Microsoft has redesigned all the icons for its various Office applications (officially known as Microsoft 365 apps), this time focusing on color gradients and contrasts. The result? These new Microsoft Office icons are now more colorful, more curvy, and more approachable. We’ve known for some time that Microsoft Office apps were getting new icons (thanks to a leak). But they’re official as of today, according to Jon Friedman (CVP of Design and Research for Microsoft 365) in this Microsoft Design blog post. Microsoft is rolling out the new design to users with immediate effect. In the post, Friedman explains the redesign’s significance: When it comes to outsized impact, it’s hard to debate the almighty icon. No bigger than a postage stamp, these tiny symbols are gateways to entire experiences, distilling complex ideas, product abilities, and brand identities into a single, memorable image. By evoking emotion, sparking curiosity, and giving intuitive guidance, they make technology more accessible and approachable. The last time Microsoft updated the Office icons was in 2018. Below, you can see all the redesigned icons side by side: The 2025 redesigned icons for Microsoft 365 apps.Microsoft We find the following illustration from Microsoft particularly interesting, which shows the evolution of these icons over the years: The evolution of Microsoft Office app icons from 2001 to 2025.Microsoft And here’s a direct comparison of how the Word icon changed: Old versus new icon for Microsoft Word.Microsoft Microsoft stuck to four main principles in this redesign: Delightfully simple: To maintain familiarity while streamlining the visual experience, we graphically simplified the icons for clarity and reduced visual noise. Whereas Word’s icon previously used four horizontal bars, the new version uses just three, improving legibility at small sizes and creating more visual concision. Fluid shapes: We’ve moved away from bold, static solidity to embrace softer, more fluid forms. Sharp edges and crisp lines are replaced by smooth folds and curves, giving the icons a sense of playful motion and approachability. Rich and colorful: The color palette has been dramatically refined. Where gradients were once subtle, they’re now richer and more vibrant, featuring exaggerated analogous transitions that improve contrast and accessibility. This shift makes the icons feel brighter, punchier, and more dynamic. Instantly recognizable: Letter plates were much debated because they’re valuable real estate and icons following the core 10 Office ones no longer use them. Their brand equity is so strong, however, that we decided to keep them—maintaining our heritage while also modernizing them through a more cohesive visual integration with the overall design. The reference to the omnipresent AI is almost inevitable as well, with the design of the new Microsoft 365 icons clearly influenced by the Copilot icon. The new look is intended to represent a more connected design system and the influence of Copilot on Microsoft 365. Read...

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When Microsoft’s Copilot key first poofed into existence, I tilted my head and thought… Wait, another shortcut key? I’ve definitely been here before. Does anyone remember the Cortana key? The Office key? The F-Lock key? I hear nothing but the sound of crickets from the peanut gallery, and that’s because none of them stood the test of time.  So, why do new shortcut keys (like Microsoft Copilot) fail to launch? Or maybe launch in the way companies want them to? Well, the answer is embarrassingly simple. Those keys were just plain unnecessary or confusing. Sure, they helped a tiny slice of people, but they weren’t really built for the rest of us. If it doesn’t save you time or actually make life easier, then why bother? Were those keys even made for real people? Microsoft’s shortcut key graveyard Let’s pour one out for the keys that never made their mark in history. The Cortana key, for instance, summoned Microsoft’s voice assistant. The key was supposed to save you the time it’d take to enter the Windows key + C combination, which activated Cortana’s listening mode. But in practice, it was actually quicker to just use that combo, and people prefer to stick with something they’re already familiar with. Many folks didn’t like the idea of Cortana “actively listening,” either–it rightfully raised some privacy concerns. The Office key is another one, which is similar to today’s Copilot key. It promised quick access to Word and Excel, but what it really did was relentlessly pester you into opening Word and Excel. It wasn’t all that helpful for most people, in fact it was mostly chaos.   