At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard A wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Our Verdict The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a solid upgrade over the 2023, featuring a faster processor and a touchscreen display, with only minor drawbacks that hardly impact the overall performance. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a good buy, full stop. I know I’m starting strong out the gate, but with an updated processor and a display with touch capability, it’s a solid improvement over the 2023 model. While it does have a few drawbacks, they’re so small they’re practically microscopic, as they don’t take away from the overall experience. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Chromebooks for comparison. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Specs The new Chromebook Plus CX34 is a refreshed version of the 2023 model. This time Asus swapped out the Intel Core i3-1215U processor for an Intel Core i5-1335U, which offers notable improvements (we’ll get into that in the performance section). Other than upgrading the CPU and adding touch capability to the display, the design is the same as it was before. Asus fine-tuned the inside components, but left the fresh-looking design alone.  Model number: CX3402CVA-I5128 CPU: Intel Core i5-1335U GPU: Intel Iris Xe RAM: 8GB RAM Storage: 128GB (universal flash storage) Display 14-inch 1920×1080, touch enabled, 60Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio Networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E Dimensions: 0.74 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches Weight: 3.17 lbs Price: $499 Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Design, build quality IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is pretty much identical to the 2023 model. The snowy white shell is a feast for the eyes, and the plastic exterior has a nice sheen to it. As far as aesthetics go, it’s attractive and modern. Like I said of the previous iteration, it’s sophisticated enough for an office environment without drawing too much attention. While build quality is acceptable for a laptop in this price range, I worry it might show wear and tear over time.  I noticed the lid has a slight flex to it. When I laid the laptop flat on a table and pressed a finger down on the bezel, the lid gave way to the pressure. However, it’s not all bad. The keyboard deck feels more solid than the lid–I didn’t hear any creaking when I applied pressure to it. The 180 degree hinge also feels tight and secure, but not restricting and stiff. The build quality isn’t bad by any means, but I’d recommend handling it with a gentle hand.  The upgraded processor and touch enabled display make a big difference, adding great value compared to the 2023 model, which was missing those features. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Keyboard, touchpad IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The keyboard is comfortable to use for long periods of time, but the omission of a backlight had me scratching my head, as it was included in the older model. I prefer backlit keyboards because I like writing in a low-light environment–I like the ambiance of it! Bright lights also trigger migraines for me, which is another reason why I prefer a low-light environment. That said, in terms of using the keyboard, I managed 98 words per minute on Monkeytype–I’m a pretty fast typist when I’m locked in.  The touchpad is pleasant to use as well. It measures about five inches wide, which is a big enough size for someone with smaller hands (hi!). It’s smooth and responsive, and the slippery surface of the touchpad is great for multitouch gestures like two-finger scrolls and pinches and stretches. I didn’t notice any erratic cursor movement, either. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Display, webcam, speakers IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The 1080p display is fine for daily tasks, but it’s nothing remarkable. All Chromebook Plus models come with a 1080p display, which is the new standard now. While it may not be the brightest or most vibrant of screens, I’m pleased by the new touch function. The 2023 model didn’t have a touch display, so this is a great addition that adds more value overall. The matte finish also helps cut down the glare from direct sunlight. My only sticking point is with the 16:9 aspect ratio. I prefer displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, as that one extra inch of space makes a world of difference, especially when I’m editing a review or adding things to a spreadsheet. It’s not a huge deal breaker for me, as most laptop displays come with a 16:9 aspect ratio, but I like to see more of the screen. Oh, the display also folds flat for versatile viewing angles, though I didn’t use it this way as I don’t find it very practical. The 1080p webcam is suitable for work calls, but not much else. As with most built-in 1080p webcams, you need a good amount of lighting to look good. The webcam’s microphone also captures sound well enough and filters out a good amount of background noise. The built-in ChromeOS tools also allow you to blur your background or improve noise cancellation. Again, it’s fine for a work call, but if you want to look your absolute best, you should invest in an external webcam.   Generally speaking, laptop speakers don’t impress me much (I guess I’m channeling Shania Twain here). If you consider yourself an audiophile, you might as well plug in a pair of headphones or earbuds. The Chromebook Plus CX34’s speakers are just okay, but the speakers are downward firing, so it depends on the type of surface you’ve got the laptop on. I had to boost the volume and bring the laptop closer to me in order to hear my playlist.  Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Connectivity IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 really doesn’t skimp on ports, which is great for a laptop in this price range. It features two USB Type-A, two USB Type-C, one HDMI out, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. You can also easily hook up to an external monitor, as the USB Type-C ports support DisplayPort. Most Chromebooks in this bracket don’t include an Ethernet port or a micro SD, but the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 comes with a micro SD.  Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Performance I was impressed with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s day-to-day performance. Compared to the previous model, which came equipped with an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU inside our review unit delivers faster performance because of its higher core count (10 cores) and better clock speeds (up to 4.6GHz). While the Intel Core i3-1215U CPU still performs well, the Intel Core i5-1335U CPU better handles both single-threaded and multi-threaded performance.  