
Close the properties window, and open the workbook with your Excel app to see if the error is resolved.
If the original document has the read-only attribute enabled, it will prevent the user from editing the file and display the error message. Make sure to uncheck the option to see if that resolves the error.
2. Disable Protected View
Launch the Excel app.
Click on File and then select Options.
Click on Trust Center and select Trust Center Settings.
Go to Protected View.
Next, clear all the three boxes of Protect View on the right panel.
Close the Settings window and relaunch the Excel app.
Open the workbook and check if the error is resolved.
Protected View is the read-only mode where most editing functions are disabled to protect the users from harmful files. However, this can cause an issue with other documents as well. Make sure to enable Protected View once you have edited the workbook.
3. Close the workbook on local computer
The latest Excel app comes with the co-authoring feature. However, if you are not running the latest version of Office 365, and if the file owner keeps the file open on their Excel desktop app, you may not be able to edit that file.
Make sure the file is not opened in Excel desktop, and then try to edit the file in Excel Online. Try editing other Office 365 files and see if you can edit with Office Online.
How do I change a SharePoint document from read only?
Right-click on the SharePoint document and select Properties.
Open the General tab.
Uncheck the “Read-only” box.
Click Apply and then on OK to save the changes.
Once you have made the changes, open the SharePoint document, and check if the read-only message is resolved.
How do I turn off read only on OneDrive?
Open File Explorer.
Right-click on OneDrive and select Properties.
Open the General tab.
Under Attributes, uncheck the “Read-only” box.
Click OK to save the changes. If you see a prompt asking if you want to apply the changes to all folders, subfolders, and files, click OK.
That’s it. This should resolve the OneDrive desktop app changing your documents attribute to the Read-only issue.
This workbook was opened in read-only mode message usually occurs if the file owner has set the document attribute to read-only.
This error can sometimes lead to other issues, such as Microsoft Excel cannot paste the data, but we have a special guide that addresses it, so don’t miss it.
You can resolve the problem by disabling the read-only attribute. If not, try disabling Protected View temporarily to fix the error.
Passwords are the first line of defense when it comes to your private data and things are no different for Google Chrome users.
Having a weak password leads to security risks that many hackers are eagerly waiting to take advantage of. Many of them end up hacking browsing activities of countless users.
Not all users follow some essential security guidelines like keeping complex passwords. To prevent that from happening, Google Chrome’s Safety check feature will let you know more about the weakness of your passwords.
That’s a nice addition to the previous features that included a safe browsing check and finding harmful extensions installed on your browser.
After all, users are skeptical about Chrome’s Safety check and need more details. Here’s what one of them says:
I’ve always wondered how good the Chrome Safety check is, can it detect adware, unwanted safety issues with Chrome.
How can I enable Chrome’s weak password check?
With Chrome Canary installed, enter Chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
Up next, search for weak, and both Passwords weakness check and Safety check for weak passwords flags will show up. Enable them right away.
Restart the browser to keep the changes.
Find your way into Settings > Safety Check > Check Now in order to quickly perform a safety check of your passwords.
Google will automatically highlight the weaker ones. Waste no more time and click on the Review button to solve the encountered problems.
Chrome’s new weak password check functionality isn’t currently available in stable channels. In spite of that, you can already enable it in Chrome Canary by completing the above procedure.
Besides using complex and non-repetitive passwords for all websites, keep in mind that you can also setup 2-step verification.
That’s a great way to make sure that no one else can access your Google account. The rule stays the same even if a member of your family knows your current password.
Have you also enabled Chrome’s weak password check? Knowing that your passwords are complex and not part of data breaches is essential, so use the comments area to tell us your opinion.
Microsoft’s Edge browser Canary development branch is usually updated daily and yesterday the company rolled out version 89.0.722.0 which brings a significant upgrade to the browser with Chrome-like grouped tab features.
The new features were first highlighted by Techdows. Since Grouped tabs features are coming by way of the Canary development branch and appear to be officially supported in this capacity, we expect to see a full channel log drop later today.
Now Edge users running the canary branch of browser development will be able to test out Tab Groups and Tab Groups Auto-Correct features which supports users labeling their grouped tabs as well as the browser automatically generating tab groups from open tabs pointing at the same domain. As expected, all grouped tabs will be collapsible and function similarly to the way the feature is done in Google’s Chrome browser.
Aside from being a Canary only release right now, the other catch to utilizing this new test feature is manually enabling it. Grouped tabs is not enabled by default. Users will need to go to edge://flags, search “Tab Groups to turn on the feature after updating to 89.0.722.0, which should be hitting browsers some time today.
Microsoft’s Bing now does more than simply search the web. It can also surface results from within your organisation, including files, contacts and conversations. Information is displayed right within the Bing searchbar.
In order for this functionality to work, you’ll need to be signed into Bing with your work or school account. If you’re signed in but don’t see the features we describe, your organisation probably hasn’t enabled Microsoft Search. It’s up to administrators to make the system available to users.
When you’re signed in, the Bing homepage will display a “Latest from your organisation” banner. This surfaces recent files and upcoming events within SharePoint sites, Outlook groups and Microsoft Teams.
You can use the searchbar to quickly find content within your organisation. Try searching a person’s name to see related contacts appear as search suggestions.
When you press enter to commit a search, switch to the “Work” tab on the search results page to search within your organisation. Content will be displayed in a similar style to regular web search results. Some items, such as contacts, have rich information cards which help to contextualise their relation to your organisation.
Use the left search pane to drill down to a specific content type, such as People, Files or Conversations. The available data will vary depending on your organisation’s Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft Search supports natural language search for terms such as “my files” and “conversations about topic”. Microsoft advises you “just ask naturally” instead of trying to learn specific terms – Bing and Microsoft Search will intelligently interpret your query to find relevant data from within your organisation.
Microsoft is now rolling out the Virtual Breakout rooms feature for its Teams collaboration platform. At launch, the feature is exclusively available to Government Community Cloud (GCC) customers, and the company will expand its availability to all Teams users in the coming days.
The breakout rooms feature, which allows meeting organizers to split participants into smaller groups linked to the main meeting, was announced in July. The functionality has been designed to support simultaneous group discussions such as corporate meetings, projects, brainstorming sessions, and more. Here’s a video showing breakout rooms in action:
Microsoft says that organizers will be able to choose the number of breakout rooms (up to 50) and assign a specific number of participants (manually or automatically) to each room. In breakout rooms, participants will have full access to all meeting features such as chat, Together mode, and Whiteboard. On the other hand, the meeting organizers will have the ability to monitor and participate in these discussions and make announcements.
It is important to note that presenters and attendees can participate, but only the meeting organizer can create breakout rooms using the desktop client. To use virtual breakout rooms, however, IT Admins first need to enable a couple of settings in a Teams meeting policy. This will help to ensure that users can schedule private meetings.
Allow scheduling private meeting = on
Allow channel meeting scheduling = on
Allow meet now in channels = on
Allow Meet now in private meeting = on
The breakout rooms experience is one of the highly requested features, and it has been delayed multiple times. This is not entirely new, as Teams’ competitor Zoom has long offered support for breakout rooms. If you’re interested in learning more about how to enable and use it in your Microsoft Teams desktop client, be sure to check out the blog post.
