Throughout the month of August, Microsoft has rolled out a number of new features in the popular collaboration tool Teams. Microsoft Among other things, it’s now possible to find messages with attached files via a simple search, which should be useful for users who don’t want to waste precious time scrolling back through long threads. Microsoft Microsoft has also made it possible to customize your own keyboard shortcuts for various actions, which should come in handy whether you just want to replicate the shortcuts from other apps (like Slack or Zoom) or you prefer to come up with your own. Microsoft Another fun addition is that it’s now possible to react to a particular message multiple times with different emojis, something that’s long been possible in apps like Slack. For example, if you want to show that you understand an instruction but also want to acknowledge the humor in it, you can react with both a “thumbs up” and a “laughing face.” Some other useful features worth noting: you can now save messages to a “Saved” quick view, you can now edit your display name in a Teams meeting, and several other premium-only features for business-oriented use cases (such as personal meeting templates and immersive 3D environments for large-scale virtual gatherings). For a full rundown of all the new changes that came about in August, check out the official Microsoft Teams blog post. Read...

MariaDB has acquired SkySQL, enhancing its cloud database services with AI-powered, serverless features to better support flexible and hybrid data management. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Portable design with 27-inch display USB-C with 70 watts of Power Delivery Includes C-clamp desk stand and cubicle mount Decent audio quality from 2.1-channel sound system Cons Limited connectivity Low contrast ratio Modest color performance Expensive for a 27-inch 1440p display panel Our Verdict The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF combines a 27-inch 1440p display with the versatility of a portable monitor. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF Retailer Price Asus $449 View Deal $465.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Have you ever wanted to buy a portable monitor that’s big? Really big? Like, 27 inches big? I’d guess that, for most people, the answer is “nah.” But I also know from experience that demand exists for a big portable display that can be used in meetings or moved easily between workspaces in an office. If that’s you, the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF might be the monitor you’ve always wanted. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best portable monitors for comparison. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF specs and features The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF might look like a typical 27-inch monitor at a glance. It has an IPS display panel and a resolution of 2560×1440, which is typical for a mid-tier LCD monitor. Display size: 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: IPS-LED Refresh rate: 100Hz Adaptive sync: Yes HDR: Yes, HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Ports: 1x USB-C with DisplayPort and 70 watts of USB Power Delivery, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack Audio: 2x speakers, 1.5 watt woofer Additional features: C-clamp style ergonomic stand, built-in kickstand Price: $449 MSRP However, the MB27ACF is anything but normal. It’s actually a 27-inch portable monitor with a built-in kickstand. That means it can be used anywhere there’s room to sit it (and an AC outlet, because while the monitor is portable, it still requires power). That’s not to say you can’t use it like a normal monitor. On the contrary, the versatility to treat it like both a portable monitor and a desktop monitor is the entire point. It even ships with an ergonomic stand that uses a C-clamp to attach to a desk. Pricing starts at $449, and it appears to retail at (or slightly above) that price right now. That’s a lot for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, though the lack of competitors with identical features helps the MB27ACF carve its own niche. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF design Unboxing the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF immediately shows it’s not like most monitors. It has an extremely slim profile, made slightly thicker only by the built-in kickstand on the back. The kickstand can fold flat when using the monitor with the included ergonomic stand, or fold out to let the monitor stand on its own. In this way, it functions much like smaller portable monitors, with one key exception: The MB27ACF requires an external AC power brick, so you’ll need a nearby wall outlet. The monitor also comes with an ergonomic desktop stand designed for quick attachment and removal. Unlike most stands that sit on top of your desk, this one connects via an included C-clamp, which saves desk space. The stand’s wedge-shaped mount makes it simple to slip the MB27ACF on or off in just a second, and at only 6.5 pounds, the monitor is light and easy to handle. Matthew Smith / Foundry That’s not to say the stand is perfect. Adjusting the height requires pressing a lever, which isn’t a major inconvenience but feels slightly less refined than what you’d expect from a premium ergonomic stand. The stand also has a loose feel compared to the sturdier mounts found on other office monitors in this price range. It wasn’t an issue on my desk, but on a less stable surface it could allow the monitor to wobble more than you’d like. And the options don’t end there. The monitor also includes two metal brackets designed to screw into the back of the display and hang over the top of a cubicle wall. It’s a very specific mounting option, but one that could be useful in certain office setups. These brackets attach to a 75x75mm VESA mount, so you can also use the MB27ACF with any compatible stand or monitor arm of your choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Taken together, these mounting options make the MB27ACF a versatile monitor. They also help justify its high MSRP for a 1440p IPS display. The monitor is ready to handle multiple use cases without buying additional accessories. The lack of competitors with identical features helps the MB27ACF carve its own niche. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF connectivity While design is a strength of the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF, connectivity is a clear weakness. The monitor offers just two video input options: a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and an HDMI 2.0 port. That’s not much for a desktop monitor, though it’s about average for a portable display. The USB-C port does provide up to 70 watts of power delivery, enough to charge most midrange Windows laptops and nearly all MacBooks. I had no trouble running a single-cable connection with both an HP Omnibook 5 and a MacBook Air 15, with plenty of power to keep them charged. Interestingly, it’s possible to power the MB27ACF with only a USB-C connection, but Asus states that doing so limits that maximum brightness to 85 nits. That’s dim, so I doubt it will be useful in most situations. Port placement may also be an issue. All the connections are on the left side of the monitor, rather than the rear, which means the cables will always be visible. This design is convenient for portable use, where you’re frequently plugging and unplugging, but less ideal if you plan to keep the monitor on a desk full time. A 3.5mm audio-out jack and the barrel-style power input are also located on the left, meaning you could end up with as many as four cables dangling off that side of the display. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF menus, features, and audio The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF’s on-screen menus are controlled by buttons on the right side of the monitor, including a menu button and two navigation buttons. I found them a bit finicky and I often hit the wrong button. Fortunately, the monitor supports Asus’ DisplayWidget software utility, which allows many settings to be adjusted directly in Windows or macOS. The menus offer a good range of image quality options. In addition to multiple preset image modes it includes five gamma settings that target specific values, along with color temperature adjustments. However, the temperature settings are labeled only as “warm” or “cool” rather than precise Kelvin values. The monitor also has color calibration options, though in practice the MB27ACF’s image quality doesn’t justify use in demanding professional workflows. Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor also has a pair of speakers and a tiny 1.5-watt woofer. Together, they provide decent audio with a good range and minimal distortion at higher volumes. The sound won’t impress, but it’s better than typical for an office or productivity monitor, and fine for video calls or showing a video clip in a meeting. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF SDR image quality The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is meant primarily for office productivity. As a result, it provides a fairly basic 27-inch 1440p IPS panel. That puts a ceiling on how good the monitor’s image quality can be, and it arguably doesn’t even reach those limited heights. Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is brightness, where the MB27ACF provides a maximum SDR brightness of about 328 nits. As the graph shows, that’s not bad, but also not great. This level of brightness is fine for most situations and is aided by the monitor’s anti-glare finish, which keeps reflections to a minimum. Still, portable monitors like the MB27ACF are likely to be used in rooms with little or no light control, like a corporate conference room. In these situations the monitor will likely be used near its maximum brightness and in some cases may appear a tad dim. Matthew Smith / Foundry Monitors with an IPS panel tend to have a limited contrast ratio, and the MB27ACF is no exception, though it actually performs a tad better than I expected. Many IPS monitors meant for office productivity hover closer to a 1000:1 contrast ratio.Still, the MB27ACF’s limited contrast comes with consequences. The monitor lacks depth, particularly in dark scenes, where it can appear hazy and gray. Most direct competitors suffer the same problem, however. Matthew Smith / Foundry The MB27ACF’s color performance is modest. It has a wide enough color gamut to look vivid in bright and colorful content, but it otherwise can appear under-saturated and dull. The color performance on tap is certainly adequate for office productivity and similar to many other mid-range IPS-LCD monitors. However, it will rule out content creation for anyone who wants to work in a wider color gamut like DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. Which, in 2025, covers many creative professionals. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color accuracy is quite good, however, which means the colors that are displayed appear as they should. Most modern displays score well here, but the MB27ACF is above average. It provides a realistic image and I think it could be used for photos, art, or video if you can stick to the humble sRGB color gamut. The MB27ACF delivered moderate results in gamma and color temperature. I measured a default gamma curve of 2.1, which is slightly off the target of 2.2 and means the image appears a bit brighter than it should. The default color temperature was 6700K, which is a tad cooler and more sterile than the target of 6500K. Neither variance is major, but picky viewers are likely to notice it.Sharpness is respectable, but not a perk. The MB27ACF’s 27-inch 1440 panel packs about 110 pixels per inch. That would’ve been great five years ago but today, with 27-inch 4K monitors widely available at lower prices, the MB27ACF’s resolution is adequate at best.On the whole, it’s clear the MB27ACF’s unusual portability requires a compromise in image quality. That’s not to say the monitor looks bad. It’s more than adequate for typical office productivity, and I suspect most shoppers looking at the monitor won’t be too bothered by the fact its image quality is unremarkable for the price. Still, it’s important to understand that you can buy a monitor with much better image quality if you don’t need the M27ACF’s versatility. Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF HDR image quality and motion The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF does not support HDR. While that might seem like a negative, it’s actually positive. Why? No monitor in this category can provide a good HDR experience, and many that have supposed HDR support are selling a feature that doesn’t work as it should. Keeping HDR off the spec sheet means Asus isn’t trying to fool anyone.While the MB27ACF lacks HDR, it does provide a 100Hz refresh rate and Adaptive Sync for improved motion clarity. Though certainly not a gaming monitor, the MB27ACF does provide noticeable motion clarity and responsiveness gains over a 60Hz display. It’s probably not a major advantage for the monitor’s intended use. Still, I always prefer to see a refresh rate beyond 60Hz. Should you buy the Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF? The Asus ZenScreen MB27ACF is a versatile 27-inch portable monitor with built-in kickstand that also ships with a desk stand. This versatility is unusual and makes the monitor useful if you often want to share your screen with colleagues or give presentations at work. I can also see the monitor used as a kiosk or a dedicated conference room display. Unfortunately, the monitor’s versatility requires compromise in connectivity and image quality. Its MSRP of $449 is also high for a 27-inch 1440p display. However, the MB27ACF has very few competitors, and those that do exist (like the LG StandbyMe) are even more expensive. That makes the MB27ACF the king of its niche. Read...