This is evident in the Plus CX34’s Jetstream 2 score. Jetstream 2 assesses single-threaded and multi-threaded performance by measuring JavaScript execution speeds as well as the browser’s parallel processing execution speed. Compared to the 2023 model, which had a Jetstream 2 score of 250.141, the newest iteration is approximately 26 percent faster. The Plus CX34 also had a higher CrXPRT 2 performance score (170) than the recently reviewed Acer Chromebook Spin 312 (140). CrXPRT 2 measures overall performance by simulating real-world tasks like loading web pages, applying filters to images, playing HD videos, and so on. The higher the number, the smoother the performance. In addition to the higher CrXPRT 2 score, it also produced a great Kraken score.  Mozilla’s Kraken benchmark gauges how well a browser can handle JavaScript execution performance. It does this by analyzing sound data, running various decryption tasks, and so on. Unlike CrXPRT 2, a lower score is more desirable here. Essentially, Kraken measures the time in milliseconds it takes for the browser to complete a series of JavaScript tasks. The Plus CX34 beat the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 into the ground with a Kraken score of 397.4ms. That’s roughly 44 percent faster than the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, which had a Kraken score of 710.9ms. Impressive! CrXPRT 2: 170 Speedometer: 344 Basemark Web 3.0: 1,320 Kraken: 397.4ms Jetstream 2: 316.606 Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Battery life The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 lasted a little over 13 hours on a single charge during my battery test, though I kept the brightness low, which likely impacted the result. With the brightness turned up, real-world use is closer to seven or eight hours. That’s not a bad result by any means, but it’s not the most competitive result I’ve seen. If battery life is a priority of yours, consider the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, which lasted a little over 15 hours. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Conclusion Would I recommend buying the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34? Absolutely. The upgraded processor and touch-enabled display make a big difference, adding great value compared to the 2023 model, which was missing those features. The keyboard is also a joy to type on, the touchpad is responsive without being overly sensitive, and the connectivity options are plentiful. If you can accept the little quirks like the lack of keyboard backlighting and the 16:9 aspect ratio (more of a personal nitpick than a quirk), then this Chromebook is a solid choice. Read...

Datadobi has unveiled StorageMAP 7.2, enhancing its unstructured data management platform with advanced insights and reporting features for I&O leaders. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros 3 individually controlled smart outlets (+3 dumb outlets) 3 fast-charging USB outlets Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and IFTTT Cons Gives no warning when it can no longer provide surge protection Surge protection limited to 205 joules Our Verdict Don’t buy this multi-outlet for its surge protection feature, as it won’t warn you when it can no longer deliver it. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender (model P306) Retailer Price $34.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket TP-Link’s Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender has some great features, as well as one critical shortcoming that prevents us from recommending it. Tapo doesn’t make big promises for this product in terms of its surge protection, but it does list a key feature on the box: the ability to warn you when it can no longer provide surge protection. If you’re considering buying Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender for that feature, don’t. Here’s why. The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender isn’t all bad news—provided you’re not buying it for surge protection. Most surge protectors use sacrificial MOVs (metal oxide varistors) to absorb excess voltage from power surges, and this one is no exception. The thing is, MOVs wear out over time, losing some of their ability to absorb that excess voltage with each power surge until they can no longer offer any protection at all. Since the number and severity of power surges will vary based on a wide range of factors, starting with the quality of power coming from your utility, it’s impossible to predict when a given surge protector’s MOV (or MOVs, as the case may be) will wear out. The outlets on the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender are spaced 1.56 inches apart, so wall warts and oversized plugs don’t block adjacent outlets.Michael Brown/Foundry Some surge protectors will simply stop sending power to their outlets when this happens, and that’s the best approach in my opinion. Others will trigger a red or green “protection” indicator—typically an LED—to stop glowing when they can no longer offer protection. The latter approach is far more common, and you should periodically check yours to make sure it’s still lit. The problem with the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender is that it doesn’t do either of these things. Its MOV will eventually wear out and cease offering surge protection, but you’ll have no way of knowing when that has happened. I verified this fact with TP-Link, and the manufacturer replied that the absence of a protection indicator is due to the product’s “structural limitations,” but that it recognizes this “as a potential area for improvement in future product iterations.” I’d say that’s an understatement. It would have been better to not include surge protection at all than to have users gamble as to when this one will stop offering protection without any warning. Specifications The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender isn’t all bad news—provided you’re not buying it for surge protection. But before we leave that topic, allow me to report a few details you find won’t find on TP-Link’s website. Three USB charging ports–1 USB-C and 2 USB-A–deliver up to 18 watts of power. Michael Brown/Foundry This product’s surge protector element can handle only a maximum of 205 joules, but it offers 1,200 volts of clamping voltage, based on a 6,000-volt surge on the line-to-neutral leg of the circuit it’s connected to. Thumbs up for that: Protection for the line-to-neutral leg is what’s needed most in a properly grounded home. Compare that to the Philips 