The first video game based on the hit John Wick movie franchise, John Wick Hex, is now available to play on Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles.
The game is a fusion of the action and strategy genres featuring time-based gameplay and a story set before the events of the first film. Voice actor, Troy Baker, takes on the titular role made famous by Keanu Reeves and is joined by film actors, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick.
Here’s the game description and trailer:
Become The Baba Yaga. John Wick Hex is a fast-paced, action-oriented strategy game that makes you think and strike like John Wick, the professional hitman of the critically acclaimed film franchise. Created in close cooperation with the creative teams behind the films, John Wick Hex is fight-choreographed chess brought to life as a video game, capturing the series’ signature gun fu style while expanding its story universe. Players must make quick decisions and choose every action and attack they make, all the while considering their immediate cost and consequences. Featuring a unique blend of strategic time-based action, John Wick Hex captures the feel of the tactical combat from the films and blurs the line between the strategy and action video game genres. Perform well and progress in the main story mode to unlock new weapons, suit options and locations. Each weapon changes up the tactics you’ll use and the manner in which you’ll play. Ammo is finite and realistically simulated, so time your reloads and make the most of weapons you scavenge on the job.
John Wick Hex originally released on Windows PC and Sony’s PlayStation 4 console in late-2019 and picked up the award for Best Strategy Game during the 2019 Game Critics Awards. It also launches on the Nintendo Switch today.
Looking for VPNs that work best in certain areas is a piece of cake most of the time. Many services boast about their ability to run at their peak in various regions.
Finding a VPN service that has servers in a specific region is a bit trickier, on the other hand.
For instance, if you ever wanted a VPN with servers in New Jersey for whatever reason, we have exactly that just waiting for you.
Why use a VPN with New Jersey servers?
There are a few reasons why someone would need a VPN with servers in New Jersey. For instance, we all know that some services are geo-restricted.
Geo-restrictions are the most common reason why users would suddenly realize they need VPN servers in specific regions of the world.
Therefore, if you have a sporting event you can’t watch, or find yourself unable to access a certain website from outside of New Jersey, a VPN with NJ servers can easily solve these issues for you.
Private Internet Access, or simply PIA, is one of the best VPNs that offer servers in New Jersey. Thus, it can help you access content that is blocked outside of this area without great effort.
What makes it even more impressive is the fact that PIA has not one, but 817 New Jersey servers at the time being.
Therefore, you can rest assured that even if a certain NJ server won’t work as it should, you can always reconnect to a different one in the same area. You have plenty of options.
NordVPN is an awesome VPN service that lets you connect to a New Jersey server and enjoy region-based content in no time.
The exact number of NJ servers is not exactly clear, but what we do know is that NordVPN has servers in 15 different US cities, and New Jersey is one of them.
Furthermore, all US servers are fully-featured, meaning that you can establish regular connections, but also enjoy P2P-optimized, obfuscated, dedicated IP, and double VPN servers.
One of the more popular names in the branch, ExpressVPN is one of the few VPN services that offer New Jersey servers. In fact, ExpressVPN boasts not one, but three different NJ servers you can switch through.
On the other hand, only one of them has full support for all ExpressVPN protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, IPsec, IKEv2, and PPTP. The remaining two don’t support L2TP/IPsec and PPTP, unfortunately.
PureVPN is yet another worthy contender for our best VPNs with New Jersey servers collection. As with other similar services, it’s not exactly clear how many NJ servers does PureVPN offer.
What we do know, however, is that PureVPN’s New Jersey server(s) support PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, IKEV2, IPSec, and OpenVPN protocols.
To put things in perspective, PureVPN has an impressive network of more than 6,500 servers, covering over 140 countries in 180+ locations. So we’re pretty confident that they have more than just one server in NJ.
ProtonVPN is famous among VPN users for its free version that has no time limitation. However, it seems that this service also has New Jersey servers that you can connect to.
Again, their precise number is kind of hard to decipher, more so considering that ProtonVPN makes efforts to constantly add new entries to its wide network.
However, judging by the numbering system we’ve noticed on its official website, we can only assume that ProtonVPN offers somewhere around 16 NJ servers at the time being (there are NJ servers numbered #5 to #16).
ProtonVPN’s main features:
Enforces strict no-logging policy
Offers 1,101 servers in 54 countries
Has ~16 New Jersey servers
Military-grade 256-bit encryption
High-speed connections
Its apps are both open-source and audited
Final thoughts on best VPNs with New Jersey servers
All things considered, if you’re in need of a VPN service that has New Jersey servers for any reason, we’ve got you covered. If you want to keep up with local content from other regions, such as Pennsylvania, VPNs are the answer there too.
We’ve tested the services listed above and can confirm that their NJ servers are fully functional, and should not pose any difficulty with unblocking NJ-specific content whatsoever.
When creating a movie, you need to organize everything, and this is usually easier said than done. However, there are specialized tools that can help you with that.
In today’s article we’re going to show you the best movie pre-production software that will help you organize and manage everything before you start recording, so let’s get started.
StudioBinder is a pre-production software that allows you to organize your movie shooting with ease. The software allows you to create detailed shooting schedules with ease and share them with your team.
Using this software, you can also add custom call times, private notes, and parking directions. If needed, you can view the current weather and the location of nearby hospitals.
StudioBinder also lets you import contacts in bulk, and you can even create cast and crew lists with ease. These are some of the most notable features, but if you need a good movie pre-production software, StudioBinder is a safe bet.
If you need a movie pre-production software, you might want to try Movie Magic Budgeting. The software allows you to access real-time data on the cloud and easily manage your budget.
Support for custom reports is available, and you can easily drag and drop elements, remove columns or exclude categories if needed. Also, you can easily compare cost requirements and scenarios.
Movie Magic Budgeting also offers customizable rule sets, and it’s one of the best tools for movie pre-production, so it’s worth checking out.
When it comes to movie pre-production software, Showbiz Budgeting allows you to easily track purchase orders, payrolls, and manage your entire film budget with ease.
The software is easy to use, and it comes with a wide array of budget templates to choose from. The latest version offers an extensive report feature, and you can easily save frequently saved reports for future use.
Showbiz Budgeting offers great features, and we barely scratched the surface, but if you need a professional tool for movie pre-production, be sure to consider this software.
Yamdu is another great tool that can help you schedule your projects and manage all project tasks. The software can create a shooting schedule in minutes, and it can automatically create a call sheet.
There’s a powerful Resource Planning add-on available, allowing you to easily create tasks, manage the personnel, rooms, or inventory. You can also import a script, and create a full breakdown in minutes.
Yamdu is great for collaboration so you can easily manage your projects with others, which makes this a perfect movie pre-production software.
Other great features:
Ability to add locations and actors easily
Works with tools such as Final Draft, Fountain, Google Calendar, iCalendar, etc.
With Assemble you can easily manage your team using the production calendar, and you can even save common tasks to create a video production timeline faster.
With this tool, you can also create production books with ease and track approvals, assets, and phases. As for team management, you can set permissions for each team member, and you can even get private feedback from different teams.
