I joined Twitter in 2007, just a year after it was launched, and I’ve been using it almost daily since then. And while all social media platforms evolve over time, Twitter is something different altogether — it has grown so toxic that it has driven away many longtime users. Most of that has happened under the leadership of Elon Musk, who acquired the platform in 2022: Twitter is now called X, half of its workforce was let go, previously banned users were restored in the name of free speech, and being “verified” is now a subscription-based perk rather than anything based on fame or notoriety. Related: Twitter check mark colors, explained If you’re like me, the overall X experience might be worse than it’s ever been, but you can’t quit it cold turkey for one reason or another. If you find yourself in this position, here are some ways to make X more tolerable to use even in 2024. 1. Switch to the Following feed X offers two different feeds for users: the For You feed (which offers a mix of tweets from accounts you follow and accounts you don’t) and the Following feed (which only shows tweets from accounts you follow). Switching from the default For You feed to the Following feed can have a huge impact on your overall X experience. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG To switch from the For You feed to the Following feed, simply click Following at the top of your feed. From then on, you’ll only see tweets from accounts that you’re explicitly following and you’ll no longer see other tweets that X’s algorithm wants to push on you. If you get bored, you can switch back at any time by just clicking the For You feed again. Or, my preferred option is to start following more accounts to bolster your feed with tweets you want to see so you never have to use the algorithm-driven For You feed again. 2. Regularly audit who you’re following Even if you only ever scroll through the Following feed, you may still see uninteresting or disagreeable tweets from accounts that have grown in a direction you no longer care to go in — so it’s important to conduct regular audits of the X accounts you follow and make sure you unfollow any that are no longer posting content you want to see. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG To conduct an audit, click Profile in the left-hand sidebar, then click the Following link (with a number next to it). You can then scroll down the list of who you’re following and see if they’re following you back.  Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG If you’re unsure about an account, open the profile in a new tab to see what they’ve been posting of late. If you no longer want to follow them, hover over the Following button and it will change to Unfollow. Click that and you’ll no longer be following that account. 3. Don’t hesitate to Block and Mute people X has two tools that are invaluable if you want to carry on with the platform but wait to escape all the nastiness, negativity, and divisiveness that seems so commonplace. You can Block accounts (to stop them from engaging with you) and Mute accounts (to stop seeing anything and everything they post). Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG To Block or Mute someone on X, click the three-dot menu either at the top of their profile or to the right of one of their tweets. Then, click either option to Mute @[username] or Block @[username]. Blocking someone is the better option if they’re tweeting at you or responding to your posts in an inappropriate manner. Muting someone is better if you just want to stop seeing their posts on X. 4. Populate Lists with good accounts Another invaluable tool you should be using on X is Lists, a feature that lets you create (or follow) curated collections of accounts that are usually (but don’t have to be) grouped according to theme or niche. For example, you might have Lists for technology journalists, for comedians, for entertainment news, for gaming companies, etc. Whether you create your own List or follow publicly available ones made by others, it’s a great way to narrow down your X feed experience. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG To create a List, first click the More option in the left-hand sidebar, then click on Lists. Once you create or follow Lists, you’ll see them on this page; otherwise, you can use this page to discover new Lists that X thinks will interest you, search for Lists based on your interests, or create a new List by tapping the New List icon to the right of the search field: Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Once you click New List, you just need to name it, add a description, then add accounts to it. You can also add a cover photo, make the List private or public, and share your List with other people. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Once you have followed or created Lists, they will then appear at the top of your X feed alongside the For You and Following feeds. It’s a quick way to jump into a List and narrow down the posts you’re exposed to. 5. Mute all your notifications Notifications can be extremely useful. I mean, you need to know when your boss messages you, right? Or when you have an appointment coming up that you absolutely don’t want to miss? But you never really need X notifications. The occasional one might be helpful, but they’re an overall negative influence with all of their disruptions and distractions. So, turn them off. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG To turn off notifications in X, click the Notifications option in the left-hand sidebar. Then, click the Settings cog in the top-right corner. From here, you can choose which notifications you want to see (or not), plus select preferences for each notification type. I have both push notifications and email notifications switched off, and I recommend you do the same if you want to retain your sanity. 6. Avoid doomscrolling and negativity Like many other social media platforms, X feels like it was almost made for doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is rotting our brains so, if you can, you should find better things to do with your time. Even when I occasionally venture onto the For You feed on X, I make sure not to endlessly scroll through negative post after negative post just to find those rare hidden gems. The trick is to open X, quickly see what’s going on, and then close the app right away. Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG Dave Parrack / IDG This can be tough to do at first since all social media platforms are designed to hook you in and keep you engaged for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there’s no magic trick to using X this way, but it gets easier the more you do it, and it’s also easier if you’re mindful and intentional about it. Set a timer if you absolutely can’t stop yourself. 7. Limit your time on X and take breaks And that brings us to the final way to make X more tolerable in 2024: stop using it so often, wean yourself off, and limit your engagement. You could waste hours on X, reading about all of the horrible things happening in the world, watching funny videos, getting into debates with people who argue in bad faith (or, more likely, are bots). But all of these things are ultimately rather pointless. While X can be a good source of both news and entertainment, it isn’t the be-all and end-all for either — and it’s getting worse on both fronts. So you’re really better off logging out and/or staying off, only using it when you absolutely need it, and only doing so intentionally. Ultimately, that’s the only way to make X an app you’ll enjoy using rather than an app you’re stuck using out of sheer habit or obligation. X (Twitter) will continue to (d)evolve under Musk’s leadership, and you may well reach the point where you decide that enough is enough. When that happens, there are plenty of alternatives that you’ll like better. Until then, use the above methods to keep X at least somewhat tolerable. Further reading: Practical reasons to keep using Twitter Read...