6-Outlet Surge Protector Power Strip, a “dumb” surge protector that offers up to 720 joules of protection, but only 500V of protection across the line-to-neutral leg of the circuit. The Philips product also lacks USB-charging ports, but it costs less than half as much as the Tapo product. I should also note, however, that the Philips product doesn’t have any LED indicators either. The key difference is that the Philips product will cease to provide power to its outlets when its MOV wears out and can no longer provide surge protection. An LED would be superfluous in that product. OK, let’s turn our attention to the rest of the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender’s considerable specifications and features. It occupies the top half of a duplex outlet, but necessarily also covers the bottom half. If you have an old-school outlet with a middle screw hole for the cover plate, you can remove the cover, insert a provided screw into the center of the Outlet Extender, and fasten it to that hole. You can also screw a provided post into the back of the extender and plug that into the second outlet’s ground hole for added stability when plugging and unplugging devices. Each of the three smart outlets can also be controlled with a button on the side. The post below the electrical prongs plugs into the second grounded outlet to provide additional stability. Michael Brown/Foundry The Outlet Extender can handle up to a maximum of 1,875 watts, and each of its six outlets puts out a maximum of 15 amps. It’s equipped with one USB-C charging port and two USB-A charging ports on its right-hand side. These deliver a maximum output of 5 volts and 3 amps, providing up to 18 watts of fast charging. More specifically, single-port outputs are 5V/3A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A. You can rest your smartphone on top of the outlet extender while it’s charging, and a lip on its front edge will prevent the device from sliding forward and off. There are six grounded AC outlets in front, three on each side and spaced 1.57-inches apart to accommodate at least smaller wall warts or oversized plugs without blocking adjacent outlets. Only the three outlets on the left-hand side are smart plugs, and each one has an on/off switch and an LED indicator that glows when it’s on. The three outlets on the right-hand side are always-on “dumb” plugs and don’t have buttons or LEDs. An ambient light sensor at the top of the extender’s face triggers a dimmable white, down-facing LED nightlight to glow. This feature is highly customizable in the Tapo app, based on the level of ambient light that will activate it, a time-and-date schedule, or even a countdown timer. An LED beneath the ambient light sensors reports the overall status of the device (solid white when connected to the cloud, blinking orange when disconnected from Wi-Fi, and so on). Smart features The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender connects to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, with up to WPA3 security. Although it’s not Matter certified, it is compatible with all three major smart home ecosystems: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home. It’s also compatible with Samsung SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts, and IFTTT. You’ll use the Tapo smart home app to program and control the device. This software is also used to control everything from security cameras to smart plugs, smart bulbs, robot vacuums, and other smart home products carrying TP-Link’s Tapo or Kasa Smart brands. But you can organize the app by assigning everything to “rooms” and designating “favorites” to make it easier to manage everything.   You can control every Tapo smart home device with the Tapo app, which can also control any of TP-Link’s Kasa Smart products.  Michael Brown/Foundry Widgets are provided for each of the Outlet Extender’s three smart plugs, but there’s just one widget for all three of its USB ports. The widgets have power buttons for toggling them on and off, or you can tap anywhere else on the widget to open a new full-screen window for more granular information and control, including scheduling. You can set “away modes” that will randomly turn the assigned smart outlets on and off between defined days and times. Plug a lamp into one, two, or all three smart outlets, and it will make your home look occupied while you’re away from home. Separate countdown timers will turn any or all the assigned smart outlet on or off after a given number of hours and minutes has elapsed. The smart plugs don’t track energy consumption, but they will report the number of hours they’ve been energized for the current day, the past seven days, and the past 30 days. If you have other TP-Link or Tapo products, you can create routines that will cause those devices to trigger each other—and without needing a smart home hub. For example, you can have a TP-Link or Tapo security camera trigger a light plugged into the Outlet Extender when it detects motion after sunset, and then automatically turn off after a programmed amount of time. Or you can create a shortcut button that dims your Tapo or TP-Link smart bulb when you’re ready for bed and turns off any of the company’s smart plugs, including this Outlet Extender. The more compatible gadgets you have, the more you can do with this feature. If you’re an IFTTT subscriber, of course, you don’t necessarily need Tapo or TP-Link products to accomplish similar goals. TP-Link’s Tapo and Kasa Smart devices can operate together in the same smart home environment. Michael Brown/Foundry Further reading: This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart plugs. Should you buy a Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender? In terms of a multi-plug, the Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Wall Outlet Extender is a fine product. It expands any duplex outlet into three smart outlets and provides three more “dumb” outlets. You also get three fast-charging smart USB plugs. So far, so good. As a surge protector, on the other hand, it almost utterly fails. Not knowing when a surge protector can no longer protect attached devices from power surges is worse than not having surge protection in the first place. Whether smart or dumb, if Tapo’s Outlet Extender didn’t offer surge protection, you could at least plug a single-outlet surge protector into one of its outlets to power a sensitive device—a computer, for example—that you want to protect. That said, you should never daisy-chain surge protectors–i.e., plug one surge protector into another surge protector–as that has the potential to overload the electrical circuit to which they’re connected. An overloaded electrical circuit is a fire risk. Read...