Assemble also has call sheets, creative brief support, and vendor management, and if you need a movie pre-production software, this might be the right choice for you.
If you’re working on a movie or a video, it’s important that you keep your team well-organized, and we hope that these tools will be able to help you with that.
When you are repetitively doing the same things on your browser, filling in forms, entering passwords, and simply doing the same task over and over again, using iMacros comes in hand.
iMacros will help you automate the most often performed tasks and it is the only web automation software that thankfully enough, works with every website.
There are users though, that are saying iMacros is not recording their clicks. Don’t worry, in this article we will explore an easy way to fix this, so make sure you keep on reading.
How can I fix iMacros not recording clicks?
1. Update iMacros
The iMacros not recording clicks can be really troublesome, especially since users are saying that at times the software works fine while the next day it will fail to record the task as it should.
It seems that checking to see whether or not you have the latest iMacros version, could solve the issue.
Also, is a good thing to bookmark the release notes page, where you can remain updated with the latest changes and fixes that the iMacros developers have been working on.
2. Make sure iMAcros is installed correctly
Open cmd from the Start menu.
Type in the following command and run enter: psexec -i -s cmd.exe
From the System prompt, run iMacros.exe.
Make sure that you keep your laptop open while the iMAcros command runs. Additionally, we would recommend that once it’s finished, you also perform a restart of your device.
Afterward, perform the same iMacros command as before and check out if the issues have been solved.
3. Check out the iMacros wiki
You will find answers and solutions to the most common technical issues and errors on the iMacros wiki page.
Moreover, here, you will also find tutorials and guides that are designed to help you go over the usual steps in using iMacros.
You will easily find their support for the issues you are encountering while using iMAcros.
4. Contact iMacros support
If none of the above solutions helped you fix the iMacros not recording your clicks, then we would recommend that you contact iMacros support via their user forum page.
In order to be able to write your requests to them, you will need to log in using your iMacros username and password.
Moreover, in the iMAcros Support Forums, you have the option to search in the previous discussion and check if your issues have been already solved by the developers.
With this, we will conclude our list of solutions for fixing the iMacros issue, where the web software is not recording clicks.
As you can see the solutions are easy and most of the users say that simply installing the latest iMacros version helped them fix the problem.
Due to the many releases the software has and it’s continuously being improved, it’s also essential that you check the release notes page, and keep yourself up to date.
If you have additional notes and suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below.
VPNerror 809 is usually caused by the firewall between the client and server, which blocks the ports used by the VPN tunnel.
On top of that, Windows doesn’t support IPsec NAT-T security associations to servers behind a NAT device by default.
When the error appears, the event log too won’t display any related logs because the traffic can’t reach the MX’s WAN interface. But you should be able to solve it on Windows 10.
Here’s the error message we’re talking about.
How can I fix VPN error 809 on Windows 10?
Enable the ports on your firewall or router
You need to open the ports on your firewall or router, depending on which VPN protocol you’re using.
Port 1723 over TCP for PPTP
Port 500 or 4500 over UDP for L2TP/IPsec or IKEv2/IPsec
If this is not possible, deploy the SSTP- or OpenVPN-based tunnel on your VPN provider.
This allows the VPN connection to work across the firewall, NAT, and web proxies.
Use a VPN client instead of a manual VPN connection
Windows 10 is prone to various problems, including VPN errors like 809. It can be the result of incorrect network settings.
Even if you manage to fix the issue, it doesn’t mean you won’t face it again.
So, if you’re looking for a long-term solution to get rid of VPN errors, we suggest opting for Private Internet Access (PIA).
It has a native VPN app ready for Windows 10 as well as older Windows versions and other devices: Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS, and even routers.
You can use PIA to create a secure tunnel to the public Internet. This way, you can protect your privacy, encrypt your data against any hacker attacks, and unblock content that’s not available to your region.
More about PIA:
Support for OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols
Native port forwarding
Kill switch
No logging, no leaks
24/7 live chat support
30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access
Use this reliable VPN app to eliminate any VPN errors and enjoy a secure connection on your device.
Countless users started to notice the same thing – Microsoft Defender registers an increased usage of the system’s hard disk drive and central processing unit while launching games.
It often happens to take even up to 80% of the system resources, causing the system to slow or completely lock up itself.
MsMpEng.exe can even end up taking 100% of the HDD and CPU when Windows Defender is scanning the system for malware. Here’s what some users say when this happens:
If your game is working, then let the Defender protect your computer.
Microsoft Defender may get stuck on certain files while checking malware, so not taking any action isn’t an option. On the contrary, here’s what you can do about this increased HDD and CPU usage.
How can I fix high HDD and CPU Microsoft Defender usage?
Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
Up next, go to the Details tab.
Right-click on the process name msmpeng.exe and select Set affinity.
Choose the CPU limit that you allow the process to use. For normal CPU usage, you may select 50% for MsMpEng.exe.
In order to solve this issue, don’t hesitate to set the MsMpEng.exe file to use a specific processor in the system.
It may indeed modify the scan speed of the antivirus and make it run slower than usual. However, that’s a compromise that many users are willing to accept in order to forget all about the high HDD and CPU usage.
If the results aren’t as expected, you may also consider disabling Microsoft Defender through group policies on your system. However, make sure you have another great antimalware software ready to install in its place.
When you’re playing MMO games, you will notice there are lots of abilities, meaning you need to have lots of button binds if you want to use them optimally.
Games such as World of Warcraft require you to constantly look at your screen and use your skills accordingly.
In the same manner, FPS games require a mouse with fast response times, high DPI, and precision.
If you happen to play both of these types of games, and you want a mouse that can improve your gameplay, you found the perfect guide.
No matter if you’re searching for the best gaming mice with 3 side buttons, or you don’t mind having many more buttons on the side, this guide will surely be helpful.
The best mouse for the value on our list is the Logitech G600. It is a wired mouse, made out of durable plastic that doesn’t attract fingermarks.
This is a high-quality mouse, with a silent, responsive scroll wheel, and a minimalist and comfortable design.
The side buttons are specially crafted to be accessed with ease and the cable is coated with protective fabric.
Thanks to Logitech Gaming Software, you can customize the entire mouse. Pick from a multitude of color variants and map all of the mouse’s buttons, including the left, right, and extra mouse clicks.
The Razer Naga Trinity is our best pick on the list. It is a premium-quality, versatile gaming mouse thanks to its three swappable side panels.
Whether you play MMO or FPS games, one of the side panels will have a button layout perfect for you.
This mouse has a great amount of customization, including fully changeable RGB.
It is a wired mouse, coated with durable fabric and it is very well built, with a comfortable, minimalist design. The mouse is great for people who prefer a wider and taller body.
The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is our choice of the best wireless gaming mouse with side buttons.
It is a reimagined version of the classic top-of-the-line G502 but completely reengineered for higher precision, more customization, and faster response times.
The new system allows you to adjust the weight of the mouse, making it lighter, heavier or shifting the weight to one side. The batteries are chargeable and claim to last for up to 60 hours.
The Logitech G Hub software allows you to fully program your buttons, customize your DPI and RGB, and store everything on different profiles.
