These days, you don’t need an absolute rocket of a laptop or a supermassive tower PC if all you’re doing is running Office apps, browsing the web, streaming Netflix, managing emails, and other small-fry tasks. Why spend upwards of a grand on a moderately performant laptop or desktop PC when you can get similar at half the price? If you’re like most folks, what you need is a mini PC. And right now, with the Kamrui Hyper H2 mini PC on sale for just $467 (was $650), there’s never been a better time to pull the trigger. Just make sure to clip the on-page coupon (click “Redeem”) to get that extra 10% off! The Hyper H2 is no snail when it comes to processing. In fact, this device has quite a configuration for the price, featuring an 11th-gen Intel Core i9-11900H CPU paired with a whopping 32GB of RAM and a speedy 1TB SSD. That’s a great combo, but the value is even better than it looks in light of the current RAM and SSD shortage—buying that much RAM and storage on its own would cost more than this mini PC right now. The CPU, RAM, and SSD alone make this worth every penny with this discount, but it gets even better. You’re getting Windows 11 Pro already loaded on the SSD, plus triple 4K/60Hz support via HDMI/DisplayPort/USB-C video ports, VESA mounting so you can mount this mini PC to the back of any VESA-compatible monitor, built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and six high-speed USB-A ports (two front, four back). You’d be hard-pressed to find a better machine for your home office for under $500, so grab this for $467 while you can! Prices are only going to rise further with the hardware shortage. If you miss this deal, no worries—check out our roundup of ongoing mini PC deals. Intel i9, 32G RAM, 1TB SSD? This mini PC is worth $467 for sureBuy now at Amazon Read...

If you’re still using the annoyingly heavy and bulky power adapter that came with your laptop, you might want to get with the times and upgrade to this Anker 140W laptop charger instead. Not only is it super fast with multiple ports, it’s extra cheap today with a large 35% discount on Amazon: get it now for just $64.99 (was $99.99). What’s great about this charger is that it has four USB ports: three USB-C and one USB-A. Two of those USB-C ports can hit a maximum of 140 watts, meaning they’re each capable of fast-charging anything from smartphones to tablets to headphones to laptops. But you can also use all of the USB ports at once, charging up to four devices simultaneously and providing 140 watts of charging split across all of them. Thanks to GaN technology, this Anker laptop charger block is extra compact, measuring just 2.72 x 2.72 x 1.42 inches and weighing only 0.61 pounds. It also has a smart digital display that shows you how much power is being delivered to each port as well as temperature monitoring. And it even comes with a high-speed USB-C cable, so you don’t have to worry about supplying one yourself. This is the ultimate charger block to take with you, whether you’re working on the go at your local coffee shop or traveling for a while and taking all your gear to hotels and Airbnbs. It’s even great for cruise ships, where power strips are often banned. Get it now for $64.99! Save 35% on this high-speed laptop charger with 4 USB portsBuy now at Amazon Read...