Google’s smart home efforts were in a sorry state as late as May.  Google touted Gemini AI assistant throughout the entire keynote of its annual I/O developers conference, demonstrating how it would come to permeate every aspect of the search giant’s products—everything from phones and AR glasses to watches and TV.  But Google Home wasn’t mentioned at all, while Google’s Nest smart speakers, displays, and cameras were all but ignored. (Google did have a few scattered smart home announcements later in the conference).  Just as troubling, Google had been discontinuing other Nest products and even withdrawing from some smart home categories from a manufacturing standpoint, all while many Google Home owners were complaining that Google Assistant was faltering at even the most basic smart home duties.  Indeed, things got so bad that Anish Kattukaran, the director of product management for Google Home and Nest, felt compelled to speak up on social media, apologizing for Google Assistant’s spotty performance while promising that his team is “actively working on major improvements.”  Now, roughly a month after Kattukaram’s comments on X, those “major improvements” are coming into focus.  First came more details about the “new experience powered by Gemini” that Google had earlier promised for its smart speakers, including the existing Nest Mini and Nest Audio. Gemini for Home is coming as an early access preview in October, offering a smarter voice assistant that will (according to Google) better understand our natural-language queries, respond to more complex smart home commands, manage calendars and shopping lists, and engage in “natural back-and-forth discussion” via Gemini Live.  Of course, Google still has lots to prove when it comes to Gemini in the smart home. Early tests of a Gemini-powered assistant on existing Google smart speakers got a lukewarm reception (it’s not clear whether “Gemini for Home” is an iteration on those efforts or an all-new product), and Google has also said there will be both free and paid versions of the new assistant. Which Gemini for Home features will be behind a paywall? Unknown, for now.  Still, Gemini for Home certainly sounds promising, and we’ve also gotten a glimpse at a new Google smart speaker that will house it. Appearing in a promo video during Google’s big Pixel event last week, the small, spherical, and somewhat squished speaker had a light ring around its base, with early leaks indicating that it will pair with the Google TV Streamer and double as a Matter hub.   And while it hasn’t been confirmed, a new slate of Nest security cameras is also said to be on tap, including (according to the leaks) a wired outdoor camera, an indoor cam, and a new Nest doorbell, all with 2K video resolution (up from 1080p video on Google’s current-gen Nest cams).   Google’s smart home refreshes have been a long time in coming. It’s been roughly four years since we’ve seen a new Nest cam arrive, and nearly five years since the last new Nest speaker.  When will these refreshed smart products finally be officially announced? Google hasn’t said for sure, but in past years, it unwrapped its latest smart home wares during a fall hardware event—think anywhere between late September and early October.  So it seems increasingly likely Google Home will see a major resurgence within a matter of weeks, what with the arrival of not just Gemini for Home, but also a new smart speaker, two new Nest cameras, and a new Nest video doorbell, if not more. The new lineup should put to rest fears that Google might simply walk away from the smart home.   But after the unveiling comes the hard part: making Gemini a truly useful part of the Google Home ecosystem, capable not only of back-and-forth banter but also doing the basics, like turning on the right smart light.   This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

Even if you aren’t a huge techie, you probably know about all the big, mainstream apps that are fundamental to how we use our PCs. I’m talking Word, Outlook, Chrome, Slack, Dropbox, etc. You know, right? But there are many, many, many awesome free apps out there that can seriously improve your PC and your workflows, unlock new tools and features, and just make your PC experience better overall. If you want to wring a little more out of your PC, here are some of the best hidden gem apps that are super useful and available for free. Ferdium for centralizing all the web apps and services you use in one place Ferdium If you have a lot of permanently open browser tabs for all the different web apps you use every day, then you can make things easier for yourself by organizing them with Ferdium. (Have you heard of Rambox or Franz? Ferdium is like those except open-source and totally free.) Ferdium lets you run separate tabs for hundreds of web services, including chat apps (like Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) and social apps (like Slack, Discord, etc.) as well as email apps, calendar apps, media apps, AI chatbots, and more. All of those apps can reside right within Ferdium, letting you consolidate all of that to one place. I love Ferdium for how it fences everything off into its own app. I no longer have to reach for my phone to check WhatsApp or catch up on Teams notifications or pull up Gmail or Google Calendar. It’s all just one click away on my PC and it’s less distracting overall. PDFgear for PDF editing, converting, merging, annotating, and more PDFgear PDFgear is one of those diamonds in the rough, one that we’ve been evangelizing for a while now. But just because it isn’t as well-known as others doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent PDF editor. If you’ve ever been frustrated by how difficult it is to find a high-quality offline PDF editor that doesn’t charge you for personal use, then PDFgear is the end goal you’ve been looking for. This app is super capable at editing PDFs, whether through annotations or direct file editing. It works with text, images, and graphics. It can merge PDFs together. It can convert PDFs into different file types. It can do just about anything else you’d want to do with a PDF. It even has a built-in AI assistant