Our first mid-range choice is for the people who still want a good quality product but have a tighter budget. The UtechSmart Venus is a gaming mouse designed primarily for MMO gaming, given its plethora of buttons.
The mouse is covered with a matte finish that feels slightly rubbery and the weight is adjustable. It feels comfortable in your hand and the RGB, DPI, and buttons are customizable.
Redragon M901 is the best cheap gaming mouse with side buttons, and it is coated with matte plastic, and having a comfortable, minimalist design.
The mouse comes with a multitude of side buttons and a rapid-fire button next to the left mouse click.
The mouse also has a customizable RGB and weight system, as well as multiple presets. Overall, the mouse has great precision and high DPI, coupled with a fast polling rate.
Our list covered all the best available options of gaming mice that you can get if you want to have a smooth and great experience while you’re playing your favorite games.
If you have anything interesting to say about gaming mice, feel free to leave a comment in the section below.
It is December 3, 2020, and time for major brands and companies to start pulling on the heartstrings of consumers to gently nudge them into engaging with products and services to end the year.
Like clockwork, Microsoft has come out of the gate with its 2020 offering and for many, the company seems to have aimed wide of the customary marketing intentions this year with its new ‘Find Your Joy’ Holiday 2020 commercial.
The commercial, which highlights a family dog seemingly ignored by the people in the house is left to spend the evening dreaming about finding its joy within the confines of its owner’s technology. As some have quickly pointed out, the ad can arguably be doing quite the opposite of its intention in trying to spur ‘joy’ and in turn, a disservice to Microsoft and its product catalog in the video.
As someone who writes about technology daily, perhaps I’m more jaded than others, but I’m rarely moved to make purchases from these sorts of videos, so the ads selling prowess is arguably lost on me.
With that being said, I can still find meaning and appreciate how the message resonates with audiences, and Microsoft’s new ad resonates with me in a way that’s somber and melancholy but that has nothing to do with the dog’s fate.
As the video opens with a lone family member sitting in the living room by themselves, we’re also made aware of mitigating circumstances that would prevent the sort of lively outdoor activity our titular character is accustomed to, an evening snowstorm.
Where there should be some swelling sympathy for the family dog, I see the juxtaposition of confinement and escapism for the gamer instead. While Microsoft may have intended to use the visualization of snow to signify winter, it also doubles as a barrier to outdoor activity by having the backdrop be snow actively falling at night. Neither the gamer nor the dog were going anywhere anytime soon.
The dog makes note of the gamer and game onscreen before moving to the second family member engaged in a Teams meeting with members in different time zones and countries, judging by the accent of the prominent speaker. Once again, the dog is left with little interaction from this family member as she engages in traditional after-hours work.
Again, while the dog may have wanted more than a pet and brief rub, I feel more sympathy for the woman who has to be in a meeting at night and less for the momentarily attention-starved dog. The dog finally moves on to the last two family members who are both playing Microsoft branded games in Minecraft and Flight Simulator, to which both are seemingly too engaged to play with the dog. Clearly, the dog strikes out with each family member in trying an effort to be noticed, but what doesn’t go unnoticed is the eerie silence and isolation each family member is encapsulated in.
Lastly, the dog finds kinship with another dog across the way who also sits in an open window seemingly ignored by its family. Where this dystopian reflection takes a turn is when the dog finds solace in being able to dream about the same sort of escapism his family is partaking in. Instead of dreaming of belly rubs, games of fetch or overflowing bowls of food, the dog dreams about being an active participant in the technology its family is using.
The joy in Microsoft’s ‘Find Your Joy’ campaign, seems to be less about the dog finding joy in the more traditional forms of interaction we may attribute to a dog, but being able to find it in the escapism like the rest of its family in 2020, due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a light snowstorm at night symbolizing the families’ inability to interact outside, they’ve all rallied around the technology that’s enabling them to engage with things outside of the confines of their home. While it’s arguable that they should be gathered around a central place or room interacting with one another, Iaughing, talking, and playing with the family dog, the more astute reality is that the family represents a microcosm of our communal technology experiences as of late.
While many would like to believe they’re conscious of their screen activity, a 3rd party recording might show zombie-like attention being paid to our phones, TVs, tablets, and computers with each quarantined passing day. With the pandemic shifting traditional outdoor and in-person activities such as happy hours, weddings, and game nights to online, as a collective, we’re probably more engaged with our screens indoors than we have been at any other point in time.
To me, what Microsoft’s new ‘Find Your Joy’ ad does is shine a light on the multitude of products the company offers to help people to escape the confines of their homes. While some might feel saddened by the dog not getting more traditional forms of engagement from the family, what the ad does effectively shows is that just like the rest of its family, the dog has adapted to isolationism by embracing the escapism of Microsoft products.
Should the family or the dog forego the more traditional forms of interacting with one another? No, but the reality is, we’re not in traditional times and we’re increasingly dealing with less traditional circumstances in 2020. If one can’t find joy in the traditional, find joy in the new normal. Happy holidays, everyone!
If you’re looking for tools to block certain websites on your Windows computer, you’re in the right place. In this article, we will list the best website blocker tools.
You can use them on all the browsers compatible with the Windows OS. There are various reasons why users prefer to block particular websites.
Maybe the content is inappropriate for certain viewers, or the respective websites pop up on your browser all of a sudden, interrupting your work.
Irrespective of why you want to install a software tool that blocks websites, we’re sure you’ll find the right one in the list below.
TotalAV makes for a great companion in your online sessions when it comes to security. This software comes with real-time protection from viruses, malware, and other online threats that might try to infiltrate your system.
This tool can block unwanted pages, and even more, it can block Ads and in-play video Ads so you are always sure to watch your favorite programs undisturbed.
With this software, you can also block tracking cookies and monitor your email address against data breaches.
TotalAV real-time protection is not only for when browsing the internet, it will actively scan your downloads and installs and make sure you never put your device at risk by mistake.
Here are some more awesome features of TotalAV:
Available across Windows, Mac, Android & iOS
Schedule Smart Scans
Eliminate Malware
Bypass geo-restricted websites
System Tune-Up Tools
TotalAV
Protect your system in real-time with this amazing security software.
ESET HOME Security Essential is a powerful and complete internet security software that will make your browsing safer and block annoying pages.
This tool comes with features that are very much needed nowadays, it will protect your whole operating system and encrypt your sensitive data, so it is forever out of reach from malevolent hands.
ESET HOME Security Essential, as its name suggests, is not only great for blocking unwanted websites but can also protect against malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
You can safely use this software for password management and device control, in case you want to protect children or vulnerable persons’ devices.
Here are some other features of ESET HOME Security Essential:
Webcam Protection
Gamer Mode
Advanced Memory Scanner
System Registry Scanner
Script-Based Attack Protection
ESET HOME Security Essential
Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from unwanted internet content with this powerful tool.
Guardio is a security extension that was designed to help browse fast and safely. This tool can clean up your browser and speed it up, while also blocking unwanted content.
This software is really easy to use, it will just be added to your browser and then you can start using the internet as you normally would and just let it do everything in the background.
Guardio was created for Chrome, but that in return makes it compatible with all Chromiun-based browsers, such as Opera, Edge, and Vivaldi.