Microsoft has not yet officially announced Windows 12, but leaks, internal project references, and statements from hardware partners are increasingly pointing to the imminent release of a new generation of Windows that goes far beyond a classic feature update for Windows 11. Expected release window and upgrade cycle A scenario is circulating within the industry involving early leaks and references, followed by possible insider previews, an official presentation and a broad release in the course of 2026. This timeframe corresponds with the end of support for Windows 10 in October 2026 and the extended ESU period. A new Windows would fall exactly into this “forced” upgrade cycle and address both private users and businesses. Windows 11 will continue to be supported and receive updates in parallel. A switch to Windows 12 would likely take place gradually. By the way: if you are using Windows 11 Home, you are missing out on the many advantages of the Pro version. The Windows 11 upgrade is available in the PCWorld software store for a low price of $59 instead of $99. StackCommerce Hudson Valley Next and CorePC The code name “Hudson Valley Next” is appearing internally and is considered the basis for Windows 12. At its core is a modular CorePC architecture. System components can be more strongly isolated from each other, updates are more granular, and editions can be scaled more specifically for different device categories, from tablets to high-performance PCs. This structure allows for lighter variants for devices with lower performance, while at the same time providing more stable core areas and more flexible integration of cloud services. Hybrid models combining local and cloud-based processing form the technical basis for AI workloads. Save 40% on a Windows Pro upgrade Windows 11 Pro AI as the foundation of the operating system Windows 12 will not treat AI as an add-on feature, but will anchor it as a fundamental part of the system. Copilot is evolving from an optional assistant to a central control instance. OS-wide integration will replace selective AI functions. Thomas Joos Context-dependent task recommendations, real-time summaries, automatic content generation, intelligent document categorization, and semantic search are expected. You create a content description while the system recognizes relevant files — regardless of the exact file name. Settings automatically adapt to usage patterns, and automation takes effect system-wide. NPU requirement and minimum requirement of 40 TOPS Several leaks point to a clear hardware requirement. Full functionality is said to require a dedicated NPU with at least 40 TOPS of computing power. Microsoft is thus explicitly positioning Windows 12 as an operating system for AI PCs and Copilot devices. Intel and AMD are presenting processors with integrated AI acceleration. OEMs are labelling new systems as “Windows 12 Ready.” Devices without an NPU may not receive certain AI features or may be excluded from the full upgrade. This strategy supports the expectation of a new PC renewal cycle. Sam Singleton Radically redesigned Visual leaks show a floating taskbar with rounded corners that visually detaches from the bottom of the screen. Transparent glass elements characterize the appearance. System indicators and the clock move to the upper-right corner. Centered at the top is a prominent search bar with direct Copilot integration. This layout shifts the focus of interaction to search and AI. Window management, snap layouts, virtual desktops, and widgets respond more flexibly. The user interface adapts to hybrid usage scenarios and supports both desktop and touch operation equally. Efficiency, performance, and memory management Windows 12 is expected to offer improvements in power management and memory handling. The base system will be more focused on modern mobile processors, and AI-powered performance profiles could dynamically adjust resources. The goal is to use hardware more efficiently while offering expanded functionality. Security and zero-trust integration Deeper system isolation, modernized authentication procedures, and greater integration of cloud-based protection mechanisms are expected. Zero-trust concepts from the corporate environment will be incorporated more strongly into the platform. At the same time, there will be a focus on local AI processing to take data protection requirements into account. MacPaw Gaming, DirectStorage, and AI optimization Windows is set to remain the central gaming platform. Windows 12 is expected to feature further DirectStorage optimizations, lower latencies in cloud gaming, and closer Xbox integration. AI-supported performance analysis could automatically adjust graphics options and evaluate gameplay. This reduces the amount of manual configuration required on your part. Possible subscription strategy and Windows 365 Code fragments contain references to a “subscription status.” The discussion is not about