Nearly six months after first announcing its “new experience,” Plex is rolling out the promised top-to-bottom revamp of its mobile app to all users, and yes, big changes are in store.  I’ve already covered most of the big cosmetic changes, including the replacement of the “hamburger” navigation in the top corner of the app with a row of five tabs at the bottom of the screen, including dedicated tabs for Libraries and Live TV.  The title details screens for movies and TV shows have also been spruced up, including the use of title graphics from the content providers “where available.” I’ve been cruising through the shows and movies in my own personal Plex library, and I’ve noticed that all but the most obscure items now boast title graphics. That’s a nice change from the text titles in the old Plex app.  But while Plex’s “new experience” for Android and iOS users (Apple TV and other platforms are coming later) certainly looks more polished and offers dozens of improvements, there are also some rough edges that will bother longtime Plex users, along with a few features that have been unceremoniously dropped.  Plex’s “new experience” revamp is serving as a backdrop to another big change, with Plex about to move remote personal media streaming behind its Plex Pass paywall. That new policy is set to take effect on April 29, the same date when a steep Plex Pass price hike takes effect. It’s worth noting that the so-called “new” Plex experience is now the only Plex experience, at least for mobile. A Plex rep has confirmed to me that once you update the Plex mobile app to the new version, there’s no going back. Here are just a few things you should know before updating the Plex app to the “new experience,” starting with…  AirPlay casting is restricted to screen mirroring for now  If you’re an iOS user who’s accustomed to casting your Plex shows to an Apple TV or another AirPlay-compatible device, bad news: for now, the updated Plex mobile app offers system-level screen mirroring, not native AirPlay casting.  That means if you want to cast Plex videos to another device without simply sharing your screen, you’ll have to do so via Chromecast.  Plex says it will “continue bringing in more casting functionality” over the “coming months.”  You can’t cast live TV yet Even if you are casting on Plex using Chromecast, you won’t be able to cast live TV from your Plex Media Server using the “new experience” mobile app.  Luckily, this sounds like just a temporary restriction, with Plex noting that it’s “actively working on casting improvements, including resolving this issue.”  You can’t schedule DVR recordings yet If you’re using Plex as a DVR, you can still watch recorded shows and record in-progress shows from the updated Plex mobile app, but you can’t schedule future DVR recordings—not yet, anyway. (You can, of course, still schedule DVR recordings using the Plex web client.) Again, Plex says it’s working on it: “Scheduling is intended to be part of the mobile experience and we are working as you read this on making sure this will be available soon.”  “Watch Together” functionality is gone  Plex had previously announced that its “Watch Together” feature, which allows Plex users to join watch parties with friends, would be going away with the “new experience” update, but it’s worth repeating here.  If you really want to stream Plex videos with friends, you can still do so using the Plex web app, and Plex has also said that it doesn’t “preclude the possibility of offering similar functionality again in the future, using new tooling.”  You can’t share individual Plex items anymore  With the arrival of its new mobile experience, Plex is dropping the ability for personal server users to share individual titles and video playlists with others.  Plex Media Server users will still be able to share entire libraries with friends and family (don’t forget, remote streaming of your personal Plex library is about to become a paid feature), and any individual items you’ve previously shared will remain so, Plex said. However, you won’t be able to share any new individual files or playlists.  You can’t pin libraries to the sidebar, but there’s a workaround With the new Plex experience for mobile doing away with the left-hand sidebar on the old app comes an obvious side effect: You can no longer pin specific libraries to the now-missing sidebar.  That said, the revamped Plex app offers a handy workaround: Just long-press the Libraries tab at the bottom of the screen. When you do, you’ll get a pop-up that displays your favorite media libraries. Tap one of them, and you’re good to go. Read...