Wow, I feel like I’ve been seeing this monitor (or ones functionally identical to it, anyway) on sale a lot lately. But that doesn’t make it any less sweet. Today, Newegg is selling this Acer Nitro gaming monitor with a 27-inch IPS panel at a 1440p resolution and 180Hz refresh rate for just $160. That’s $110 off its regular price. I’ll stop banging this drum when it stops making noise: If at all possible, you should opt for an IPS panel over a VA panel. The better color accuracy means you can use it for Photoshop (like I did in this very article), then switch over to Fortnite for gaming (which I did not do for this article. I promise, boss!). Now that these monitors are coming with higher refresh rates, it’s the perfect one-two punch for a home machine that’s used for both work and entertainment. The Acer Nitro VG271U combines an upgraded panel with a boosted 2560×1440 resolution, giving you an impressive jump over standard 1080p gaming monitors. Plus, the 0.5ms response time means it’ll never lag behind your puny human eyeballs. It has DisplayPort and double HDMI inputs, and I dig the jaunty blue of the included stand. But if you have your own stand or monitor arms, then this monitor will still work with its standard VESA mount. Newegg deals tend to come and go on a whim, so get your order in quickly if you’re ready to buy. But if you can wait, you might be able to score an even better deal when Prime Day monitor deals hit next week. Get an Acer Nitro 27-inch IPS gaming monitor for $160Buy now on Newegg Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Functional built-in stand Two USB-C ports, both with DisplayPort and Power Delivery Includes touchscreen and stylus Extremely sharp image Cons Mediocre maximum brightness Unimpressive color gamut Only 60Hz refresh rate Expensive for its size Our Verdict The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t is a productivity-focused portable monitor with several notable features including a built-in display stand, a touchscreen, and a bundled stylus. It’s expensive, though, and while the monitor looks sharp its color performance is mediocre at best. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price CDW $377.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Retailer Price CDW $377.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Buying a portable monitor is incredibly easy, or surprisingly difficult, depending on your needs. There’s lots of inexpensive portable monitors on Amazon, and some are quite good for the price. But if you want more specific features, like a touchscreen, stylus, or a display with above-average sharpness, your options begin to narrow. The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t caters to those looking for such extras, though it charges a high price for them. Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 specs and features The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t is a 14-inch widescreen portable monitor. That’s a common size, but a few specifics stand out. This is a 16:10 display, not 16:9, which provides a bit more vertical space. It also provides a resolution of 2240×1400, which is quite a bit higher than the 1080p resolution common to budget 14-inch portable monitors. Finally, the display is a touchscreen, and it’s bundled with a passive stylus (Lenovo’s active pens are supported, too, but must be purchased separately). Display size: 14-inch 16:10 widescreen Native resolution: 2240×1400 Panel type: IPS 10-point capacitive touchscreen Refresh rate: 60Hz Adaptive sync: None HDR: None Ports: 2x USB-C with DisplayPort and up to 65 watts USB Power Delivery VESA mount: 100x100mm Speakers: None Price: $400 (approximate) The monitor is mostly sold through retailers that cater to enterprise customers, like CDW, and is relatively expensive at nearly $400. That’s a high price for a 14-inch portable monitor, though not out of line with top-tier options like the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED. Further reading: See our roundup of the best portable monitors to learn about competing products. Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 design The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t is part of the company’s “Think” brand, which includes the famous ThinkPad — so, unsurprisingly, it looks a lot like a ThinkPad. That means an all-black design with a grippy, soft-touch coat on the backside of the display panel. The coat readily shows fingerprints, but also makes the display easier to handle and less likely to slip or slide on uneven surfaces. A stand is built into the bottom half of the M14t. It folds up against the back of the display when not in use and, when needed, can rotate up to 90 degrees. That means the display can accommodate any position from flat on a desk to perfectly upright, which is about as wide a range of adjustment as a portable monitor can offer. Foundry Foundry Foundry Less expensive portable monitors, like the Arzopa A1 Gamut, often use the display cover as a prop for the monitor itself, providing a much more limited range of viewing angles. The M14t has an edge against the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED, which also has a built-in stand, but can’t sit upright in the same way as the Lenovo. For protection, Lenovo ships the M14t with a soft fabric sleeve. It looks nice and offers some cushion against bumps. I would prefer a cover that can clip over the top of the display, but the sleeve does the job, and owners who planned to use a sleeve anyway might prefer it. The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t ships with a stylus designed to work with Windows and Android/Chrome devices (Mac support is not listed, and did not function in my testing). The bundle’s stylus is passive, however, so it’s not precise and only works well for jotting down an occasional note or tapping a touch button in an app. Lenovo says the M14t is also compatible with the company’s active pens, which are much more precise, but you’ll need to buy the active pen separately (they’re typically around $50). The stand offers enough stability to accept touch input at angles up to about 60 degrees. Beyond that, the stylus still functions, but trying to draw or write towards the top half of the display can cause it to wobble backwards. Foundry Foundry Foundry Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 connectivity and menus Lenovo provides