This tool will help you monitor information leaks, and block unwanted notifications and malicious websites.
Some other features of Guardio that you might find interesting:
Suspicious site detection
Phishing alerts
Real-time removal
Personal dashboard
Guardio
Access your favorite websites and be protected with Guardio.
Vipre is a powerful antivirus that keeps your data secure by delivering easy-to-manage malware protection. Even more, it’s the software you need to block websites easily.
Vipre is designed to eliminate viruses, spam, and Zero-day attacks, and not only without impacting system performance.
With cloud-enabled Advanced Active Protection as part of the package and a truly user-friendly interface, it also blocks particular websites that you’d like your employees to stay away from.
Here are some key features that Vipre brings to the table:
Easy-to-manage interface
Superior protection against spammers, hackers, and cybercriminals
Two-way firewall
Accurate website blocking
Anti-spam protection
Vipre
Vipre is a reliable choice for businesses and home users who want accurate website blocking. Are you ready to enjoy its features?
TitanHQ’s WebTitan is the perfect website blocker software for companies and schools. It offers a 360-degree view of how employees or students use the Internet in your company or school and lets you manage Internet usage.
In other words, you can reduce non-work related browsing and access to certain websites that reduce your employees’ productivity or your students’ focus.
You can set up WebTitan Cloud in minutes; its intuitive UI makes it easy to use.
It also provides excellent malware protection for your company and employees, blocking viruses, phishing attempts, and other malware threats. With just a single click, you can block user access to certain websites.
The tool doesn’t cause browsing slowdowns when deployed, and it automatically installs the latest version available, so there’s no need to constantly worry about keeping it up to date.
Moreover, you can also personalize block pages and add a description as to why a particular website has been blocked. You can deploy WebTitan as a cloud or gateway solution.
Barracuda Web Security is a well-known online security tool that you can use to filter web content. The software offers flexible controls to regulate online activity.
You can create policies to control user access to commonly visited websites using 95 content categories such as pornography, violence, hacking, sports, news, dating, shopping, and many more.
Barracuda Web Security is a powerful program that allows you to either restrict specific websites altogether or look for certain patterns and block all those that display them.
At the same time, the software’s image and multimedia safe search option can also block thumbnail images in search results.
The tool also features pre-built English-language dictionaries of keywords and phrases related to harassment, weapons, and more. Of course, you can also add your own keywords and phrases for monitoring.
InterGuard is a powerful web security software that also includes a merciless web filtering and website blocking module.
The tool is suitable for companies and enterprises that want to monitor employee activity and record and filter web activity.
InterGuard features 36 pre-screened and sorted URL lists that allow your IT administrators to easily implement security and web access policies. You can block websites that contain a series of keywords that you selected.
At the same time, the tool can also block Google images. Of course, if you want to whitelist certain websites, you can create your own specific lists depending on your business needs.
Apart from the website blocking feature, InterGuard also allows you to spy on your employees.
More specifically, you can record all the websites visited or blocked and receive alerts when attempts are made to visit the websites or categories previously banned.
You can also see what’s being typed in and searched for across all search engines.
While the first three websites blocking software listed in this article are suitable for companies or IT admins, the fourth is more family-friendly.
TrueVine’s Website Blocker can help keep your family safe against all the pornography, violence, and vulgar messages plaguing the Internet.
The program is an anti-pornography website blocker and internet filtering tool compatible with any Ethernet and Wi-Fi network.
If you’re a parent who wants to select which websites to block from your child’s eyes, then this is the right tool for you. Besides blocking websites displaying pornographic content, the tool can block most pop-ups.
TrueVine’s Website Blocker is a precise tool, focusing mainly on blocking pornographic content. We also included this program because we wanted this list to be as diverse as possible.
As its name suggests, the creators of this software want it to be the ultimate website blocker tool.
You can use The Web Blocker to block inappropriate content that your kids may accidentally access and reduce the time your employees spend on websites that have nothing to do with their job tasks.
You can block any website on the Internet per-user basis or block webpages for all users.
If you want to check what websites users have visited lately, you can access the internet browsing history and see if they behaved well.
If your kids spend too much time on social media websites, you can block all these web pages with a single click.
These are some of the best tools that you can use to block websites on your browser. As you can see, some programs listed in this article suit companies. If you don’t like any of these tools, be sure to check our guide on how to block a website in Chrome to learn about alternative solutions.
At the same time, others are perfect for parents or small businesses that don’t have the budget to buy an expensive website blocker. Don’t hesitate to let us know your choice in the comments area below.
The people who only use their machines for light tasks can get by with minimum specs.
However, those who want to use their laptops for graphic design or to play graphically intensive games need laptops that can handle those tasks. An Integrated GPU will not be able to run games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 optimally.
Fortunately, the manufacturers of gaming laptops try their best to create top of the line products for their customers.
They add dedicated GPUs to their laptops to significantly boost their performance, thanks to NVIDIA and AMD, who push the boundaries of computer graphics every year.
What are the best laptops with dedicated graphics cards?
The MSI GL65 Leopard is the most budget-friendly powerhouse on our list. It offers high performance at a lower cost.
MSI’s aim with this laptop is to have as much performance as possible with its high-end RTX GPU and the latest generation of Intel CPUs.
The laptop is bigger and bulkier than normal work laptops because it has a more efficient cooling system.
A dedicated GPU needs special cooling not to overhead under load. The laptop has an aluminum lid and a plastic body, and it has a SteelSeries RGB keyboard.
Razer Blade 15 Advanced puts together the best components available on the market into a top-class customizable laptop.
The product has a premium look and feel, having a case made entirely out of aluminum with a matte black color.
The CNC aluminum unibody houses incredible performance in the most compact way possible. The 4k display brings visually stunning colors and comes reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass.
The Alienware Area 51M has a futuristic design with white and black colors. It is thick and wide, not making any compromises in size in order to offer the best experience.
The laptop has cutting-edge hardware that can benefit from its high refresh-rate display and the speakers produce loud and clear audio.
Our first mid-range choice is the ASUS ROG Strix G15. The laptop features a thick plastic case covered with RGB lights that give it a futuristic look.
It also features a massive chin bezel which means the screen sits up higher when you open the laptop.
The product has plenty of ports, which are positioned on the side and on the back. Lastly, the keyboard has extra function keys such as Turbo Mode, specially crafted for gaming.
Another great entry from ASUS is the ASUS TUF VR Ready laptop, a thicker and heavier laptop that doesn’t compromise a better cooling system for more portability.
The laptop has great hardware, featuring an AMD processor and an RTX ready GPU. In addition, the RGB backlit keyboard allows you to enjoy comfortable and accurate typing even in dim lighting.
Dedicated GPUs will completely change how a laptop performs. This list was meant to help you with all the information you need before you buy the laptop that suits your needs.
If you have anything exciting and new to add to the subject, please reach out to us in the comment section below.
One of the trademarks of the Windows OS is self-sufficiency, and proof of that is how they continuously roll out products that can improve your Windows experience without the use of third-party tools.
For example, one issue that is a significant concern for everyone is cybersecurity. and we all know how malware is pretty much anywhere, and third-party antivirus tools are not cheap.