that can search, summarize, aid with editing, and more. SitApp for developing better posture SitApp If you work or game at your PC for hours at a time, then maintaining good posture and proper back health is something that’s well worth the effort. But maybe all you really need is a gentle prod whenever you start to slouch, in which case you could benefit greatly from SitApp. SitApp is a useful app that uses your webcam to analyze your posture and detect when you’re slouching — and when you are, the app shows a little pop-up reminder to let you know. It also tracks your posture history so you can compete against yourself to see how long you can maintain good posture. My record is 92% over eight hours. How about you? BreakTimer for regular break reminders BreakTimer If you’re always on your PC, good posture isn’t the only thing to worry about. It’s important to get up and walk around, rest your eyes, drink water, stretch, and maybe even exercise. But it’s easy to forget to do all of that, especially if you lock onto a task or get absorbed into a game. BreakTimer sits in the background and periodically reminds you to take a break. You can customize the alerts to whatever frequency you want, however long you want the breaks to be, which days you want them to be active on, and more. It’s simple but life-changing — and free! Mouse Without Borders for using one mouse and keyboard with multiple PCs Wish you could control multiple computers with one set of mouse and keyboard? One way to do that is to buy a KVM switch and go through the hassle of setting it up. Or you could just get Mouse Without Borders. Mouse Without Borders is a Microsoft Garage project that was put together by developer Truong Do during his off-hours, and it works fantastically well for controlling up to four PCs with a single mouse and keyboard. It’s not perfect, but it’s quick, easy to use, and entirely free, making it a great alternative to hardware KVMs. 4K Video Downloader Plus for downloading videos anywhere online 4K Download Lots of video downloader tools have come and gone over the years, useful for when you want to save videos from YouTube, Facebook, and other sites. But most of those tools eventually turn into malware, slow down to a crawl when they gain too many users, or simply die off overnight and leave you dry and forsaken. On the other hand, 4K Video Downloader Plus works almost flawlessly, stays regularly updated, and doesn’t suffer from malware infections, all in a fast and lightweight package. What more could you ask for? Foobar2000 for reliable music playback Foobar2000 Are you in the minority of people who haven’t yet jumped aboard the Spotify train? Do you have a large MP3 collection instead? And are you using Windows Media Player to listen to it? If so, then I have a gift for you: Foobar2000, a simple and lightweight music player. Windows Media Player has its foibles when it comes to managing large music collections, organizing playlists, customizing the interface, converting between file formats, and offering all kinds of other advanced features. Foobar2000 does it all plus more, and it’s been around since 2002, and it’s been completely free for that entire time. This streamlined music player went from super popular to obscure over the last decade or so, and these days it’s sort of a hidden gem again. Its interface is barebones out of the box, but it also has deep customization options that let you make it truly your own. MPC-BE for hassle-free video playback MPC-BE Back in the day, there used to be an open-source app called Media Player Classic that was a lightweight yet improved alternative to Windows Media Player for playing video files. MPC ceased development in 2006, but the project has been forked a few times since. MPC-BE (short for Black Edition) is my preferred successor. It’s still free and open-source, and it still carries forward the streamlined principles that made Media Player Classic so popular. You don’t have to fiddle around with codecs — it just works and it doesn’t bog down your system. It’s one of the best open-source PC apps. EarTrumpet for controlling volume on an individual per-app basis Jon Martindale / IDG If you consistently find that some apps are way too loud or way too quiet even when your system volume seems fine, then you need EarTrumpet. This quick and easy utility lets you individually adjust the volume of any audio source that’s playing on your PC. From browser windows to social apps, from local audio to online, EarTrumpet gives you fine-tuned control over your PC’s audio output. It can even let you lower the volume of everyone in a Discord chat rather than having to do it one by one. EPKL for changing your keyboard layout or customizing individual keys EPKL Here in the US, nearly every keyboard has the standard QWERTY layout that came out in 1874. But this classic keyboard layout has drawbacks, like inefficient typing and a greater susceptibility to repetitive strain injuries. That’s why people have been moving away from it. Fortunately, even if you have a QWERTY keyboard, you don’t have to use the QWERTY layout itself. Thanks to EPKL, you can easily switch over to Colemak, Dvorak, or whatever other keyboard layout you want without having to buy a special keyboard. Alternatively, you can use EPKL to move specific keys around or even rebind certain keys to perform different actions. And if you’re feeling devilish, you can even use it to prank your friends and make them think their keyboard is borked. (Just be sure to let them off afterwards, as this one could stump the less tech-savvy for hours.) Files for an improved and more effective alternative to File Explorer Files Are you tired of File Explorer’s shortcomings? Then don’t delay and install Files right away. This open-source Windows file manager feels familiar yet comes with several advanced features, like dual-pane browsing, tags for files and folders, a better preview system, custom keyboard shortcuts, seamless cloud integration, and more. Everything for a faster and more powerful way to search your Windows PC Voidtools If you feel like the built-in search in Windows is as ineffective as it is