just two ports on the ThinkVision M14t: a pair of USB-C ports with DisplayPort and up to 65 watts of USB Power Delivery. That means both ports can be used as a video input and/or to charge the M14t. Lenovo does not ship the M14t with a USB power brick, so you’ll need to rely on the USB Power Delivery capabilities of the computer you use with the M14t or use a third-party power adapter. The M14t’s specifications quote a maximum power draw of about 10 watts, though, so most USB ports with Power Delivery should be able to handle it, as will most USB-C chargers. The monitor’s on-screen menu system is unique and excellent. Instead of relying on buttons to navigate the menu, which is often fiddly, tapping the menu button opens a touchscreen menu in the monitor’s lower right quarter. It’s responsive and easy to use. There’s not a ton of menu options to change, however: The monitor only provides vague color temperature controls and doesn’t have gamma presets. Foundry Foundry Foundry What it does have, though, is a wake-on-touch function and an auto rotation function. Both are excellent for a touchscreen portable monitor. You can use a touch to wake the monitor, if desired, and easily swap between portrait and landscape orientations. Just be warned that portrait orientation is a bit awkward, as the stand does not tilt in that direction (meaning that, in portrait mode, you can only position the monitor upright 90 degrees or flat on a surface — unless you use a third-party stand, of course). Portrait mode will also obstruct one of the USB-C ports, and will leave the other positioned in an awkward angle. Lenovo did give this some thought, though, and compromises with an included 90-degree USB-C adapter that makes the USB-C cable a bit less obtrusive in portrait mode. The M14t Gen 2 is best for people who aren’t overly concerned about color gamut or contrast but instead need a reliable, versatile portable touchscreen monitor. Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 SDR image quality The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t doesn’t make any big claims about its image quality. It doesn’t support HDR, it quotes a contrast ratio of just 1500:1, and it only promises to cover 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut (which is the least impressive of modern color gamut standards). That’s not to say the monitor’s image quality is bad — but it is more focused on sharpness and functionality than wow factor. Foundry Foundry Foundry I measured a maximum SDR brightness of only 250 nits, which isn’t great. The touchscreen is glossy, too, so glare can easily overwhelm the monitor if it’s used in a brightly lit room. Using the monitor outdoors, or near large sunlit windows, borders on impossible. Many portable monitors have similar problems. Increasing brightness increases power draw, which is an issue for a portable display. Still, buyers should keep this in mind when thinking about how they’ll use the M14t. It’s best in a room with light control. Foundry Foundry Foundry The M14t achieved a contrast ratio of 1880:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness. That’s actually not bad for a monitor with an IPS touchscreen, and it’s enough to deliver a good sense of depth and immersion when using the monitor in a lit room. OLED monitors, like the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED, deliver a much better contrast ratio, but the M14t’s contrast is fine for day-to-day productivity. Foundry Foundry Foundry Color gamut is a weak spot for the M14t. It can cover the entire sRGB color gamut, but only 79 percent of DCI-P3 and 77 percent of AdobeRGB. That is a rather limited color gamut, and it means the M14t can’t display as many colors overall as its competition. OLED portable monitors have a serious edge, and provide a vivid, punchy image that’s more alluring than what the M14t achieves. Foundry / Matt Smith Foundry / Matt Smith Foundry / Matt Smith While the M14t can’t display an impressive range of color, the colors it can display are much more accurate than typical for a portable monitor. The monitor’s average color error is close enough to perfect that most people won’t notice color imperfections. The sole exception is blue and cyan hues, which had a color error much higher than all other colors. Still, most people will find the M14t’s presentation realistic. This is helped by the monitor’s gamma curve of 2.2 and color temperature of 6300K. The gamma curve is exactly on-target, and it means that content displayed on the monitor will not look brighter or darker than it should. The color temperature of 6300K is a bit warmer than our target of 6500K, but not so much that it’s a problem. With that said, the M14t doesn’t have any gamma adjustments and only four color temperature adjustments, which might be a problem if you want to change the gamma or color temperature to your preference. Sharpness is clearly the M14t’s greatest strength. The 14-inch 16:10 panel provides a resolution of 2240×1400, which works out to roughly 189 pixels per inch. That’s a higher pixel density than a 27-inch 4K monitor. Video looks ultra-sharp and small text is surprisingly legible with no noticeable pixelation around high-contrast edges at a normal viewing distance. It’s a super-crisp experience. On the whole, the M14t seems more interested in nailing the basics of image quality, like sharpness and accuracy, than stretching to provide a more alluring, vivid display. That’s a reasonable decision, as the M14t is pitched as a portable monitor for productivity and business. However, competitors like the Innocn 15A1F and the ViewSonic VP16-OLED deliver a much wider color gamut and better contrast at a similar price, though at the expense of a softer 1080p image. Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 motion performance The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 makes no claims that would hint at superior motion performance. It’s a 60Hz IPS panel and doesn’t support adaptive sync. Motion clarity isn’t great. Scrolling test images from games like DOTA 2 and League of Legends showed that character silhouettes and map details were difficult to make out, while the names and hitpoint bars above characters were impossible to read. This is typical performance for a 60Hz monitor with an IPS display, but it’s still not great. Lenovo’s one concession to entertainment is an “Extreme” response-time mode. It does slightly offer a tad more motion clarity, but this feels like trying to split hairs. The improvement isn’t enough to make fast motion any more legible. Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2? The Lenovo ThinkVision M14t Gen 2 is a solid option if you need a portable monitor with touchscreen support. It has several strong features including a fold-out stand with a significant range of adjustment, a bundled stylus, and a 16:10 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2240×1400. The M14t’s image quality doesn’t stand out, though, and its price tag of nearly $400 feels steep. The M14t Gen 2 is best for people who aren’t overly concerned about color gamut or contrast but instead need a reliable, versatile portable touchscreen monitor. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive and luxurious design Smart TV features powered by Samsung’s Tizen OS Infinite contrast and wide color gamut Great motion clarity Cons Smart TV features might annoy PC purists No USB-C Built-in speakers don’t impress Adaptive Sync support proved buggy Our Verdict The Samsung OLED G8 is an attractive QD-OLED monitor packed with Smart TV features rarely found on competitors. Though useful, the Smart TV functionality makes the monitor more confusing to use. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Samsung OLED G8 Retailer Price $1,299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The plethora of OLED has made comparisons a bit dull. Most use the same OLED panels, and have similar features, so the verdict often comes down to price. Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 is an exception, however, as it delivers an OLED panel alongside Smart TV functionality that includes built-in apps, a remote control, and much more. These features make the monitor more versatile, but could annoy PC enthusiasts who just want a monitor to act like a monitor. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 (G80SD) specs and features The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8’s specifications are typical for a high-end OLED monitor. It offers 4K resolution, a refresh rate of up to 240Hz, and a QD-OLED panel that provides an exceptional color gamut. It also supports Adaptive Sync and HDR. Display size: 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: Samsung QD-OLED Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz Adaptive Sync: AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: HDR10+ Gaming Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 3.0 Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E VESA mount: 100x100mm Speakers: Yes Price: $1,299.99 MSRP ($1,099 typical) However, one specification stands out as unusual: The monitor includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These features are required for its built-in Smart TV functionality, which includes support for streaming apps like Netflix. It can also be used for cloud gaming on services like Xbox Cloud Play and Amazon Luna. Pricing is similar to Samsung’s competitors. The LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B is $1,399.99 at MSRP, which is $100 more, while the Alienware AW3225QF has an MSRP of $1,199.99, which is less than the Samsung. Further reading: See our roundup of the best monitors to learn about competing products. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 design The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has a surprisingly elegant, even stately design. It’s covered in dark silver-gray materials, which strike a professional and reserved tone. However, the monitor still includes an RGB LED lighting ring on the back of the display, which can add some flair to your setup (it was off by default). The Odyssey should fit in anywhere you want to use it, whether that’s at a PC gaming desk, a home office, or a guest room. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Build quality is a perk. Like other recent Odyssey OLED monitors, it has a metal panel design, which feels far more premium and rigid than the plastic panels that are common even among high-end monitors. Of course, a monitor is not frequently touched or moved, so this durability probably isn’t going to make it last any longer than it would otherwise. Still, the use of metal provides a luxurious feel that beats even the best alternatives, like the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B and Alienware AW3225QF. An ergonomic stand is included and offers adjustments for height, tilt, swivel, and the ability to rotate 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. This is a good range of adjustment for a 32-inch gaming monitor. The stand feels sturdy and thankfully uses a compact, flat base. While the 32-inch monitor panel is, of course, quite large, the monitor doesn’t take up excessive room on a desk. That said, a 100x100mm VESA mount is available if you want to use the monitor with a third-party stand or arm. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 features and menus The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 isn’t like most monitors. Though it’s technically not a TV because it lacks a TV tuner, it functions much like any other Samsung Smart TV. It even runs Samsung’s Tizen OS and offers features typically found only on TVs, such as an image processor that enhances motion clarity in sports content. Because of these features, setting up the Odyssey involves several steps, including connecting to Wi-Fi and selecting the smart apps you want to use. This is likely to frustrate PC gamers who prefer a plug-and-play experience. However, I didn’t find the process difficult, and it took about five minutes to complete. Once set up, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 can be used like a Smart TV, providing access to popular apps like Netflix and Hulu, as well as bundled access to a variety of public television channels (though most of these channels aren’t particularly interesting). If you’re only using the Odyssey as a monitor, these features may not matter to you. However, if you’re looking for a multipurpose display for a studio apartment, entertainment room, or bedroom, these features are quite useful, effectively turning the Odyssey into a 32-inch Smart TV. You can even use the Odyssey to play games without any device connected, as it includes a Wi-Fi connection and has support for game streaming services like Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Bluetooth is supported as well, and you can pair Bluetooth-capable controllers with the display. The monitor ships with a remote control, too, which can be used to adjust the volume, access Smart TV apps, and change monitor settings. Personally, I love monitors that come with remote controls — they’re much easier to use than the joysticks most monitors have on their bezel (though the Samsung also has a joystick as a back-up menu control). Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry There’s more. Samsung also provides a decent Windows app for adjusting monitor settings. While most competitors offer similar apps, only a handful — primarily LG and BenQ gaming and entertainment displays — also have a remote. If you don’t want to use the Smart TV features, you can mostly ignore them, though they never completely disappear and can at times prove confusing. I more than once accidentally found myself launched into the monitor’s home screen, which immediately began blaring a low-budget reality TV show from one of the included free channels. It doesn’t help that Samsung’s manual offers little explanation of what the monitor’s many features accomplish. Getting back to basics: Samsung Odyssey OLED G8’s menus provide the usual range of image quality adjustments. There are options to adjust color saturation, color temperature, color gamut, and gamma, as well as gaming features like an on-screen crosshair and a dark equalizer to enhance shadow detail in dark games. My one nitpick is with the color temperature settings, where Samsung uses vague labels like “warm” and “cool” instead of more precise numerical presets. Still, the Odyssey offers more image quality options overall than most gaming monitors. If you’re looking for a multipurpose display for a studio apartment, entertainment room, or bedroom, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8’s features are quite useful. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 connectivity Flip the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 around, and you’ll find a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports as well as a single DisplayPort 1.4. All of these inputs can handle the monitor’s 4K resolution at its maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. I would’ve liked one additional video input, but the three is likely fine for most people. You can connect a computer over DisplayPort alongside an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. One of the HDMI ports supports an Audio Return Channel (ARC). This is a handy feature that makes the Odyssey easier to use alongside home theater equipment that also supports ARC, like soundbars, as it eliminates the need for a separate audio cable. Most monitors don’t support ARC, though a few — like the Alienware AW3225QF — do. The monitor also offers some USB connectivity, but only in the form of two USB-A ports, driven by a USB-B upstream port. Unfortunately, USB-C is not available, which is a downside since USB-C is a convenient way to connect a laptop. To be fair, though, most of Samsung’s closest competitors — including the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B and Alienware AW3225QF — also lack USB-C. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 speakers Samsung boasts about the Odyssey OLED’s built-in speaker system, claiming it will “take gaming to the next level.” Unfortunately, the monitor doesn’t live up to this promise. While the speakers are loud, they produce a muddy, harsh, and metallic sound quality that makes listening to music genuinely unpleasant. The audio improves somewhat at moderate volumes, but it’s still nothing special. Most of Samsung’s competitors offer even worse speakers or omit them entirely. A notable exception is LG’s Ultragear 32GS95UB-E, which features a “pixel sound” speaker system that vibrates the display panel itself. It’s good enough that some users might be content using it instead of external speakers. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 SDR image quality The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 has (surprise!) a Samsung QD-OLED panel. This is a known quantity at this point, as PCWorld has reviewed more than a dozen QD-OLED monitors in the past year, and all deliver excellent SDR image quality with a few notable downsides. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is among those downsides, and the Odyssey is an especially poor performer in this area. Its maximum sustained SDR brightness of only 206 nits is lower even for an OLED monitor: Most alternatives hit about 250 nits. With a brightness of 206 nits, the Odyssey is adequate for most situations, especially if the monitor is used in a room with blinds, curtains, or other forms of light control. At higher brightness settings, it may even appear quite bright in this situation. However, if you plan to use the monitor in a space with little or no light control, such as near bright windows, it could be an issue. That’s unfortunate, as the Odyssey includes Smart TV features and could be a great option for use as a small TV in a studio apartment. In that case, though, its limited brightness could be a drawback. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is a strong point of the Odyssey, as it offers an effectively infinite contrast ratio. This is achieved through the panel’s ability to reach a luminance of zero nits when displaying dark images, providing an immersive, lifelike, and striking picture quality that’s far superior to less expensive monitors using conventional LED backlights. However, readers with strong opinions about OLED panels should be warned that this monitor uses an aggressive matte coating to reduce glare and reflections. It’s effective at providing a legible, almost paper-like image, but also dampens the perceived contrast, especially in brightly lit environments. This is a matter of personal preference. I tend to favor matte coatings over glossy ones for computer monitors. However, I know some people have strong preferences in the opposite direction. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut is a traditional strength of QD-OLED monitors, thanks to the “QD” (Quantum Dots) panel technology, which significantly expands the range of colors the display can produce. The Samsung Odyssey is no exception, offering a very wide color gamut comparable to other QD-OLED monitors and superior to monitors using LG’s WOLED panel. A wide color gamut results in vivid, vibrant, and saturated colors in games and movies, but it’s also great for content creation, as it allows you to see a broader range of colors than what is typically possible with less capable monitors. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Surprisingly, Samsung’s color accuracy was somewhat lacking, at least at its default settings. While the monitor’s color will generally look realistic, it’s not as precise as some competitors. Gamers likely won’t notice any issues, but content creators may want to manually adjust the monitor’s settings or use calibration software for more accurate results. On a positive note, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 performed well in gamma and color temperature tests. It achieved a nearly perfect gamma curve of 2.2, which is impressive, as many OLED monitors tend to slightly miss the mark, often producing a gamma of 2.3, which makes images appear a bit darker than they should. The Odyssey also had a default color temperature of 6800K, which is only slightly cooler than our target of 6500K. Also, as mentioned, the monitor offers multiple gamma and color temperature settings. It’s easy to adjust both to suit your needs and preferences. The monitor’s 4K resolution contributes to excellent sharpness. While QD-OLED monitors can suffer from subpixel rendering issues, which cause pixelation and aliasing around small fonts and some high-contrast edges, 4K resolution mitigates this problem. You might still notice it if you lean in when viewing small fonts in a spreadsheet, but it’s not a frequent concern, and the monitor’s image looks razor sharp. Overall, the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED delivers great image quality. While it underperforms in brightness and color accuracy, it excels in gamma and color temperature and generally matches the impressive image quality of other 32-inch OLED monitors. It’s an especially good option for people who want a multi-purpose OLED display, as the Odyssey has the color gamut, sharpness, and image quality options necessary to work well for both PC games and Photoshop. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 HDR image quality The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 supports HDR10+ but, unlike most competitors, the monitor’s marketing doesn’t claim any level of VESA DisplayHDR Certification. That seems foreboding, but the Odyssey OLED G8 performs fairly well for a QD-OLED monitor — after a bit of trial-and-error. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry I measured a maximum sustained brightness of 779 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning just 10 percent of the display was lit by an HDR image, with the rest of the display completely dark. This is a good level of brightness for a QD-OLED monitor and shows the Odyssey can deliver bright, punchy highlights. A flash of lightning or an exploding car will look gorgeous on this monitor. However, the Odyssey’s HDR brightness dipped quickly as a larger portion of the display was lit. As a result, scenes that demand a high level of luminance across the entire display can look dull and dim. LG’s WOLED panel, found in the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP and LG Utlragear 32GS95UE-B, has a notable advantage here. I also had to tease out the Odyssey’s performance. It has several HDR settings and, at default, its brightness was rather low: just 337 nits in a 10 percent window. You’ll need to use the monitor’s Peak Brightness mode, as well as its Active tone mapping mode, to achieve the best brightness results. Still, the monitor’s overall HDR performance is good for an OLED display and will typically deliver a bright, punchy image in HDR content. However, I’d recommend an LG WOLED over the Odyssey monitor if you plan to use HDR more often than not. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 motion performance Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 offers a refresh rate of up to 240Hz at 4K resolution. That’s an excellent refresh rate for a 4K monitor, though also typical for an OLED display: Many 32-inch 4K OLED competitors have the same refresh rate. Motion clarity is excellent at 240Hz. The monitor’s high refresh rate, paired with OLED’s low pixel response times, keeps motion blur to a minimum. Fast moving objects are easy to see and the silhouettes of distant enemies will stand out on the horizon. It’s not perfect: Small fonts can still be impossible to read at speed, for example. Still, motion clarity is great and only defeated by alternatives with even higher refresh rates, like the Alienware AW2725QF. Adaptive sync is supported, as well, though here the monitor runs into a few issues. First up: Samsung’s marketing is unclear. The monitor is prominently sold as G-Sync Compatible. However, the monitor’s menu system lists support for AMD FreeSync, with no mention of Nvidia’s G-Sync. This isn’t a huge concern because, in my testing, the monitor worked with both AMD and Nvidia hardware. Still, it’s an odd oversight. I also experienced an infrequent but notable bug when using Adaptive Sync. The monitor would sometimes display a garbled line of digital static at the bottom edge of the display when Adaptive Sync was turned on. Flipping the mode on and off, or rebooting my PC, could fix it, though it could take several tries. This is not a new problem for Samsung: A look at Reddit shows occasional user complaints of a similar issue with older Odyssey monitors. Should you buy the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8? The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 is yet another excellent 32-inch QD-OLED monitor. It delivers a vibrant, saturated, and immersive image alongside excellent motion clarity. However, the monitor’s defining feature is actually its software, which includes Samsung’s Tizen OS and a buffet of Smart TV features that make the OLED G8 useful in situations where you’d otherwise want to buy a small television. The monitor’s overall image quality doesn’t stand out from the competition though, and its software features might annoy PC users who just want a monitor to act like a monitor. I recommend the Odyssey OLED G8 if you need a versatile display that will be used to watch movies and streaming TV as often as it’s used to play games or for productivity. Read...