Well, if you, too, have encountered this issue, we recommend you try the Microsoft Safety Scanner.
Down to the basics, the Microsoft Safety Scanner is a simple tool with only one purpose: to find and remove malware from Windows computers.
How do I download & install Microsoft Safety Scanner?
One of the highlights of this tool is just how simple it is to acquire and use.
Go to Microsoft’s page covering the Microsoft Safety Scanner
Choose and download the version of the product that fits your PC’s architecture: 64-bit or 32-bit
Select the type of scan you want to run and start the scan. You can select between the following:
Quick scan
Full scan
Customized scan
Review the scan results displayed on screen. For detailed detection results, view the log at
%SYSTEMROOT%debugmsert.log
Will running Microsoft Safety Scanner delete unnecessary files?
The short answer would be yes. While Microsoft Safety Scanner will remove any malware infections from your PC, it will not prevent malware from getting into your PC in the first place.
These are the Windows OS versions taht can run the Microsoft Safety Scanner
Windows 10
Windows 10 Tech Preview
Windows 8.1
Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server Tech Preview
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008.
Things to remember when using the Microsoft Safety Scanner
Another great thing about the Microsoft Safety Scanner is that it doesn’t require any installation. Once the executable is downloaded, run it, and it will start scanning your PC.
This lack of installation makes it a great choice for those that don’t want to load their PC’s registries and DLLs with additional files. This also means that it won’t appear in your Start menu, so once you download it, try to remember where you saved the executable.
On the flip side, the product cannot be updated like you would a regular antivirus, and you need to download it again if you want a newer version.
On that note, Microsoft recommends that you download a new version about once every ten days to ensure you have the latest supported version.
Closing thoughts on Microsoft Safety scanner
Pros
Portable
Completely free
3 different canning modes
Efficient malware removal tool
Actively updated every couple of days
Cons
Needs to be downloaded manually after every update
It’s been almost a year since the Windows 7 OS has reached the EOL, and many changes have come in terms of what services will and will no longer support it.
One great example is that of major developer Google, who stated that they will guarantee that GoogleChrome will still run on Windows 7 until July 2021.
Windows 7 users need to upgrade by 2022
Google currently has almost 3 billion users, and a few millions still use Windows 7, either in the unsupported version, or in the EOS version.
Whichever the case, know that you will have to upgrade to Windows 10 by January 2022 if you still want to use the latest versions of GoogleChrome.
After assessing the current situation, and based on feedback from our valued enterprise customers, Chrome is extending our support for Windows 7 until at least January 15, 2022.
That’s a 6-month extension from our previously communicated date of July 15, 2021. We’ll continue to evaluate the conditions our enterprise customers are facing, and communicate any additional changes in the future.
This extension compared to the original announcement seems to have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Windows 7 users will still get a 6-month window during which they can switch to the newer OS.
To learn how you can upgrade to Windows 10 easily, simply check out this dedicated guide where we will be showcasing every single step with detailed instructions and screenshots.
Do you use Google Chrome, and if so, will this announcement make you consider upgrading to Windows 10 faster?
Let us know what’s your take on the news by leaving us your feedback in the comments section below.
Microsoft’s Excel is one of the stalwarts of the company’s business tools, used by millions around the world for everything from creating shopping lists to running multi-million dollar businesses. First introduced way back in 1985 (and preceded by another spreadsheet from Microsoft called Multiplan) for the Apple Macintosh, Excel has grown to become as close to a universal business tool as there is.
Excel has been a full featured spreadsheet for quite some time, and while the program has introducing new data types, forecasting tools, and data cards, the basics of Excel have remained largely the same. Recently, however, Microsoft has introduced new tools that go back to the basics, first with the introduction of XLOOKUP, a rebuilt version of the tried and true VLOOKUP, and now today with LAMBDA, a new way to turn Excel formulas into custom functions.
For the first time, Microsoft says, Excel, with the introduction of LAMBDA, is “Turing Complete,” meaning that a system is “able to recognize or decide other data-manipulation rule sets.” Basically, the LAMBDA function allows you to define your own custom functions, and then re-use them throughout your spreadsheet. Up until now, if you had a complex function written in Excel and needed to use it in multiple places in your spreadsheet, you would have to copy/paste the function multiple times. This meant that any changes to the function would have to be recreated in all the places it existed. With LAMBDA, spreadsheet users can now give those complex functions a name, and then call them using a named LAMBDA, not only making management much more efficient, but also allowing for these functions to be recursive (meaning you can now create loops in formulas). You can read the blog post for more on this new function.
LAMBDA is being introduced in the Excel Beta Channel via the Office Insider program, and is still a work in progress, but a welcome one for many spreadsheet users.
We’ll be upfront and tell you that unfortunately, Mullvad VPN doesn’t offer a free trial.
In fact, the company behind this VPN is against free VPN services for a few reasons.
And it does make sense, considering that many free services are not, in fact, free.
Whether making you watch an ad video, collect your data or impose various in-app limitations, free services usually operate like that.
Mullvad VPN is against all of those practices.
However, there might be a way you can test Mullvad VPN for a while, if you need to.
Does Mullvad VPN have a free trial?
No, as we’ve mentioned above, you can’t get any official Mullvad VPN free trial.
The company believes that you get what you pay for, which is why its product will reportedly never go on sale or receive a discount.
In fact, all of Mullvad VPN‘s plans cost €5 per month, regardless of their length.
Whether you want to purchase a monthly, yearly, or 10-year plan, you’ll end up paying the same monthly amount.
So what’s it all about this Mullvad VPN free trial you’ve been hearing about?
Well, for starters, a while ago, Mullvad used to offer 3-hour free trials to its customers shortly after generating their account.
However, probably due to abuse and exploitations of this free trial, Mullvad decided to pull the plug on the offer.
Well, if you really really want to try before you buy, you can purchase a monthly subscription plan, then ask for a refund.
You know, if you’re not completely satisfied with the product.
How to get Mullvad VPN free trial?
Go to Mullvad VPN’s website
Click the Get started button
Jot down your account number
Choose a payment method
Input your payment details
Complete the payment
Ask for a refund in the 30-day timeframe (or don’t, if you like the VPN)
All things considered, this is the only way you can get a (somewhat) free Mullvad VPN trial. However, we believe that the monthly fee isn’t exactly expensive.
More so considering that most VPN services use at least twice this amount for their monthly plans.
Mullvad VPN is one of the most secure, albeit slightly underrated VPNs, on the market.
One thing that’s worth mentioning is that although Mullvad accepts cash payments for its services, it won’t offer cash refunds due to anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
However, if you want a better bargain, you should check out CyberGhost VPN’s deal, as it offers a 1-day completely free, no-credit-card-required free trial.
The Xbox team announced another Free Play Days event today, featuring The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited and Soulcalibur VI, free to play, for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Just a reminder, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the only subscription that includes an Xbox Live Gold subscription too. From now until Sunday, December 6 at 11:59 p.m. PST, players can play Soulcalibur VI; The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited will be available free-to-play until Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 a.m. PST.