I’ve searched high and low for an enterprise-grade laptop that’s portable, has the tools I need to keep my work secure, but that’s also powerful enough to run graphically demanding 3D models, design software, and games. But up until now the closest thing I’ve come across is a creator laptop that can’t compete in the portability stakes. Plus it looks too industrial for the office — yuk! HP’s new 14-inch HP ZBook Ultra G1a, however, just won’t toe the line on that paradigm. In fact, it destroys it completely, combining an extremely lightweight, thin, and attractive chassis, a powerful AI-capable chipset, and most importantly – the one thing that has me so in awe – graphics power that can rival a gaming laptop. What?! How much graphics power am I talking about? As an example, at HP’s launch event for the ZBook Ultra G1a the HP team had it running an F1 Simulator and outputting to multiple displays at 2.2K resolution, and it still managed to average an impressive100 frames per second! Are you catching on why this laptop has my attention now? But as impressive as that is, the HP ZBook Ultra G1a shouldn’t be confused for a gaming laptop. No, this laptop is an enterprise laptop through and through, with all the hallmarks of a modern workstation. It has a compact 14-inch chassis that’s both robust and strong. Its 2.8K OLED display is color rich, but it’s also easy on the eyes thanks to its Eyesafe certification. I mentioned before that it’s light and thin, but in fact it’s impressively so! It weighs no more than 3.3 pounds and measures just 0.73 inches at the front — so you won’t have any problem packing it into a satchel for meetings on the fly. The port selection is very good, too, for a small laptop. You get 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a USB-A port, as well as an HDMI 2.1 port and a 3.5mm Kensington lock. This pocket rocket also supports up to 4TB storage, so there’s plenty of space to store large files and programs. For video calls it has a 5MP IR camera. HP ZBook Ultra G1a also has the kind of security that differentiates work laptops from other types. It comes with HP’s Wolf Security and a fingerprint reader for utilizing the Windows Hello secure login. HP demonstrated the HP SureView onlooker protection feature on the Ultra G1a which blurs your screen when you walk away from it. No doubt that will come in handy when strangers try to peek at your game… ahem…work! The HP ZBook has a spacious backlit, spill-resistant keyboard and large trackpad. Shown here: The keyboard backlighting is switched off. Dominic Bayley / Foundry The key behind the ZBook Ultra G1a’s power and portability can be put down to one thing: Its AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro chip which I’ve been wanting to see in action ever since I heard about it at CES 2025. This impressive piece of silicon is based on AMD’s new Strix Halo architecture. It combines CPU, GPU, and NPU processing all on a single chip. Indeed, the Ultra G1a can be configured with any one of nine AMD Strix Halo processors, ranging from the AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 386 up to the zippiest AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395. The latter puts 16 cores of glorious desktop-grade CPU power in your hands with an impressive 5.1GHz maximum clock speed, so more than enough to keep even the most demanding apps ticking along smoothly. The graphics power comes courtesy of 40 integrated RDNA 3.5 cores. The HP ZBook G1a is adept at running design programs that render images in 3D.  Dominic Bayley / Foundry If the APU is impressive, so is the memory it feeds. It consists of a unified architecture that features up to 128GB DDR5 RAM running at 8,533 MT/s. A whopping 96GB of that RAM can be allocated to the GPU for when you need the ZBook Ultra G1a to run the most graphically demanding programs. The other benefit of the APU and unified memory is multitasking, which I saw in action at the HP launch event as well. HP said the Ultra G1a can easily handle complex 3D sets interactively, and large AI models locally — the latter of which is going to redefine what workers can achieve on the edge without the need of the cloud. So, this laptop has workflow as well as rendering down pat. One demonstration had the HP ZBook Ultra G1a running the application Amuse simultaneously alongside the programs Navisworks and LM Studio, again outputting to different displays. Despite loading up the chip with this level of work, the performance remained very smooth. If there was any lag, I didn’t see it. The HP ZBook Ultra G1a had no problem running multiple applications simultaneously.Dominic Bayley / Foundry HP said the Ultra G1a would suit a range of different professionals, from engineers to creative professionals. I have no doubt about that. Suffice it to say, this laptop has the kind of power and portability that could make their lives a lot easier — not to mention boost productivity. One productivity model presented by AMD at the launch showed a productivity boost of 39 percent — but anything just shy of that would still be useful. To that end the ZBook Ultra G1a is very well equipped with AI power — which is expected to be one of the biggest boosters of productivity in the future. The NPU supports 50 TOPS processing power to a total 125 TOPS total power for the whole chip. That’s enough for a seamless experience with AI apps like Microsoft Copilot or HP’s own AI Companion. Me, I’m not sure I’ll push the AI power to the limits. I’m just excited to see how far I can push the graphics power when I get a review model to test. Judging by what I’ve seen so far, I think I’ve got a lot more eyebrow raising to look forward to. Read...