Oh, how time flies! The 2024 gaming year is almost over and we’ve seen numerous exciting releases already, but there’s still a lot to come in the final months ahead. It is, after all, the holiday quarter and publishers will be going all out as we head into December. Here are some of the most interesting and most important games still to come. Not only might they achieve decent sales, but they might even end up being gaming highlights — so keep an eye on them! Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment Not a full-fledged game but important nonetheless: the Vessel of Hatred major expansion pack for Diablo IV will be releasing on October 8, expanding the game with a new region called Nahantu as well as an additional class called the Spiritborn. It’ll also add some exciting new mechanics to the game, such as switching between different elements. The story of Diablo IV will also be expanded with another chapter that looks extremely exciting. The first trailer for the expansion rightly gave many gamers goosebumps. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft A new Call of Duty is, of course, one of the biggest and most important releases of the year. Black Ops 6 will be releasing on October 25 and will once again offer an action-packed campaign, gripping shooter battles, and a fantastic zombie mode — a real feast for fans of the series. Dragon Age: The Veilguard Electronic Arts Electronic Arts Electronic Arts The next installment in the Dragon Age series has been almost ten years in the making, and it’s finally arriving on October 31. Fans who have been itching since the big cliffhanger in Dragon Age: Inquisition will finally get the much-awaited resolution they’ve been waiting for. This Dragon Age entry was originally called Dragon Age: Dreadwolf after the antagonist Dreadwolf. But while Dreadwolf will still play a major role, EA felt it was more important to emphasize the role of the Veilguard — our protagonist Rook and his companions, who are tasked with defending the fate of the world against evil forces. The Veilguard excitingly takes us to Tevinter for the first time, a place that’s legendarily oozing with blood magic and slavery. The gameplay, on the other hand, looks much more action-packed than expected (to the chagrin of fans). We’re curious to see how the game will be received. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Bigger, farther, better: on November 19, Aerosoft will be releasing a new version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the ultimate experience for flight simulation fans. Not only will we be able to experience the entire world in more aircraft with improved visuals, but we’ll also be able to climb out of the cockpit and walk around with our characters. In addition, the 2024 version introduces new professions that further enhance the experience, and the game will be playable on weaker hardware thanks to cloud-based worldbuilding. Anyone who already owns Microsoft Flight Simulator can carry over all their purchased content into the sequel, meaning almost nothing stands in the way of a successful release. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl IDG IDG IDG Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl has had an eventful history and numerous postponements. However, the developers aren’t to blame — they’ve been working on this project with a lot of passion for several years, only to be hit hard by the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Stalker 2 is still set to release this year on November 20. The game will take us back to the radioactive zone around Chornobyl with a hard-hitting role-playing experience where you don’t level up and instead progress solely by exploring the game world. For fans of the first Stalker game, this should be just the right kind of challenge. However, we hope the release won’t suffer from any serious technical problems, given how much the devs have endured. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Bethesda Bethesda Bethesda A new Indiana Jones game? With next-gen graphics and an adventurous story? Developed by Bethesda? Bring it on! That’s what many of us thought when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was first announced, and it’s finally releasing on December 9. Not only do we get to control Indy through a new adventure, but we can also wield a whip in proper style to fend off enemies and solve puzzles. For fans of the films and fans of great action-adventure games, this one should be a real highlight this year. InZOI Krafton Krafton Krafton Fans of life-sim games probably already know of InZOI, but in case you haven’t heard of it: InZOI promises to give The Sims 4 a run for its money. Not only does it offer beautiful graphics, an extensive character creator, and lots of exciting ideas, the base game will also have many features that are currently only available as add-ons for The Sims. InZOI may just offer the best bang for your buck as far as life-sims go, and it’s high time that The Sims had some serious competition. South Korean developer Krafton seems well on their way with this title. No specific release date has been given for InZOI yet, but the publisher recently stated that it should at least be launched in Early Access by the end of the year. Our fingers are crossed! Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Konami Konami Konami Last but not least, we have the remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 that’s expected to come out this year as Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Although no exact release date has been given, the game looked pretty good in its first gameplay videos, so it shouldn’t be far away. In this remake, we once again slip into the skin of Agent Snake, who’s on a secret mission and sneaks through levels using camouflage, disguises, and other stealth tactics. With Unreal Engine 5, the graphics are better than ever and gameplay should be fun for fans and newcomers alike. Assassin’s Creed Shadows Ubisoft Ubisoft Ubisoft What if Assassin’s Creed went to Japan? It’s a long-cherished dream for many series fans, and it’s finally happening with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Though it was originally due for a November 15 release, Ubisoft recently just postponed it to February 11, 2025. In this entry, we’ll be able to roam Japan as stealthy shinobi and assassinate enemies from the shadows while also dealing out direct combat as powerful samurai. Which of the two protagonists will you play? It’s entirely up to you. The setting combined with the freedom of play and the beautiful, atmospheric game world could make Assassin’s Creed Shadows one of the most memorable spin-offs in the series. Read...

Trying to find the balance between pure engineering and entertainment has been a very difficult balancing act over the years in Formula 1, but many in the sport think we seeing the signs of change as the cost cap takes effect on track. Read...