The F-Lock key was an oddball, that’s for sure. It toggled between standard function and special function, and nobody knew what the heck that meant or if it was on or off. Set it off and suddenly your F5 key is trying to open the calculator instead of refreshing the web page.  These keys, as you might’ve guessed, quietly faded out with time. But that raises a real big question, that question being… Why don’t these shortcuts ever stick? IDG / Mark Knapp Muscle memory is such a deeply ingrained thing, isn’t it? It’s in everything, especially in how we type and interact with our computers and other tech. Throw in or take out a random key and boom! Everything’s all topsy-turvey. For the majority of folks, daily habits are difficult to break and re-wire. But what about accessibility users? Abrupt, unwelcome changes to their keyboard may very well be catastrophic to their daily flow. Unless people are taught to use these keys, they just go, well, unused, taking up valuable real estate on the keyboard — and crucially changing the standard placement of keys, just shifting everything a wee bit off. There’s nothing more panic-inducing than accidentally pressing the wrong key, especially if you’re in the middle of a work presentation–it just disrupts your whole flow and throws you off. AI is the golden goose right now OpenAI AI’s the new “it” girl at the party and everyone’s chasing her (a little creepy, if you ask me). And Microsoft is jumping on this trend like a lion on a gazelle by hardwiring AI directly into the hardware. It’s probably the fastest way to get to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Press the key down and up pops Copilot, and it’s ready to draft your e-mails or conjure up images. On paper, that sounds cool. But AI hit like a crashing wave and before we knew it, we were entirely submerged. For me, I’d rather be the one to decide when and if I jump in. I don’t want anyone to make that choice (looking at you, Microsoft) for me. Is Copilot doomed? So, what do these shortcut keys (now ancient relics) tell us about Copilot’s chances? The hype builds and builds, then there’s the heavy marketing push, and then… cue the tumbleweeds. Companies often roll out shiny new things, it’s kind of par for the course. But at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the weird disconnect between what users actually want and what Microsoft keeps trying to spoonfeed them with these dedicated keys.  I think it’s still too soon to know if the Copilot key will join the graveyard of forgotten keys. If it fits naturally into one’s workflow and day-to-day life, then sure. But if Reddit is anything to go by, the response is very mixed. It seems to help as much as it hinders.  The takeaway I really get why Microsoft’s pushing with the Copilot key, I really do. It could help people, especially if it genuinely boosts productivity. But shortcuts work only if they serve us and not the other way around. Given Microsoft’s disastrous history with dedicated keys, and people generally shrugging at Copilot, I worry this will wind up being just another victim buried deep in Microsoft’s keyboard graveyard. Read...

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If you dread working on your laptop away from your home office because you can’t handle being cramped to just your laptop’s screen, then what you need is a portable monitor—like this Uperfect 2K that’s 30% off on Amazon right now. Normally $189.99, you can now grab it for just $133.58 with this hot limited-time deal! And this one’s a doozy. For starters, it’s large at 16 inches and crisp with a glorious 2560×1600 resolution, providing plenty of screen real estate for all your apps, browser tabs, spreadsheets, and whatever else. It’s also an IPS panel, meaning vivid and accurate colors that look great whether you’re staring at documents or watching Netflix. Other details worth noting: 400 nits of brightness to match whatever ambient environment you’re in, 120Hz of refresh for smooth responsiveness while gaming, and a smart cover that doubles as a stand so you can prop it up hands-free. It also has VESA-compatible mounting, in case you want to mount it on a monitor arm. Yes, you can use this with your laptop, but also with a handheld like the Nintendo Switch for gaming on the go. This monitor has two USB-C video ports and a Mini HDMI port for wide compatibility across devices, including your phone, tablet, and whatever else. The Uperfect 2K is a phenomenal portable monitor that’s a clear step up from the usual entry-level options. Get it now for 30% off while you still can because this awesome deal won’t last forever! Save 30% on this 16-inch 1600p 120Hz portable monitorBuy now at Amazon Read...