monolithic, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with its subpar capabilities. Everything by Voidtools is a far more capable search tool, able to not only find anything on your system by its name or file type but also by its contents. Content searching takes a lot longer, of course, but it’s super effective — and if you search normally (i.e., by name or file type), it’s significantly faster than Windows’ search. Cryptomater for encrypting your data, both locally and in the cloud Skymatic “Not your keys, not your coins” is a cryptocurrency expression that highlights the importance of protecting your data. If you aren’t careful with your files, you could lose more than you expect — and your personal data is only as safe as you make it. Cryptomator is a free solution that adds an extra layer of security to your files using encryption. It works with any files, no matter where you store them, whether locally on your PC or online in the cloud. It effectively locks down your data so that even if someone were to gain access, they wouldn’t be able to do anything with what they find. Fan Control to control your PC fans Fan Control If you’re like me, you’ve probably used a number of software fan controllers over the years and always found them unintuitive, underwhelming, or frustrating. If so, then I have some good news for you: Fan Control is a breath of fresh air and the app you need. This free app gives you straightforward control over all the adjustable fans in your PC, from the rear exhaust fans to the CPU pump speed to everything in between. You can tie fan speeds to various temperature sensors, apply different fan curves and trigger points, and even integrate with third-party software through plugins. Fan Control’s interface is clean and customizable, but if you need help getting started, the app has an assisted setup that aids in labeling and organizing your fans and their associated sensors. Microsoft PowerToys for unlocking extra features and goodies in Windows Jon Martindale / IDG A worker is only as good as their tools, so why use Windows without making sure you have access to its full potential? There’s something called Microsoft PowerToys, available directly in the Microsoft Store, that freely unlocks new features and goodies. I’ve written about my favorite PowerToys features that are pretty useful, including improvements to File Explorer, a batch renaming utility, an expanded clipboard, a quick-find tool for your mouse cursor, a color palette helper, and so much more. Microsoft PC Manager for simplified maintenance of your Windows PC Microsoft If might not feel as cool to use as some of the other niche third-party or solo-dev projects on this list, but Microsoft PC Manager is a really effective system maintenance tool. It helps you free up storage space, track memory usage, monitor system startup time (which you can speed up with some tweaks), and shows you active apps for diagnostic purposes when things are acting up. WizTree for visualizing your disk space usage and finding large files Jon Martindale / IDG With multiple drives full of large apps and files, it can be hard to understand just how much space you have left on your PC and how much each existing piece of data actually takes up. You can also lose space when giant files are forgotten in corners of your drives. Disk analyzer tools like WizTree are a great way to visualize your system’s data storage, making it easier to understand which apps to uninstall or which files to delete when you need to free up some extra space. It’s fast, effective, and easy to use — as well as being entirely free. DDU for purging old and unused drivers DDU It isn’t easy staying on top of your system drivers. But even if you do keep up with installing new drivers, you probably don’t uninstall your old drivers. Maybe the installer handles that for you… but maybe it doesn’t. Even official uninstallers from AMD and Nvidia can miss them. That means you could have a bunch of old drivers still lingering around on your PC, and when old driver files build up over the years, they can rear their heads at unexpected times and cause stability issues. Most full-blown driver uninstaller tools, like Driver Magician, cost money. But there is one that’s totally free: DDU, which stands for Display Driver Uninstaller. This straightforward utility strips your PC of unused graphics drivers, which can come in handy if you’re running into graphics card issues that are seemingly impossible to troubleshoot. HWMonitor for checking the health of your PC and internal hardware Jon Martindale / IDG Want to keep an eye on your PC components and their general health? You can quickly spot overheating, performance issues, or other odd details with either HWMonitor or HWInfo. Both tools are fantastic for monitoring your PC’s various hardware components and how they’re working. HWMonitor is simpler and easier to get to grips with, while HWInfo is more advanced with a more comprehensive overview of PC stats. If you’d rather just keep an eye on the temperatures of your processor and its cores, check out the ultra-lightweight Core Temp. Parsec for streamlined remote desktop access and control from anywhere Have you ever wanted to use your PC remotely? I mean, even when you’re away from home, it’d be great if you could “remote in” to your PC and use it from anywhere, right? With remote desktop software, you can! Most remote desktop solutions are paid, and the free ones usually aren’t very good. But these days we have Parsec, a remote desktop tool that was originally built to allow for remote gaming but has since expanded to become a low-latency desktop sharing app. In layman’s terms, you can use Parsec to connect to your PC and operate it like you’re there, except you aren’t. It’s equally great for working on your hobby coding project during your lunch break as it is for playing your Steam games from a hotel while traveling. Parsec has a free Personal Use version that doesn’t come with all features, but it does have all the essentials: low-latency 60FPS desktop streaming; support for keyboards, mice, and gamepads; and encrypted connections. Further reading: Great free apps that are already installed on your PC Read...