Firstly, you need your signature in digital form, preferably using a tablet PC with pen input. If you don’t have such a device to hand, sign on a white sheet of paper and take a photo of your signature using a scanner app. Microsoft’s OneDrive app, which not only provides access to the manufacturer’s cloud storage, but also has a good scanner function integrated, is an uncomplicated help here. Start the OneDrive app on your smartphone and tap the camera icon under “Start” in the bottom right-hand corner. A camera app will open in which you can select “Document” at the bottom before taking a photo. This will automatically lighten shadows on the white paper. After taking the photo, you can use “Crop” to remove unnecessary edges and “Done” to save the file to OneDrive. If the quality of the photo is not yet satisfactory, you can improve it in any image-editing program using “Contrast” and “Brightness.” Use a scanner app to take a photo of your signature and insert it as an electronic signature in Word, for example. You can do this with the free OneDrive app from Microsoft, for example.IDG In Word, insert the photo of your signature into the document at the desired location using Insert > Picture > This device. After inserting, the image can be reduced in size using the frame corners. To speed things up in future, create a “quick block.” In Word, select the inserted signature and any additional text such as “Yours sincerely.” Press the Alt-F3 key combination or select Insert > Quick blocks > Save selection in quick block catalog. Enter a short description under “Name.” You can insert the quick block by entering the name in Word and then pressing the F3 key. There must be no space between the name and the cursor when you press F3. A “quick block” can be created from your inserted signature and the surrounding text, which can then be inserted using the F3 key. IDG Important: An electronic signature is actually “only” a photo of your signature that you insert into a digital document. It therefore does not have the same legal effect as a digital signature. A legally valid digital signature is an asymmetric encryption system that has been regulated by the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act in 2000. This distinguishes between simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures. Information on digital signatures can be found here. Reading tip: Microsoft Word: 9 tricks and hidden features This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de. Read...

I bet you there’s something you need on your desk that you probably didn’t realize you needed. I’m talking about this 6-in-1 Baseus Blade charging station that’s compact, practical, and only $59.49 on Amazon with this Prime deal plus the extra 15% off promo code on the product page. (Be sure to apply code JF8DVF7C at checkout, and grab a free 30-day Prime trial if you aren’t a member!) The Baseus Blade charging station features two AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The whole thing is about the size and shape of a typical smartphone, so it can easily slip inside any bag, making it great for travel. (The detachable 5-feet cord is a lovely bonus.) But it’s also perfect as a home office desk accessory for keeping all your things charged. Since it uses modern GaN technology, the Baseus Blade is not only smaller in size but also more power efficient, allowing it to charge faster and give off less heat. And with its 7-point safety system, your devices are protected against over-voltage, over-current, and short circuits. This charging station delivers a maximum of 140W through the right-most USB-C port, with power throughput being split when multiple ports are in use. You can see exactly how much power each port is delivering by checking out the on-device LCD display. Don’t miss this awesome price! Get this Baseus Blade 6-in-1 charging station for $59.49 on Amazon while you can. Make sure to redeem promo code JF8DVF7C at checkout, and sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime for this deal and extra perks if you aren’t Prime yet. Save 41% on this multi-device AC and USB charging stationBuy now at Amazon Read...

The bells are ringing for Windows 10, and many users who have waited are now choosing to update to Windows 11. If you’re one of them, congratulations on continued security updates and new features, but also on an operating system that has received a lot of criticism since its launch in 2021 — sometimes justified, but often exaggerated. Because when you look beyond the glassy surface with its rounded corners and the Start menu in its strict position, the differences are not that insanely big actually. It’s not like switching to Mac or Linux, not by a long shot. In many cases, these are fairly small changes that you can quickly get used to. In many cases, it’s even possible to restore or mimic old behavior, and new additions you don’t need can often be turned off or hidden. We recommend: Windows 11 Pro Relax and enjoy the ride and everything will be easier, right? Microsoft has become a bit more like Apple in one area in recent years. Where the company used to make an effort to step aside and let users choose how they want to use their computer, it now prefers you to do certain things in a certain way. Foundry The most obvious example is that you’re almost forced to sign in with a Microsoft account instead of a traditional local account. For example, it is not normally possible to choose a local account when installing the system. This can be circumvented fairly easily, but Microsoft keeps harping on about all the benefits of its account. In a way, the company is right. With a Microsoft account, for example, you don’t have to worry about registering Windows because the licence key is linked to the account and it’s easy to reactivate if you make changes to the hardware. I find this very useful as I sometimes boot my Windows installation directly and sometimes in a virtual machine — even though the hardware is completely different, the system has no problem with activation. Windows 11 Home can encrypt the local storage with Device Encryption, but it requires a Microsoft account to store a copy of the recovery key — so if you want to use a local account you need a Pro license to encrypt the disk. Further reading: Windows 10 will hit end of life in 2025. Here’s what to expect Other benefits include synchronization of settings and applications installed from the Microsoft Store between computers and automatic authentication for all other Microsoft services and applications. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription for Office, it will be much easier if you are logged into Windows with the same Microsoft account. But if you don’t subscribe to Microsoft 365, don’t use OneDrive, have no need for disk encryption, and rarely or never change hardware, there’s no practical gain from a Microsoft account. If you prefer, you can then opt for local account anyway, even with Windows 11 Home. Create local account with Rufus Rufus The easiest way to do this when reinstalling the system and not updating from an older version is by creating an installation media with the Rufus program. Download an .iso file of Windows 11 from Microsoft and select it in Rufus. Select a connected USB stick of at least 16 gigabytes that has nothing important on it (all current files will be deleted) and click Start. In the dialog box that pops up, tick Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account. You can also tick Create a local account with username and fill in the account name you want, so you don’t have to do it during installation. The Start menu Microsoft The most visible difference in Windows 11 from its predecessor is that the Start menu and program icons have been centered in the Taskbar instead of being on the far left as in all previous versions. But it’s a quick thing to change if you prefer to have it the way it used to be (go to Settings > Customization > Start and change to left-aligned). The big difference lies in the content of the menu. As soon as you click on the Start icon, it is obvious that it is not the old familiar Start menu. There is no list of installed programs, but instead a number of preselected “favorites” are listed in a grid under the heading Pinned. Below these is an area called Recommended, where you can find recently opened and added programs, files, and more. Further reading: Windows 10 support ends soon. Here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11 You can switch off all these recommendations, but the section will still be there. Microsoft hasn’t made it easy, but at the time of writing there is a method that works in the latest version. It requires three additions to the registry. You can save the below code in a plain text file with a .reg extension and import into the Registry Editor. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Start] `HideRecommendedSection`=dword:00000001 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\current\device\Education] `IsEducationEnvironment`=dword:00000001 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] `HideRecommendedSection`=dword:00000001 After a reboot, the pinned items area fills the entire center section of the menu. Foundry With a trick, you can get rid of Recommendations and get a cleaner Start menu. What you can’t do anything about, however, is that the Start menu doesn’t show a list of all installed programs. You can still access such a list by clicking All in the top right, but there doesn’t seem to be any hidden setting to make it open that list automatically. In the narrow strip at the bottom you will see the on/off button and an icon for your account, but you can also add other shortcuts in Settings > Customisation > Start > Folders. The Taskbar Aside from the default placement in the center, the big change in the Taskbar is that programs group all their windows behind one icon instead of one icon per window. But just like the placement, you can easily restore the old behavior. You can find the different settings in Settings > Customization > Taskbar (or Taskbar Behaviors). The Explorer Foundry In Windows 11, Microsoft has given Explorer an updated interface with a modern, airier design. If you have a small screen, it can be distracting to have fewer icons. You can change that by choosing View > Show > Compact view. The menu tab area that existed before has been replaced by a narrow toolbar with only a few common functions. Other functions can be accessed via the context menu — click on Show more options to display the old context menu with all options. You won’t miss the fact that functions like copy and paste have become icons. A big improvement is that the program now has built-in tab support, so you can have multiple folders open without having multiple separate windows. Ctrl+T opens a new tab just like in browsers, and you can drag and drop a tab from the tab bar at the top to detach it into its own window. Tab layouts and tab groups Foundry Hover over the maximize button at the top right of an application window and you’ll soon see a small menu of options to quickly adjust the size of the window to take up, say, half or a third of the screen. These are called tick layouts, and if you fill the screen with two or more programs using the feature, they are automatically lumped together in something called a tick group. You can quickly view such a group of programs either by hovering over one of the included programs in the Taskbar and selecting the group there, or by clicking on the new Task View button to the right of the search button and selecting there. Foundry Unfortunately, pinned groups do not save after a restart and if you switch off one of the included programs, the group disappears. A quicker way to pin a window to one half of the screen is to grab it and hold it against the edge of the screen on the side you want it. If you already have an application taking up, say, a third of the screen, the next window will be two-thirds instead of half. Widgets and Copilot Foundry On the far left of the Taskbar (if you have the Start Menu centered — otherwise on the far right before the System Tray) is a new icon which normally shows the current weather in your location. It may also show news headlines of various kinds. Hover over or click it to reveal Windows 11’s new widget feature. To be honest, it sucks, so it’s a good thing Microsoft has made it easy to switch it off. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and turn off Widgets. Another new feature that is now also included in the latest version of Windows 10 but has been included for longer in Windows 11 is Copilot, which in a way replaces the old voice assistant Cortana. Microsoft The Copilot icon is located in the Taskbar next to the Task View icon (which shows all open windows and virtual desktops), and opens a spartan web-based interface that looks exactly like copilot.microsoft.com. The company has been criticized for not developing a proper Windows application but settling for a web view. But Copilot is one of the more competent free AI chatbots, so you can still use it to brainstorm ideas, proofread texts, and more. If you have a subscription to Copilot Pro, you can log in to access the more advanced features, but otherwise you can skip it. Unlike in Word and Excel, for example, the system doesn’t automatically log you in with the same account you log in with in Windows, but that account should show up as a preset when you try to log in. Updated classics If you come to Windows 11 today and not right after the launch, you will notice a change that has come with updates to the system. Microsoft has gone to great lengths to update some of the oldest but still most used programs in Windows: Paint and Notepad. In addition to an updated, modern interface, both programs have been enriched with AI features. It’s not that the Copilot chatbot itself has been baked in, but specific features for each program. Microsoft In Paint, you can use a new tool to remove distracting objects or blur the background of images. Users with a Copilot Plus computer can also use generative fill to add new objects to images. Notes have been given more features for rewriting text. For example, you can ask Copilot to rewrite in a formal tone or in the form of a poem. The AI can also expand or shorten text. Soon, a function for writing summaries of texts will also be added. Microsoft Other examples of applications you might not recognize are Clock — which has a new design and new features — and the brand new Media Player application, which replaces the old Windows Media Player. Key settings and where to find them Joel Lee / Foundry Microsoft has redesigned the Settings application in Windows 11. Not only have many more settings that were previously in Control Center moved into the modern application, but it also has a new interface that makes it easier to browse settings. In Windows 10, Settings had a separate list of different settings on the left for each category, and to go to a different category, you had to first go to the home screen and then click into that category. In Windows 11, the left-hand column is instead filled with a list of categories, and a menu of different kinds of settings under each category appears on the right. Click on one of these to open the settings included in that sub-category. For example, Bluetooth & devices > Devices where you will find related settings. Some more advanced settings may be hidden in another level of submenus and others behind expandable groups. For example, in Display, the Color Profile and HDR settings are in submenus, while the Multiple monitors settings are expandable. The search function in Settings is really good and if you’re looking for a particular setting and can’t remember exactly where it is, it’s often the quickest way to find it. Read...

Before we know it summer will be here, but don’t wait for the hotter days to arrive to realize that your pool is in a state of disarray. The Aiper Scuba X1, priced at $1,399, is an ideal solution to help get your pool ready for action. The Scuba X1 is essentially the full package when it comes to cleaning your pool, taking care of everything for you. Aiper’s robotic pool cleaner can provide everyday maintenance, saving you countless hours and money spent on other solutions. Each morning or evening, you can automate the Aiper Scuba X1 to scrub the pool bottom and walls free of algae and dirt, and scrub the waterline for any hair, leaves, sticks, and any other grime that blew into or otherwise ended up in the water. Smart and easy cleaning Aiper’s Scuba X1 uses a dual jet system to provide 6,600GPH suction. This glues the robotic pool cleaner to the pool floor or walls, and ensures it does a thorough job of picking up anything that shouldn’t be there, including sand and tiny pebbles. The robotic pool cleaner collects all the debris into a basket where it will stay–the industry’s first MicroMesh™ ultra-fine filter system makes sure none of it gets back into the water, where it could potentially clog the pipes. View Aiper Scuba X1 It’s not just the pool walls and floor that get the Aiper’s attention, but also its waterline. The Scuba X1 features WaveLine™ 2.0 technology to provide continuous horizontal scrubbing along the waterline, which is the exact spot where you tend to find a build-up of grease, algae, and dirt. Much like a robot vacuum does in your home, the Scuba X1 uses a ton of sensors to map out the pool and work out the best route to complete the cleaning job. It can even detect and avoid obstacles, whether that’s the pool drainage system, steps, or any weighted diving toys. Aiper Multiple cleaning modes are available, including Floor, Wall, Waterline, and Standard. You can use the dedicated Aiper app to schedule cleaning jobs and automate maintenance when you know you’ll not be using the pool. The Scuba X1 can clean up to 70,000 gallons of water per hour, and is ideal for pools up to 2,150 square foot in size. When the job is done or the battery is running low, the Scuba X1 will cleverly park itself at the waterline. You can scoop it up and place it on the wireless charging dock for a while. Better yet, you don’t need to worry about wiping it dry before recharging the robotic pool cleaner. Accessories that make the Scuba X1 even more useful A couple of Aiper accessories are available that will make pool cleaning even easier. For instance, the HydroComm Series, which includes the HydroComm Pure, HydroComm and HydroComm Pro, is a revolutionary pool product line that establishes a seamless connection between underwater pool robots and users while delivering accurate water quality data. The HydroComm Pure is a smart underwater communication device that will float in your pool and allow the robot to communicate with you even when it’s underwater. This means you can change the cleaning mode while it is submerged. Another accessory you’ll love is the $249 caddy that will make transporting the Scuba X1 from one spot to another that much easier. Where to buy Aiper Scuba X1 So there you have it — the perfect summer helper can be yours! Save $400 on Aiper Scuba X1 View Offer Read...

One side of a pedestrian crossing on Deans Ave will have speed humps, the other will not. Why? The road is governed by two different community boards – and they could not agree over safety features. Read...