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If you’re having trouble deciding between a laptop and a desktop PC, then you’re probably better off with a mini PC. It’s the middle-of-the-road option that balances price with performance, offering the best of both worlds as long as you don’t need the portability of a laptop or the maximum power of a proper gaming PC. They’re perfect for home offices. Right now, you can get the Beelink SER5 Max mini PC for its all-time low price of $318.99 on Amazon, which is 26 percent off its original $429 and one of the best budget machines worth getting right now. This thing is more than just a daily driver. Under the hood, there’s an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor and a solid 32GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM for a speedy configuration that can handle Windows 11, multiple apps, and dozens of browser tabs with aplomb. The 500GB SSD isn’t as large as we’d like, but it’s still plenty fine as long as you aren’t hoarding tons of video files or installing massive apps. Fortunately, if you need more space, you can always upgrade it yourself to a max of 8TB later on. This mini PC is fantastic for work and productivity thanks to its triple 4K monitor support. Between the HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C video ports, you can run three 4K displays at up to 60Hz of refresh each, providing loads of screen real estate for apps, documents, spreadsheets, etc. You also get four high-speed USB-A ports for drives and peripherals, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Skip the laptop and skip the giant desktop PC. Take advantage of this sale and get this Beelink SER5 Max for only $318.99 while you can! Save 26% on this awesome Ryzen 7 mini PC with 32GB RAMBuy now at Amazon Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Far more powerful than most robot mowers Outstanding app Fast, efficient cut even at its default speed Cons Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity during manual mapping Poor navigation through narrow passageways Some slope and cliff detection issues Our Verdict While the Ecovacs Goat A3000 excels in a few areas, its shortcomings are disruptive enough to give us pause. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Ecovacs Goat A3000 Retailer Price $2,999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Robot lawn mowers are very similar to robot vacuum cleaners, at least in principle. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a leading robot vacuum manufacturer—namely, Ecovacs—should try its hand at building them. But I can’t get past the naming convention Ecovacs chose for this series: The acronym GOAT stands for “greatest of all time” and is commonly used to describe generational figures: Tom Brady in football, Willie Mays in baseball, Richard Petty in NASCAR, and so on. Ecovacs has set an extremely high bar for its entry into an entirely new market, and it doesn’t quite clear it. Specifications There are three models in the Ecovacs Goat series, with the model A3000 reviewed here at the top of the line. Capable of mowing lawns up to 3/4 acre (32,000 square feet or 2,973 square meters), it features a dual-LiDAR navigation system with a 360-degree LiDAR sensor on top of the mower, and a second forward-facing LiDAR with an AI camera for smoother operation in complex environments. This eliminates the need for a GPS antenna. The A3000 has dual cutting blades with a combined cutting width of 12.9 inches and an electronically adjustable cutting height with a range of 1.2- to 3.6 inches. The 5Ah lithium-ion battery powering its 32-volt motor can be fully charged in just 45 minutes, but that motor only drives the mower’s rear wheels. Set up and installation The Ecovacs Goat A3000’s charging contacts are located on the top of the mower and its charging station, which led to more reliable docing and charging. This could go double if you struggle to contain weed growth where you locate the dock. Ed Oswald/Foundry The Goat A3000 was mostly assembled when it arrived, which made the initial setup—with the app walking me through the entire process—very easy. The mower’s charging interface snaps onto its charging base, and the two-prong plug at the other end of the cord can be plugged into any available outlet. I let the mower create its own map of the level portions of my yard, and it did so more quickly than any other machine I’ve tested—by a significant margin. The map was fairly accurate, too, although too sensitive to “passable” obstructions such as overgrowth. Ecovcacs recommends using the manual navigation function to map a yard’s sloped portions. I followed that advice but still ran into significant trouble. The mower’s Bluetooth connection to my smartphone was unstable, disconnecting dozens of times over the 30 or so minutes it needed to map the yard. Fortunately, this was the only major problem I had with the mower. When Bluetooth works, the controls are easy to use. And since the Goat is a 32V mower, you’ll notice a significant amount of get-up-and-go compared to robot mowers with 18V or less motors. One feature the Goat A3000 lacks is any form of lighting, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to mowing only during the daylight hours. Watching this mower efficiently navigate my oddly shaped yard in low-light conditions was an amazing experience. While you might worry about it hitting pets or other animals while mowing at night, the noise of the approaching mower should scare them off. Using the Ecovacs Goat A3000 The Ecovacs Goat A3000 is impressively maneuverable for its size, and it was able to mow much closer to obstacles in its path. Ed Oswald/Foundry The Ecovacs Goat A3000 performed