TL;DR: Get a SwifDoo PDF Pro lifetime license for Windows at $29.97 (reg. $129) and enjoy access to tools that make PDF work more manageable. Subscriptions have taken over everything, from streaming to software—PDF editors included. If you’ve been paying Adobe Acrobat’s fees for as long as you can remember, here’s a reality check: you don’t have to.  A lifetime PDF editor tool is a far more cost-effective way to edit, sign, convert, and manage PDFs than any subscription-based software. One we’re sharing today is SwifDoo PDF Pro—only $29.97 for a lifetime Windows license (reg. $129). It’s not anything fancy… it’s software that lets you create PDFs, mark up documents, edit text, convert formats, password-protect files, and more. SwifDoo also has OCR capabilities that recognize text in your documents, allowing you to search, highlight, and copy it. And, if you ever need to convert a large batch of PDFs at once, this tool has your back. Basically, it’s Adobe Acrobat in a far more affordable format. Get this Adobe Acrobat alternative for just $29.97 (reg. $129). SwifDoo PDF Pro: Perpetual Lifetime License for WindowsSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Split keyboards are hard to find, especially if you’re looking for something in the gaming niche, and doubly so if you want something from a mainstream retail store. But we have just such an example available today. First appearing at CES 2025 in January, the Asus ROG Falcata 75% keyboard is now available at Best Buy. The price? An eye-watering $420. This version of the Falcata is an interesting beast. As the full-length title implies, it’s a 75% layout, which basically means laptop-style with a full function row and arrow keys but no numpad. The keyboard’s signature feature is its ability to split in half, separating into two sections tethered by a USB cable. Many typists prefer this option for ergonomic layouts, and gamers like it for similar reasons. Notably, this keyboard is wireless—you still need that cable for the left side of the board, even when it’s positioned in its conventional layout, but Bluetooth, 2.4GHz dongle-based wireless, and standard USB are all options. The rest of the keyboard is a laundry list of in-demand features. PBT keycaps, interior layers of foam, and, of course, RGB lighting are included. You get magnetic Hall effect switches with adjustable actuation, which are hot-swap capable… but exactly how many switch options you’ll have access to aren’t known at the moment. (The ones in the box are linear, pre-lubed, with 49 grams of resistance.) A scroll wheel on the left side can be set to adjust actuation and show results with the LEDs that run along the edge, but thankfully there’s no LCD or OLED screen included, because that would be really dumb. 8K polling is available even in wireless mode, with a maximum battery life of 200 hours. Critically, Asus is not claiming that the ROG Falcata 75% is an ergonomic keyboard. This is, first and foremost, a keyboard for gaming. But it does offer more options than usual for anyone who wants adjustment, as only makes sense for a split design. You get two silicone wrist rests that can be installed and fastened to the split portions of the board, and eight screw-in feet that raise up the keyboard’s back or inner sides, depending on your preference. It’s not a full tenting kit, but it’s a lot more than you get with any conventional keyboard layout. It’s an impressive offering, to be sure… but $420 is a lot for a keyboard in anybody’s money. That’s reaching well beyond even the pricey range of wireless gaming boards from major manufacturers, soaring into the lower portions of custom keyboard designs. And this isn’t the first time Asus has pushed so hard on a super-expensive design.For that money, you could get the well-loved Dygma Raise 2, which includes more ergonomic options (but admittedly doesn’t have wireless at that price, requiring an expensive upgrade). Split keyboard fans are a small but enthusiastic bunch, and they don’t mind spending a lot, but I wonder how much they’d be willing to trust Asus with a first-gen design. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent image quality Good Construction Decent price, though more expensive than its in-house rival Cons Mediocre noise cancellation Poor Windows Hello recognition Our Verdict Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K QHD webcam captures surprisingly great video and images, falling somewhat short on audio. But when it comes to Windows Hello, it falls down on the job. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Toallin Hello Pro 2K QHD Webcam Retailer Price $53.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices When I bought Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K QHD webcam, I wasn’t sure whether I was buying the right one. I don’t think I did. Let me explain. Toallin offers two versions of its 2K Windows Hello webcam on Amazon: the cheaper 2K version, which we recommend, and the version I review here–I mistakenly thought the more expensive option was the newer one. I also made the mistake of thinking that two webcams with identical names would be the same, even if they looked slightly different. Wrong again! What I ended up reviewing was a Toallin webcam that I wouldn’t recommend because it does a poor job of authenticating you — the entire point of a Windows Hello webcam. As an ordinary webcam, it does a surprisingly good job, minus the audio portion. Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K QHD webcam: Design and construction Toallin ships its Hello Pro 2K webcam (at least from Amazon) in a plain brown box with little ostentation. Toallin says that the camera only needs a USB 2.0 connection. While the included 4.5-foot cable connects to the webcam using USB-C, the default connection to your laptop is USB-A. Helpfully, Toallin also includes a passive USB-A to USB-C dongle, effectively making it a “true” USB-C cable on either end. Toallin’s webcam is rated at “2K,” offering a 2592×1944 resolution at 30Hz. The camera doesn’t exceed 30Hz in any mode, including 1080p and lower resolutions. While you can stream video on YouTube or Twitch at resolutions greater than 1080p, all videoconferencing applications at the time of this review support 1080p or lower resolutions. A sliding shutter on top of Toallin’s webcam can be slid opened or closed.Mark Hachman / Foundry Toallin says that the fixed-focus camera has an image sensor that measures