a pure subscription operating system, but rather a premium version in the Windows 365 environment for consumers. This could provide additional cloud computing power and exclusive AI features for a monthly fee. The classic Home Windows is likely to remain a one-time licence. Advanced AI services would be added as an option. The integration of cost-intensive cloud AI is seen as a possible driver for new revenue models. Market strategy and PC supercycle The combination of the end of support for Windows 10, NPU requirements, and the AI PC offensive is creating considerable market pressure. Manufacturers are already positioning new devices with a view to the next generation of Windows. Observers are talking about a possible PC supercycle triggered by AI hardware and new system requirements. At the same time, the question arises as to whether functional hardware without AI acceleration can continue to be used. Unresolved issues such as price It remains unclear whether Microsoft will actually use the name Windows 12 or choose an alternative designation. Exact system requirements, upgrade entitlements, and pricing models have not been confirmed — will only Windows 11 users get the new version for free, or will Windows 10 users also be able to upgrade for free? Or will Windows 12 be available to everyone for a fee? The long-term Windows-as-a-Service strategy in the consumer segment also remains unclear. The only thing that is certain is that Microsoft has not yet officially announced Windows 12. All of the innovations mentioned are based on leaks, code references, and strategic trends relating to AI, modular architecture, cloud integration, and new hardware classes. 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Anyone who has multiple audio outputs or devices connected to their Windows PC knows how tedious it is to switch between them. You have to dig into your audio settings menu and manually choose the correct device. Sure, in the grand scheme of things it isn’t terribly hard, but it’s annoying and takes an unnecessary amount of time. That’s why the SoundSwitch tool is a godsend for those like me who have multiple audio devices. The SoundSwitch app lets you easily switch between audio devices with customizable hotkeys. SoundSwitch With SoundSwitch you just press a shortcut key—Ctrl+Alt+F1, for example—and it switches to your selected device. You can customize different hotkeys for everything from outputs like speakers and headphones to inputs like microphones.  The tool even lets you assign a hotkey to mute your audio output device and displays an easy-to-see notification so you know when it’s muted. Sayonara, awkward Zoom meeting audio mishaps! For more fun and helpful website recommendations, be sure to subscribe to our PCWorld Try This newsletter. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Fast 20Gbps performance (with better cable) Great heft and silicon jacket Good looking Cons Included cable is substandard Very, very expensive Our Verdict Given the high price of this SSD, it should ship with a better cable. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Glyph Atom EX20 20Gbps SSD Retailer Price $309.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket This boutique USB SSD from Glyph is one of the more impressive to roll through our lab recently. In terms of design and performance, that’s a good thing — but the price is also impressively high. That’s more than likely due to the ongoing rise in NAND prices, which is affecting the entire storage industry, in addition to others. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best external drives for comparison. What are the Glyph Atom EX20’s features? The Atom EX20 is an exceptionally good-looking, USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps) external SSD from Glyph. It’s all black and clad in a silicone jacket that’s ribbed in a tread pattern to provide a very sure grip. The Type-C port and activity light on the end of the Atom EX20. At 7.5 ounces (jacket included), the Atom EX20 is hardly the lightest external SSD I’ve tested, but the heft also gives you a sense of quality. It measures, jacket included, approximately 4.4-inches long, by 2.4-inches wide, by a little under an inch thick. Both the Type-C port and activity light are on the same end of the unit, with the port offset to the left. The Atom EX20 is warrantied for three years with two of data recovery and one year of replacement. There’s no TeraBytes Written (TBW) rating, but figure around 600TBW, which is a whole lot of data. Remember, reads don’t count, only writes. How much is the Glyph Atom EX20? SSD prices have risen quite a bit recently, but I was still a bit surprised at the Atom EX20’s rather steep pricing for a 20Gbps SSD: $310 for 1TB, $420 for 2TB, $700 for 4TB, and $1,500 for 8TB. And those prices we list are discounts, as shown below. The 4TB price from Glyph’s web site. Basically, those prices are more in line