Productions are down by about 40% and entertainment industry employees say they can`t find work. Read...

News that GOG.com has delisted 29 games this month is a sobering reminder that at any moment the games you own could vanish from your PC game libraries at any time and there’s not much you can do about it. Admittedly, GOG’s games include titles that many gamers may not have heard about. But history has shown that this happens to well-known titles too and on platforms with millions of users like Steam and Origin. So how is it that something you’ve legitimately bought can be whipped away in a heartbeat? Don’t we have consumer protection laws against that? Personally, I’d like to see protections in place to keep games from disappearing for purely licensing reasons if they still have legions of fans and are being played by many… How is it that my games can just vanish? The laws around your digital assets will differ depending on where in the world you live, but in most jurisdictions there are no clear laws stating that you unequivocally own and have the right to your digital games in perpetuity. In the U.S. the Federal Trade Commission outlines some of the reasons why this is the case. By far the main reason has to do with the terms of the agreement you make when you create an account on a gaming platform or when you click purchase. When you buy a game on a digital platform, you’re essentially just paying to access the content — in other words, you own a license but not the actual game. Accessing content is not the same as owning it. It means that if the seller changes their terms or conditions, goes out of business, or has licensing issues, that content can become inaccessible. This happens a lot more than you might think. Indeed, if you haven’t been across gaming news on a regular basis you might have missed the delisting of games like Titanfall, Battlefield 2, Rocket League, Fable 3, Deadpool, Evolve, and Mortal Combat from Steam, and games like Assassin’s Creed Origins, Darksiders III, and Far Cry 5 from EA’s Origin platform. What reasons do the platforms give for delisting? When reasons are given, and they’re not always forthcoming, they can be surprisingly varied. Expiring licenses is a biggy and explains the disappearance of titles like the James Bond game Quantum of Solace from Steam — publisher Activision simply no longer had a license to kill. In the case of Rocket League’s delisting from Steam in 2021, the game’s owner Epic decided to make the game free to play on the Epic Game Store. Although removing the game was controversial, it paid off in that it increased the game’s player base to nearly 1 million soon after. These are some of the more understandable explanations, but there are more obscure reasons, as is the case with EA’s Battlefield 2 and Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall. Battlefield 2 was delisted from digital platforms despite being hugely popular.  Battlefield 2 was delisted from digital platforms despite being hugely popular. Dominic Bayley / IDG Battlefield 2 was delisted from digital platforms despite being hugely popular. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG In Battlefield 2’s case, it was delisted from Steam when the company that ran the game’s multiplayer servers, GameSpy, shutdown. Titanfall’s removal, on the other hand, had in part to do with some malicious activity. After the game’s online servers were subjected to multiple DDOS attacks, Respawn made the call to discontinue the game and cancel subscriptions. Another reason that accounts for quite a lot of delistings is when games lose a large amount of their player base. That can be because they are getting a little old, which was the case with some games in EA’s Need for Speed franchise, or players could simply cease to find them fun or interesting. Need For Speed: Carbon was one game delisted from online platforms back in 2021.  Need For Speed: Carbon was one game delisted from online platforms back in 2021. Dominic Bayley / IDG Need For Speed: Carbon was one game delisted from online platforms back in 2021. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG The removal of the Need For Speed games from five gaming platforms ruffled quite a few fans’ feathers when it happened back in 2021. In fact, the outcry was enough for EA to release a statement to the effect that the studios simply didn’t have the manpower to keep games operating beyond their use-by date. “The number of players has come to a point where it’s no longer feasible to continue the work behind the scenes,” a spokesperson said, and it’s a valid point. As much as we like to think developers and publishers have endless resources, the truth is that they need to keep making and selling games to be profitable and many simply can’t do that when their staff are busy keeping old titles alive. So, what should you do about it? In some cases, you can simply buy a physical copy of the game, but thanks to the rise of downloadable games not every game is released in that format. It’s worth noting, too, that if you do find a physical copy, legal conditions still apply. Again, you don’t own the software, just the DVD and the license, and under the terms of that license you have limited rights. Personally, I’d like to see protections in place to keep games from disappearing for purely licensing reasons if they still have legions of fans and are being played by many. Whether that’s new laws to protect gamer interests or the creation of some kind of not-for-profit organization that can rehome delisted games is worth some thought. For now, though, the one power you do have is to choose where you buy and play your digital games. The terms of the agreements will differ from platform to platform, and some are generally better than others, so be sure to read the fine print when you can. Read...

The 8th Immortal Andrew Johns joins host Danika Mason to dive into the week that was and gear up for a huge weekend of Prelim Footy. Joey gives his thoughts on how the Kalyn Ponga situation should have been handled, what Trent Robinson and the Roosters need to do to upset the Storm and if the wet weather in Sydney will favour either the Panthers or the Sharks. Danika and Joey talk about the best Grand Final Entertainment performances and if this current era is the best. All that and more on another episode of Immortal Behaviour. Read...

Guests complained they were met with cheap decor, undercooked food and just a stripper for entertainment. Read...