one-third of an inch, with a focal length of 2.88mm and a f/2.2 aperture. All told, the field of view is 92 degrees, which works pretty well for videoconferencing applications where only your face is in view. Unfortunately, this webcam doesn’t seem to be compatible with Windows Studio Effects, which can use pan and zoom effects to crop in on your face. To be fair, however, most videoconferencing applications seem to do this automatically. The Hello Pro webcam includes both a small green LED to indicate when the camera is on, and a separate one which lights when your face is recognized. Toallin also includes two small lenses for seeing you: an infrared lens illuminates your face, while a separate optical lens is used for video calls. Both can be covered up by a sliding privacy shutter mounted on the top of the camera. Most webcams use what I call a “jaws” construction. The top “jaw,” upon which the camera is mounted, has a long ridge or “tooth” which folds over the top of your laptop or display. The camera then has an adjustable arm that supports the webcam. I always like webcams which add a small, pivoting piece on the bottom jaw which helps cushion and hold the webcam flat against the back of the display. Toallin’s webcam has one, which is a bit grippy to boot. That’s important with a laptop, which you might be frequently moving about and readjusting. The bottom portion of the webcam makes solid contact with the back of the laptop.Mark Hachman / Foundry The webcam mount can be folded at a 90-degree angle to sit flat on your desk or on a shelf. The base also includes the nearly ubiquitous threaded screw hole for a mount or tripod, though that’s not included. Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K QHD Webcam: Performance I only have to compare my own laptop’s webcam to newcomers like Toallin to see how far we’ve come — and that’s after the early Surface webcams were the best integrated webcams of the pandemic. The difference in quality is surprisingly noticeable. Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K webcam does not feel like a premium camera, though it tries its best to convince you that it is. Unlike other premium cameras, however, Toallin hasn’t invested in a premium software package or utility to control the camera’s functions. It’s all handled by Windows, and that isn’t a black mark. You’ll just have to know to navigate to the Windows camera settings (Bluetooth & devices > Cameras > 2K USB Camera) to manage functions like the brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation. As a webcam, this performs pretty well — at least where the imagery is concerned. But in terms of audio, and as a Windows Hello device, this isn’t a great choice. Toallin does claim to provide some automatic compensation, and the default image looks surprisingly good. I noticed a little dynamic change in the color after I moved, indicating that the color was being adjusted, too. As part of my webcam testing methodology for PCWorld, I weigh image quality pretty heavily, next to price. That’s pretty obvious. And while you might be able to tweak the Windows settings to make adjustments to your specific setup, I leave it alone. I first test the camera in my basement office, lit by a lamp and my display, then move upstairs where natural light illuminates my face. Mark Hachman / Foundry While Toallin’s webcam didn’t deliver a perfect picture, I think you’ll agree that it looks pretty good. Upstairs, I have a side-lit couch that I use to take webcam selfies on. Here, my face looks ruddier than it should, but otherwise the color seems to be pretty accurate. The pillows and the paintings behind me appear as they should, or quite close to it. It’s a little dim, but nothing a few adjustments to the Windows camera settings could compensate for. Mark Hachman / Foundry Finally, I test noise cancellation, which I record directly through the Sound Recorder app on the PC, while playing back a rock song as well as some white noise via a phone or speaker that I place behind me and off to the side. Some of the webcams really filter both out significantly, to the point where the background noise is almost indistinguishable. That’s what I like, so that any ambient noise isn’t distracting to whoever it is you’re speaking to. The Toallin Hello Pro 2K’s noise cancellation is mediocre. While the recorded sound was noticeably lower than the volume behind me, both the music as well as the ambient noise were still distinctly audible. Fortunately, you do have an option to use a laptop’s microphone instead, if that’s connected to the webcam itself. But this is a case where the webcam’s low price is matched by its quality, unfortunately. As for the Windows Hello recognition? Surprisingly, not great. You would expect that a minute after registering your face, that the camera would recognize you. And it did, sort of. I used the camera to perform a new capture of my face, using the Windows “improve recognition” setting. I mounted the camera on my display, then looked directly at it during the authentication process. That worked. Looking at my screen, slightly away, during authentication? Authentication wasn’t consistent. Windows Hello frequently asked me to move further away so it could recognize me. Even sitting down, facing the screen, and authenticating in that pose didn’t produce consistent results. I test Windows Hello webcams over a few days to see how the performance is affected, and it didn’t improve. As a webcam, I was very pleased with the webcam’s performance. As a Windows Hello webcam, you can do better. It certainly makes me wonder if I was testing the “right” camera. This version of the Toallin Hello Pro 2K webcam was priced at $53 on Amazon, and is a fixed-focus webcam. The other Toallin 2K QHD webcam — which appears to be otherwise identical — is priced at $39.99 and includes autofocusing capabilities and a tighter 84-degree field of view. I think PCWorld bought the wrong Toallin webcam! Toallin’s Hello Pro 2K Webcam: Should you buy it? Accessory manufacturers often swap out one device for another, shipping a new design with upgraded features. As a webcam, this performs pretty well — at least where the imagery is concerned. But in terms of audio, and as a Windows Hello webcam, this isn’t a great choice. The Toallin webcam we currently recommend as part of our best webcam roundup is the “correct” one, as far as I can see. I’m just surprised to see such a difference. Read...