with faster 40Gbps USB4, than 20Gbps USB 3.2×2. With that in mind, the 40Gbps and only slightly pricier Glyph Atom EX40 (see the upcoming review) is the better deal. Note that the 40Gbps version of the OWC 1M2 enclosure is currently only $90 and can be married with an NVMe SSD for less than $300. You might also wait six months to see if the whole AI/data center bubble bursts and SSD prices drop. Glyph Atom EX20 performance caveats Using the bundled 7-inch Type-C cable caused issues on our Windows test bed, with the EX20 initially writing at only 50- to 80MBps, and writing at only 20MBps on an M4 Mac. For whatever reason, read performance was over 2GBps, so the cable issue is a particularly vexing conundrum. If you want the best, least problematic Type-C cable, use a Thunderbolt cable — they’re completely compatible with USB and manufactured to tight tolerances. Indeed, using one solved the Atom EX20’s write performance issue. This is not the first time I’ve used a bundled cable that didn’t allow full performance — the TerraMaster D1 SSD Pro had the same issue, albeit it was an 80Gbps cable that throttled to 20Gbps. Note also, that as with all USB 3.2×2 SSDs, the Atom EX20 will fall back to 10Gbps without a dedicated 20Gbps port. This is because most systems without one don’t support the protocol, but do support the 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard. How fast is the Glyph Atom EX20? Once I switched cables, the 4TB Atom EX20 turned in a blistering performance. One that garnered it the number-two spot among all 20Gbps SSDs. The only drive to beat it was the Asus TUF Gaming A2, which is actually an unpopulated enclosure that I filled with an extremely fast Samsung 9100 Pro. That was not particularly fair of us. So because of that, consider the EX20 the top dog in pre-populated 20Gbps USB. That’s borne out by the drive’s CrystalDiskMark 8 numbers shown below. Among already populated 20Gbps SSDs, the Glyph Atom EX20 is the boss hog. Longer bars are better. The Glyph Atom EX20 again competed nicely with its rivals (Corsair EX400U, Crucial X10) in the CrystalDiskMark 4K tests. The Glyph Atom EX20 was again running with the big boys in the CrystalDiskMark 4K tests. Longer bars are better. The Atom EX20 was competitive in our real-world 48GB transfers, though it didn’t show as much potential in the FastCopy tests as the Crucial X10. The Atom EX20 was again competitive in our real-world 48GB transfers, though it didn’t show as much potential in the FastCopy tests as the Crucial X10. Shorter bars are better. Being a 4TB SSD certainly helped the Atom EX20 in our 450GB write test (the others are 2TB). It had plenty of secondary cache to play with and never slowed significantly. Being a 4TB SSD certainly helped the Atom EX20 in our 450GB write test. It had plenty of secondary cache to play with and never slowed significantly. Shorter bars are better. I have no complaints about the Atom EX20’s performance — it’s a very fast 20Gbps USB SSD. Should you buy the Glyph Atom EX20? In light of my experience with the cable and the price, the buy recommendation is… perhaps. If cost is no concern, make that a yes. Put another way, the design and performance are excellent (cable excepted), but at the moment, it’s very expensive, as many boutique vendor SSDs are. Note that Glyph is looking into the cable issue, and will likely fix it by the time you read this. That said, test yours first thing using CrystalDiskMark 8 or another synthetic benchmark to make sure. How we test Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11 24H2, 64-bit running off of a PCIe 4.0 Samsung 990 Pro in an Asus Z890-Creator WiFi (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard. The CPU is a Core Ultra i5 225 feeding/fed by two Crucial 64GB DDR5 5600MHz modules (128GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 5 are integrated into the motherboard and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. Internal PCIe 5.0 SSDs involved in testing are mounted in an Asus Hyper M.2 x16 Gen5 adapter card sitting in a PCIe 5.0 slot. We run the CrystalDiskMark 8.04 (and 9), AS SSD 2, and ATTO 4 synthetic benchmarks (to keep article length down, we report only the first) to find the storage device’s potential performance. Then we run a series of 48GB transfer and 450GB write tests using Windows Explorer drag and drop to show what users will see during routine copy operations, as well as the far faster FastCopy run as administrator to show what’s possible. A 25GBps two-SSD RAID 0 array on the aforementioned Asus Hyper M.2 x16 Gen5 is used as the second drive in our transfer tests. Formerly the 48GB tests were done with a RAM disk serving that purpose. Each test is performed on a NTFS-formatted and newly TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This issue has abated somewhat with the current crop of SSDs utilizing more mature controllers and far faster, late-generation NAND. Read...

