Quick Links While some Windows versions areloved by enthusiasts for years to come, others are sorted into the “hall of shame.” This was true ofWindows ME, in 2000, and Windows 8/8.1, in 2012. But perhaps one of the more notable entries on people’slists of worst Windows versionsis Windows Vista, released in 2007. Was it that bad, really? Why Was Windows Vista Considered Bad? Before we dive into why Windows Vista was such an unsuccessful release, we need to understand the context of what the PC ecosystem was like back in the day....

Today, Apple released watchOS 11, a major operating system update for the Apple Watch. It has new Translate and Vitals apps, AI curation of the Smart Stack, and much more. You can install the update by going to Settings > General > Software Update on the watch. Or, open the Watch app on your iPhone, select the My Watch tab, navigate to General > Software Update, and follow the onscreen instructions....

Summary The speed of AI development is heading towards a point beyond human comprehension, and OpenAI’s Sora text-to-video system is just the latest AI tech to shock the world into realizing things are happening sooner than anyone expected. What Is OpenAI Sora? Like other generative AI tools such asDALL-Eand MidJourney, Sora takes text prompts from you and converts them into a visual medium. However, unlike those aforementioned AI image generators, Sora creates a video clip complete with motion, different camera angles, direction, and everything else you’d expect from a traditionally-produced video....

Quick Links Summary Smart App Control (SAC) is a Windows Security feature that helps protect you against malicious apps. While it’s available on all devices running Windows 11 22H2 or above, you might find you’re able to’t turn it on—and for a good reason. Let’s explore how Smart App Control works, why it’s turned off on some systems, and how to enable it. What Is Smart App Control and How Does It Work?...

Quick Links Summary Over the last few years or so, a new kind of network security system has emerged. Known by the acronym ZTNA, these powerful tools can replace VPNs. Should you use a ZTNA instead of a VPN? The answer depends on a few factors. A virtual private network (VPN) is easier to set up and provides a strong, single line of defense. It’s best for individuals and smaller businesses....

Quick Links Over the years, I’ve used many browsers. While most of the basic features are consistent across all of them, each one has unique advantages in terms of performance, privacy, or advanced features that set them apart. Today, I’ll share why the Brave browser has become my favorite. I Earn Rewards for My Browsing Activity The Brave browser offers a unique rewards system known as Brave Rewards. Users who opt into this feature permit Brave to occasionally show ads while using the browser....

Summary Let me set the scene: You’ve heard mechanical keyboards are the ultimate upgrade for typing and gaming, so you went ahead and bought one. But instead of feeling amazing, it’s been nothing but a letdown. So, what went wrong with your new keyboard? You Bought the Wrong Keyboard It’s easy to be misled into thinking that just because a mechanical keyboard is popular or expensive, it must be objectively good....

Quick Links The iPhone is generally considered a “simple” smartphone to use, but it has becomepacked with features over the years. “Focus” is one feature that is particularly jam-packed with powerful tools. We’ll show you why it’s worth a look. What is Focus Mode on iPhone? Focus Mode—actually called just"Focus" on the iPhone—is essentially Do Not Disturb for specific situations. Rather than having a one-size-fits-all Do Not Disturb mode, Apple made it possible to create a bunch of specialized modes....

Quick Links Apple removed its restrictions on emulator apps for iPhone, iPad, and perhaps best of all, the Apple TV. If you have an Apple TV and virtually any Bluetooth controller, you’ve just suddenly come into possession of an amazing retro game emulator system already hooked up to your TV. Apps Are Still Scarce It seems that emulator app developers were caught a little off guard, because even weeks after these restrictions were removed there hasn’t been a flood of apps for Apple’s device ecosystem....

Meta has released Llama 3.3 70B, a modified version of the company’s most powerful AI model that can be downloaded to run on your own hardware. Your PC probably isn’t ready for it, though. Like many otherlarge language models (LLMs), Meta’s Llama generative AI model is available in several parameter sizes for different use cases. For example, the smallest Llama 3.2 1B model can handle basic tasks with fast performance on the average smartphone, while the larger 11B and 90B versions are more powerful and need higher-end PCs and servers....

The 2010s might have been the end of Saturday morning network cartoons, but it was also the dawn of a new age. Cartoons of the 2010s turned to cable and streaming. With fewer restraints, it was a chance to make cartoons capable of far more than selling some toys and cramming in a moral lesson. Cartoons of this era could tell better stories, feature better animation, and provide better representation for marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community....

Don’t know which new film to stream in August?Netflixhas a string of new releases slated for your screen this month, from thrilling murder mysteries and summer romances to a hilarious canine story with a unique premise. There are also a couple of foreign films with varying tropes, from musicals to poignant storylines, in store for you to explore and add to your watch list in August. Here’s all you need to know....

If you have a ton of time on your hands, then I really hope you make these Raspberry Pi projects for me. I want to make them myself, but I just don’t have the time, however cool or useful they are. Like mostRaspberry Pi projects, they’ll be fun to make, I’m sure. Everyone will enjoy using them, no doubt. But the time to accomplish it, I do not have. Here’s five Raspberry Pi projects that I’d build if I had the extra time (and cash)....