Split keyboards are hard to find, especially if you’re looking for something in the gaming niche, and doubly so if you want something from a mainstream retail store. But we have just such an example available today. First appearing at CES 2025 in January, the Asus ROG Falcata 75% keyboard is now available at Best Buy. The price? An eye-watering $420. This version of the Falcata is an interesting beast. As the full-length title implies, it’s a 75% layout, which basically means laptop-style with a full function row and arrow keys but no numpad. The keyboard’s signature feature is its ability to split in half, separating into two sections tethered by a USB cable. Many typists prefer this option for ergonomic layouts, and gamers like it for similar reasons. Notably, this keyboard is wireless—you still need that cable for the left side of the board, even when it’s positioned in its conventional layout, but Bluetooth, 2.4GHz dongle-based wireless, and standard USB are all options. The rest of the keyboard is a laundry list of in-demand features. PBT keycaps, interior layers of foam, and, of course, RGB lighting are included. You get magnetic Hall effect switches with adjustable actuation, which are hot-swap capable… but exactly how many switch options you’ll have access to aren’t known at the moment. (The ones in the box are linear, pre-lubed, with 49 grams of resistance.) A scroll wheel on the left side can be set to adjust actuation and show results with the LEDs that run along the edge, but thankfully there’s no LCD or OLED screen included, because that would be really dumb. 8K polling is available even in wireless mode, with a maximum battery life of 200 hours. Critically, Asus is not claiming that the ROG Falcata 75% is an ergonomic keyboard. This is, first and foremost, a keyboard for gaming. But it does offer more options than usual for anyone who wants adjustment, as only makes sense for a split design. You get two silicone wrist rests that can be installed and fastened to the split portions of the board, and eight screw-in feet that raise up the keyboard’s back or inner sides, depending on your preference. It’s not a full tenting kit, but it’s a lot more than you get with any conventional keyboard layout. It’s an impressive offering, to be sure… but $420 is a lot for a keyboard in anybody’s money. That’s reaching well beyond even the pricey range of wireless gaming boards from major manufacturers, soaring into the lower portions of custom keyboard designs. And this isn’t the first time Asus has pushed so hard on a super-expensive design.For that money, you could get the well-loved Dygma Raise 2, which includes more ergonomic options (but admittedly doesn’t have wireless at that price, requiring an expensive upgrade). Split keyboard fans are a small but enthusiastic bunch, and they don’t mind spending a lot, but I wonder how much they’d be willing to trust Asus with a first-gen design. Read...

Since a while back, there’s been a setting in Microsoft 365 that makes it possible to auto-save Word documents to the cloud. It’s a convenient feature that helps mitigate the risk of losing data in case of an app crash or system outage, and one of the many Microsoft Word tips and tricks worth knowing about if you use it often. But you have to enable the feature per-document to take advantage of it. At least, that was the case until now. According to a recent Microsoft 365 Insider blog post, this auto-save option will soon be enabled by default for all new Word documents. Microsoft When enabled, the Word document will automatically save to OneDrive or your preferred cloud destination. The benefits include: Increased security and compliance: Files saved in the cloud are automatically protected by your company’s security rules and labeling, so you don’t have to take extra steps to keep them safe and compliant. Never lose your progress: You don’t have to worry about losing your work—creation in the cloud means your document is automatically saved for you as you go. Flexible file control and storage: You’re in charge of your files—you can choose what they’re named, decide where they’re saved, and organize them your way. Store them in OneDrive, SharePoint, or other locations to keep everything just where you want it. Access from anywhere: Files you create in Word for Windows are instantly available on your Android or iOS device, or in a web browser. When you make changes on one device, they sync everywhere. Easy collaboration: It’s easy to work with others—just share your cloud file to start collaborating right away, add comments, and make changes together. AutoSave keeps your work updated in real time. Copilot and Agent support: From the moment you create a file, you can use Copilot and Agent features right away. This lets you get AI-powered help whenever you need it as you create or update your documents (Note: A Copilot Chat or Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required). This feature is currently only available in Word for Windows, starting with Version 2509 (Build 19221.20000). It will soon be coming to Excel for Windows and PowerPoint for Windows as well later this year. Read...