AI tools like Sora from OpenAI or Veo promise cinematic-quality videos at the touch of a button. That said, the results can sometimes look artificial or distorted. This usually isn’t a limitation of the model itself, it’s about how it’s used. In this guide, we’ll share five proven techniques to dramatically improve the quality of your AI-generated videos. 1. Describe the subject as specifically as possible AI video models will usually fill in the gaps themselves, but that’s exactly the problem. That’s why you need to be crystal clear in your description. If you’re not specific, this will lead to to incorrect backgrounds, distorted objects, or unwanted details. Instead of a general description like “Create a 10 second clip of a cat playing,” you should be more detailed with the following: Appearance of the subject Environment and lighting Action and mood In sticking with the cat example, you could write: “A small, short-haired brown domestic cat with white paws plays with a stuffed animal in the shape of a squirrel. The scene takes place in a bright living room of a detached house, with warm daylight coming in through a window on the left. The floor is made of light wood, and a sofa can be seen blurred in the background. The cat nudges the toy with its paw, jumps back briefly, and then watches it curiously. The mood is calm, playful, and natural, the camera remains at the cat’s eye level and does not move.” 2. Use multiple runs AI videos are not deterministic. This means that even with identical prompts, the results usually differ significantly. A failed video doesn’t automatically mean that the prompt was bad. Experienced users deliberately create multiple versions of the same clip. Even small variations in movement, perspective, or timing can make the difference between unusable and surprisingly good. The rule of thumb is simple: if five to ten runs don’t produce a convincing result, the problem doesn’t lie with the tool, it’s the prompt. 3. Keep scenes deliberately short and focused Most AI video generators are designed to produce short, self-contained sequences lasting only a few seconds. If several actions, locations, or perspective changes are combined within a single clip, the likelihood of errors increases significantly: characters suddenly change their appearance, objects disappear, and movements often appear unnatural or jerky. Prompts that describe a complete sequence are particularly problematic. Here’s an example: “A person leaves their flat in the morning, walks through a busy street, enters a café, orders a coffee, sits down by the window, and looks out thoughtfully.” Many AI models are still very unreliable when it comes to depicting such dramatic arcs. In the generated video below, numerous errors and inconsistencies appear right from the start, as the sequences appear out of order: Sora/PC-Welt A better description would be: “A person is sitting in a small café at a window seat. Warm light falls in from the right. The person is drinking coffee and looking calmly out the window. The camera is static, slightly to the side at face level. The mood is calm and thoughtful.” The video generated from this prompt is not perfect, but it’s better: Sora/PC-Welt 4. Avoid text in the video Text remains one of the biggest weaknesses of current AI video generators. While many models already achieve high visual quality in images and movements, they quickly reach their technical limits when it comes to displaying text: letters change their shape, words remain incomplete or appear as strings of characters that are difficult to decipher. The main problems are longer texts, changing lettering, or content such as book pages, road signs, or packaging labels. The more text the AI has to display, the higher the probability of errors. If text in the video is unavoidable, you should consciously reduce it and only use simple words or very short phrases. 5. Limit the number of objects in the image AI video models struggle to display multiple people or objects at the same time. As the number of visible elements increases, the likelihood of errors rises significantly: faces change, bodies briefly merge, or objects appear unexpectedly and disappear. Videos look much more stable when the action is separated in time or space. Instead of showing several people at once, focus on them one after the other. For example, the camera can pan from one person to the next, or clearly position a main character in the foreground while others remain outside the frame. An example: “Two people sit opposite each other, talking and gesturing, while other people walk by in the background.” This prompt is more likely to result in distorted faces or unstable interactions. Here’s a much better example: “One person is sitting at a table and talking. The camera initially shows only this person. Then the camera slowly pans to the second person sitting opposite. At no point are both people completely in focus at the same time.” Read...

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TL;DR: Pay $39.97 once for Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows and skip ongoing subscription fees for good. There’s something refreshing about paying once and being done. No monthly billing emails. No surprise renewals. Just the software that works when you need it. That’s exactly what you get with Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $39.97 (MSRP: $219.99). This version includes the core apps most people actually use: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, OneNote, and Teams (free version). Whether you’re drafting reports, building spreadsheets, managing email, or creating presentations, it’s the full desktop experience. Office 2021 Professional keeps the familiar ribbon interface while refining performance and usability. You can customize layouts, fonts, formatting, and workflows without digging through endless menus. Excel handles data-heavy projects, Word makes long documents manageable, and PowerPoint gives you polished presentations without extra plugins. This license installs on one Windows PC and is tied to your device (not your Microsoft account). Once it’s activated, it’s yours to use for the life of that machine. If you prefer owning your productivity software instead of renting it, this deal makes the decision easy. Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $39.97 (MSRP: $219.99). Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime LicenseSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...