Both games are also heavily discounted during the event, and all your progress will be saved if you decide to purchase them. It’s worth noting that The Elder Scrolls Online is currently free to play with Xbox Game Pass. This is the perfect opportunity for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to check out Soulcalibur VI and see if they want to buy it at a discounted price from the Microsoft Store. Both of these games offer great value and will take some time to complete. oF COURSE, The Elder Scrolls Online takes well over 200 hours to complete, while Soulcalibur VI is a more manageable 40 to 50 hours of estimated completion time. The Elder Scrolls Online is available now for Xbox Live Gold subscribers discounted at 60% off at just $7.99 and Soulcalibur VI is available for a whopping 85% off at just $8.99!
Microsoft’s Xbox Free Play Days event have been pretty regular in the past couple of weeks, and the company seems well aware that more people have been playing games at home since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. This might be the best time to join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes an Xbox Live Gold subscription, and more than 200 Xbox games, including the most recent news that Control, Assetto Corsa, and more are coming to Xbox Game Pass for Console in December. Join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate today for just $1.
Microsoft has just released the Windows 10 build 20270 for Insiders in the Dev Channel, which is another minor update with improvements for Cortana, the Settings app, and the touch keyboard. The Cortana app is getting a new File Skill that will let Insiders in the US use the digital assistant to find files saved locally or on OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online.
Back in October, the preview build 20241 changed the Optimize Drives page (Settings > System > Storage > Optimize Drives) in the Settings apps to add a new “Advanced View” checkbox to list all volumes including hidden ones. This checkbox wasn’t functional in previous builds, but it’s now up and running in today’s build 20270.
Moreover, Dev Channel Insiders using the touch keyboard in portrait posture on 2-in-1 devices will notice that this touch keyboard now supports split keyboard mode in the build 20270. Microsoft previously rolled out this update to Beta Channel Insiders earlier this week via a Windows Feature Experience Pack update, and it’s nice to see the Dev Channel catching up.
Today’s build 20270 also fixes a bug causing certain apps to close when clicking the Maximize button, as well as another bug causing a delay logging in on PCs with a large number of users. You can learn more about changes, bug fixes, and known issues in the build 20270 below:
Other updates for Insiders
File Skill in Cortana
You can now use Cortana on your PCs to translate their thoughts into direct actions to open and find files and save time spent navigating to apps/folders to locate and open files.
Enterprise users, who sign into Cortana with their corporate credentials (e.g., AAD) can search for files saved on OneDrive For Business and SharePoint along with files saved locally on their PCs (this setting is at Settings > Search > Searching Windows). Users using Microsoft account (e.g., ending with Outlook.com or Hotmail.com) can use Cortana to find files saved on their PCs. This feature is currently available to our English-speaking users in U.S.
Alt text: Showing Cortana displaying files in response to a “find recent files” query
Try and use Cortana to open or search files by:
Parts of file names (Example: “Hey Cortana, opening marketing deck.”)
Author names (Example: “Hey Cortana, open budget Excel from Anthony”)
Find a document you have been editing (Example: “Hey Cortana, find my recent files”)
Find a document of a particular type (Example: “Hey Cortana, find my recent pdfs”)
Changes and Improvements
The new “Advanced View” checkbox in Optimize Drives is now up and running and checking it will display volumes previously not visible in this window (for example system and recovery partitions).
We fixed an issue resulting in some dialogs, such as Properties, displaying black text on dark backgrounds in recent flights.
We fixed an issue that could result in certain apps unexpectedly closing when clicking the Maximize button in recent builds.
We fixed an issue resulting in printers with Japanese characters in their names not displaying correctly in Printers & Scanners Settings.
We fixed an issue that could result in some delay logging into your PC on devices with a large number of users.
Known issues
We’re looking into reports of the update process hanging for extended periods of time when attempting to install a new build.
Live previews for pinned sites aren’t enabled for all Insiders yet, so you may see a grey window when hovering over the thumbnail in the taskbar. We’re continuing to work on polishing this experience.
We’re working on enabling the new taskbar experience for existing pinned sites. In the meantime, you can unpin the site from the taskbar, remove it from the edge://apps page, and then re-pin the site.
We’re working on a fix for an issue resulting in some users seeing error 0x80070426 when using their Microsoft account to sign into various apps. If you encounter it, rebooting your PC may resolve this.
We’re working on a fix for an issue where, in recent Dev Channel builds, no drives appear under Settings > System > Storage > Manage Disks and Volumes. As a workaround, you can manage your disks in the classic Disk Management tool.
Earlier this week, the Windows Insider team explained that it would start shipping new features via Windows Feature Experience Pack updates, and “improve certain features and experiences that are now developed independently of the OS.” The team tested this new process first with Beta channel Insiders, and it remains to be seen if the Dev Channel will also be added to the experiment. “By testing this process first with Windows Insiders, we hope to expand the scope and the frequency of releases in the future,” the team said on Monday.
Vertical monitors are VDUs (Visual Display Units) that have portrait modes. They’re landscape monitors that users can rotate 90 degrees to turn into vertical ones.
When a vertical monitor has been rotated vertically, users select the portrait Display orientation option in Windows to enable a portrait view. Check the full guide on how to rotate the screen in Windows 11. Mac users have different commands to rotate the screen on MacBook while using an external display.
Vertical monitors can come in especially handy for users who program or trade stocks.
Their vertical orientations can display more lines of code for programmers and more stocks for day traders. Vertical monitors are also better suited for displaying photographers’ portrait snapshots.
Note: Deals are subject to change. Sometimes, some of the deals listed in our guides may no longer be available by the time you hit the buy button. So, hurry up and grab them while they’re hot.
Best monitors that can turn vertical for coding & trading
This is a decent budget vertical monitor with a 23.8-inch Full HD display that’s more than adequate for programming and trading.
With its IPS panel, this VDU has superior viewing angles and color quality. It also has a bezel-less display, which makes it better for dual-monitor setups.
Aside from its extremely versatile stand, the VH240A doesn’t have that many especially unique features.
However, it does incorporate integrated speakers, which is a good addition. This VDU also includes three viewing modes on its OSD menu for users to choose from.
The ASUS VN279QL is an expansive 27-inch Full HD monitor. This is another monitor with an IPS panel for better color gamut coverage, and its VividPixel tech further enhances picture quality. Like the VH240A, the VN279QL also has a bezel-less display.
The VN279QL’s MHL port is one of its most notable features. That port enables users to connect mobile phones that support MHL to the VDU. Then users can view their mobile phones on the VN279QL with its vertical orientation.
The Ultrasharp U2720Q is a 27-inch monitor with an excellent 4K resolution. That resolution, combined with its superior IPS panel color reproduction, make this a vertical monitor with very decent picture quality.
This monitor comes equipped with the Dell Display Manager. That’s a good productivity feature with which users can select predefined or custom window layouts. Its users can also select Easy Arrange window templates for vertical portrait mode viewing.
This is another 27-inch 4K vertical monitor with excellent picture clarity. The LG 27UK850 has 10-bit color depth and 99 percent sRGB color cover, which enhances its color vibrancy and accuracy.
With a five ms response time, this is a solid VDU for gaming; but its 60Hz refresh rate isn’t top-notch.