well throughout my tests, exhibiting only the typical problems rear-wheel-drive models encounter in my yard. One thing I did notice with the A3000 is that it is slightly louder (by a matter of a few decibels) than most robot mowers. This is likely due to the Goat A3000’s cutting power: Its twin disc blades spin at 3,000 rpm. If you’re cutting moderately tall grass, the Goat will leave behind trails of clipped grass much like a traditional mower will—it will shoot some grass clippings out its rear deck, too, which most robot mowers won’t. Those trails will disappear within a day or two as the mower mulches those past clippings (you can also prevent this by cutting your yard down to less than 3 inches or so before your first mow). Like the Segway Navimow X350 robot mower I reviewed in July, the Goat A3000 cuts at a default speed much closer to a human (although there’s also a faster speed). Gone are hours-long mowing sessions: on our 0.28 acre yard, it was done in about 40 minutes, with plenty of battery power left. The Goat A3000’s extra power will come in handy if the mower gets into trouble, too. I’ve tested quite a few that just don’t have enough torque to get themselves unstuck. Fair warning, however; with that torque, this mower can also rip up your yard if things go haywire. The Goat A3000 struggled when navigating through the tight spots in my yard that are just a bit wider than the mower itself. And it would sit and think for several seconds about how to tackle my grass median strips before it finally determined that the best—and only—way to handle them was to run parallel to the longest edge. But those medians have posed problems for every AI-powered mower I’ve tested. And median strips are everywhere. To date, the Sunseeker Orion X7 has been the only robot mower capable of mowing mine without issue on a consistent basis. Using the Ecovacs app If you also use an Ecovacs robot vacuum, you’ll control the Ecovacs Goat A3000 with the same excellent app. Ed Oswald/Foundry As does Anker with its Eufy E18 robot mower, Ecovacs uses the same app for operating its mower as it does with its robot vacuum cleaners. That saves you from needing to download yet another app on your phone—provided, of course, you also use an Ecovacs robot vac. And the app works well, although I could do without the cutesy animations. The Ecovacs app has an uncluttered user interface, putting only the most important features on screen and with thought and consideration given to where buttons and switches are placed. You’ll rarely need to adjust  the mower’s cutting height, for instance, but you’ll want to check the mower’s location frequently, so prominently displaying the mower’s camera button in the app is the best use of screen real estate. Should you buy the Ecovacs Goat A3000? The Ecovacs Goat A3000 has a second LiDAR camera on its top, giving the mower a 360-degree of its surroundings as well as excellent low-light vision.Ed Oswald/Foundry As I said at the beginning, putting the word “Goat” in this mower’s name leads one to expect top-tier performance. The Goat A3000 is a very good robot lawn mower, but it’s certainly not the “greatest of all time.” That’s not to say it never will be: It has awesome navigation skills, and its cutting performance is at the top end of my experience. The right firmware updates could put it over the top. Steady Bluetooth connectivity, so essential during setup and initial mapping, is crucial. Ecovacs needs to fix that as soon as possible. It might seem like a minor bump in the road, but that bump is nearly the first thing you’ll encounter in your experience with this mower. AI is the second area in which Ecovacs needs to improve. So far, Sunseeker is the only robot lawn mower manufacturer to successfully implement AI. The Orion X7 didn’t need to make several mistakes to learn the most efficient mowing method; it was able to determine that ahead of time, even if it meant the robot had to sit and “think” about it. Ecovac’s AI isn’t among the worst I’ve seen, but it’s also not the best. The Ecovacs Goat A3000 is a very good robot lawn mower with the potential to be much better. It’s up to Ecovacs to see just how close to great it can be. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers. Read...

One of the best things you can do to tangibly step up any PC setup is upgrade your monitor. If you’re on a small budget screen, you’d be surprise how much more enjoyable things can be with something larger with better colors—like this Samsung 34-inch ViewFinity S6 ultrawide, which is now $349.99 (was $539.99) on Amazon with this significant 35% discount. That’s pretty awesome! The Samsung ViewFinity S6 is a beautiful display with a 34-inch diagonal and a 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio, putting the resolution at a crisp 3440×1440 for true widescreen goodness. Whether you’re churning through massive spreadsheets or streaming KPop Demon Hunters for the 10th time, that’s enough screen real estate for anything—and with an ultrawide like this, you can even do both side-by-side if you want to. This isn’t a gaming monitor, so you might want to pass if you’re planning to build a proper gaming battlestation. But with a refresh rate of 100Hz, it’s adequate for light gaming. The 1000R curve wraps around your vision and helps alleviate eye strain during long PC sessions. For connectivity, it’s versatile with HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports. If you want a name-brand ultrawide that won’t break the bank, get the Samsung ViewFinity S6 for $349.99 while you can! This hot limited-time deal won’t last forever, not even on Amazon. Save $190 on this 34-inch 1440p ultrawide monitor for home PCsBuy now at Amazon Read...