LG 27UK850 also has some great features. It includes an HDR Effect option that simulators HDR-quality video. LG 27UK850 users can select four HDR modes and three gaming modes. This VDU’s colors can also be optimized with its True Colour Pro software.
The ProArt PA248QV is a high-performance 24-inch vertical monitor with a Full HD resolution. With 100 percent sRGB and Rec.709 color gamut, this VDU has especially good color reproduction and accuracy. Its 16:10 aspect ratio also raises the ProArt’s resolution to 1,920 x 1,200.
This vertical VDU has been optimized for graphics design and photo editing. It includes an ASUS ProArt Palette with which users can customize various display parameters. ProArt PA248QV users can also select six alternative color-gamut modes, such as Reading, sRGB, and Rec.709.
Those are five of the best vertical monitors that boast some impressive specs and features. Their great ergonomic designs make them ideal monitors for programmers, traders, photographers, and designers who need portrait orientations.
UNICEF and Microsoft have recently announced version two of the collaborative platform Primero, just as cases for domestic and gender-based violence are on the rise.
Key interventions include providing access to lifesaving services, such as family reunification and tracing, while still adhering to physical distancing and movement restrictions due to COVID-19. The launch of Primero X comes amid an increase in the rates of domestic and gender-based violence linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past year, Microsoft and UNICEF have been working to improve the “open-source case management web application that helps social service providers coordinate critical support to vulnerable children.”
Now known as Primero X, the improved platform will now enable approved partners and governments to deploy the platform even quicker during humanitarian crises by supporting offline settings from any device.
In addition to quicker deployment, Primero X is also adding new features accessible to service providers including:
Microsoft technical infrastructure and design
Online and offline use from any smart device without interruption
Full-feature web application available on smartphones, resized to fit the screen
Intuitive workflows and embedded help
Enhanced security including two-factor identification
Delivery via the Microsoft Azure cloud service
Primero is currently available in India, Iraq, Jordan, South Sudan, and 25 other locations. However, UNICEF is currently testing Primero X in Ghana as its pilot launch but plans to roll it out to more countries through 2022 with the ultimate goal of the platform active in over 60 countries by 2025.
Desktops with tower cases are by far the most prevalent PCs. However, cube computer cases are a refreshing alternative for users who prefer to build their own PCs from scratch.
Cube cases are smaller, more compact ones that take up less space than standard rectangular tower ones.
Note: Deals are subject to change. Sometimes, some of the deals listed in our guides may no longer be available by the time you hit the buy button. So, hurry up and grab them while they’re hot.
The Core V21 is a good value and stylish cube case for Micro ATX and Mini ATX motherboards. Its case includes a transparent glass window on one of its side panels. One side of its case includes holds that enhance the PC’s cooling, which is further enhanced by its 200mm front panel pan.
This case can fit in expansive 13.5 graphics cards, six storage devices, 7.3-inch tall CPU coolers, and 350mm dual expansion VGA slots. The great thing about the V21 is the stackable design flexibility that enables users to expand it by stacking one V21 case on another.
The Core V1 is a similar, but more compact and cheaper, case to the V21 specifically for Mini ITX motherboards. It has the same chamber concept design and similar grilled panels that optimize its ventilation. Like the V21, the V1 also includes a pre-installed 200mm fan.
The Core V1 can pack in four storage devices, a 140mm tower CPU cooler, 10-inch long graphics cards, and a 260mm dual VGA expansion slot. So, this is a good budget alternative to the V21 for users who don’t need so much case space for their PCs.
If you’re looking for a cube case with visual appeal, the AI Crystal Cube AR is the one for you! This case incorporates five amazing RGB lit fans and RGB LED strips that make it shine. The Crystal Cube AR also has a transparent tempered glass design.
Aside from its visual appeal, this case supports M-ITX, E-AT, larger ATX, and M-ATX motherboards. It can fit in 13.1-inch graphics cards, a 240mm radiator, six 2.5 drive bays, and three 3.5 drive bays.
Node 804 is a cube case for Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards with a minimalist, yet elegant, aluminum and steel design.
This is a case with a dual-chamber design that enhances its cooling. The Node 804 has strong design and build quality and an especially good liquid cooling support.
This cube case incorporates eight 3.5 hard disk drive positions and two positions for SSD drives. The Node 804 fits graphics cards up to 12.6 inches. With five expansion slots to boot, this case doesn’t lack hardware space.
CORSAIR Carbide AIR 540 is an expansive and sturdy steel cube case that’s compatible with all motherboard form factors. It has an unconventional dual chamber design that gives it enhanced airflow for better cooling. That design and the case’s high-performance fans ensure excellent cooling.
Another good thing about the Air 540 is how it has been designed for a quick and straightforward building. Its tool-free PCI and storage installation, unfettered motherboard access, and huge partition wall cutouts make putting together PCs a breeze.
This is also a spacious cube case with eight expansion slots. It can hold 12.6-inch graphics cards, 170mm coolers, and 250mm PSUs. Furthermore, the AIR 540 has plenty of room for one radiator at the top.
These cube cases are great alternatives to more cumbersome full tower case PCs.
Although they’re smaller cases, you can still set up some serious Windows gaming rigs with them.
Microsoft’s holiday commercial is back again, and, going with the times, is a little bit different. This year, the ad tells the story of Rufus the dog, as he dreams big and finds his own joys and adventures in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, calls his buddies in Teams, and a lot more.
Titled “Find Your Joy (A Dog’s Dream)” the roughly 1 minute and 30 second long ad is very adorable, to say the least, and puts some of Microsoft’s top products from 2020 front and center. The ad begins with a (very sad) Rufus the dog wanting to play with his owners. However, they are too busy with things like playing Halo, chatting in Microsoft Teams, playing Minecraft, and even flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. In these scenes, we get a peek at Microsoft devices like a Surface Laptop 3, the Xbox Series S controller, a Surface Pro 7, Surface Headphones, and even Surface Studio 2.
To end, the ad takes a very funny turn. Rufus ends up calling on his fellow dog friends, and they embark on their own Microsoft-themed adventure. We see Rufus gathering up other dogs and they all begin to dream of flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, play as dogs in Minecraft, and even chat argue in Teams (Rufus has to hit the mute button!) Even Halo and Windows 10 get a mention, as well as the classic Windows XP Wallpaper, with a shot of the dogs in the bliss fields.
What do you think of the holiday commercial? Do you think it’s better than last year’s? Remember to find your joy this holiday, and do let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Microsoft is planning to revamp the Microsoft Teams Profile Menu to better separate app settings from everything related to account management. The company announced the change in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center yesterday ahead of the public rollout in early 2021.
The app’s Profile Menu, which currently appears when you click your profile picture on the top right corner of the app will lose Zoom Controls, Keyboard Shortcuts, as well as the About and Check for Update section, and all these settings will move to a new menu in the title bar. You can see how this new menu will look below.
The new Profile Menu will focus on account management going forward, with controls for switching accounts and tenants being front and center. You can see the changes in the pictures below.
Microsoft expects to start rolling out these changes in late January for most Teams users, with Government Community Cloud (GCC) customers to follow in early February. Let us know in the comments if you think streamlining the app’s Profile Menu is a good idea.
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